Okay remember when I said it would only be a week until the next chapter? Might've been lying a little bit, SORRY. Had a busy week at work, but thankfully since this was already pretty much written, it made it a lot easier to just send it out. But hey I've got more to say at the ending of a chapter than the beginning so without further ado...
Let's get it started!
Beta: Wolfy
Art: Gyanguirus
Chapter 11 - Losers Together
Jaune fought hard to swallow past the lump in his throat as he gazed at his friend.
Ruby was hunched over, silver eyes weary as she finished recounting her tale. He hadn't been expecting that. How could he have? He'd known Dragonheart, or Yang rather, had dropped out due to an injury, but he'd had no idea it was anything like this. A spinal cord injury was a death knell to the career of a wrestler. Aura could only protect so much, and when you were taking slams and bumps, it was just too risky, even if you did make a recovery.
"She never wrestled again." Ruby breathed. "The doctors won't clear her."
"I…Ruby I'm so sorry. I didn't know." He began, "I can't imagine what that must've been like."
"Thanks...for listening." She muttered softly. It was difficult to ignore the tremor in her voice. What he'd said was true. He couldn't imagine it. Thinking of what it would've felt like to see Saphron, or Jade, or Hazel strapped to a stretcher tore him up inside. And it had happened to Ruby when she was just fifteen! He swallowed past the gravel in his throat.
"What happened after? With Yang."
Ruby sagged slightly against the couch. "Things changed. We were never the same after that, Jaune." She continued, not meeting his eyes, her tone crestfallen.
He fought desperately for something to say, something to alleviate the pain in her eyes. He settled for throwing an arm around her shoulders and pulling her tight. She practically molded against him. It broke his heart to see Ruby like this. Ruby was a giddy optimist; she'd shaken him out of plenty of funks. Right now, she was small and miserable.
"I'm sorry. I know it must've been hard when it happened." Jaune murmured. "How did things change? It couldn't have been that–" his eyes widened as he felt her pull away. She looked beside herself.
"You don't get it Jaune! She hates me!" Ruby exclaimed raggedly. "That's why we don't talk anymore, and I-I don't blame her. How could I?" she finished, little tears like diamonds slipping down her pale cheeks. Jaune inclined his head.
"But I've seen her text you. You even told me every now and then she'd pick you up from the shows." he replied, confused.
Ruby looked down at the floor, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just because she doesn't say it out loud doesn't mean she doesn't think it. She holds it against me. I can see it in her eyes. It was like that for months after I ruined everything."
"But it wasn't your–"
"Yes it was!" she barked from beside him, her voice shrill as he flinched back, startled. "If I hadn't gone for Crescent Rose, none of it would've happened! She would've gone on to be a main eventer in the biggest wrestling company in the world! You know how great she was, Jaune. You knew of her long before you knew me. She was Dragonheart! She was the "Fiery future of the VWC". I took that all away. I-I was just trying to help. I didn't mean to cost her her passion but… but I did. So yeah, it was all my fault."
Jaune didn't know what to say. It was true that Ruby had gone for her new finisher when she'd been told not to. But that didn't change the fact that it was an accident. It didn't sound like she'd done it selfishly or maliciously. She clearly loved her sister, and what had happened seemed to have broken something in her. Jaune had to suppress a sigh. She never failed to confuse him, and it looked like the puzzle wasn't finished after all. What was clear however, was that Ruby wasn't changing her mind. It also helped that he finally had a decent guess as to why she didn't want to work with him.
"You're afraid of it happening again, aren't you?" Jaune ventured. "That's why you shut me down." Ruby gave him a somber glance. It was so removed from what her expressions normally looked like, he almost gasped.
"It was never because of you, Jaune." She muttered morosely. "I might be a bit dense but I'm not a little kid. I knew you were thinking the idea over. I know how important this is to you, but I don't think…I can't do it again. You've been too good to me, Jaune. I don't want you getting hurt because of me."
"Well that's–" He began, but it was clear she wasn't finished.
"And I don't want to get hurt because of you."
The words cut through his assurance like a hot knife through butter. "W-What? But I'd never–"
"I know you wouldn't. Not on purpose anyway." She began with a brittle smile. "I'm not naive. One team going badly wasn't enough to shake me from my dream." She explained. "I wanted to try again."
"What happened next?" Jaune asked, determined to try and get the most out of the opportunity Ruby'd given him. He wasn't sure the next time she'd be open to talking about things like this. Getting information from her was like squeezing blood from a stone. Ruby barely acknowledged it.
"After Yang was gone, I floated around the lower card of the circuit. I had a few singles matches but they just…I don't know. They didn't feel right. I'd never tried it on my own, and it didn't really work. I needed a teammate. It was all I knew. Then I met her, and everything just got so much worse and–"
"Who? Your second teammate?" Jaune said, leaning in closer as Ruby gave him a slow nod. He'd been curious ever since she'd first brought her up. At least when she spoke about Yang it was a bittersweet sadness. With her second teammate, Ruby looked haunted, almost scared.
"She…she ruined everything." She began, her voice strained. "It was the biggest mistake I'd ever made. I should've seen things were too good to be true. I should've…I should've…" She trailed off, taking another breath before she continued. "I didn't want to try again after that. I…I even thought about quitting for good."
Jaune's eyes widened. Another bomb. Ruby had nearly quit wrestling!? But it was all she talked about. She might've been the only person he'd ever known that was as passionate about the sport as he was. Whenever she spoke about it, she'd gesture wildly. She'd have that infectious smile on her face that picked him right up. But now? She looked tired. Exhausted. Dull.
What had her second partner done to her?
It made him angry just thinking about it. Wait. Wait a minute. Things sounded familiar. Memories bubbled to the surface as Jaune nearly gasped. Memories of Ruby unraveling in front of him. Hellbent on bowing to the demands of a mysterious she.
"Your second partner, was she the one who demanded you do everything perfectly?" He spoke, the words coming out before he could think. "From our first night of promo practice?"
Ruby nodded woodenly. "She wanted us to be successful no matter what. She needed us to keep doing well."
"Who was she?" Jaune gritted out, his fists balled. He wanted to know who had hurt one of the few people that gave a damn about him.
"Doesn't matter anymore." Ruby murmured, shaking her head. "That's in the past, Jaune. I don't really want to talk about her. I don't ever have to see her again anyway. Like I said back then, she wasn't a good person."
He nodded, happy to relent. Ruby had shared so much with him, and to her credit, her words rang true. She really didn't like talking about these things. She was pale, paler than usual, sweat beading at her brow as she relived what looked like dark memories. He hadn't realized she meant she physically couldn't talk about these things. Anxiety maybe? He was reminded of his little sister Lavender, who suffered from anxiety attacks. He wasn't willing to put a label on it, focusing rather on the fact that she was comfortable enough around him to share these clearly traumatic memories. It was a flicker of warmth in the sea of despair. Ruby's words shook him out of his thoughts.
"That's why I can't do this again, Jaune. Either I'll end up hurting you, or you'll end up hurting me. I can't take that chance. I'm not saying it would be on purpose, but it doesn't matter. I don't want to risk it. I'm sorry." she finished, taking a few quick breaths. Silence descended over the two as Jaune reflected on everything she'd told him. For the third time that day, he was at a loss for words. What could he possibly say? Not only to make her feel better, but to convince her to give tag teaming another try after she'd been treated so poorly.
He had to try something, so he figured for once, he'd take his own advice.
Speak from the heart, just like you would the crowd.
He cleared his throat.
"Thank you. For sharing everything with me. I uh, really appreciate that you felt comfortable telling me about it. It reminds me of the day I told you about me and my dad. You remember that?"
Ruby nodded.
"It was one of the first times we really connected. And even if I didn't realize it at that moment, we'd gotten closer. We weren't just two people helping each other out anymore. We were close friends."
A smile tugged at the corner of his Ruby's lips. It didn't quite spread to her eyes, but it was something, at least. Now for the important part.
"Which is why I want you to know that I still want us to take a crack at this. Teaming up, I mean. I'm going to be pursuing this option, and I don't think there's anyone better on Remnant to be my partner than you."
Her smile fell, replaced with a new expression. Almost a combination of incredulity and doubt. Her voice was small. "After everything you just heard, you still want to team with me?"
He nodded, eyes drifting shut. "I do, and I'll tell you exactly why."
Thankfully, she didn't immediately shut him down. He took it as a sign to continue. "I'm sorry about what happened to your sister. I know that must've hurt, and from what you've said it's pretty clear you haven't' had it easy. I don't know what exactly happened with your second teammate too, but I can tell it must've been seriously bad if it nearly drove someone as passionate as you to throw in the towel. I understand why you don't want to try again. Heck, I'm not sure I would either."
She gazed at him glumly. No doubt dwelling on the memories. He didn't give her a chance to get lost in them.
"But what's the alternative? Give up? Settle for being a singles star even though that isn't what you want?" he inquired, sweeping his arms out to his sides. "You said it yourself, why would you ever want to go it alone when you could have that magic of being in a tag team? That's part of your dream, isn't it?"
Ruby gave him a quizzical expression. "That's all I can do. I'm just…being realistic. I can still try and reach those goals; it'll just be different."
Jaune shook his head. "But you're not a realist. You're an optimist. You're not just any optimist. You're the one who's continuously encouraged me to better myself. You're a dreamer, just like me, and I'm not just going to sit here and let you give up on your goals like I nearly did mine." he explained, emotion creeping into his voice. Ruby was stunned, her eyes like a deer's in headlights, but he was in no mood to stop.
"When they told me I'd be facing Pyrrha, I was done. I couldn't take it anymore. It just felt like loss after loss after loss. I even told Glynda I felt like I was right back at square one. I could already see myself fighting desperately to scrape together any fans I'd have left after she ripped my family's legacy apart. But I didn't want to fight anymore. I was ready to lay down and throw the towel in." he said, his face falling as he remembered the days he'd spent in his apartment. The room had felt more like a mausoleum at the time.
"What changed?" Ruby asked. A glimmer of curiosity fighting against the exhaustion in her face. Jaune was happy to explain.
"It was Ozpin actually. He gave me a lecture about adaptability. I thought it was a bunch of empty words, but I get what he was saying now. He showed me that others just like me had been in the same place but fought against the hands they'd been given. They worked hard to get to where they were. People like my dad. Like Glynda. Like your uncle Qrow."
Ruby cocked an eyebrow at the familiar name. Jaune knew he didn't have to explain just how Qrow had adapted, no doubt Ruby knew the history better than he did. Speaking of which, she was still listening, which had to be a good sign. "I had a choice, Ruby. When Glynda came calling about this offer. The choice was that I could give up, take my beating from Pyrrha and settle for slotting myself into the low card for the rest of my life or I could take a chance. I could take the offer. Try out tag teaming and see if I couldn't carve out my own destiny. A chance to bring a world title back to the Arc family like I told you I'd always wanted. I'm asking you to carve your own destiny out with me."
"But–" Ruby began to speak, but this time it was Jaune who wasn't finished.
"I know life dealt you a horrible hand. But that doesn't mean you should just quit and settle for something you've got no passion for. At least the Ruby I know wouldn't. The Ruby I know has never thrown the towel in. I threw you into plenty of situations you weren't familiar with when we started training. Crowds, cold approaches, and even promos on your own. You rose to meet me every time. You were afraid, but you didn't give up."
Ruby was silent, but her eyes were now locked on his as he continued his rant. "The Ruby I know doesn't lay down in defeat, she's got a burning tenacity that drives her to succeed, that drives her to learn and grow. You may not think you have it, or that you aren't worthy of a team up, or that you aren't even worthy to try again, but that isn't what I've seen. You deserve another chance. So, I'm asking you just to try one more time. One more chance to try and be that hero you always dreamed you could be. The one that inspires people just like they inspired you." He said, fists balled as he spoke. "So, let's do it. We go fight Yuma and Perry on Monday for a spot in the tournament. If we get that spot, let's go out there and do our best to win."
He paused, taking a second to draw in a few breaths. It had been a while since he'd spoken like this. He missed it, desperately. It wasn't easy, but he'd gotten used to drawing on his emotions when he needed to get a point across. It was all real. More real than anything he'd said in months. Ruby hadn't cut him off either. But that being said, he needed to get the most important part of his proposal across.
"But the last thing I want to do is pressure you." He began tentatively. "I'd never do that, Ruby. I'm not going to force you into anything you don't want to do. I wouldn't want you to go along with me just because you don't want me to lose my career. So, I was thinking if we did team up, if you wanted out, if you didn't feel comfortable, we could pull out of the deal."
"But wouldn't that mean you'd get punished by Ms. Goodwitch?" Ruby asked, eyes wide. Jaune couldn't help but chuckle.
"Yeah, I guess it would. But if you didn't want to do it anymore, or if you were uncomfortable, I'd do it. I'm asking a lot of you here; it wouldn't be fair to not give you a way out. I'm not going to throw our friendship under the bus just because I want to stay on the roster." He finished sheepishly. "Maybe I'm crazy, but I really do think this could be a game changer, and I guess I'm willing to put it all on the line."
"You are crazy." Ruby said, a mix between a laugh and a scoff slipping from her lips. "You'd really let yourself get sidelined? That's no better than losing to Pyrrha."
Jaune couldn't argue there. Maybe he was crazy. All of this was. This decision was far removed from anything he'd done before. He was basically flying blind. It was a while before Ruby spoke.
"I want to know one thing, Jaune."
"Mhm?"
"I want to know why."
Jaune inclined his head. He'd just told her why. Heck, he'd practically gone on a whole rant to explain it. Ruby must've noticed his confusion.
"Why me? Why do you want to team with me so much?"
The answer found its way through his lips before he even had a moment to think. All those nights together. All that time training and fighting. All that time sharing things he thought he'd never tackle again. "Because…because I think you're my best friend." Jaune breathed. "I guess I just wanted to share opportunity this with you."
Ruby's eyes widened for a brief second as she turned away. Finally, she spoke.
"I…I need time to think."
"Take it." Jaune followed up quickly. "I've got until tonight to give Glynda an answer. Thank you. For uh, for hearing me out. Even if it was a little long winded. Ruby chuckled as he turned away. "I'm gonna head out. Hit me up when you've made a decision. No rush."
She nodded as he left, hoping his last-ditch effort had gotten through to her.
/
Ruby didn't know how long she stayed on the couch after Jaune left. Time was acting all weird again. Maybe it was just that her mind hadn't stopped whirring since he'd made his exit. She felt fuzzy, like she drank too many of those frappuccinos Weiss would make. Emotions within her smashed into each other, bouncing around her ribcage like those billiard balls Dad and Uncle Qrow used to play. She couldn't take it anymore, hopping off the couch and retreating to her room.
Things made sense there.
She flopped down onto her bed, sinking into the comfort. Her thoughts were anything but.
"He really is a great promo, isn't he?" Ruby said to no one in particular, wiggling around until she was comfortable. It was true. Jaune really was a great speaker. All that time with his parents and family really showed. But he was also the architect for the swirling storm inside of her. Like it or not, his words had struck a chord in her. One that hadn't been touched in a long time.
Can I really give it one more try? She pondered, but only for a moment. No. No, she couldn't. She shouldn't. Not after what happened with Yang. Not after her second try. Tag team wrestling had brought her nothing but pain. Sure, there had been good times. But they'd never been because of her. The fact of the matter was that Ruby had been a burden. She was dragging Yang down from the start. Her second teammate really had been right all along. Ruby Rose brought talented people down. Her brows drew down at the thought of her former teammate. No, she wouldn't think about her right now. She wouldn't think about the things she'd said, the way she made Ruby feel worthless.
Her eyes scrunched shut as she balled her fists in her hair. But her ex-tag partner had been right? Hadn't she? Jaune needed her, and here she was sulking in her room. She was letting him down like she did the others. He could end up hurting her too though. He could be stringing her along, waiting for the perfect chance to drop her just like her second teammate did. Stop thinking like that, she grumbled as she forced any thoughts of her former friend to the back of her mind. Things were emotional enough as it was, she didn't need to add on that hot mess.
Even if it still hurt to think about.
Ruby took a shaky breath, hopping off her bed in search of her happy place. Well, it wasn't a place, per se, rather a single object sitting plainly on her desk. Her fingers wrapped around the top of the frame, taking a moment to linger on the picture. Her mother and father arm in arm always brought a smile to her face. It was a warmth she didn't deserve to feel, but it still felt nice. She only gave it a quick look before turning it over, her fingers lingering above the back of the frame.
She began to pop the backplate out as she'd done many a time before, carefully picking at the edges until it came off completely. She gingerly picked up the second picture hidden within, her most prized possession. Her breath caught as she turned it over in her trembling fingers. Sure, she'd gazed at it before, but it had been a long time.
She only ever took it out when she'd desperately needed to remember the good times.
There she was, smiling ear to ear as she threw the camera a fervent thumbs up, her silver eyes twinkling with delight. And to her right, was her big sister. Yang had an arm around Ruby's shoulders, giving a thumbs up of her own to the camera. Seeing her toothy grin was like seeing an old friend you hadn't seen in a long time. Ruby couldn't help but smile at it. They were both in their ring gear, matching sets of crimson and gold that shimmered in the camera's flash. Dad had taken it after their first match. They'd won, with Yang landing her finisher and securing them their first ever official signal circuit victory. She remembered how they'd gone to a nearby diner to celebrate, stacking their plates with as much eggs, bacon, and pancakes as they could afford.
We looked so happy, she mused mournfully as a few tears landed on the old photograph, seeping into the material to join the older splotches that dotted the worn picture. Sure, she had plenty of pictures on her scroll, but this one just meant more. It was like she was holding the memory itself in her hands.
They were happy. She'd loved every minute of it. Every match, every pin, every hit to the jaw she took. Every time she slapped her palm against her big sister's. Teaming with Yang, it was like a dream. She couldn't have asked for a better partner. Yang was everything to her. A wrestler who'd loved her craft so much she stayed with it until she couldn't anymore. And here Ruby was, quitting. Letting what could be a golden opportunity pass her by. She'd improved a lot, yes. She would probably even be ready for her tryout. But Jaune's words rattled around her brain like loose change in a pocket. There was too much to think about. She idly thumbed the picture, her smile crumbling as she focused on her sister.
Yang hated her for what she'd done. Even if she didn't show it. How couldn't she? Ruby had ruined her life. She flinched as she realized she'd begun to spiral again. Taking a deep breath, she tried to focus on the picture the way she always did when she needed guidance. What would the Yang from that day say to her right now? What would she do if she was in Ruby's shoes?
She gripped the photo tightly as she came to the realization.
Yang wouldn't give up. She wouldn't settle.
She never did. Not until some doctor forced her to. Yang wouldn't just let this chance go by. She'd grab it by the throat and slam it to the mat. Making sure to get the one, two, three. Ruby giggled at the imagery.
The old Yang would want her to take this opportunity, wouldn't she? She'd want her to be happy.
Hope began to pool in Ruby's chest. She made sure to keep it at bay. Weiss always said that she needed to consider things more carefully, look at things from all angles. Jaune was giving her a chance to be a part of his team, to hopefully step into Vytal's tag team tournament for a chance to win the belts. The belts she and her sister promised each other they'd win one day.
The belts she swore she'd win for Yang after the accident. The belts she'd win to make it up to her.
It wasn't just the belts though. It was a chance to take the ring by storm, in a position she was confident in. Maybe she would pass the tryout if she declined his offer, but she'd still be alone, wouldn't she? Sure, Ruby liked being on her own, especially when it was just her and her moves. But that didn't mean she didn't get lonely. That didn't mean she didn't wish she could try and recapture that magic she had when she teamed with Yang. A way to get back on the stage, to snap that streak of horrible luck that had plagued her for years. A chance to have a career like her uncle, her dad, and her Mom.
She began to sniffle as she went through the possibilities. It was a chance to get out there and be a superstar, a role model, someone people could look up to. The tag tournament was one of the most watched events of the year. She'd have a massive platform! And hey, it certainly beat sitting in the back eating catering.
This was her opportunity to do it all over again. To maybe, just maybe, fix what was broken.
You're getting ahead of yourself again, buffoon, Weiss' voice sounded in her mind. Heh, she guessed she was. There were risks too. Risks that couldn't be ignored. She could end up hurting him just like she'd hurt the others. Her hands trembled at the thought of it. They could lose. Jaune could lose his return match and flip out on her. Then he'd turn on her just as her second teammate did. He could chip away at what little confidence she had left.
She didn't think she could recover from it happening again.
She shook her head. That didn't sound like Jaune. Jaune had never given her a reason to doubt him. Heck, he'd even told her he'd take the fight against Pyrrha if she said no. He hadn't tried to pressure her into anything. He's just saying that so you'll feel bad for him, so you'll accept. So you'll carry him just like you did your last teammate. It'll only be a matter of time before he drops you too. The treacherous voice sneered, casting doubt on her friend.
She forced the thoughts from her head. Jaune hadn't just promised to take the Pyrrha match if she said no. He'd respected her fear of trying again. He let her know it was okay to feel what she was feeling. He even promised her that if she accepted and realized she wasn't ready, or she couldn't do it, he'd pull out with her.
He'd let himself take the penalty.
That wasn't something selfish people did. He was ready to give up his place on the card, and a good portion of his salary at the drop of a hat if she told him she wanted out. He was willing to give up a chunk of his career for her. That was a sacrifice. A sacrifice for her. Selfish people didn't do things like that. They lied, taunted, and hurt. The last person who'd wanted to team up with her did.
But that wasn't who Jaune was.
A smile spread across her face as she thought about the time she'd spent with Jaune Arc. No, he wasn't like her. Jaune had listened to her, even through her ridiculous rants and raves. It never felt like he dismissed or humored her. He remembered things about her. Her favorite pizza topping, her favorite wrestlers, even her favorite matches. Even Weiss hadn't managed that! He'd shared his dreams with her and gave his thoughts on hers. He didn't cut her down or belittle her, even when she'd lied to him. He didn't even mind that she was a massive dork! It kinda helped that he was a dork too.
A dork that had stayed with her late into the night to practice promos. A dork who'd helped her calm down after one of her anxiety attacks. A guy who bought her pizza and hung out on the couch with her for hours. How could she even consider letting a guy like him lose his career like this, to something that wasn't even fair?
Her fists balled as she stood, gazing around her room, at the heroes that adorned her walls. His words came back to her. She had gotten out of her comfort zone, hadn't she? She'd risen to the challenge of trying to better herself.
She wasn't a quitter.
She began to rock back and forth on the balls of her feet, muscles tensing as she stomped across the room and threw open her closet doors, eyes landing on a familiar black and red outfit. Nobody was there to save her when everything fell apart. Either time. But right now, she could save him. To step in and give him a fighting chance. She could be there for him. She wanted to be there for him. After all, he'd been there for her, someone everyone else considered to be a loser.
Heck, she'd said they'd be losers together after all.
"Maybe we don't have to be." His voice echoed in her head as she let her eyes drift shut, a reminder of their deal, and the beginning of their friendship.
Gazing over at her scroll on the table, Ruby made her choice.
IT'S HERE, IT'S FINALLY HERE! Jaune and Ruby are IN BUSINESS! If you guys think you've been waiting a while for our two adorable underdogs to team up, it's been MUCH longer on my end. This chapter was also a fun one to write. Diving into Ruby's mindset is always a joy, and for anyone who still wants an element of mystery to her character, good news is, there's still a lot more to find out. What Ruby says and what actually happened are two different things, and I'd implore you guys to try and find some inconsistencies in the poor girl's words.
I cannot wait to put out next chapter, most of it has been written but it might take a few weeks to get it to a point where I like it, but next time on Remnant Rumble it will be:
JAUNE AND RUBY VS YUMA AND PERRY FOR THE LAST SLOT IN THE VWC TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT!
Hope you're as excited as I am. As always thank you for leaving your favs, follows, and reviews, they really do motivate me to make more content for you guys. Also, thinking about writing a RWBY inspired horror oneshot for Halloween season, is that something you guys would like to see? No idea if it would be set in the remnant rumbleverse, so who knows?
Thank you again for reading, I really appreciate you guys.
-Curb