Chapter Text
Salty water drips into the sand behind her, the added weigh to her clothes making the world feel even heavier. Climbing up the dunes, Ruby sighs, looking back out at the surreal and endless ocean. Her heartbeat is slow and deep as she watches for signs of company or conflict.
Having no other options, and no motivation to think beyond her current situation, she lowers herself down the trunk of a palm tree and waits in the warm sand. With some luck, this world will allow her a chance to recover before throwing it’s next punch.
A sputtering cough wakes her from an unintentional, but desperately needed rest. Her eyes fly open to find a soaking wet blond pushing himself weakly off the ground in front of a barely visible sun. Jumping onto her feet, Ruby stumbles down the hill and races to his side.
“Jaune!” She shouts, a tangle of emotions filling her mind.
He looks up and relief floods over him, before his head drops again for a moment as he lets out a held breath. After a moment, he smiles and takes her extended hand, being pulled to his feet. But before she can react, Jaune tugs her into a hug and holds on for dear life. So, she hugs him back, and despite her inner turmoil, his affection makes it under her skin.
“When Weiss fell… I realised what had happened-where you’d all gone…I thought…” He trails off into her shoulder.
Jaune pulls away and keeps his eyes cast down, like he’s desperate to say something but can’t find the words. Ruby’s instinct to comfort and connect is restricted by her total exhaustion.
“It’s getting late. Let’s make camp.”
They climb back up the sandy hill and wade into the forest, the path ahead illuminated by the glowing plants and animals. Finding a clearing, they make a fire hoping to dry off. So, working in silence, they gather firewood and strip off most of their wet clothes, hanging them to dry. Left barefoot, in just their most basic garments, they huddle around the sizzling embers, but when Jaune glances up, he’s met with a muted, sorrowful energy.
“Are you alright?” He asks calmly, trying not to scare her off.
“I’m fine.” She replies bluntly, voice monotone and hoarse. And glancing away at the ground, she runs through it all. How everything went so wrong... “What happened after we fell?”
He stiffens and takes a shaky breath, his eyes flickering through his memories as his hand tightens on the handle of his sword. He answers carefully.
“Cinder… got the relics…” He croaks, glaring into the crackling fire.
Without saying a word, Ruby stands and turns away, arms embracing her centre as she tries to keep it together. Smoke-filled wind blows through her hair and Jaune’s eyelids hang low as a hopeless chill hums through the forest. Creeping in, he looms behind her, catching sight of tears being hurriedly wiped from her cheeks. So, placing a hand on her shoulder, he guides her back over to the fire, no words of comfort coming to mind.
“I wonder when the others will turn up…” He remarks after what feels like hours.
Ruby lips seal shut, hands balling up in her lap. The blond across the fire studies her, thrown off by such a reaction, but before he can speak, she lowers herself down into the grass and rolls over, facing away from the dwindling fire.
“I’m tired…”
“Me too.”
Hours of restlessness pass before she finally gives up and stares into the inky sky above, embers spiralling from the dying fire. The stars twinkle, dulled by smoke and stray clouds. Anyone one of them could begin to fall at any moment, and her peace would be done. Remnant would follow her here, one way or another.
Please stay away.
That thought hasn’t stopped pulsing through her mind, each time making her feel more and more sick. A sob lingers in her throat, so tempting, so straining. She swallows it back and clamps her eyes shut. That is, until a sound catches her ear. She sits up and looks past the fire, finding Jaune curled up, his shoulders jerking. Sobs manage to find their way out of his throat, despite his resistance. In a way, she envies it.
“Jaune…”
His silhouette freezes and the camp goes silent once more. After a moment, he tips onto his back and stares up at the stars just like her, searching for something…
“I’m fine.” He replies quietly, eyes and cheeks shining in the moonlight.
Dread washes over her. Unable to ignore it, she forces herself to face the fear she knows is justified. “After we fell… It-it was bad, right? Worse than us falling off- worse than Cinder. Please… just tell me.”
Paralysed against the cold grass, Jaune’s face furrows as he glares into the heavens, fury and devastation pumping through his veins. But they give way to helpless defeat eventually, leaving him nothing left but the truth.
“Penny-“ He starts, another sob slipping out.
“Stop.”
His breath hitches and he looks over to see the endlessly positive, happy, resilient Ruby Rose- trembling as tears flowing down her face. She rolls her head away and digs her hands around her ribs, holding herself.
“I…I know.” She finally weeps.
Jaune drags himself up and walks over, kneeling in the cold soil and pulling her limp body to his chest. She climbs upto his neck and whimpers into his collar, trying her absolute best to stop.
The fire crackles away.
Ruby’s eyes flicker open, squinting in the bright, tropical sun. As they adjust, she finds Jaune’s sleeping face mere inches from hers. They must have fallen asleep together, bodies cast out on opposite directions. Even upside down, his eyelids look red and raw, a night of pain behind them. The way his face rises, falls and flickers as he dreams calms her, but suddenly, his rest turns to terror, face contorting and murmured words creaking from his lips.
“Hey- shh shh it’s ok- you’re-“ Ruby whispers, touching his cheek.
“NO!” Jaune cries, shooting up and reaching out desperately.
Ruby pulls the shaken boy into her and soothes him back to reality. Eventually, his laboured breath settles and he slumps into her, closing his eyes.
“It’s my fault. She’s dead because of me.” He whimpers, grasping at the back of her shirt.
“That’s not true, I promise.” Ruby speaks softly, holding him tight.
Truth can be so close you can taste it, right in the tip of your tongue. And yet, you may still not be able to say it, even in moments like this.
Jaune sighs, guilt aching in his chest.
Once the sun starts to warm the skin on his cheek, Jaune realises how long it’s been.
“We should get moving and find the others.” He tries to move but she holds him still, clinging tightly to his jacket.
“Can… can we wait just a little longer?”
Jaune pauses, before dropping his head back and placing a hand on her back, stroking her skin in comfort. He ignores the tears dripping onto his neck.
He fills in the fire pit and gathers their clothes, dry and toasty in the morning sun. Ruby is still knelt in the place she slept, lost in thought until he hands her a stack of folded clothes.
“Thanks…” She smiles softly, talking them out of his hands.
However, when she tries to stand, a hiss of pain slips past her lips. Jaune stops in his tracks and turns back to her, cautiously placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m fine.” She huffs, shrugging him off.
When his finger touch her lower back, she can’t help but jerk forward slightly, arching away from him. Cautiously, he gathers up the back of her shirt to find significant burns, only barely healing. He recoils in horror as Ruby looks down with a bitter stare and pulls herself to her feet.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have healed you!” He barks, stopping when she flinches.
“I… I didn’t care. It’s all just too much.” She tries to wrap her corset around her waist, but jerks with pain the moment the leather touches her. It’s enough to crack her, enough to give him an opening. So he runs her fingers over her shoulder, and watches as their auras melt her away.
She doesn’t stop him.
“Thank you… That’s- better.” Ruby finally speaks as they wade through the thick brush. She’d barely said a thing all morning.
“I’m glad. Are you doing ok? You seem… different.” He asks, grazing her fingers past hers.
She rolls her eyes and scoffs, marching further ahead. “I’m-“
“Ruby-” He snaps, grabbing her hand and pulling her back.
Ruby peers up at him, thrown off by his insistence. Struggling to find the words, she shakes her head, huffing in agitation. “I just… It’s impossible to win. No matter how hard I try, people get hurt, cities get destroyed and my friends realise that I can’t do this…”
“I know you can do this. None of this was your fault, Ruby.” He hide her hand in his, rubbing a thumb over her knuckles. “I promise.”
Sometimes, you both know the truth, but you lie anyway, just because it feels better.
“Thanks…” Ruby croaks, slipping from his grasp and pushing on ahead.
They duck under the low branches to find another clearing. This one surrounds a singular, bizarre looking tree, fenced in by two, tall stone pillars, the newest leaves only just reach the very tops of the monuments. Hidden in the branches are what looks like pocket watches.
“Woah…” Jaune breathes, a refreshing rush of wonder finding him. Reaching up, he takes one of the strange fruit in his hand, plucking it from its stem.
But suddenly, the clock starts rewinding, the hands spinning back faster and faster. Overhead, they watch in horror as the sun and moon fly back through the sky endlessly, a barrage of multicoloured shooting stars being dragged back into the heavens.
“No no no STOP IT.” Jaune cries, shaking the clock in his hand.
Snapping to action, Ruby knocks it from his hand and smashes it into the ground under her boot. The sky slows to a halt and they stand frozen next to a significantly younger tree, barely reaching half way up the pillars.
“What- What just happened!” Jaunes hands dig into his hair. He stares up at the tree, now small and completely void of its fruit. “Oh my god.”
In the deathly silent field, they rest back to back for hours, reeling from the catastrophic circumstances
“I’m so sorry…” Jaune finally croaks, his face buried in his hands. “I didn’t mean to- I-I just picked it up… I-“
Ruby stands, takes three certain steps and crouches in front of him, head hung low. Then, dropping to her knees, she fiddles with the blades of grass, like shes admiring them.
“Thank you.”
A tear drips off her nose.
“Thank you? What does that mean?” Jaune blurts,
“We… we got sent back in time! Who knows how far- our friends may not find us for DECADES-“
Ruby bursts into tears, sobbing into her hands. She weeps and cries until her tears drip off her elbows before Jaune reaches forward and hovers a hand next to her face, unsure of what to do.
“I can’t- I can’t go b-back-” She chokes, hunching over, hands shaking.
“What…” Jaune breaths.
“I can’t d-do it- I can’t win. I can’t look at them and see the way they’ve lost faith in me. I can’t die in this war just to delay the inevitable!” She shouts, tugging on her hair.
“Now… I don’t have to. I can stay here and no one will find me for… years.” She sighs, body relaxing for the first time in weeks. She blinks up at the sky and a genuine smile dawns her face. Taking a deep breath, the possibilities are endless…
“B-but what about everyone else?” Jaune stammers, mind racing.
“They aren’t here yet. They’re children -or- they might not even be born.” She chuckles faintly, eyes searching the clouds.
Jaune goes slack in front of her, comprehending time and everything that comes with it.
“We could just live hear for decades. No war, no Salem, no more fighting for our lives. And we wouldn’t miss a thing.” Ruby urges, placing a hand on his cheek.
Jaune stares at her with anxious hesitation.
We can’t- they need us- no they don’t! This isn’t right-
“Are you sure?”
They rest their foreheads together and catch their breath, adrenaline racing through their bodies.
“No... But we have no choice.”
…
Night comes and they start to make camp, the feeling of uncertainty still lingering. They gather food and build a small shelter, realising they may be here for a while. The wind is colder in this part of the forest, good thing they have dry clothes again.
The new fire crackle away, the smoke drifting into the treetops. Ruby watches as it flickers, finally able to enjoy the beauty of it. Then, Jaune comes and huddles in beside her with a fond smile. So, she lifts her cape and wraps it around them as they eat their scavenged dinner. Resting her head on his shoulder, she feels him tense, before snaking a hand around her waist and pulling their bodies flush against each other.
“I’m glad it’s you.” He speaks softly, tipping his cheek onto her head.
“What do you mean?” She chirps back in amusement.
“If I have to spend my life alone with anyone, I’m glad it’s you…” He muses, holding her tight.
Goosebumps spread over her skin, heart racing again. But this time, it’s nice. She can’t help but giggle and snuggle up into him, hope taking hold of her mind once more.
“I’m glad it’s you too.”
Starting to drift off, they pull each other up and crawl into their shelter. It’s a tight squeeze- not much room to stretch out. So, they lay Ruby’s cape over their bodies and try to keep a distance as best they can. But as she watches him fall asleep, Ruby can’t help but feel a little guilty.
…
“PENNY!” Ruby shrieks, watching as Cinder mercilessly takes her friend’s life and throws her body to the floor.
Then it happens again, and again, and again- each time different- each time she sees the fear in Penny’s eyes.
“STOP!”
All at once, Ruby is jolted awake by a hand rocking her shoulder. Throwing herself forward, she clasps at her chest, lungs burning as she gasps for air. The only thing that pulls her away from her frantic delusion, is firm arms wrapping around her shoulders.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright... We’re here. Look around, nothing is gonna get you.” He comforts, pulling her rigid body back to the ground.
Jaune gathers her to his chest, stroking her hair as she tries to calm down and buries her face into his neck, taking deep breaths. Lacing her legs into his, she tries to ground herself, focusing in on all the sounds, smells, textures and the pressure of his embrace
“Wanna talk about it?” He asks softly, brushing the hair out of her eyes.
Managing to relax a little, Ruby slumps against him and tries to think.
“We were on the b-bridge, and I kept… seeing the moment Penny died…”
Jaune fingers grip her surprisingly tight for a moment, so Ruby peers up at him and sees the look in his eyes, pure pain and fear.
“How did it happen…” Her words are so quiet, she’s surprised he heard them.
Jaune grits his teeth and forces an answer.
“Cinder caught her and… almost got the maiden power. We… managed to pull her off, but Penny was hurt. Really hurt. I tried to h-heal her but-“ His voice cracks and he stops, fingers digging into her back again.
“Thank you… for telling me.” Ruby sighs, ending the conversation for the night.
Eventually, their eyes flicker closed, and they fall back into a deep slumber, tangled together.
…
Chilled morning air seeps in under the makeshift blanket, so Ruby grimaces and fidgets around, trying to seal the offending opening. But feeling her nose brush against a soft fabric, her eyes flicker open, finding a boy wrapped around her. She squeaks, quickly covering her mouth and watching as he stirs awake.
“Hi…” He grumbles, pulling her in closer.
Ruby pauses for a moment, unsure of whether she should say something or not.
But before she can think of an answer, Jaune buries his face into her hair and lets out a deep sigh, every muscle in his body completely slack. Running his hand down her back, he drags her bare leg over his hip and pulls her hips flush against him.
Her cheeks blush a deep red and her mind goes blank. But despite the total system failure she’s experiencing, she can’t help but savour the sensation. His body radiates heat and his breath pours over her neck as the drowsy boy tries to lure her back to sleep.
Lost in pure bliss, she nuzzles into him and digs her hands through his hair, giving into his temptation.