15

A Much Needed Talk

That's it, Ruby decided, there's something wrong with my sister. These were the general thoughts running through her head as she watched her sister stalk through the flat like like a Beowolf was going to pop out and she had to suppress a giggle every time she nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Jaune.

It wasn't anything obvious to those who didn't know Yang that well wouldn't notice but to her trained, sisterly eye it was clearer than day. It was a rare day when the blond was on the receiving end.

Ruby was basking in her embarrassment.

Maybe she was contributing, too. This was prime time to get revenge for all of the teasing she had lofted on to her over the years. She watched with guilty pleasure did an about turn when she saw Jaune was in the next room talking to Ren and Nora. Ruby wasn't the only one who noticed. Qrow had been all but insufferable these last few days since her sister had recovered. She almost felt bad for Yang, who was walking on eggshells. Almost.

But it also was something she'd never seen in Yang before. Oh there had been boys before but the girl had been more in control then. Those had always seemed like flings, as much as their father hated it, and never lasted long. The blond had always felt she had a duty to her sister and everyone else came second to Ruby. Those boys had wanted her attention and when she wouldn't put them first they left or they got booted out.

It was an oddly warm feeling that suffused her. It made her a little sad as she realized that. The thought of those two together didn't bother her, and it should have, she thought.

She grew still, Does that mean I don't like him? Or am I just not jealous. The thought worried her so much she didn't notice who had sat next to her until they poked her in the side of the head. She jumped sideways and scooted as far across from Jaune on the couch as she could be.

"Remnant to Ruby. You there?"

"Ehehehehe. I'm here, where else would I be?" Ruby really hoped he hadn't noticed her nervous titter.

"Yeah…. So anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to do some sparring."

"Shouldn't you ask Yang?"

Jaune's face scrunched up in confusion, "Why would I ask Yang? She'd destroy me."

Ruby paused as what she'd said caught up to her and she shook her head back and forth to clear her thoughts before throwing a pout his way, "Are you saying Yang's better than me?"

"Uh, no?" The blond looked like he'd been handed a live bomb and Ruby couldn't help but laugh at him before standing up.

"Sparring sounds like fun."

As they stood on the terrace facing one another Jaune had the nostalgic nervousness of once again facing off against Cresent Rose. Almost lazily, Ruby spun her beloved scythe around with a small smile on her face. The giant blade went behind her back and she took her ready stance, knees bent and body coiled.

Jaune settled into his own ready stance, shield raised in front and the blade of Crocea Mors held up perpendicular to his shield, tip pointed towards his opponent. They stood still for a moment. Neither moving and yet waiting for the other. They had entered a state where the slightest movement could kick off battle.

Jaune's left foot twitched and everything started in a flash. In a gust of petals Ruby closed the distance in a second. Her blade came in vertically towards his face and he sidestepped the obvious opening move. She was fast, far faster than him, but the wide sweeping of her weapon was predictable. The large weapon could only be swung so many different ways and the lead in to each strike was telegraphed.

At this point any experienced fighter, or someone who had fought her a lot, could tell what she was going to do before she started the move. Even with all of her speed it only ended up evening out the fight instead of giving her an advantage. Jaune drove his shield into her guard and stabbed out with his blade.

With the tip of Crescent Rose buried in the ground, Ruby mounted her weapon in a display of gymnastics and deftly avoided Jaune's strike. She landed with her weapon between her and her opponent. Withdrawing the weapon from the ground the young girl made a series of sweeping lateral strikes. Each one was blocked by a shield as the blonde pushed into her reach.

Every time he blocked he would strike out with his blade causing Ruby to abandon any follow up. Both scored glancing blows on the other but nothing significant.

The reaper bounced backwards before a particularly devastating strike from Jaune. Using the recoil from her weapon she launched into the air and descended upon him like a sawblade, spinning down. The blond deflected the strike into the ground with his shield and had to move his head to the side as something streaked towards his face. It skirted across his cheek, aura pushing it back and preventing damage.

His eyes focused on the thin blade next to his head and trailed up to the girl holding the katana.

Ruby stood balanced on the haft of Crescent Rose with Rose Thorn in hand and a triumphant smirk on her face. Before he could make a move against her a slow clapping could be heard from the sidelines.

"Not bad. For a kid." Qrow pushed off the wall he'd been leaning on as the two who had been sparring turned their attention to him, Ruby jumping off of Cresent Rose.

The huntsman took a swig from his flask, "Looks like you're startin' ta see the limitations of scythes. They're real great against large monsters but against a human opponent? Not so much."

The older man held out his hand and Ruby deposited her sword into it. He looked along the blade with a critical eye, folding and unfolding it before giving it back to her, "Heh. Not to shabby a blade. Definitely good for a surprise. My advice? Work on your sword forms. You're handy with your scythe but fightin' a person is gonna be easier with the sword. And for the love of Remnant work on your hand to hand."

At the last Ruby looked away sheepishly. She knew she was useless without her baby but couldn't bring herself to practice.

"And you, kid." Qrow turned to Jaune, "You got good form. The basics are down. Experience will come. Fight as many different opponents as you can and keep to whatever your regimen is."

"Yeah. Thanks, sir."

"Don't call me sir. MAkes me feel old. Call me Qrow. Sides we might be pretty close one day." With that he shared a wink with Ruby who started to giggle, "Anyways I came t get you guys. With Yang up an about now it's time we had a much needed talk."

Yang felt her body stiffen up when Jaune and her sister entered the living room. Ruby plopped down next to her on the couch while Jaune made to sit next to Nora and Ren. Yang almost let out a sigh of relief when he did before she caught herself. She hated being so conscious of a bot but she couldn't help it. Every time she saw him, Ruby's words came back to the forefront of her mind and so did the images.

Anyone would feel awkward thinking that was about their sister's crush, right?

She glowered at her sibling from the corner of her eyes, the young girl had been teasing her over the last few days about it. Bringing up Jaune's "reward" at every moment. She made a note to remind Ruby of who was the older sister in a very humiliating way.

Qrow settled down in the single seat with a grumble before looking at each of the young hunters one at a time. All thoughts of filial revenge faded once the older man launched into his stories.

And stories they were. Yang wasn't sure if she really believed him of not. This talk of maidens, magic, the Grimm having a queen, and the tale of relics was just too much. Even Neo in the corner looked like she didn't believe him. After taking stock of the room Qrow just laughed.

"Yup. That's what I thought. Hard to believe the first time right? These are the kinds of secrets people get killed over though."

So… this power is what Cinder wanted? That's the reason Beacon was attacked?" Jaune was the first to find his voice, "That's the reason why you had to drag Pyyrha into this and get her killed?!" His voice cracked, his blue eyes wide in fury.

Qrow looked steadily at the young man, "It wasn't something we could really have a choice in. The previous maiden was dying. Slowly but sure. Once she croaked Oz had no idea what would happen but we couldn't take the risk that her last thoughts were of her attacker, Cinder, or that the power would seek her out anyways. Better to give it to someone strong, someone who could safeguard it and who we could keep safe ourselves. Besides. The maiden wasn't the only target.

"Each of the four relics are hidden at each school across Remnant. Beacon would have been attacked anyways. We gave the choice to Pyyrha, we wouldn't force her into this."

"Bullshit!" Jaune stood as he hissed, "You know how Pyyrha was. There was no choice once you told her the stakes." The blonde stalked out the room to the terrace. Yang winced as the door slammed shut.

"So what now?" Nora broke the silence, "Knowing this is good, I guess, but it doesn't really change what we're here to do right?"

"Well yes and no." Qrow ran a hand down his face, "You guy's were originally going to track down Cinder." There wasn't a question in his voice and it had them squirming in their seats, "Well we know what her objective is. The spring maiden. And I know where she is. If we can find the Spring Maiden we can safeguard her and hopefully bring Cinder in. Or kill her."

Everyone looked to each other in nervousness but Yang noticed that didn't show any reaction at all. Her eyes narrowed but she decided to deal with it later.

"Okay so it's simple then. Get to this Maiden, protect her, fuck up Cinder when she comes." Yang slammed one hand into the other.

"Not so fast Firecracker." For once Qrow looked nervous himself, "Y'see the problem is in where she is."

"Quit beating around the bush Uncle Qrow. Where?"

"She's with the Branwen Tribe."

Silence.

It was a curious silence. The only ones who knew of the importance of those words was her sister but the other could sense something from Yang. Now it explained why Qrow had tried to dance around the subject. He knew about her issues with her mother, he had even told her where she was.

It made a certain amount of sense. The only other place than Haven that could keep you safe would be a place like that. Yang closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Is she being held prisoner?"

"Probably not."

"Will she come willingly?"

"Not likely."

"I see."

Yang turned and walked out the same direction Jaune had went earlier. Ruby whined down in her throat looking from her uncle to her sister until the latter was out of sight. Qrow stood up too, the look on his face not relishing what he was about to go do.

"All right kids. You probably need time to process this, I'm gonna go meet with Headmaster Lionheart. I need to secure some help if we're gonna go raid the bandit tribe."

With that he left the four of them alone. Neo was stonefaced in the corner and Ren was the first to place a question as the silence stretched into minutes, "Ruby. I couldn't help but notice the similarities between Qrow's name and the bandit tribe."

The young man let the question hang in the air as Ruby agonized over Yang's personal business. Eventually she relented realizing that they would find out eventually anyways.

"Uncle Qrow and his sister, Yang's mom, were born of the tribe. Aunt Raven abandoned Yang when she was born. For a long time Sis was obsessed with finding her. So this is kind of a big deal for her. I'm pretty sure Aunt Raven is there."

"Ren…" Nora looked pleadingly at Ren.

"I know Nora. We will of course support Yang no matter what."

Ruby felt her eyes water a little as she looked at her friends. She was once again thankful for her time at Beacon, giving her so many invaluable friends.

Jaune felt someone settle in next to him as he rested his elbows on the balcony overlooking Mistral. The city was definitely more beautiful than Vale was, built into a large valley surrounded by mountains. The cool crisp evening air bit at his skin but he paid it no attention even as the cold faded away in the face of the heat generated by the person next to him.

Looking over he saw the other blond in the group with her chin in her hands and elbows on the balustrade. She had a troubled expression on her face even as she huffed loudly.

"Hey." He said simply, wishing he had something to say that didn't sound quite so dumb.

"Hey" She returned, short and clipped.

"So, uh, what's wrong?"

She spared him a look out of the corner of her eye before looking back out over the city. After a minute she turned to him, leaning on the balcony still, with a sigh.

"You know Ruby and I are half-sisters, right?" She continued when he nodded, "Well my biological mother, Raven, is the leader of the Branwen Tribe. Uncle Qrow just told us that she has the Spring Maiden and is most likely Cinder's next target."

Jaune could guess from Yang's current mood that there were issues there and wasn't sure how to go about talking to the girl. Turns out he didn't need to as she continued with her story.

"Thing is, though, I used to be obsessed with finding her. So obsessed that I nearly got myself and Ruby killed by dragging her along on a quest to go find her. Ever since I swore that I wouldn't let my search for her get in the way of family. And now… and now she just shows up in my path. The woman who abandoned me at birth. Not only that. But on the train, when I fought Neo, she showed up. Without a word or anything, she showed up and saved my life."

She was on a roll now. Words gushing forth as she unloaded all of the frustrations she'd been hiding for so long.

"I don't even know why, either. I get a message from Qrow later that she saved me once but not to expect it again. Does she care? Does she not? I can't figure it out and it makes me angry. But more than that I'm scared. Scared of what she would say when I do see her."

Her golden mane shook as she shivered and Jaune put an arm over her shoulders and slowly, after several deep breaths she got it under control. He felt her step into him though it looked like she was unaware of it herself. For several minutes they stood like that until Jaune could get his words in order.

"I don't think you should care." She tilted her head up to look at him, "I mean she gave you up right? Which means she doesn't get to say anything about you now. You're amazing as you are now Yang. You are strong and kind. You put your family first, unlike her. She doesn't get to come in now and judge you, Yang. If she tries, I won't let her. We won't." He added that last part on after a cough.

Looking down at her he could see her smirking at him now. She moved away from him and poked him in the chest with a finger, "Well damn loverboy. Keep up words like that and I might just fall for you."

She stepped through his stammering to give him a quick hug, "Thanks Jaune."

The blond woman turned to leave and stopped at the door. Looking back she flashed him a radiant smile that had his pulse quicken before she was through the door, leaving him in the cool evening air and a disappointingly empty feeling of warmth that was no longer there.

A/N: So there you have it. I ignored the standard expo dump because you all should be more or less aware of what was said and it would be boring to read.

So I will probably start Old Man Jaune as a new project but I wont stick to an update schedule for that one. For those of you interested her is the synopsis.

"Ruby Rose died to secure a future for the people of Remnant against Salem but that is a cold comfort for Jaune Arc who had to live on after many of those he loved had died. Decades later the jaded man is called upon once again to safeguard the new hope for humanity as an old enemy returns with a vengeance."