A/N: Haha, told you this would be late Thursday! :D

On that note, holy hell, I'm so surprised about the reception of last chapter. I didn't realize that so many of you hated Jaune getting blackmailed by Cardin, and that some of you think I'm railroading the story...

Well, you aren't 100% wrong. :D

But guuuuyz, trust me, I haz good plan. Unfortunately, this chapter will be more railroading... as well as some not railroading. ^-^ I hope y'all enjoy.

'Nyways, Onwards!

Jaune winced at how loudly the door seemed to sound when it was two in the morning. Jaune hoped that he didn't wake anyone up.

He didn't, but that was because they were already awake, waiting for Jaune to come back into their room. The three of them, even Nora, looked stern, as well as concerned as to why Jaune was coming back to their room so late. Jaune tried to play it cool and ignore them, shuffling to the side to place Crocea Mors away.

"You guys don't have to wait up for me you know." Jaune muttered. Pyrrha's arms were crossed and her lips were pursed in a thin line.

"Yes, but we need to. After all, it is the team that you are affecting with you staying out late with… with Cardin." She said. Jaune didn't bother reacting to the subtle jab and took out his sleepwear, a pair of shorts and a white undershirt. Jaune shrugged.

"It's not like I'm doing worse in any of my classes or anything."

"Well that's because you don't have the best grades in the first place…." Nora said, trailing off. Jaune smirked at her.

"Exactly."

Ren shook his head, his bangs swaying with the motion.

"Jaune, we are just concerned about you. If you could tell us what you're doing when you leave, or why you've been spending time with Cardin, our fears would be laid to rest." It was a logically sound argument that trapped Jaune into a spot. Either he told the team what he was doing, or he didn't and they would fear the worse. Jaune sighed and rubbed his neck, trying to find a way to allay their fears while not just outright lying to them. Jaune's grandfather had always taught him that lying to your friends was a big no-no. And they weren't his enemies, and much too close to be just acquaintances.

So Jaune guessed that they were his friends.

"Relax guys." Jaune said, holding out his hands. "I've just been helping out Cardin with some things is all."

"What type of things?" Pyrrha asked, still not moving away from her stern position. Jaune thought back. After Cardin had found the appropriate blackmail for Jaune, he decided to… make Jaune do menial tasks? Doing his homework for him, carrying all his stuff back and forth, buying him lunch, finding a bunch of rapier wasps and putting them in a box for him.

One of these things is not like the other…

It really didn't matter to Jaune though. He didn't mind suffering through all of this if it meant keeping his secret safe. If only Jaune could catch Cardin out alone sometime…

Things would end up very differently.

"Oh you know. Just harmless things." Jaune said weakly.

"Oh really? I didn't realize that the Cardin who bullies so many people and is an indiscreet faunus-phobe would need your help doing something harmless…" Nora tilted her head to the side in thought. "Are you sure we're talking about the same guy here?"

Jaune winced at the blunt, but apt, description of Cardin.

"Look guys, I appreciate the concern, but it's really alright. Cardin's not hurting anybody, and as long as he's focused on me he can't really aim that uh, energy towards anyone else." That didn't seem to relieve their worries at all, as Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha just looked at each other.

"Look, Jaune," Pyrrha started, "I know you can take care of yourself. And it seems as if you're a very individualistic person. And… well…" Pyrrha looked at the other two teammates to try and find the right way to say this.

"We think that you're not acting like a team leader." Ren said finally, rescuing Pyrrha out of the awkward silence. Jaune didn't talk for a second, rolling the thought over and over again in his head.

Why should he care if he wasn't a good team leader? He wasn't going to be here any longer than he needed to be, and the moment he left someone more willing and able would take his place. Honestly, this should make him overjoyed. Now he could just admit it and give the position over to Pyrrha or Ren or No- or Ren. But it didn't make him feel overjoyed.

It made him feel hurt.

Jaune frowned at the tight feeling in his chest and shook his head slowly. Ren continued to talk.

"You don't… seem to be actively trying to talk to us, nor do you attempt to find ways for us to interact with each other. Honestly, the only thing that you do when you aren't in class is read those books of yours. Maybe—"

"I get it." Jaune said, cutting off Ren. They both fell silent as Jaune took a deep breath in. He knew he wasn't being a good leader or friend. He knew that. He did it on purpose didn't he?

Then why did it hurt so much when they looked at him with those accusing eyes?

Jaune stood up abruptly, heading towards the door.

"I need some air." Jaune said quietly.

"Wait, Jaune—" Pyrrha spoke out before recoiling at the slammed door. The three of them looked back at each other, not sure they really achieved anything.

"Well, that went well." Ren said.

Jaune leaned against the railing that lined the rooftop of Beacon, sighing. This was the first time in a long time that he's been out and about with so many people of the same age as he was. One would say that past his polite but snarky exterior he was all left feet and usually, both of them were in his mouth.

He pulled off his left glove and stared at the steel prosthetic. His hand gleamed dully in the night light, reflected off of the broken moon of Remnant. Jaune rotated the arm around, wincing at the dull ache where his shoulder and automail met. Taking off his shirt, Jaune shivered momentarily at the brisk wind before taking off the arm and resting it across his legs. Jaune sighed in relief as the tight feeling around his shoulder loosened up.

Jaune stayed like that for a while, relishing the fact that he didn't have to worry about other people and their judgment for a little longer.

Jaune heard some shifting as someone entered the rooftop.

"I thought I might see you here." Blake said softly. Jaune snorted in amusement.

"What brings you here?" Jaune asked. He didn't bother putting his arm back, knowing that it would just show that he wasn't comfortable with it.

He'd been comfortable with the prosthetic for two years now.

"Your team came over to our room after you left. Apparently they're frustrated that you won't open up to them." Blake said calmly. Jaune leaned his head against the rails.

"It's not like anyone really asks them to do it. It's not like I need to know them to lead them." Jaune retorted. Blake's bow twitched as she smirked.

"Actually I think you kind of do."

Jaune just waved it away with his right hand. "I won't be leading them for long anyways. After I finish all of my transposing for Ozpin I'm going home." Blake blinked.

"But wouldn't you rather do this with friends?" Jaune raised an eyebrow.

"This is coming from the girl who would rather retreat into a book than play with your team?"

Blake rolled her eyes. "Yes, sometimes I need my space. But I always appreciate the fact that they offer me the opportunity, and welcome me when I join." Her voice, still soft, took on a persuasive tone. "It wouldn't hurt to have friends like that."

Jaune pursed his lips and shrugged carelessly. "So, what? I be friends with them for a few months then never talk to them again?" Jaune scoffed derisively. "Yeah, I think I'd rather spare them the betrayal."

Blake stepped forward.

"Is it really though?"

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "What?" Blake repeated her question.

"Is it really just to stop them from getting their feelings hurt? Or are you just running away from everything that seems a little difficult? Because that's what it sounds like to me." Blake said.

Jaune stared at her.

"I'll do that when you take off your bow in front of your team." Jaune said back. Blake froze, her expression hurt. But Jaune was right. What right did she have telling Jaune that he was a coward when she was the same way? Her eyes cast downwards and Jaune, not for the first time, felt like a complete ass.

"Maybe we can both stop running then." Blake said, causing Jaune to shift in surprise. "Maybe… maybe we just need someone to trust."

A moment of silence passed as Jaune stared at his metal left arm, laying on his lap like a dead fish. Was there really a problem with trusting someone? Why shouldn't he? What could be the worst that could happen if Jaune put his trust and respect towards someone again?

Well.

They could end up like his grandfather.

Jaune shook his head softly, casting away those dreary thoughts. Blake on the other hand, was waiting for Jaune to say anything, to see if he would finally accept the outstretched hand that was being offered.

"I trust you." Jaune whispered. Blake's ears under her bow perked up, picking up what he said. She smiled softly.

"And I, you." Blake said back. Jaune looked at Blake's smile, and couldn't help but give a small, but hopeful smile back.

Do I really need to be alone?

Maybe Jaune didn't. Maybe he could make friends again and put his trust in others. Maybe he could start with Blake.

Jaune breathed out, this time in relief. "Let's… talk about something different now." Blake laughed, conceding to Jaune's point. They didn't need to push each other any more than was necessary.

"What do you want to talk about?" Blake asked, happy to have a conversation with the ever so elusive Jaune. She settled down on the other side of him, crossing her legs and finding a comfortable spot for their talk. Jaune looked thoughtful, tapping his chin before snapping his fingers.

"Are you planning on hiding your ears from your teammates forever?" Jaune asked. Blake paused. She thought about her answer carefully, drawing from her past, as well as her interactions with her team. Ruby and Yang, Blake was pretty sure they would accept her, but…

"This is probably about Weiss isn't it?" Jaune asked before Blake could say anything. She nodded, getting Jaune to do the same.

"I think you should tell them." He said, causing Blake to raise both eyebrows in surprise. Jaune continued to press on his point.

"I think they trust you right now. And if they figure it out from someone else you could lose all of that. Maybe just think about it?" Jaune asked. Blake kept her eyes on him, making him a little nervous.

"Or you know, don't. It's not really my place to say—"

"Okay." Blake said. Jaune stopped talking. "Okay?" He echoed. Blake nodded and didn't say anything else.

"Oh. Well. That's good." Jaune finished lamely.

"But if I do, maybe you could do the same." Blake said, staring intently at Jaune. Jaune gave a confused chuckle.

"What, tell my team that you're a faunus? I don't know, I don't think it's my place to say—" Jaune stopped when Blake rested a hand on his hand.

"You know what I mean Jaune." Blake reached up and loosened her bow, revealing her cat ears. "I think you should talk to your teammates about your knowledge of alchemy. It might help prepare them."

"For when I leave?" Jaune asked. Blake hesitated, thinking of the White Fang again.

"For… for the future."

Jaune raised an eyebrow at the ominous tone of voice, but pushed it aside, assuming that Blake was just talking about something else. He turned his palm over and grasped her fingers softly.

"Alright." Jaune said. Blake nodded, glad she got the point across. Jaune glanced up past Blake's eyes and towards her ears, which were moving sporadically, twitching this way and that cutely. Jaune's fingers rose towards her ears slowly.

"Can I?" Jaune asked hopefully. Blake froze for a moment before relaxing again and leaning her head forward before smirking and pointing to his shoulder.

"Can I?" She asked back. Jaune swallowed nervously. No one had ever touched his shoulder socket except his eldest sister, who was the one who installed the automail. It seemed intimate to him but…

Jaune nodded and Blake's fingers touched his shoulder socket while Jaune's fingers made contact with her ears.

Jaune was assaulted by the feeling of the soft and furry ears, like a fluffy carpet that you couldn't help but sink your toes in. The insides were smooth where the hair wasn't, and the skin was like silk. Along with that sensation came the sensation of prickling near his shoulder where Blake's fingers trailed. As she moved her fingers along the point where skin met metal, where her cool fingers went from the cold automail to the warm skin on his shoulder, Jaune could feel tiny pinpricks tingling along his skin, though not in an unpleasant manner. As she continued to do so, Jaune couldn't help but relax against the touch, shoulders dropping and tension oozing out of him.

Over on Blake's side was the same feeling as Jaune continued to touch and rub her ears, something that was a little more intimate to faunus than she was going to admit out loud. The feeling of having someone rub your ears could go either way, being either a frighteningly uncomfortable feeling or an incredibly relaxing one. Blake trusted Jaune. Without conscious thought Blake leaned forward a little more, rubbing her head against his hand. A purr crept out of her throat as she continued to relax under his touch while she continued to explore the surface of Jaune's automail shoulder socket. The coolness of the automail was an interesting feeling, and towards the end Blake could feel distinct movements under the metal, as if the metal was constantly shifting like real muscle and blood.

They stayed like that for a while, exploring each other's secrets thoroughly with mutual trust.

It didn't take much longer for both of them to droop in exhaustion as the Beacon's clocks struck three, their hands (or in Jaune's case, hand) dropping and their heads falling, Blake's resting on Jaune's right shoulder before Jaune rested his head on hers, both of them out like a light.

A/N: Yaaaaaaaaaay Fluff!