Ren lay awake, unable to sleep no matter how comfortable he got, and he had gotten mighty comfortable. Their bed was soft, the house warm, his stomach was full, and Nora's sleeping form was draped across his chest. He stared at their ceiling fan as it spun slowly around, not really giving any air at all. He sighed, not really sure what was wrong with him. Nora was different today. She always was after coming back from a long mission. She didn't talk as much, wasn't as energetic. She would stare off into space at times. He tried his best to be understanding, but sometimes it was difficult. She hadn't left his side since they were children, so when she had gone out on her own missions as a huntress, he found himself missing her much more than he thought he would. That's why, when she came back, all he wanted to do was spend time with her, but she needed her space. She would always be as happy to see him as he was to see her, but after that initial burst of enthusiasm, things were...different. In all honesty, he wouldn't have minded too much if Jaune had accepted his offer to have dinner with them that night. It might have made the distance between him and Nora a little easier to deal with. He had heard that this happened, but it was still hard. He supposed that it wouldn't get any easier, but as he looked at her sleeping face, he knew she was worth every moment. He kissed her forehead and got out of bed.

She mumbled something, but he reassured her that he would be right back. It was still early, after all, and long day or not, sometimes his late nights seemed to last forever. Especially nights like this. He walked towards the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. Sipping slowly, he stared out the window at the serene view outside. It was why he had chosen this neighborhood. There was nothing he wanted more than a peaceful place for Nora, himself... and possibly their family someday. It was all he had ever wanted. But while he had been content to carve out a small place for them, he had wished for nothing more than to make their city safer in the trifling matters as well as the important ones. Nora, however, couldn't be contained to something so small. Every day she went back out there she was firmly set on saving the world and having fun doing it. He loved that about her, and wouldn't change even the smallest detail about her for anything in the world. But sometimes...

He shook his head, not wanting to dwell on things. Still, since he was thinking of troublesome things, his mind wandered to his partner in crime. It seemed that Jaune had many of the same long nights that Ren did. No matter what time Ren called him, Jaune would answer as if he had been awake for hours. Ren wasn't sure how much sleep his friend was getting, but he worried. It was a tough job and getting tougher every day. Especially on days like this, where no matter how hard you tried you just seemed to come up empty. Still, at least Ren had Nora. Jaune really didn't have that same pillar of support. Things had been... rough since Beacon and the breakup of JNPR. He and Nora had always tried their best to make sure Jaune never felt unwelcome in their home, but Jaune was an adult after all, and he had his own life to live.

Ren picked up his Scroll, which he had left on the kitchen counter and opened up the menu. He found Jaune's number and stared at the picture next to it for a while. The man in that picture was genuinely happy, something his real life counterpart hadn't been in a long time. Ren just stared for a few moments before letting out a great sigh. He put the scroll down, not knowing what he would say even if he did make the call. The smiling face of his friend stared back up at him, a slender arm draped around his shoulder. Ren had cropped the picture after everything that had happened, knowing how Jaune would feel if he found out it hadn't been changed. He hung his head, his chest filling with an emotion he couldn't quite place, but knew he didn't like. It wasn't until a pair of arms wrapped around him that he realized he wasn't alone.

"You're worried about him, aren't you?"

"Yeah. He hasn't been the same. The act he puts up for me is almost as bad as the one he puts up for the criminals."

"He knows he's always welcome here, right?"

Ren nodded, staring at the picture on his Scroll for a few moments before closing it.

"Yeah, he knows. But Jaune has his own way of doing things. Besides, he'll be here tomorrow to make us that Southern Vale stew he promised you before you left."

Nora smiled at the thought of Jaune's cooking. "I suppose so. Though I hope you don't mind that I invited a friend."

"Of course not. The more the merrier. Anyone I know?"

"Oh, just a fellow huntress I was on a mission with this time. It'll be fine."

Ren smiled and nodded. "That's fine, but for now, let's stop worrying about everything else. The only thing I want to think about is us, and there's a bed just calling our name."

Nora let out a small giggle that put Ren more at ease than anything else she had said since she got back. It sounded like her old self. As she led him back to the bed, he tried his best to let his worries be as distant as stars above.

Across town, Jaune was also wide awake. He was on his knees, covered in sweat. The woman beneath him looked just as exhausted, but Jaune took some satisfaction in knowing that he had held his own this time. She hadn't outlasted him again. Satisfied, he fell down next to her on the floor and they lay there panting for breath for a few minutes.

"Well well well. You certainly are getting better," She said as she sat up. Her long ears twitched as she let out a small laugh.

"Yeah, I suppose so. Still, always room for improvement," he said as he propped himself on one elbow and smiled at her. "Whattaya say, wanna go for one more round?"

She giggled, her rabbit ears moving with each shake of her shoulders. "Don't you think five is enough?"

"Aww, c'mon. I'm sure you're good for at least one more."

"Sorry, Jaune. But I've got to be headed out," she said with a smile as she picked herself up and started to collect her things.

He lay back down for a few minutes as she got dressed and made herself presentable. It wasn't until she was done that he started getting ready to leave himself. Still, he couldn't stop himself from saying what was on his mind.

"Hey, Velvet. Thanks. I really needed this."

She looked at him with an amused expression. "Well I would say so. You were certainly a lot more...aggressive than usual today." She looked up at him when he didn't respond, her expression now showing concern. "Rough day?"

"Yeah, it's just this case that we're working on. It hasn't been easy, and the more we learn, the more we see just how in the dark we are. But don't worry too much about it, we'll get it soon," he added as he saw her brow start to furrow.

As he finished dressing himself and getting ready to leave, he looked over at her. Even after all this, he couldn't help that caring look that sometimes still crept into his eyes after they were done. She flushed a bit, but tried her best not to let it show.

"Do you want to do this again soon? Honestly, the sooner the better, if that's alright with you," he asked.

She smiled at him. "I suppose I am free tomorrow night. Though I don't know where you get the energy. I'll be sore all day," she added with another one of her easygoing laughs.

Jaune smiled and nodded. "Tomorrow night then. Right after dinner. Just please, remember-"

She interrupted him, almost seeming annoyed that he would remind her again. "Yes, yes, I know. No telling anyone. ESPECIALLY not Ren and Nora. And the Chief, I might add."

"Yeah, that's kind of a given though. Chief Yatsuhashi isn't my biggest fan already. Can you imagine what he would do if he found out about all this?"

"Yeah, that wouldn't be a pretty picture. Things are starting to look pretty serious between us now, so that's the LAST thing we need. So we're agreed then. Our little secret," she said as she tied her hair into a ponytail behind her.

They both stuck out their pinkies and locked them, each giving the gentle smile of people who were totally comfortable around one another.

"I'll see you tomorrow then, Detective."

"Yeah, I'll see you then."

Jaune gave her a bit of a head start before heading out himself. He waved at the clerk manning the front desk, who returned the gesture and gave him a knowing grin. Jaune didn't bother sending one back his way. He had really needed that release. All of the tension that had been building in him all day had finally seemed to snap in those last few moments, and he felt himself relaxing already. He shook his head and smiled a bit as he returned to his car, knowing that he would be asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.