Arc 2: Chapter 3: Secrets
"Hmm, that is a predicament," Aunt Peach's fingers drummed her coffee cup, nails tap-tapping the hard ceramic, giving the three of them all that long moment they needed to absorb that obvious statement "I assume, you've exhausted your other options?"
"The ones we could," said Neptune. "The past few days have gotten us nowhere. I tried asking vague questions, but Ruby never said much we could work with."
"What about her sister?"
"We don't even know where she is, less if she'd tell us anything," said Jaune.
Peach frowned a little at that, as if she had contributed to this hunt for Ruby's heart and was personally offended by the results. "And Miss Schnee is the only one who may know anything personal about them."
"Well, if they won't tell us. Perhaps something in their home will."
Jaune rubbed the back of his neck, frowning like he'd anticipated that outcome. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but that might be the only thing left we can try. But how? They live close to the city, so we're more likely to get caught. I overheard that their Dad gets off work around the same time we get out of school. And even if he works late, their uncle is there most of the time anyway."
"Hmm. How about you check out her locker?"
"I doubt she's gonna just tell us the combination," Jaune said.
"She won't need to." Peach picked up her phone and pressed it to her ear. "We'll give her a new one."
Jaune and Neptune looked at each other with the same curious, and slightly worried, confusion.
Ruby liked the early mornings at school. Liked the quiet. She sat there in the vast emptiness of the cold cafeteria, laptop open, revising the latest chapter of her story. It had been a while since she'd last updated, and today had simply greeted her with a rare surge of inspiration. No idea why or how, but why question the blessings of the universe, right? Besides, like many things, she was just happy not to be at home.
Nothing had even happened the past few days, so she wondered why she still felt that way. Dad and Uncle Qrow were getting along again, and the latter was aware and coherent when she came home, making him at least somewhat enjoyable to talk to. Little sparks of joy and hope amidst a twisting mass of disappointment. Ruby had learned long ago not to be fooled by those fleeting emotions. This was how it always happened. A short reprieve before the storm. Things wouldn't stay good for long, and it scared her senseless wondering when things would go bad again.
Ruby shook her head. What was wrong with her? This was no time to be thinking about that. Her story, her fanfic, happiness, that was what mattered right now. Ruby managed to pour her attention into the work, spurred by a swell of accomplishment with every page done. Hey, if she kept this up, she might very well just update today! And if that inspirational energy stuck around, maybe even knock out another chapter tomorrow! Times like this, she felt like the best writer in the world, drowning in her own talent and potential, bringing pure joy to all those who enjoyed her story. That, at least, was something consistent. Her fans were a more positive force in her life than her own freaking family.
Maybe they loved her more, too.
Ruby had been so caught up in her writing that she hadn't noticed someone slipping into the seat opposite her. Weiss greeted her with a smile, or the closest thing her stony face could make. Which was, admittedly, more than she used to. Ruby supposed everyone thawed eventually, when they were around the right people. "You're early," said Weiss.
Ruby shrugged. "So are you."
"That's normal for me. Honestly, I might have come later, but I was giving Neptune a lift to school."
Ruby nodded. "So are you guys… you know?"
Weiss looked sideways, propped her elbow on the table, rested her chin in her palm. "We talked about that. And after everything… we aren't really sure. Neither of us."
"But everything got figured out, right?"
"But not reversed. It doesn't change what happened between us. Who's to say we'd have stayed together if none of that had happened?" Weiss paused like giving that question any consideration made her anxious. "We've agreed to remain friends for now."
"Is that what you want?"
"Yes, me too. Besides, he's been focused on spending time with his family. And outside of that, he and Jaune are practically glued together. Even Sun isn't with them much."
"Where is he?"
Weiss shrugged. "No clue. Your sister?"
Ruby frowned bitterly. She'd seen Yang, of course, in her regular routine of showing up at home, all exaggerated smiles and laughter, dropping off dirty clothes, grabbing some new ones, and leaving again. Love you, little sis, she'd always say. "Somewhere. She said she'll show up at lunch today." Probably just to eat and leave again. "I have other things to think about. Like my new locker."
"New one?"
"There was a notice on mine this morning. That whole section got closed down because of an infestation or something. So a few people's lockers got changed, including mine. All my stuff got moved to my new one last night."
"You didn't leave anything precious in there, did you?"
Ruby shook her head, then she suddenly remembered. Mom's picture.
Ruby dialed her lock with the new combination she'd been given. Thinking on it, it didn't really make sense that she'd needed a new one, but she supposed with things like an infestation, it was best to be thorough.
She swung the door open and, without much pause, checked through her things. Notebooks and textbooks. Her lucky charm from the amusement park. Then she found it. The family scrapbook, time-worn and a little dirty, but still intact and no bugs scurrying about.
She opened the front page and stared at the picture… even felt herself smile a little.
There she was. Mom. Her and Uncle Qrow. Taken years ago when Uncle Qrow had been promoted to detective. They'd both become police officers together, though Uncle Qrow had risen through quickly. Ruby remembered her mom saying how good he was at it. They looked so happy. Like nothing had ever gone wrong in their entire lives.
But then… this picture had only been months before everything did go wrong, hadn't it? The irony of it.
Ruby was spooked when she saw someone begin working at the locker next to hers. Quite as if he'd simply popped into existence before her, she found it was Jaune. Hastily, she closed her book, must have done it too loudly for his eyes were on hers a moment later, so intense that she felt smaller just by looking at him. That on top of the fact that she actually was much smaller than him. Gods, did he know how tall he was? "Uh, hi." she said.
He gave her a light wave with his free hand. "Haven't seen you over here."
"Um, lockers. Mine anyway. Got moved so… here I am."
He didn't say anything to that, and Ruby wasn't sure how to feel about it. Partly relieved that he showed no interest in her, partly annoyed that she might be so insignificant that not even a guy who had no friends could be bothered with her. No one really cared what she had to say. Just Yang's little sister. Cute and tolerable and nothing else. Not a unique feeling really, Jaune simply embodied that disinterest she found so strange, despite showing not long ago how far he'd gone to help Neptune and Weiss. He was a mystery, an utter loner. Like herself.
If she lacked friends, maybe that problem could be solved with just a bit of talking. Her mother had always said, Strangers are just friends you haven't met. And who better to start a friendship than two people who had none?
"What stuff do you like?"
"What?"
Ruby instantly regretted even talking. But it was too late to go back now. "What do you like to do? I've never heard you talk about yourself around everybody."
"There's not much interesting about me."
"Neptune is always with you."
"Wasn't my choice."
"But you let him get away with it."
Maybe it had been Ruby's desperate imagination, but she could swear his cheeks tinted a little. Perhaps he even knew it—as he frowned hard enough that she almost believed he'd turned red out of anger. "So what?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Though there absolutely was something more to the situation, the last thing she wanted to do was annoy the guy who fought Cardin on his first day. "Just asking questions." It was hard to imagine what it must have been like to be almost murdered. And she berated herself for pitying her own problems while others were clearly having it harder. "Sorry. I know I'm annoying." It's what everyone wanted to say, but because Yang was their friend, they didn't.
"Not as much as some people I know."
Now that was a response she hadn't heard before. Most people outright denied it. He had agreed with her. And did it, well, blandly. She had a weak laugh at that. Unsure if it was an insult or compliment. It was a relief in some regard, at least.
"I'm kind of a loner, too." said Ruby. She waited a moment to judge his expression, but it hadn't changed. And mostly she was a loner because she sucked with people, not because she didn't want to be around them.
"You seem to get along with your sister's friends."
"Yeah, because they're my sister's friends. Most people don't want to be on her bad side."
"That doesn't mean they don't like you."
"That's not the problem," Ruby said. "They're not…" They weren't friends she'd made on her own. So even if she liked them, it was not her own effort that earned her anything. What was the point if she had not done it herself? Of course, she said this now. Yet did nothing to change it. She didn't approach anyone. Too scared that she might embarrass herself.
As if the universe had decided they were out of time, the bell rang, leaving them both late for their next classes.
"Sorry I made you late," Ruby said.
"Me too. See ya." Jaune went off then, just as if he'd never been talking to her in the first place.
Had this attempt at making a friend gone well? Ruby had no idea. Ruby wanted to call out and apologize for some silly reason. Maybe she'd pissed him off, but it didn't seem that way. More than likely she was just overthinking like she normally did. So with a sigh, she closed her own locker and headed to class.
The next bell for lunch rang, but Jaune Arc wasn't hungry. Not for food anyway.
He lagged behind his class and slipped into the bathroom, into an open stalk, and waited. He used to do this at his old school—only it was more a method of avoiding people in general, than a mission to violate a fifteen-year-old's privacy. There we're the cop sirens again. Whee-woo, whee-woo. There he is! That's the pervert! He might have thought to himself how he got into this situation, but by now he was used to it.
He waited for the noise of the cluttered hallway to settle, gave it a moment longer in the long silence, then got moving. No need to run, he told himself. Lunch would last be a good forty minutes. He just kept his cool, or outwardly anyway, while his heart pounded in his chest.
He was at his locker set soon enough, glanced behind him to see if all was clear, though it wasn't like it even mattered. He was just some student getting his lunch, not a guy about to invade a girl's belongings.
He used the new combination, popped it open. Plain locker, really. He wasn't sure what he'd expected. Frilly colors, boy bands, a stuffed animal, maybe. But it was plain, void of personality, kind of like his. But then, who would be stupid enough to leave something extremely personal anywhere but at home?
He found nothing of immediate interest. A few graded tests, freshmen textbooks. But then he saw something in the pocket of a binder. He pulled it and a withered photo emerged.
A man and a woman. The man was dark-haired and surly-looking, with a swords-edge of a smile like a scarecrow who'd scared off a pack of crows. The woman was red-haired and only up to the man's height, hugging his side, and with a smile so full that Jaune almost felt the need to smile back. As if she had never faced hardship a single time in her life, or otherwise stubborn enough to remain an optimist. Both were in police colors, looked fit and worn, perhaps from years on the force.
Wait, Jaune took another good look at the man.
He was a little younger in the picture. No, cleaner, with a straight posture, and sharp but watchful eyes. The one who'd picked up Ruby and Yang early in the year. He remembered Yang yelling for him to get in the backseat.
Was he their father? If so, then he had plenty of questions. The resemblance between the woman and Ruby was so obvious that a blind man couldn't miss it, but Jaune was having a hard time finding any of Yang's features in either adult. There had to be a story behind that. Only who would tell him? And where would they get him? Hey, Yang, Ruby. This your family? Yes? Oh thank you so much. I've solved the mystery. By the way, Ruby, mind telling me why your heart needs saving? I'd appreciate it.
Just this alone wasn't strong evidence toward anything wrong in Ruby's life. He got some questions from this, they just weren't the ones he needed to ask.
In short, this had been a total waste of time.
He shit Ruby's locker, locked it, and made his way down to lunch, more than a little peeved. They'd gotten nowhere so far. With Neptune the situation had been well known which, if he was being honest, was probably the sole reason that investigation had gone as smoothly as it had. But now no one knew anything and those that did would not talk.
He just needed something. Some way to get over this wall. Something had to give eventually, right? Or would he be at this for the next few months? Till the end of the year? That'd be quite the shine to put to his Hunter of Hearts career, one person saved, truly deserving of a gold medal.
He made an attempt to hurry, wanting to get something to eat before all the good food was taken, when he happened upon a sight he couldn't have predicted.
He didn't put much thought into fate or coincidences, but more recently, it seemed he was the type to get himself into more and more strange and convenient situations. And yet, I have still failed to conveniently walk myself into a girlfriend. My talent for getting everything I don't want is astounding.
The two pulled apart just a moment after he saw them, which was of course, a moment too late. The boy wide-eyed and having taken a step back, a line of spit on his once-busy lip. The girl had her back to the lockers, no doubt because the boy had her held there, and it took her a moment longer to adopt the same shock as her partner. Gaping at the mouth like a fish out of water, perhaps wondering how it was possible they got caught? Well, said Detective Jaune as he straightened his longcoat, if you'd probably have better luck if you did it in the restroom. Though the privacy might make you a bit too adventurous.
"Hey man." gasped Sun, trying not to look like he was gasping for air. No doubt because you'd just been so busy suckling sweet from her lungs. A passionate kiss doesn't leave much room to breathe for long. Good thing I showed up, huh? "Uh, hey."
The girl tried to joke. Tried. Her attempt to laugh it off resulted in a pathetic little mewl, like she was about to cry instead. A good look at her face showed that she had been, before or perhaps while they kissed. She said, "No hi for me? Jauney, I'm hurt."
Jaune turned to her, and the gears turned in his head. At a base level, he understood what this was. And the power he now held. "You'll heal… Yang."
"What'cha think they're talking about?" whispered Nora.
Ruby had a few guesses, but none of them matched up with what Weiss had told her that morning. Neptune had pulled Weiss aside, well, to the end of the lunch table to be more precise, but he clearly wanted to speak to Weiss alone. From what it looked like, Neptune seemed to be trying to convince her of something, and Weiss had gone from staunch disagreement to stern acknowledgment, and now looked to be in a mode of serious consideration.
"It's none of our business," said Ruby in response, though she hardly expected that to dissuade Nora of all people.
As if the behavior of certain people today wasn't strange enough, that's when they saw Yang, Sun, and Jaune walk in. All in varying states. Sun had come in with his usual exuberance and excitement, snatching Neptune around the shoulders, cutting into his conversation with Weiss, and slipping into his usual joking manner like he'd been there the whole time. Yang made no effort to appear the same. Looking very much like she had just had a very hard, very bad day, and tiredly slipped into the seat beside Ruby. "Hey sis," she said. Ruby noticed her voice was a little raspy. Ruby was sure she'd seen some traces of red in her eyes, as if she'd just finished crying.
"Yang, what's wrong?"
Her older sister shook her head. "Nothing. I'm good."
Ruby wanted to point out the utter bullshit of that poor lie, but Yang didn't like arguing, and nor did she. There was enough of that going on at home. Normally she felt pity for her sister when she went through things, as any loving sister would. But now she just felt hurt and angry. What right did she have to brush her off when she was only looking out for her? If she wasn't running off into the night, up to whatever she was up to, and leaving Ruby to deal with the two adult babies in the house, maybe she'd have some perspective. Realize that the world didn't revolve around her. Did she even care about what was happening to their family anymore? Of course, Ruby could never say those things, not while they might hurt her sister. That was the one thing she could not stand having a hand in.
It happened enough as it was without her help.
Jaune, who found his seat on the farthest end was the hardest to read, and not for the usual reasons. It had not escaped Ruby's notice that the three of them had come in together, and either it was a huge coincidence, or something was going on. She figured the latter.
That was when Neptune palmed the table, shocking everyone to attention as he stood with a fire in his eyes. "You know, we should go to the park!"
Ren looked up and blinked at him. "You think?"
"Yeah, why not? When's the last time we all did anything together?"
"Not all of us are here," muttered Yang.
"Okay, well Blake is never here, so what's the difference? What's she even doing today?"
"No idea. You know her, good at keeping secrets."
"Lots of people can keep secrets." That came from Jaune. And Ruby couldn't help but notice Yang twitched when he did, and Sun's ever-present smile had slipped just a fraction. "I'm with Neptune. The park sounds… nice."
"You always act like you don't want to hang out with us," Sun jabbed playfully.
"I'm feeling generous today. Let's go after class. Yang, Sun, you're coming, right? You won't be busy, will you?"
Sun's laugh was noticeably weaker. "Er, no. I guess we've got time. I mean, I do. No idea about Yang."
Yang pursed her lips, then blew out a heavy breath as she put up a coy grin. "Sure, I'm game. I could use a bit of outside. A girl's gotta get a little sun once in a while, right?"
"Or as often as she can," said Jaune.
"You sure?" whispered Neptune.
"I saw them," Jaune repeated.
He'd pulled Neptune aside the first chance he got. The both of them now in the restroom together, himself leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, and Neptune scratching his head like this news was utterly incomprehensible. Because Yang and Sun are apparently together? Because he hadn't noticed? Because they hadn't told him? The questions are endless.
Neptune sighed. " I mean, I can't say I expected this to be what you pulled me out of class for. They always got along but I never thought…"
Jaune wouldn't have either, but he supposed that was why it was so surprising. This secret relationship Yang and Sun had was something they didn't want anyone in the group to know for some reason. He doubted anyone in the group would be upset about it. If anything, they'd be happy for them. How long had they kept it a secret? Why had they kept it a secret? Who specifically did they not want to know?"
"Okay, now that we know this—"
"No." Jaune stopped him. "Only I know. They made me promise to keep it to myself."
"Didn't think you'd care."
"I don't. But this does mean Yang owes me." And he intended to collect. It was a little underhanded, but who better to get the answers from than her? Jaune had no clue why they kept their relationship a secret and he didn't care much, either. But a Hunter needs answers, and if he could break into someone's house, then what was a bit of fake blackmail? He just wished Sun wasn't involved, so he didn't have to feel like he was repaying his kindness with blatant blackmail.
All he needed to find out was what was wrong in Ruby's life that had put her heart on his radar. More than anyone, her older sister would know.
"This works out," said Neptune. "I'd hoped that maybe I could use the park to talk to Ruby, maybe find out what was going on. But getting it from Yang is probably the safer way to go. Just, uh, be careful what you say. You might know her secret, but she can still beat the shit out of you."
Jaune hadn't thought about that until now. Who was to say that when he found himself alone with Yang, that she wouldn't yoke him up and threaten to crush his balls? There was no better way to keep a man's mouth shut than that. None at all.
He supposed he'd just have to hope Yang didn't have such ideas.
This chapter is a bit of a mess. Sorry about that. Feel free to point out any inconsistencies or ask questions and I'll try to correct them. See you in the next one.