Welcome to Day 4! Let's keep at the grind! I was looking forward to this one, personally.

GodRealm

Italicized - Inner Thoughts

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V9C7 Aftermath/Denial

Jaune rubbed his hands together in a nervous fashion outside the apartment building his team had been occupying. He had remained there for some time now mulling over what he was going to say, going over all the thoughts rushing through his mind. Everything that had happened since Atlas was… well, it was a lot. Enough for any Huntsman or Huntress, especially of their age.

Coming to grips with what happened had been a work in progress. Not just for Jaune, but for the rest of his team, as well as Team RWBY. Their efforts, despite being mostly in vain, were still worth the attempt. Did they make all the right decisions while they were there? Had including Ironwood in their knowledge helped them or hindered them further? Who knows? There was nothing to be done about it all now. Regardless of whether or not Atlas and Mantle would have been able to be salvaged or if there could have been more survivors was something they were going to have to live with.

That's why what comes next is so important.

While all available Huntsman, Huntresses, and even mercenaries had rallied to Vacuo, maintaining the peace, trying to ease the burden on everyone living here, and establishing a base of operations to try and counter what Salem threw at them next was how they were spending most days. While it wasn't as optimal as they would like, playing defense was all they could do with the unfortunate news of Vale having fallen.

Jaune sighed as he thought of the majority of his family who lived in Vale, and even Saphron and her family over in Argus. There hadn't been much noise regarding how things were going over there even with the re-purposing of the Amity Communications Tower as a global communications center and arriving in Vacuo as well. Fortunately, with Salem seemingly focusing on Vale, and the intel that her underlings were skulking around Vacuo, Argus may be relatively untouched. Still, no news was bad news in this case.

Despite it all, he knew he had a job to do and while he'd love to head towards Vale to ensure the safety of anyone still occupying the city, much like the rest of his friends, establishing a foothold and following the limited chain of command came first. From what Ozpin and Oscar had relayed to everyone, the relic in Vale wasn't going to be an easy task, so keeping the final one that remained in Vacuo out of Salem's reach was imperative as well.

Jaune looked out into the empty streets as he enjoyed the sound of the wildlife making noise. The streets during the day were chaotic and filled with refugees that formed lines for food and medical treatment. It was only now, late into the evening, when there was the occasional patrolman or passerby that roamed. Since he and Team RWBY had arrived, that's what they were mostly involved with as additional personnel, and while the night shift could be brutal, most nights offered a serenity he couldn't afford during the day. That's when Jaune had an idea.

Even after having more or less "made up" in the Ever After, Jaune couldn't help but feel the sting of his own words on his tongue. The harmful words that he had directed at his best friend were eating at him from the inside every time he looked her way or spoke to her. Sure, he had suffered greatly because of his choice to attend Beacon, but the weight that Ruby had felt on her since their expedition after Pyrrha's death to try and find some answers was unimaginable.

"It was no wonder she broke." He muttered, thoughts escaping his lips.

She had lost so much with each new battle, only to come back stronger and with new purpose. Even after drinking the tea, she was able to persevere and re-claim her identity. Since then, he'd seen her smiling and working hard at training or policing the residences as needed. He'd also noticed her having many conversations with Raven, but that was a whole different story that maybe she could shed some light on one day.

Nevertheless, before that could happen, he needed to share some words with her.

Jaune retrieved his Scroll from his pocket, looking it over once after the messages that they had exchanged. Ruby would meet him here after her shift under the guise of "catching up" per their chat, but he had other plans in mind. He wasn't trying to be deceitful, but he didn't want her to try and play off that she was fine and him "not to worry about it", as she had tried before. No, for his own sake, he needed to get these feelings and thoughts of regret made known to her.

He returned his scroll to his pocket. He couldn't help but take notice of his blade down by his waist side before retrieving it from the sheath. It was still broken, much like it had been, but this went along with his plan for tonight. Like his sword, he also felt incomplete, and hopefully after tonight, he'd look into repairing it, after he repaired his most important relationship.

"Looking at your sword?"

"Yeah, I— Ruby?!"

Jaune nearly jumped out of his skin, falling off the stoop he had been occupying at the sound of the girl's voice, catching himself on the way down. He peered up at her in shock as she giggled at his lack of awareness. She offered an outstretched hand, one he accepted as she pulled him to his feet.

"You scared me, you know." He stated, dusting off his armor from the sand-filled streets.

"So I noticed." She giggled again, causing the boy to shoot her a deadpan expression at the girl's antics. His sigh was long and audible as he tried to play off that he, now seemingly grown man, had been bested in stealth by the smaller girl. Then again, this was Ruby Rose.

"Anyway," She started. "You wanted to talk?"

Jaune finished brushing the remaining sand from his armor as the girl inquired. He felt his nerves taking over again as he listened. "Y-Yeah." he managed in short.

The girl raised an eyebrow at his voice cracking in response. "Okay, what's up?"

Jaune's eyes met hers as she continued. He knew she was already showing signs of worry just based on his lazy response. He had planned out what he wanted to say to her, but didn't know how to open the conversation?

Stupid. He admonished himself mentally.

"Uhh…" He spoke once more. Stupid. Stupid. "You see, I…" Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

The boy felt his life force draining in a sense at his inability to speak. What he would give for a "re-do" of sorts.

Before the boy could answer, both were caught off guard by the sight of a group of kids running through the streets behind them. A Faunus girl, another young girl, and from what Ruby could remember, a young boy from Atlas. They were laughing and chasing one another as they hurried past the pair around the corner, disappearing just as quickly as they came. It was a little late for children to be out playing, but fun was in short supply nowadays.

"Nice night to be out." Ruby mentioned to herself, adorning a smile as her eyes were focused on where the kids had vanished.

Jaune overheard the low comment, his eyes moving towards her. He also noticed how she was smiling so reverently at kids having the ability to be kids. While they were older than the three that had just hurried by when they arrived at Beacon, the argument could be made that they also missed out on "being kids".

He'd have to thank those kids some day as they'd given him an idea as well as the proper distraction in order to collect himself.

He tapped the girl on the shoulder, re-obtaining her attention once more. He smiled at her as their eyes met once more, also motioning with his hand at the road behind them.

"Walk with me?"

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The sound of footsteps echoed down the barren streets of the Vacuo. Jaune and Ruby walked in tandem as they took in the sights of the starry sky and flickering flames on the torches beneath the pale moonlight. The open air was brisk in the desert, but the city offered enough warmth where the occasional stiff breeze wasn't much of a concern.

While both Ruby and Jaune had been here for a few weeks now and settled into their roles more or less, working everyday doesn't always offer the ability to explore a city so complex and architecturally sound as the Kingdom of Vacuo. The differing sculptures and murals offered some insight into their vast history that people new to the area, much like themselves, couldn't help but admire.

All this being said, while they were enjoying themselves, Jaune knew this wasn't what him calling her out was all about. He had to be all business tonight.

"-Are you listening, Jaune?"

"What? Oh, right… uhh, sorry."

Ruby sighed as they continued their walk. "Seriously? You missed the whole end of the story where we thought Blake actually coughed up a furball?"

"My bad, Rubes. Go on, if you don't mind."

The girl halted abruptly, catching Jaune off guard as he managed a few more steps before turning back at her. Her eyebrow was raised again in a similar manner as before.

"Are you okay, Jaune?" She spoke suddenly. "You've really been… acting strange."

"I–" He spoke before clamming up.

There she was again. She was concerning herself for him much like she did with everyone else all the time.

Jaune clenched his hands in frustration as he avoided her gaze. This was supposed to be a moment where he not only apologized to her for everything, but checked in on her about how she had been, but instead he was being a coward. Despite how far he'd come since his early days, he still lacked confidence in his own abilities. Well, not again. No more. It may be uncomfortable, but it needed to be said.

He took a deep breath, something she noticed before his eyes seemed to re-focus. Re-focus on her.

"Actually," He started. "There's a reason I called you out here tonight."

"Oh." She replied weakly. "You know, I kind of had the feeling you wanted to do more than catch up." The girl gripped her arms behind her back, kicking a rock in the street.

Jaune noticed her already differing demeanor. He hadn't even spoken yet, but the tension had already started to build. He would do his best to navigate that without dredging up too many negative emotions.

"There's been a lot that has happened, hasn't there? Ever since we left Beacon?"

"Yeah. It's… it's been a lot."

"To be honest, I still have nightmares about all of it. Pyrrha, Penny, the fall of Atlas." He spoke, listing them off as he stared at his hands. "The idea of what a Huntsman is and what we should do has changed drastically since our Beacon days." He continued as he began walking back towards her. "I still don't know if I have what it takes, but…"

Ruby flinched as she felt his hand rest on her shoulder before looking back at his face. The serious demeanor he was showing and the way he was speaking resonated, capturing her attention.

"I'm glad that you're here with me."

Ruby's concerned face warped once more into a weak smile as she huffed in relief slightly.

"For so long I– we, relied on you for everything, and I just wanted to say, at least for myself, that I'm sorry."

"Jaune, I–"

"Please, Ruby." He interrupted. "I need to say this."

As much as Ruby wanted to intervene further, she could see more than ever the hurt he was holding in. She knew firsthand what that could do to a person. She had to listen to him.

She gave him a nod, deciding to let him continue. Something he smiled at somberly as he finally dropped his arm from her shoulder .

"I'm sorry for putting so much pressure on you to save Pyrrha against that… monster. I'm sorry I wasn't more supportive of you when it came to the handling of everything in Atlas."

Once again, Jaune began walking, this time past the girl down the street they had initially strolled down before coming to a stop a few feet away. She turned to him, continuing to hang on every word he offered to her. She could feel her mind traveling to those points in time.

"I'm-" He spoke again, this time with a slight quiver in his voice. Ruby noticed as he retrieved his broken Crocea Mors from the sheath as he had done earlier, taking some time examining it before he began again. "I am… so, so sorry about Penny."

Ruby didn't need to see his face; something he was blatantly hiding from her while he continued his monologue. She knew he was crying, and in turn, she was starting to feel her chest tighten. Jaune was her best friend. They'd done everything together since they met on their first day at Beacon and to see him so… hurt, it didn't sit well to say the least.

"If I would have just… been quicker, or better on my feet, maybe I–"

The boy's stance shifted as the girl nearly plowed into him from behind. She wrapped her arms firmly around him as he regained his footing, making sure they didn't crash to the floor. His eyes remained firm on the dusty streets beneath their feet as he continued to openly weep. He could feel her hitched breath against his back as they stood there together.

Damn it. He cursed to himself. For as many times as he rehearsed this scenario in his head, here he was crying in the street on top of making Ruby upset as well. It was everything he wanted to avoid happening at once.

"It wasn't your fault." Ruby managed.

"No, Ruby, it–"

"Weiss told me everything that happened. How after we fell, everyone fought to protect the civilians, and how despite it all, Penny fought until the end."

Jaune's arm trembled as he stared at his once blood-crusted sword. Even with Penny's blood being gone, the image of it staining the sword that he had inherited and wielded for so long, including those years in the Ever After, he could still see it.

"She told me how even after Cinder mortally wounded her, she thought about the responsibility that was forced on her, and how despite everything…" Her words became louder as she pressed the issue. "You kept that power from falling into Salem's hand by doing what she asked of you."

Jaune could feel his lips start to feel like his hands as Ruby spoke.

"You did the only thing that could be done. It was something I wouldn't have been strong enough to do. Then you… you lived with it by yourself for all those years while waiting for us."

The boy lost any will he had left to remain composed at her last remark. He turned in place, meeting her embrace with one of his own as he gritted his teeth. Like he said to himself earlier, he needed to talk with Ruby about everything that had happened, but he also needed this conversation. For his mind and his soul.

"If anything, it's my fault for putting you in that–"

"Absolutely not!" Jaune exclaimed between his own tears.

"J-Jaune?"

He separated from her suddenly, something she was unprepared for as he wiped his nose and now took a full look at his grief-stricken face.

"For too long you've put everything on your shoulder, and you know that. You've carried every burden on this journey and we nearly lost you because of it."

Jaune cleared his throat as he noticed Ruby wipe away a few stray tears of her own. They both needed to hear this and he was not about to let her once again carry that weight. It was his turn. His turn to do what he should have done on that day where he left her running with tears like these.

"I once said that it was 'Always about you', and how we were in the position we were because of you."

He could see the wince on Ruby's face as he recalled the putrid words he threw at her on the day she needed him and her team most.

"Well, I'm here to tell you that I was wrong, and before you try to convince me that I was stressed, or I was dealing with so much, it was wrong. I was wrong. I was so self-absorbed in my own problems trying to save a group of people that didn't want me to, to understand what you were dealing with."

Ruby's small frame shuddered with his words. She could feel the sorrow emanating in his apology and the shame he was feeling. She knew that one day they might have this conversation, but she didn't know if she would be ready. Hearing it now, and knowing the feelings he kept inside him, everytime they interacted must have felt like someone ripping open a fresh wound.

Her tears were now more prominent than his own as her knees buckled slightly in place. Jaune moved towards her once more as he saw the toll it was taking, aiming not to push her any more emotionally than he already had.

"You are so important to me, Ruby. You're so important to all of us, and I cannot stress that enough. I just want you to know how sorry I am for not apologizing sooner and for even saying something so grossly inaccurate."

He wrapped her in his arms as they had before, this time with him engaging the hug. He felt her nearly go limp as he held her tightly to his chest, unwilling to let go.

"So, I'm asking for the forgiveness that I don't deserve so that you and I can start over again."

"I-" She attempted between trying to compose herself and clear her throat. "I don't want to start over, Jaune. You're my best friend, and I'll do anything for you. You don't need forgiveness from me, and I'm sorry for all the awful things I said as well."

Once again, Jaune gripped Ruby tightly as she apologized for what happened. Gently, he helped them both to their knees so they could rest momentarily after reliving some mental anguish. When friends fight, it may hurt for a few days, but when best friends fight, there is no comparison.

The two shared a few moments of silence together as they huddled comfortably. Neither wanted it, but both knew, if they wanted to get past what had happened, they had to talk about it. They needed one another more now than ever.

"You said you'd do anything for me, right?" Jaune spoke suddenly, breaking their silence.

"Yes. Anything." She replied short and sweet.

Jaune rose from the ground first, making sure to hold onto her. She couldn't help but blush as she felt him pull her up to her feet almost effortlessly back to her feet. Before she knew it, she was planted softly before he could speak again.

"Then just like how you had to 'pick everyone up' before, you let me do that for you when I can."

The boy's smile finally returned to his face, as he began to wipe away the last of his tears before gently stealing a few from her own face. The corner of Ruby's mouth twitched as if she wanted to smile with him, but something prevented it.

Jaune noticed her concern, initially thinking he had said the wrong thing. It wasn't until she spoke again that he realized he had to start his new job already.

"What if you aren't there? What if it's something that I have to handle on my own?" She questioned, thinking back to a conversation she had with Raven recently regarding her mother.

Without hesitation, Jaune pointed an outstretched finger past the girl. Her eyes traveled in the direction of his finger down the long, dimly lit road. At the far end, past the typical art and graffiti that tattered the walls of buildings was a larger mural. It was one that both Jaune and Ruby were familiar with since they'd arrived. One that was made as a tribute to her own courage and fortitude. All she could do now was smile just like Jaune had been.

"If that time ever comes," Jaune replied. "My hope is that you 'Remember Her Message' like so many others have."

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A little longer than the other one-shots, but you never know if you're going to get the opportunity to write this.

GodRealm