Cowboys of Remnant

A RWBY Fic by AndrewJTalon

DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and WB Animation. Please support the official release.

This one written by me.

It wasn't that Yang disliked Jaune Arc. Far from it! Sure, he was a little... Eccentric. The guy sang his horse and teammates to sleep with his guitar and (admittedly nice) singing voice. He insisted on being super polite. He had a lot of weird little gaps in his knowledge (You'd think with a Hunter father, he'd know what the Vytal Festival was!)

That said, she did find his little quirks kind of endearing. The way he would give Ruby his full attention, be kind and thoughtful towards her and anyone else? It was very nice.

The fact Weiss was in desperate denial over thirsting after him was also hilarious.

That said... There was one quirk of his that did get on her nerves a bit. He stared at her. Not in a creepy way, or a lustful way. Well, not in a creepy way.

He just stared at her like he'd seen her before. So, being Yang, she decided to ask him about it.

She tromped out to the stables, where Jaune often could be found when he wanted to be alone. She rested on the fence of the paddock and watched him go. He was practicing with his rope, Orleans obligingly galloping around as a moving target.

"Haa... Haa... YAH!"

Jaune cast his lasso at Orleans. The lariat sailed right over Orlean's neck, and Jaune pulled back with all the Aura infused strength he could. The mare struggled hard, jumping up on her backhooves and whinnying loudly. She thrashed her neck and tried to get clear, but Jaune got up and yanked down hard.

"Easy girl, easy...!" Jaune stated, tugging firmly but not as harshly now. The mare settled down, and Jaune reeled her in. He smiled and rubbed the side of her neck.

"Good girl. Really made me work for it, good girl," he murmured. Orleans neighed in appreciation and licked his face. "Aw come on, enough Orly!"

"Should I leave you two alone?" Yang asked with a teasing grin. Jaune glanced over at Yang, and smiled.

"Howdy, Miss Xiao-Long! Nah, we were just about to finish."

He pulled the rope up over Orleans' head, and patted her side affectionately.

"Go on and graze, girl. Be back by sundown," he said. Orleans snorted then glared over at Yang. Jaune scowled.

"I said git! You need the exercise. Git!"

He slapped her backside. Orleans whinnied, then obediently trotted off. Yang swore the mare shot her an evil look before she leaped right over the fence and galloped off, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.

"What can I do for you, Miss Xiao-Long?" Jaune asked, walking up to the fence to face her. He rested his gloved hands on either side of hers, and looked directly into her eyes. Yang imagined that Weiss or Pyrrha might have been left red faced and stuttering at this act, but she knew Jaune didn't mean anything by it.

Still, she appreciated that he wasn't skittish around her.

"I guess I'm just curious about some of the looks you've been giving me," Yang stated bluntly. "You look like you're seeing someone else when you look at me."

Jaune shrugged, trying to look nonchalant.

"Er... I-I mean... Is it wrong to look upon such a pretty, fearsome huntress?"

Okay, now her cheeks were red. But the way he'd deflected that question...

"Did you see... Someone who looked like me?" She asked quietly.

Jaune stared at her intensely. She pressed on.

"Someone with black hair, red eyes, and used a red sword?"

"... Yes miss, I did," Jaune replied quietly.

Yang leaned forward eagerly.

"Can you tell me about it?"

"I..." Jaune winced. "I'm not sure if you want to hear this, miss-"

"My mother ran off without so much as a note when I was barely two months old," Yang stated bluntly, "I want to know why."

Jaune looked back into Yang's eyes grimly.

"Mister Duke once told me, sometimes, you don't want answers to your questions," he said quietly.

"I want these," Yang insisted. "Tell me."

Jaune was silent for a moment. He then slowly nodded.

"My second run for the Duke Ranch, we took a long route down to Vitulus in South Sanus. We'd heard bandits were in the area, shaking down anyone for resources. Anyone who didn't pay? Got their village or caravan wrecked, and was left for the Grimm."

Jaune was silent for another moment, his eyes far away.

"One night, I woke up to a loud argument. I looked out of my tent. My pa and Mister Duke were standing off with some bandits in red and black armor. That woman... The one who looks like you... She was in front. She basically said she'd kill all of us if we didn't hand over half the herd. Pa and Mister Duke refused... So a fight broke out."

Jaune sucked in a breath.

"... I grabbed my rifle. I... I was scared. So scared... I just started blasting. Two bandits they... They just seemed to vanish in the blast. Burn Dust rounds are... Are really powerful. Especially with Aura like mine."

Yang winced. She rested her hands over Jaune's.

"... I didn't feel anything when I saw what I'd done," Jaune confessed quietly, "I-I just... I went numb. Nearly... Nearly got my head taken off by her. My dad managed to block with his sword while Mister Duke fired on her. My dad and Mister Duke are some of the roughest, toughest men I have ever known and... And even they were struggling against her. She was like a force of nature."

Jaune swallowed hard.

"Bert, a friend of mine from school... He tried to shoot her in the back while my dad and Mister Duke fought her from the front and... And she took his head off. I didn't even see her move. One minute he's shooting, next he's..."

Yang grimaced. Jaune's head bowed.

"... I guess... I guess she figured we were more trouble than we were worth. She lost too many men, so she ran. We... We buried all the dead, and got moving again. I..."

Yang felt her hand move up to cup his cheek.

"Hey," she whispered, "It's okay. I... I'm sorry."

"Not yer fault," Jaune mumbled. "Just... He was as old as me. Liked to collect bugs and study 'em. He said his prayers every night out loud, even though we'd tease him about it. He... He never hurt no one. And she just..."

He shut his eyes tightly. Yang pulled him into a hug. She sighed deeply as he sniffled.

"... Thank you for telling me this," she said quietly. "I... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

They stayed like that for a while. Yang didn't keep track. Jaune wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"... Sorry I... I couldn't be more help," he admitted.

"It..." Yang frowned. "It's a lot more than I was expecting. I... I want to find her."

"Why?" Jaune asked softly.

Yang shrugged.

"I guess... To get some answers. Something. Even if it's ugly, I guess I just... I just need to know."

Jaune slowly nodded.

"I guess I can understand that," he murmured.

"Are..." Yang paused. "Are you afraid I'll be like her?"

Jaune stared in shock.

"Miss?"

"Is... Is that why you stare at me?" Yang asked, her eyes avoiding his.

Jaune shook his head rapidly.

"No! Nonono! I just... I never expected someone who looked like her to be... To be the exact opposite. Warm, kind, friendly, funny... I-I'm real sorry, Miss Xiao-Long. I swear... Whenever I look at you from now on? I'll only see you. Promise."

Yang blushed bright red.

"I... Y-Yeah, see that you do," she ordered gruffly. She then smirked.

"Also? You can just call me Yang."

Jaune blinked and shook his head.

"City women are the darnedest things," he muttered.

"Yeah, but that's what makes us fun to Yang out with," Yang chuckled, shooting Jaune a wink, "Especially with cute country boys."

Jaune flushed.

"Ah, er, um-"

"Heh. You are cute when you blush," Yang snickered. "Guess I'll have to make sure you do it more~!"