Chapter 18

…

Ruby Rose grazed his strained features with only tips of her fingers, and even then, she did so utterly, utterly gently and cautiously.

Thankfully, uncle Qrow was getting better. She knew he was, and everyone around her told her the same. I know that much…But even so, she still couldn't help but worry. After all, seeing her uncle so tired, so defeated and so defenseless, it was something unfamiliar to her. Utterly scary, but above all else, heart-breaking.

Letting out a tremulous breath, she planted a soft kiss on his forehead, and then weakly smiled to herself. "You're going to be just fine…Right, Uncle Qrow?" She mumbled, and her answer was his slow but even breathing. She in return kissed his forehead again, her pained silver wandering about his weakened body.

…Honestly, their journey to Haven was even more arduous than what she expected.

They fought. Aplenty of times. Not just for their own sake, but sometimes to help others. And not only did they fight creatures of grimm, both old and new, but they also crossed path with a malicious, crazed scorpion faunus. A threat too great for them if not for the help of uncle Qrow. He came in the nick of time, and together with him, they successfully managed to force the enemy faunus to retreat. Unfortunately, uncle Qrow was severely poisoned during the fray, and from that point on, it was an uphill battle against the time. Time which they didn't have much of as uncle Qrow's condition was rapidly worsening, and they all grew desperate and hopeless as a result of it. Especially Ruby who lost all, but the smallest speck of hope that she wouldn't lose yet another precious person to her. It truly seemed like she would, but then, finally, they had a stroke of luck when two patrolling airships noticed them and soon after, welcomed them aboard. Took them to Haven and now they were here.

"We made it…" Ruby uttered with a shaky breath, and a moment later, she felt tears well in her eyes. "It wasn't easy, nor do we know yet if it was even worth it…but we made it. We truly, really did," She whispered, and then squeezed her eyes shut and fought back the ever-growing tears the best she could. Sat there pretty much alone, before someone knocked on the door.

Ruby wiped her tears away, and gave herself a moment to try and collect her bearings. "Come in!"

The door slowly cracked open, and Ren and Nora welcomed themselves in.

"Hey, Rubs," Nora said in a form of greeting while Ren simply gave her a worried look.

"Hi." She greeted them back.

The duo moved some paces closer, and soon, Nora wrapped her arms around her friend. "He's looking better than he did before," She said.

Ruby weakly nodded. "Yea. He just needs some more rest before he fully recovers."

"That's what doctors said, right?"

Ruby again, weakly nodded.

"He's not the only one who needs some more rest though."

"…I know. I just can't stop worrying about him and…that's why I'm here."

Nora tightened her arms around her. "I know. But I also know that you know I won't relent till you do as I say," She said, and as she did, Ren put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"And I know you know that I will agree with Nora," He said, and Ruby's lips were just shy of making a smile. Regardless, her silver did speak of something brighter than grim emotions. Before she truthfully did manage a minuscule curve in her lips, her fingers grazing her uncle's cheeks just one more time.

"Alright, you guys. Let's go and have some rest," She said, and was quick on her feet. Simply put, she wanted to go before she would change her mind.

"Right," Nora said, her exhausted features slightly brightening. Much like Ren's.

…

They all shared a single bed. Ruby and Ren seated themselves on the edge while Nora had her back pressed to Ren's. At first, they didn't talk much, and truly allowed themselves some much needed rest. Just peace and quiet, before lips slowly began to crack open, and they started to converse.

"We've really done it, guys. We reached Haven," Nora said.

"Yea." Ruby's voice was almost a whisper, and Ren settled for a simple nod of acknowledgment.

Let's hope it was worth it. They all thought of the same, but none dared to say. At first at least, before Nora sighed, and pulled her knees to her chest.

"This whole thing's a huge gamble, isn't it? For all we know, Qrow could be wrong, and we won't get any answers or clues here. There's no enemy to chase after and fight, and this whole journey to Haven could end up being…just pointless," She said, and then buried her face into her knees.

Ren turned his head to his backside, his lips partially open, but couldn't utter a word in the end. He did have some stuck in his throat, but not a single one seemed meaningful. Or capable to dispute what she said. After all, there was a lot of truth to her words. Truth that they didn't talk about, nor did they want to. Even as reckless, or perhaps even stupid such negligence was.

"…"

They remained quiet and tense longer still. Before Ruby sighed, and weakly clenched her hands into fists.

"We didn't have many options to choose from, did we?" She started, and Ren and Nora turned their looks to her. "If we didn't take on this journey, what else would we be doing? Pretend that everything's going to be okay? That the world will fix itself somehow?" She said, and Nora and Ren started to contemplate. They tried to imagine a different life, or if that different life would be better than the ones that they had right now.

As they continued to daydream, Ruby spoke further.

"I say, we at least have to try. We're huntsmen, after all. We either fight till we win, or till the inevitable happens."

Nora flashed a brief smile. "That's a leader for you. That was the bravest thing I've ever heard in my life."

Ruby inwardly grimaced. "I'm actually scared. Sometimes even terrified. I mean, what if defeating Cinder and her gang doesn't solve anything? What if there's a much bigger threat behind her? Someone we simply can't defeat? Then what…What do we do then?" Grim words came from her mouth. Words which lived in the depths of her unspoken worries and fears. Feelings she usually silenced, but now gave them voice. "That's why, it's not that I'm brave. I'm simply more scared to lose even more things…people, if I choose not to do anything. If I don't at least try." She finished, and then Ren cupped her hand with his own, while Nora hugged her shoulders.

"Actually, that makes you even braver," She started, her tone gentle. "Most would not even dare to try if they were in your shoes. You're truly quite something. Something else, Ruby," She said, and her words gave a way for them to share a brief smile.

"Thanks…Even if I do think you're exaggerating."

"I think she isn't." Ren chimed in.

Ruby's silver noticeably softened. "And you guys are awesome as well."

"Of course," Nora said, her mood clearly brighter than it was before.

"Then it's settled, isn't it? The only way to move is forward. We have to, no matter what," Ruby lied through her teeth, but they didn't notice.

If her incompetence would lead to someone else getting nearly killed like it did when uncle Qrow was forced to take a blow which was meant for her…I'm giving up. She was sure she would, but she wouldn't tell them that. She was a leader, after all. And leaders spoke about anything but giving up. Moreover, she would use the time that she had to better herself, and those around her, so she wouldn't need to give up.

"Right. But let's be hopeful that once everything's said and done, we all can enjoy a big stack of pancakes. We, our friends and our family. All of us still together," She said, and the trio then shared a hopeful, honest smile.

"You bet."

"Right," Ren finished the topic, and then came a pause. A simple moment of silence, but a welcome, pleasant one. A chance for them to finally appreciate the fact they were here. That they actually made it, and that hopefully, their efforts would not be in vain.

And above all else, that they did what was right.

"…"

A moment of reflection lasted a little longer still. And as their thoughts started to wander about the people who were here, they also started to think of the ones who weren't.

"I wonder…I wonder how Jaune's doing? And Yang as well." Nora was the one to break the spell.

"It's uncertain, but I do believe that even while still hurting, they're also trying to overcome their weaknesses and pain. And will become stronger as a result of it," Ren answered, and his tone seemed to be genuine.

"I hope you're right," Nora said, while Ruby thought pretty much the same thing. And with that settled, there always came another question which now voicelessly lingered in the air.

Why did he stay with Yang?

An uncertainty, which still puzzled them.

"We still want to know, don't we?" Nora said, and it only took a mere moment for them realize what she was talking about.

"Yea."

"Yes."

And then there was a pause.

They all wandered if it was worth it to speculate about it once again. Or rather, they knew that it wasn't, but curiosity and worry was swelling inside, and talking about it was the best way to deal with it.

"Maybe losing Pyrrha was too much for him. Maybe Jaune just wasn't able to move forward back then." Nora started first.

"He really was devastated by her loss. We all were, but he seemed to be the one who suffered the most." Ren added.

"That's true," Ruby started, her eyes pointed down to her interlaced fingers. "Maybe he just wanted an escape," She said, and then briefly wondered if it could be the case. Some moments later, her wondering if Yang had anything to do with his choice. "Did she? Anything at all?" She quietly mumbled to herself, and then turned her look to her friends. "Did Yang have anything to do with his choice? Did they share something we weren't aware of?"

"It's hard to believe that they did." Nora gave her two cents. "I mean, it's not like they ever hated each other, but they sure didn't seem to be close buddies or something either."

"Well, Yang did mention from time to time that Jaune was an interesting, funny guy. And that he also seemed to be the nice, caring type," Ruby said.

"Okay, but is that really enough of a reason for him to decide and stay at your place with her?" Nora asked.

"…"

A pause. They knew it wasn't.

"Also, it's kinda surprising that Yang let him stay," Ruby said, making them go quiet again. Before Ren's lips began to crack open, and uncharacteristically to him, he spoke faster than he thought.

"Maybe he just wanted to help," He started. "Jaune's always been one to help others, especially those in dire need of help. Maybe he thought he could help Yang more then he could us," He finished, and it quickly dawned to them that they had never thought of it that way.

"It…I don't know, I guess it does kinda make sense," Nora said.

"It kinda does, yea." Ruby agreed as well. "Especially considering that Jaune's always had problems with confidence. It wouldn't be surprising if he thought that he wouldn't be of any help to us. That instead, he could try and help her, somehow," Ruby said, blinked, and her brows furrowed just visibly. "That doesn't explain why Yang let him stay, though."

"Maybe she just didn't care?" Nora suggested.

"Could be, I guess. Then again, she didn't let anyone close to her, not even me or our dad so…I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders, but then, for a mere split second, a bright, beautiful thought crossed her mind. So optimistic that it was borderline silly, but that's exactly what she loved about it. So much so, that she soon voiced this one bright and beautiful thought. "Maybe it wasn't just Jaune who wanted to help. What if Yang wanted too? Perhaps they just wanted to help each other. Maybe they thought they could help each other better than anyone else could. For whatever reason there may have been." She finished, and they all paused for a moment, before Nora's lips curved into a smile.

"Maybe you're right. What do you say, Ren?"

He cracked a minuscule smile as well. "It could be. It is far-fetched but even so, Ruby could be right," He said, and as he did, Ruby rose to her feet.

"Let's write them a letter. To Jaune and Yang. And my dad too. What do you say?" She asked in a fairly lively voice.

"Let's!" Nora exclaimed, and Ren strongly nodded. Moments later, the group of friends in hot search for any paper and pen. Even a pencil would do, it didn't matter. What did however, was the content of said letter.

And how it should end.