Just Act Casually
AN: Well, in less than 48 hours, this story has gotten more follows than RWBYond Vale did in a year. I don't know whether to be proud of this story, or ashamed at you all. So, I want to address a complaint. For all those complaining about Ruby's characterization, I'm going somewhere with that.
Chapter 3: The Pyrrha Problem
Pyrrha's house was closer to the edge of town. The agricultural district on the southern edge of the city was a prime source of farm land on Sanas. Anyone wanting a quieter life, without the dangers that infected the land outside the walls, tended to find homes here. Or in the dozen or so places like it around Remnant.
Ruby walked side by side with Jaune down the trail. On top of this hill, was a cluster of houses. The one in the middle of those houses, is the one Pyrrha had spent a large fortune in purchasing. She and Jaune were already dating by then, so he moved in right away.
Ruby pushed her sunglasses back up to her face. Her hangover had pretty much gone away but the bright midday sun was still too much to bear. Jaune was uncharacteristically quiet. It didn't bother Ruby much. He was going through his first real breakup. Because that week he 'dated' Weiss doesn't, doesn't count.
"Nervous." She said, as a statement more than a question.
"It's so much easier to just run from your problems." Jaune said.
"I wouldn't know."
"Yeah, you of all people wouldn't get it." Jaune smiled. "You're always diving headlong into danger and taking only the most dangerous missions. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a death wish."
"Is that so?" Ruby acted as though she'd never heard that one before.
"That's what Pyrrha thought for a long time." Jaune noted. "She was even scared that you were going to drag me into hell on one of your damn foolish, idealistic crusades."
"Hey, if that shit that went down in Mistral didn't kill us, I don't think anything will." Ruby sighed. She took a drink from her flask.
"Isn't it a little early to be drinking?" Jaune joked.
"One, fuck you no it's not. Two, it's actually water." She passed him the flask. He took a sip.
"I stand corrected."
'You walk corrected." Ruby corrected.
"Really, dad jokes? Jaune shook his head. "I expect better from you."
"Would you rather me be making dick jokes?"
"Hmmm…not the time or place." Ruby said.
"Yeah, speaking of which, Pyrrha's not going to like…kill me or anything?" Ruby said.
"Since when did you care if she tried."
"This is the first time I'm ever going to deal with her without you being…well…with her." Ruby said. "So to speak."
"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Jaune said. "Doth my ears deceive me or is Ruby Rose, savior of Remnant, embodiment of valor, afraid of my ex-girlfriend?" Jaune began bellowing with laughter.
"Can it." Ruby said. "I'm not scared." She insisted. "This is odd for me too."
"How come?" Jaune said. "I mean, just a while ago you were ready to tell her to fuck off and fight you."
"Yeah well…to be honest…I would fight her. I'd win too. I just don't want to put up with that. I'm on your side and I think it's best to just be done with it as soon as possible and put some distance between the two of you."
"And if sometime down the road I change my mind?"
"That's your decision. You're my friend so I'll support you. Besides, you're one of the only people I know for a fact I can just cut loose and speak my mind around."
"Yeah, that time you dated Scarlet was evidence enough of that." Jaune noted.
They had reached the door. They looked around. Pyrrha's bike was here but that was it. Amery hadn't shown up yet. Jaune knocked on the door. The door was answered almost immediately. Pyrrha looked tired. Her eyes had dark shadows around them and there wasn't a speck of makeup on her body.
"Jaune?" She said. "And…Ruby?" She didn't sound as happy saying her name.
"Hey Pyrrha." Ruby waved with an empathetic smile.
"We're here…we're here to get my stuff." Jaune said.
"Oh…of course." Pyrrha said. She led them in. "Can I get you anything?"
"No thanks." Jaune said. Ruby bit her lip.
"I just need water." Ruby stated.
"I'll start packing my clothes." Jaune walked upstairs towards the room they had shared. Ruby started to follow him.
"Wait, Ruby." Pyrrha said.
"Fuck." Ruby said under her breath. "Yes?"
"Let him do…his business." Pyrrha motioned towards the couch. "Take a seat. It's so seldom that we spend any time just us two."
"Yeah, there's reasons for that." Ruby said. She hung her head low. "Don't take this the wrong way but…Jaune's helping me out. He needed a place to stay and I needed someone to fill Yang's old room when she ditched me for Sage."
"Yeah, Nora told me about that." Pyrrha grabbed a cup of coffee and a glass of ice water. She passed the water to Ruby.
"Thanks." Ruby sat down.
"Well, she told me about Yang anyway." Pyrrha amended. "I'm glad. As much as that dark little voice says that there's something more, I know if there was you'd tell me. You're honest to a fault. Even your lies are to protect those you care for. Which I know I'm not exactly in that category. But Jaune is."
"Jealousy is the shadow of greed." Ruby said. "Possession was never your problem. I don't know if Jaune realizes that but I do. I knew it from the moment I met you. I confirmed it when you tried getting me to back off. Your problem is pride."
"It's a flaw we both share." Pyrrha said. "We've both been blessed with such incredible talents. I thought if there was something I wanted I could get it and keep it. But I guess I was wrong." There was a pregnant silence between them. Ruby tried studying the champions face. There was unbridled sorrow. But it was clear that she wasn't in denial, or angry. "How's the hunting life?"
"Why do you ask?" Ruby took another drink.
"Because I could really use some of that positivity." Pyrrha stated.
"I'm…not that positive of a person. You know that, right?"
"Not anymore." Pyrrha said. "Not in situations like this anyway. Jaune tells…told me everything. I know for a fact that you are STILL, that wide eyed little girl who just loves being the hero."
"You know what…" Ruby smiled. "Some people say I have a death wish but I don't. Well, maybe I do, just a little bit. But I know I can do wonderful things so I have a responsibility to do them. If that means divebombing a fifty-foot fuckasaurus rex, then god fucking speed."
"Fuckasaurus rex?" Pyrrha giggled.
"Oh yeah, new Grimm type." Ruby lit up. "Discovered it on my last mission. Fucker nearly ate my baby." Ruby said, recounting how the Grimm had nearly swallowed Crescent Rose."
"Yeah, I haven't done a lot of work in the wilds as of late." Pyrrha said. "I've been working security for some high bidding corporations."
"That sounds comfy." Ruby said. If this were someone Ruby could smart-off with she would have called them a pussy and had a good laugh.
"Ruby?" Jaune came down the steps with a trash bag full of clothes.
"Sorry Jaune." Ruby said. "Just talking work." There was another knock on the door. Pyrrha answered it. Jaune's sister, Amery walked in.
"Sorry I'm late." She said. Ali took the truck last night to her boyfriend's and…yeah didn't come back until this morning."
"It's alright." Jaune gave his kid sister a hug. "At least you got here safe."
"How're you doing Pyrrha?" Amery asked.
"Oh, I'm…hanging in there." She gave a halfhearted laugh.
"Hey Amery." Ruby said.
"Oh, you're here too." Amery noted. Ruby rolled her eyes. She was not about to have a pissing contest with Jaune's sixteen-year-old sister. Especially with Pyrrha and Jaune right there. When Ruby didn't rise to the challenge, Amery just brushed her off.
"Hard part is done." Jaune said. He passed the bag of clothes to his sister. "Load them up."
"Aye, aye sir." Amery said with a sarcastic salute.
"Now to get my games and movies." Jaune said. He went into a storage closet and grabbed a backpack. He then went to the television stand in the living room and started loading it up.
"I'm going to miss those movies."
"Nah, I've got a lot of the same ones at my place." Ruby said. "So, a lot of those are yours now."
"Thanks." Pyrrha started walking up the stairs.
"Hey, we're not heartless." Jaune said. Ruby joined him in sorting through the movies. "So, what did she want to talk about?"
"Your mom." Ruby said. "We talked about my missions and her jobs."
"You're both really, really good at what you do. It's something you've always had in common."
"You're not half bad either." Ruby said.
"Thank?" Jaune raised an eyebrow.
"You're not half good either but you've managed to not get your ass beat in a while." Ruby said.
"Ha, ha." Jaune faked a laugh. Amery walked back in. "I think that's everything."
"Not everything." Ruby said. "You're missing something really important."
"I already grabbed my toothbrush."
"No, your weapon." Ruby said.
"My dick?" Jaune joked. Amery facepalmed and Ruby rolled her eyes. "Corcea Mors is in the trophy room upstairs."
"Well go get it." Amery said.
"Alright, take this out to the truck." Jaune passed the bag to his sister.
"God sometimes I feel like your slave." Amery said.
"No, he's only broken out the whips for one person." Ruby teased.
"Ruby!" Amery was not amused.
"Don't get your panties in a bunch and get your head out of the gutter. I meant an actual whip and I wasn't talking about Pyrrha." Ruby put a finger to her mouth. "Well, as far as I know."
"She's talking about the time when I made that one asshole hero hunter beg for his life."
"And Nora was all like 'do it.' And I said to just make him work for it." Ruby added.
"Oh." Amery said. She then walked out of the room.
"Nice cover." Jaune said.
"Well, it's true." Ruby shrugged.
"Wait, so you weren't referring to…"
"What?" Ruby asked. "Oh, wow have you and Pyrrha actually…?"
"I think I'm done with this conversation." Jaune insisted.
"Yeah, I'm not into all that anyway." Ruby said. "Now if Yang were here, she'd probably want details."
"Which is why I'd rather just talk to you." Jaune said. They both went up the stairs. Pyrrha was in the trophy room, holding Corcea Mors.
"Five years come December." Pyrrha said. "That's when I finally first old you I loved you."
"You did." Jaune said.
"I guess I'm still trying to wrap my head around this." Pyrrha's voice strained. "I should have seen this coming."
"Don't…" Jaune started.
"You're right." Ruby cut in. "Pyrrha, you're a great person. I wouldn't have tolerated you as much as I have if I didn't latch onto that idea."
"Ruby…" Jaune tried cutting her off.
"No, if you're going to pussyfoot around this, someone has to be honest." Ruby crossed her arms. "Pyrrha, there's other guys out there. There's plenty of people out there who will treat you like the perfect stranger. Don't believe me? I saved the whole fucking world and when I go to the bar or the club, most of the guys have never heard my name. So, you're a big damn celebrity well a lot of people could give two shits about your modeling and athletic career."
"Now isn't…" Jaune tried again.
"But the way you've acted. With all your 'woe is me' bullshit. That was suffocating to him." Ruby pointed out.
"I can speak for myself." Jaune groaned.
"There's people out there that wouldn't care about that. You deserve someone who will treat you special. But Jaune, needs someone who could push him. Do you know why he said yes to begin with? Because you helped train him. Because without you, he'd still be the worthless dumbass stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives."
"She's not wrong." Jaune added.
"But that Pyrrha seemed to die the moment he said yes. Until that Pyrrha comes back, you don't have a snowball's chance in hell at having a healthy relationship with him again. Even so, it's best you move on."
"Ruby that was…" Jaune tried saying something.
"Thanks." Pyrrha cut him off. She passed the sword and shield to him. "That's…I needed to hear that. I know any promise I make to fix things means nothing to you. I hope one day we can go back to friends. Maybe one day we can even be lovers again. But Ruby's right. It's time to move on."
"Thank you Pyrrha." Jaune said. He and Ruby walked out of the room.
"That was awkward." Ruby said.
"You handled it nicely." Jaune said.
"It felt good. It was like I was back, face to face with Cinder again. I just did what came naturally. Probably helps that we're just friends."
"What makes you say that?" Jaune asked.
"Oh probably when Neptune broke up with Weiss and then brought his new girlfriend over to get her stuff."
"Sounds like a bloodbath." Jaune said.
"It kind of was." Ruby laughed. "Me and…Whitley…were there to get in between them before Weiss reduced her into a grease stain."
"I can see that." Jaune said.
"Also, Yang has been that new girlfriend on a few occasions." Ruby said. "Though, I've never been present to see her bashing a bitch's brains in."
They got in the truck and headed back to Ruby's. Jaune made sure the radio was down to keep Ruby from getting an ear-splitting headache. And that's not even because of her hangover. That's just because she fucking hated country music.
"I guess all there is to do now is get situated." Jaune said. "And then just find ways to occupy myself until we go partying."
"Party?" Amery asked.
"Twenty-one and up kinda party." Ruby said. "Jaune's playing third wheel for me and my date."
"Sounds fun." Amery said.
"With me it always is." Ruby smirked.
AN: I'm not feeling as crass as I did with the second chapter. So, this chapter ended up way closer to something you'd see in RWBYond. Which, for my returning readers, is probably a good thing. But this has a shitload of people who haven't read RWBYond so…if you liked this chapter, check out my other works.