Welcome back everyone! Not gonna lie to you guys, I did not expect to be back this early. What, it's only been like a month since the season finale? Truth is I just couldn't stay away, and since we're beginning act 2, the biggest and most fun filled part of the story, I just couldn't help myself. So we're back and ready to go! Like I said in the beginning of this story, this is the first act 2 I've ever written, so I hope it won't drag or anything. It's just so exciting! Can't wait to bring you guys the cool stuff. Be prepared for a lot more promos, fights, and drama!
So without further ado, let's get it started!
Beta: Wolfy
Art: Gyanguirus
Chapter 13 - Aftermath
Jaune couldn't help but stumble as he made his way up the ramp.
Well, made his way was a bit of an exaggeration. He hobbled up the ramp, his lungs still burning as he put one foot in front of the other, inching his way towards the curtain. He paused, taking a moment to run the back of his forearm across his brow. It came away slick with sweat, but for once, he didn't mind the sight.
It was a reminder of the work he'd put in to make it to this moment.
"THAT'S MY GUY!" A fan cheered from his right, the dull roar of applause and praise having not stopped since he'd gotten the three count against Yuma just moments prior. He threw an exhausted fist up in a show of triumph towards the fan. He wished it could've been stronger, but he was just too tired. Thankfully, he wasn't alone.
Not anymore.
He leaned to the side, bracing himself against the warm body that hadn't left his side since he'd pinned his opponent. Ruby snickered as she bore his bodyweight, throwing one of his arms around her shoulders as she stepped for both of them. "Gah, so heavy." She grunted, her radiant grin undercutting her groan. She hadn't dropped it from the moment they'd left the ring, and Yuma and Perry behind.
"If you think this is bad, just imagine how it felt when I slammed down on top of Yuma." Jaune joked back, throwing himself forward and walking on his own. Ruby giggled.
"I totally softened him up for you."
Jaune just rolled his eyes, chuckling to himself as he continued up the ramp, throwing a glance over his shoulder to watch Ruby's wide eyes take in the cheers and goodbyes of the crowd. She was starstruck, that was plain as day, and Jaune couldn't have been happier for her. She'd done exactly what he'd hoped she would. She showed up, stepped in that ring, and showed everyone exactly why she deserved to be on the main roster. After a debut like that, there was no way she'd ever have to worry about heading back to catering.
She'd even managed to cut a quick promo! Sure, it was brief, not leaving too much time to mess up, but he'd seen the way she'd trembled, and the way her left leg bounced like it always did when she was nervous. But despite all that, she gave a hell of a declaration. He couldn't have been prouder of her if he tried.
They finally reached the curtain. He lazily threw a hand out to brush it to the side as he and Ruby crossed the threshold from television to reality. The backstage area was bustling with activity as usual, but it went quiet the second he and his new partner made their entrance. They only made it about two or three steps before his vision was occupied by a familiar face.
"Welcome back, Mr. Arc." Glynda Goodwitch said as he looked up to face her. Her face was neutral. To anyone else, it would seem as if she was mildly indifferent to what had occurred down in the ring, but Jaune had known Glynda for a long time, and the way her emerald eyes seemed to twinkle with pride filled his heart with a joy he hadn't felt in years.
"It's good to be back, Ms. Goodwitch." He replied as he bowed his head towards her, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "You think that was enough to rile 'em up?"
He knew he was just fishing for compliments at this point, but he couldn't help it. Thankfully, he was rewarded for it. Her calm facade finally cracked as her lips quirked up in a smile that filled his chest with warmth. "The match was excellent, Jaune. I knew you'd be up to the task."
He felt his face flush as he glanced away, hoping she didn't see just how red he knew he was. "W-Well, it was mostly Ruby," he admitted sheepishly. He almost laughed out loud as he saw her stiffen out of the corner of his eye. Ruby had never been great with praise, but he figured she'd appreciate him putting her on the spot just this once. She almost seemed to shrink as Glynda's critical gaze roved over her.
"You did well, I suppose, Ms. Rose." She uttered, giving Ruby the slightest of nods. "Welcome to the main roster. Keep up the good work." Ruby's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as she woodenly nodded up at Glynda.
"W-Will do, Ms. Goodwitch. Thank you so much for the opportunity!"
Ms. Goodwitch's lukewarm response aside, Jaune could only imagine how Ruby was feeling right now. No doubt she'd been dreaming of hearing those words for years, and the time had finally come. He threw an arm around her and dragged her into a side hug. She returned it in kind.
"As much as I'd enjoy leaving you two to your celebration," Glynda began, her voice cutting through his thoughts like a knife through butter, "We have a few matters to discuss before I let you two go free."
He turned back to face her, giving her a curt nod. "Sure. What kind of matters?"
A small smile found its way across her face as she beamed down at him. "The kind that involves your official registration for the Vytal Tag Team Tournament."
Jaune turned away to share an excited glance with Ruby before returning his attention to Glynda. "Sure, let's do it. What do you need from us?"
"I'd only need you two to follow me, we'll be heading to Ozpin's office to finalize the paperwork, as well as set a few ground rules. Come along." She replied as she began to briskly walk towards the door at the far end of the backstage area. He made to follow, Ruby right at his heels.
The tag team tournament, huh? Jaune mused as he and Ruby followed Glynda down the long concrete halls of the stadium. Sure, he'd known he'd been competing for a spot in the tournament since he'd gotten the call from Glynda, but even though he was now a sure lock, it still didn't feel real.
A few people pointed at him, some calling out greetings or giving him a thumbs up. He recognized them from the locker room. He nodded their way, thankful for the praise. Ruby woodenly waved back at them. He'd have to work on that with her, accepting the praise and congratulations of others. Well, all in due time, he guessed.
After what felt like forever, they finally made it to the familiar foreboding door of the CEO's office. Just as Glynda went to reach for the knob, the sound of a muffled shout boomed from within Ozpin's office. Jaune flinched back, confusion scrawled on his face. He glanced over at Glynda for an explanation. She looked just as perplexed, but only for a moment before a grin that almost looked mischievous spread across her face. She caught him looking, and turned to the side with a cough, before reaching out and turning the knob.
"AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT LITTLE BASTARD JUST GETS TO WALTZ INTO A TITLE SHOT?!" the same voice roared from within. Now that it wasn't from behind a door, Jaune recognized it. The moment he did, his cheery demeanor wilted as his eyes fell on the enraged man at Ozpin's desk.
Alexander Nikos slammed his fists against Ozpin's marble desk, the sound of the slam echoing through the spacious room. His face was as red as his scarlet hair as he glowered down at Ozpin, a far cry from the smarmy salesman Jaune had seen the last time he'd met the man. There was a girl to his right, looking on anxiously as he continued, neck bulging.
"You better have a fantastic explanation for this stunt. Or we might just walk." He seethed. The girl to Alexander's right looked terrified as she shook her head. Jaune glanced at Ozpin, curious at how the older man would reply. Ozpin was a stark contrast to Alexander, he sat back in his chair calmly, his face indifferent as he stared down the furious manager. He went to reply, but paused, electing instead to gaze over at Jaune, having finally noticed that they'd arrived.
"As much as I would enjoy continuing to discuss this matter with you and your daughter, Alexander, it appears my next appointment has begun." He offered with a slight shrug. Jaune's eyes widened as he gazed over at the skittish girl. Her hair was fiery red just like her father's. She was Pyrrha Nikos, the woman he would've fought tonight had Glynda not given him a shot for the tournament. They made eye contact only briefly before the Invincible Girl glanced away, refusing to meet his eyes a second time.
"Next appointment?! What are you trying to pu–" her father began with a scoff, following Ozpin's gaze. Whatever he was going to say died in his throat as his eyes narrowed to pinpricks as he finally noticed Jaune. "YOU!" he roared, stomping towards Jaune. "You little pissant, do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Jaune took a step back, trying to put some distance between himself and the indignant manager as the older man approached. Ruby stepped closer to him, clearly unaware of what was going on, nonetheless she squared up protectively beside him. He appreciated the gesture, preparing himself for whatever the older man was going to say. Thankfully, he didn't have to say anything.
"Oh dear," Glynda began as she strode across the room to meet Alexander halfway. "Is everything alright, Alexander?"
"Don't you act coy with me Goodwitch." Alexander snarled back. "You're behind this. I know you are. You cost my Pyrrha a main event spot tonight!"
Glynda inclined her head to one side. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean." she hummed as she gazed past his shoulder at Ozpin. "Are we interrupting something?"
"Mock me all you want. You screwed us over tonight." Alexander cut in, shifting so that he was in her line of sight. "But I'd be careful about making enemies with me Glynda. Don't forget, you need me." He said before his eyes widened. "Her. You need her." he amended, glancing over at Pyrrha, who looked like she wanted to say something but decided against it. He looked past her to glower at Jaune. "And don't think I'll forget this, boy. Your time will come, you understand?"
"What I understand is you're threatening my employee." Glynda spat, her eyes like emerald chips. "And need I remind you that you pulled quite a few strings yourself to get Mr. Arc in a match with your daughter. You practically forced his hand. Isn't that right?" She mentioned as Alexander grit his teeth. She took a step forward, looking the tall man in the eyes. "I'd advise you not to forget your place here, Alexander. You are a manager. That's all. Your daughter brings in business, she's bound to be a star that the VWC would love to have for as long as she graces us with her presence. But make no mistake. We want her here; we don't need her here. Or you for that matter."
Jaune sucked in a breath, exchanging a nervous glance with Ruby. The tension in the air was palpable as the two faced off in the center of the office. He was so used to Glynda as the tired yet kind co-promoter of the VWC that he forgot she was easily the strictest member of the VWC's staff. A look confirmed that Pyrrha seemed just as worried. Alexander went to rebut but before he could another voice rang out through the room, slicing through the tension.
"Now now," Ozpin began, an amused look on his face. "As much fun as it is to watch you two play the greatest hits from your rivalry all those years ago, I'd ask you to refrain from turning my office into a ring canvas. Alexander, we'll be in contact, have a good rest of your night."
The tall man's eyes widened briefly before they smoldered with rage, darting off to the side as he looked away. "Fine. Let's go Pyrrha." he snapped as he beckoned towards his daughter, who went to follow. Jaune watched him as he left, the older man pausing in front of him.
"I meant what I said. If you think I'll forget this." He snarled as he gazed down at Jaune. "Then you've got another–"
"Have a good night, Alexander." Ozpin repeated, this time with a bit more force, the message clear. The man in question stiffened, before swiftly making his exit, making sure to slam the door on his way out. As Pyrrha passed him, he heard her utter a quiet apology as she fell in line behind her father. The silence that descended over the spacious office was palpable. Finally, after what felt like forever, Ozpin spoke.
"I think that went rather well, wouldn't you agree, Glynda?"
Ms. Goodwitch stopped staring daggers at the door to turn to face her co-promoter. "I still don't know why we put up with–" She began, but fell silent as Ozpin cut in.
"I understand your position on the matter, Glynda, and it's something I'd happily discuss once we deal with the task at hand. As it stands, we have more pressing matters to attend to." He said as he turned his gaze towards Jaune and Ruby, a smile spreading across his face. There was something about Ozpin that always captivated Jaune. Even when the man had delivered him the worst news of his professional career, he hadn't lost that mystique.
"I wish I could've been the first person to congratulate you two on your victory," Ozpin began as he took a sip from his mug. "But it seems Glynda saw to that already." he continued, earning a flushed glance from his co-promoter. "But I'm sure I wouldn't have said anything she hasn't already. The match was phenomenal. You both should be proud of yourselves."
For what felt like the tenth time that night, Jaune preened under the praise, stifling a chuckle as Ruby did the same.
"T-Thank you sir!" Ruby skittishly blurted out. Jaune echoed her sentiments, sending an appreciative nod Ozpin's way.
"And to the victor," Ozpin began, placing his mug down and spreading his arms wide. "Go the spoils. Congratulations on earning yourself a spot in one of our most viewed events."
"Enough posturing, Ozpin." Glynda chided as she took her place beside him, drawing out a chair beside her partner. "Have a seat, you two." she finished as she gestured to a pair of chairs opposite her end of the table. Jaune took his seat, shifting around uncomfortably in the large chair. Ruby's nearly swallowed her whole as she sunk down into it. Once they'd finally gotten comfortable, Jaune shifted his gaze to Ozpin and Glynda, who watched the pair with differing expressions. Ozpin's was one of strange fondness, while Glynda's was far more focused.
"As Ozpin and I mentioned earlier, you two are now the sixteenth team taking part in the tag team tournament." Glynda began, drawing out a pen and a stack of papers from a drawer to her side. She directed her attention to Jaune. "While the offer I made to you to enter tonight's match was done verbally, your place in the tournament is far more prestigious than just a one-night main event. As a result, you two will be required to sign contracts to be fully confirmed."
Jaune stifled a gulp. He hadn't signed a contract for the VWC since his debut. Heck, he didn't even know he was going to be signing another contract for the rest of his career. Sure, there were all different types of sponsorships, commercial deals, etc. But this? This was the big leagues right here.
"Sure," he managed, trying not to let the nerves show, "Just show us where to sign."
"Just like your father, always charging in without a care in the world." Glynda chuckled, "Wouldn't you like to know the terms of our agreement first, let alone the rules and regulations?" Jaune flushed as Ruby let out a quiet giggle. He hadn't really thought of that, had he?
"R-Right, yes ma'am." He eeped out, waiting for Glynda to take the lead once again.
"I'm sure the two of you are aware of how this event works, but for disclosure reasons allow me to bring you up to speed just in case. The tournament will consist of sixteen teams and will face off on the Saturday and Sunday of each week until a victor is crowned." She explained as Jaune felt his heart begin to beat just a little bit faster. "Each round will contain a promo battle with your opponent on the Monday before your match. If you are to make it there, the semifinal matches will take place in the VWC's arena in Mistral, and the finals will take place in Atlas' Amity Colosseum."
"Amity Colosseum!?" Ruby choked, lurching forward in her seat. "A-As in the Amity Colosseum?!"
Ozpin suppressed a chuckle as he gave her a nod. "The same. You will be competing on a stage that's been shared by legends. Jaune shared her excitement. Amity Colosseum was only the most well-known arena on Remnant. It was where Qrow and Raven Branwen fought for the world title, where his father defeated Faulconer Winchester, where the White Fang civil war tag match took place.
"But I thought it was only used for Vytal Festivals." Jaune inquired, gobsmacked.
"That's true." Ozpin replied. "But as you both know; this year's event is a rather special case. After all, we will be crowning new champions this time."
"That's right." Glynda confirmed. "Should you win the finals, you two will become the new Vytal Wrestling Company World Tag Team Champions."
It was like he'd just been poked with a cattle prod. Energy coursed through him like an electric current, tenacity burning in his heart as he met Glynda's eyes. A shot at being champion. A shot at living up to the expectations that threatened to crush him. A shot at fulfilling his promise he made to the fans.
Challenge accepted.
"Let's do it." Ruby said, determination dripping from her voice only rivaled by the sharp look in her eyes.
"Well well, Glynda." Ozpin smiled warmly. "Looks like these two might just be up to the challenge. Why don't you fetch them their packets?" Glynda gave him a nod and scooped up the pile of papers beside her.
"This is your bible, you will live it, you will breathe it, you will learn it." she explained as she tossed two packets of papers across the table. "For this contract contains everything you'll need to know to be ready for the tournament."
Unable to wait another second, Jaune scooped up the thick packet and began to flip through it, skimming over the important details. There was a section on registration and team names. Better get started on that with Ruby as soon as I can, he figured as he continued down the page. It was pretty standard stuff, the matches were all going to be pinfall and submission matches, waivers, dates, venues, and transportation. His eyes almost bulged as he saw what they'd be riding in if they made it to the semifinals.
First class?!
It was settled, they had to make it at least that far. No way he was missing out on a VIP bullhead ride over the ocean.
"Normally we'd give you ample time to review these contracts before signing anything." Ozpin started, "We don't have the luxury this time. As you're well aware this is quite the quick turnaround for a team to be joining the event, so I'd ask you both to sign tonight, and you're welcome to read the contracts afterwards. If anything comes up, feel free to call Glynda."
Jaune hesitated, but only for a moment. Sure, he wasn't too keen on signing something he hadn't been able to read over, but Glynda had been the one to draft them up. She'd gone to bat for him, practically working a damn miracle so his career would have a chance. She wouldn't stab him in the back.
"Just show me where to sign." Jaune explained as he flipped towards the last page of the stapled document.
"Right here." Ozpin said, leaning over and pointing to a dotted line with his pen. You too Ms. Rose."
Jaune looked over at Ruby as he scooped up a pen. She met his gaze, tenacity crackling like lightning in her eyes as she leaned forward to sign her name, he followed her example, trying to keep his fingers from trembling as he put pen to paper.
Done.
Jaune Arc and Ruby Rose were in the Vytal Tag Team Tournament.
"Excellent." Ozpin spoke, bringing him back to the task at hand. "Now there's a lot to cover before the festivities can begin. You two don't have a name, entrance music, or a titantron effect. You'll need to get these ironed out sooner rather than later. After all, the masses can't cheer for you if you don't craft an identity. You'll be meeting with our techs tomorrow to set that up. Glynda will provide you with the times." He explained with a wave of his hand. "You'll be expected to attend the opening ceremony this Friday, as well as the ceremonial lunch earlier in the day."
"Ceremonial lunch?" Ruby inquired; head tilted to one side.
"A way to meet your competition before the event begins." Glynda expounded.
Makes sense, Jaune thought. Ozpin probably wants to see if anyone gets on each other's nerves. Anything for a story, huh? The older man sent him a smile, as if reading his thoughts.
"I know we've thrown a lot at you tonight, so before we wrap things up and let you get back to your celebrations, is there anything you'd like to ask us while we're here?" Ozpin inquired as he faced the pair.
"You said the last two rounds were going to be held in Mistral and Atlas," Jaune started, "Why not Vacuo?" He'd always wanted to go; it seemed like a missed opportunity. He felt for Sun too, surely he wouldn't be happy with not getting to represent in front of his home crowd.
Glynda pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something about infrastructure as Ozpin chuckled. "We did make an attempt to have a round take place in Vacuo, but unfortunately, we ran into a few complications."
"They don't have any functioning arenas. No air conditioning." Glynda snapped; her lament obvious as she rolled her eyes. "And I'd rather not have our athletes drop dead of heat stroke before they make it down the ramp."
"A sentiment I share." Ozpin agreed. "Anything else?" Ruby looked like she wanted to say something, but refrained, allowing Jaune to get one more question in.
"Why did you let us fight for this spot?" he asked, voice tense.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Mr. Arc." the older man replied calmly.
"Glynda said you were the one who pitched the idea of having a replacement team in the tournament." Jaune recalled. "She said it was strange. Why didn't you just leave it at fifteen?"
If Ozpin found anything that he said surprising, he didn't show it. "A fantastic question, Mr. Arc, one that I find myself pondering as well. Perhaps it's a feeling, or an investment of sorts. It could even be something as simple as wanting an even number. Does that give you some insight?" he laid out casually.
"Yes sir, thank you." Jaune responded. Glynda was right, getting anything from him was like trying to get blood from a stone, he was still curious, but he had enough to deal with when trying to get information out of Ruby, one mystery was all he could handle. He figured he'd throw in the towel for now, but the curiosity was still there.
"Last call for questions." Ozpin stated before a beat of silence fell over the table. "No? Well, in any case, enjoy your celebrations, and we can't wait to see you at this Friday's festivities."
"Sounds good!" Ruby chirped as she leapt up from her seat, clearly ready to get out from under the spotlight. "T-Thanks again, Mr. Ozpin, sir. And you too Ms. Goodwitch."
Ozpin sent her a warm look, a contrast from Glynda's subtle nod. Jaune made to get up as well, turning to stride towards the door.
"Mr. Arc, if you could hang back just a moment." Ozpin called out from behind him. Jaune gave Ruby a quick look, but she just beamed at him and stepped outside. He turned back, walking back towards the desk.
"Yes sir?" he inquired as Ozpin gazed up at him.
"I'm happy to see you took my words to heart. You've proven yourself to already be quite adaptable, even if you seemed pretty intent on shutting down the topic last time we spoke."
Jaune flushed as he recalled the conversation he'd had with Ozpin. "I'm sorry about that sir, I didn't mean any disrespect. I was…I was going through a lot."
"All is forgiven. I just wanted to follow up with you regarding those words. I want you to know that if you wish to succeed in this tournament, you will need to constantly adapt. I'd advise you not to get complacent and to stay on the path of self-improvement you're on. I'm curious to see where this opportunity will lead you. Take care."
Jaune stood a bit straighter. "Will do, sir. Thank you again for the opportunity."
"Of course, now, do enjoy the rest of your night. I'm going to head home. Glynda, I'd implore you to try getting a good night's sleep. Lord knows we both need it after the week we went through." he finished cheekily as Glynda rolled her eyes before he made his exit. Jaune turned his gaze to the only person left in the room. His savior. Okay, that was a little dramatic, but Glynda had saved him. More than once now.
"Ms. Goodwitch, I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. I know I said it when you got me the match, but I'll never forget what you did for me here today."
She didn't say anything at first, electing to simply give him that classic Glynda half smile that always warmed him up inside.
"It's staunchly against the rules to play favorites here, Mr. Arc." She began, "Your opportunity tonight was a one-time thing, and one that you were made to fight for. Remember, nothing here was handed to you." She continued, before giving him a nod and leaning closer.
"But with that all being said, I want you to know I'll be rooting for you."
He didn't say anything. No, words weren't enough. He surged forward, wrapping the tall woman in a quick hug, letting out a deep breath as he felt her return the embrace.
"I'll try not to let you down." he said before he broke the hold, sending her a wave and heading out the door.
/
He and Ruby only made it a few steps into the stadium's vast main hallway before Jaune was attacked.
Well, attacked was a strong word, but not completely inaccurate. He settled on pounced as he was tackled to the ground, arms like steel cables wrapping around his neck faster than he could yelp out the name of his adorable attacker.
"H-Hey Nora–" he managed, startled blue eyes meeting jubilant turquoise ones.
"JAUNEY THAT WAS AMAZING!" She shrieked in delight as she yanked him close. "You sneaky little jerk! How could you not tell us you were fighting tonight! We were just about to go home when we saw the main event starting and then we stayed for the extra half hour when we realized it was you and I screamed and Renny told me to quiet down because it was "getting late" but I couldn't and you won and did so well and OH MY GOD!" she squealed, not letting him get a word in edgewise.
"Nora, he's going to start turning blue if you keep squeezing him," Ren's voice called out from somewhere above him.
"Sorry Ren!" Nora chirped, lifting herself up and off of Jaune, before yanking him to his feet with such force that he nearly toppled over. Now that he was right side up again, he took in the appearances of his friends. Nora's smile was stretched ear to ear as she bounced up and down so violently it almost looked like she was vibrating. Ren gave him a curt nod, sending one to Ruby as well.
"You two did remarkably, well done."
"Thanks man," Jaune said as he rubbed at the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry I didn't tell you guys before. Glynda had me keep it under wraps."
"Understandable given the circumstances." Ren replied. Jaune quirked an eyebrow. He wasn't sure how much they knew. Seeing his confusion, Ren elaborated. "They released a statement about Dee and Dudley withdrawing."
"Called it!" Nora exclaimed with a fist pump. "I told ya those guys wouldn't even make it down the ramp."
"Nora, you shouldn't be so blasé about someone getting injured." Ren chided as Nora deflated. "How would you feel if something like that happened to you, or me?"
Ruby shrunk behind Jaune a bit and he almost cursed himself. Injury talk wasn't her thing for a multitude of reasons. "Y-Yeah," He cut in, moving to change the subject as fast as possible. "Sorry again for not telling you guys, but now that you saw it…what did you think?" he finished sheepishly. Their opinions meant a lot to him. Heck, everyone's opinions meant a lot to him.
"What did we think?!" Nora began gobsmacked, but only for a moment before her excited expression returned. "What did we think? Jaune you two were amazing! I just knew you'd be perfect for tag teaming; I must've said it only a million times, and look at you now." She turned to face Ruby, rushing forward and sweeping her into a tight embrace. "And you were just fantastic! I haven't seen flips like that since the academy. Where the heck did you learn how to do that?"
Ruby blushed as red as her namesake, stammering something about practice as she glanced away, flustered. Nora looked back at Jaune.
"I just can't believe you actually did it! I mean I never doubted you 'cause you're awesome but you really did it! Some of the gals in the locker room said that you're a tag wrestler now. Is that true? This really isn't a one-off thing?" she said, eyes hopeful.
"It's true." Jaune said, his own eyes drifting shut for a moment as he was reminded of the career defining choice. "I'm now a tag star, and I will be for the foreseeable future."
"All that pestering and you didn't even choose us!" Nora wailed dramatically. "Renny, I think he hates us. Doesn't he?"
"Surely not, Nora." Ren replied, but Jaune couldn't help but notice he was quiet. Well, Ren was always quiet. But this wasn't his normal reserved attitude. It just seemed like he was a bit more distracted than usual.
"Everything okay man?" Jaune asked, getting straight to the point. Nora gave Ren a concerned look as he paused, debating what to say.
"I am…proud of you Jaune. Truly, I am. I have a few questions, just to help me understand better."
"Ask away."
"Why?"
"Why what?" Jaune asked, inclining his head to the side.
"Why did you decide to join a tag team, why now? I can't speak to your motivations, but from an outsider's perspective, it looks like you just did this to avoid a battle against Pyrrha."
"I'm sure that's not–" Nora began, attempting to nip the topic in the bud. Jaune appreciated the effort, because he certainly wasn't expecting Ren to say that. It was just an observation, but the way Ren said it almost seemed like an accusation.
"It kind of was." Jaune began. "At least it started out that way. I was desperate. I mean, you saw how badly I took the news back at the PC. But it only started out that way. This isn't some spur of the moment thing. Heck, I barely got a wink of sleep these past few days over the decision to jump divisions. I'm all in."
Ren looked like there were still things he wanted to say, but a quick elbow to the ribs from Nora snapped him out of it. "Forgive me, Jaune. You really were fantastic out there, and I couldn't be prouder of you for making the choice to walk the path of self-improvement. And I suspect you weren't the only person responsible for that." He said coyly, looking over at Ruby who beamed back. "I was just taken aback by this turn of events. It's also not lost on me that if you and Ruby are in the tournament as well, it's possible we may have to face off against each other."
Jaune stepped forward, yanking Ren into a hug his dear friend returned. "No worries, man. And yeah, that fact did cross my mind, but there's no two people I'd rather face off in the ring with than you two, and if things do come to that, I'll be ready to have the time of my life." Jaune admitted.
"You bet!" Nora cheered, turning it into a group hug as she practically leaped onto him and Ren. She froze as she heard Ruby snicker. "And you! We're going to be getting a lot closer too over these next couple of weeks. Don't think you can just snatch our dear 'ol Jauney away from us and get away with it!" she teased.
"Maybe we can train together again?" Ruby suggested.
"That's a great idea." Nora replied. "What do you think, Renny?"
"I'd be open to it. Just because we're competitors doesn't make us any less friends." He said, laying a hand on Jaune's shoulder.
"That settles it then, we'll stay in touch." Jaune said as he broke the embrace. "We better head out, I told Ruby I'd be taking her home tonight. Thanks for staying to see us, you two."
"Of course! Great job tonight Jauney!" Nora beamed as she and Ren made their leave.
/
"To us!" Jaune and Ruby crowed in unison as they slammed their plastic cups together. The cups made a funny sound as they clacked together with enough force that threatened to send the orange juice within sloshing out.
"That's right!" Jaune asserted as he tipped the cup to his mouth, taking a long, refreshing sip, watching as Ruby did the same. "Good call on the diner. I haven't had food like this in a while."
Ruby grinned as she set her cup down. "Thanks, I love this place! It's just so homey and cozy y'know?" She was right. Dust Till Dawn was a diner straight out of those old movies his mom and dad watched. The interior was decorated with wall to wall reds, yellows, and plenty of stainless steel. The old light fixtures bathed the diner in a warm glow. They'd elected a cozy booth next to the window. "You've gotta try the waffles! They're to die for, especially the one with the strawberry syrup." Ruby gushed.
"Will do," Jaune laughed. "Thanks for agreeing to get dinner with me. I was starving after tonight. I think I would've died from hunger if I didn't get something soon."
"Of course. I mean, how else are we going to celebrate the creation of the coolest tag team in the VWC? No way I can just go home after that." Ruby joked. Jaune couldn't help but smile at her. She looked so happy. Almost as happy as he felt. Sure, they'd both gone through plenty of doubt and worry in the days leading up to the match, heck even during the match. But right now, all of that seemed far away as they basked in the glory of a well-fought victory.
"You sure you're not just saying that because you don't want to face Weiss after ditching your plans with her?" Jaune teased.
"Urk!" Ruby spluttered, "I uh, kinda forgot about that. Oh man she's gonna be so mad."
"I'm sure she'll understand once you explain it. What's the worst that could happen?" Jaune ventured. "You do plan on telling her, right? I know you kept things under wraps about our match but now that we're going to be on TV a lot more, what's the plan?"
"I'm totally gonna tell her." Ruby replied a little too quickly. "Just not tonight, or tomorrow. She's kind of weird about the whole wrestling thing."
"Then you two have that in common." Jaune joked as Ruby let out an indignant squawk.
"I'm no weirder than you, you weirdo. I mean who in their right mind ditches the singles division and jumps right into the VWC's tag team tournament? A guy like that sounds like a real weirdo to me."
"You're not wrong. I am pretty weird for that one" Jaune agreed, watching Ruby nod her head as he laid out the bait. Sometimes it was just too easy. "Only person that could be weirder was someone who willingly decided to get in on that tag team action."
"Exactly." Ruby huffed, before her eyes widened. "Wait, you're talking about me!"
Jaune laughed as Ruby pouted at him, her classic puppy dog glare only lasting a few seconds before it crumbled into laughter. The two continued their jokes and small talk until the waiter arrived. Jaune ordered a full breakfast platter, while Ruby elected to go for a stack of waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage, and a milkshake. As the waiter whisked away their orders, Jaune just couldn't take it anymore.
"You ready to finally talk about the match?" He said, the words barely just having left his lips when Ruby leaned over the table.
"I thought you were never gonna ask!" she said, throwing her hands to her sides. "Trying to hold it all in has been killing me. Between the meetings, seeing Ren and Nora, and getting here we haven't even had time to process. I mean, that was one of the craziest moments of my life!" She exclaimed, her arms darting around as she mimed her own moves. "We started out so well too! You were just absolutely piecing Yuma up on the feet, like you were so much better than when you sparred with your friend Sun all those months ago and then when I tagged in things got even wilder and–am I talking too much?" she said, stopping suddenly as she caught herself mid tangent, giving him a guilty look as she flushed red.
A laugh threatened to slip past his lips, one that for once wasn't from how entertaining and adorable his new tag partner tended to be when she got on one of her rants. No, it was one born from incredulity that the awkward girl worrying if she'd said too much in front of him was the same warrior that took to the skies earlier that night. It had been like night and day. The second he'd tagged her in, Ruby had gone from timid to confident and scared to strong. He recalled the look on her face as she went for her signature shattered moonsault.
Pure peace.
"You really were alive in there huh?" He said, elaborating when she sent him a confused look. "I mean, you were so different in there. We've heard enough people talk about my performance tonight. Ruby, I wanna talk about yours. You were incredible out there."
"Thanks, Jaune." Ruby giggled, her silver eyes twinkling. "I couldn't have done it without you. And yeah, I was alive in there. I told you, outside the ring sometimes I struggle a bit, with talking to people, with promos, and the rest of that junk. In the ring I can really be me. It's just me and my moves. They're my babies after all."
"I'm just happy I finally got to see it." Jaune laughed, taking a sip from his orange juice. "Let's just say I'm happy you're on my team. Because if I was one of our competitors, I'd be sweating bullets."
"That's right!" Ruby guffawed, doing a little shadow boxing before descending into giggles.
"How do you think the match went?" Jaune asked, trying to steer them back on task. Ruby was a hell of a ring technician, and if anyone was going to give him honest, constructive feedback, it would be her.
"I think it went pretty well." Ruby began, a hand coming up to stroke her cheek. "We played by the plan and got the victory." Jaune nodded, satisfied with the assessment, a bit relieved there wasn't anything obvious for him to work on. One look at Ruby proved that sentiment was false. "That doesn't mean there isn't a ton of stuff we have to get better at. You and I both. I was pretty rusty in there."
"If that's what you call rusty, I think I'm in good hands." Jaune said, relieved. Ruby seemed like she appreciated his effort to lift her up.
"I'm serious, Jaune. I got caught a few times when I shouldn't have. But my nerves were just going crazy, and I've never wrestled in front of that many people before and my stomach was hurting and–" she continued as her hands fidgeted around the table.
"But you pulled it together, and put in some serious work." Jaune interrupted. "Mistakes are bound to happen, especially with most of the roster being bigger and stronger than you."
"Yeah," Ruby replied glumly. "Doesn't help that my semblance takes a lot out of me too. I can't go for too many petal bursts. We only needed one or two, but I can't get reckless."
"You won't." Jaune replied. "No need to get down on yourself Ruby, we won. We had a fantastic match and had the crowd going crazy. I mean did you hear that pop when you hit your moonsault?"
"It was pretty awesome, wasn't it?" Ruby said shyly.
"And not to mention your promo at the end. Don't think I wasn't going to bring that up." Jaune grinned. "You killed it! They may not know you too well yet, but that was a heck of a first impression."
"Okay that's enough already!" Ruby exclaimed, the pride in her eyes undercutting her dismissal. She was too dang humble. "You had plenty to work on too, mister."
Jaune inclined his head, curious. "Like what?"
"Well, your fundamentals were really solid. You did so well with my stance, Yuma didn't even know what hit him half the time. Your cardio held up alright too, but don't think we're stopping our morning runs because of that." She began, face determined. "You got grappled a bunch, but thanks to your aura you managed to shrug it off."
"So, what do I need to work on?" he inquired. Ruby seemed hesitant, eyes shifting around as she tried to pick the right words.
"Well…maybe you might need to work on your mindset?"
Jaune cocked an eyebrow. "How so?"
"T-There's nothing wrong with it! That came out wrong!" Ruby assured him, "It's just that we took on the match like it was two singles matches. You fought Yuma, and I fought Perry. I know that's what you were used to, but we're going to be going head-to-head with some seriously scary teams. I mean just look at Ren and Nora! Those two are in sync."
She has a point, he thought, shuddering to imagine what it would be like if they ended up going against Ren and Nora. That being said, it would be a huge adjustment, and he wasn't even sure how he'd change his mindset.
"The plan worked pretty well though," He protested. "We got the victory in the end."
"You said the same thing about your old stance but look at you now. It was a huge improvement to change it up." Ruby retorted carefully.
"Yeah well–" Jaune began, but cut himself off. It wasn't right to shut down Ruby's ideas before they'd even got off the ground. In fact, she was spot on about his stance. Listening to her had been only beneficial so far.
"You're probably right." He confessed. "But hey, we can talk about that stuff later, right? Tonight was huge for both of us. Let's just focus on celebrating."
"Yeah!" Ruby agreed, before letting out a quick eep as the waiter returned with their food. Jaune dove in like an animal that hadn't eaten in weeks. It was incredible, and the sheer amount of protein on his plate was no doubt building his muscles back up after the workout he'd put them through tonight. Ren always said proper nutrition was the greatest training of all. Speaking of which–
"Do you think something was up with Ren tonight?" Jaune asked in between bites. Ruby peered at him over the small mountain of waffles in front of her.
"Whaddaya mean?"
"He seemed a little dodgy tonight. Distracted."
"Isn't he always like that?" Ruby asked, and Jaune recalled she'd only really met him once before.
"Nevermind," he replied, electing to think about that stuff later. He and Ren had left things pretty well, but it looked like there was more on his mind. Jaune would have to ask him later. But right now, there were even more pressing matters he needed Ruby's take on. "So, how are you feeling about the tournament? The ceremony's only 4 days away."
Ruby went as white as the whipped cream that adorned her dinner. "I uh, I dunno. I'm a little freaked out by it. I mean, you saw me out there tonight, just making my entrance was hard enough." She was right. Ruby looked stiff as a board out there when they'd first come through the curtain. But so had Jaune when he'd first debuted. Building her confidence would be essential to helping her get over with the crowd.
"We'll work on it." Jaune asserted. "Besides, with how exciting your fighting style is, they'll be cheering you on in no time. It's okay to be nervous though. I mean, I'm not exactly calm over here. Like you said, these guys we're going up against are going to be real teams. Teams that have been around for a while."
"Yeah," Ruby agreed. "But did you see the part in the contracts about going to Mistral or even Atlas if we get to those rounds? That would be so cool! I've heard so many stories about Mistralian crowds. They get really intense. They chant during matches and even sing during entrances. How cool does that sound?"
Jaune was right there with her, his mind drifting to some of the matches he'd seen from Mistral. They were ridiculously creative with their chants. "Atlas too, I've always wanted to go there. And Amity Colosseum? That would be a dream."
"Maybe we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves." Ruby said softly. "I mean, we have a long way to go."
"Maybe," Jaune agreed, "But like you said in the post-match interview, we're going straight for the belts, and they can all bet on that."
Ruby flushed as he quoted her promo from the ring but laughed along. He went to take another sip of his orange juice, but stopped halfway, electing to slip his scroll from his pocket.
"Whatcha doin?" Ruby asked in between bites as she put away another waffle.
"Seeing what people thought of us tonight." He replied, loading up Chirp as Ruby spluttered. There were plenty of social media apps that had wrestling content, but Chirp was where he often found the most passionate, excited, and deranged VWC fans. He'd done well in refraining from looking at any posts regarding their match, but he just couldn't help himself anymore.
"W-What if they don't like us?" Ruby said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Then we'll win them over. No harm in checking." Jaune said simply as he thumbed through his homepage, clicking on the trending tab. Lo and behold, #VWC was trending at number two, its usual spot. His thumb hovered over the hashtag, but only for a moment before he pressed down. Immediately content popped up, posts about the previous matches and segments of the show that night, hype train posts about the upcoming tournament.
Finally, his eyes landed on the first post from the main event. He fought hard to stifle an incredulous laugh as he flipped the screen to Ruby. Her eyes roved over the screen before she almost bent double, raucous laughter wracking her body. It wasn't hard to see why. The post was a picture of himself, but there was a badly photoshopped crown in his head, accompanied by multiple world title belts that had been edited onto his shoulders.
The caption "THE GOAT IS BACK" accompanied by several fire emojis only made it funnier.
"That's so stupid." Ruby giggled. He agreed. He was barely a decent wrestler, let alone the greatest of all time. But that's how VWC fans were. Hyperbolic. He scrolled through more posts. Some were objective. Like one that was simply captioned: "Jaune Arc makes a thrilling return with the help of his new partner, cementing their place in the VWC tag team tournament." While others were a bit more…ridiculous.
A highlight was one of Yuma and Perry, with fast food worker outfits photoshopped over their ring gear with the caption. "The Fraud Fang is washed. Bring back Sienna already. We're so finished without Adam. Being a White Fang fan these days is SUFFERING. Take me back to the Ghira days."
He chuckled as he kept reading. Some were positive and some were negative. Par for the course for the IVWC, the internet Vytal wrestling community.
"So Jaune Arc comes back and has the fucking daughter of Summer Rose as a tag partner? Nah, the competition is so cooked. I'm locking in my pick. New champs incoming."
"Bro leaves for 4 months and puts up a performance like that? Should've stayed retired lil bro."
"Jaune Arc using more than just a jab, cross, and the occasional suplex? Ladies and Gentlemen, we're so back."
"Dawg Ruby Rose busted out a springboard moonsault and a handspring elbow on free TV? Not even a PPV? Yeah, we need to keep an eye on Ruby Rose if her matches are as good a quality as this. Arc was solid too."
"Fantastic performance that lit the crowd on fire. Even after all this time Jaune Arc can work a crowd. That being said, they're going out round one."
"I thought bro wanted the World Heavyweight Championship…this is lowkey disappointing. Tag division is ass."
"Nicholas Arc would've won that shit in 5 minutes."
Oof, those last two stung. Yeah, his dad would've done better, wouldn't he? He chided himself for comparing his performance to his dad. He had to stop doing that. He'd also anticipated a lukewarm reaction from some fans about him leaving the singles division, but hopefully he'd be able to win them over. He focused his attention back on the posts. The rest were pretty funny. He made sure to read Ruby all the positive ones about her, and to be fair, there were quite a few.
The two continued to eat their dinner, sharing stories and plans for the tournament. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been this happy. Ren had been right all those months ago when he first went on break, sharing a win with someone just felt right, and no better person in the world than his best friend.
Finally, they wrapped things up, he and Ruby headed to the car, the latter toting a to-go box. As they made it to his car Jaune heard the familiar ding of a text tone. He reached into his pocket, but Ruby beat him to the punch, slipping her scroll out of her pocket to check her messages.
"It's Weiss," She informed him. "Probably just her getting mad at me for taking so long–" she said before she trailed off, face pale.
"Everything alright?" He inquired, wondering if they'd stayed out too late.
"Yup," Ruby said extremely unconvincingly, "Yup, we're good. So good. Heck we're perfect…might be something a little later but uh…we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"If you say so." Jaune asserted, making sure not to pry as he turned the key in the ignition.
/
Jaune pressed down on the break as he pulled into his parking spot. The rest of the night had gone well. He'd dropped Ruby off at her apartment, waving at her as she made her way inside. The drive home had been a little lonely, but he'd still basked in the aftermath of his victory.
He twisted the key in the lock and shouldered his door open, for once not bothered by the creaking sound of the door's old hinges. He flicked the light switch a few times until the apartment finally lit up.
He looked around his apartment, satisfied. Despite how late it was, and how his apartment was still as crummy as ever, none of that mattered now. He'd done it. He'd proved that for once in his life, he wasn't a failure.
He could finally rest well knowing he'd found the piece he'd been missing.
Man it feels great to be back, god I love writing this story. Jaune and Ruby are finally happy! Feels like I've been shoveling nothing but angst on these two for almost a year now. Speaking of which, oh my god this story is going to be a year old in a few days! God it feels like time just flew by. Thanks again for bearing with me on this journey we've found ourselves on. Not too much to report on the chapter, but expect some set up and some exciting interactions in the next couple! See you then!
As always thank you for reviewing, commenting, favoriting, etc. You guys are the GOATs, and I truly appreciate your feedback. Take care!
-Curb