Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A Few Short Months Ago…

Another day’s worth of hard training. Another day passed like any other. And Akane was getting sick of it!

But of course, she wouldn’t dare show it in front of her dear Uncle. He had just given her a broad smile, exclaiming how proud he was of her, after 6 years of training and sparring and everything he could imagine.

But the point remained. Her birthday had been three months ago; she was fifteen years old and barely knew the outside world. And yet her love for her Uncle and Aunt, for those who saved her, raised her, gave an orphan a family better than any could have ever dreamed of…

So Akane plastered on a smile as she finished the last of her stretches, grinning when she saw that Uncle had worked up a sweat too.

And of course, there was one thing she also loved, a routine after every last training session of the week. “So, Uncle! What’s for dinner?”

“Hm…” Her saviour, her father figure, Uncle Jaune, rubbed his chin in thought. The birds chirped as they flew for the final time before sundown, as they were surrounded by the calm nature of their home’s backyard.

“I was thinking pasta.” Uncle’s eyes met hers, “You up for that?”

“I’d love that!” Akane’s grin was much more sincere this time. “I’m sure Auntie’d love that too, and, well…”

“Yeah… was thinking of cooking something special for her.” Uncle waved her away, as he usually did. “Now go on, take a bath, get some rest. I’ll let you know when Cinder arrives.”

“Sure thing!” Akane chirped. She skipped back to their house and went upstairs to her room, the one directly across her Uncle’s and beside the guest room – though, of course, that was more Auntie’s than anything else.

And while yes, she was beginning to doubt the necessity of staying here, and she as beginning to doubt how good she had to be, she still maintained her chipper attitude. After all, she was beginning to actually match her Uncle somewhat in their spars! That had to mean something, right?

But as the shower turned on, and the cold water ran down her hair…

…so too did the cold truth began to plant its seeds in her head.

She was growing up so fast.

Time was moving by so fast.

Jaune sighed as he waved his hand and cleaned up the marks of their little scruffle. Small craters that had been formed, grass knocked over, his little backyard returned to its pristine condition with barely any effort.

Jaune looked up.

The shattered moon had risen again. Same as it ever was.

Even now, he didn’t have the answer.

Jaune turned back to his home and got to preparing dinner. Boiling water with a dash of salt, he then unpacked a package of pasta and got to cooking just enough for three people.

The moon still shone through the kitchen window. He didn’t hear a single sound from upstairs, meaning Akane had most likely fallen to sleep while they waited for Cinder.

She needed it; today was by far the hardest she ever went in their training, so of course there’d be a toll on her stamina and body. Not for him, though; even now, he still had that strength that changed the world ten years ago.

Ding! He heard the sound of his chicken finished defrosting and got to work cutting it into pieces, then to seasoning them liberally. All the while the pasta cooked, the sound of boiling water and knife cuts a routine that was somewhat relaxing to him.

Soon she’d be all grown up. Soon, he’d lose what little purpose he managed to figure out.

Jaune didn’t particularly know why he was caught in such a pensive mood today. Was it because Akane had begun to actually strike back against him? Was it because the seasons were changing, and ten years was beginning to feel like quite the long time?

He heard those voices again, asking….

Do you think this is your time?

He hadn’t known then. He didn’t know now, either. And what little time he had was, yet again, slipping through his fingers.

What was his purpose? Why had he been given this second life? After Vale, After Salem, and now, After Akane…

…what would he have left?

He knew better than anyone that he couldn’t keep her here forever. More than anything, she had been raised with tales of his former friends from Beacon. More than anything, she had been in the centre of it all too, with Salem. There was only so much he could do to keep her close, and god knows it didn’t work forever when his father had done it.

Was this how he had felt, then? When Jaune had ran away, when their choices were never theirs, not really… what was left?

But he couldn’t ask him now. He couldn’t, for he had accepted it. Back in the Ever After, of letting go of his old life, he had let it go. He had. But maybe he wasn’t ready to let this one go too…

Jaune finished cutting the chickens and began breading them with crumbs. As he mixed them together well, he turned on the deep fryer and dumped the chickens in. Crispy fingers, a guilty pleasure of both his and Akane’s.

It didn’t take long for the chickens to cook, and by it was over, the pasta had as well. Jaune then set them aside looked inside the fridge, finding a tomato base for spaghetti sauce and butter and milk for carbonara.

“Hm…” A small smile crept up Jaune’s face as he began to make the two needed. Carbonara for him and Akane, and spaghetti for Cinder. He looked around their kitchen, and then their little house, as he finished the preparations.

They were located in almost the middle of nowhere; there was a small town around an hour’s walk from where they were. Their house was well-lived in, a wooden cottage that wasn’t lacking in modern amenities one bit. Lantern-like lights were scattered around their small home, well-worn couches and seats in the living room acting as a good combination with a wooden table-and-chairs in the dining room, and more important than anything…

…pictures of his little girl, hung and posted everywhere in the house.

From when they had first moved in. As she tried on her first dress. As Jaune taught her the first of her many fighting stances. Of their first day out together, after everything was done. As much as Jaune and Cinder bought this house, Akane made it feel like home.

She made his world worth living for.

Crackle! Crackle!

Jaune smirked as he put down his two bowls. The sauces were finished now, and just in time too. Just like her.

The second reason as to why all of this was worth it.

Jaune peeked through the windows next to his door and smiled when he saw a flame die down and land right in front of his front porch. More importantly, the woman who summoned these flames quickly went through the door, unhooking Midnight off of her back and putting it on a hanger by the door.

“I just finished!” Jaune called out to the newcomer. “Appreciate you making it, Cinder.”

“It’s no problem.” Cinder shrugged and took off her coat, throwing it over to their couch. “Work was a bit… more stressful than I’d been expecting.”

“Oof.” Jaune flinched. “Those… erhm, something-or-other Group guys giving you trouble again?”

“Yeah,” Cinder rolled her neck, before then meeting his eyes and smiling. “But come on. I didn’t come all the way here to talk work, Jaune.”

“Of course you didn’t.” Jaune chuckled. “Now, just give me a moment and let me get Akane. Then we can get dinner started, ‘mkay?”

“Sure.” Cinder nodded. She rolled her shoulders and stepped into the kitchen, her presence warm and comforting. He knew that he never could’ve managed to raise Akane alone.

Without her.

“Go on.” Cinder ushered him with a wave of her hand. “I’ll set the plates.”

Jaune gave a grateful nod and then left for her room.

Cinder was anything but a fool.

As she set the plates, water and juice, cutleries and all on the table, she silently gave herself a mental pat on the back. Even though he didn’t show much of it, she still know that he was having one of those days again, where his thoughts liked to wander to places it shouldn’t.

Of course, such a thing couldn’t be helped. Jaune and Akane were living in the middle of almost-nowhere, after all.

And she wasn’t the only one who had tried to coax him out of his shell. This small little part of the world he had carved for their little family, eternally at peace and disconnected from outside affairs... it was the personification a rule that they had established early on, in this co-parenting venture of theirs.

Keep outside things out the door.

When times like these came, Cinder knew that he needed something to do to take his mind off. Getting him to wake up Akane, and then spending dinner with the two of them… yeah, it was the best bet.

Akane and Jaune came down the moment she finished setting the last of her preparations. She waved at her little girl, and she replied with a wave too, though her other hand stifled a yawn.

“Heya, Auntie…”

“Well, look who’s still sleepy.” Cinder opened her arms. “Come here.”

Akane wiped the last of sleep from her eyes and rushed forwards, giving her Auntie a hug. “Missed you.” She said, muffled by her red dress.

Cinder ran a hand through Akane’s hair. “I missed you too.” They pulled apart then and soon sat on the dining table in their respective positions.

Akane at the left side, and Jaune and Cinder at either side. They dug in after a silent moment, savoring the closing meal after a hard day’s work.

“So, dear,” Cinder spoke to her girl, “How’s training been going? I heard from Jaune that you’ve been getting a lot stronger.”

“I have!” Akane chirped. She took another spoonful and swallowed it quickly, eager to just- just talk to the closest thing she ever had to a mother figure. “I think I’m starting to give Uncle a run for his money, now!”

“Heh, I guess…” Jaune rolled his eyes, but not without a fond smile. His eyes flicked to the door – where Midnight, Crocea Mors, and Akane’s training gloves were all hung.

Outside affairs outside the door. And yet he was training her for… something, he didn’t even know….

“But you still have a long way to go.” Jaune finished, settling on her with a stare that always shrunk her ego. A reminder to never become too prideful, that there would always be someone stronger than the you of now. “We’ll look into unlocking your Semblance soon.”

Akane’s eyes sparkled. “Semblance? But…. I…”

“While unlocking it does usually require some… trigger…” Cinder began, “There have been new research that is looking at more harmless method. To the mind and soul, at least.”

“Interesting.” Jaune chewed on his chicken and turned to Cinder, “Where’d you hear that?”

“Neptune.” Cinder answered with a wave of her hand. “Something about updating Haven’s curriculum, again, and with the current batch of Huntsmen…”

“Hm…”

“Which reminds me.” Cinder pointed her fork at Jaune. “Neptune wanted me to ask; Mercury too. They’ve got a little event coming up, inviting Huntsmen over to speak at Haven. A little prologue to shadowing them, preparing them for facing against human opponents. He wanted me to ask… do you think you’d be up to giving a little opening statement?”

“You know my answer to that.” Jaune took another spoonful, but the stare he levelled Cinder… it wasn’t the closed-off, somewhat protective one he normally showed her.

It was tired.

Cinder took note of it and shrugged. “I’ll let them know. But… I do think that it’d be nice for Akane to go.”

“Hm?” Jaune raised an eyebrow.

Akane perked up. “Really, Auntie?!”

“Why of course!” Cinder nodded. “It’d be good for you to see Haven again – they made it a lot better than when you were just a kid. Also, Neptune and Mercury’s also opening the event for Combat Schools, so who knows, might find some other people around your age!”

Jaune swallowed. “That, I can definitely get behind.”

Of course, there were some nagging thoughts in his mind. That this was Cinder’s attempt at enticing him to go out, to perhaps make Akane want to be a Huntress, to…

To…

Jaune shook his head softly, freeing him of these negative thoughts. Cinder loved her, she was a dear friend, and she cared for this little ‘family’ that they had made. She wouldn’t do this with anything other than the purest of intentions.

Akane really did need to go out, sometime. That was inevitable, she was a growing girl, and keeping her cooped up in here…

…Gosh, what if she turned out to be more socially awkward than Ruby? Now that was a thought.

Akane shot her Uncle a surprised look. “Uncle…”

“You might also get to spar there,” Jaune waved a hand, “Try your luck and everything. Get a taste of fighting different styles.”

Akane’s eyes sparkled again, and she burst from her chair to give her Uncle a tight hug. “Thanks, Uncle! Thanks so much!”

“Yeah yeah.” Jaune smiled and kissed her forehead. Oh, how much her presence calmed down his turbulent heart. How all his worries about his life – old, present, and future – melted the moment she hugged him.

And, off to the side, Cinder smiled softly. Even though she wasn’t present in their lives as much as she would’ve liked, she was grateful that her little slice of happiness was still here.

After all, after victory, after Salem, what other purpose was there to live but for this? For the small moments that they had thrown away in their struggle for a safe world?

The rest of dinner had gone down without a hitch. They talk about how Akane’s training had been going (again), Cinder’s progress in her work in vague enough terms, and then some brief preparations for her trip to Haven, in about a week.

And as they finished their meal, this time around, it was Cinder who took care of Akane, settling her down in her room for the night as Jaune cleaned the dishes below.

Here, looking down at her little girl as she pulled the covers over herself, Cinder remembered again that Akane was still the perfect picture of innocence. And, in Cinder’s humble opinion, a little bit too much so.

Here, her room was filled with pictures of her training and memoirs of that time ten years ago, pictures of her little trips to nearby towns and villages, and the odd drawing or two she did in her free time. She had some rather tomboy-ish tendencies with the way she dressed and the way she was so blunt with most things, the posters of martial arts tournaments scattered around her room a proof to that, but those were more out of innocent interest than meaning anyone any real harm.

But Cinder supposed she couldn’t judge. After all, she had hardly had a normal childhood of her own.

Cinder placed a kiss on her little girl’s forehead. “Sweet dreams, darling.”

Akane smiled. “You too, Auntie. Don’t stay up too late!”

“Hm.” Cinder smiled back, “I’ll be in the room over if you need me.”

Akane wiggled her feet as Cinder left the room. She waved her Auntie a goodbye before she turned off the lights. “Night, Auntie!”

“Goodnight, dear.”

Click! Cinder turned the lights off, closed the door, and headed downstairs. Truly, when Akane would reach that age of maturity, that golden 18 when both Jaune and Cinder knew they had no real reason to keep her here… they’d both be losing an important part of themselves.

Cinder walked down the steps and saw Jaune cleaning the dishes, staring out to the broken moon, and the thought hit her.

Perhaps, some would lose more than others.

“So…” Cinder approached him and began cleaning along with him. Side-by-side, almost no distance between them. She knew her presence comforted him, especially with the way his shoulders slightly relaxed; and to her, that spoke more than a thousand words ever could. “Akane’s getting stronger. Where’d you think she’d stand?”

“Hm…” Jaune’s hands didn’t pause, but his eyes seemed to slightly focus. “I’d say… about as strong as Sun was, when we first met him.”

“Ah.” Cinder nodded; the best of her year, then, if she’d been in Combat School – and a veritable prodigy, just like Ruby Rose was, at the tender age she was.

And now, it was time to make the critical cut.

“And do you regret teaching her?”

“What?” Jaune was genuinely stupefied at her question; his hands stopped and his eyes turned to stare at her directly. “What do you mean, Cin?”

“I mean…” Cinder let the words roll around her tongue, before then settling. “We never really had any real plan on her training. She’s done well so far, better than any of us have ever expected, but… I’m fine with how she’s now.”

Cinder levelled Jaune with a piercing stare. It was a silent message, saying                                                           don’t try to lie to me.

And then Cinder spoke again, “But it’s clear that you’re bothered with something, and these days, there’s not much reason other than… well, Akane.”

Jaune set the last of his plates down and turned off the running water. He turned to look at her fully, and Cinder did much the same. And when he looked into her eyes then, Jaune’s resolve wilted, his tried and true method of burying his emotions failing spectacularly under her gaze.

“It’s just…. Time goes by so fast.” Jaune whispered. When he began speaking, when he looked at her and this small life they had built together… all of a sudden, it all seemed so small.

Seventeen years of chasing a dream that was denied.

Six months of trying to claim it back, a desperate fight against an immortal to stop his precious people from being destroyed.

Forty years of constant battle in the Ever After.

A final showdown that costed him his life.

A second chance, one give to him without him knowing what to do with it.

Ten years of peace, and yet Akane was all he had to show for it. And then when she was to leave, what would become of him then?

Was that really his time?

He didn’t know then and he didn’t know now. And he didn’t know what to do, when his signature method of just- just ducking down, accepting things as they were, and steeling his heart, wasn’t working anymore!

“I…!” Jaune felt his breath catch in his throat, and ah, when was the last time that happened?

“I just don’t know, Cin.” Jaune whispered, looking away again. “I’ve got some time. Two years, give or take, but then… what then?”

“That’s for you to decide.” Cinder said softly. It was as if she was seeing the man she admired undoing himself, breaking down with barely a prompt from her. “I’m sure Akane wouldn’t want you out of her life just like that.”

“But I’ve…” Jaune shook his head. “I stand by my decision; keeping her here is the safest option for all of us. But sometimes I wonder… she’d want to be, a- a Huntress… and then she’s gotten this strong too…”

Cinder noted a flash of anger in his eyes. She saw his fists clench, his heart clearly frustrated at… something.

Cinder prodded. “And you’re angry at her? For being that strong?”

“Of course not!” Jaune vehemently denied. “I just… it’s just…!”

Jaune was breathing harder now, shallower. Seeing this, Cinder didn’t waste a moment.

She stepped forwards, closed the gap between them, and gave him a hug.

She felt his body shake. Then, she felt his chin rest on her shoulder, and then the smallest of tears hit roll down from his cheeks to her back.

“I just…!” Jaune shuddered. “I can’t lose you. Both of you. Not again.”

“And… why do you think you will?”

“I don’t know, there’s just…!” Jaune struggled to put it into words. Because as much as he was training Akane for her, a part of him was also doing it for himself.

That need for battle. His skills with the sword and the shield. The soul of a Knight.

Time to time, they needed to be let out. He spoke of accepting things the way they were, of burying his old life to ensure that everyone got their happy ending. But…

“Y’know, sometimes, there’s just this… this…!” Jaune gasped, “Beast inside me! The part of me that wants to fight, wants to save people and, and-!”

“And go back to your old life.” Cinder finished for him.

Jaune offered her a mute nod, one she felt.

“Sometimes…” Jaune muttered, “Sometimes, lately, it’s hard to breathe. Sometimes it's just... Cin. Like I don't know what to do today, like I have no... no real reason. I know I’ve made peace with everything, that this is for the best, but, I...!”

Jaune broke down again, and his silent cries now flowed much more freely.

“I just don’t know… Cin…!”

He didn’t know what to do with his life, once this was all over.

He didn’t know his purpose.

Even now…

He didn’t know if he deserved to be happy.

All Cinder could do was hold him close and pat his back. Making sure that she was there for him, the man who had saved her, everyone else, but couldn’t save himself.

Indeed, even she didn’t know why he was still around.

The cost had been clear, in her mind.  To defeat Salem, Jaune had to die too. It was twisted, but it made sense. What didn’t make sense was the fact that he had been given a second chance.

Why? Why? She didn’t know either. But she knew that she wouldn’t be here if Jaune didn’t come back. Jaune didn’t know that; but Cinder did, and she would’ve certainly given up if Jaune hadn’t returned.

Everything was coming to a full circle. She needed to save the man who saved her, and him seeing Akane train, becoming that strong, mirroring him in so many ways… it reminded him of the life he used to have.

And though he ‘accepted’ that his life was like this now…

…that beast inside wasn’t so easily vanquished.

Seventeen years of bonding with his family and friends. More than forty years of suffering and conditioning, that he deserved none of it.

It was now up to her to undo all of that.

“I’ll always be here for you.” Cinder whispered into his ear, and to her relief, it seemed to dry his tears somewhat. And when Jaune tightened his grip on her, she made sure to return her hug harder.

Cinder breathed in his scent, savoured his strong arms wrapped around her. Oh, by now, she knew well and true that her feelings were well past platonic. But this wasn’t about her, it was about him.

She loved him. She loved him. And that meant everything to her.

For him, she’d do anything. Even if it meant letting go of this little coincidental monopoly she had on his time, once and for all.

And it was at this point that she knew…

…things needed to change.

Whether or not Akane wanted to be a Huntress, that was well and truly out of Cinder’s hands. But Jaune definitely couldn’t stay here any longer.

He needed to step out.

This, she swore she’d support him on, whether he knew it or not.

Akane didn’t sleep, for she had heard her Uncle’s sobs through their house’s walls. And it was then that she made up her mind.

More than whatever Auntie Cinder had planned for her, more than anyone else’s interference… she needed to be able to stand on her own.

She wanted to be a Huntress, just like how Uncle had been the strongest of Huntsmen once upon a time.  He had raised her so lovingly, told her stories of wonderful people that inspired him… and yet he never seemed to catch on that he was the one who inspired her most of all.

She’d be like him. She’d save him, just like he had saved her, and show to him that there was a life to be gained outside.

Her Uncle was hurting inside, even now. And it was so like him to bury it all deep inside… so wasn’t it her duty to pay him back, to show him that it wasn’t all for nothing?

Akane breathed in and shut her eyes, her mind made up.

It would hurt at first, but…

…Akane wouldn’t stand to let her Uncle hurt any longer.

And so as she closed her eyes, as she settled into an uneasy sleep that wouldn’t be uncommon in times to come, it was with the silent determination for one thing.

Of course, she’d try to persuade him, but with his permission or not… She would go to Beacon Academy. And then, when she returned, she’d make him proud. She would make him happy. Just like how he had fulfilled her dreams of a loving family all this time.

And so she closed her eyes…

Akane opened her eyes, and the first thing she noticed was the ocean of blues staring back at her.

No, it couldn’t be. She must still be dreaming.

After all, she wasn’t prepared yet. There was a fight going on, there was the CCT and Koharu and-!

And she had left first. She had hurt him in more ways than she could’ve ever imagined. To see that pair of eyes looking back at her so caringly, so lovingly as if nothing had happened… Akane just knew that she didn’t deserve it.

Yet still…

She reached out.

“Dad…?” Her voice croaked out.

And then, much to her surprise, his hand gripped hers. In one fluid motion, he proved that this wasn’t a dream. That this was real, and with it, Akane’s guilt increased tenfold.

Yet still. Those eyes never looked at her with anger. With frustration nor hate. Even now, he was eternally understanding.

“Heya, firecracker.” Jaune smiled softly. “You’ve went on quite the adventure, haven’t you?”

“I…” Akane’s breath caught in her throat. As her vision cleared, as she realized where they were – Beacon’s infirmary, of course – she found the gravity of the situation dawn on her. And most of all, she realized the bandages wrapped tightly around her Dad’s sides to his chest.

“What… what happened?!” Akane gasped. She sat up quickly, but to her dismay, she coughed from the sudden action.

“Easy, easy.” Jaune put a hand to her back and scooted closer on his chair. “You’re not at 100% yet. It’s going to take you some time to get used to… well, everything, but once you are, you’ll definitely feel better. As for now, though…”

“That… doesn’t answer anything.” Akane coughed again, though this time she followed her Dad’s hand’s subtle advice and went to lean on the bed’s mattress again. “You’re still…”

Jaune took a deep breath, but kept his eyes locked on Akane. And when he spoke, she felt her world shatter again.

“You know that there’s only one thing, one person, that can do this to me.”

Akane’s breath hitched again. No…

“So… she’s…”

“Yes.” Jaune nodded. “Salem is back.”

Akane hung her head low. And all of this, her Dad had been caught unprepared… all because of her foolish choice! All of this, Salem and The LIFE Group and Beacon and all of it…!

Had she just swallowed the bitter pill and not stepped out of line, Dad wouldn’t have had to chase them down all of Remnant, wouldn’t have been worried sick about her, wouldn’t have been this hurt!

All of this was her fault. All of it. Her arrogance. Her selfishness, her absolute belief that she had been right, and now-!

“Hey… none of that now.” Jaune reached out and cupped her chin with his right hand. He lifted her head and softly ran his thumb over her chin, silently asking her to look at him. He had been in this downwards spiral once; he refused to let his daughter go through the same thing he did.

When his eyes met hers, red to blue, he noticed the way they were brimming with tears. How her cheeks were red, how she was shaking, how her pupils wavered.

“Dad, I…!” Akane couldn’t help herself anymore. With Dad’s touch again, with him so close to her… she broke down.

“I’M SORRY!” Akane lurched forward and wrapped her arms around her father. She cried and sobbed on his shoulder, and then she cried even more when he hugged her too and patted her back softly. “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry for making you- you DO ALL THIS…!”

“It’s all right, dear.” Jaune whispered softly to her ear. “I understand why you did it. Really, I do.”

“But I…!” Akane sobbed. “How could you- I hurt you, I ran out, how could you be so…!”

“Hm?”

“…How could you be so forgiving?” Akane said, barely above a whisper.

“…”

“If I didn’t run off, then you would’ve been more prepared.” She rambled. “If it wasn’t for me, then… then you wouldn’t be like that, you wouldn’t be hurt, and I… I made you worried sick, I broke your trust, I… I hurt you…!”

“Akane…” Jaune began. His voice did little to quell her silent sobs, so Jaune decided to push through it. He knew she was listening to him, anyways. She always listened.

“The LIFE Group would’ve tried to bring Salem back no matter what. We would’ve had to deal with it, and I… I have my own mistakes too.” He said softly.

Jaune could still hear, feel, that she was crying. And so, he said what he knew would cure it all.

“And more than anything, well…” Jaune closed his eyes and savored the moment.

“It’s because you’re my daughter.” He said simply. “I don’t need any reason other than that.”

Akane stilled. “What did you say…?”

She hadn’t misheard it, right? More than just HIM speaking it… he said it with such conviction, with such belief… only now did Akane realize that she had been calling him Dad all this time.

No. This was too good to be true. No, it couldn’t be…

Akane pulled back and looked at him with surprise. “You… what did you say?”

Jaune nodded softly, a motion Akane felt more than saw. He opened his eyes and looked back at her, and yes, they were as true as the oaths of his family.

“Yes. I do feel the same way, darling.”

“I…!” Akane closed her eyes again and hugged her Dad even closer than before. And now when she said the words, it was with full confidence that it was true, that it wasn’t just her slipping it out her tongue or him ignoring it in favor of something more important.

No, this was real. All of it was real. Her dreams had come true at last. More than being a Huntress, more than living up to her Dad’s image… They were happy now, a real family; and that was what she had wanted most of all.

Akane quietly sobbed on her Dad’s shoulder again. But now, it wasn’t out of guilt or sadness. No, this time, it was because of relief and happiness.

“I-…!” Akane breathed out. “I love you, Dad. So, so much.”

His hug back, his warm presence, always there and always will be, were completed when he said those words back to her.

“I love you too, my daughter.”

They separated after what felt like a lifetime. Only then did Akane realize that, in this wing of the infirmary, there was only her and her Dad.

 “Where is everyone…?” Akane looked around. With what she had seen outside the window, Beacon a wreck and people mulling about, it was quite odd that there wasn’t anyone else.

“Oh, well, I had the entire wing cleared out.” Jaune coughed to his hand. “Perks of being the Saviour of the World, I guess…”

Akane turned to her Dad with surprise in her eyes. “So everyone knows, then?”

“I mean, that was the plan, but…” Jaune smiled back. “Yes, I suppose so.”

“Huh…” Akane took a good look at their current state again. Her stomach, where she had been stabbed, was wrapped in bandages. She was dressed in a standard hospital gown, and like she had been surprised before… Dad was much the same.

Wounded, for the first time in a long, long time. He was plugged to IVs and several monitors that were stacked and seemed to go on wheels, indicating that her room wasn’t his. He was wearing a hospital gown too, and upon further inspection, it was clear that he was somewhat gaunt.

It didn’t make sense. His Magic Core should’ve healed him by now…

And speaking of, she knew that something strange was up with how she had been stabbed. She had felt it wriggling beside her soul, invading her body… so then why was she normal now?

Why did it feel like something new, somewhat familiar, had taken a spot beside her soul?

Dad seemed to realize her pondering stare and quickly explained. “Your mother… Cinder… she did what she had to do to make sure you survived.”

Akane looked to her Dad.

He continued to explain, “She- she said that your vitals were dropping… that there was no saving you. A Grimm parasite had infected you, and as it turns out, Beacon does have an Aura-transfer machine, capable of transferring Magic too. And since she never mastered how to pass it on…”

Akane’s eyes widened. With newfound understanding, she opened her palms, willed Fire to be birthed…

…and, indeed, sparks flew from her fingertips.

The powers of the Summer-half-Fall Maiden, and the gears of time that now saw a third user.

“But then, then what about Mom?” Akane whispered. Fear gripped her heart as her mind ran a mile a minute, “If she gave this up to me, then…”

“Thankfully, the Aura machine worked well.” Jaune sighed in relief as Akane did too. “Cinder’s fine. She’s recovering, but… she’ll be fine.”

“That’s… I’m glad.” Akane’s shoulder sagged with relief. But then her mind ran again. The Aura Machine, that meant that that was how Professor Nikos got her powers, right? And speaking of the former Invincible Girl…

“Dad…” Her tone became uneasy again, but this time it wasn’t because of anything related to herself. No, she remembered that night, remembered the burden of being alone and away from all of this, and what it did to her father.

But they were both right here now, in Beacon. The place where they both had forged precious memories.

“Dad… have you talked with your friends yet?”

At this, Jaune flinched and subtly looked away. “…not yet.”

“Not yet?” Akane pressed. “Dad…”

“I just… I wanted to make sure you’re okay first.” Jaune rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “You weren’t waking up, and, well, you’re always my first priority.”

“O-oh…” Akane blushed and looked down, but that didn’t last long; she soon levelled her father with another look. Not harsh, but still quite pressing.

“Dad… we’ll be here for you too. I’ll be here for you too.” Akane said softly. “None of us will just disappear. This is the best chance, for all of us.”

“I know that. I know…” Jaune’s hand reached out, and Akane eagerly met it with her own. As they held each other’s grip like that, Jaune spoke again. “But… I’m just still… scared…”

Now he knew, now he was smart enough to recognize, that a part of him never moved on from that day when he said goodbye to his Team and friends in the courtyard, before he had to take the Bullhead out.

Even now, despite everything, he was still scared that he’d be forced to say goodbye again. If he closed that gap, and then everything was taken away again…

Jaune felt his hand being squeezed by his daughter. His eyes refocused, and then he met her calm and supportive stare.

It was then that he remembered, that he had a life outside now, too. And now, it was time to make sure that they both could coexist.

Now was the time to seize it all in his hands, in these hands, guided by his daughter and everyone else he had met in this long, long journey. Now, was the time for him to truly embrace home.

“I’ll be here. Waiting for you, and I…” Akane swallowed. “I swear I’m not running away again. So you should stop too, Dad.”

Jaune swallowed too. “You’re right.” Once more, he remembered how much of him was in Akane, and how much of her was inside of him.

Jaune gave her one more hug, one she returned lovingly, before they then pulled away.

“I’ll be back around noon.” Jaune’s hand ran through her knuckles. His eyes sparkled as he met hers, and a smile graced his lips again. “Don’t go anywhere, m’kay?”

“Go where?” Akane chuckled. “I’m right where I need to be, Dad.”

Present Day…

“Kinda feels nostalgic, doesn’t it?”

“Hm.” Sun put his hands behind his head and leaned back against a wall, Neptune and Mercury beside him. They were looking over… well, people, finally going around and starting to repair Beacon after yesterday’s whole affair.

Yesterday…

Sun looked up to the skies. The sun was rising.

Yesterday, when the whole world learned of the truth.

“Things won’t ever be the same.” Mercury stated.

“Then so be it.” Neptune shrugged. “’Sides, we’re all due for a change. Everyone knows that.”

“Time to put the shadows behind us, huh…” Sun shook his head. Now putting his hands in his pockets, he turned to his friends and asked, “What’re your guys’ plan for today, then?”

“Hm… I’ve got to deal with the students.” Mercury glanced at his watch, “Haven’s all right, and the  flight’s only like, three hours, but… yeah. Best that one of us comes back reassure them and all.”

“He’ll be back before you know it.”  Neptune rolled his neck. “Ah, didn’t get a lick of sleep last night, dealing with paperwork, so… m’ probably not gonna be doing much.”

“Hm…” Sun pulled out his Scroll; he himself wouldn’t be doing much of anything either, most likely just answering questions and directing the Gokudo in Cinder’s place. He was a Crusader, but more than anything, he just wanted time to… reminisce.

Ozpin did plan a Ball come nightfall, and, well… memories, memories…

“Best of luck back at Mistral.” Sun gave Mercury a nod. “Thanks, Merc.”

Mercury gave them a two-fingered salute and walked off. And now, it was just him and Neptune. In the somewhat-ruins of Beacon Academy, the world saved again.

The two remaining members of Team SSSN.

“…Come on.” Sun elbowed his friend, a bittersweet smile on his face. “Let’s take a walk down memory lane, eh?”

“I did say I had nothing to do.” Neptune smirked back, putting his hands on his pockets.

And with that, without much fanfare, Sun and Neptune walked through Beacon and absorbed the air, the energy, around the campus.

Uncertain about the future. Shaken by the events that had happened. Still healing from fresh wounds. Nothing would ever be the same.

And yet, they were still here.

And in that way, it was as if nothing had changed.

As if everything was as it was.

The second person to visit Akane was the person she’d been waiting the most. She greeted her with a smile as she came in, pained as it may be from her current treatment.

“Hey, Kelly.” Akane waved weakly. “How are you?”

“I’m fine.” Kelly’s eyes met her partner’s guiltily. She wasn’t Team RRKA’s leader, but she was Akane’s partner, and any injury to her was a scar to her too. Another proof that she couldn’t protect her family.

The youngest Arc sat beside Akane’s bed, her hands on her lap as she took in Akane’s presence. The last time she had seen her, she was close to flatlining, with barely any hope of surviving. She was healing now, and her recovery seemed all but certain, but somehow, it did little to calm her heart.

Perhaps it was because another part of her family had almost been taken again. As if for all her efforts, for all her training and skills, she had been powerless once more. As if nothing had changed at all.

But even so, her stubbornness did let her do one good thing, and that was forcing herself to break the awkward silence.

“…I heard what Miss Fall had to do to save you.” Kelly muttered. As she spoke, her voice gained more strength; this was familiar ground, and all would be okay if she could make it last. “How does it feel?”

“Honestly? Not that much different than I expected.” Akane flexed her fingers. “I mean, I guess I do have Maiden powers now, but it…” Akane shrugged. “Well, it’s not like I can use it well yet or anything.”

“I suppose you would need to train too.” Kelly smiled softly. However, then, it turned somewhat bittersweet. “Guess you wouldn’t be needing us, then…”

Akane tilted her head. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well-!” Kelly stuttered. “I mean, you’re stronger than all of us now. You won’t need us to protect you. We’ll be useless, and I know… I know it’s better to let you fly free than to keep on burdening you down.”

A long silence stretched. When Akane didn’t answer, it only served to validate Kelly’s point in her own mind, and she looked away in acceptance.

But in reality, Akane only let the silence stretch on so she could form the right words to say. Choosing the right ones was crucial now, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen that lack of self-confidence, that belief of toughing it out alone being the best option, before. So, that was what she decided to lead with.

“You’re more like Dad than you think, you know.”

Kelly stilled, shooting Akane a surprised look.

“Just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you need to be alone.” Akane said softly. “Everybody needs somebody. So why do you think I don’t need you?”

“Because I failed!” Kelly insisted, and ah, Akane could see that she wasn’t really talking to her now; no, Kelly was more battling with herself.

“I let you get harmed. You’re my- we’re sisters, blood be damned! A-and I…”

Kelly shook her head. “You don’t understand, Akane. I swore on that day; I swore that I wouldn’t let another one of my family members get hurt. Emotional, physical, any of it. You’re my responsibility, and if I can’t keep you safe…”

Kelly looked down. “If I couldn’t get you to stay, like I failed him…”

“…Are you willing to let go that easily?” Akane asked. This time, it was her turn to be met with silence.

“Listen,” Akane scooted closer, and more and more, she began to understand. Dad’s choice had been his, but it was neither right nor wrong. It was his, and though he never meant to burden her… she had moved one Arc before; she wouldn’t mind, she’d love to, to do the same for Kelly.

“Dad’s choice was his.” Akane whispered. She took Kelly’s hand in hers, wrapping it around to comfortingly soothe her. “He didn’t leave because of you, Kelly.”

“But I- he said it was to protect us!”

“Have you really talked to him, then?”

“…No.” Kelly closed her eyes and breathed out, “That’s just what Mom said.”

“Trust me, he gets it now.” Akane said. “And… I wouldn’t want to put you through the same thing he did to you. I won’t leave you. You don’t need to be strong to be worth anything... I won’t go, I know better now. You’re my sister, and you’ll always be.”

“…Okay.” Kelly nodded. She sniffed, “Okay, okay.” With it, her guilt, her worry that what little happiness she had carved out would disappear, faded.

Her worry that Akane would leave, much like her father did, all because she wasn’t strong enough. Because she hadn’t been enough.

Akane patted her hand again. “So… talk to him, for me, please? He wants to say sorry too.”

“Well, he’s got his hands a bit full right now.” Kelly had the faintest hints of a smirk on her lips. “He has an apology tour, and, well…”

“Ah…” A look of understanding dawned on Akane. “Professor Nikos’ laying it on thick on him, isn’t he?”

“I heard Miss Pyrrha through the walls.” Kelly’s smile became increasingly real with each passing second. “So yeah… I do think he’s quite busy.”

“Then stay with me…?” Akane nervously implored. She looked around and said again, “It’s kinda lonely, here…”

“Of course, sis.” Kelly scooted closer and let her sister’s head rest on her shoulder. As Akane muttered a thanks and drifted back to sleep, Kelly closed her eyes and savored the fact that her heart felt lighter than it had in a long, long time.

No more burdens. Her place in the world, in her family, ascertained forever. Everything that had marred her childhood… all about to be put to rest.

And all because of the person beside her, the person she had denied when they had first met. Someone she had deemed immature, childish, unworthy.

Kelly drifted to sleep too. And for once, she didn’t have to worry if she’d have to be strong enough tomorrow. “Sleep well, sis…”

It was as if everything was as it was. Resting in Beacon’s infirmary after an excursion, more than one of them laid out on the beds, and the rest gathered around, sharing relief and then relaxing in each other’s presence…

But not everything could remain the same. Even the strongest of them couldn’t fight forever, run forever, and he certainly couldn’t change the world alone.

And she certainly wasn’t about to let him go, either.

“My love….!”

Admittedly, Jaune knew that it was a pretty stupid move trying to sneak out in the morning to see his daughter. The logical route would’ve been to inform Cinder, Emerald, or anyone that he needed some time alone with her, that he needed to be the first person she saw when she woke up. But sometimes, feelings weren’t logical, they didn’t make sense.

Just how, even now, it didn’t make sense for Her to love him as much as she did, hugging him so close and tight as if he was about to disappear any second now.

“I’m here, Pyr… I’m here…”

Pyrrha sniffled in reply, her head buried in his shoulder.

Tentatively, Jaune ran a hand through her hair. It was soft like silk, and the familiar smell of that shampoo she liked to use so much wafted through his nose. He closed his eyes and held her close, making sure to just… remember her presence.

Here, with him.

He felt Pyrrha shake in reply. And then, to his slight guilt, he heard her whisper in his ear, something he didn’t know if he was supposed to hear or not.

“I thought it was all a dream…”

“It’s not.” Jaune said firmly,  though he knew that his voice slightly shook as well. After all, he had dreamed this too – on lonely nights, on days when the moon seemed especially bright and the nights particularly silent. But this was real, and if it wasn’t, he’d make it be.

He knew now, knew well, that he deserved to want this.

“I’m as real as you are, Pyr.”

Hearing her beloved nickname again sent Pyrrha into another wave of sobs.

Jaune sighed wistfully and continued running his hand through her hair. He looked at her face, her perfect nose and pretty cheeks, and could only think, oh how much I love you.

But she wasn’t the only one in the room.

Jaune looked up and spotted the two others watching the scene with soft smiles. Jaune returned it too, with a full and peaceful heart.

“Nora. Ren…”

Nora had her arms crossed, a look of careful optimism clear in her eyes beside the expected relief. Ren, meanwhile, had it much easier, his hands in his pockets and his gaze much more forgiving.

“Fearless Leader.” Nora stated.

“It’s good to see you two back together.” Ren nodded at his Team Leader. “Everyone knows this’ been a long time coming.”

“Well…” Jaune looked to his partner in his arms, and then to his teammates standing across from him while he laid on his bed. Really, he had nowhere to go anymore.

Jaune coughed. “I couldn’t have done this without you guys.”

Ren opened his mouth, but it was his wife who spoke first.

“Spare me.” Nora snarled. And to her surprise, Jaune didn’t seem to be taken aback. Instead, he hung his head low. And that, that gave her the fuel to continue forward.

“Do you know how- how worried we were?!” Nora asked, her voice growing in volume. “We thought-! Jaune, for ten years, we thought you were dead! DEAD! Do you know…!”

Her voice cut off, and Jaune dared to look up. And when he did, he saw that her cheeks were read, and tears were brimming freely.

“Do you know how that made us feel…?!” Nora spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaune breathed out. “Nora…”

“No- No, you don’t get to ‘Nora’ me!” She pointed a finger at her leader. “Admit it! I want to hear it from you!”

“…”

“Admit you were wrong! Apologize; to us, to Ren, and to Pyrrha! Tell us…” Nora breathed in, “Tell us that we mean something to you, Jaune.”

Jaune closed his eyes, and he could feel Pyrrha growing still in his arms. When he opened them again, he was met with Ren and Nora’s equally expectant stares.

“I’m sorry, you guys.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t try harder. I’m sorry I didn’t try to contact you, didn’t… I’m sorry I left so easily. I wanted to protect you all, and I…” Jaune looked away. “I wanted to prove myself. I thought that, as I was back then, I wouldn’t have been enough…”

Nora bristled. “So- so did our time in Beacon not mean anything?! Initiation, everything after, was that not enough-!”

“It was enough, Nora.” Jaune said softly. “It was my mistake that I didn’t see what I had so willingly gave up. I thought that it’d be better if I went at it alone, that I didn’t risk you all being hurt, and I…”

Jaune swallowed. “Even then, I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to return to you all when I was at least worth something. But then Salem, the Ever After, happened, and I…”

Jaune trailed off. He knew what he wanted to say next, but saying it…

If he had thought of this a mere month ago, then he’d say that it was as if he was turning back on everything he had learned in the Ever After. After all, hadn’t that place taught him that clinging on to the past was useless? That change was inevitable, that  they all had their purpose?

But then, what did the Blacksmith say to him last?

‘To live.’

Perhaps it was he who had misunderstood her, all this time. Perhaps that was why she had truly did what she had done, why had she shown him what had happened here, ten years ago.

So that he could tell them all now.

“I saw the funeral.” Jaune said.

He could feel Pyrrha flinch, pull back from his shoulder, and then look at him with shock. Ren gasped, and Nora’s jaw was almost hitting the floor.

But Jaune had said it first, and so he did his best to maintain the energy, to let it all flow out. This was something that he had never shared to anyone before, not even Cinder or Akane. Because it had been the cornerstone of belief, and if he had said it… then wouldn’t that be lamenting? Wouldn’t that be the opposite of accepting?

But it was different now. Now, he knew what it really meant.

“The Blacksmith showed me, after I beat the Curious Cat.” Jaune began, “She asked me if I wanted a reward. That she wanted to give me one, and I… I told her.”

“I told her I wanted to at least give you all a goodbye.”

“I was resigned to my fate, back then. Decades of fighting, of- and he- The Curious Cat… the JabberCat, it… it always taunted me with you all. He’d change his appearance, he’d mimic your voices, your words, and I guess some of it stuck.”

Jaune’s laugh was hollow. “I kept thinking that I failed, despite it all. That I couldn’t fight destiny, that no matter how hard I tried, no matter what we did, it’d always be the same. All of you would always be out of reach. And by then, all I wanted was to just give a proper farewell.”

“And so I made a necklace.” Jaune opened his palm, and though no Magic answered it now, all of JNPR could see the focus he put on it meant that he was far too lost in memory to focus on anything that was happening right now. “It was made of bronze. Inside, a picture of us, and what I wrote… something I couldn’t get across.”

“But then she gave me something else.”

“She gave me a bowl, filled with water. It let me see the first funeral you guys did for me, somewhere in the Emerald Forest. I saw everyone come; Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang. You, Ren, and you too, Nora… and…”

Jaune’s eyes settled on the love of his life. “I…”

Pyrrha’s shocked eyes didn’t leave his saddened own, and it tripled Jaune’s guilt. “I saw you too, Pyr.”

“I saw your confession. I saw you cry, I saw you beg. I saw you say the words I so wanted to say back. But again… by that time, I… I was convinced that that was all it could ever be for me. And that I had to be happy with that.”

 “And I’m… I’m sorry for hurting you all like that.”

Jaune clenched his open hand to a fist. And then, the air around the room began to change.

This shocked everyone, even Jaune himself. This wasn’t- wasn’t anything under his command, his control, nor was it Pyrrha’s or Nora’s or Ren’s. They had been transfixed with his story, had listened intently to a voice they hadn’t heard for years spill his heart to them…

…for Ren, hadn’t this been everything he wanted? To get a chance to talk to Jaune one last time?

…Nora remained firm in her stance, but she also gained a new understanding.  

And as for Pyrrha?

She watched, almost unbreathing, as Jaune opened his palm and that necklace-pendant suddenly appeared in his hand.

A necklace-pendant with her emblem engraved on it.

“What…?” Jaune whispered. “I had- I left it at the statue. All those years ago… How did…?”

“That’s acceptance.” Pyrrha surprised even herself when she heard her voice. But when those words came out, she found that it gave her courage to keep speaking.

“Sometimes… sometimes we don’t have to understand things, Jaune.” Pyrrha said. Her hand reached out, and it clasped Jaune’s own, entangling their fingers in that necklace-pendant.

“It certainly took a long time for me to understand just why I fell for you, and just why I never did for anyone else. But feelings… how the world turns… things like destiny… some things are just meant to be let be.”

Pyrrha’s fingers ran through Jaune’s knuckles, and then to the bronze material.

Jaune had said that he had left the necklace-pendant at the Beacon’s statue. Yet, for all her time here, she had never seen it for herself.

Someone else might’ve taken it. It might’ve been swept away by the wind. None of them had ever received it. But he had been there.

All this time, he had always, always been there.

“We forgive you, Jaune.” Pyrrha pulled the pendant-necklace off her love’s hands and wore it on her neck. Still, she gripped her love’s hand again, with a calm smile that was everything that Jaune needed. “But you have to forgive yourself too.”

Jaune could see it in Pyrrha’s eyes that what she said was true. He looked to Ren and Nora, and indeed, they had also relaxed their gazes. At least, now they knew what he had went through, straight from him; straight from the source.

Most important of all, was that his apology had been truly sincere.

Jaune looked back to Pyrrha, and it seemed that once more, she was the most accepting of them all. Once more, more than anyone else, it was her who believed in him.

He could never understand why Pyrrha had chosen him… but perhaps he didn’t need to. Perhaps, more than letting go, and accepting, and anything like that… He needed to accept the good things given to him.

All the while, Pyrrha kept her smile. If one were to ask what she felt during that time, she would word it like this:

Was she hurt that Jaune hadn’t deemed it fit to return to them? Of course she was, perhaps more than Nora and Ren would ever understand. The fact that he had been watching, that he had fought and hadn’t deemed it fit for her to be by his side…

But she also understood one simple thing. It was lonely at the top.

That was an understanding that no one else in RWBY nor JNPR knew. She knew that feeling intimately, and so she connected with Jaune now on a different level. She connected to him, the strongest man in Remnant, and to Him, the boy who had been separated from those he had wanted to connect to so badly.

That desire to carry all that burden; that weight of expectations, the desire to spare pain from those they cared about. The worst thing was, Pyrrha could see herself doing all of that and more, if it kept everyone safe.

But she wasn’t that same seventeen-year-old girl who didn’t know what to do with her life and without her love, and he wasn’t the same seventeen-year-old boy who had misplaced his pride and lost all self-confidence.

Yet they still loved each other.

“For once, Jaune…” Pyrrha whispered, and her hand reached out to cup his cheek. Jaune leaned into it, and Pyrrha felt that inner girl squeal. But outside? She smiled and was relieved when it was returned.

She sealed the deal.

“Let’s not make destiny what we think it should be… but what it actually is.”

Jaune hummed and gave Pyrrha a soft nod. That was JNPR’s condition. They’d forgive him if he could forgive himself.

Pyrrha pulled her hand away, and Nora marched forward. Jaune opened his eyes and looked at the ginger’s glare… before she bonked him in the head hard, then pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

“You idiot.” Nora sniffled.

“Yes, Nora.” Jaune spoke, muffled, into her shoulder. “Idiot, right here.”

Nora pulled him away and, grabbing him by the shoulders, presented him to Ren. The ninja’s smile was soft, and he offered the knight a fist-bump.

Jaune returned the gesture. As he pulled away, Nora’s grip did one last thing and guided Jaune’s position to face Pyrrha.

“Now say it, you two~!” Nora growled playfully.

Jaune lowered his head, his eyes meeting Pyrrha’s shyly. Pyrrha met his with a blinding smile and eager eyes.

And with that, Jaune found the words he wanted to say come out much easier than he ever expected.

“Will you…”

“Oh?” Pyrrha smirked playfully and put a hand to her ear, leaning in. “What was that, Jaune?”

“Will you…” Jaune swallowed and steeled his resolve. “Will you be my girlfriend, Pyrrha?!”

“Jaune,” Pyrrha grabbed his hand, pulled him close, and kissed him on the cheek.

“Mwah. I’d love to.”

Jaune blushed and buried his head in her shoulders, his face and ears as red as her hair.

The sight sent her to a giggle she hadn’t let out in such a long time, laughter that was echoed by the rest of Team JNPR.

“To be honest, ma’am… I’m kinda feeling like I’m third-wheeling here.”

“Hush, you.” Cinder waved her current charge’s concern away and motioned for him to keep up. Because, well, to be fair, Nathan had been relatively free.

With Akane and Kelly having their important moment together, with Akane’s Dad having to deal with his old teammates and friends, that left him in the pretty awkward position of having nothing in particular to do.

He wasn’t about to stick his nose in with Headmaster Ozpin and Roman Torchwick either – that was a level of discussion that was far, far above his scope. Throughout all this, he had one simple belief he always held on to:

He was just a man. Nothing more.

And of course, that was when Cinder had picked him up, and had him walk with her across Beacon.

Cinder herself had been seemingly somewhat busy. She directed what Gokudo remained in their efforts to help repair Beacon, answering questions from reporters that still wanted more, and had even directed some confused Huntsmen and Huntresses to Ozpin.

But she always had that faraway look in her eyes; something that clued Nathan that there was another reason that she took him along, other than an impromptu shadowing lesson on leadership.

“I’m not against this whole… thing, ma’am, I just, don’t you think that it’s about time we get to the point?” Nathan looked at her as they walked side-by-side, and then to the sun as it was rising high. It was almost noon, while they had been doing this since dawn.

“The point, huh.” Cinder shook her head and stopped in her tracks; and as she did, so did Nathan. They looked at each other, and Cinder decided that, perhaps it was time to give him the truth. Of all of Team RRKA, he did seem to be the most stable.

“I’ll keep it simple.” Cinder said, “What do you plan to do after this?”

“Well, I’ll leave it up to what we need to do, and what my team wants to do themselves.” Nathan answered easily.

“Not much of a leader, then, are you?” Cinder snarked back.

“I’m sorry?” Nathan tilted his head. Miss Fall was never usually this aggressive; they had only spent some time together during the week leading up to all this, with her always busy and most of his leadership training having come from his previous experiences and Ren.

And it seemed that, the moment she said it, Cinder realized her misstep.

Cinder withdrew her glare and rubbed her eyes. “Sorry.” She sighed, “Didn’t have enough sleep last night…”

“Ma’am…”

“Regardless. I still want to ask you,” Cinder pushed on, “What is Team RRKA’s plan after Beacon’s repairs? You have one member down, two who will most likely take this time to emotionally recover, and… you, yourself. Are you sure that you’ll all be combat-capable once this is all over?”

“We’ll be where we need to be, ma’am.”

“And if it isn’t enough?”

“The thing is, I don’t decide where they go, ma’am.” Nathan said softly. He knew that gaze she was shooting him. It was the same one Ma shot him when he had said something particularly stupid.

But that didn’t make sense. Miss Fall was an amazing leader, was powerful and an undeniable source of good, so why didn’t she share his sentiments?

And that disconnect was what pushed Nathan to keep going with his argument.

“We decide together. I don’t control them. We go where we’re needed, to help people we feel our hearts pulled to. I can direct them, I can give them orders in battle, but my team…” Nathan breathed in, out, and closed his argument. “My team’s a living thing, Miss.”

“‘S That so…” Cinder closed her eyes, breathed in, and then opened hers again. “Then can I ask of you just one request?”

“Of course, Ma’am.”

“Remember everything I had shown you today.” Cinder motioned her hand around them, and indeed, Nathan could see it well. The reparations of Beacon Academy. Her control over the Gokudo - over people who were loyal to her in every sense of the word. The silent respect she had from the Huntsmen and Huntresses. And how, with every step, she commanded the gaze and awe of everyone in the room.

But most of all, how even then, even now, her eyes were somehow somewhat lost. And Nathan had an inkling of what had caused it.

“Remember…” Cinder told him, “And hold on to them real tight.”

“Understood.” Nathan nodded. After all, this was more than a chance to train that was offered in desperation. This was her last plea to him, to keep her daughter safe. And what kind of man would he be if he couldn’t honor that?

However, there was one thing he felt that he had to say.  Because that lost look, he had seen it before. Reflected in Kelly’s eyes, in Akane’s eyes, and in so many people he couldn’t even begin to name.

“If I may ask, ma’am… what do you plan to do?”

“Fight Salem.” Cinder said simply, yet her eyes grew increasingly hollow. “Win. Keep the world safe, and then…”

Cinder trailed off, and Nathan never got his answer. But one thing was for sure, even as she shook her head and gave Nathan a pat on the shoulder.

She was planning something, and for all her love for her family, her daughter, her partner… 

Something wasn’t right.

“Come on, get up, VB!”

“Ow- I’m still recovering, Yang!”

“Come on, you’ve had your talk with JNPR. Now what’s say you give us a chance, ey?”

Yang put her hands on her hips and gave Jaune a playful glare. As the person that met Jaune first, she felt that it was her responsibility- no, her duty! to make sure that he got to meet RWBY as fast as possible. They had waited long enough, and Yang had stormed in as soon as JNPR had had their turn!

The rest of RWBY was busy helping with Beacon repairs, amongst their other duties too; Weiss had to deal with the SDC, Blake had a lot of things that she was currently helping Kali and Ghira handle, helped by Sun too. And Ruby, as a Professor, had her hands tied with the students and reassuring them that yes, everything was fine now, and yes, she was still here!

As such, the duty fell to Yang again, to be the connective tissue, to be the team mom, despite being the most free-spirited of them all.

Jaune sighed world-wearily, but Yang’s eyes glinted again. From the way he was already getting up, she knew it was more playful than anything else.  “Fiiineeee.”

Jaune got off the bed and moved to stand. He staggered, and Yang was quick to catch him in her arms.

“Thanks.” Jaune wheezed, suppressing a cough. It wasn’t anything severe, but the previous battle had indeed been one of the hardest in his life. As a result, he wasn’t healing as quickly, and with his Magic Core compromised to a degree, it wasn’t to his surprise that he was weaker than usual.

As expected.

But still; him at his weakest was still more than could be said about most others at their strongest.

“Here.” Yang offered him a cane. “A little gift from a common friend.”

Jaune took it and immediately began to use it to help him stand, though the handle felt somewhat similar to something he had seen before. He looked at the cane in surprise. “Is this… What was its name again?”

“Melodic Cudgel.” Yang said, “Don’t make me repeat it. Eyeliner had me memorize it a hundred times over.”

“…Huh.” Jaune leaned on it and could feel the quality and hidden mechanisms of what was supposed to be a simple cane. “And did he say anything on why?”

“Said it’s a rental.” Yang shrugged, and she began to pull away from Jaune, seeing as he could now stand by himself. “But also; a sign of trust.”

“I’ll keep it noted.” Jaune coughed into his hand and saw Yang move to help him. He raised a hand and stopped her where she was.

“Okay… I’m good now.” Jaune gave her a smile; it was as weak as it was strong for Jaune to keep fighting. “Let’s get going, shall we?”

“Great!” Yang smiled approvingly, and so the two began to walk out of his room and into Beacon’s surroundings. Sharing this air together, they knew that they were doing this for the best.

It wasn’t like Yang was forcing him to do anything he didn’t, because Jaune knew, deep down… he wanted this. And he was deeply appreciative to Yang for willing to help him make the final steps, when it came to this.

The first person they met was Ruby, because of course it would be Ruby.

“JJJJJJAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

“Oof!” Jaune struggled to keep standing when a familiar, nostalgic, but most of all strong red blur slammed into his body. Her hug around his chest was as strong as he remembered, but, well…

She was also roughly pounding against his chest. And from the way it hit, he knew that he deserved all of it.

“A-agh… I get it, Ruby…”

“Nope. I don’t think you do, mister.” Jaune almost felt a shiver at the sudden darkening of her tone. Ruby stepped back and put her fists on her hips. She was much taller now, a real adult, a stark difference to the way Jaune remembered her back then. Young. Innocent. Pure. Not to say Ruby still wasn’t cheerful, but it was… tempered, now. Weathered. 

More mature. 

And her disappointed gaze, her stern eyebrows, demanded that he treat her as such. She wouldn’t accept anything less.

“…You’re right, I didn’t.” Jaune hung his head low again. “I’m sorry, Ruby. I should’ve told you about everything sooner.”

“You’re damn right you should’ve.” Ruby said, and oh, she was saying it silently now. That was worse than any explosive anger he could’ve received.

“Do you know how hard it’s been?” Ruby pressed him. “How- how we felt that it was our fault, too? You died, Jaune. That forced us to, to-!”

She looked away. “It’s just… it’s just not that easy. Just saying sorry doesn’t cut it.”

Yang opened her mouth, prepared to intervene. Her sister was being much rougher than she had initially thought, then she usually was, but then Jaune raised his hand to stop her.

This was his mistake, and he’d take responsibility.

“…Then what do you want me to do, Ruby?” Jaune asked slowly, carefully.

Ruby blinked and looked back at him. Ah, he could see tears there too, carefully hidden. Ruby opened her mouth, but she didn’t have an answer either.

What did she want? Give me back my time? My grief, my mourning? She wanted those, but she also knew that such a thing wasn’t something that could be given back. She eyed Jaune with a critical eye. Her experience as a leader had required her to be an excellent judge of character, and Ruby supposed that was the only thing that she could do.

The words came slowly. “Ozpin has his own plans regarding Salem.” Far from it for her to be subservient to anyone, with everything that had gone down. But this wasn’t about that; this was about the fact that their fight would come again soon.

“I know you have your own,” Ruby continued. They were both leaders, they had taken the same classes together, they had bonded over their joys and griefs in leading their teams.

Ruby had never turned her back on RWBY.  Not like Jaune had to JNPR.

“…But is that plan any different than before?” Ruby asked

“…”

“…What guarantee do I have, that all of us-! That I have… that you won’t go again?” Ruby’s tears emerged from her eyelids, previously hidden but now flowing freely. “Answer me, Jaune.”

Jaune breathed in. Ruby was smarter than most. It was true, he did have a plan, one he hadn’t told anyone, period.

But ultimately, a definitive answer wasn’t what Ruby was really looking for. She was looking if this Jaune had not only changed, but was also still the same. It was clear; when Jaune had made his way here, deep inside, Ruby had wondered if she had truly known Jaune at all.

And to that, he only had one answer.

“…You have my word.” Jaune put a hand to his chest and bowed. “And an Arc doesn’t go back on theirs’.”

Ruby’s hand clenched into fists, then opened and then back again. She seemed to really struggle with herself, until eventually she settled on saying something that she had held in for so long.

“You were my friend, Jaune.” Ruby whispered. “And yet I couldn’t save you. My first friend, and I…  I do hope you understand,”

Her eyes sharpened. “I can forgive you. I never couldn’t. But it’s not that easy. I…!”

I honed my skill to save everyone, yet I never could’ve saved you.

“Make the right choice this time,” she insisted, “And stick by us. Involve us, and prove to me that I didn’t choose wrong.”

Jaune nodded. His plan… His plan did involve that, at least. That was no lie.

Jaune’s bow deepened. “Always, Ruby.”

“Then start with apologizing to Weiss.” Yang opened her mouth again, but Ruby shot her a glare. “He’s doing it alone, Yang.”

“Sheesh. Let a girl speak, why don’t you?” Yang rolled her eyes but regardless did as her sister and team leader told her. She gave Jaune a sheepish smile, “Sorry, Jaune, but what Rubes says, goes.”

“It’s no problem.” Jaune coughed into his fist and found himself leaning on Melodic Cudgel a lot more. But it wasn’t any real problem. He could do this, he could.

Ruby looked at her watch, “The ball’s preparation for tonight starts at five o’clock. It’s two right now. By then, you better have apologized to Weiss and Blake.”

“Yes, Ruby.” Jaune breathed in, out, and made to walk away. “I’ve got it.”

“Good. Weiss is in her temporary office, and you’ll find Blake in the gardens.” Ruby extended her olive branch. She saw Jaune nod, and then begin to turn away. But before he did, she offered him a difficult smile.

Regardless of how strained it was, though, it was similar to the ones in Jaune’s memories.

“You’ll be fine, Jaune.” Ruby offered.

“…Thanks.” Jaune nodded again, before finally walking away with his cane. Ruby watched with Yang as Jaune hobbled away, until his back disappeared from their sight. She knew she had been particularly rough, but it was necessary. Because Jaune hurt her, yes, but a part of her had also been outraged because he had hurt her friends too.

She only hoped, she prayed, that she made the right call this time. For Jaune’s sake, and for her own, too. Trust broken was not trust so easily regained, but even so, as rough as she was…  She did want her friend back.

Her dumb, lovable, best friend.

“Weiss.”

“Arc.”

Ooookay, scratch that, maybe Jaune couldn’t do this. Because this was by far the most awkward and uncomfortable silences that had stretched on in his entire life.

They were in her office, now, makeshift as it was. Jaune recognized it as Professor Port’s old lecture room, one of the few that hadn’t been repurposed into an infirmary, for storage, or to house people that needed a place to stay.

Weiss herself sat behind the lecturer’s desk. Documents of all different topics littered its surface. Those pertaining to SDC activities, emergency protocols, and press statements - the like. It was clear that she had her hands full in acting as one of the most powerful people in Remnant, and as someone that genuinely cared for the work she did.

Care for the people around her, for her family and friends. Care that, Jaune knew now, she thought he had deemed worthless.

“…You’ve got some nerve coming here alone.” Weiss stated plainly. Indifferently. She put her pen down, her hands on the table, and levelled him with a glare that was cold, icy, so much like snow. “Sometimes, it amazes me that there is a head up there.”

“Ruby told me to come alone,” Jaune responded, his tone in no small way respectful to her. “And I wanted to apologize to you personally.”

“And you think I care about you?”

“…”

“Answer me, Arc.” Weiss bit out, “Or did getting hit by Salem erase what little brain cells you had?”

“…Whether you care for me or not, that’s not in my hands.” Jaune said slowly. With his eyes planted to the floor. “I just wanted- needed- to make sure that you heard it from me.”

“You’re damn right it’s not in your hands,” Weiss snarled, though her breath hitched when she spoke the last word.

Jaune looked up.

Her hand was shaking.

“I… am sure that you’ve already heard how much you hurt us by leaving; from a number of people now, so I won’t see to it that we retread old grounds.” Weiss began. She stood up, and oh, Jaune could see her shaking, seething with rage.

Before Jaune knew it, Weiss had closed the distance between them with elegant and quick steps.

Before he knew it, her hand had met his cheek and his face had been slapped to the side.

SLAP!

“But that…! That is for not taking responsibility.” 

Jaune didn’t dare rub the spot her hand met his cheek. He did, however, stutter out. “W-Weiss…”

“Don’t get me started on playing with our hearts!” Weiss ranted, “Ruby, JNPR, they weren’t the only ones who felt guilty, you know! Me, your family, your FATHER! How broken he was, how- how he lost all hope. And we had to piece each other back together, and you, you…!”

Her eyes burned. “For such a caring man, you can be so incredibly INCONSIDERATE!”

Silence reigned, and when Jaune looked at Weiss, it was to realize that her eyes were red, and her cheeks were puffy.

He supposed the scar he left was different for everyone. For Yang and Ruby, they were hurt because they saw his ‘death’ as betrayal of their friendship and trust. For Pyrrha, Ren and Nora, it was a betrayal of their bond as a family, their mutual reliance on each other.

For Weiss and his father, his ‘death’ hurt so much because he had left so easily and without a word; as if their feelings didn’t matter, making them think that it was their fault that he had left.

Jaune finally pressed his hand to his cheek. He supposed he should’ve thought of that sooner, with how people speculated how Jacques had been a cold and unloving father. And for his father, the person he ran away from the first time, who must’ve thought that he did something wrong with his parenting.

“I do care about how you feel, Weiss.” Jaune said, and he finally let his eyes meet hers’. “I always do.”

“Big talk, all lies.” Weiss responded. Her glare didn’t weaken, if anything it only sharpened. “I’ve been to enough board meetings to know the difference and not once do those old farts ever say that they are sorry.”

“But I am sorry.” Jaune said softly. “I really am, Weiss.”

“Ruby might’ve given you a pass with this whole deal; but I’m much harder.” Weiss snarled. “Why should I let you into my life if you’re going to go out again? Will you even reflect on what you’ve done?”

“I’ve been reflecting for the past… more than a month.” Jaune said, “I really have, Weiss…”

“Then say it.” Weiss stressed. “Say it to me. Everything you’ve done wrong. What you think you hurt me with. Trust me, I’ll be able to know if you’re lying or not. And if you do…”

Weiss’ eyes glinted, the same shade as Myrtneaster on the other side of the room. Sharp, cold, precise, both of them.

“I will know, Jaune of Arc.”

Jaune’s mouth settled into a grim line. Perhaps this was another difference; for Weiss, this was the ultimate form of apology. Because god knows, she had trouble admitting her own mistakes, what seemed like a lifetime ago. That was her original flaw, and that was what she wanted to see fixed in him.

“Weiss, you know that I- that I had a crush on you.” Jaune began. “It’s – it was, I suppose, nothing but schoolboy feelings. But I do care about you, all of you. I would trade everything for your safety, for time to spend laughing and lounging and being around you all.”

“I was too stupid to see that it’s okay for me to want it, to fight for it. I let my own mistakes cloud my judgment. I didn’t see all of your care for me and decided it was best for me to leave. I decided that I shouldn’t come back without something in my hands. I decided that I wouldn’t come back if it meant making you all be in danger. I…”

Jaune heaved. “The times were tough. I made the decisions I thought were best. But. They were still my decisions. And for that, I’m sorry, Weiss.”

“I’m sorry for not seeing that you’re still my friend.” Jaune’s eyes met hers, and he did his best to show her how sincere he was, because he was. “And I’m sorry that I did things that hurt you. That was my mistake, and you… you don’t deserve to burden yourself over it.”

“…That’s easy to say.” Weiss said, but he could see the mask begin to crack. “It's easy for you to say that we shouldn’t burden ourselves. But we did, because you’re our friend. We did, because it’s something we didn’t think twice to do. And when you didn’t come back, it really did make me wonder…”

Weiss’ hand shot forward again, but Jaune knew by instinct that it wasn’t hostile. Instead, it poked his forehead, almost teasingly.

“Is there anything in that dense head of yours?” Weiss asked.

“…I’ll try to do better.” Jaune said softly. “I promise, Weiss.”

“Hmph.” Weiss withdrew her hand and crossed it over her chest. “…And I suppose an Arc doesn’t waste their time with lies?”

“That’s not the exact quote, but yes.”

“It’s not the exact one, but it’s the one your father adapted in a life without you.” Weiss huffed again, but this time, a small smirk was barely on her lips.

It was almost invisible, but Jaune knew that it was there most definitely.

He still had to win her trust; win their trust, they were evidently more hurt than Yang was, especially considering the circumstances. But Jaune found that he couldn’t fault them.

He couldn’t, not with what he did. And as for Weiss, this was more likely as far as he’d get today.

He’d hurt her. She had extended her own olive branch, but she had always been one of the most vulnerable to loneliness out of all of them. And in tearing her team with his disappearance apart, tearing JNPR, tearing her, and then returning again…

…that had hurt more than anyone else.

As if she hadn’t been worth considering.

But still, she maintained her gaze at him.

But still, she was giving him a chance. Until, finally, she nodded to herself, having found what she was looking for.

“Now go on.” Weiss looked at the clock on her desk, “It’s four o’clock. You’ll have a hard time pinning Blake down, so you better get moving.”

“Of course.” Jaune nodded. He bowed again, more formal than the one he had offered Ruby. “Thank you, Weiss.”

“Thank your father.” Weiss answered simply. “…But… you’re welcome, Jaune.”

“No no, that doesn’t work on you.”

“It doesn’t…?” Pyrrha whined. She gave a twirl around in her new dress; it was the most expensive one she owned!

The dress itself was emerald colored, like her eyes, and it was long and reached past her knees. It went down from her neck but had an open back and short sleeves. There were traces of red running up from the lower parts, as if a fire had been lit under her.

But, to her dismay, Blake shook her head in a negative. “Whoever sold you that got off with a steal, Pyrrha.”

Pyrrha whined again. There was barely an hour before the ball prep, and she didn’t have time to go to Vale to shop! …Well, if there were still any shops left, but that was a morbid thought that Pyrrha didn’t really want to entertain.

And as for the reason she was with Blake? Well, because there was no one else to go to.

Ren and Nora had taken Ougon back from Tai, the baby already deeply missing his parents. Ruby and Yang were busy catching up with Beacon repairs, Weiss was too with her SDC affairs, and that left Blake, who had her load lessened by Sun, Kali, and Ghira, and this, available.

Besides, it was best that she was with a woman to decide this, one who had a semi-stable relationship. Yang was too much a free spirit, Ruby was married to her job, Nora and Ren were married, and Weiss was, well, Weiss.

She needed to knock Jaune off his feet. She wasn’t sure if her pride could take anymore, asking his ex-crush.

Blake clapped, bringing Pyrrha’s attention back to her. “What about the old Beacon dress you had?” The Faunus asked, “Y’know, the one for the Vytal Ball we had.”

Pyrrha winced. “I…” she wet her lips. “Blake, I haven’t worn that in a long time.”

“Why not?” Blake tilted her head. “Your measurements couldn’t’ve changed. I know.”

Pyrrha blushed. “How did you-!”

“Come on, with all those commercials? I know you must have a tight regimen.” Blake teased with a smile. “Trust me, Pyrrha. Jaune’s already head over heels over head for you. Wear anything and he’d love it.”

“Yes, but…” Pyrrha looked away.

“Or perhaps, wear nothing at all.” Blake smirked. “He’d love that too.”

Pyrrha blushed again. “BLAKE!”

Blake laughed softly. But then, it died down when she noticed Pyrrha’s more solemn expression.

“It’s precisely because it’s Jaune.” Pyrrha mumbled.

Blake’s look softened. “Pyrrha…”

“That night, I was supposed to be with him. And if not, then… then at least he would’ve been there.” Pyrrha sighed, “I don’t want to wear it again tonight. I hate it.”

Blake nodded in sympathy. However, she was also a realist at heart. “Pyrrha, we’ve went through all your dresses. None of them match you except that. I think we’ve got no option here.”

“If you say so…”

“Look.” Blake put a hand on her shoulder, redirecting Pyrrha’s attention again. “If you’re so worried about that, then I do have an idea. Bring it to a tailor near Vale, have them update it, make it more mature. More the you of now. That should take two hours, tops. You’ll be cutting it close, but trust me.”

Blake smirked, “You get to be fashionably late, and everyone will have their eyes on you.”

“Hm…” Pyrrha shuffled her feet, nervously twiddling her thumbs. “That’s cutting it a bit close, and…”

“It’s the only option you have, I think.” Blake insisted. “And come on, Pyrrha. You can fly. You don’t have to wait for any Bullhead; trust me, it’ll work. In, out, and you’ll be feeling like you’re ready to take on the world.”

“…You seem to know a lot about this, Blake.” Pyrrha said slowly. Sure, she had expected Blake to be of help, but she hadn’t thought that the woman would be this deep with fashion. That was reserved more for Coco, not- well, introvert Blake!

In response, Blake shrugged. “Being the Chieftess has its ups and downs. Always having to look presentable is one of those things.”

The cat Faunus reached into her dress and pulled out a business card. She gave it to Pyrrha and said, “Here. This is the one I always go to when I’m in Vale. It’s in central too, so it’s most likely fine after the Grimm attack. Now go.”

Pyrrha nervously took the card. “I don’t know, Blake…”

Internally, Blake smirked. Outside, she faked a surprised gasp and made a show to look past Pyrrha’s shoulder. Of course, there was no one there… but Pyrrha didn’t need to know that.

And so, Blake waved to that empty space and said with a smile, “Oh look, that’s Jaune! Hey Jaune!”

“OKAYGOTTAGOBYEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

With a gust of wind, Pyrrha took to the skies and became a mere dot amongst the clouds. Blake sighed and laughed to herself.

“Hah. So easy.”

“What is?” said a voice behind her.

“E- wha- Huh?” Blake turned around, to her contained surprise, she did find Jaune standing behind her.

Blake blinked. “When did you get here?”

“…Just the other moment.” Jaune shrugged. “You’ve been standing there for a minute or two.”

He then looked back behind him, eyes squinting. “These gardens are a damn maze…”

“Professor Peach kind of got out of hand around our last year.” Blake waved her hand, “Blame her interest in botany, and Oobleck’s… tendencies.”

“Huh. That so…” Jaune trailed off. Looking back at her, he opened his mouth to speak again but was forced to cough to his fist again. “Ack-! Damn it, this is a pain…”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “Why are you even out here? I thought you should be resting. Recovering”

“Yang wanted me to go around and meet the rest of Team RWBY. Ruby told me to do it alone.” Jaune explained. “But I’m- I’m fine. I can do this…”

“You’re tired.” Blake insisted, and, taking his free hand, quietly led him to a nearby bench for them to sit down.

But of course, she couldn’t help but ask, “But… you didn’t see anything, right, Jaune?”

“Huh? Not really, no.” Jaune blinked as they both sat on the garden bench, “Kinda have to stay focused on walking. Why? Did something happen?”

“…No, nothing.” Blake shook her head. Of course he had valid reasons, but still. That denseness is legendary.

She decided to focus back on the matter at hand. “So then. What is this about apologizing?”

“Yeah.” Jaune cleared his throat. “Listen, Blake. I… I want to say sorry. For not letting you know that I was alive. For not coming back, and making you go through thinking that I was dead.”

“…”

“…I realize that I was wrong. And now, I want to say that I won’t run anymore. That I’ll stay.” Jaune said. “This, I promise.”

“Jaune…” Blake said her next words carefully. “I’ll say this as clearly as I can. You’ll find that I am much, much more forgiving about this, at least compared to the others.”

Jaune’s mouth opened in no small surprise. She put a finger on his lips before he could say anything more.

“Listen,” she insisted. “That running away part, I get it. You just wanted to feel accepted. Somewhere to belong. You thought you found that in Beacon, in the place of your dreams, but instead Ozpin couldn’t, or wouldn’t, put himself out there for you.”

“I agree with the others. That not coming back part, that’s your mistake. But wanting to prove yourself? Feeling like you had to be worth something… and then thinking running away would solve things?”

Blake withdrew her finger and smiled, a silent elegant beauty. “That, I understand quite well.”

“Blake…”

“So if you want to apologize to me, just promise to change. Promise to hold the other RWBY members close, and as long as they accept you, then, well…” she laughed quietly. “My only problem with you was always you hurting the others. I came to accept your actions, everything- all of that, just as quick as Yang did, when the two of you first travelled.”

“Blake…” Jaune closed his eyes and tilted his head low. “Thank you.”

“Just think about where you are with us, and you’ll be fine.” Blake patted his shoulder comfortingly, before lifting his arm and helping him stand up. “Now, let’s get you back to your room. Get some rest, because you still have some people to talk to… and not to mention the ball.”

And as they made their way back, the sun slowly but surely descending from its noon position, Blake did have one favor to ask.

“Say, Jaune… ten years ago, you were the one who dealt with the White Fang, right?” Blake asked.

“The cleanup was more Sun, Mercury, and Neptune, but yes. They were involved with Salem.” Jaune answered. “They scattered quite easily after the big battle. With their main- hm, militant leader down, Sun’s investigative connections helped us bring Sienna down when she came for a visit to Mistral.”

Jaune hummed. “That was… around a year or two after Salem’s downfall, I think.”

“I remember the date well.” Blake nodded. Indeed, she had just graduated from Beacon then, so it was more like a year. She had just been prepared to take on the Fang with RWBY, but, well, then everything Jaune described happened.

And without Sienna, the remaining White Fang loyalists were easily made unwelcome in Menagerie soon after.

But there was one, burning question. One thing that itched her mind, that sometimes kept her wondering just how the Fang fell so easily.

“During your travels… during the whole Salem debacle. Was the militant leader… was he someone called Adam Taurus?”

“He was actually.” Jaune shot Blake a surprised look. “Was quite energetic in her circle. How did you know that?”

“Intuition.” Blake answered easily. They kept their pace, but even Jaune noticed the slight stumble in her step when he answered her question with a yes.

And he definitely noticed the slight hesitation in her tone when she asked again.

“If I can ask, then…” Blake said, “What happened to him?”

“Hm.” Jaune looked away, his eyebrows furrowing as he recalled a memory. “His rage consumed him. Emerald shot him dead, in the end.”

“Emerald? Emerald Sustrai?”

“The very same.” Jaune answered. “He was blinded by rage, by his hate for traitors, that, hm…”

Jaune tapped his eyes. “Casting what he wanted to see was easier than making origami… and I think Emerald said his death was just like any other person she shot; before and since.”

“Is that so…” Blake shook her head. Hatred, rage, blind devotion.

“I remember now, yeah.” Jaune shrugged. “She said she dropped him like he didn’t matter.”

“Ah…”

“Well, he did threaten Akane, at least that’s what she told me.” Jaune said, “And I know that Emerald took special offense to that.”

“Hm.” Blake nodded. She could imagine it, strangely. That for all of his bluster and words, for all his spirit and energy… Adam died to a single bullet. It was ironic, and it was contrary to what constituted a martyr.

And these days, Blake was both an idealist and realist.

And the world had no need for someone who couldn’t see in front of them.

In that case, she was glad that Jaune wasn’t like that. That her words, that all their words, still got through to him. After all, he was here following her directions, wasn’t he?

He still saw. Pyrrha wouldn’t have loved him if he didn’t.

“Blake…? You seem kinda lost there.”

“Oh- Nothing, I’m good.” Blake picked up their pace again. “Come on, let’s get you back to your room.”

“Ah- okay…”

“But.” She flashed Jaune one of her rare, teeth-filled smiles. “Thanks for telling me, Jaune. You don’t know how much that helped me.”

Now, Jaune didn’t know what he just did. After all, this was just something from the past, people he hadn’t thought of in years, and one of the many enemies that the Crusaders felled. He wasn’t even the one who did it!

But if he could help his friends again, after all this time, and then get their gratitude, then he didn’t mind it one bit.

It felt… nice, being appreciated. And it felt nice, knowing that he didn’t have to hide everything and be behind anything anymore.

“No problem, Blake. Thank you too.”

“Hm. Don’t mention it.”