And now, the epilogue.

Lonely Nights

"Sleeping bags?"

"Check."

"Flashlights?"

"Check."

"Dust rounds?"

"Check."

"Good. Everything is accounted for then."

"What about the cookies?"

"What for? We are going on a mission, not a field trip."

"Weiss!"

An amused Blake watched as Ruby and Weiss argued over what to pack for the mission to Mountain Glenn. Once upon a time, Blake had done her best to tune out their arguments, thinking them a waste of time. Now, she couldn't imagine her life without them. Team RWBY was her home.

To think she had been about to leave it all behind.

The small smile that had been forming on Blake's face dimmed.

Time had passed since that night. Jaune had returned to class. As for Blake, she took the advice she should have taken much earlier and shared her desire to do something about the White Fang with her team.

To no one's surprise, Ruby had leaped at the chance to do good. It made Blake feel stupid over how obsessed she had been with doing everything on her own.

Of course, not everything had gone smoothly. Blake's wariness regarding infiltrating a White Fang rally had proven well-founded. It took less than five minutes for her to be recognized. Still, finding out the thing the White Fang had smuggled from Atlas was a giant robot had been worth it. Even if that knowledge raised more questions than it answered.

As capable as the Atlas branch of the White Fang was, there was no way they could have gotten their hands on something like that without help. Had Blake learned of this during the beginning of the semester, she would have become obsessed with trying to figure out how the White Fang acquired the Paladin. However, the consequences of letting her passions get the better of her had been shown to her all too clearly.

Blake knew better than to let herself be consumed again. Never again would she allow something like that to happen. Instead of obsessing over it, Blake allowed herself to take a step back. To relax for a while.

However, that didn't mean she had gone to the dance. Sun had asked her, and Yang had encouraged her to go for it, but Blake had declined. After what happened with Jaune, she could not bring herself to do it. The memories of what she had done still weighted heavily on her. Going to the dance wouldn't feel right, especially since Jaune hadn't gone either.

"Hey, stop arguing, and let's get this over with already," Yang said, plopping herself down next to Blake. A teasing smile appeared on her face. "We wouldn't want Blake to be late for her date!"

"It's not a date," Blake said, mostly out of habit. Yang hadn't believed her the first twelve times she had said it. No one had. Why would they start now?

Sure enough, Yang's teasing smile grew into a teasing grin, Weiss shot her an utterly mystified look, and Ruby aimed an encouraging smile her way. Blake fought the urge to shake her head. They didn't get it.

The night she had apologized to Jaune had been the first time the two had actually talked with one another. It had helped. However, it would be foolish to think a single conversation could make everything right. Things hadn't suddenly returned to some semblance of normality. Such a thing was impossible.

After Jaune had returned to class, he and Blake had talked to each other as much as they had before the incident, which was to say not much at all. It shouldn't have been weird or strange, except it was. The silence between them was felt as a physical force. It was heavy, suffocating, and could not be ignored.

Their friends certainly hadn't.

Not knowing the full story, they could only see that she and Jaune were being awkward around each other for some reason, so they had done what came naturally to them. Blake understood that, but it would have been so easy for things to go wrong back then.

It had all started with a joint study session in the library.

All members of Team RWBY and Team JNPR had been there except for Pyrrha who had come down with a cold. As the minutes went by, their friends had left one by one, each claiming they suddenly remembered something important they had to do. It had probably been Yang's idea. Her or Nora's.

Blake should have seen it coming, but she hadn't. Not until Yang suddenly stood up and said she and Ruby had to go to the armory. It had been as much of a surprise for her and Jaune as it had been for Ruby who had stared at them with wide eyes as Yang dragged her away.

Leaving Jaune and Blake alone.

Yes, she really should have seen it coming. They hadn't even been subtle about it. However, she had been too busy trying to act like nothing was wrong to notice the obvious. Their friends had forced them to be alone with each other, hoping they would talk things out. Their intentions were good. Unfortunately, they didn't understand the issue.

For minutes, they hadn't talked. They probably should have left the library the moment Ruby and Yang had. That would have been the smart thing to do. However, they hadn't. They had so badly wanted to pretend they could act like nothing was wrong that they had stayed at that table, suffering that silence.

Jaune had been the one to speak first.

"So… what's your favorite color?"

It was just something he had said to fill the void. Just words off the top of his head. Jaune might as well have talked about the weather. He probably hadn't even expected her to answer. Still, Blake had, just as eager to escape the silence as he was.

"Purple."

"Oh."

"Is there a problem with that?"

"No, it's just… I thought for sure you were going to say black."

"I like purple."

"Oh."

There had been something in Jaune's eyes as he said that. Blake still wasn't quite sure what it was. Regardless, it compelled her to ask him the same question.

"What's yours?"

"My favorite color? It's white."

"Oh."

"What? You thought I was going to say yellow?"

"Blue, actually."

"Oh."

The memory of that horribly awkward conversation was still enough to make Blake wince. Still, those few words had helped them realize something important. Despite everything that had happened between them, the two really didn't know each other all that much. Blake Belladonna did not know Jaune Arc, and Jaune Arc did not know Blake Belladonna.

Perhaps that was what compelled them to keep talking.

They talked until late in the evening. Throughout it all, they never once spoke about anything important. Nothing too deep. Nothing too personal. Just normal things. Pastimes. Favorite foods. Favorite stories. Just normal trivial things.

It had helped.

The tension between them remained, but it wasn't as overpowering as before. Perhaps, it was because by learning more about each other, they had been able to start seeing themselves as something other than abused and abuser. Then again, perhaps she was just deluding herself. Perhaps they had just gotten better at faking normalcy. Regardless, there had been another talk after that and then another one.

Somewhere along the way, they had agreed to meet up at least once a week.

"You know you can talk to us, right?" Yang quietly told her as Weiss and Ruby's attention went back to packing. The blonde wasn't looking at her, but Blake had a feeling she'd find an uncharacteristically serious look on her face if she was.

"I know. I promise I will one day."

Blake knew their friends had all drawn their own conclusions regarding what had happened between her and Jaune, but the full truth was not something she or Jaune had shared with anyone. Keeping things a secret had been Jaune's idea.

"I'd rather you didn't tell anyone about what happened," Jaune had told her.

Had Jaune said those words out of a misguided attempt to protect her, Blake would have confessed the truth right away. However, it wasn't like that. Jaune's reason was far more uncomfortable.

He was ashamed of what had happened.

It was not something Blake knew how to address, especially because she was the cause of it. The only thing she could do was go along with Jaune's wishes. If Jaune didn't want the others knowing the truth because of that, she would keep it a secret. For now, at least.

One day, Jaune would recover enough to share what had happened that night. Blake dreaded that day, dreaded the disgusted looks on her friends' faces. Nevertheless, she would face the consequences of her actions when the time came. She owed Jaune that and so much more.

"Just not yet."

"I'll hold you to that."

A pillow struck Blake's face right after. It fell off her face to reveal a guilty Ruby who had been aiming at Weiss. Blake took the pillow and aimed.

Packing took a long time to get done.

xXx

Whenever Jaune and Blake met for one of their sessions, they usually did so in Team JNPR's room. Jaune felt more at ease there, and there was little chance of being overheard by a random student. Ren and Nora went out on dates fairly often now, so it wasn't like they were imposing. The location also had the advantage of being about five steps away from Team RWBY's room.

There was only one problem.

Pyrrha.

The redhead waited for Blake. She stood in front of the door with her arms crossed. Even though Pyrrha did a remarkable job of hiding it behind a polite smile whenever their teams were together, Blake knew she was still intensely angry at her. It was likely only out of deference to Jaune that Pyrrha did not make a bigger issue out of it.

Except for that one time in Combat Class.

Contrary to Blake's fears, Professor Goodwitch had yet to put her in a match against Jaune. Blake knew she wouldn't be able to handle something like that.

Goodwitch had put her in a match against Pyrrha.

On that day, Blake learned what it felt like to be completely outclassed. The fight had lasted a minute, but those sixty seconds had been the longest of Blake's life. Pyrrha had overwhelmed her with brutal, methodical precision. By the end of it all, Blake had been on the floor, panting and bruised with her aura in the red.

Pyrrha's aura had been full.

No one had talked. No one had clapped. Deathly silence dominated the classroom after that fight. Even Goodwitch hadn't seemed to know what to say.

Pyrrha, however, had. Once the two had made their way back to the locker room, Pyrrha had said her piece.

"You don't deserve him."

There had been nothing Blake could say to that. She could try to explain to Pyrrha that she and Jaune weren't together, but it wouldn't matter. Pyrrha probably knew that better than anyone. Besides, she was right. She didn't deserve him. Jaune was a good person, and she had treated him like crap. The only thing Blake could do now was try to make it up to him in any way she could.

If Jaune asked her to leave his life forever, she would do so. If he wanted to keep their talks going because he believed that would make things better between them, she would be there for him.

Even if it meant facing Pyrrha's glare every time.

"I am here to see Jaune," she said.

Pyrrha looked at her for ten very awkward seconds during which Blake repeatedly told herself to not run away. She almost breathed out a sigh of relief when Pyrrha moved out of the way and left the door open for her. Blake watched as Pyrrha walked away. At least, she wasn't staying in the hall while she and Jaune talked anymore. That was progress.

Maybe.

Blake took a deep breath and went in.

A pleasant smell hit her the moment she entered the room. Jaune looked up and waved at her. "Hey, I thought it would take you girls longer to pack for your mission."

Blake did not answer right away. She was too busy staring at the small table set in the middle of the room. There were two plates with food on them. Her gaze slowly went up to meet Jaune's eyes.

"You cooked?"

Jaune scratched the back of his head. "About that, I was feeling pretty hungry last time, but you were talking about your home, so I didn't want to interrupt. Would have been awkward. I figured I'd try to have something ready for us this time. You don't mind, do you? I made tuna omelets."

They smelled delicious.

He might as well have shoved his sword through her heart.

"Jaune, you don't have to force yourself to-"

"Hey, I'm not forcing myself!" Jaune said. Blake shot him a look. He sighed. "Okay, maybe I'm forcing myself. But just a little. Is it really that bad if I do, though? If I just want things to be okay? To stop feeling like this? Is that so wrong?"

It was, and it wasn't. However, it wasn't like she wasn't guilty of the same thing. Nevertheless…

"You shouldn't be doing nice things for me," Blake said. Every time he did, her guilt became unbearable. Jaune's kindness was not something that should be wasted her. She was unworthy of it. It burned her like fire. If she didn't know better, she would swear Jaune was doing it on purpose just to torture her. However, he wasn't that type of person.

That made it worse.

"I'm doing it for me too," Jaune said, motioning her to take a seat. "It's not like I can just make food for myself and eat it in front of you. I'd feel like a jerk."

He wouldn't be. After what she had done to him, he could do whatever he wanted with her, and he still wouldn't be called a jerk.

However, if it was what Jaune wanted, she had little choice in the matter.

"Fine," Blake said as she took a seat, "But what about this?"

As she spoke, she took Gambol Shroud's ribbon out of her pocket.

The same ribbon Jaune tied around her hands every time they were alone like this.

"I… hadn't thought about that," Jaune admitted.

It was a good thing Yang didn't know about this particular detail. Blake would never hear the end of it if she did. However, the reason why Jaune tied the ribbon around her wrists had nothing to do with whatever Yang's mind could come up with.

Jaune just didn't feel safe with her.

He tried to hide it. He tried to play it off. He tried to pretend he could treat her like a friend like he was doing now. However, there was no hiding the way he would flinch if she moved too suddenly or how he went out of his way to avoid even so much as brushing against her. Blake had been the one to suggest he tie her hands when they were alone as a way to make him feel more at ease in her presence.

She had just thrown it out there, not expecting Jaune to agree to something like that.

He had.

"Maybe we could do without the ribbon this time?" Jaune asked, but Blake could tell his heart wasn't in it.

"Would you really feel comfortable with that?"

Jaune sighed. "No. I'm sorry."

"Jaune, you are the last person that should be apologizing to me. It's fine." Blake held out her hands and offered the ribbon to him. Jaune took it and began to tie it around her wrists, all while making sure to never make contact with her skin.

She could easily free herself if she wanted, and they both knew it, but this was not a matter of logic. They were doing this so Jaune would feel safe. If this helped him even a little, Blake would do it.

"Your food will grow cold like this."

"I can heat it later," Blake said as Jaune made sure not to tie the ribbon too tightly around her wrists. "It was a nice thought."

Certainly better than she deserved.

Jaune did not seem to think so. He stared at the ribbon with a stubborn look on his face. It was the same look he'd sometimes get during combat class when he was losing a spar. It was the same look he'd get when doing a particularly tricky piece of homework that he didn't want anyone to help him with just yet. It was a look Blake had come to find quite-

No. Blake shook her head. It was better not to go there.

After a while, Jaune seemed to come to a conclusion. He nodded to himself before picking up the fork and knife on her side of the table.

"Say aaah," Jaune said as he cut a small piece of omelet and offered it to her.

"What?" Blake said in surprise before the food was suddenly shoved in her mouth with expertise that could only come from having to pamper seven sisters.

"You told me about Kuo Kuana last time, so it's my turn to share something," Jaune said as he cut another piece for her. "No reason you can't eat while I do so."

He tried to say it casually, but there was no hiding the slight tremor in his voice that came from being in such close proximity to her.

Shame and gratitude welled up inside Blake with so much force she almost felt like crying. Why was he always like this? Why did he have to try so hard?

Why couldn't she have noticed it sooner?

"The other day you said you've been to Mistral before. Ever heard of Shion village? My parents used to take us vacationing there. It's a cozy little town. There was this one time when…"

Blake listened with interest as she continued being fed by her… friend? No, she did not deserve to be called Jaune's friend. Not after what she had done. They were no longer lovers, and they were too close be called acquaintances. The link between them eluded her attempts to describe it.

It was bizarre, but it was there, the remainder of the wounds she had inflicted upon Jaune. By all means, it should be something purely negative. However, if Jaune refused to let it be that, who was she to say otherwise?

Maybe one day, they would reach something approaching normal. Maybe not. Maybe theirs was a doomed effort. Maybe one day Jaune would wake up and realize how much he should hate her. Regardless, whatever happened, Blake would keep doing as Jaune wished. She would stay at his side for as long as he was willing to have her.

And if things returned to normal… if things got better…

No.

That was not a thought Blake was willing to entertain, not even in her own mind.

However, if it could happen…

If it could…

AN:

And so it ends.

Things are not well, but they're not as bad as they could be. The balance of power between Jaune and Blake has shifted rather dramatically and in a way that would worry Jaune if he knew just how far Blake is willing to go for him now. Also, yes, Jaune not going to the dance means that Weiss ended up alone. That kind of sucks for her.

Overall, this was the happiest I could end things considering everything that happened in the story. Well, the happiest I could end things without writing ten more chapters or so just dealing with the aftermath, but that's not a challenge I'm willing to take up.

Do Jaune and Blake manage to get past this and establish a genuine friendship? Do they fail? As the writer, I'd like to think things will go in a positive direction, but you're free to assume otherwise.

Now, allow me ramble a bit.

I can't believe I actually finished a fic. I also can't believe how hard to write this was.

The original idea was simple. Jaune and Blake had a one-night stand. That was it. However, once I finished the original one-shot, this idea came to me. My first thought was, "Would it make sense for Blake to act like this?" To me, at least, the logic checked out. For all that she is supposed to be "the quiet one," Blake is a very passionate person, and volume 2 is a good example of how that can lead Blake to becoming obsessed. The materials were all there. I just needed to create the circumstances.

That led to my second big question regarding this fic, "Can I pull it off?" Could I make you believe this was a thing Blake would do? Could I make it make sense? Could I make you believe Blake could act in a way that was (as one reviewer quickly noticed) Adam-like? This story deals with some heavy subjects, and I've never written anything like this before. It's fair to say I barely had any confidence in pulling this fic off. Still, I felt like I had to try my hand at this.

Even as I kept writing the story, I doubted. After posting chapter 2, I was like, "Okay, last chance. You can totally change the story to something less dark. No one has to know you chickened out. Once you post chapter 3, there is no going back." Obviously, I didn't change my mind, but the urge was strong. Now, here we are.

Did I succeed at doing what I wanted to do?

I'm not sure.

There are many points in this story where I felt I should have done a better job. Like, should there have been a chapter between chapters 2 and 3 to let the story breathe a bit? One between 3 and 4? I wondered about that a lot. Ultimately, I decided against it because I didn't want to sacrifice the quick pace of the story, but I still wonder if that was the right call. I also wanted to give the other characters a little more screen-time, but I feared the story would become too padded if I did.

Then there's Jaune's character. He kind of ended up maturing way faster than I had planned. The guy got away from me at some point.

There were many chapters that I posted while thinking, "So this is going to be the one where they tell it's shit and flame me to death, right?" After I posted chapter four, I expected to watch that favorite count drop down hard. However, to my surprise, you guys kept reading this story. You guys kept liking it. I'm thankful for that. I know this story is not for everyone. I know it has flaws.

Still, if you were able to sit down and enjoy this, I'm glad. Thanks for reading Lonely Nights.

Oh, and by the way, The Jaune-Shots will not update next week. December has been horrible, and I need a break. Also, I'll probably announce my next fic over there.

Take care, everyone.

Till next fic!