#if nora and ren are in the Ever After

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Rusted Knight Nora: Something like the Thunder Barbian or Lighting Stirker. Imagine the Emotional Trauma Ren is in.

Thunderless Tempest: *Slides off of a Megatherium*

Weiss: That's the Thundering Tempest. It's the Thundering Tempest. That's it. I've officially gone- *Locked in a bone crushing hug* HRRG-

Thunderless Tempest: *Wheezing, crackling, croaking sobs*

Blake: *Caught in the hug* Woah- Hey- You alright?

Yang: Geez! No one's hugged me this hard since 'sides my dad And-

Yang: Oh ...

Ren: Oh?

Thunderless Tempest: *Sets them all down gently, hooks her fingers under her studded leather helm*

Nora: *Teary eyed and making odd, strained noises*

RWBYR: *Shocked step back*

Ren: Nora ... *Rushing up to her, cupping her face* Nora what happened? Why- When-

Nora: *Rubs her throat as she lifts her chin, revealing nasty scars that stretch beneath her collar*

Ruby: Do- Do you know how long you've been here?

Nora: *Shakes head*

Blake: I- do you still remember how to write?

Nora: *So-So hand gesture*

Ruby: I- It'll have to do for now, is there anywhere safe you can take us to?

Nora: *Nods Rapidly*

Weiss: Okay, okay- I hope the Cat's ok-

Nora: *Slams Hammer, growl with stutter, scanning the area in ... Fear? Anger?*

Ren: noRA-

Nora: *PAuses at Ren's voice, nabs Weiss's scroll*

Weiss's Scroll: Cat bad. Long Story. Why Mute. Follow.

Ren: Okay. We'll follow you.

RWBY: *Looks at each other*

Nora: *Starts leaving, hoping on the back of her Megatherium, holding a hand out to RWBY*

Ren: Well? Come on!

[juanarc-thethird]

After the Ever After #3

Back at home base

Nora: *Worry* You're leaving?!

Jaune: I just need some time to adjust to this world again. I'll be back soon.

Nora: But what about us! Our team!

Ruby: *walks in* What's going on here?

Nora: Jaune wants to leave us!

Ruby: What?!

Jaune: I'm not leaving permanently. I'll be back, I promise.

Ruby: *Looks at him in thought*

Nora: Say something Ruby! Don't let him go!

Ruby: Do you promise to comeback?

Nora: Ruby!

Jaune: Arc promise.

Ruby: Ok, we will wait for you.

Nora: No! *Hugs Jaune tight* You can leave us! I thought I lost you when you didn't come out on the other side. I don't want to lose you again.

Jaune: *hugs her back* It's ok Nora. I'll be back soon. Have I ever not kept my promise?

Nora: Pyrrha

Jaune:...

Jaune: Nora, that's not fair.

Nora: Please stay.

Jaune: I can't

Nora: *Crying* Please

Jaune: *Holding back* I'm sorry

Nora stops hugging Jaune and steps aside. Jaune takes the backpack from her and heads towards the hallway.

Jaune: See you soon.

Ruby: See you soon Jaune.

Nora:...

As he walks into the hallway he sees Ren and Oscar leaning against the wall.

Jaune: I assume you guys heard what happened.

Ren: *Nods*

Oscar: Please take this with you.

he gives Jaune a polaroid with all his friends.

Oscar: Just in case you feel lonely.

Jaune: *Smiles* Thank you.

Ren: I'm sorry Jaune.

Jaune: Sorry for what?

Ren: I don't know, for everything.

Jaune: I see, well don't worry about.

Ren: Be safe.

Jaune: I will

Jaune leaves the two behind and walks towards the exit. Once outside he walks north. After a few moments he stops in the middle of the road.

Jaune: You know, I planned this trip with the idea of being alone.

Emerald: *Using her semblance she appeared near him with a backpack* How did you know I was following you?

Jaune: When you have a murderous monster hunting you, you learn a thing or two in the Ever After.

Emerald: Jeez dude, good way to light up the mood.

Jaune: Well, why don't you go back to the others?

Emerald: You're not my boss.

Jaune: Well I-

Emerald: And I know that you need someone to watch your back.

Jaune: Em, look...

Emerald: I'm not asking. I'm telling you.

Jaune: *Sighs* Fine

Emerald: So where are we going?

Jaune: To check on an old friend of mine.

[dragon-razor-writings]

(Arcs Of The Ever-After 4)

Jaune, opening the door: "Hey, we're...back..."

Ren, Weiss, and Blake, all both mentally and physically exhausted: *half mumbled greetings, too exhausted to form actual words*

Nora: "Hey, we got-woah, what happened to you three?"

All three of them points to the young Hunter, who is covered in blood, but rather unscathed.

Hunter: 🙂 *waves at Jaune*

(What the hell happened while the others were gone?)

[superiorsturgeon]

Somewhat: *relaxing on Ever After beach with Neo* I’m glad you decided to stay around for a bit after ascending, miss Neo!

Neo: *sips tea* 😌

Somewhat: I wonder if we’ll ever see Ruby and the others again?

Neo: *stretches and shrugs*

???: …aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAA-

Neo: *looks up from her tea* ????

Somewhat: Do you hear something?

Jaune: -AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Jaune: *crashes into the sand like a missile, throwing up a cloud of dust*

Jaune: *stands up in crater and brushes himself off* WOW, what a fall!

Neo: !!!!

Somewhat: Rusted Knight! You’re back!!

Jaune: Oh, hey! 😃 Good to see you again! I’ve brought some friends who want to meet you!

Ren/Emerald: *gracefully ninja land*

Nora: *cushions her landing with a grenade, carrying Oscar on her back*

Neo: ?!?!?!

Nora: We had to fight our way through a lot of Grimm and committed some SERIOUS crimes to get access to a vault so we could get here…

Nora: Now WHERE IS THE GIANT BUNNY?! 😠

[guardianjameslight]

RWBY SPOILERS

Jaune said that Alyx sacrificed her brother to get back to Remnant. What if that's what Team RWBY must do to get back? What if Jaune offers himself so that they can go back? Honestly, I don't want him to go. Without him, it won't be the same. Besides, Ruby, Nora, and Ren can't afford to lose another friend.

[miki-13]

I know everyone is excited for a possible Bumbleby kiss, myself included.

But I feel like I should remind everyone that everytime a couple has kissed on the lips in RWBY, something terrible follows.

Pyrrha and Jaune kiss-> Pyrrha dies to Cinder and leaves Jaune a haunted wreak.  

Nora and Ren kiss-> Tyrian kills people and frames Penny.

However, there is a chance that if they kiss the right way that this might be averted.

Because for both kisses, Pyrrha and Nora initiated them but pulled them in without warning or asking. That isn’t to say that Jaune and Ren didn’t like them, but they had no idea it was coming. 

What’s more is that they were done when both were in really bad headspaces: Pyrrha had the burden of Fall Maiden on her fail, Jaune was distressed over what happened under Beacon while Nora and Ren were both growing apart due to ideological differences.

But if Yang and Blake were both to be in the right mindset, be absolutely certain the other wanted this... they could kiss without misfortune following afterward. Or at least, be able to handle it if it does.

And what better time for them than a place that is all about inquiring about themselves?

[chocolatechibi]

“The curious cat is watching everyone, not just those who enter his terrain.”

“The Ever After connects all things, through their struggles, towards fate…”

@renoraweek2023

Happy Renora week everyone! Motivation was unfortunately too low to write any full fanfics this time (😔) but that doesn’t mean I can’t participate! I don’t know why those two above lines came to me after I heard the prompt and made my moodboard, but they just did. They speak to me.

[dreams202]

No body think about Nora and Ren’s reaction about Jaune when this is over.

[awsydawnarts]

God I miss Ren and Nora so fucking bad

[kinaesthetiqueer]

me, putting my arm around ren muse: hey buddy. how's it going.

ren muse: ........................fine.

me: so listen. remember how you reacted to losing pyrrha in that v3 au i just finished. get this. it's time for a v8 finale au.

ren muse: oh boy.

me: so you know how yang gets knocked off the platform while protecting ruby. right. consider that was nora instead.

ren muse: why.

me: because it's all gonna work out on the end! now tell me how that would make you feel. seeing your best friend and partner do what she does best, protecting people, and get thrown into the abyss with a broken aura.

ren muse: i wouldn't let that happen. I'd catch her with storm flower. that's the best part of the upgrade–

me: .....yeaaaaah, about that. you miss. just barely.

ren muse: ........why are you so cruel.

me: because it's going to be fiiiiine! but pretend you didn't know that. nora dissapears into the abyss, gone forever. you're never going to see her again. what do you do?

ren muse: ...i know revenge isn't healthy, especially for me. i know nora wouldn't want me to be reckless. and i would want to make sure that ruby was safe, because that's the last thing nora wanted. i would do that for her. but also... nora's gone... and i would kill whoever is responsible.

me, grinning: perfect. *turns him to face neo muse* get her ass.

[arc-misadventures]

Friends AU:

It's been 6 months since jaune join the ace ops and ironwood has been giving jaune more responsibility after seeing the work his done and even gaining the trust of the poeple

His even been opening up to winter and she's happy to see jaune smile

Wait, What Happened?

Jaune's finger ran across his breastplate, he remember distinctly where precisely, Tryian had stabbed him with his stinger, and yet he couldn't find so much as a scratch on his armour from his stinger.

: Looking for something, Jaune?

Jaune looked over to see, Winter walking across the locker room towards him.

Jaune: Hello, Winter. I'm just checking my armour.

Winter walked over, and stood next to, Jaune running her hand along his chest piece feeling the smooth mental under her gloved fingers.

Jaune: I'm impressed; Atlas's armour's are quite skilled. If it wasn't for the fact that it was me who got stabbed, I dare say I was never stabbed in the first place.

Jaune finished speaking as he put on his armour, and fastened its straps. After, Jaune checked the snugness of his armour, he grabbed a small black box, and pulled out a silver falcon badge, and placed it on his left coat collar. Winter watched as, Jaune put the badge on, eyeing it with extreme suspicion.

Winter: What... What is that?

Jaune: Hmm, oh this?

Jaune turned to look at, Winter as he pointed to the silver falcon badge.

Winter: Yes, that...!

Jaune: Yeah, I got this from, Robyn Hill.

Winter: Robyn Hill gave you that...?

Jaune: Yeah.

Winter: And, why did she give you this... thing...?

Jaune: Uhh...? It's a token of affection...

Winter: A token of what now...?

Jaune: I-It was a thank you! I saved her from, Tyrian, she gave me this as a gift!

Winter: Then why are you calling it a, 'token of affection...?!"

Jaune: W-W-Well, I'm a knight... a k-knight in shining white armour, and I saved the maiden from a monster... S-so she gave me this badge as a 'token of affection!'

Winter: So, you two were just playing on your knightly stereotype...?

Winter was walking ever closer to, Jaune leading to be place his back against the locker as her ice cold gaze stared him down.

Jaune: Y-Yes...?

Winter gave him a look before grabbing his sash, and tightening it, Before using it to pull him closer to her.

Winter: Then this is my token of affection. That I gave to my knight. Remember that!

Jaune: O-O-Okay!

Winter: Good... I'll see you in the meeting room, Jaune.

Jaune: O-Okay...

Winter then let go of, Jaune and started walking away, a noticeable sway in her hips as she left. Jaune slowly slide down the locker doors until his butt slumped on the ground as he exhaled a deep breath as he calmed his nerves.

Jaune: Bloody hell...

: Well, that was something?

Jaune: What?

: Who knew that, Winter could be so jealous. But, for you, Jaune, I can understand why~!

Jaune: Ohhh... shut it, Pyrrha...

Pyrrha: Ah-hahaha~!

~~~

Ironwood: Ahh, Specialist Arc. Glad you could make it.

Jaune: Sorry, I'm late, Sir.

Ironwood: It's alright, Mr. Arc. It makes sense that you are a little groggy since it hasn't even been a day since you were in the hospital.

Yang: Wait, Jaune was in the hospital?

Ruby: What was he in for?

Ironwood: Honestly, Mr. Arc, I'm tempted to order you to some, R and R. The last reports I read did said that you're still fighting off the last of the poison in your body.

Nora: Jaune was poisoned?!

Blake: How did that happen?!

Jaune: Only if you do the same, Sir.

Ironwood: That's not happening.

A small chortle of laughter echoed through the meeting hall, but it stopped as, General Ironwood started the briefing.

Ironwood: Now then, two days ago we were alerted to the fact that, Tyrian Callows was in, Mantle...

The presentation started, showing a photo of, Tyrian's insane expression,

Qrow: Ugh, not that deranged fucker...

Ren: This isn't going to be good.

Ironwood: Luckily, thanks to, Specialist Arc's recent actions, we will not need to worry about him causing any chaos.

The next photo of the presentation displayed a photo showing another picture of, Tyrian his mouth, and eyes closed, and a purple ring ran along his neck as it was bent at an odd angle.

Qrow: He's dead?!

Ruby: Jaune killed him?!

Weiss: The hell...?!

Ironwood: And, because of, Specialist Arc actions we've were able to acquire several useful items of information's...

The presentation changed to show a photo, and a diagnostic of, Tyrian's prosthetic tail.

Nora: He got a new tail?

Ruby: Well yeah, he had too after I cut it off.

Nora: Oh yeah, I forgot about that.

Weiss: You did what?!

Ironwood: Thanks to the efforts of the, Atlas Corp of Engineers as well as help from, Dr. Polendina we were able to find a... stylistic signature.

Nora: What's that?

Penny: A set of distinctive stylistic choices, be they patterns, methods, or overall designs that renders someone work identifiable from a glance.

Nora: Wha?

Ironwood: This 'signature' was identified to be from someone we thought dead. This man here...

The slide turned to show a photo of a lanky, scarecrow of a man in a white lab coat.

Ironwood: This man is, Arthur Watts, we assumed he died ten years ago in a lab explosion. Since we never found the body, we can now assume that he faked his death. Now, Arthur Watts is highly skilled with cybernetics, and biomechanics. He is not a skilled fighter, but he makes up with his skills in computers. So, while you are out in the field, keep an eye out for, Watts. Watts, and anyone else you may see with him. Any questions?

Several hands among the, Specialist rose up, Ironwood nodded his head in silent pride of his, Specialist incitive to ask questions about their missions.

Ironwood: Clover?

Clover: Since we've identified this man, and we know his specialties, what countermeasures are we implementing to counter him?

Ironwood: We've been beefing up the cybersecurity, and fire walls around, Atlas to prevent him from exploiting our systems.

Jaune: Are you also upgrading the cybersecurity for, Mantle, Sir?

Ironwood: Yes, after the implantations of the fortifications are done, we need to beef up the severally unreliable security systems in, Mantle.

Jaune: Good. May, I ask another question, Sir?

Ironwood: Of course.

Jaune: During the, Fall, the, Atlas's Knights turned on us. Do you think that this, Arthur Watts fellow had anything to do with that?

Ironwood: Hmmm... That is a good question... It is likely theory that it was him who hacked our, Knights during the, Fall. I best order that the, Knight be given an upgrade as well. Excellent observation, Specialist Arc.

Jaune: Thank you, Sir.

Harriet: Wait, if this man hacked, and hijacked our, Knights... Then what's the chance of him doing the same to, Penny? I mean... she may look human, but she is an android.

Silence enveloped the room as everyone turned to look at, Penny as she nervous looked about. Ruby took her hand as she tried to reassure her friend at the sudden realization that she could be hack, and turned to attack her friends.

Ironwood: Hmm... Penny?

Penny: Y-Y-Yes, Sir?

Ironwood: Call your father, I wish to have a meeting with him at his lab, and I will require your presence as well for this meeting. We have... much to discuss about.

Penny: Yes, Sir...

Ironwood: Now, then... Specialist Arc?

Jaune: Yes, Sir?

Ironwood: Based on the fact, Tyrian tried to attack, Robyn Hill, it is evident she has become a target. I want you to go down to, Mantle, and inform her of the situation. Since you saved her from, Tyrian she will no doubt trust you.

Yang: Wait, Jaune saved, Robyn Hill?

Nora: When did that happen?!

Penny: The same day he killed, Tyrian Tallows.

Weiss: When did that happen?

Penny: Three days ago.

RWBYNR: What?!

Nora: Did you know this, Penny?

Penny: Yes, I was there when we extracted, Tyrian's dead body.

Ruby: Why didn't you tell us any of this?!

Penny: ...

Penny: Error...

RWBYNR: WHAT?!

The Specialists, as well as, General Ironwood all stared at the members of, Team RWBY as well as, Penny, Nora, and Ren. waiting for them to stop their impromptu conversation.

Ruby: Eh-hehe... Sorry...

The group finished staring at them before returning to face, General Ironwood, and his presentation.

Jaune: Understood. How much information am I allowed to share with her, Sir?

Ironwood: Only what she needs to know, Specialist.

Jaune: Understood.

Ironwood: Now then, go down to, Mantle, and inform her of what is happening.

Jaune: Yes, Sir! Permission to leave, Sir?

Ironwood: Permission granted.

Jaune got up, and grabbed, Crocea Mors, attaching it to his waist as he made to leave, but was stopped as, Winter made an impromptu request.

Winter: Sir! Permission to accompany, Specialist Arc.

Ironwood: Denied.

Winter: May I ask why, Sir?

Ironwood: You are needed here for information about, Tyrian's prosthetic tail.

Winter: But, shouldn't, Specialist Arc be accompanied by his fellow, Specialist's? After all, it hasn't been a day yet since he was discharged from the hospital.

Ironwood: No, Specialist Arc, has proved himself more than capable of handling himself with, Tyrian; He should be fine.

Winter: But, shouldn't he have someone with him when it comes to dealing with that bitch...?! I mean, Robyn Hill?

Vine: Did she just call, Robyn Hill a, 'bitch?'

Elm: I-Is she jealous...?

Harriet: Wait, does that mean, Winter likes...?!

Clover: Oh, he's totally going to have to explain that to me later.

Marrow: Wait... what's going on?

Ironwood: No, your reputation as my second, and as, Jacques Schnee's daughter will no doubt sour her willingness to discuss anything with you present.

Winter: Shit!

Ironwood: You're dismissed, Mr. Arc.

Jaune: Uhh... Yes, Sir.

Winter soon took her seat, her arms crossed as she silently grumbled to herself. But, as she grumbled to herself, Harriet leaned over to ask her the important question that was on everyone's mind.

Harriet: So... You, and Jaune~?

Winter: Fuck off!

Harriet: Okay?!

All the while this was happening, Weiss was a few rows behind her sister losing her mind at the sudden realization.

Weiss: Winter... likes, Jaune?!

Yang: Looks like he did steal your sister away...

Weiss: What the fuck?!

Ruby: Guys the meetings over, we need to ask, Jaune what happened before he leaves!

Yang: Oh, shit you're right!

Nora: Let's go! He's got a lot of questions to answer us!

Weiss: Many questions!

~~~

Ruby: Jaune wait!

Jaune was walking towards the landing pads, and was about to reach one of the bullheads when his named was called out from behind him. When he turned around he saw seven individuals he wasn't looking forward to see. A tired sigh escaped his lips, as he stood before them with his hand resting on his swords pommel.

Jaune: Can I help you?

Ruby: You were in the hospital?!

Blake: You killed, Tyrian?!

Ren: They said you were poisoned, were you poisoned because of, Tyrian's stinger?

Nora: Why didn't you tell us any of this?!

Weiss: Did you fuck my sister?!

Jaune was going to answer their string of questions, but was stopped when, Weiss asked her very deliberate, 'important' question. In fact, her question derailed everyone's train of thought. They all shared a stare at, Weiss who looked back at them all in indignation.

Weiss: What?

Jaune just shook his head, before answering everyone's question, deciding to answer, Weiss's first. She looked like she was about to blow a gasket if he didn't answer her first.

Jaune: Okay, Weiss... Winter, and I... Well... we're not in a relationship... there is something there... but... we're... yeah...

Yang: You have no idea what's going on between the two of you, do you?

Jaune: I have as much as an idea as, Winter does. I mean, I like her, she likes me... She kissed me when I was in the hospital. Other than...?!

Weiss: YOU KISSED HER?!

A flash of steel flew through the air as, Weiss drew her rapier, and pointed it at, Jaune's face. He stared at the tip of the blade, resting mere inches from his face. Jaune watched as, Weiss, was being restrained by, Yang, and Ruby. While, Jaune just nonchalantly pushed the blade away from his face with his finger.

Jaune: Weiss, if you want to know anything about this... situation, then ask, Winter. I'm still not sure what to do with her, and... yeah...

Weiss: Fine... but, if I heard you did anything to my sister, I will gut you like a fish!

Jaune: Noted...

Weiss then sheathed her blade, but was still staring daggers at, Jaune.

Jaune: Haa... Okay...

Jaune: I went to the walls of, Mantle to check on the progress of the fortifications. I learned that members of the, Happy Huntresses caused a small disruption at the wall. I learned about a rally that, Robyn Hill was holding, so I went down to ask her what happened.

Jaune: It turns out that only a few of her followers went down to the wall, they were simply demanding why it was taking so long, Luckily members of the, Happy Huntresses dispersed the crowds. After, Robyn Hill explained this to me, I decided to stick around so nothing happened. Good thing that I did...

Jaune: While I was watching the crowd at the rally I noticed a suspicious individual making their way to the stage. I moved to cut them off, and low, and behold it's, Tyrian.

Jaune: So, we fought, I was mostly stalling for time for help to arrive, and to buy time for the civilians to get out. Robyn stayed behind to help me fight, Tyrian. I learned that, Robyn was, Tyrian's target, so to make sure he didn't kill her I threw my sword at him. This left me exposed, and then he jumped me, stabbed my in the shoulder with his shoulder. He then pinned, Robyn down, and was about to kill her. When I then got up, and snapped his neck, killing him. Then fainted, no doubt from a combination of, Tyrian's poison, and an adrenaline rush. Then I woke up in the hospital a day later. Annnnd, that's it.

As, Jaune finished speaking everyone stopped, and stared at, Jaune in stunned amazement. Several of them, Yang, and Blake wanted to call bullshit, but since had, Tyrian's dead body in a morgue somewhere, it was pretty difficult to deny it.

Yang: Okay... that's a lot to take in...

Ren: All of that happened in a day... half a day at that?!

Jaune: A little less than that, but yeah, pretty much.

Blake: You got stabbed by, Tyrian's stinger, and got poisoned?

Jaune: Yeah, his prosthetic stinger was strong enough to pierce my armour. Not to mention his semblance made a hole in my aura to pierce through it. So, I got poisoned. Least I killed, Tyrian, and saved, Robyn Hill.

Nora: Jaune... W-Why didn't you tell us any of this happened?

Jaune could hear the sorrow, and the pain upon, Nora's face. He looked at her, and gave a tired sigh. But, as he thought of his answer, an interesting question came to mind.

Jaune: I was in a coma for over a day, and when I woke up I was going through medical tests to check for poison in my veins. But, if you want to be upset with anyone for not telling you I was in the hospital, they you should ask her, and ask why she didn't tell anyone I was in the hospital.

Jaune looked past, Nora, and looked towards, Penny who walked back in shock.

Penny: M-Me? Why me?

Jaune: You were there when the, Specialists took me to the hospital, and you were there with me, and General Ironwood when I was giving him a debriefing at the hospital. Why didn't you tell them anything about happened?

Penny: Well I...?

Jaune: Now that I think about it... You've been asked multiple times to contact, and find me, and you didn't, couldn't. You were supposed to invite people to my birthday, but you didn't invited anyone. You forgot about me during the game of hide 'an go seek. And, you've lost my contact data several times when you wanted to talk to me. Penny, do you hate me?

Penny: No, I don't hate you. Hiccup!

Everyone froze as they all turned to look at, Penny as a stunning realization slowly came in.

Yang: She hiccupped...?

Weiss: She's lying, why is she lying...?

Jaune: Do you hate me, Penny?

Penny: No, I'm don't. Hiccup!

Jaune: What did I do to make you hate me, Penny?

Penny: Nothing. I don't... Hiccup! I don't hate you. Hiccup!

Jaune: You know hiccupping is your tell, Penny. We all know you're lying. Why are you lying?

Penny: I'm not! Hiccup!

Jaune felt like, Penny was hiding something, not from him, no she was hiding something from herself. And, whatever it was involved him, but how was the question.

Jaune: You're not angry at me for something I did?

Penny: No, no I'm not!

Nora: She didn't hiccup?

Ren: But, why is she hiccupping?

Jaune: You're not angry at me for something I did... Then... Are angry at me because of something someone else did to you?

Penny: No. Hiccup!

Ruby: Why is she angry at him for something someone else did to her?

Yang: Good question...

Jaune: You're angry at me because of something someone else did to you. Yet, you're taking out your anger on me, and not the other person. You're using me as a proxy because you can't let that person know that you hate them...

Penny: N-No I'm not! Hiccup!

Jaune: Not because you don't want them to know you hate them, but because you can't hate them because... because they're dead...

A silence hung in the air as the realization struck them. Penny didn't hate, Jaune because it was, Jaune. She hated him because he was close to someone who hurt, Penny, and Jaune was the only person she could hurt in retribution.

But, this hate had been shoved away by, Penny's subconscious mind. Deep away that she could no longer remember what, or who it was she hated. But, the memory was not shoved deep enough that she didn't remember the raw emotions of this hate. No, she remembered the pain, the sorrow, and her hatred of the one who wronged her.

As, Jaune's mind struggled to put the pieces together he came to a sudden, and startling realization. The fact that there was only one person who had wrong, Penny, and was close to, Jaune that she could direct her hatred towards him.

Jaune: Pyrrha... You're angry at me, because, Pyrrha, my partner, killed you. And, because she's is dead, you cannot direct that hatred towards her, so you've been subconsciously directing it towards me. So, the reason you've been forgetting about me... Is because you've been substituting me for, Pyrrha, and you don't remember that you hate, Pyrrha. So you forget me?

Jaune smiled as he came to this stunning realization. It was a mad, and an absolutely bonkers idea. But, the worst part about, Jaune's mad theory was that it made sense, too much sense. And, they all knew that it was exactly what, Penny was subconsciously thinking when she started hiccupping like a storm.

Penny: That's not...! Hiccup! That's...! Hiccup! I don't...! Hiccup! Pyrrha, didn't...! Hiccup! I-I-I-I...! Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup!

Ruby: Penny? Penny, Penny, Penny!

Ruby, and Weiss rushed forward and, caught, Penny she was stumbling about in a fit of hiccups.

Weiss: She's having a panic attack!

Jaune: Ren, use your semblance!

Ren: On it!

Ren reached over, and placed his hand on, Penny's shoulder as a black wave flooded over, Penny as he breathing calmed down, and became more steadied. As they were all watching these things, Jaune gave them a look before walking back to the bullhead.

Ruby: J-Jaune?! Where are you going?

Jaune: I'm sorry, but I have a job to do. I don't have the time, or the training to deal with, Penny's hidden trauma. And, since I seem to be part of the cause of her trauma, I think it'd be for the best that I leave.

Jaune walked onto the bullhead and grabbed the handle bars on top.

Jaune: I'll leave this... situation to you. Till later then.

As the bullhead started to lift away, Jaune spared one last glance at the group as they all comforted their friend. Jaune couldn't help but feel envious that they showed such compassion to their friend.

But, it anger him, because they never showed such compassion to him. Never.

~~~

Jaune was walking down the auditorium as civilians walked around resetting things, some stopped him, and thanks them for saving them, Jaune just told them to thinking nothing of it, he was just doing his job.

But, as, Jaune moved closer, he looked up, and saw, Robyn, and some of her fellow, Happy Huntresses upon the stage. When, Robyn saw him, a wide smile erupted across her face as she came down to greet him.

Robyn: Jaune! You're here!

Jaune: Miss Hill, It is a pleasure to see you are doing well.

Jaune held out his hand as, Robyn came closer to him. Robyn looked at his hand for a moment before remembering to adopt her mask as, Ironwood's political enemy, thus, Specialist Jaune Arc's enemy.

A small smile still spread across her face as she shook, Jaune's hand before adopting a neutral mask once more.

Robyn: It is a pleasure to see you as well, Specialist Arc. How are you doing? I heard you were in the hospital for a while dealing with that scorpion faunas's poison.

Robyn knew fully well what happened to him at the hospital. She went there, and kissed... Checked up on him! No doubt this was just all a political game for the audience to enjoy.

Jaune: Luckily I was able to get to the hospital quickly, and was administered antivenom. I was unconscious for about a day as my body fought it, but bar being a little groggy I am fine. I'm on light duty while I fight threw the last of the poison.

Robyn: I see...

Jaune: Tell me, Miss Hill, how are you doing? Dealing with a near death experience from a psychotic faunas who wanted you dead because your platform wasn't pro-faunas enough must have been pretty straining.

Robyn quirked an eye brow at, Jaune's statement. She quickly caught on to the story he was trying to spread so the citizens present could better understand why, Robyn was attacked by, Tyrian Callows.

Robyn: Ahh yes... Well, you try, and give people something to make their lives easier, yet they still want the world...

Jaune: Did you expect someone like the late, Jacques Schnee to be happy with a just one slice of the cake?

Robyn: No he wouldn't. The greedy bastard would want the whole bakery.

The duo of a politician, and a Specialist as well as several of the people surrounding them shared a laugh. There are many things that divided the people of, Atlas, and Mantle, but shitting on, Jacques Schnee was something that would unite them all.

Jaune: Now then, I need to have a word with you, Miss Hill. It has to do with your recent attack. Alone.

Robyn: Very well. Will you come with me?

Jaune: Lead the way, Miss Hill.

~~~

Robyn, had taken, Jaune on a walk to the head quarters of the, Happy Huntresses. Wasn't much of a place really, just a abandoned warehouse with beddings, and what not put into it to make it live able.

Jaune: And, this is your 'secret base?' It's nice... A little spartan for my liking.

Robyn: You don't like it?

Jaune: Nope. It's has about as much life, and personality as your wanted posters do.

Robyn: Wanted posters? HAS, General Ironwood made wanted posters for...?

Jaune: Your political posters.

Robyn: My campaign posters? What are you...?

Robyn turned to look at one of her campaign posters. She gazed at the strong, and proud visage as it presented in her in a...

Robyn: Oh shit... It does look like a wanted poster...

Robyn's body slumped over as she realized the blunder she had just made. Jaune walked by her, patting her should in a comforting gesture.

Jaune: Don't worry, you're worth at least, ten thousand lien.

Robyn: T-Ten thousand?! I'm at least worth fifteen thousand!

Jaune: Yeah, keep dreaming big, Robyn. Keep dreaming.

Robyn: Ass...

Jaune: Haha.

Jaune then walked past, Robyn as he rubbed his head with his hand letting loose a tired, and pained groan.

Robyn: Are you okay?

Robyn walked over to, Jaune, and place her hand on his shoulder.

Jaune: I'm fine... just a little dizzy. Poison is still being purged from my system.

Jaune shook his head as a deep breath left his lungs.

Jaune: Okay, let's get down to business...

Jaune: Your would be assassin, as I mentioned before, his name was, Tyrian Callows. He was sent here to kill you in order to destabilize the relationship between, Atlas, and Mantle.

Robyn: I suppose that line about me not being pro-faunas enough for his liking was for the common folk?

Jaune: A lie yes, but a believable one nonetheless. The White Fang may have been weakened in the rest of, Remnant, but based on the reports I've read there is still a sizeable force here in, Mantle.

Robyn: Really? I thought after what happened at, Beacon, and at Haven Academy they would have been disbanded.

Jaune: Technically they did, that is if you can call a rebranding a disbanding.

Robyn: They rebranded?

Jaune: Yep, the Atlas faction of the, White Fang is now calling themselves the, Ice Fangs.

Robyn: Ice Fang? Not a bad name...

Jaune: Better than the 'Happy Huntresses.' Who came up with that dumb name?

Robyn: Hey!

Robyn lightly punched, Jaune's arm as he laughed at her expense. The smile on her face was radiant as she laughed with him. But, her smile slowly fell as serious face crossed her face.

Robyn: Will he be the last, or the first among many that seeks to take my life?

Jaune: ...

Jaune: It's hard to tell... They might come after you again, so I suggest you keep your guard up. But, they might not come after you; General Ironwood is their main target, there's no doubt about that. Tyrian may have just been exploring, Mantle, learned that you were holding a rally, and that you happened to be there. You could have just been nothing more than a target of opportunity.

Robyn: That's somewhat comforting...

Robyn: You promise you'll save me, from these... shadows in the dark?

Jaune: I swore that I would, Robyn. Arc's don't break their word.

Robyn walked over to, Jaune and gently grabbed his collar as she looked at him.

Robyn: You know... It really is nice to have a knight in shinning armour watching over me...

As she was playing with his collar, she noticed he was wearing the badge she gave him.

Robyn: You're wearing the badge I gave you! It's crooked, may I...?

Jaune: Go ahead. I just put it on today. I think it got moved around when, Winter interrogated me about it.

Robyn froze as she was readjusting the badge.

Robyn: She did what...?

Jaune: Yeah, she saw it, and I explained it how I got it, and why I called it a token of affection, she lost it when I said that...

Robyn: Lost it...?

Jaune: Yeah. She gave me this sash when I join the, Specialist as a present. Then after she learned about the badge you gave me being a token of affection, me being a knight and all of that. She decided that this sash was her token of affection, to her knight. It was really scary actually...

Robyn: A token of affection...? Winter's token of affection... for you...?

Jaune: Yeah... her token of affection for her knight. That's what she said.

Robyn: 'Her' knight...? Jaune...?

Jaune: Y-Yes, Robyn...?

Jaune felt a chill run up his spine, a chill that only intensified as she stared at him with those cool lilac eyes of hers. She gripped the collars of his coat in her hands as she gave him a cold smile.

Robyn: Jaune~! Please tell me what your relationship with, Winter Schnee is~?

Jaune: S-S-She's my superior officer! Nothing more!

Robyn: It's red!

Jaune: What?! You're using your semblance on me, not cool, Robyn!

Robyn: Tell me the truth, Jaune!

Jaune: Okay okay okay! I have a crush on her, she somehow has a crush on me of all people! She's given me a token of affection! That's it!

Robyn: Its red again!

Jaune: Okay, okay! We've kissed, that's it!

Robyn: When did you two kiss?!

Jaune: At the hospital! B-Before you kissed me!

Robyn: What?! She kissed you before me, dammit! Alright then, Jaune... you tell, Specialist Winter Schnee this! We are at war!

Jaune: War? What are you talking abou... MMPH?!

Robyn pulled, Jaune in by the collar for a hungry, and thirsty kiss. As the kiss ended, she bit his lips, dragging her teeth across his lips as she pulled away, as she let out a deep, hungry gasp of air, as she stared at him with hearts in her eyes.

Robyn: We're at war, for you~!

Jaune: F-F-For me...?!

Robyn: For you~!

Jaune: Uh oh...

~~~

Jaune entered the locker room for the, Specialist. He hadn't done much today, mostly talking with people, but good gods he felt exhausted.

As he entered the room, he saw, Winter at her locker. She turned, and smile when she heard him enter.

Jaune: Hey, Winter.

Winter: Oh, hello... Jaune...?

Jaune: Something wrong, Winter?

Winter walked over to, Jaune grabbing his cheeks as she looked at his face.

Winter: Is that lipstick on your face?

Jaune: Oh shit! I forgot to... Ahhh?!

Winter fiercely grabbed, Jaune by his collar, a common theme of the day so it seemed.

Winter: Who kissed you?!

Considering this was the third time he had been roughly grabbed by his collars by a feisty. Huntress, Jaune decided it was best to just answer her, less he gets killed, but a jealous woman.

Jaune: Robyn, Robyn Hill did it! S-She likes me, just like you do!

Winter: SHE WHAT?!

Jaune: A-And, she kissed me as her declaration of war to you!

Winter: A declaration of war? For what?

Jaune: M-Me...

Winter: Okay... then the next time you see her, Jaune, tell her this!

Jaune: Tell her wha... MPHH?!

For the second time today, Jaune had been pulled in by the collar for a fierce kiss. Instead of teeth biting his lips, Jaune felt, Winter's tongue invade his mouth leaving a trail of saliva as she broke the kiss.

Winter: I accept~!

Winter lightly tapped his cheeks as she left, leaving a stunned, and very confused, Jaune behind. He panted heavily as he whipped his lips clean of the make up, and saliva from, Winter's tongue. With nothing but, one thought upon his mind.

Jaune: ...

Jaune: Well, I'm fucked...

[howi99]

Jaune: you know, staying in the ever after made me realize something.

Blake: The importance of letting go?

Jaune: AH, no! Also, ironic coming from you.

Blake: *frown* Rude.

Ren: But not inaccurate.

Jaune: So anyway, did you know that Aura also repairs teeth?

Ruby: *perplexed* How did you learn that?

Jaune: How long do you think my toothpaste lasted? And it's not like i could find a brush anywhere once mine broke.

Weiss: ... But your mouth didn't smell bad?

Jaune: Well, i still rinsed my mouth and used lime grass as dental floss. It only protects against gingivitis and cavities after all.

Yang: ... How did you know about his breath not smelling bad?

Weiss: None of your business, fishy breath!

Yang: *goes to speak, then takes a second to smell her own breath* ... You win this time.

Nora: ... Wouldn't that be Blake?

Ren: *whispering to Nora* She just called her a carpet eater.

Nora: ... I don't get it.

[ficretus]

Best enemies

*Vacuo dorm room*

Jaune: Well that's that. Just announced my new rivalry to the world.

*Cinder crashes through his window*

Jaune: Come on Nora, you can't keep doing th... Cinder?!

Cinder: *shoves her scroll to Jaune's face* Would you explain what the hell is this Arc?

Jaune: *confused* Cat photo? Cute one I'll give you that, but...

Cinder: Not that. THIS, you moron!

Jaune: My Huntbook profile. Jaune Arc, 19 years old, in rivalry with Gillian Asturias. What part is confusing to you?

Cinder: What do you mean in rivalry with Gillian Asturias? Are you cheating on me?

Jaune: I'm cheating? You dumped me for Winter.

Cinder: Oh please, are you really that possessive? It was a small fight.

Jaune: You were using all kinds of cool moves with her. You never use them against me.

Cinder: Maybe you don't push me hard enough.

Jaune: So you don't even hide it. I'm not good enough for you.

Cinder: I didn't say that.

Jaune: Oh now you are just lying. You know what, go have your stupid rivalry with Winter. I don't need you, I have Gillian. We compliment each other so well with our Aura abilities.

Cinder: You don't even know each other!

Jaune: I don't even know you!

Cinder: What?

Jaune: I thought we had something back in Haven. But you don't even try anymore. Just grunts and petty insults.

Cinder: What do you want me to do? Narrate you my story?

Jaune: I want to know what makes you tick.

Cinder: That's personal.

Jaune: So is being my rival. Maybe I'll ask Gillian instead.

Cinder: You are acting like a kid.

Jaune: No, I'm the only one acting like an adult here.

Cinder: Fine. But if you tell a word to anyone I will make you regret ever being born.

*one traumatic backstory later*

Cinder: So that's that Arc, that's what makes me tick.

Jaune: *silent*

Cinder: Nothing to say?

Jaune: Why didn't you tell me this earlier?

Cinder: What?

Jaune: We are perfect for each other. We were both frustrated with our powerlessness, isolated, angry. You are dark reflection of what I could have became without support of my friends.

Cinder: *turns away* Don't flatter yourself.

Jaune: *chuckles*

Cinder: I thought you'd think less of me if I told you that. I thought you wanted me to be tough and domineering.

Jaune: I like that about you. But I also like you are human beneath that mask.

Cinder: So you don't think I'm lame?

Jaune: You are bit lame... but so am I. We compliment each other.

Cinder: You were right. We should have talked earlier.

Jaune: It's fine. If it fell apart because of one argument then it wasn't a strong rivalry to begin with.

Cinder: *shifts closer* Do you wanna take our rivalry bit further?

Jaune: You mean?

Cinder: Yes.

Jaune: I've never done it with anyone.

Cinder: Neither did I. I never got that personal with Winter.

Jaune: *takes off his shirt*

*outside of Jaune's room*

Nora: Are they doing it?

Ren: Yeah. Glad they patched things out.

Ruby: What's going on?

Ren: Jaune and Cinder are rivals again. Now they are biting each other.

Ruby: Excuse me?!

*Ruby bursts into the room*

Ruby: You are cheating on me with Jaune?!

Cinder: Oh please, you barely even care about our rivalry.

Ruby: Maybe because you are afraid of commitment.

Jaune: Ruby you are making things awkward.

Ruby: Oh shut up homewrecker.

Ren: Sigh... rivalries.

Nora: They are overcomplicating things. Rivalries are about dumb fun and one fight stands.

Ren: Some people see it differently Nora. *pulls out a photo* I've never moved on after my rivalry with Nucklavee.

Nora: Meh, I'm joining in. Cinder! I wanna fight you as well!

[jaune-submissive-and-breedable]

Ren needs some time to relax by himself. Jaune, being the good friend that he is, offers to take Nora off his hands so he can get some time to himself. Now Ren can finally finish that book he was reading. Hopefully Nora doesn't prove to be too much for him, right?

Ren sighed contently as he lay back on the grass in Beacon's courtyard. Jaune agreed to take Nora for a few hours, and Pyrrha had a meeting with her sponsors, so he had a few hours to himself today. It was a much-needed break considering how he had to deal with Nora's antics.

He took a sip from his tea and sighed "This is nice"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elsewhere, Jaune groaned loudly as he felt his face getting covered in a sticky clear fluid. He silently cursed himself for agreeing to keep Nora occupied, the task proving to be quite the challenge, even for him.

As it turns out, Ren did more than keep Nora's random antics in check. As he would soon find out, Nora had the libido of 20 women, who hadn't seen any action in years. After Ren left the dorm, Nora tackled Jaune onto the nearest bunk. Wasting no time, she began jerking him to full mast while forcing her tongue down, eagerly lapping up his seed once he came. Afterward, she maneuvered herself around so that her fat, freckled ass hovered directly over his face and his erect cock stared into her face. With a deep breath, she inhales his python in one go, causing Jaune to hiss at the sudden warmth and wetness of her mouth. He couldn't say one word as she immediately plopped her derriere onto his face, smooshing her dripping-wet slit into his mouth. Understanding what she wanted, Jaune began slurping and licking away her kitty.

2 hours 35 minutes and 8 cumshots later, they still were 69'ing each other, Jaune slapping and clawing at Nora's ass while she continued to suck and devour his cock, humming happily as she did.

"Nora......." he panted, pulling himself from under her freckled moon. "I...need...a....break.."

The bomber pulled herself from between his groin, saliva, and slick white fluid dripped from her lips, and smiled "Sorry Jaune-Jaune....I know you're probably bored of this position, but I can get enough of your cum it tastes so GOOD!"

She gave his soldier a quick lick again before turning herself around, her smile ever present as she stared into Jaunes eyes. Her drenched snatch rested upon Jaune's over-sensitive cock. "But I think it's high time we stop the foreplay and get to the fucking!"

Before Jaune could protest, she quickly inserted his rod inside her cunt, gasping loudly as she did. The heat from her love tunnel burned against his raw skin, every bump and fold felt orgasmic due to how sensitive he was, and vaginal juices acted as a natural lubricant that allowed him to push inside deeper. Even though he was sure she and Ren fornicated daily, Nora's pussy tight that he was sure she'd snap his cock in two.

"Fuuuuucccccc" he gasped as she began bouncing her hips upward.

Nora's eyes widened with shock as she felt his cock push inside her. She loved Ren dearly, but he didn't fill her insides quite like Jaune did. It stretched her vaginal walls to their limits, it easily reached into her deepest parts, and quite frankly, tasted really good. Slowly getting over her shock, she began to lift her hips up gently before bringing them back down. She continued for a while, slowly picking up speed as she did until she was full-on bouncing atop his cock like a cowgirl. Her hips slammed against his with such speed and power that they stung every time she made contact. Her breast jiggled and bounced in her shirt, her skirt flapped in the air, and her ass clapped and wobbled.

"Fuck Jauney! I need to have you fuck me more often" She hollered

"N...N...Nora.....I..I....Need...A....B...BReak!" Jaune replied through short pants,

Nora shook her head and frantically tore open her shirt, letting her supple and firm breasts free of their confines.

"Sorry Jaune-Jaune, No Breaks!"

"But"

"Nope!!" she retorted, grinding her hips into his before she raised his legs over his head. "I wanna enjoy this cock before Ren and especially Pyrrha gets back"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the Courtyard, Ren had been doing tai chi, completely ignorant of his brother's predicament.

"Yup...This is nice." he said calmly, enjoying what time to himself he had. "I should ask Jaune to take care of Nora more often"

[rwac96]

When Pyrrha runs into her cousin Rang, she introduces her to her teammates. Let us see her opinion on JNPR.

Pyrrha: "Rang! It's nice to see you!"

Rang: "Same here, cuz. It's been a while."

Nora: *amazement* "Whoah! She looks like Yang!" *cups her own bust* "Even the bouncing melons!"

Ren: "Nora!"

Rang: *glares* "I beg your pardon?!"

Pyrrha: *sheepish* "Um, Rang, this is my team, Team JNPR."

Nora: "I'm Nora Valkyrie, that's my name an' don't wear it out."

Rang: *annoyed* "Noted."

Ren: *exhales in exasperation* "Lie Ren, nice to meet you."

Rang: *calms down a bit* "Nice to meet you, too, Ren. Approachable and polite, unlike the maniac next to you."

Jaune: *clears his throat* "Hi, I'm Jaune Arc, leader of Team JNPR and your cousin's partner."

Rang: *blinks* "Ah." *she eyes him from head to toe* "So, you're the guy who's gotten Cuz outta that shell."

Jaune: *blinks in confusion* "Huh?"

Pyrrha: *blushes, gulps* "R-Rang--."

Rang: "I mean, yeah, we're training to fight monsters and criminals, but ever since Pyr got notoriety as a tournament fighter and that cereal deal, everyone wanted a piece of her. From reporters, paparazzi, fans, stalkers, and don't get me started on those creepy old guys. But when we spoke after her first week at Beacon, seems like she's the ol' Pyr before she gained the 'Invincible Girl' title."

Jaune: *blinks* "Oh, that's pretty deep, Rang--."

Rang: "Yeah, because my first impression of ya was that of an ill-informed dumb ass who somehow got into a prestigious academy and doesn't even know about the basics of Aura & Semblances."

Jaune: *grimaces* "Oh..."

Rang: "But, Pyr told me about your good heart, even if you are dense." *turns to her cousin* "Seriously, Cuz, lock this one down."

Pyrrha: *covers her face with both hands, flustered* "RAAAANG!!!"

[pilot-boi]

I just want everyone to get back, and after awhile, Nora and Ren start picking up that Weiss is following Jaune more around.

Nora is many things, but oblivious to her friends’ interpersonal relationships she is not.

Hopelessly addicted to syrup in any form? Yes. Mostly only good for hitting things with a big hammer. Definitely. But no one can say she’s blind to the nonsense going on in the lives of her friends.

Especially when it comes to romantic leanings.

Weiss’s crush on Pyrrha, Ruby’s on Penny, Blake’s on Sun, Jaune’s on Weiss- Nora’s seen it all, been there since day one for every pining glance and wistful sigh.

She’d been the first to notice Pyrrha pining after Jaune, and then Jaune pining back until it all went to shit. She’s known since she met him that she’s in love with Lie Ren. And Yang and Blake could not be more smitten if they tried.

So it does not escape her notice that after returning from the Ever After, Weiss simply won’t stop following Jaune around.

Weiss isn’t the only one, of course. Ren, Oscar, and herself have barely left their leader’s side since he returned. Nora doesn’t know about the boys, but she’s more than a little scared that if she lets him out of her sight he’s going walk through a door she can’t follow him through.

Jaune all but admitted that they almost lost him. She can’t bury him again.

So she laughs and slaps his back too hard and ignores how he flinches and his voice cracks with time that didn’t pass. All smiles and fun times from Nora. That’s her job. Better to focus on a potential crush from the ice queen than the decades he spent mourning them while they mourned him.

Ren is better at emotions since his Semblance evolved, but Nora doesn’t want a shortcut. He could probably look at Weiss and figure out exactly what’s going on, but that’s not the point.

Nora doesn’t want answers half as much as she wants a distraction. This is the closest she’s been to normal since Atlas fell.

So espionage it is.

It’s going to take more than a war for Nora to forget the less than suave wooing attempts Jaune made in Beacon, or Weiss’s prickly shut downs of each try. So for the crush to be on the other foot…

Well. It’s interesting enough for Nora to want to look into. Jaune is her family, and he’s fragile these days. She loves Weiss like a sister, but if she breaks his heart, Nora will break her.

She just wants to make sure her intuition is correct. Nora of the past wouldn’t have bothered, opting to shove the two of them into a closet into the ice queen confessed.

There’s a lot of things Nora of the past wouldn’t have bothered with. She’s smarter now, and that wisdom was bought with broken knuckles on gold barriers and stone monuments on sandy hills. So she’s going to make sure.

Nora follows Weiss following Jaune from a discrete distance through an alleyway shaded with draped cloth, close enough to keep them in sight but far enough that she can’t hear what they’re saying.

She happened to be passing by as they returned from a market trip that Weiss offered to accompany him on, and decided to tag along. Nora isn’t an idiot, she knows a date when she sees one. Odds are Jaune didn’t, bless his heart, but (and there’s a twinge of guilt) after decades living in a storybook how good would anyone be at social cues?

Jaune says something off-hand and Weiss giggles, covering her mouth with a hand. She snarks right back at him, resting her hand on his elbow and smiling. The tips of his ears turn red and he grins, rubbing the back of his neck.

Nora’s eyebrows raise. She hasn’t seen him act this way since Beacon. Not with Weiss, either. With Pyrrha.

The duo’s conversation seems to meander into the more serious and their stroll slows to a stop. Nora ducks into a doorway. When she peeks back out, they two are just standing there, heedless of the crowd bustling around them. Jaune stands a head taller than most of the passers, and he appears to be frozen.

Wait.

Oh no.

Oh no! The crowd! They’ve been trying to get him acclimated back to people, but this amount is clearly more than he’s ready for. Gods what was she thinking letting him-

Nora is about run to him from her hiding place when Jaune starts moving. No… not just moving, he’s being shepherded from the street. Weiss has one hand on his back and the other at his elbow and is ushering him off the busy street.

Jaune is all but a puppet in her hands, shaking and distant, eyes a million miles away. Nora follows the two of them slowly, no longer trying to keep a low profile. Espionage be damned, if Jaune needs her she’s willing to endure Weiss yelling.

Eventually she finds them in an alley off the main road. There’s no traffic here, just a few empty crates.

He’s sitting against a wall, head between his knees. Weiss is next to him. Her dress is covered in sand and schmutz, but she doesn’t seem to notice. Nora watches as she takes one of Jaune’s hands and places it on her chest.

Exaggerated breathing, in and out. She’s letting him feel her heartbeat, Nora realizes. The hand that isn’t holding his is rubbing circles into his back. A breath in, a breath out. And all through it Weiss is keeping up a dialogue of murmurs.

Her eyes don’t leave him even as his shudders turn to full on shakes and he comes back to his body in a flail of panic, lashing out at perceived enemies. Weiss doesn’t try to restrain him, just keeps holding his hand and murmuring quiet words.

Jaune calms, and his breath comes back to him in a choking sob. He curls into himself even tighter, leaning towards Weiss but not touching her, and Nora’s heart clenches. What did that place do to her brother who craves physical affection like a starving man craves food?

Weiss shuffles closer and rests an arm around him (as much as she can) still holding his one hand. Her thumb rubs across his knuckles and Nora can see Jaune press into the contact like it’s the only thing binding him to the planet.

Maybe it is.

She’s intruding. This moment isn’t for her.

Nora slips away from the alleyway and back to the Academy. It’s not how she would’ve liked to confirm it, but in a way her espionage was a success. It lightens something in her to know her intuition was correct. Despite everything, she’s still Nora.

And she couldn’t ask for better hands than Weiss to hold her leader’s bleeding heart.