Nora was ecstatic!
Of course she was always excitable, having more energy than she knew what to do with, and having brought it upon herself to cancel out Ren's quiet and somber attitude with a happy and energetic attitude. But she was really excited for her teams leader, having just beaten what she'd heard to be a truly formidable saw an opportunity to boost her friends confidence, and she took it!
This guy was bigger than Yatsuhashi!"
"Not even close", Jaune replied with a small smile.
"He had two double sided chainsaws"
"It was one chainsaw, with one blade."
"He was a General in the White Fang!"
"He was a lieutenant."
"Jaune beat him down with his bear hands!"
"You weren't even there Nora!"
"Nevertheless" Ren interjected, "It was an impressive fight."
"It shows how much you've improved" Pyrrha added.
"Well from the sounds of things Weiss did most of the work on the train, and then he was in said train when it crashed. I doubt he was at a hundred percent."
Nora looked across the table at team RWBY. The normally chipper and pleasant girls all looked tired, downtrodden, and just a little depressed.
"You guys okay?" Nora asked "You should be happy you just completed your first successful mission!"
"Some success" Weiss groaned "that brute tossed me around like a little child."
"Geez Weiss, way to rain on Jaune's parade" Yang chastised.
"I'm not saying you didn't do great out there Jaune. You really are getting better, but I hit him with everything I had and he kept coming. As soon as he got hold of me, it was all over."
Yang sighed. "I had the opposite problem. I got my ass kicked by a girl shorter than Ruby because I couldn't land a single hit on her. She made beating me look easy. It was all a game to her."
"And we couldn't even stop the train.: Ruby added, "Plus, without Crescent rose, I was totally defenseless. Roman Torchwick beat me like a rag doll."
"And we still don't know what the White Fang's planning or who's really behind all this." Blake concluded.
Nora was confused, "I thought Torchwick was running the show."
"So did we, but the more I think about it the more it doesn't add up. Torchwick's a thief, and he's never hesitated to commit murder, but he's never been a terrorist. Whatever's going on, It goes beyond him, and beyond the White fang."
Nora was surprised. Team RWBY had clearly feeling down on themselves. She tried to think pf something to say, but it was Jaune who spoke up.
"So, you guys found out you're not perfect. That's okay. You get up, you learn, and you do better the next time. I've learned the hard way that this life won't be easy, but you guys made it into Beacon, which means the people in charge knew you could handle it."
Everyone at the table smiled at these simple words of encouragement, especially Pyrrha.
"At least you guys lived to fight another day, If I'd been out there I probably would've ended up dead."
And just like that, Pyrrha's mood did a 180
"Dammit Jaune would you quit talking like that?!"
She stormed off in frustration. Jaune watched her leave, a confused look on his face.
"What was that about?"
"SHE'S INTO YOU!"
Nora had seized Jaune by the collar and was shaking him violently. She herself was surprised by her outburst, but she'd watched this drama play out for too long.
"How do you not see it?"
"I do see it" it was barely a whisper.
Nora saw the sheepish embarrassment in his eyes and stood up, grabbing his shoulder.
We need to talk."
Ren found himself alone with Team RWBY, and decided to give his final thoughts to the girls.
"Self-deprecating humor aside, Jaune's right. You're still one of the best teams at Beacon. People are counting on you, on us, to keep going, even when we stumble."
With that, he stood up and left. after a moment, he chose to find Pyrrha. She was clearly frustrated, and he felt like getting some similar frustrations off his chest as well. He found her on the roof, which was usually her and Jaunes training area. She turned as he approached.
"I'm sorry for exploding like that."
"I understand."
She regarded him skeptically, clearly unsure if he did. "He just doesn't realize how scared I am that something will happen to him. How I'd feel if we lost him."
"They don't always understand how much simple words hurt" Ren agreed quietly.
"Exactly! When they joke about getting killed, or when he talks about other girls, or how some other boy will ask me out…"
"Or when she reminds me that we're not together, together."
Pyrrha looked at Ren in shock. She looked into his eyes, and saw her own pain reflected in his eyes.
Nora practically dragged Jaune into a private corner of the courtyard.
"You know she likes you?"
"She practically declared her undying love for me at the dance."
"And you haven't asked her out yet?"
"I haven't exactly had time to think about it."
"About what? She's beautiful, smart, talented. She's your best friend at this academy. Don't you like her?"
"I'm not sure. I feel differently about her, and I'm over Weiss, but I don't know if I like her, or if I just feel obligated to like her now that I know she likes me."
"It's not that complicated Jaune."
"No? Then why aren't you and Ren together?"
"We are-"
"Together, together."
"I thought-"
"That I was the reason for that?" Ren finished with a small smile, "Believe it or not, I asked her out before we came to Beacon, but she said she just wanted to be friends."
"But she never leaves your side! Most people already think your dating!"
"It doesn't make sense to me either. Of course, it doesn't make much sense for you and Jaune to not be together either."
"That's a whole different kind of complicated" Nora responded defensively "suffice to say, I've decided that I'll never fall in love."
"Well that's just depressing. You clearly like him."
"It's the choice I've made. Drop it."
"What is wrong with those two?"
"What's wrong with us? If you asked Jaune out he'd probably say yes."
"If you talked to Nora she'd probably tell you what she's worried about and you could work it out."
"You first" he challenged.
She was silent after that, realizing that neither of them had the courage.
"I'd like to try with Pyrrha, but I'm scared of hurting her if it doesn't work out."
"At least you and Pyrrha have a chance."
"You're full of cryptic one-liners tonight aren't you?"
"Like I said, It's complicated."
"Mr. Arc, Ms. Valkyrie" the two were interrupted by Professor Goodwitch. "I've contacted the sheriff you're team was meant to shadow for your mission, and he has agreed to allow you're team to resume your mission tomorrow."
They looked at her in shock at this information.
"While your teams help today was appreciated, you are still expected to complete your own assigned mission. Due to the events of today there has been a spike in Grimm activity around his village, and they need all the help we can offer. You leave tomorrow morning. I suggest your team get some rest."
"Understood Professor" Jaune responded, "Ren should be happy to hear that."
He and Nora found Ren and Pyrrha in their dorm and gave them the news.
"They're sending us in even though there's increased Grimm activity?" Pyrrha asked, concern in her voice.
"They need all the help they can get, but they wouldn't send us in if they didn't think we could handle it" Jaune reassured, "It sounds like the job will be tougher than we expected, so lets get some rest."
Within minutes they were all dozing off, trying to prepare mentally for the day ahead. Before he fell asleep, Jaune decided to further reassure Pyrrha.
"Hey Pyrrha?"
"Yes Jaune?"
"I'm sorry about what I said earlier."
"That's alright."
"We'll watch one anothers backs out there, and we'll all come back alive. I promise."