Arc 2 - Chapter 7 - The One in Need of Help

"Cover your eyes, honey."

There was sand between his toes. But it wasn't warm. Not warm at all. He felt the sand, but could not see it.

"No matter what, you must not look. You must never look. Do you understand, baby?"

He smelled the ocean too, but could not see it, and so it was not there. He heard the waves, the hiss and rush lapping against the shore, but he could not see it, so it did not exist. His tongue had the faint taste of ice cream, and that he knew was real because he had seen it, even if it was gone now.

"Don't open your eyes. Do you hear me, Jaune? You cannot open your eyes."

He had covered his face with his hands, though he wondered if they might actually be someone else's. He pressed too hard and his eyes began to hurt. He wondered if they were bleeding, because something warm was coming out of them. Shaking. His whole body. He wanted to move his hands, but could never do it. Something bad would happen if he looked.

"Don't open your eyes, Jaune. Don't open your eyes. Don't open your eyes, Jaune…" she repeated over and over, an echoing whisper, closer even than his own thoughts.

Jaune would never look. Not ever. He could not allow the bad thing to happen. That was why he had to keep his eyes shut.

Forever.

Jaune did not remember the dream when he woke up. All he knew was that it had felt much closer to a nightmare. The first thing he felt as he sat up was the damp on his shirt. Hot from copious sweat, the cold from the cool air blowing in from the vent above. He hadn't pissed himself, had he? He checked beneath his covers, and let out a breath of relief to find he was still dry there. A bad dream was bad enough, but the self-humiliation might have been too much for the start of the day.

For a moment, Jaune wasn't sure how or when he'd gotten into bed. The last thing he recalled was that afternoon in the gym with Yang. The story she'd told. Everything afterward came in pieces. She took him home, and he didn't even think they'd so much as a word to one another. Then, Ruby came with her things for the week. He stubbed his toe on the way downstairs at the end of the night. Or had that been the night after? Either way, the two days since that conversation with Yang had been soundly unremarkable, especially when that very conversation continued to swirl around in his aching head, refusing to be forgotten or ignored.

Jaune slowly eased out of bed, still a bit sore from a bit of late night training in Aunt Peach's heart world, touched his feet to the floor and hung his head like he might fall back to sleep right then. If only I could. Even now he was hearing Yang all over again, and with no detail unaccounted. The relatively calm beginning of her story, the slow reopening of old wounds, the steady decline of reason. A few tears, then a lot, warbling her words, then disbelieving laughter, bordering that precarious edge of total despair. He had only known her to be confident, level-headed, cocky, and strong. Even in the case where he knew one of her secrets. That day in the gym? She had well and truly looked broken. Utterly and completely buried by the avalanche which was her life, and which Jaune was not capable of saving her from. How could he?

He had not punched Neptune's father because he'd thought it would reunite the family, even if that had turned out to be the case. Yet there had been a strange satisfaction in it. Jaune began to think that somehow if he just beat up the right person, he could solve their problems. It was nice to think the world could work that way. Now he knew how naive that kind of thinking really was. No amount of punching would fix the complete wreck that was Ruby's family, that much was obvious. And that made him consider something even more paramount to this whole venture for the rescue of Ruby's heart.

That even saving Ruby's heart might not be enough.

Jaune jumped at a knocking at his screen door. "Yo dude, you up?" called Neptune from the other side. He quickly got a shirt on, pulled the screen back, and unlocked the door for him. He was already dressed for school. "You get my message?"

"Sorry, no. Must not have heard it."

"Well it's been two days. Thought I'd check up on your search."

Right, that. The idea behind having Ruby stay a week was that she might bring some precious things with her. That perhaps one of them would be her key. Jaune had already gone through her clothes and other things, tested them all but found nothing. "If I had found it, you would know already."

"Damn," said Neptune as he sat on Jaune's couch. "Then, what about Ruby?"

"What about her?"

"Did you talk to her? Get any clues out of her?"

Jaune sat back on his bed. "No."

Both of Neptune's eyebrows went up. "Is Ruby that tight-lipped about it?"

"I don't know. I… haven't talked to her yet." How can I? You can't just bring up someone's dead mother out of the blue and expect them to divulge their no doubt traumatic experience. Only look at Yang. My wheedling led to what could be no less than an emotional breakdown. It tore her apart. And that is my fault. At school, Yang had looked sleepless and hadn't been very talkative. Sun had asked him what happened and with much guilt, Jaune had explained, resulting in Sun's face adopting a frown so grim that it was like he'd witnessed a murder. And it was a killing alright. With but a word, I ripped out a girl's heart and crushed it, and now she is much worse off. Jaune Arc, Savior of Hearts? I'm not worthy of the title.

"You want me to talk to her? I can—"

"No!" Jaune snapped, then had to calm himself. "No, it should be me. I'm just waiting for the right moment. It's not an easy thing to just bring up. I know how it feels."

Neptune looked surprised. "You do?"

Jaune had only now realized what he'd said. Where in the world had that come from? "I mean, not exactly. I know what it's like not having your mom around."

"Is your mom…?"

"She's in a hospital, for now. My mom's sick and right now only my dad is allowed to see her. I haven't seen her in years."

"Sorry man."

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it. Anyway, I don't really have a strong angle to come at this right now. I need to think and figure it out so I don't… make another mistake." It had been hard enough seeing it happen to Yang. If he hurt Ruby with all his prodding, he might very well make it a lot worse. "We've still got the rest of the week with her. I'll find out what her key is by then. You just hold out for now."

Neptune nodded and there was a pause. "So, how are you, man?"

"What?"

"Are you doing alright?"

"Fine. Why?"

"You seemed kinda down the past few days."

"I'm pretty sure that's just my normal look."

"Fair, but still, it can't be easy dealing with shit like this. I mean, I know my case turned out well, but this is much bigger than a divorce and my dad being an asshole. Everyone in that house was messed up by Yang's mom's death. Like, they told us about it when it happened and we helped where we could, but I never would have thought it ran this deep."

"We all only get one mom in our lives, if we're lucky. You lose that, you lose it forever. There's no getting something like that back."

"I guess I know the feeling. I missed my mom so much and I was only apart from her for a few years. In any case, the whole family is part of this. Like, say we save Ruby's heart or even Yang's. Will that be enough? It won't make the loss of their mother go away. The Despair can always come back and Alters can re-emerge, that's what your Aunt told us. Is saving their hearts really going to help them move on?"

Those were questions Jaune had been weighing for days and he was no closer to an answer, either. "Let's just focus on one thing at a time. We need to find Ruby's key. After that, my aunt will know what to do. You head upstairs and wake Ruby up if she's not up already. I'll come to make us breakfast in a bit."

Neptune sighed. "Alright dude, see you up there."

Jaune waited for him to ascend the stairs and hear the door draw shut before falling back into bed. He felt so lost. So completely without direction, despite knowing very clearly what had to be done. He hadn't nearly been so hesitant with Neptune's case. So why now? Because of his mom? Because he knew what it was like to be separated from her? That had to be it, there could be no denying it. He knew precisely how deep and how big such a wound could be that, when trifled with, could be too devastating to recover from.

Was there any way to approach this better than he had with Yang? Or must I simply rip off the bandage on Ruby's heart and hope the bleeding doesn't kill her? Jaune laid there for a while. He thought and thought and thought like his life depended on it. No answers came.

Fuck it. Rip of the bandage it was. This was the decision Jaune settled on as Ruby and he made their way home from school.

Ruby was in her now regular state of talking a lot, which Jaune was adjusted to by now. It had never been a bother, people talking too much. His sisters were plenty talkative. But anyone outside his family usually got a pretty short leash with him. Ruby had proved herself an exception. It always felt like she wasn't talking just to talk, and instead just had a lot to say. It was genuine in that way. Coupled with the fact that she might not have anyone to talk to at home.

Maybe this left him with some wiggle room to work with. Maybe she'd be willing to talk to him. He was sure willing to listen. For the job, of course. For the job. But I still have to come at this delicately. I need to ease her into it. I have to be patient. But when is the right moment? When we get into the house? After dinner? Before bed? Right now, even?

"Ruby."

"Hm? What?" Ruby looked up at him, curious silver eyes shining, somehow making him feel a wave of guilt. She looked just like the woman in that picture. It was her mother, of course. He wondered if that picture had been taken not long before her death.

"Nothing, nevermind. What were you saying?" You are a coward, Jaune Arc. An absolute coward. Was that not your chance? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

They were home before he could decide, and Jaune lamented that being back in the sanctity of his own home didn't bring him any confidence. Ruby kept talking even as she slipped out of her shoes. "Jaune, you wanna watch more Pirate King? We didn't get to watch any episodes yesterday and the Alligator fight's coming up. It's so good, you'll see. Jaune, you okay?"

He was in fact not okay, but he turned to Ruby, pieced together what she had said before. "Yeah, let's do it. Just give me half an hour. I need to lay down."

Ruby raised an eyebrow, but then nodded. "Kay."

Half an hour later, Jaune was pacing the floor in the bedroom, about as close to fixing Ruby's heart and familial problems as solving world hunger. In fact, the latter might damn well be easier. Why do I struggle now after we've gotten this chance? I should have more resolve than this. He continued to rehearse his lines, trying to treat the whole business like a play, in which he and Ruby would both stick their lines as he imagined them.

Ruby, would you like to talk? Why, ys, Jaune, of course. No, that sounded unnatural for the both of them. He had to be more firm.

Ruby, let's chat. Not that either. Sounded kind of intimidating. Like a mob boss who called in his subordinate, prepared to punish him for bunging any easy job. He had to get right to the subject.

I'm sorry your mother died. I'm here for you, if you ever want to talk. Now, even, if that's okay. No, too desperate-sounding. He was walking on glass with that. Well, he was already, but he couldn't be made to look that way. No choice then. He needed to be steadfast, straightforward, merciless.

Ruby, people die. It happens. Not talking about it won't help you get better. No, damn it all. That would sound like he was putting the blame on her. And she probably already blamed herself as was. Jaune certainly had for what happened to his mother. And damn it all again, why did this always come back around to his own mother again? Then he thought about it. How could he tell Ruby to confront the pain of losing her mother, when he still struggled himself? It was like an addict telling his son not to smoke. And like the addict, we can neither of us seem to let go of the object which has us so enraptured. What are we if not two people grieving over their mothers, be they dead or alive?

Jaune had been avoiding it all this time, but that was the only angle that could work, and he knew it. So he took a breath, clenched his fists, and attempted to steady his pounding heart. The latter was only somewhat successful. He wasn't sure he was ready for a conversation like this.

But what other choice did he have?

He couldn't do this.

Jaune had not ascended his stairs in the fashion one might imagine. He got a rush of courage and made it up halfway, lost that courage and went back down. Found his nerve once more and made it to the door, then froze when it melted away. He needed to piss too, damn it all. Finally, he got through his door, slid it shut again, and crept through the hallway like he was priming for an ambush. It was an ambush of a sort. One where rather than mugging or murder, I seek to dredge up the emotional baggage of a girl who did nothing to my. I plan to make her face this horror once more. You're not just a coward, Jaune Arc. You're a total bastard.

Ruby couldn't see him from around the corner, but he could see her. Laying there on the couch in her pajamas, dark hair fanned out around her head, doing absolutely nothing beyond staring at the ceiling. That was more relatable than Jaune cared to admit. How many times had he lied awake in boredom and stared into nothing, contemplating the cosmos, reckoning with his existence? Often enough, it had to be said. Ruby laying there seemed to say to him, 'I'm waiting!'' as though fully expectant of what was to come, while dumbass Jaune was taking his time about getting to it.

He might have sighed, but held it in in case Ruby heard him. You know what needs to be done. Don't be scared. You have nothing to lose… except your pride, and you have a meager amount of that as it stands. You've got this, Jaune. Go and get her.

And with great hesitation, Jaune did venture out beyond the safety of the hallway and entered the living room. Ruby must have sensed him right away and looked up. A big, pure smile spread across her face so quickly at the sight of him that it made Jaune forget what to say. Doe-eyed, her cheeks just faintly flushed pink. You'd think she was looking at the most invaluable treasure ever discovered. You'd think the thing or person she was looking at made her the happiest girl in the world. This could never be the case, of course. Because she was looking at him.

"Hey, you ready?" Ruby chirped excitedly.

Jaune choked out, "Yeah. Uh, but first…"

"First what?"

Courage, Jaune. Courage! "I need to talk to you."

Thankfully, she didn't look scared, just curious. "Okay. Did I do something wrong?"

"No, nothing like that." Jaune shook his head as he went to take a seat. Damn, where did he sit? The most obvious answer was next to Ruby, who certainly did not take up much space on that couch. No, that was too much. That would imply he had earned such an intimate distance, which he had not. He had to be professional about this.

He chose the recliner instead, and only after sitting in it did he realize it probably made him look hesitant. God, why was he constantly overthinking these things? They were just some goddamn chairs.

"Ruby…" Jaune began.

"What?" She had scooted a little closer as though from that distance she couldn't hear him.

"I wanted to say that, you know… things die sometimes."

Ruby blinked. "What do you mean sometimes?"

Yes, Jaune, what do you mean by sometimes? Are you a moron? "All the time, I mean. It's normal."

"Yeah, I kinda know that already. Are you okay? You're acting weird."

Ruby could not have known how much damage she had done to what remained of his pride, because this was a rare moment in which he wasn't acting. Still, he had to truck on, didn't he? "Sorry. I guess, I just wanted to talk about… I dunno, something that was bothering me."

Ruby immediately looked concerned. "Did someone you know pass away?"

"No. I mean, yes, but it was a long time ago."

"I'm sorry, Jaune. Who was it, if you're okay with talking about it?"

Jaune glanced down. Well, he had meant to try and relate to Ruby somehow. This was a gateway into that. Now, he could tell her about his mother and how he'd been apart from her so long that at times it did feel like she was dead. That would transition into some consoling words, then Ruby would relate it to the death of her mother and it would be smooth sailing from there. He needed only say the words. That was all that was required of him.

"My dog." What? Why would you bring that up?

Ruby nodded understandingly. "I have a dog too. His name's Zwei. I couldn't imagine losing him. What's your dog's name?"

"It didn't have a name."

"You didn't name him?"

"I didn't really get the chance to."

"How long did you have him before he died?"

"A day."

Ruby looked confused for a moment, and strangely chuckled. "Are you messing with me, Jaune? If you are, you're kinda bad at it."

"I'm not. I'm serious!" Jaune grumbled, feeling a little embarrassed. Couldn't she see he was pouring his heart out here? Figuratively speaking.

"So you had a dog, that you didn't name, and you only had him for a day before he died?"

"Her, actually." He'd wanted a boy dog, but that was the Arc curse. To be forever surrounded by women. The story was sort of hard to believe, now that Jaune thought about it. "I'm being serious. It's true."

Ruby's amused grin fell. "For real?"

Jaune nodded. "For real. I was eight and I'd wanted a pet for my birthday. Kept begging my dad like every day for one. I don't think I even cared what kind of pet we got so long as we got one. Then finally he caved and my mom took me to the animal shelter."

Ruby leaned toward him, elbows on the armrest and chin propped up by her hands to show she was paying attention. She said nothing. Probably because she was waiting for him to continue. There was something in the back of Jaune's head. Something scratching at his thick skull like it was desperately trying to get inside. Desperate as a warning. His instinct was to listen to it, to obey that unanswered command to speak no further on the story he was telling, but for some reason his mouth kept moving. Jaune couldn't stop himself.

He allowed himself something of a smile. Felt awkward on his face. "I think I loved her right away. Or something close to it. This little labrador puppy, only a few weeks old."

"A puppy?"

Jaune nodded. "I remember playing with her all day when we got home. She was hopping around everywhere, barking and sniffing at everything. We got her a dog bed and toys and everything. The whole family loved her. I think I didn't come up with a name until I went to sleep that night, but now I can't remember it… Then the next morning came. At first I thought she was asleep. Thought she just wasn't used to having a soft place to sleep. I went to school. Then when I got back, my mom had to pull me aside and… well she told me. You can imagine I didn't take it that well."

"That's awful."

His instinct was to say it was no big deal, to hide behind the shield of invulnerability. It was years back and he was well over it by now. Wasn't he? "Yeah, I was… bummed, to say the least. But we buried her, and I cried the whole time. My mom held me the whole time. I kept asking why, why. What kid wouldn't? Even at that age, you know things die. But you don't really get it, you know? Not until it happens to you."

Ruby once again nodded understandingly, and Jaune did not doubt that she did.

"So yeah. I think I felt better a week later, but still I think about my dog sometimes. Even if it was only for a day, she was still mine. And I can't forget her. Not ever." Jaune faced Ruby this time, tried to put on his bravest face, to be the pillar of strength he was supposed to be. "What I'm trying to say is… that we all go through things. And sometimes it's hard. Hard to deal with on your own, oftentimes. If anything's ever bothering you, I don't care what it is, I'll hear you out. Alright?"

Ruby's already golden smile somehow managed to shine even brighter. "Thanks, Jaune. That means a lot. I get it, it's not easy when someone you love dies." And he saw a flash of sadness in her eyes. "But we gotta move on, eventually. Right? It's not good to stay sad about it forever."

Move on? From his puppy? The only puppy he's ever had?The mere mention of it was completely unreasonable. How could she even suggest that? And furthermore, why was she the one consoling him? It was her that was unable to move on. He was the one trying to save her heart. That's what he was supposed to be doing, anyway. "Uh yeah. You're right. Sorry to throw all that on you."

"No, no, it's okay." Ruby stood up and held her arms out wide. "Here. You need a hug."

Jaune didn't know why he'd obeyed her, only that his mind was in raging protest, while his body was all too weak to resist. He was on his feet, then Ruby wrapped her arms around him, arms and all, her cheek against his chest, the top of her head almost brushing his chin. So warm as to be criminal. It should not have felt good to be embraced by this stranger. He didn't know Ruby that well. Or at all, really. Were it anyone else he'd have shoved them off. Why not her and why not now?Why, why, fucking why?

Then she released him, smiled that damn smile, and beckoned him to sit with her. "Come on, let's watch some more Pirate King. I think we can get through the rest of Arabaster before bed."

Jaune's throat felt dry all of a sudden, as though he'd talked all this time and not swallowed even once. "Uh yeah, good idea. Just, let me grab a blanket first, it's cold up here."

Jaune did not wait for her answer, and it took all his restraint not to run away and instead amble back down to his room, feeling suddenly very overwhelmed. Whatever had been knocking at his head had broken through now. The breach in his school had let in something that did not belong, and now his brain pulsed with a fury.

Jaune had to use the railing to get downstairs. He was breathing strangely. It felt like his lungs were tight. Why had he told her that story? He's broken one of his rules. He'd done that before with Neptune and only look how that turned out? What a fool he was. His puppy had been so personal to him and he'd divulged that secret so easily. And then he'd let her hug him. He's allowed himself to be seen as weak and vulnerable. It was Ruby who had helped him, rather than the other way around. That was not the way things were supposed to go.

He dropped into his couch, his eyes stinging, a strange tiredness coming over him. The memories didn't make sense for some reason. They were everywhere like a deck of cards tossed on the floor, moving images on each one, scattering and changing as he sorted desperately through the mess. The animal shelter seemed muddy now,the details faded until the whole building was like a child's drawing. The puppy too, once warm and happy and alive, was now a still picture, dead and motionless, beyond existence. It hurt. It hurt so much and he didn't understand why.

He had to call Saph. He had to call his big sister. Yet as he searched for her number, he wasn't sure why. His hands trembled uncontrollably as he began to dial her number, entirely forgetting that she was in his contacts. He noticed that her number came up at the press of one button, very strangely assigned to his emergency contacts. Jaune pressed the phone to his ear, trying his very hardest to breathe.

It was an unparalleled relief when she answered. "Jaune? Hey, how are—"

"Saph. My dog. Do you remember her name?"

"Your dog?"

"The one mom got me, when I was eight. It died and we buried it the next day. What was her name?"

It was quiet over the phone for a long moment. So long that Jaune had begun to think she'd hung up on him. "Saph?" he tried, with a bit of a plea in his voice.

"Jaune, you didn't have a dog."

The cards were blank all of a sudden. They swirled around in his head, devoid of life or personality, devoid of memory.

"You've never had one. Closest you ever got was petting uncle Sam's pitbull. I've told you this before."

Had she? Jaune didn't recall anything of that. He had to have had a dog. He remembered her so clearly. So perfectly. It had definitely happened. "You're right. Sorry."

"Jaune, are you alright? Are you breathing?"

"I'm fine." His lungs felt tighter still. His brain was melting. The world was a blur.

"Tell me if something's wrong, Jaune. I'm always here for you, okay? Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. Promise."

"Alright, I gotta get back to work. I love you."

"Love you." And Jaune hung up.

He sat there in total silence. His head thumping, his heart pounding, his breath very slowly coming back under control. His sister's wild claim spun around painfully in his head and tried desperately to make sense of it all. He had never had a dog? That was ridiculous. He remembered her, for sure. It had to be that Saphron just didn't remember her.

Yes. That was definitely it.

"So?" Implored Aunt Peach, later that night.

Jaune and Neptune had been summoned to her office, and now stood alongside one another, ready to report on the state of their mission. They made sure to whisper since Ruby was asleep in the living room and the last thing they needed was for her to start asking questions. Peach waited on their answer, to which Neptune turned to Jaune, and to which Jaune had no one to turn to himself. If failure was to be delivered, who better to do it than the living failure himself, Jaune Arc?

With irritated regret, Jaune shook his head.

"You've found nothing?" asked Peach.

"She's… really tight-lipped," Jaune answered, feeling guilty. It probably wasn't a lie, but how could he know when instead of sticking to his objective, he'd gone off the rails and made a fool of himself? Jaune wanted to scream, but all he could do in that moment was ball his fingers.

Peach bopped one foot, her slipper hanging daintily off her toes. If she was disappointed, it didn't show. It was strange how different she could seem just by her posture. Sometimes a goofy aunt, other times a nosy teacher, and now she looked like the head of a corrupt company trying to figure out the best way to maximize her profits. Which was impressive considering she was in little more than a robe. "That's unfortunate, but not unexpected. Some cases can take a long time so it's a miracle you've gotten this far this quickly. Good job, boys."

That should have made Jaune feel better, but it didn't. He was too busy hating himself. Like usual, but this time with an extra helping of humiliation.

"We still don't know what her key is, though," said Neptune.

"No. And I'm afraid we can't proceed without it." Peach tapped her desk a couple times. "Not to worry. I have a plan."

"You do? What?"

"On Sunday, before Ruby's meant to go home, we're going to invite her family over for dinner. Doesn't really make sense to take in someone's daughter for a week and not at least get on friendly terms with the parents, after all."

"What's that supposed to accomplish?" asked Jaune.

"For one, it'll leave the house empty. Giving Neptune a good couple of hours to sneak in, search the house, and locate the key based on what we know right now. Ruby does not have the key with her, so it must be in the house. At least, I hope it's that simple."

"Just Neptune? Not me?"

Peach shook her head. "You'll be preparing dinner, and if the tension with the family is still potent even now, it will help that Ruby will have you here. And I have my own reasons for doing this too. I need to see how they all interact, which should better help me understand my current mark."

"Your mark?"

Peach nodded. "Their uncle."

Jaune's eyes widened. "When did he become your mark?"

"Since before you came to Vale. He's one of my clients, and a particularly challenging one at that. So this dinner should work out for all of us. If we do it right, we can bring this family back together. Or at least put them on the right path. I know you'd like to do more, Jaune, but the role you need to play is here. You understand? The battles we fight don't start in the heart world. It starts the very moment you take on a mark."

Jaune hated to admit it, but she was right. He nodded his agreement.

"Good. So while Neptune searches the house, Jaune and I will entertain our guests. I suggest we start the night with a toast." Peach grinned. "Some drinks which will have a special something added to them. A sleeping agent that won't take effect for a few hours, so by the time they get home, they'll be asleep quickly, and will keep them out even if a bomb goes off nearby."

"We're drugging them?" Neptune questioned.

"Do you have a better idea?"

He didn't, so he shut up.

"If all goes well, Neptune will have discovered Ruby's key by the time dinner ends, and that will give both of you time to Ruby's heart while everyone is asleep. That's the best case scenario. If things go wrong, then at least the family gets a good night's sleep. No harm done."

By now, Jaune had learned to not question the methods. This was what had to be done to save Ruby's heart To save her whole family.

He would be the one to help her, not the other way around.

No time. I need to ride this sudden writing high as much as I can. Gotta start the next chapter. See yall in the next one.