#vol4

art of the MAYU remix of GAME that SHARK drew ..

*the wind picks up, the humidity increases*

Ruby: No...

*it starts to rain sleet*

Jaune: Come on. You're freezing and I want to get you into a tent and a sleeping bag. I'll take first watch.

Ruby: It's going to wash away our tracks.

Jaune: It is but we'll find it again.

Ruby: *changes into her PJs which don't fit her very well anymore*

Jaune: *gives her the privacy of the tent*

Jaune: *Feels some danger a couple hours into his shift*

The Grimm: *jumps out of the bracket rather than Jaune at it*

The Ursa: *Teeth snap at his armor*

Jaune: *throws it off*

Jaune: *Gets up and buries his sword in the monster's belly*

The Ursa: *Turns to smoke and ash*

Jaune: *Hesitates feeling out with his senses*

*nothing*

*nothing*

*nothing*

*distinct in the cold night distant the zip of a tent*

Ruby: Jaune what was that?

Jaune: Just a small Grimm. Not a big deal.

Ruby: You're supposed to wake me.

Jaune: *internally* It was nothing I couldn't handle and you needed sleep.

Jaune: Come on. Let's get you back in the tent.

Ruby: *her PJs tops stick to her skin in the sleet. Her socks feel like crap in the mud*

Jaune: *leads the way to the tent but all the warmth had been sapped out*

Jaune: *Helps her out of her socks, rubs some warmth into her feet*

Ruby: You can't act like this was my fault.

Jaune: Huh? I'm not. You're right I should have woken you up. Come on. Get into your bag and try and get warm.

Ruby: It's just-ugh! Aren't you frustrated?

Jaune: I am.

Ruby: Then why don't you show it. And your semblance. You never get excited when it activates when we train.

Jaune: It only activates when I'm losing and doesn't last long.

Jaune: *chuckles, fitting. If he'd had this power at Beacon he would have been just as much help to Pyrrha*

Ruby: *jabs him in the ribs past a strap in his armour she casually exploited*

Ruby: Butt. You were thinking you were useless again. Weren't you.

Jaune: *internally* shit.

Ruby: I'm sure it does more than make you look good.

Jaune: *emotional whiplash*

Ruby: Well?

Jaune: Well to what in all of that?

Ruby: All of it!

Jaune: This is just a minor setback in terms of getting you to Haven.

Ruby: So it's because I need to get to Haven?

Jaune: Well that is your plan.

Ruby: Ugh.

Jaune: What was it? Was it something I said?

Ruby:* Isn't impressed by that*

Ruby: What's it like? I forced you to come out here and travel with me halfway around the world even though I had no idea how far that was?

Jaune: I have no idea what I'd be doing if not for you. And Ren and Nora got into Beacon with like a scholarship for hunters to be. I think they thought I'd abandon them. So when you asked me to come with you it was a no brainer. Would I have gotten Pyrrha's weapons and armour if not for you? This is destiny.

Ruby: You really think so?

Jaune: Well, more like this is the timeline where I can succeed if I put the work in.

Ruby: You think if we're clever enough and work hard enough we'll win? That's not like you.

Jaune: This is just a setback. Haven is waiting for you even if it doesn't know it.

Ruby: What about us. Are we making progress there?

Jaune: *stupidly* Us?

Ruby: *Jabs him in the ribs again*

Ruby: Us. What am I to you?

Jaune: You're my oldest friend for sure. It's not like I didn't think about you before.

Ruby: That's not fair. Pyrrha made it clear she liked you a lot.

Jaune: Still. And I could always count on you for advice and it was always good. So it sounds dumb to say something like boyfriend but you can if you want.

Ruby: We're a couple? You make everything so complicated.

Jaune: The thing about that is-

Ruby: Do you love me?

Jaune: Um. Yeah.

Ruby: *rolls her eyes with a grin*

Ruby: Jaune you need to do a little better than 'Um. Yeah.'

Jaune: *stares at her lips. Then at her eyes*

Ruby: You really want to kiss me. Don't you. You can if you want. Maybe not all the time but you can kiss me.

Jaune: *pushes her down and threads her bottom lip between both of his*