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 ViZ. Please support the official release.
The Somber Cowhand
A guest chapter by Allslayer.
It was a beautiful day, the temperature wasn't too hot or cold, a perfect sunny day with a light breeze. Jaune the Cowboy minus his usual poncho was sitting in the shade leaning against his favorite tree his legs sprawled out in front of him, his hat tipped down lightly covering his eyes from the world, he strummed lightly on his guitar. Orleans posted just a few feet away lazily munching on some grass.
On a day like this, most would be feeling quite happy to be out in the open air enjoying the wonderful weather and be in some kind of positive mood. Not Jaune though, today he just couldn't shake the somber mood he had since he had awoken that morning. He just couldn't place it, he just had this dark and ugly feeling in his chest. One that he didn't want any of the others to have to deal with. So, he forced himself through the group breakfast. It was Yang's turn to cook today, seeing her in that housedress and hair pulled back into a low ponytail, made something flutter in his stomach but the mood persisted.
So, he quickly ate his food and moved to the stables where he met Orleans who could pick up on his distress and nuzzled him gently letting him know she was there for him this earned a small smile from Jaune as he gently petted her neck thanking her. He opened her pen door and led her out to the grazing field, and moved to his favorite tree while sitting down to make himself comfortable as Orleans started to graze but didn't go too far to keep herself within his presence.
Jaune had been staring at nothing for a good 15 minutes and gently strumming his guitar, before he picked up the pressure on his strumming and the random sounds started getting a rhythm and soon it started to become a song. But while the pressure on the strumming had increased the beat did not pick up with it.
Soon Jaune added his voice and sang the words that came from the feeling in his chest.
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
Jaune sped up and grew louder to hit the chorus of his song but dropped back down after. He began to feel misty-eyed but didn't do anything to wipe the forming tears in his eyes. He remembers the things he wants to forget, the people he hurt, those that deserved it, yes but he still hurt them and killed plenty of them too.
He just looks at his team though, and his sister team and just sees how good they are. How they haven't had to raise a gun at a human or if they have, it hadn't been those without aura or that you couldn't show mercy to. And he wishes they'd never have to. Because the second you watch someone's soul leave their body and know you caused it. It changes you; it marks your soul and he doesn't ever want them to carry such a mark.
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
Jaune finished his song. The tears falling steadily from his eyes, he moved his hat so it covered more of his face as he rested his head fully against the trunk of the tree. His body shook slightly from crying, but he didn't make a sound as he cried. Orleans moved closer to the crying young man resting next to him and nuzzled him to let him know she was there. His hand went out to her and gently stroked her neck and mane.
But her full attention wasn't on her partner, no, her eyes flicked to different locations around them. Where the four eavesdroppers were, Jaune did much in his head and feelings didn't notice the different approaching persons. Orleans did though and she had made sure each knew she knew they were there when Jaune had begun his song.
Each had come to check on Jaune after seeing how off he was that morning and at breakfast, but all had stopped dead in their tracks when they heard the first line of the song out of his voice.
Pyrrha cried herself as she looked at the form of her crying partner and the love of her life. It hurt her so much to see him like that. She had wanted to be an open ear to listen to his problems when she was coming to check up on him. But hearing the sad sang he performed, she hated herself for feeling upset at herself for not knowing that Jaune was hiding such deep pain. Her feelings didn't matter in this situation, this was about him and the anguish he was hiding. She will do whatever she can to make sure to lessen his burden cause this person was everything she looking for in a partner and friend and she'll be damned if she lets him hurt.
Weiss couldn't even look at Jaune right now as she leaned against the tree, she had stayed behind the second he began singing. She had watched him until she saw the first tear in his eye and quickly averted her gaze to just take in his song. As a singer herself, she knew this song had a deeper meaning and he had used it to deal with the off mood he had today. She didn't know the exact reason but didn't need it. She just knew that simple, foolish, kind, caring man was in some kind of deep pain, and she wished to take it away from him as he didn't deserve to be in that kind of pain. Weiss brought her hand to her chest and grabbed where her heart was. She will help that man, cause without even trying he helped her. He had stolen her heart after all, and his debts must be paid.
Yang felt pressure in her hands as she gripped the tree she stood by and it began to splinter. She wanted to help the Cowboy with this weird mood he had this morning, but this wasn't what she was expecting to see and hear when she came to look for him. She was getting some flashbacks of her early childhood, but there was a stark difference. Jaune had been going fine for months but today was the day a damn broke. But if she were to draw on her experience in that he was more like Qrow than her Dad? By tomorrow he would be back to normal. But that wouldn't fix the underlying issues or stop this from happening again. No, she shook her head, he may bottle up the pain like her uncle but he doesn't use other means of escape in the meantime. No, he was sober and moved forward every day with a smile. He was a good man and the man she had feelings for. And that man deserved to have someone by his side to help shoulder that pain like he had been doing for them for months.
Ruby was silent behind the tree she was hiding behind as she stared at Jaune and his shaking, silently crying form. She felt her chest hurt from just looking at him, and she wanted to go to his side the instant she heard the utter sad song coming from him. But she was rooted in her spot and couldn't take a step closer. It hurt her heart so much seeing her best friend and the man she…l…lo… she shook her head and smacked her cheeks lightly. Love, she loved him. And she hated him in that much pain. Tears started forming in her eyes too, as she wiped them, she made eye contact with Orleans and tried to show her anguish from Jaune's pain and Orleans whinnied lightly and gestured with her head to Jaune. Ruby didn't need to be told twice.
Jaune had heard the whinny Orleans had made and was just lifting his hat when he heard rushing air and leaves when Ruby crashed into him.
"Jaune!" she wailed as she gripped him tightly around the chest and held him closely.
"Miss Rose, wha-" he was cut off again though as Pyrrha came to his other side wrapping him in a hug too.
"I'm so sorry Jaune!" Pyrrha exclaimed as she wrapped him tightly.
"P-Pyr! Why are you? -" Again, he was cut off as Yang came barreling in.
"None of that." She said she got a piece of him too and wrapped his front next to Ruby tightly and looked him dead in the eye. "Don't you dare to tell us to let you go."
Jauen swallowed, "Yes, ma'am but I have to ask what's" Again he was cut off by Weiss appearing before the dog pile.
"Now you can't possibly be this damn dense to not know why we are doing this." She said in a no-nonsense tone as got in between Yang and Pyrrha. "You Jaune are a simple man but are not a fool so don't treat us as ones then. You know why we are holding you now and I think I can speak for the group when I say, you don't have to do anything alone. You don't have to bury any emotion, if something is troubling you or causing you pain you can come to any of us or the rest of the teams and we will do our absolute best to help you through the issue or feelings. Do you understand?"
Jaune could only look between the 4 different wrapped around him as they all looked at him with determination and caring.
"Even if it is something awful?" he muttered out
"Even then," Pyrrha responded.
"Even though I don't deserve it?"
"Of course you deserve it, you deserve any help you need," Yang added.
"Even though I'm not a good man?"
"You are a good man! Ruby exclaimed, "Anyone who says otherwise is a butthead. You are the kindest man I know."
Jaune sniffled as a few more tears fell, but he began to laugh. He laughed loudly as he brought his own arms around them and squeezed them closer. Each girl getting red on their cheeks but didn't dare say anything to get this moment to end.
"I don't deserve any of you, by the Breaker I don't. But I am so very grateful for each one of you and everyone else. I can't thank you all enough."
The girls all just smiled beautifully at him and snuggled into his hold.
Jaune lifted his head and breathed deeply. That feeling in his chest had almost disappeared completely, this wouldn't get rid of it fully, but it was a start.
Naturally the song is the cover of "Hurt" by Johnny Cash.