Someone demanded I do a Blake and Jaune fic, said he would like to see me try my hand at it.

'Why not?' I had thought.

-YARN

It began in a bar.

Nine years after he had started his education at the finest university for hunters ever made in Vale, Jaune Arc was sitting alone at the bar with a drink in his hand and letting the burning carry down his throat and let him sigh. His glass clinked quietly as he set it back down on the counter, swirling the ice and amber liquid until it seems to blur within his glass cup. A thoughtful look crossed over his face as he mused over exactly how much everyone had moved on their own ways after graduating and fighting the Grimm for a while. Ruby and Yang were still at it, but that was in their nature, though Ruby had been looking at patrolling the cities. Weiss had to take over the company, and from last Jaune had checked was filling the role well. Nora and Ren had begun traveling - much to everyone's surprise - Ren shrugged with a smile, stating that Nora wanted to travel. Blake had decided to take to the political scene, helping faunus rights.

As for Pyrrha, she and Jaune had stayed together for a bit before she had gone back to Mistral. They parted on good terms, Jaune wasn't mad and supported her decision, while she asked him to come, he sighed and said he couldn't leave Vale.

She asked why, he responded by saying his family needed him.

It was true, his father was getting on in his years and his mother was also having trouble, he had stayed for two years and then moved back to the city, and that too after his sisters pushed him out demanding he make some friends. It had been a year and then had been working at a high school for hunters. Good pay and he still kept up with up all the work, given he hardly slept or took time off. He liked the work, and quite frankly, seeing his students made all the work worth it. The door chime sounded and Jaune took another swig of the liquid within the glass. He contemplated leaving when a voice soft with a hint of surprise and awe laced in it jolted him out of his contemplation.

"Jaune?"

He turned and saw someone he thought he wouldn't run into aside from the multiple parties that Yang had been emailing him for over the years (he'd attended as many as he could, but sometimes he had to skip out).

"Blake?"

Her eyes were the same yellow amber he remembered, her faunus ears were on display for the entire world to see, and she looked well since the last time Jaune had seen her. She'd really made some progress in the government as to be honest, everyone was proud of her. She and Weiss had worked together using the SDC and her political aspirations to help improve faunus life. Jaune hopped out of his barstool and gave her a tight hug before pulling away and holding her at arm's length grinning widely.

"Wow Blake, never thought I'd see you here! How've you've been?" Jaune said leading her to a seat next to him at the bar and motioning for a drink.

"Good, I didn't know you were in this city, I would have visited." She replied as she shrugged out of her coat and draped it over the back of her chair.

He waved a hand dismissing her apology, "Don't sweat it, I didn't exactly broadcast it, there really was no way you could've known."

"How's Pyrrha?" Blake asked.

Jaune paused at this, his smile somewhat dimming, "We haven't talked recently, not since Yang's last party, she went back to Mistral shortly afterwards."

Blake blinked, and flushed in worry, ears flattening down, "Oh I... I didn't mean to -"

Jaune chuckled, "It's fine, we parted on good terms, she just wanted to move to Mistral and go teach at Sanctum, and I had some familial obligations that I wouldn't leave."

"Oh. I see." She said.

"So, how's Sun?"Jaune asked, smiling.

Blake looked down at her poured drink, frowning, "Well, he kinda left too..."

Jaune blanched, "Oh Monty Blake, I didn't mean to open any old pain."

She shook her head, "It's not like that, we also separated on good terms. He didn't like being still and my political job really cut into our relationship. He was always on the move, and he didn't like how I was always stuck behind a desk. It's kinda ironic, after he left, a lot of my plans went through and I suddenly had more free time than I really knew what to do with."

Jaune frowned, "It shouldn't have, I don't know if it means much, but I know how important what you've done and what you're doing now is to you. I mean I know someone like Sun would have trouble settling but he could have taken some hunting missions... you two looked good together, I wished that hadn't happened."

Blake smiled, "Thanks, so where have you been living?"

Jaune scratched the back of his head, "Bought a small house in the residential area. It's a good neighborhood. How about you?"

"A high rise penthouse." she replied looking slightly embarrassed.

Jaune burst out laughing, "And here I thought you wanted for little!" He grinned, "But in all honesty, I am happy for you, Blake."

"Thanks, I splurged a bit because I had the money."

Jaune smirked, "You don't have to justify yourself to me Blake. But since your here, and it's been a while since we've really caught up..." Jaune sipped his drink, "Let's talk."

"I'm sleepy..." Blake muttered.

Jaune stumbled a bit as He helped Blake to his car, "Monty, Blake, did you have to drink so much?!"

"Shuddap..." She slurred, dazedly swiping at his shoulder.

"Well, I guess I can drop you back at your room..." Jaune said as he rummaged through his pockets.

"I don't want to go back..." She mumbled, clinging tighter to his neck.

Jaune gave Blake a bemused look, "My god Blake you were never this clingy when you were drunk those few times before."

"It's too quiet! I hate how quiet it all is!" She growled, "I am not letting go."

Jaune sighed and propped her slightly, "Blake..."

He winced as she cuddled into his chest her claws dug slightly into his shoulder before he sighed in resignation, "Okay... how about you can stay at my place for a night okay?"

"Mmhm." She hummed.

Jaune, thanked his father for his high alcohol tolerance, he mostly drank nowadays as a small treat or something to unwind. He never had enough to even buzz him, he just never felt comfortable to do so.

Well he didn't hate to be the designated driver anyway, the pulse of streetlights as he drove down an quiet street was always soothing to him.

The hum of the engine.

The ground crackling under the wheels.

Soft breaths puffing the air.

Jaune drove home occasionally glancing at the now sleeping Blake curled up in the passenger seat of his car. He quirked a smile at the sight, whenever Blake had the poorer judgement to get drunk, she had always seemed to become more catlike in nature. She would often curl up next to Yang due to Yang's warm aura and body. She also got needy for lack of better term, clinging to her friends. Yang had gotten a kick out of that and Blake had been hesitant to drink more than absolutely necessary afterwards. He smiled at the sight of the home he had bought, out of the way and nice and quiet. He open his garage door and steered towards it.

He parked the car in his modest garage and gently shook Blake's form, "Hey Blake? Come on, wake up now."

She mumbled and turned over, unwilling to get up. Jaune sighed and closed the garage door before he picked her up in a bridal carry. He walked inside and carried her to his bedroom. He gently made her shrug out of her heavy coat and tucked into the bed. He nodded once that was done and went to the bathroom to change into his pajamas.