Street Lights Flicker On Long Walks

by Rum Aficionado

Blake was forced out of her room by her Partner. Jaune was forced out of his room by his teammate's antics. Blake was aggravated, and Jaune was bored. One trip to a fancy restaurant later, and that was soon to change. Now, what happens when you put two Socially Awkward people together? Well, nothing at first. The cover art was done by Leonid Afremov. Please buy his paintings.

14. Extras: Chapter 1

Chapter 1, Side Story:

As Blake had come to find out, gifts were hard to come up with when it came to that special someone. Get something they liked too much and she risked coming off as creepy or a little too all-knowing. But if you got them something they didn't like, it risked showing that you didn't care. Then there was the question of if a gift should be material or more in a grand gesture - both of which were something that Blake was struggling with.

All because it had nearly been 6 months since they actually started dating.

Blake sighed as she stared at the bunk above her, watching as the wooden supports slightly flexed beneath the weight above them. Just what am I supposed to get him as a gift anyway? There were a lot of things that Jaune liked, Blake wasn't ignorant of that. But at the same time, it wasn't so easy as to get him anything he liked.

A groan left her lips as she ran her hands through her raven locks. "Why do gifts have to be so complicated?"

Blake felt her ears flick, managing to catch a hum coming from above her. Before long, a long mop of blonde hair was leaning over the bunk above her, with Yang staring at her as she hung upside down.

"Are you still stuck on this, Blakey?" A single brow rising on Yang's face. "I mean, it's Vomit Boy we're talking about. How hard could it be for you to pick out a gift for him?"

Blake's golden eyes narrowed as she stared up at her partner, though Yang's smile stayed exactly where it was. "It's not just about getting him a gift. It's about showing how much he means to me." Her eyes flicked back to stare up at the bunk above her. "I can't just get him anything, it has to mean something!"

Yang hummed again, her lips curling to the side as she seemed deep in thought. "...Have you tried giving up some ass?"

Blake tore the pillow out from beneath her head, a muffled thump resounding throughout the room as it hit Yang in the face. "First of all, that's private. Second of all… I thought about it, but it wouldn't work." A heat clung to Blake's cheeks as she watched her pillow slowly peel away from Yang's face, revealing her smirking face. "Either way, can we please not talk about my sex life?"

The blonde girl snorted as she rolled her eyes, leaning further forward and flipping off the edge of her bunk, landing on her feet. "Just teasin', Blakey. Besides, getting gifts for people isn't that hard." Yang shrugged her shoulders as she spoke, as if what she said was obvious. "All you've got to do is think about the last time that you gave someone a gift! I mean, people tend to be happy that they're getting a gift in the first place."

Blake's ears folded slightly beneath her bow as she frowned.

"Y-you have gotten someone a gift before, right?" Yang's brows furrowed, her lilac eyes widening in spite of them.

Turning her head away, Blake's ears folded against her head, her shoulders tensing as the heat in her cheeks burned brighter. "The last time I got a gift for anyone was on Mother's day."

Yang sighed, bringing a hand to her chest. "Well, that's not too bad-"

"I was eight years old." Blake continued, trying her hardest to be swallowed by her mattress - if only so she didn't have to suffer the embarrassment anymore.

Yang pushed out a deep breath, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her black short shorts. "Okay, that's fine. We can totally work with this. Just- what are some things that Jaune likes?"

Blake cleared her throat, sitting up from her place on her bed to raise her thumb. "Well, he likes music…" She got a nod from Yang, her hands motioning for her to continue. "I know he doesn't mind reading, but I think that's just because of me. Um… he likes camping?"

Blake watched as her partner's shoulders relaxed, pulling her hands from her pockets to pat down her shortly-cut tan leather jacket. "Vomit Boy likes camping?" Blake couldn't help but narrow her eyes at that. "What? I just didn't think Vomit Boy would be so into roughing it- Hey, that's a thought. Have you ever thought about doing it in the woods?"

Yang soon found herself on the receiving end of another pillow.

When the pillow hit the floor, Yang laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Okay, fine, I deserve that."

Blake brought her knees close to chest, her ears still lying flat against the top of her head as she glared at her partner. "Like I said, I don't want to talk about my sex life. This relationship, it's more than just sex to me." Her amber eyes trailed down towards her mattress. "I can be myself around him in the same way that I can with you guys. But it's still different from that."

The blonde curled a brow as she took a seat at the edge of Blake's bed, feeling the mattress shift beneath her. "How so?"

A hum left Blake's mouth, her eyes still focusing on her bed. "...You guys know how I can tell you anything, right?" She watched as Yang nodded. "Well, sometimes I feel like there are some things I can't tell you, even though I do. Like you'll judge me."

Yang's face softened, her smile falling. "You know we don't, right?"

"I do," Blake nodded, her eyes coming up to catch Yang's for a moment, smiling softly. "But with Jaune, it's different. Like I could tell him anything about myself and he accepts it." Granted, she'd done the same with him, but it was different.

Jaune may have snuck his way into Beacon, but Blake had done some awful things. Robbing trains, breaking into SDC Plants, sabotaging refineries - she'd done it all, and Jaune had accepted her in a heartbeat. It felt good, but…

"I don't feel like he should." Blake mumbled, resting her chin against her knees as she curled further inwards. "I've done so much bad that I don't feel like he - or any of you, really - should accept me. I've hurt people, good and bad."

A silence hung in the air as Blake continued to hug herself tightly, unable to bring herself to look back up at her partner. But then she felt a sturdy warmth wrap around her shoulders, pressing her into its source.

Yang smiled, laughing beneath her breath as she patted Blake's shoulder. "Blakey, we've all done things we aren't proud of. I mean, I trashed a club because of some… personal reasons. And you know Weiss." Her poor sister, having to put up with Weiss the way she did. But like Yang knew she could, Ruby took it in stride. "I think the only one who's never done something bad is Ruby, and that's because she hasn't had enough time."

Blake snorted, feeling the tension in her legs slacken for a moment. "You think Ruby's going to make a stupid decision like we have?"

"I know so." Blake felt Yang shake her shoulders. "She's my sister - she's bound to have picked up a bad habit or two from someone as great as me." A laugh left the blonde's mouth.

For reasons beyond her, Blake couldn't help but smile. "I guess I just… I want him to know how much his acceptance means to me. How much it means that you've all accepted me."

Yang's hand patted her shoulder one last time before slinking away, standing up from her place at the side of Blake's bed. "Does that mean that the rest of us should be expecting a gift from you at the end of the year?" As Yang turned around, Blake watched as a teasing grin spread on her face, stretching from ear to ear. "Because if you do wanna make it up to me, you could treat me to a spa day."

Blake rolled her eyes as she fell back into her bed, sorely missing her pillows. "We'll have to see about that. But for now, I need to worry about getting my boyfriend a gift first."

Yang snickered, placing her hands at her hips. "Well, have you got anything in mind for the things he likes?"

"Well," Blake's voice trailed off, bringing a hand to rest at her neck. "I did think about getting Jaune a multi-tool. You know, kind of like those Atlesian Army knives?"

"What's the problem with that?" Yang tilted her head to the side.

Blake groaned, pressing her hands against her eyes. "The problem is that I don't know which brand is worth getting! And every time I look around and check, I keep getting redirected!" Pulling her hands away from her eyes, Blake openly glared at the wooden supports above her. "Don't buy this product, it's a scam! Oh, well don't listen to this person, because he's a known hack! And whenever I try to find something cheap and reliable, I just get told to get something more expensive."

From the corner of Blake's eye, she watched her partner blinked, concern stretching across her face. "Who'd have thought that the multi-tool crowd would be so… elitist."

"That's what I thought too." Blake huffed, sitting up from her seat before swinging her legs over the side of her bed. "This would be so much easier if I could just get your sister to make him one."

Yang blinked again, a small smile slowly growing larger as she reached for her pockets. "Hold that thought, Blakey." Holding up a finger on her left hand as she pulled free her scroll. Unfurling it, Yang tapped at a few keys before she brought it to her ear.

Blake could hear the quiet sound of ringing come from the scroll, but she was still a little lost. That was, until she heard the sound of the call clicking open.

"Heya, Rubes," Yang started, running a hand through her long blonde locks as she spoke. "So Blakey's got this thing with her boyfriend that she's been wanting to do, and she needs a little help."

Blake's ears could barely pick up the muffled sound of the other call, but nothing clearly came through.

Yang blew raspberries, waving Ruby off - though what she was waving off, Blake didn't know. "Nah, it's nothing like that. She's trying to come up with a gift to give Vomit Boy and-" Yang paused, the sound of muffled speaking coming through the call again. "See, that's what I said! But no, it's gotta be special."

Blake didn't know why, but it suddenly felt very reasonable to glare at her partner.

"Hang on," Yang's smile grew wider. "I'll put you on speaker."

With a tap of a button, Ruby's voice bled into the room. "Am I on speaker now?"

"Yup."

"Is Blake with you?"

Yang hummed, tilting her head up as she squared her shoulders back. "Why don't you ask her, sis?"

"Hi, Blake!" Ruby's voice came through the scroll, her voice cutting off from how loudly she spoke. "Hey, are you sure you don't just want to put a sock on the door for an evening? I'm sure Weiss wouldn't mind, so long as you didn't do it on her bed-"

Blake grumbled, her lips curling downward as her ears soon followed. "I'm not doing that. And why is everyone trying to talk to me about my sex life?"

Yang snorted, rolling her eyes. "Because I'm not getting any and it's funny, and Ruby's not getting any because she's not legal."

"It's true, and it is funny." Ruby said, the sound of metal screeching came from the other side of the line. "So, what's the gift that you wanna get Jaune? Thinking about getting him a gun?"

Blake let that thought linger on her mind. The idea of Jaune with a gun, pointing it down range, the loud bang filling his ears before he either dropped it from having limp-wristed the grip, or having hurt himself.

A smile climbed Blake's lips. "Let's… put a pin in that one. I was actually thinking about getting him a multi-tool." When Ruby's voice bled back through the line, confusion evident, Blake continued. "Well, I found out that Jaune likes camping, so I figured getting him a multi-tool would encourage him to go out more."

There was a silence that hung on the call for a moment, both Blake and Yang looking between each other with curled brows. But that soon ended when Ruby sniffled through the call, hiccuping quietly.

"Thas sho sweet…"

Blake snickered, rolling her eyes as she heard her partner snort. "So, could I get you to maybe help me make something for him?"

Ruby hummed over the scrolled, the thought of the younger girl pressing a finger to her chin came to Blake's mind. "I dunno, I've never made a multi-tool before. But if it's anything like making a weapon, I could probably draft something up and- Ooh! How about instead of it being hand-sized, it's something that hangs from the belt..?" Ruby's voice trailed off, her words too quiet to reach through the scroll.

Yang smiled wider, backstepping before flopping onto Weiss' bed, directly across from Blake. "Alright, sis, I'm gonna let you nerd about this while Blakey and I try to come up with something a little extra. Have fun with the project!"

"Easiest project of my life!" Ruby yelled before the call clicked shut.

As Yang pocketed her scroll, she couldn't help but sigh, running a hand through her hair. "Welp, that's one thing scratched off the list. But there's something you've neglected to bring up."

Blake's ears stood up as she tilted her head. "And what's that?"

"When are you supposed to be even giving him this multi-tool, anyway?" Yang leaned forward, curling a brow as her hands rested against her knees. "I mean, I know you're getting him a gift, but why?"

Her golden eyes blinking, Blake's shoulders tensed, turning to look at the closest wall. "Because I want to show how much-"

"Yeah, yeah," Yang cut her off, waving a hand as disinterest took to her face. "You mentioned that part. I'm asking what it is that makes you want to show that appreciation in the first place. Or is this you trying to get him to give you a dowry?"

Blake felt her ears fall flat as she watched her partner's grin widen. "We're still students, Yang. That's beyond a lifetime away right now." Besides, the idea of walking down the aisle to a loving spouse, surrounded by the happy smiles and cheers of her friends, all the while she was being handed off by her Dad, well… "There's a lot of things missing before something like that can happen."

Yang watched as the raven-haired girl's expression dropped, her previous glare losing all of its heat as she stared at the floor. But still, Yang managed to keep her smile up. "One step at a time, yeah? Focus on what's in front of you. Like you said, the future's a lifetime away!"

A smile tugged at Blake's lips, looking up from the ground to look at her partner. "That's true enough, I guess. Vale wasn't built in a day."

The pair of them shared a laugh, but when it ended, Yang curled a brow. "But seriously, why are you doing all of this?"

Blake sighed, a twinge of heat tickling her cheeks as she brought a hand to the back of her neck. "Well, that's because it'll have been-"

---

"Six months since we started dating!" Jaune yelled, falling to his knees as he pressed his hands to the side of his head. So what if he was being loud? He had the right to be as panic-stricken as he felt when he was in his own room. "Ren, buddy, you gotta help me!"

Ren, for his part, only sat at his bed, a thin piece of cloth atop his bed sheets. On the cloth was a series of small parts that made up a greater mechanism, and in his hands was a micrometer.

There was a brief moment where silence reigned over the room, only for Ren's micrometer to click. "...Do I really have to?" Not bothering to look up as he pulled a pencil that he kept on his ear, marking something down on his notepad before moving on to the next part. "It's not like you haven't dealt with something like this before."

Jaune sighed as he pushed himself to his feat, stepping past a pair of beds before sitting at the edge of Nora's bed. "Yeah, I probably have. But given the fact that talking to Nora about this is a no-go and Pyrrha's, well, not into talking about this sort of thing, you're all I've got." Jaune wasn't stupid. He knew why Pyrrha wasn't big on talking about relationships.

Clearly, Pyrrha was saving herself until after she graduated.

Ren's pink eyes blinked, turning his head to look at Jaune. He watched as a hopeful smile spread across Jaune's face, and all he could do was shake his head. "Has it ever once crossed your mind that you could just… do what you always do?"

Jaune rolled his eyes. "Gee, how come I haven't thought of that- of course I have!" He wasn't so stupid as to completely ignore the idea of just going out normally! "I just- how many times am I going to take Blake on the same date? We'll go out, grab a bite to eat, maybe relax and do some reading, and then what? Go back to the dorms and do it all over again? What if I bore her and she-"

"Breaks up with you?" A single brow curled on Ren's face. "Jaune, if you haven't managed to make her want to break up with you yet, I doubt she will."

Jaune's brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He watched as the dark haired boy set his micrometer down, turning to look at him properly. "We have been on the same team for the better part of eight months, haven't we?" Jaune nodded, waving him on to continue. "So believe me when I say, if she wasn't completely annoyed with you after the first four, you must have done something right."

Jaune blinked, watching as a small smile climbed Ren's face. "You're an asshole, you know that?"

Ren laughed, turning back to his micrometer before getting back to taking his tolerances. "I know," his soft smile unmoving as he marked another number down on his notepad. "So, you want to do something for Blake, but you don't want it to be a normal date. If that's the case, what do you want to do?"

A groan left Jaune's lips as he flopped backwards onto Nora's bed. "That's the thing, I don't know! I figured I could probably just get her a gift or something, but Blake's got so many books and such a big backlog that there's no way it'll convey what I mean." Jaune pressed his hands to his eyes, continuing. "I want her to know that I pay attention when she talks - that I'm into her not because I think she's pretty or because we're intimate, but because it's her."

Silence hung in the air for a brief moment before Ren hummed. "Well, the solution is simple." His micrometer clicked as he jotted down the last digit of four before setting the part down, picking up the next. "Blake has to have more hobbies than reading, so you can get her something for one of those. Or instead of a book, you could get her something that helps her read in the dark."

Jaune blinked as his brows furrowed in confusion, sitting up to look at Ren. "...Read in the dark?"

"Why not?" Ren shrugged, jotting down another measure. "It sounds like a pretty convenient gift for her, given her joy for reading."

"Ren," Jaune leaned forward, confusion evident on his face. "This is Blake we're talking about. You know, the kind of girl that can see in the dark."

He watched as Ren raised a finger at that, only to let it fall. "I may have forgotten about that detail. Granted, that's still something to get used to." Given the fact that Blake hadn't shared that with his team until recently, Jaune was willing to let that slide. "Regardless, you could just get her something along those lines. Convenient to her other hobbies without being some grandiose gesture."

Jaune hummed as he brought a hand to his chin. Other hobbies? "Well, Blake did mention that she liked to draw. Maybe I could get her a sketch pad or something?"

Ren urged him to continue, moving his wrist as he stared at the blond.

"Okay, uh, a sketch pad," Jaune raised a thumb. "Maybe some fancy pens? Oh, how about a wrist guard? I remember my sister telling me about how her wrist would hurt if she drew for too long. And how about some thin-point markers? You know, to add a little extra color." With each suggestion that Jaune made, an extra digit rose on his hand.

But when he watched Ren raise a hand, he stopped. "Mark those down somewhere, don't forget, and go buy them soon. The last thing you want to do is forget."

Jaune was quick to tear his scroll from his pocket, opening up his notepad app before jotting down his list. Alright, sketchbook, fancy pens, wrist guard, thin-point markers, and… I think that's it. It wasn't a very impressive list, looking at it on his scroll. But it's enough. I think.

Snapping his scroll shut, Jaune let out a deep sigh. "Thanks for the help, buddy. I know I was panicking really hard there for a second, so thanks for putting up with me." Bringing a hand to the back of his head as he laughed. "I'll try to be a little less annoying next time."

Ren only waved him off. "You're fine. Besides, if for some reason you weren't panicking, then I'd be worried for you." He said, his micrometer clicking for the last time before a satisfied smile took to his face. "Imagine if you didn't have a plan for your anniversary and you were confident. I'm sure you'd have made a mess."

Jaune sighed, letting his hand fall from the back of his head. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. No really, it's doing wonders."

"I'm just saying," Ren chuckled, taking the many parts on the thin blue cloth in front of him before assembling them together. Before long, the series of parts came together to make a handgun, the moving parts hidden by a green polymer frame. "And that wasn't me taking a dig at you. I'm sure your relationship is just fine."

Jaune watched as he pulled the slide on the handgun - probably checking the chamber for ammo - before he pulled the trigger, a loud click filling the room. Given the smile on his face, Jaune was sure that Ren was feeling very satisfied with himself.

"Say, and tell me if I'm overstepping, but…" Jaune's words trailed off when Ren's eyes flicked to him. "You ever thought about, you know, you and Nora?"

Whatever satisfaction covered Ren's face was wiped. "Whatever could you possibly mean?" Despite it sounding like a question, the way his voice monotonously droned made it sound like anything but. "Because I know you didn't just suggest that I go out and date my oldest friend."

Jaune shook his head, sighing all the while. "Well, why not? It's obvious that she likes you beyond the normal friendship stuff, and you're clearly sweet on her. Why not just-"

Ren's eyes sharpened, glaring at the blond boy. "Because it wouldn't be fair to either of us." His voice heavy before his eyes flicked down to the gun in his hand. "We're all we have now. Can you really call something a choice if the only other option is dying alone?"

"You're overthinking it."

"Am I?" Ren spoke through gritted teeth, pausing to push out a long breath. "Look, I appreciate what you're trying to hint at, and I know you're just trying to encourage what you think will make us both happier. But believe me, I've thought about this for a long time. I want Nora to try with someone else first before she tries anything with me."

Jaune frowned, watching as Ren's face paled as he stared down at one half of Stormflower. "Wouldn't it hurt you if she decided to be with someone other than you?"

An awkward smile pulled on Ren's lips, pushing out a breath. "Probably. But if it meant that Nora would be happy, then I'll bear any pain." Ren squared his shoulders back, sitting up straight. "I want Nora to live as normal a life as she can. If it means ignoring the moment in exchange for the future, then so be it."

Jaune sighed, shaking his head one last time. "Well, either way, thanks a ton for-"

---

"...helping me get this all figured out, Yang." Blake said, smiling as she flopped back onto her bed. "I don't think I could have figured it all out on my own."

Yang blew raspberries at her, waving her off as she jumped to her feet. "What are partners for, right? If I can't help you with your boyfriend-troubles, then how good of a friend could I possibly be?" Yang laughed as she brought her hands to rest at her sides. "But seriously, don't think anything of it. I mean, it may also be my fault that you even got into this relationship in the first place, so I've got to take a little responsibility."

Blake snorted before she rolled her eyes. "You can be the bride's maid at our wedding if it ever happens." Sarcasm oozed from her voice like tar onto a freshly made road.

However, before there was any time for Blake to laugh, footsteps stomped next to her as a shadow loomed over her figure. When Blake's eyes turned up to look at what casted it, she found herself staring up at Yang, an unreadable expression on her face.

Blake tried to sit up, but she felt a pair of hands come to rest on her shoulders. "Wha-"

Yang sniffled, her lips shaking as tears pooled at the edges of her eyes. "You really are the best, Blakey…" Wet streaks falling from her eyes as she hiccuped. "Can I be your kids' aunt?"

Blake swatted the blonde's hands away, feeling a heat rest at her cheeks as her chest tightened. "Get off of me! And didn't I say that that was a lifetime away?" Why her partner suddenly felt the need to be so emotional, Blake didn't know. "But if that ever happens - and if I for some reason decide to keep associating with you - then sure. You can be their aunt, I guess."

The tears on Yang's face only seemed to fall faster, a shaky smile on her face as she wrapped her arms around the Faunus girl's shoulders, pulling her into a hug. "You're the best adopted sister ever!"

"Who adopted me anyway?" Blake curled a brow as she reluctantly brought her hands to rest at Yang's back.

In between sniffles, Yang managed to speak. "I-I did, and it was the best decision ever."

Rolling her eyes, Blake patted the blonde's back, trying not to laugh whenever Yang sniffled a little too hard. But before long, Yang pulled away from the hug, taking deep breaths as she wiped away her thick tears.

"O-okay, I think I'm good now." Yang said, huffing as she plastered on a smile. "Sorry, Blakey, didn't mean to get so emotional with you. I just didn't think I'd ever see the day that team RWBY's emo cat girl would ever be so outgoing."

That wiped the smile from Blake's face. "I will cut you," her ears falling flat against her black hair. When Yang laughed, Blake continued. "Besides, I wasn't that moody, was I? I know I had my moments, but-"

"No, you were totally moody." Yang's smile fell, replaced by a deadly serious expression. "I mean, I couldn't even get you to go outside on the weekends! Now I can't seem to get you to sit still because you keep going on dates with Vomit Boy."

"Can you please call him something other than that awful nickname?" Blake's voice was filled with fatigue as she slouched, her eyes suddenly feeling heavy.

Yang shrugged. "Well, I've had other nicknames in mind, but I doubt you'd like them much either."

Blake's eyes narrowed, turning to stare at Yang while she sat next to her. "...Like what?"

"Oh, you know," Yang waved a hand, a smirk on her face. "When you guys had just started dating, Jaune was starting to fill out a little. His shoulders got a little bigger, forearms a little more chiseled, that sort of thing. Then one day, I saw him, and I nearly fumbled the words, 'Hey, beefcake.'"

If Blake's eyes could narrow any further, they would have. "I take it back, you can call him Vomit Boy all you want."

Yang snorted, rolling her eyes as she jostled her partner's shoulder. "I'm just teasin'. Besides, it's not like I want him or anything." Disinterest spread across her face as she shrugged. "I know he's yours, and I know just what you two have done. So you know what? Go get him, girl."

Blake's cheeks turned a healthy shade of red as she jumped to her feet. "I think I'm gonna go take a walk." All of the talking about the future combined with her partner noticing the physical changes that Jaune went through had been more than enough for Blake. "I can already feel this headache coming on, so I'm gonna just go."

She heard Yang snicker from her bedside, but that didn't stop her from making it to the door. "Alright, Blakey, have a nice walk. Oh, and… try not to make any mistakes if you happen to run into a certain blond boy, alright?"

Reaching for the door, Blake smiled one last time, twisting the knob before pulling it shut behind her. Try as she might, she couldn't ever really hate the words that seemed to leave Yang's mouth. Sure, they were annoying, frustrating, embarrassing - so many different words could be applied, really. But never would they be unwelcome.

After all, they were so important to the person that she'd become. So, so very-

---

Important. Jaune thought, holding a plastic bag in his hands as the sound of cars passed him by on the open streets of Vale. Remember, you can't mess this up. This is all for Blake. Be strong, be confident, and speak with your chest.

Jaune repeated the words of counsel that he'd gotten from his Dad all those years ago. He wasn't sure if it ever worked, but at least it let him pretend to be confident enough to get through the struggle. After all, in his hands was a gift that would either deliver or flop.

The busy streets of Vale were filled by the sounds of rumbling engines and chattering voices as he walked through the commercial district. The smell of freshly baked bread in the air mingled with the pleasant aroma of roses from a flower stand closer than half the way down Berry street. In spite of himself, Jaune felt his shoulders lose their tension, a small smile coming to rest on his lips.

God, how long has it been since I've been able to just take a walk around Vale? Jaune knew it hadn't been too long, but it felt like ages. With every step he took, he moved deeper into the commercial district, the sound of cars driving along the smoothly paved roads of Vale growing further away. That was still something to get used to - not having to hear the sounds of rusted out, rickety trucks wheezing along a bumpy dirt path.

In a way, it reminded him just how far he'd come. In the sense of his Huntsman prospects, and in how far from home he really was. Hundreds of miles of forest and frontier stood between his home and Vale proper.

I wonder if Mom and Dad are okay? Jaune thought, his smile falling for a brief moment.

But before he could get too far into that train of thought, a high pitched wailing filled his ears. Jaune's hand subconsciously fell for his side, his heartbeat loudly pounding against his chest as his eyes scanned the market. A mugging, kidnapping, robbery - Jaune was ready for all of it, feeling the warm familiarity of his aura spread across his body.

His eyes softened as they settled on the source of the crying. A little blonde girl who couldn't have been older than Violet, his youngest sister. Her hair was done up in pigtails, held up by a pair of little red bows that contrasted the blue dress that she wore. In her hands was the fluffiest little lamb plushie that Jaune had ever seen - he was almost certain that it would make Violet green with envy. But worst of all was the fact that she was standing alone, which could only mean one thing.

Letting himself relax, Jaune strode across the market, the sound of her crying growing louder as he put on his best smile.

By the time he'd reached her, he found just how tall she really was, standing just a little taller than up to his knee. Crouching down, Jaune grinned at her. "Hey there, little miss. Where are your parents?" He spoke softly, if only so as to not scare her. He knew just how much worse that sort of thing could be on a kid if he scared them.

The girl sniffled, wiping her arm against her nose. "I-I went to go and f-find my Mama her newspapah, but I c-couldn't find it and-" She sobbed again, pressing her hands against her eyes, wiping her teary eyes against her lamb.

"Hey, hey, it's okay." Jaune said, raising his hands before pressing one to his chest. "I'm a Huntsman, you know. I bet that you and I can go and find your Mama real easy." And if worse came to worst, he'd just take her to the police. Not the most elegant solution, but at least she'd be safe.

Holding out a hand, Jaune watched as the girl nodded, her tiny hand coming to land in his before he stood his full height.

Jaune made sure to keep his grip light, shortening his strides to let the tiny girl keep up with him. "What's your name, little miss?"

"M-Marigold…" Her voice barely coming out over the sounds of doors swinging open and bells ringing. "But Mama likes to call me Mari."

Laughing quietly, Jaune brought a hand to his chest. "I'm Jaune, Jaune Arc. It's nice to meet you, Mari. Can I call you Mari?" Watching her nod, he felt a smile spread across his lips. "Can you tell what your Mama looks like? Does she look like you?"

That managed to make Mari smile, nodding her head again. "Uh huh! Mama's got hair like mine, but her eyes are green, like pretty grass!"

Jaune nodded. Blonde hair, green eyes, pale skin, adding to the list, he curled a brow, looking down at Mari as he felt the scent of sugar barrage his nose. "Is there anything that she's wearing that helps her stand out a little more?"

He watched as the little blonde girl brought a finger to her chin, her eyes narrowing as she concentrated. "Mama likes to wear this really pretty white jacket. It's kinda puffy, but it has these little rocks in it that makes it sparkle!"

Smiling softly, Jaune nodded. "Thank you very much, Mari. Now, let's go see if we can't find her."

Of course, walking around the markets of Vale with a kid alongside him was already a little tricky. If it were one of his sisters, Jaune wouldn't have had any problem with it. But this was a stranger's daughter who'd gotten separated, and the last thing he needed was for someone to accuse him of anything.

I need to find her mom fast. He thought, his eyes scanning the many market stalls and hole-in-the-wall stores. Alright, think, if I were a parent that was freaking out about losing a kid, where would I be? His sisters tended to wander off every once and a while when he was still living on the Frontier, but walled settlements made things easy. It also helped that everyone knew each other by name.

"Hey, Mari," Jaune turned his attention to the girl next to him, watching as her bright eyes turned up to look at him. "Do you know where you and your Mama were before you got separated? Anything could help."

He watched as the girl's face scrunched up, her small finger pressing to her lips as she concentrated again. "Mama said something about getting Papa a thing for his pocket clock."

"A… pocket clock?" Jaune curled a brow at that.

But Mari only nodded again, grinning from ear to ear. "Uh huh! It's this pretty silver color that he got from his Papa! It's like a… like a clock!"

Jaune's brows only furrowed deeper, tilting his head to the side before his eyes widened. "Oh, you mean a pocket watch! My Grandparents used to keep one of those around." Though it wasn't anything like the one Mari described. His Granddad's old watch was a dirty bronze with dings and scratches that covered its surface. "Maybe she'd be at a pawn shop? A jeweler maybe?"

Making his way to a wooden park bench that sat away from the main walking paths, Jaune set the girl on the bench before pulling out his scroll. Opening up a map, Jaune scanned the commercial district for any pawn shops or jewelry stores nearby, setting his plastic bag next to Mari. There was one not too far from where they were, just a little further up on Chestnut Avenue.

Jaune was torn from his thoughts as he heard the sound of plastic rustling, seeing Mari stuff her head into the bag. "Mister Jaune, are you an artist?" Curiosity laced her voice as she pulled her head up, her blue eyes sparkling as she could barely keep her hands from shaking. "Because I want to be an artist too!"

At first, surprise took to his face, but it was quickly replaced by a smile as he took a seat next to her. "No, Mari, I'm afraid I'm not. But my girlfriend? Yeah, she's the one with the artistic talent."

"Ar…tistic?"

Jaune blinked, bringing a hand to the back of his neck. "You know, like she's good at art. Granted, I've never seen anything she's drawn, but if it's anything like she is, I know it's pretty." Blake was a lot of things, but she wasn't someone to throw herself at a hobby halfheartedly. "Hey, once you get back in touch with your Mama, how about you ask her to get you some art books? I'm sure she'd be more than happy to."

Mari's eyes sparkled some more, vibrating in her seat. "You think so?"

"I know so." Jaune's smile widened. Not only because it was a good hobby for a girl her age, but because he was sure that Mari's Mom would be feeling pretty bad about losing track of her daughter.

Before Mari could get another word out, Jaune heard an older voice cut through the chattering crowd. "Mari!" Her voice laden with despair as she called out. "Marigold!"

Turning to the source, Jaune caught sight of a blonde woman dressed in a puffy white jacket. So when he stood up from the park bench, grabbing his plastic bag in one hand and Mari's hand in the other, he moved towards the source of the calls. All he had to do was come off as friendly as possible without seeming creepy.

Jaune cleared his throat to speak, hoping to catch the woman's attention - but before he could, Mari spoke up. "Mama! Over here!" She said, waving her free hand as she laughed.

When Mari's mother caught sight of them, Jaune could only sigh, raising his hand that was occupied with Blake's gifts.

Rushing over, the woman's face came undone with relief. "Oh Mari, where did you run off to? You had me worried sick!" A smile tugged at her lips as she took a knee next to her daughter, wrapping her arms around Mari's shoulders. "Don't you ever run off again, young lady."

Jaune couldn't help but laugh as he let go of Mari's hand, bringing his now freed hand to rest at the back of his neck. Alright, I guess I'm done here. He thought, pulling out his scroll to check the time- 10 minutes? Oh dammit, I'm gonna be late again? As if he hadn't already caught enough flak for being a few minutes too late the last time this happened.

But when his eyes settled on the reunited pair, Jaune's worries eased. Well, at least it'll make for a good story later. Stuffing his scroll away as the thought passed him by.

Mari's mother stood up, taking her daughter's hand into her own as she smiled at Jaune. "Thank you so much, Mister..?"

Jaune only waved her off. "Mister Arc's my Dad, I'm just Jaune." Laughing as he gave her the best smile he could. "And hey, I'm happy I could help."

The older woman sighed, smiling in return. "Thank you so much, Jaune. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't stumbled upon her."

Jaune didn't want to imagine it, and he was sure it was written on his face. "What can I say? Your little Mari looks a little like my youngest sister, so you can chalk it up to older brother instincts." That, and crying kids were just the worst to deal with. It always had the weirdest way of making him anxious. "Either way, it's been great helping around, but I really do have to be going."

But Jaune couldn't manage to take another step before he felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder. "Hang on a second," she started, fishing out her scroll from her jacket pocket. "Do you mind if we trade numbers? I just can't let this go unrewarded."

The blond boy paused for a moment, but shrugged, pulling his scroll back out. "I don't mind, I guess. But I do have to be getting somewhere soon, you know? If I spend any longer, my girlfriend's going to kill me."

The woman blinked, humming before her brows shot up. "Oh, that makes sense. Well, either way, here's my number." She said, flipping her scroll around for him to type it in. Jaune was quick to send her a text, but something occurred to him in that moment.

"Uh, I don't have a name to stick to the contact." Jaune chuckled awkwardly.

The blonde woman's face was quickly dusted with a shade of red, Mari's laughter filling the air. "Sorry, that's on me." Sighing as she brought her hand to her face. "Emily Greene, but my friends call me Em."

Quickly typing that into the contact, Jaune gave her a wave after stuffing his scroll away. He didn't even have time to say goodbye as he ran off, running through the better part of the commercial district.

Wait, did I just get an older lady's number? He thought, his brows furrowing as he felt the crisp air slash against his face. Nah, don't think about it too hard. After all, Mari said that she's got a Dad, so it should be fine. Otherwise, that would have been-

---

This was bad. So, so very bad.

Blake glanced down at the scroll in her hand, feeling the leather satchel slung over her shoulder slam against her side as she ran down Chestnut Avenue. She was fifteen minutes late to her meeting with Jaune, and she just knew that he was going to hold it over her. Blake made sure to never be late to their dates, so the fact that she was going to be the one late?

I'm never going to hear the end of it, am I? A frown tugging on her lips as she rushed along one of the many canals that led through Vale, the salty scent of the ocean breeze assaulting her nose. Okay, just have to follow the riverfront for a while until we get to the park. After that, I apologize and hand him his gift.

If all goes well, it should be something easy enough to do.

Blake could feel her heart hammering against her chest as she ran along the riverfront, running between small crowds as she held the satchel close to her side. Would Jaune even accept a gift like the one she was getting him? She knew he wanted to go camping with her before, but a multi-tool? And one made by Ruby, no less?

Shaking her head, Blake felt the wind brush against her bow, feeling it faintly cut through the cloth around her ears.

Come on, this is Jaune we're thinking about. When have I ever gotten him something he didn't like? Granted, there were a couple of book series that she tried to get him into, but they just weren't for him. And then there were the reading glasses she tried to get him, but nothing ever seemed to fit his face right. Then there was the time that she tried to get him to cosplay too… This is going to go so badly, isn't it?

But as she ran along the riverfront, the smell of freshly made dough drifted into her nose. It smelled sweet, but not so much that it made her crinkle her nose - if anything, it was probably less sweet than the typical bread that Ruby would bring back to the dorm. Then again, it could hardly be classified as bread, being closer to a cake than anything else.

Her golden eyes scanned the riverfront, watching as couples of shapes and ages walked alongside the railing. A pair of kids that couldn't be any older than highschool freshmen walked hand in hand, smiling and laughing as they went. The further that Blake ran, she watched as a couple maybe a few years older than herself walked with linked arms, the lady among them bringing a hand to her mouth as she smiled.

But the thing that brought her to slow down was an old couple, wrinkles and cracks lining their faces as they hobbled along the riverside. The old man of the two walked with a cane, trying to make his way up a pair of concrete steps with an older woman hanging off of his shoulder.

Blake's long strides shortened as she got closer, watching as their shaky hands gripped at the metal railing on the steps. Oh, what the hell. It's not like I can be late twice.

She made sure to smile as she made her way over to the pair, stepping halfway down the steps. "Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude but do you two need help?" Blake had never met her grandparents, so she didn't know how she was supposed to act around geriatrics. But she imagined politeness helped.

The older woman smiled, waving Blake down with a bony hand. "If it wouldn't be a bother, dearie." Holding her arm tightly around the man next to her. "Charles, love, you don't mind the extra help, do you?"

Charles sighed, his old hand still tightly gripping the metal railing as the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen. "If it means cutting your suffering short, my dear, anything for you."

Blake took that as a sign to come behind the two, bringing her arms to rest beneath theirs. Before long, she was helping lift them up with each step, taking a deep breath with every step. Brute strength had never been Blake's forte, but she wasn't so weak as to not help an old couple.

Besides, if she didn't help them now, she'd never stop thinking about it.

When they reached the top of the steps, Blake let out a breath, her bow falling flat against her head, a tired smile pulling at her lips. "Alright, is there anything else I can do while I'm here?" Sure, it was probably her wasting time, but she was sure Jaune wouldn't mind too much.

That, and the elderly kind of reminded her of herself. Tired, uncaring for social interactions, and liked reading.

Charles brought a wrinkled hand to his mouth, clearing his throat before pulling the duckbill cap from his head, bringing it to rest against his vest. "I wouldn't want to waste any of your time, my dear. The young should go and enjoy themselves."

But before Blake could so much as nod, she watched as the old man's wife nudged his side. "Oh come now, love." A knowing smile on her face. "Just tell her that you wouldn't mind her joining us on our walk to the stand."

Charles' face scrunched up for a moment before he sighed, placing his cap back atop his head. "Elizabeth, must you embarrass me like this?"

Elizabeth, for her part, only giggled, hiding her mouth behind her hand. "I've done it all our lives, so I fail to see why not." Her old eyes sparkling as she stared up at her husband. But they soon trailed away, meeting Blake's. "It shouldn't take too much of your time, dear - a little more than a 10 minute walk."

Blake brought a hand to rest at the leather satchel that hugged her side, his brows furrowing all the while. "Well, so long as it's in the same way that I'm going. I have to get to the park soon." At least her scroll hasn't gone off yet, so at least Jaune's not annoyed yet.

If the old couple noticed her mild panic, they didn't show it, instead shuffling next to the old railing along the riverfront.

The walk itself was a silent affair, and that suited Blake just fine. It gave her time to think - what about, she had no clue. She could think of the gift she was going to give to Jaune, but it would've been an exercise in futility. All she'd end up thinking was how her gift wasn't good enough, and she'd lose what little nerve she had.

So instead, she turned her thoughts to the elderly couple she walked along, staring at them with curious eyes. They dressed exactly in the way that she expected old Valeans to - Charles in his button-up shirt and vest, and Elizabeth in a dress and shawl. It felt like they'd fallen out of time.

While Blake stared on, she failed to notice that the elderly woman was staring back, a smile pulling at her lips. "Does something have your eye, Dearie?" Chuckling as she clung to her husband's arm, smiling brightly. "Because I'm afraid that the Lieutenant's very taken."

Blake curled a brow, laughing to herself as she shook her head. "That's good, because so am I," sharing a smile of her own as her eyes flicked between the pair. "But… Lieutenant?"

Charles sighed, shaking his head as a smile crawled up his lips, but it didn't seem to make it to his eyes. "A rank I've long since left behind. But it's not one I dare forget."

Blake's smile fell, replaced by something more solemn. "You're retired military, then. I can't imagine that was easy when you were young." She didn't have to be a genius to figure out just which war Charles had fought in.

After all, there hadn't been very many since the Great War.

"It was much harder being home when it ended." His voice gravely and hoarse, but he continued to put one foot in front of the other, his loafers clacking against the cobblestone riverfront. "But I was lucky to have the love of my life waiting for me." His smile brightened as he turned to look at his wife, pulling her that little bit closer.

Elizabeth only laughed again, her age fading for the briefest moment. "As if I wouldn't wait for you after you sent home all those lovely letters of yours." She said, swatting his chest as she smiled up at him. But it didn't last, softening into something smaller. Something distant. "After everything you had gone through, I wasn't about to leave you alone."

Blake felt her chest tighten as she watched the elderly couple, shortening her steps to fall in line with them. It must have been hard, being away from someone you care about for so long. Blake's thoughts buzzed between her ears. I wonder if I could do that too?

If push came to shove, and she and Jaune were separated for so long, could they last without one another? She knew she didn't need him, but not having him was so much worse than not. But that was ignoring an even bigger question.

Would we even be together long enough for something like that to happen? A blizzard roared in her stomach as she walked, clutching the bag that hugged her side tightly.

…Why did she have to think so much?

The sound of a cough snapped Blake from her thoughts, turning her head to see Elizabeth staring up at her. "I must say, Dearie, that's quite a purse you have with you. The stitch work on it isn't the greatest, but I can tell it was made with care." Her green eyes lingered on the leather satchel for a moment, only to flick up and catch Blake's amber eyes.

The sound of the river flowing down the canals filled Blake's ears as she walked, making sure to keep her hand on the satchel. "It's actually a gift. For my boyfriend, I mean." Blake watched as the older woman's eyes widened, along with her smile. "He really likes camping, so I got a friend of mine to make him a multi-tool. The satchel's more like a holster than anything else."

She watched as Charle's head flicked to hers, curiosity dancing behind his tired old eyes. "You wouldn't mind showing me, would you? My son was quite the avid camper in his youth." His voice felt lighter than before, mirth springing from it as he gave her a grin.

Blake sighed as she opened the flap to the satchel, pulling free a thick, block contraption of springs, gears, and metal casing. A series of buttons lined its side, which Blake made sure to keep her fingers well away from.

Charles' eyes narrowed as he hobbled along, tilting his head. "Curious. Can't quite say we had multi-tools like that in the Fusiliers."

"It's specially made for him." Blake said, smiling to herself as she fought the urge to stuff the multi-tool back into the satchel. "It's got everything that might be useful for survival purposes. A hand axe, bayonet, cutlery, flashlight, and a… small handgun." Why she didn't think to ask Ruby for the schematics before she made it, Blake didn't know. She should have seen it coming.

The old fellow blinked, a hum slipping past his lips. "What's it loaded in?"

Blake failed to suppress her sigh. "My friend took some liberties in its design, and she made a double barreled handgun that can be chambered in both 12 gauge and 22. Long rifle."

There was a moment where all that Blake could hear was the sound of the salty ocean water feeding into the canals, birds calling and chirping, and her shoes clacking against the cobble trail.

Then Charles laughed, bringing a hand to his chest. "Well, if push comes to shove, I'm sure this fellow of yours won't go hungry with something like that in his pocket. Bit of wrist pain, though."

Stuffing the multi-tool back into the satchel, Blake felt her face growing warmer - maybe she was coming down with something? Her eyes caught a glimpse of a small wooden stand just a little off the street, stuffed between a pair of glass displays. Large bundles of stacked paper with black scribbles lining their clean surfaces.

Taking a deep breath, Blake came to a quick stop, turning on her heels. "I think this is where we split up."

The elderly couple only looked between themselves, smiling at each other before nodding. "Thank you for walking with us the whole way, dear. I know it probably wasn't your idea of a good time, but you've certainly made our afternoons." Elizabeth softly smiled as she spoke. "Or at the very least, you've made mine."

A warmth spread across Blake's chest as she stared between them, feeling her lips unconsciously pulling upwards as her bow stood at attention. "Well, it wasn't all too bad." A little longer than she'd have hoped, but… well, she had fun. Even if it was just a little. "Now then, I've got a boyfriend to apologize to for being late."

Charles pulled the cap from his head, holding it close to chest. "If he's anything like I was when I was a young man, he'll simply be happy to have the eyes of a pretty dame."

Giving the pair a wave, Blake quietly took her leave. No point in dragging things out beyond what they needed to be. So she went back to walking along the riverfront, holding the leather satchel close as she walked.

Her strides were longer, her shoulders loosened, and breathing felt easier than it had been all afternoon. All because of one silly little thought.

Maybe the multi-tool isn't the perfect gift, she was resigned to the thought, honestly. But even if it's not, Jaune's pretty simple. An 'I love you' is enough to make his face light up, so a multi-tool should be fine. And even if it wasn't, she tried her best. That counted for something, right?

And even if it didn't, there wasn't anything more than Blake could do about it now.

Pulling her scroll from her pocket, Blake flicked it open, checking the time and- "Wow, I am way later than I thought." Her eyes widened as she picked up her pace, her strides going further as she put more power behind them.

She only hoped that-

---

Jaune panted as he ran through the streets of Vale, finally making his way out of the markets. With every step that he took, he heard his sneakers scrape against the concrete sidewalk. As he approached the last crosswalk of his trip, Jaune brought his hands to rest at his knees, doubling over as he gulped down what felt like gallons of air.

"I hope Blake's not too annoyed waiting on me," Jaune mumbled, running his hoodie sleeve along his chin. "She'll forgive me for a lot, but being half an hour late? I don't think so."

The sound of rubber tires pressing down against the asphalt in front of him filled his ears, watching as cars leisurely drove past him. The breeze that they left in their wake wasn't unappreciated, but Jaune was more busy staring at the bright green light that hung over the crosswalk. Why did it feel like those things always took their sweet time to turn red?

Taking one last gulp of air, Jaune stood his full height, bouncing on his toes as he tightly clutched the plastic bag in his hand. Alright, we're on the home stretch now. He thought, a grim smile tugging at his lips. Just got to meet up with Blake, hand off her gift, and hope she… forgives me, really.

When the light flicked red, Jaune's feet kicked off from the concrete, ignoring the sounds of car horns honking as he ran across the crosswalk. Turning down the sidewalk to his left, Jaune ran down the path until he found an iron gate that clung to a dark black arch, leading into Vale's central park.

But as he ran through the park, Jaune found his steps growing sluggish and heavy, his breath catching in the back of his throat. When he nearly stumbled over his own feet, he knew that was the time to slow down.

So instead of running, Jaune walked along the concrete paths of the park.

His eyes darted around the dense greenery of planted trees and shrubs that lined the path, hoping to catch a glimpse of a dark haired Faunus with bright amber eyes. But instead, all he managed to find was more greenery. The cool afternoon brushed against the back of his neck, contrasting the warm sweat that clung to his skin.

The sound of birds chirping, kids running around and playing tag, and even parents chatting about their days slowly reached Jaune's ears, though he was more focused on putting one foot in front of the other. But when his eyes drifted up towards the bright blue sky, not a cloud in sight, his feet stopped moving.

Has it always been such a pretty day? Maybe he hadn't noticed it in his panic, but Vale felt nicer than it usually did. There were families walking around with their kids, folks walking their dogs - large hunting hounds and tiny purse rats alike - and he even spotted the odd gray squirrel running around in the trees above him. Funny, I remember thinking those were so cool to find as a kid.

They still were, but not nearly as interesting as before. It was more like finding a trinket in an old box than finding gold.

But even so, Jaune couldn't keep himself from smiling.

Jaune laughed as he put one foot in front of the other, stuffing his right hand into his pocket as he walked along the concrete path. It wasn't like he could be any more late than he already was, right? Besides, he was sure that he was going to get a text from Blake any minute now. Something about how he was so forgetful and dumb, and how she loved him anyway in spite of it.

Granted, he'd have to wait a good ten minutes before she said it, but he knew she would.

I wonder how I managed to get so lucky? Not just with managing to sneak into Beacon, but with everything. I've got good friends, I'm getting an education, and my girlfriend's the best thing in my life. If Jaune were the same young man that he was when he first snuck into Beacon, he'd have thought that something bad was around the corner.

But instead, Jaune couldn't help but feel like more good was waiting for him. It all depended on how one thought of the world. If Jaune thought that the world was out to get him, then naturally, it was. But if he paused to take in the world - the smell of freshly cut grass, clean air, and pollinating flowers - then there wasn't any way for the world to get worse.

Pulling out his scroll, Jaune checked his map to see how long he'd be. Just another few minutes, huh? An awkward laugh fell from his mouth as he brought a hand to rest at his nape. Alright, time to face the music.

Squaring his shoulders and holding his chin up high, Jaune's long strides brought him closer and closer to his final destination.

An isolated park bench near the center of the park, its dark wooden exterior faded from age. Beside it was a streetlight with ornate lines and patterns ingrained into the black colored steel, a singular red crystal sitting in the glass container at the peak of the streetlight. It was cracked - good for little more than lighting up its surroundings at night. But in a weird twist, Jaune thought that was kind of nice. If a broken dust crystal could still be good for something, then didn't that mean anything could be useful?

But the most important detail that Jaune was expecting was… Blake. Instead, he found the park bench to be vacant, his brows furrowing as he slowly stumbled over to the bench.

"She… probably got tired of waiting for me, I guess." A tired smile tugging at his lips.

Finding his seat at the bench, Jaune set the plastic bag down next to him before putting his hands on his head. Nice going, moron. You made your girlfriend wait for half an hour and stood her up. Worse still, if he explained why, it'd only come out wrong. Hey Blake, sorry I was late. I was busy helping this kid find her mom and ended up getting her mom's number. Will you forgive me?

As if that wasn't going to make her jealous.

But before Jaune could get much more lost in his thoughts, he heard the sounds of heels clacking against concrete. Looking up, Jaune found himself staring at a girl with long black hair and amber eyes, a shaky smile on her face as she wiped away a bead of sweat from her cheek.

"Uh, hey." Blake started, raising a hand as she stood doubled over, catching her breath. "Sorry I'm late. Did I keep you waiting long?"

Jaune blinked as his hands fell to his lap, tilting his head. "...You mean you didn't get up and leave because of how late I was?" The words sort of fumbled out of his mouth, watching as Blake's eyes widened slightly. "Uh, I mean, yeah, I've been waiting here for forever, and I can't believe that you would- you're not buying this, are you?"

Blake's smile widened as she giggled, strutting over to the park bench to take her rightful place next to Jaune. When she settled into her seat, she didn't bother giving him any space, enjoying the warmth from his side.

"Nope," Blake smirked as she shot him a sideways glance. "So, what was it that took you so long to get here?"

The blond boy sighed as he dragged a hand down his face. "Long story short, I had to help this little girl find her mom in the market. It only took about fifteen minutes, but still." Jaune knew he wasn't nearly as easily distracted as he used to be - studying was easier than it used to be, he wasn't afraid to get hit during training, and most of all, he'd started to pay attention when people spoke. "Well, I got a little sidetracked."

He heard Blake sigh as she rested the side of her head against his shoulder, not failing to catch how wide her smirk got. "You too, huh?" Jaune curled a brow at that, motioning his hand for her to continue. "I got distracted with an old couple that needed a little help. Before long, we got to talking, and I got… a little distracted."

Blake felt a sudden heat flush into her cheeks, and it only seemed to grow warmer when she heard Jaune chuckle. "Who's easily distracted now?" Feeling his finger poke at her side as he laughed. "But seriously though, I'd say it's fine. I mean, we're both late enough, I'd say."

Blake turned to catch Jaune's bright grin, his eyes shut as he laughed. She couldn't keep herself from smiling back, bringing a hand to rest against his cheek. When she watched his eyes peel open, she smirked, gently planting her lips against his.

If Jaune was surprised, he didn't show it, instead closing his eyes again to lean into the kiss. It was more chaste than either of them were used to, but Blake was happy with that. No point in getting overly intimate in public.

Besides, Blake thought, pulling away from the kiss as she smiled. That's for later.

Clearing his throat, Jaune brought a fist to his mouth. "So, I don't suppose you had me meet you here because you wanted to suck face, right?" He asked, reaching to his right to pull a plastic bag onto his lap. "Because I've got something I think you might like. Probably."

Blake curled a brow, watching as Jaune held the plastic bag forward. Taking it into her hand, she set the bag on her lap, opening it to find… "You bought me sketching supplies?" Her brows shot up as she stared down at the bag. A sketchpad, some pens, a wrist guard - what didn't Jaune get her? "How'd you know I sketched?"

"You may have mentioned it once or twice." Jaune said, laughing as he scratched the back of his head. Granted, she only mentioned it once, but it stuck with him ever since. "Well, it's that, but I also figured that you'd like to do something outside of reading for a change."

Blake watched as Jaune's eyes drifted towards the ground, an awkward smile tugging at his lips all the while. A laugh escaped her as she hugged the bag closely. "I think I was due for a change anyway." Jaune's eyes lit up as he turned to face her, his shaky smile planting itself firmly on his face. "I love it, Jaune. Thank you."

Seeing him sit up straight made Blake's cheeks hurt from how hard she was smiling. "Well, uh, you know… I had a little help. But I'm glad you like it." Blake felt the chill afternoon air run through her hair, watching as Jaune clasped his hands in his lap as he sighed. "I was kind of freaking out about it for a while, you know?"

Jaune watched as his girlfriend's smile fell as she coughed into her hand. "I doubt you were freaking out as badly as I was." Her mouth curled to the side as her hands ran up and down a leather strap that ran along her chest. Come to think of it, he'd never even noticed until then. "Do you remember that time that you said you wanted to go camping?"

"Oh yeah," Jaune mumbled, smiling to himself as he leaned back into the park bench. "I remember that. That's when you and I went to burn Weiss'-" A small hand pressed harshly against his mouth, watching as Blake's ears folded against her head as a bright shade of red took to her cheeks.

"We both agreed to not talk about that." Baring her teeth as she glared at him. But even with the glare she leveled at him, the way her cheeks were dusted red only made it come off as cute to him. "If I have to hear Weiss complain about her Sunday dress one more time, it'll still be too soon."

As Blake pulled her hand away from his face, she heard him chuckle, fighting the urge to slam her hand back over his mouth. "Oh come on, as far as first times go, it wasn't too bad, right?"

Blake curled a brow. "But… we didn't have our first time that night?"

Jaune snorted, rolling his eyes all the while. "Well, it was the first time anyone had a good time in a dress like that." Whatever amusement he was showing was short lived, feeling Blake's knuckles jam against his shoulder. "Ow! Okay, fine, that's the last one." Rubbing his shoulder as he spoke.

"It better be," Blake frowned as she crossed her arms. "Or I might just decide to not give you your gift until later."

Jaune blinked at that, tilting his head as he stared at her. "You… got me something?"

The Faunus sighed as she brought her fingers to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Did you really think that I wasn't going to get you something after six months of us being together?" An unamused brow rising on her face.

"Well…" Jaune brought a hand to the back of his head, a shiver going up his spine as he caught the cold glare that Blake was sending him. "I just figured that it was a guy thing, you know? But I'm not going to say no to a gift from as good of a girlfriend as mine." Maybe a little flattery could soften the blow?

Yeah, he doubted that too.

Shaking her head, Blake huffed, pulling the leather strap over her head and unslinging the satchel around her waist. Holding it by the straps, she pushed it into Jaune's chest, trying and failing to ignore the heat in her chest.

"I had Ruby make you a multi-tool. You know, something to help you while you're out camping." Her heart thundered against her chest as she felt her airways tighten, but she continued in spite of that. "And… if there's ever a time that you and I are separated and you have to use it, then at least I'll know that you've got it." She'd know that she gave Jaune the tools he'd need to survive beyond just his weapon.

She felt Jaune's hand brush against hers as he gently took the satchel from her, hearing the button that kept the flap in place click as he opened it. Blake watched as he took out the blocky mechanism from the corner of his eyes, an unreadable expression on his face as his hands navigated its sleek surface. But then his fingers traced over a series of buttons that sat along the lower right side of the multi-tool, more than enough distance away from the top of it.

With the sound of a button clicking on the multi-tool, a long bayonet shot out from the top of the multi-tool. It was just short of the length of Jaune's forearm, with serrated teeth on the false edge of the blade. The surface of it was just short of being shiny enough that he could nearly catch his own reflection in the knife.

"I… I don't know what to say." The words fell from Jaune's mouth, his eyes never leaving the multi-tool in his hands. It was bulky, sure, but not so much that he couldn't hold it in one hand. Turning his head, he caught a glimpse of Blake's face, watching as she bit her lip as her eyes flicked between him and the multi-tool in his hands.

The anxiety in Blake's chest melted when she watched Jaune smile again. "You really know how to make a guy feel appreciated, Blake." A laugh leaves him soon after. "I mean, this is a new standard for me. If someone cares about me, I should expect them to give me knives."

Blake snorted, feeling the tension in her shoulders come undone as she shoved his shoulder. "It's more than just a knife, you know," reaching over to set her hand on the multi-tool. When her eyes shot up to catch his, she watched as he shrugged, his grip on the multi-tool coming undone. Taking it, she pressed a button on the side, watching as the bayonet retracted. "There's an axe in there, a… spork," she hated that word. "Along with a flashlight and- well, there's a unique Ruby-touch in there."

"She made a gun." Jaune deciphered, his smile growing.

Blake sighed, nodding. "Yeah, she added a gun."

"Why am I not surprised?" He asked, chuckling as he shook his head. "So, what absurd cartridge did Ruby decide to chamber it in? 30. Cal? 50? Ooh, .308?"

Blake wasn't surprised to find that the only rounds that Jaune knew of were either obscenely popular or a hunting round. "Believe it or not, Ruby restrained herself. It's both chambered in 12 gauge," the smile fell from Jaune's face. "And in .22 Long Rifle."

Jaune brought a hand to his mouth, clearing his throat. "Right, um, that's cool too, I guess." It certainly beats whatever potential wrist pain he'd have to deal with, but… Oh man, having a pocket .50 cal would have been cool too. Really inconvenient, but cool. "But still, that's awesome! You and Ruby really pulled the stops out for this one."

"Actually," Blake's shoulders tensed, a frown tugging at her lips. "The design was all Ruby. I just made the suggestion and she ran with it." Blake wouldn't be surprised if the idea of making a multi-tool like that was so novel to Ruby that she just had to try making one. "So really, the credit's all hers-"

Blake watched as Jaune leaned down, capturing her lips and cutting her off. The moment his arm slinked around the small of her back, she knew it was over, wrapping an arm around the back of his neck.

This kiss was longer than the last, but it wasn't so long as to be socially unacceptable. Even if Blake missed the sudden warmth as Jaune pulled.

"It's perfect, Blake." Jaune insisted, a soft smile on his face as his hand lingered on her side. "The fact that you managed to get Ruby to make me something like this at all is just enough for me. I mean, who would have thought to get me a multi-tool but you?"

Blake went to speak, but words failed to leave her. Instead, she sighed, her head falling forward. "I guess you're right." She let her hand linger at the crook of his neck, feeling the heat in her face flush. "I just… I really appreciate you, Jaune. For accepting me as I am, putting up with all my worst aspects, dealing with me whenever I get too clingy - for dealing with me, I guess."

Jaune leaned forward again, but instead of planting a kiss on her lips, he pressed his forehead against hers. "Dealing with you has to be one of the easiest things you could have me do." What was not to love? Blake wasn't clingy outside of the odd physical gesture, she was far from annoying, and even if she had a tendency for saying something a little mean, he'd learned to find the hidden meanings. "Besides, if we're going to talk about putting up with people, I'm shocked you haven't given up on me yet."

Blake closed her eyes, smiling to herself. "Oh no, my boyfriend's too normal. Whatever will I do?" Sarcasm oozed from her voice as she heard him chuckle softly. "I honestly can't think of a thing that would make me want to give this up."

"I'm dumb for one," Jaune listed off, his grin never leaving him. "I've got a voice that only a mother could love. I've got self-confidence issues that could put old Atlesian authors to shame. Probably the biggest liar you know." Watching a brow rise on Blake's face, he sighed. "Second biggest, then."

Pulling away from him, Blake shook her head. "You used to be dumber, believe it or not. As far as self-confidence goes, you're not as bad as you used to be." Her eyes drifted down towards the concrete path beneath her. "And you and I both know that my lies are bigger than yours."

Jaune hummed as his arm unraveled from her waist, coming to rest his hands in his lap. "Well… doesn't that just mean that we're made for one another? Who better for a liar than another liar, right?" How'd that saying go? For every dark cloud, there's a silver lining? Well, Jaune liked to live by that. "So what if we're the biggest liars we know? You're a bonafide huntress-in-training, and I'm… a normal guy that's way in over his head. But that's cool too, right?"

Blake snorted, letting the warm sun rest on her skin. "If there were more guys that were your kind of normal, I don't think there'd be any Grimm left."

"I am pretty great, aren't I?" A wide grin took to Jaune's lips, sitting up as he squared away his shoulders. "You know, I could really do with some more compliments. Pretty sure I could lift a bus after a few more of those."

That grin fell when Blake flicked his forehead, leaving behind a bright red mark. "Yeah, okay, you're done. I don't need your head getting too big." Love Jaune as much as she did, nothing made him look worse than arrogance. But that was okay - as long as she was around to keep him humble without ruining his pride, he'd turn out great. "Anyway, where were we before you started stroking your ego?"

Jaune rubbed the red spot on his forehead, grumbling quietly as he huffed. "I think we were talking about appreciation or something?"

Blake's shoulders slumped forward. So much for humbling him. "Well, I do appreciate you." Blake mumbled, rubbing her forearm as she looked away from him, the sound of birds chirping filling her ears. "I just… I don't think there's enough words for me to make it make sense."

Snorting, Jaune turned to face Blake properly, a smirk spreading across his face. "I think I've got something in mind."

"Do you?" Blake shot him a curious glance. "And what might that be?"

Blake felt her back straighten as Jaune's hand came to rest against her pale cheek. His blue eyes bore into her, a soft smile on his face. As he leaned closer, she felt his breath tickle her cheek, only for him to go past them.

And as quiet as a whisper, he spoke.

"I love you."

Blake felt a ball form in her throat, leaning into his chest as she propped her chin against his shoulder. Jaune didn't play fair at all. But in a weird way, Blake didn't mind. Everytime he did something like that, it shot tingles up her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up.

And worse still, she melted into him like putty.

"I love you too."

---

Howdy!

Yeah, I know, it's been two years since I've even thought to look at Street Lights, and maybe four months since I decided to look at it in a positive light. Street Lights, to me, was just a lot of practice. But to you guys, the people who would read this sort of thing once every week to two weeks - maybe a month if I was dragging ass - this story meant something to you. So I thought, "Fuck it, I've got free time, and I'm a bit of a sap."

So I figured, what better time to post the first Street Lights Extra than on Street Lights' third birthday, right? Sappy, I know, but that's the sort of thing I like. I wrote the first run of Street Lights all in a year, all so I could make sure that the date completed looked good. I mean, 2/22/2022 looks really good, right?

Either way, I'm rambling. What I'm trying to say is that this chapter was strangely enjoyable to write. It took me a combined week of writing it, but I wrote it from February 3rd until the 6th, and then put it down until the... 20th until today. Well, this morning, but whatever. I've actually got a system in place to help me focus on writing now, so if I really wanted to, I could probably get something out once a week. I won't, of course, because I value my free time now. But I can promise that I have word quotas and days set for writing stuff now.

And I know that this chapter had a lot of Blake and Jaune being separated - not really sure how well that's gonna go over, but we're going to find out. At the end of the day, I'm still learning and still improving, which I hope shined through after about two years of writing the real ending to Street Lights. I'm confident that the chapter itself will stand up on its own merits.

But at the same time, a lot has changed since I first wrote Street Lights. Me, the world, my family - everything's changed, and I'm not sure how close I'll be able to replicate things that happened in the first run of Street Lights. But I think that's fine. In the time that we skipped, I think there's been a bit of growth for our pair of protagonists. Enough to justify a little change. Not so much that it's out of character, obviously, but enough to be different. Different enough for me to not feel weird.

I think now's definitely the time for me to think about P a treon too, but I wouldn't know what to offer as far as benefits. Maybe I'll just throw up all my work in progress docs over time, huh? Show you guys that while I was gone for two years, I wasn't just dicking around. Novels, fics - I've done a lot for both, and I'm nearly done with my first novel. And even when I finish that one, I have a list of 10 more ideas lined up. Here's hoping I get picked up by a publisher within the year, eh? Doubt it'll happen, but it'd be a big win for me.

Alright, I think that's as big as I'll let this Author Note get. I know I hate seeing massive author notes personally, and I doubt you guys want to see what FanFiction considered a 14.2k word doc get inflated to... just short of 15k words. So I'll shut the fuck up. Just gotta hit a few more notes, and I'll leave it be.

If you ever feel like coming to talk with me and some friends, maybe share in the hobbies we've all collected over the years - writing, art, music, hell maybe you could bring something new? It doesn't matter, so long as you feel like sharing. You could always join us in the Goblin Industries. A silly name for sure, but I've grown really fond of it. So many good people and friends makes even the silliest names feel that much better.

discord: /7ksPCNs3ZM

And if you don't wanna share anything, that's fine too. You could just yell at me and challenge me to write things I'd normally be uncomfortable with. I have fun with that too.

Okay, I think that's all my notes. Ciao, y buenas noches.

And welcome back to the world where Street Lights Flicker on Long Walks. Fuck, am I sappy or what?