It had been 4 weeks since the kiss, and Ruby and Jaune still refused to acknowledge the tension between them. Refused to admit that anything had changed, despite the ever-diminishing amount of time spent together. No longer did they spend hours talking, or cook dinner together. There were no movie nights where they ripped films to shreds. Instead the moments when they were together were full of averted gazes and awkward small talk that was them painfully obviously avoiding the was so intense that even those who did not know the pair well were aware that something was wrong.

And with those that did? There was a growing concern that there was something deeply wrong, and that if it wasn't fixed soon that the pair would be torn apart forever. Nora had noticed it first, when they barely looked at each other when they visited Ren and Nora to check on them after the party. Having been too preoccupied with other things during the crucial moment at the party she had chalked it up to everyone being a bit hung over still. It hadn't been until Blake had asked if anything had changed between the pair that Nora realised what was going on. She spent the next few weeks watching them, waiting for them to return to their old habits, their old way of talking to and about each other. But it didn't happen, and she watched them grow further and further apart, she only became more and more determined to bring them back together, with all the eagerness of a teenager determined to make her two best friends hook up.

Nora had however learned some tact since she was a teenager, and now knew that locking two people in a closet was not the fastest way to make them confess their love for each other. Or try to kill each other. She had used it to try and achieve both results.

Instead she opted to try and sort out Jaune and Ruby's issue in a more tactful way. Primarily through talking. Even if she wouldn't be the one doing it, just getting everyone else to

Though she did maintain that locking them in a closet would work as a solid plan B. Even if no-one else agreed with her.

"Do you know what happened between them?" Nora said to her fiancé, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She had just said goodbye to Ruby and Jaune after they had spent three hours helping herself and Ren pick out napkins. "Because the whole 'will they won't they' has turned very 'they won't' since the party."

"It's only been a month, give them a break. Blake told us what happened." Ren said. "Also, why can't we just elope? This whole wedding planning thing is getting to out of hand."

"Because I want a big wedding." Nora said, rehashing a discussion they had been having for years. "I'm just worried. They were getting along so well so comfortable around each other. Now they won't touch each other, they barely look each other in the eye."

Ren eyed his fiancée carefully. "Whatever it is, I'm sure they can figure it out like adults." He paused "Because, you know, they are adults. And don't need our interference."

Nora rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to do anything. But I do wish I knew why they can't go back to normal."

"Do you want me to talk with Jaune?" Ren sighed.

Nora's grin answered his question. "Well Yang is going to have a chat to Ruby so maybe that might help too."

"Fine, I'll talk to him. See what's up." Ren said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to know."

Nora smiled up at him before cupping his cheek. "Thank you. I'm worried about him. We gotta look after that useless leader of ours."

"Shouldn't he be looking after us?" Ren said with a smirk. "Isn't that how normal teams work?"

"When were we ever a normal team?"

"Strictly platonic." Ruby said as she eyed herself in the mirror, scissors in hand, judging how much she needed to trim her fringe by. "That's all we are, all we'll ever be and -"

"You cannot change the status quo." Yang's voice was tinny through the scroll speaker. "Yeah you told me. I'm not sure who you are trying to convince, but it sure as hell ain't me."

Ruby sighed placing her head in her hands. "Well what if we changed things and it was bad? And it didn't work? He's like a brother, one of the best friends I've ever had. And it's not like I'm in love with him, and there's no way he's in love with me! I mean he goes on dates all the time."

"Keep telling yourself that sis, one day it'll sound convincing." Yang was on Patch, repainting part of her combat prosthetic that had been scuffed.

"It's just it's been so awkward since the party Yang. We don't talk anymore. Not like we used to," Ruby said sighing. "It used to be so easy you know? And we'd talk about everything. Our missions, drama shows, what's for dinner, therapy, our shitty neighbours shitty dogs," Ruby paused. "I want to complain about the dogs. The contract said no pets but apparently because she's the owner's niece she gets special treatment."

"You could just try talking to him, establish actual boundaries rather than a nebulous 'we don't have feelings' it would help." Yang said. "I've heard communication is excellent for relationships."

Ruby stopped what she was doing to glare at the scroll, knowing her sister couldn't see her. "There is no relationship."

Yang rolled her eyes. "Friendships also require communication."

"There is nothing to communicate!" Ruby said, dropping her scissors. I'm not interested in a relationship, and he said he isn't interested in me in that way!"

There was a long pause as both sisters reflected on what Ruby had said. Yang sensing more and more hesitation from her sister, Ruby trying to convince herself that what she had said was the truth.

"Are you scared?" Yang asked.

"Huh, what?" Ruby said. "I mean yeah sure of lots of things. You all dying is a big one."

"I mean of being in a relationship with a friend again." Yang clarified. "After what happened with Weiss I was wondering if maybe you fear losing not just what you had as friends, but him as being in your life."

"Yeah." Ruby said, her voice sounding rather small. "I really don't want to lose that."

"But with this awkwardness, which has been going on for a month now sis, I've spoken to Nora and she's worried too, you've lost what you had already." Yang said gently. "Wouldn't it be worth talking it out to see if you can get back to where you were?"

Ruby thought for a second while she lined up the scissors with where she wanted to trim her hair. Long enough to cover her eyepatch, but not so long it would be inconvenient on a mission. "So, you want me to deal with my emotions like an adult rather than what I'm doing, which is a strategy I'm quite enjoying because it doesn't involve difficult conversations where I tell my best friend and flatmate that I may or may not be in love with him?" She made the first snip. "I mean in the long run your way would be better, but mine feels good for the now."

"Sis . . ." Yang said slowly. "I love you, and You know I don't want to see you hurt again, but this will hurt you less in the long run, whether it's just clearing things up, or if you end up in a relationship that ends like you and Weiss. At least you will have tried. And remember what Qrow said? 'We regret the things we didn't do, more than the things we did.'"

"Didn't he say that about not getting with Dad?"

"The context isn't what's important, it's the message," Yang said, rolling her eyes. "Don't let opportunities pass you by because you might regret them."

Silence hung over the connection for a second before Ruby said. "Thanks Yang, I think I might try talking to him."

"Awesome." Yang cracked a grin. "Also, I know you're cutting your own hair again. Seriously just go to a hairdresser."

"Jaune says it looks fine when I do it myself." Ruby said, snipping another lock. "And I mean, I like it."

"You don't like him, yet his opinion matters on how you cut your hair." Yang said slowly.

"Yang, he lives in the same apartment, it's the easiest opinion to get." Ruby said, snipping her bangs, careful to leave enough to cover the worst of her scaring.

"Relax, I'm just kidding around sis. But promise me you will talk to him? For both of your sakes?"

"I promise."

"If you don't tell me what's wrong I'll just kick your ass until you do." Ren said, meeting Jaune's eyes. "I can do this all day."

The two men were squared off against each other, both drenched in sweat and unarmed. Ren with his hair tied back in a messy bun, and his shirt tossed aside 2 rounds ago. Jaune still in long sleeves even in the privacy of the overheated gym. It wasn't an unusual scene for them, they sparred together whenever they could.

"You're distracted Jaune, I've won every match so far." Ren continued. "Usually it's a lot more even."

"Maybe you're just that good." Jaune said between deep breaths.

"Flattery is nice, but you know that's a lie." Ren said sitting down. "C'mon Jaune, sit down and tell me what's on your mind. Sometimes a second perspective can make things seem so much better."

Jaune sighed before walking over to his gym bag and grabbing his drink bottle. "There is nothing to talk about."

"Yeah that's why you can barely look at Ruby, but when you do, your gaze lingers." Ren said, watching as Jaune tensed up at Ruby's name. "You look at her how Nora does pancakes." Ren patted the floor in front of him. "Tell me what's going on."

There was a long pause as Jaune thought over his options. He could tell Ren what had happened, and maybe develop a plan of action, or he could continue running from the issue.

"Ruby and I kissed."

"Really that's it?" Ren said leaning back on his hands. "Haven't you done that before? Like a lot? I remember you two kissing a lot when you were drunk during the war."

"Yeah but, it's different now." Jaune took a deep breath. "It made me wonder about how close I'd been getting with Ruby and if there was something other than just, you know, friendship at play. I mean I wouldn't say I'm not attracted to her, she's probably the hottest girl I know - no offence to your fiancée Ren - but I can't be developing you know, feelings for her right? that's absurd. She's like my sister . . ."

There was a slight smile on Ren's lips as he listened to Jaune ramble. He knew the thought process well, it had occupied his mind for the better part of a year after he entered Beacon.

"Maybe you need to consider that maybe you are into her. In the more than 'just friends' way." Ren said.

"But I'm not." Jaune said. "I'm just imagining things because we live together. Shit like that happens, right?"

"Yes, but it tends to be rooted in some actual feelings," Ren said. "You know you should at least talk about this with her right? Clear the air, get on the same page, stop being so goddamn awkward because guess what? we've all noticed."

"We agreed never to speak of it again." Jaune said, fiddling with the cap of his bottle.

Concern clouded Ren's face. "Probably all the more reason you should. Nora and I are worried."

"When aren't you?"

"When you stop giving us reason to worry." Ren said, an edge of seriousness in his voice that hadn't been there before. "Jaune, you're our leader, or friend, and the closest thing to a family member we have. and we know what Ruby means to you, even just as a friend. we don't want you to lose that."

Jaune tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. "What if I'm scared?"

"Of emotions?"

"Of a relationship," Jaune clarified, suddenly feeling very small. "Except for casual flings and whatever I had with Pyrrha, I've been single my whole life. The vulnerability scares me"

"I didn't say get in a relationship, I said talk to her," Ren said. "And if you do get in one, well, just let it flow, let it be organic. There are times where we have to be vulnerable, and Ruby is someone who has probably seen everything you have already, she's not going to think any differently of you. Nora and I'll support you both no matter what. And if you're worried about disrespecting Pyrrha's memory, she wanted nothing more than for you to be happy."

Jaune reached over and clapped a hand on Ren's shoulder. "You've been a great help today."

"You're going to talk to her?"

"I'm going to kick your ass first."

Ren waved a hand in front of his face. "I'm done for the day. Exhausted."

"Scared you'll lose if you fight me with a clear head." Jaune gave a cocky smirk.

"No, I'm just tired." Ren said. "And it's getting close to dinnertime. Nora's cooking."

"Good luck."

"She's an excellent cook you know." Ren defended his fiancée.

"If it comes from a box."

"I happen to enjoy chicken nuggets and spring rolls with oven fries." Ren said. "Which is the menu tonight."

Jaune snorted.

"I do!" Ren said. "Whatever. Look word of advice, before your chat with Ruby, don't shave for a few days. Nora said Ruby likes beards on guys. A few days is long enough for you to grow a beard, right?"

"Hilarious." Jaune said as he scratched at his stubble. He'd shaved that morning, and it only took a few days for him to start looking scruffy. "I'll talk to her. Again, thanks Ren."

He was tense and she wasn't sure why. She could see it in his shoulders, his eyes. the way he clenched his fork. All of them telling her that there was something wrong. It wasn't unusual, they had been tense around each other for a month now, but today he seemed more so. And she wasn't much better.

Ruby had been mulling this over for a few days now, whether to take Yang's advice or run from it. trying to figure out the best time to approach him. And she supposed now was as good a time as any. As he ate a post workout snack.

"Jaune," she said as she stat down opposite him. "We need to talk."

He looked her in the eye. "Yeah. We do."

Maybe this conversation would be a little easier than they both thought.

Hi guys, can you believe this? An update? In less than a month? I can't either. Hopefully, there will be another one before uni starts. Massive thanks to Bryce for beta reading, and I love reading your responses.