Arc 2 - Chapter 8 - Fake Smiles

The meal was not fully ready when the guests arrived, but that was on purpose. Jaune was no longer nervous that he was about to do something of moral ambiguity and of definite legal concern, which in itself might have been concerning, but he was well past that phase of self-questioning, too. On account of a recently intensified burning drive to succeed in his mission. In some ways, it was like Ruby's family were his rivals, which he'd been training and honing his skills tirelessly to overcome. Like Peach said, the battle to save someone's heart started much earlier than entering the heart itself.

The Rose Family was not aware of it, but they were not coming here for dinner. They were here for war. Or Jaune was anyway. It just so happened that the weapons with which this battle would be fought with were forks rather than swords, plates rather than shields, conversation rather than carnage.

Aunt Peach yanked the door open with barely contained excitement and crowed like it was her birthday come early. "Well, lookie here! If these aren't a pair of dusty old dogs!"

Jaune glanced over from his perch in the kitchen as his aunt invited their guests-slash-opponents inside. Sized them up with quiet scrutiny while she exchanged embraces and compliments. The only exception was Yang of course, who paid him a light wave and half-smile that said she was not unhappy to be here, but not quite pleased, either. Jaune's focus was on the father, Taiyang, and the uncle, Qrow. The latter especially, for Jaune had learned too much to have a clean first impression. How did you live in the same house as someone who got your loved one killed, be they family themselves or not? He supposed he was about to find out. Well, maybe.

In many ways, the father reminded Jaune of his own. Just stockier and stronger looking. Jaw heavy and clean-shaven. He had the whole friendly woodsman chopping at a tree sort of aura—kindly, but you still wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of him. Jaune suddenly hoped Ruby's father wasn't thinking he had been up to anything inappropriate with his daughter. That worry aside, there was a deep melancholy in his blue eyes. That of a man who'd been broken too many times to be whole again, even while he guffawed at some bad joke Peach made.

Qrow could not have been more Tai's opposite. He was lean and tall, with rough dark hair and sharp, mean eyes. His voice was deeper than Jaune expected, gruff as a bitter old mutt intent on thinking himself young and spry. It was hard to tell if the swaggering gait he had was the result of overly great self-confidence or a heavy intake of alcohol or both. He didn't seem drunk, but who knew? The straw stood out of this beaten old scarecrow and what remained of the stitching kept him together. For now.

"Sup," Yang stole his attention, having come up to lean on the passthrough window of the kitchen, neither frowning or smiling at him.

Jaune tried to pretend he hadn't been watching them, continuing to stir the pot. "Sup yourself."

"Your aunt says your cooking is crazy good."

"She likes to exaggerate."

"Then dinners gonna suck?"

"You'll be here to find out regardless."

She grinned a bit. "True enough."

Jaune dragged the strainer up from a boiling pot on another burner, the noodles wafting curls of white steam, and he plucked a noodle to taste it. Not for the taste itself, but for the softness. You never wanted to cook noodles completely soft since that would make the meal too gamey. There needed to be just a hint of hardness in the center to ensure people chewed their pasta and savored it, rather than slurped it down like soup. That noodle, however, was not quite soft enough, so he set it back down and set a timer in his head.

He did not turn back to Yang as he spoke, but he spoke to her regardless. "About the other day. You alright after… ?"

"My little episode? Yeah," said Yang, resting her cheek in one palm. "Sorry for making a spectacle of myself. I haven't talked about it in a while. Thanks for listening."

"That's all I could do."

"Sometimes that's enough, you know?" Yang punched him gently in the arm. "You're not half bad, Jaune."

"What about my other half?"

"Keep working on it. There's hope for you. Won't be long before all those edges are nice and smooth-like."

Jaune wasn't sure if that would be good for him. The thing about edges was that people tended to be wary of them and stay away. The thorns on a rose were there to protect the flower, after all.

It wasn't long before there was conversation all throughout the living room. The adults had gathered up by the unused fireplace and were pouring some thankfully low alcohol percentage wine. The air was alive with stories of their current lives and past lives, of the old days and the new, of their children and families. Yang had made her way over to Ruby, who was sitting on the couch in relative quiet, waiting for Jaune to come back so they could resume their on and off board game.

That left Jaune in the kitchen with only his thoughts for company. And I can't say my thoughts are always pleasant company, either. Jaune caught Aunt Peach laughing at something Tai said, but also how she'd tipped her glass toward him. The signal. Jaune pulled his phone and pressed send on the message he'd prepared for Neptune, which said Go. He would be on his way now then, to get into the house and find Ruby's key before the family returned home. Or so Jaune hoped. And he did not hope for much.

When Miss Peach had come to Ruby a few days ago suggesting a dinner with her family, Ruby had said yes with as much delight as she could pretend. Her real feelings, though, were realized in the form of internal screaming and prayers that the woman had been joking. She had not. But there was nothing to do about it now, and that fact had only worsened her mood.

Ruby waved to her family as they were invited in, putting up a smile for them, trying to bury the guilt she felt in hoping they'd cancel. Sure, it was the last night of her week away and she'd be going home tonight regardless, but this was certainly not how she'd planned for it to end. Thinking about it, she hadn't really planned for it to end at all.

Aunt Peach and her father laughed hysterically at something Uncle Qrow said, the three of them having the most immediate fun out of this gathering. Especially Qrow and her dad, palling around and cracking insults and jokes at one another like…well, like they used to. Sure, it wasn't as if they'd stopped getting along since Mom died. Their longtime friendship was, thankfully, much stronger than that. Unfortunately, Ruby did not see this level of happiness often, especially not at home, and as such she was suspicious and a little bitter about it. Had they rehearsed these jokes? Did they fake their laughter? Had they pulled each other aside and agreed to put their unresolved issues aside for the night and pretend to enjoy each other's company for the sake of their hosts? And if so, was that a good or bad thing? Ruby had no idea what to think.

Yang had finally come away from Jaune and was now on her way toward Ruby, and she in turn had that unfortunately common feeling of being happy to see her and less than. Her big sister posted up a smile that did, at last, seem genuine, and tousled Ruby's hair. "Do they just let you get away with not combing your hair? Or have you and Jauney been getting up to some naughty business?"

Ruby playfully swatted her hand away. "In your dreams, sis." Or admittedly, in Ruby's dreams. Jaune walked around shirtless too much for her own good.

Yang plopped on the couch beside her. "Trust me, there's nothing I'd hate dreaming about more than you with some dumb boy. You're better off focusing on school."

Ruby felt her eye twitch. Setting aside the pure irony of Yang's statement, this was nothing new from her. She had this way of trying to designate what stages of life Ruby was ready for, instead of letting her choose for herself. My little sister couldn't start liking boys at fifteen, no way! Little Ruby was still in that stage of life where she played dress-up with her dolls and threw up at the idea of kissing someone other than her daddy. Periods? Not even to be thought of. God forbid that she even think about sex, not damn well until she was thirty years old and married. Even their father was not so delusional as Yang and that was saying something. As always in these situations, Ruby said nothing, for there was nothing worth saying. And what was worth saying would go ignored or brushed aside because she was too young to know what she was talking about.

There was a period of silence that followed, which was also not uncommon. It used to be that Ruby and her sister talked about any and everything, but that had not been the case for a while. Ruby continued to tell her things in the vain hope that Yang might return the favor, but Yang never gave up much. Never what was on her mind or what was bothering her, not even seeking Ruby's opinion or comfort if she needed it. It was kind of messed up that Yang continued to try to play the big sister role as if Ruby was meant simply to listen to her grand wisdom and obey, rather than relate to her as a sibling, best friend, and role model.

"What's this you're watching?" asked Yang, gesturing to the television.

"You know this show. It's Pirate King."

Yang looked surprised. "Oh yeah. I haven't watched this in… I don't know how long. How did I forget about it?" Probably because she had found interest in doing things Ruby was apparently not supposed to do. Sometimes, Ruby wondered if after you've had sex, you suddenly grew out of watching anime. If that was the case, she'd stay celibate forever. "I guess this is another rewatch for you then, huh?"

Ruby nodded. "Me and Jaune have been going through it all together. We're up to the Prison of Hell arc."

"Prison of Hell? I don't remember that one."

"You and me didn't get past Arabaster."

Yang snapped her fingers. "Oh yeah, the one with Alligator man, right? I think we just finished the fight. Why didn't we pick it back up?"

"Because mom died," More silence. Yang had tried to maintain the smile, but Ruby could tell that it wouldn't last.

"Right. It's kinda hard to watch a show after something like that."

That Ruby understood at least. "I heard what happened with you and Jaune."

"He told you?"

"Sun did."

Yang muttered a curse. "Yeah, I'm good. No need to worry."

Ruby frowned. "But I am worried. You can talk to me about—"

"There's nothing I need to talk about, okay? I've moved on." Yang gave Ruby the most syrupy smile, like she was consoling a baby. "But if you ever need to talk to me about it, I'm here, okay?"

Ruby wanted to scream that she didn't need to, but it would have been pointless. Yang was still convinced that Ruby was wading through all that emotional pain, and ignoring her own as a result. It was like trying to save someone from drowning when you yourself couldn't swim. But no, Ruby can't help with that. She's too young and naive and powerless to do anything. And when it came to the latter, it was sadly true. Because no one would listen to her. No one would take her seriously.

"Hey, why don't we finish that Ara-whatcha-ma-call it arc now while we wait to eat? You might need to remind me of what happened before but—"

"Why don't you go watch it with Sun?"

Yang's eyes widened with horror. "What?"

"I said, go watch it with Sun. You know, it could be a date. Pizza and anime."

"A date?" Yang feigned badly. "Ruby, what are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Yang."

Yang looked mortified. "Who told you?"

"No one. You and everyone else just think that I'm stupid. That I don't notice things."

"I don't think you're stupid, Ruby. I-I didn't want you to think…"

"What do you know about what I think? You barely talk to me, except for when I'm doing something you don't like. I kept trying to get you to watch Pirate King with me, but you were always busy. Too busy to spend even ten minutes together with me."

"I do want to spend time with you."

"Then why did you wait until I'd already started hanging out with Jaune?"

"I was…" Yang didn't have an answer though and Ruby knew it.

"Because you were with a boy, you know, instead of focusing on school." It brought Ruby no pleasure to throw her sister's words back at her, and it certainly made her no happier that it had to come out like it had and at this unfortunate moment. Nothing ever came out at the right time. Already wishing the dinner was over, she got to her feet. "So you can go do whatever with Sun, because it looks like you like spending more time with him than your own family. I'm going to help Jaune with dinner. At least I know where I stand with him."

And Ruby stepped around her sister and headed into the kitchen without looking back. She wanted to, but she didn't.

Ruby came into the kitchen with a pout, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, determined to not to look at her hurt-looking sister. Jaune didn't say anything at first, kept on stirring the sauce as he waited for some kind of break in the empty air.

Ruby mumbled, "Did you hear any of that?"

"No. But it looked bad. Guessing things aren't okay?" Jaune implored.

"No."

It made her feel crushingly guilty, hurting her sister like that, but there was nothing to be done about it. This wasn't the first time such a thing happened and most likely wouldn't be the last, either. Ruby shoved down her guilt and tried to keep her anger alive, except she tended to cry when she was angry too and that was the last thing she wanted to do in someone else's home. She turned to Jaune, hoping he might distract her with something. "I don't think we'll be able to get back to the game before dinner. Do you need any help? I'm bored."

"I've got it."

"Let me help anyway. I'm smart enough to stir a pot."

Jaune shrugged and handed Ruby the ladle as they switched places. She hadn't stirred for very long before Jaune stepped in to correct her. "No, don't take the length with your whole hand. You could splash and burn yourself." Jaune's fingers were on hers now, adjusting the positioning. "Three points of contact. Put your thumb high on the handle, curl your pointer finger around there, and curl your other fingers so the ladle is between them. Now, stir. See?"

Ruby smiled a little, though not because she was doing it right. Definitely not that. "Does it make a difference?"

"Not really, but you look more professional this way."

Ruby had to admit that doing this way did feel smoother and more natural. "My mom used to cook a lot. I think she even tried to teach me a few things, but I'm too lazy to make anything that's not microwaved."

"Trust me, knowing how to cook doesn't change that. Spend a lot of time cooking for everyone else that whenever you're hungry, you'd rather make a tv dinner."

"So you can make all this delicious food, but won't make any for yourself? That's beyond lazy."

"I can accept that. Make sure you turn it over too, it's not enough just to stir."

"Like this?" Ruby lifted the huge ladle and let the contents spill slowly back into the pot.

"Sort of. Here, look. Grab the pot handle with your other hand. Don't worry, it's not hot enough to burn."

Ruby did, and indeed it was pretty warm. Course, that wasn't all that was. Jaune's hand somehow outclassed the fire.

He'd come around to stand behind her, one hand clasped to hers which held the pot, as if his addition of strength was necessary to keep it still. Then the other hand guided hers with the ladle, slowly stirring, drawing up, turning over, again and again in awkwardly not awkward unison. His hands were big compared to hers, very big. Rougher too, especially the fingers. She felt calluses on his hands, and it was strangely exciting. A man who could be rough—the idea was too much to ignore. The only negative was that his arms were long enough that he didn't need to be close. And Ruby wanted him close.

Ruby swallowed, just a little nervously, weighing the pros and cons of what she was considering. She did not think this night would be very fun for her and she certainly didn't have anything to look forward to at home. Ruby would be damned if she didn't indulge at least a little. She hissed like she'd been burned and fell back.

Jaune did not catch her with his arms like she'd expected. He did something better. Her back hit his chest, solid as stone, his arms tightening a bit around her in case she fell to the side. It was like being caught in a bear trap, except it was the very opposite of painful. She might have even wished he would hold her even harder. A little anxiously, Ruby looked up at him as he raised an eyebrow down at her. "Two left feet?" he said, deadpanned.

"All my life. Sorry, I was just too close to the fire."

"Well, now you're too close to me."

"But the fire will burn me."

"What makes you think I won't?"

In a certain way, Ruby hoped he did. Whatever that meant. She stood up straight, her back to his chest and now feeling that much warmer everywhere. Like she was shrouded in an electric blanket. "So, like this?" Ruby gripped the ladle wrong on purpose.

Jaune sighed, took her hand in hers and began to show her again. "It's gonna be a while before you're a master chef."

If he kept teaching her like this, then Ruby might want to be a novice forever.

"Well well, your kid's bold," said Qrow, taking another sip from his glass.

On the contrary, Peach was quite certain that Ruby was the bold one. Her nephew could be assertive, but not in a situation like this. Her nephew and Ruby were cooking together and in a way that was too intimate to not create any implications. Peach was sure she saw Ruby purposefully hold the ladle wrong just so Jaune would show her again. For such a shy seeming girl, she certainly wasted no opportunity to make a claim.

"You should have seen them all through this week. He's never been so receptive to someone. My nephew insists on his space, but once Ruby showed up, he kind of softened up." Peach patted Tai's shoulder. "Don't worry, Tai. They sleep apart."

Taiyang grinned weakly. "Teenagers will get up to whatever they want with each other no matter what we as parents do. That's why with my girls I never tried to stop them. I just try to teach them to be smart and safe. How is your boy, by the way? You said he's from down south. This must be a big adjustment."

"He's coming along. It was harder for him early on," said Peach.

"Still can't believe that's him from your sister's incident," said Qrow, looking on at Jaune with pity. "How is he after all of that?"

"He doesn't remember it," said Peach. "And it's best to keep it that way for now, Qrow. Don't bring it up with him, even if he asks. More than likely he doesn't remember you, either."

"Aye, aye," he said.

"Then how about you?" asked Peach.

"What about me?"

"Besides our little indulgence here. Have you done any better keeping off the bottle? Have you been attending the meetings?"

Qrow drained the rest of his glass. "Didn't know I was walking in a session. Ain't this just a nice family dinner? Let's talk about my problems another time, Vick."

Peach took that as a solid no, but she had expected that. Drinking was not an easy habit to break in the slightest. Still, she had no idea what his key was, so she was hoping tonight might break her some clues. She'd employed many personal questions, to which Qrow showed no sign of lying about, but nothing had stood out. Well, she could only hope things were going well on Neptune's end.

Eventually, Ruby and Jaune broke apart, which was kind of disappointing, but it seemed the dinner was well ready to begin.

"Food's ready!" said Ruby.

The food was immaculate, and Ruby was still not used to that. The prime course was a steaming chicken, broccoli, mushroom, and onion alfredo cream sauce speckled with flakes of browned garlic and chopped parsley, seated over a bed of warm fettuccine. Jaune was just now setting a tray of freshly baked rolls, half crispy white, half toasty brown, all stacked into a perfect pyramid. He eased a ladle full of melted butter over the top and it oozed down temptingly smooth and slow, glistening like honey. All around the table—except for Peach who looked on with smug pride like she'd made it herself—everyone was in that same baffled state that Ruby had been in. Like being a homeless person who'd been invited into a legendary restaurant and served a five-star meal. The food looked so good that it counterintuitively Ruby was hesitant to eat it, lest she tarnish its grand presentation.

"What in the world," Yang blinked at her plate. The white steam wafting off it and fanning about her face. "Holy shit, Jaune."

"I second that," said Qrow, who'd waited for no one before having a forkful.

Ruby's dad looked at Peach, beyond words. "Vick, you never told us your nephew could cook like this."

Peach was absolutely preening. If her cheeks exploded in a shower of rainbows and fairy dust, it wouldn't have been surprising. One might think that this was all her accomplishment. "Well, I don't like to boast but…" Ruby did not miss the "Oh really?" look Jaune gave his aunt, but since he was behind her, she couldn't see him and thus learned no humility. "I swear, I'm benefiting far more from him staying here. It's him taking care of me, really."

Ruby's father chuckled up at Jaune as he took a buttery roll for himself. "Well Jaune, you can stay for much longer than a week with us if you can cook this well."

Jaune, you guessed it, shrugged. "If you'll have me."

"Crack a smile, kid. We're complimenting you," said Qrow.

Jaune looked at him, face unchanged. "I am smiling."

Ruby had to purse her lips to keep from giggling, but felt it tickle at her throat. Yang and her dad had no such restraints, bursting into laughter themselves. She wondered if Jaune ever wondered in situations like this if people were laughing at him or because of him. Probably because he didn't care. He ambled over to his seat, which was unfortunately not next to Ruby, making the whole arrangement as Ruby being next to Uncle Qrow, Peach and Jaune opposite, and Yang and dad on the long ends of the table.

"Someone has to keep her from eating pizza all the time." Jaune said as he took his seat. Unfortunately, he had not sat next to Ruby, leaving her sitting next to her father, uncle Qrow and Yang on the long ends, then Peach and Jaune opposite. For a while, it was nothing but the sound of clicking cutlery, slurping mouths, and moans of well-earned approval. Really, could not understand how Jaune did not realize the magic he was capable of making.

"Do you want to be a chef, Jaune? You might make it big in culinary." said Ruby's father. His second gateway into conversing with Jaune.

Jaune in turn shook his head. "Sounds like a lot of work. I'm pretty lazy."

Qrow chuckled. "Hear, hear."

"If this is lazy, then the work might be too easy for you. Then what are you interested in? Anything you want to pursue as a career?"

Jaune paused in the middle of winding noodles around his fork. "I… don't really know yet."

Ruby's father nodded. "That's alright. You've still got time. It's not something you need to worry about too much. Some people know right away, though, like Yang. She wants to do MMA professionally."

"If I'm good enough," said Yang. "You know, Jaune, I never did get you into the club, did I?"

"I never said I'd join."

"I'll bring you tomorrow. You'll love it, I promise. No biting though. We do have actual rules about that."

"Who's biting in a martial arts club?" asked Taiyang.

"Well on Jaune's first day…"

It all went from there, a conversation Ruby wasn't remotely interested in, and she was sure Jaune wasn't either. She ate her food in relative silence, maybe occasionally responding when she was directly spoken to, but otherwise waiting for the night to come to an end. It was kind of unfortunate since she'd be leaving immediately after. Or would Peach let her stay longer? No, no, Ruby didn't want to impose. She'd ask another time.

The adults did most of the talking. Occasionally, Yang would talk to Jaune, but it was never for very long, and eventually, she resigned to silence too. Ruby thought to talk herself, but wasn't in the mood, and didn't even know what to talk about. It was grating to hear everyone having such a good time, or more likely pretending to be. It all felt unfair. Qrow and her father were laughing with Peach like they'd heard nothing funnier in their whole lives, even though at home Qrow was passed out or lazing around like a miserable slob, and her father was cooped up in his room or doing chores around the house that he'd asked Qrow to do, or staring at his wedding ring morbidly. There'd been no such laughs in Ruby's home in a long time. But they'd brought them here, hadn't they? It was so unfair.

"Going well, I think," said Qrow. "Haven't skipped a session in a while. Maybe that's progress."

"Ruby," Her father addressed her now, "Peach is actually a licensed therapist. Remember those meetings we talked about? Would you be comfortable talking with her?"

"I'll think about it, Dad." Ruby said with a weak smile, and she could tell her dad felt pretty happy about it. How she'd wanted her dad to smile for the longest time. How she'd wanted him to be happy.

"On that subject of careers, Ruby, what might you be interested in? Any career ideas?" asked Peach.

Ruby picked around her plate boredly. "Not really. Not yet."

"Ruby's a whiz with tech," said Yang. "She put a friend of mine's laptop back together."

"She's always been smart," said Tai proudly.

"Smarter than us, that's for damn sure." said Qrow.

Another round of feel-good laughter and blah blah blah, Ruby was fed up with it now. Then she thought of something to say, and that immediately made her weigh the consequences of such a response. Still, Peach had asked. Ruby could at least be honest. "Actually, I want to be a police officer."

The laughter-filled room slowly dried up as everyone looked at her. Ruby never liked to put the spotlight on herself, but we'll, she'd done it now, hadn't she? She continued. "Guess I've at least thought about it, since Uncle Qrow is one. Was one. Both him and my mom were."

Peach's eyes glinted like she'd only now happened upon an old memory. "Oh that's right, Summer was on the force. Almost ten years, wasn't she? How long has it been now, Tai?"

Ruby's father had gone from the closest thing to happy and enjoying himself to extremely uncomfortable. "Yeah, ten years on the job. Or almost. It would have been."

Qrow had gone silent too, but even Ruby had not missed the way his shoulders hunched.

"And yet she became a detective so quickly. That still surprises me even now. It's been two years, hasn't it?"

"Yes. Though sometimes it doesn't feel that long. It's been hard. I don't think any of us wanted to go to the memorial."

Ruby had wanted to, but dad had conveniently been working that day despite Ruby reminding him months before to take off. Qrow had been too busy trying to lose his job at the time, and Yang was wherever. In the end, Ruby had visited mom's grave on her own and told no one about it.

"This is a little on the morbid side, don't you think?" Her dad tried to laugh it off, but failed embarrassingly. "Come on, let's not spoil the night, Vick."

Why would it spoil the night to talk about his wife? Surely there had to be good things to talk about. Like the things Peach had brought up. That's what Ruby tried to do, remember the good things and keep her mother's memory alive.

"Then let's not talk about what happened two years ago then." Ruby frowned, looking around at everyone, slinking back into her chair, mumbling. "You all act like that's all Mom is now."

"Ruby…" Yang said gently.

"No one's saying that," said her father. "But let's not make our hosts uncomfortable. It's not good conversation over dinner."

Ruby wanted to shout her objections, but either didn't have the nerve or the energy. Her mood was sour as was and there was no point in causing a fuss and humiliating herself. No one would listen anyway. No one ever listened to her.

The adults had gone back to their stupid conversation, and Yang with Jaune, leaving Ruby alone despite being surrounded by friends and family. Hardly new. She felt like an idiot, sitting there quiet, which was crazy since not long ago she'd stayed quiet most of the time. How she regretted saying a thing now. Wait no, why was she sitting through all this? Every laugh was grating. It was too much for her to take anymore.

"Miss Peach," Ruby said, once again drawing everyone's attention. "May I go eat outside?"

Peach looked surprised. "Well, if that's what you want, then sure."

Her father had that look of puppy guilt again, but he did not object, and so no one else did either. Ruby took up her plate, and thought to ask Jaune to come with her, but felt like she'd only drag him down. She'd ruined the dinner and she knew it, made herself look like a brat.

She shuffled off outside and the last thing she heard was her dad apologizing for her.

"She's still missing Mom, you know?" said Yang, but Jaune was barely listening.

He had seen that Ruby was uncomfortable ever since her family arrived, which of course raised a storm of questions, none of which made it beyond his thoughts. The miserable way she sat back in silence, saying nothing and likely wishing to, made him think of himself that day in his father's car, resigned to his unwilling fate, powerless to change the tide.

Again that damn feeling. The strange compulsion to go and say something to her.

Jaune cut off Yang in the middle of whatever it was she was blathering about. "Don't you think you should talk to her?"

She looked hesitant. And that annoyed Jaune more than he thought it would. "She's sort of mad at me."

"That shouldn't stop you."

"I know, but… wait Jaune, what are you—"

Jaune had gotten up from his chair, not bothering to excuse himself, left his plate of barely touched food and headed outside himself. Ruby was sitting there on the porch, her form rather small as she hugged herself to fight off the cold, looking very much in need of a hug, and for more than one reason. He didn't hug her though, for both their sakes. Her plate sat beside her, untouched beyond what was already eaten, seeming to beg to be finished.

There was no way she hadn't heard the door open, for she whipped her head around, eyes glistening with wet, lip curled into a nasty frown, eyebrows furrowed with anger. Jaune didn't have time to guess which family member she'd expected before her fury softened and she looked apologetic instead. "Did they send you to come get me?"

Jaune closed the door behind him before answering. "Just out here for a cigarette."

"I didn't know you smoked."

"I don't."

"But you're out here for a cigarette?"

"Not a real one."

Ruby smiled weakly, then turned back while he took a spot beside her, with reasonable space between them that suited his level of comfort. The last thing he needed was her hugging him again. He never should have allowed that. "Family, am I right?" she said.

"Yeah."

"Only ever talk about boring stuff. The good old days and whatever."

"Make sure I hope I don't end up like that."

"Will we be friends for that long?"

Jaune froze. That damn word again. Every time he heard it, it was like biting into a rotten apple. One that had not fully gone to shit and so there was still a remainder of succulent sweet that was all too good not to make another attempt at. Maybe that analogy was a bit off-center, but that was exactly how Ruby had made him feel, was making him feel, constantly. Being around her for this long had made him sloppy. He was relaxing around her and no good ever came when he did that. "We'll see," he said.

Ruby did not seem affronted by this or even put off, just smiled and watched the night along with him, precisely as if she knew exactly the kind of person Jaune was and accepted him for it. That couldn't be it, though. Couldn't be.

They sat there in silence, a strange in-between of awkward and comfortable like there was something to say, but now was not the time. Jaune stared out at the dark neighborhood, the roofs of houses buried in shadows, staved off only by the bright lights behind the windows looking like eyes. The sky above was just edging dark, a faint blue on the edge, while stars began to reveal themselves in the darkness creeping from on high. The air was stale, the yard was still a bit rank after Jaune cut it that morning, and the sound of crickets were everywhere, filling the quiet gap.

"I ruined dinner," said Ruby.

"Yeah, a little." added Jaune.

"Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sorry about your mom. If that's what's bothering you."

Ruby sighed. "Can I be honest with you, Jaune?"

Jaune couldn't not look at her now. "If you want."

"I'm tired of hearing it. Sorry about your mom. I've just heard it so much. Too much. Why do people even say sorry when someone dies anyway?"

"It's just what people do, even if it doesn't help any."

"That's dumb."

"It is."

Ruby drew one leg up, and wrapped her arms around it, the toes of that foot curling to grip the edge of the step. "You know, my uncles and dad are acting all happy and stuff in there, but it's just because we're visiting. Once we go home, that'll dry up. Everyone will just go back to being strangers in the same house again. Just sad all the time."

"What's wrong with being sad?"

"Nothing, but don't you think there's something wrong with being sad for too long? I miss my mom too. All the time. But it's been two years, Jaune. Two years. When are we gonna do anything but be sad about it?"

"I mean, maybe it's not that simple. It's hard losing someone you love. Harder than anything, I think." Jaune swallowed, trying to think of the best advice he could give her. "Guess they just need time."

"How much time? How much longer do I have to wait for my sister and my dad and my uncle so we can just be a family again?"

Jaune had no answer for such a thing and Ruby likely knew it.

"You know, I was sad for maybe a month after mom died. I cried every once in a while, but I still decided I needed to move on. I'm not sad that she's gone anymore. I'm sad because everyone left behind apparently can't live without her."

Jaune found it hard to live without his own mother and she wasn't even dead. Though maybe that was just him since his sisters and father got by well enough. Even in families, love manifested in the strangest ways even if seemingly multiple people had the same reasons to be heartbroken. Jaune supposed that he was like Yang, Tai, and Qrow in that way. Struggling to keep on, wondering if life could ever be the same without the one he loved so much. He tried to understand Ruby's perspective on it as best he could, and did from a certain angle, yet her family's feelings were no less valid.

Who was right? Did Ruby have to give her other family members more time to process their feelings? Or should the others try to face those painful feelings now so that family could move forward together? How much time would pass before they picked up the pieces and built themselves back up? Was Ruby to endure this broken family forever until that day came, if it ever did? A hundred questions, and absolutely no answers.

There was no one to punch in a situation like this. No clear-cut enemy or source of conflict. Unless he could punch Ruby's mother back to life and berate her for dying so early.

Somehow, Jaune doubted that possibility.

"Vick, it was good to see you. Let's do this again."

The adults were off by the car, saying their goodbyes and goodnights, constant promises to see each other again soon. Jaune, meanwhile, waited just beside the door to say good night to Ruby after she'd finished packing her things.

Soon enough she emerged from the house, still a bit pouty, and she looked up at him. "Guess I'll see you at school."

"I'll wave," said Jaune.

They two stood there for a long moment. Her looking at him and him at her. What were they waiting for? What am I waiting for?

"Ruby, come on!" called Yang.

"Coming!" Ruby called back. She turned back to Jaune. "Thanks for having me over. I had a lot of fun." Ruby lowered her head a little. "Maybe we could hang out again?"

Jaune had to admit that his feelings about her presence lately were, at the very least, not dissimilar. But that was as far as he would allow himself to think on it. He had to look away again. He had to. "My aunt says I need to socialize more. I don't see why, but I guess I should listen to her."

Ruby giggled. "Can't you just admit you want to see me again?"

"We're not that close yet."

"Yet?"

Jaune felt a surge of anger and humiliation, especially when Ruby laughed again. Damn her. Then, of course, she hugged him again, squeezing him as tightly as she could like it might be the last time she ever got one. He never hugged her back. He never hugged anyone back besides family, but if Ruby was at all put off by that, she didn't show it.

Then she headed off to rejoin her family, waving to him as they drove off. Without thinking, Jaune waved back.

Aunt Peach came to join him on the steps, looking slightly put-out. "What?" asked Jaune.

"That was your moment, Jaune! Why didn't you take it?"

Jaune squinted at her. "What are you talking about?"

Peach shook her head. "Well, never mind for now. We should get some rest."

"Rest? Then Neptune didn't find it?"

Peach shook her head, and Jaune felt that it was a kind of understated reaction. He knew it was unreasonable to think so, after all, she'd probably gone through many clients herself, all with varying levels of difficulty. Honestly, he'd gotten his hopes up. He'd fixated so fervently on success that he hadn't wondered what might happen if this plan hit a dead end. He wished he was at that gym again, so he could punch those bags until his fists broke. "Now what do we do?"

Peach gave him a sigh. The resigned, defeated kind. "I'm not sure, honey."

"Not sure? What do you mean?"

"Jaune, this happens sometimes in this line of work. You need to be patient."

Jaune wanted so badly to argue the many reasons why he could not be patient. Why he needed to find Ruby's heart world and help her now. It was like an unsated hunger, an unrestrained drive, a goal that had to be met by any means. But what will my whining and crying do? This is how it is, sometimes. Dead ends and aimless wandering until opportunities show up.

"Right now, we're on break time. Keep working with Ruby, but dial back and don't commit to focusing hard on her. It may be that we've committed too early to this mark."

Jaune nodded, then watched his aunt head back into the house, leaving him out there alone in the night, the sound of chirping crickets springing back to life as if they had faded out of existence some time ago and only now made a comeback. The world moves on outside of the complications of his life, such was the way of things.

Jaune slumped down to sit, face in his hands, trying hard not to claw at his skin. How do I help you, Ruby? Is there anything I can do? His eyes began to sting.

Or is all of this simply out of my control this time?

Glad yall have been enjoying the uploads. This would have gone up earlier but work and all. Still more to come. See you in the next one!