BLANK | (Abused Fem!reader x Blake Belladonna)

Growing Pains

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3rd person POV

Within the Team JNPR dorm, Nora, Pyrrha, Ren, and (Y/n) are getting comfortable for the night, with Jaune spying through the crack, ashamed to face his team

Nora:
You know, Jaune's been suuuper late recently. I wonder what's up.

Ren:
He's made himself scarce ever since he started buddying up with Cardin and his team.

Nora:
That's weird. Doesn't he know that we have a trip tomorrow? We need sleep.

Ren:
What's really weird is you being the reasonable one.

Nora:
Hey!

Ren:
But you have a point. He's actually very different.

Pyrrha:
I'm sure that Jaune knows exactly what he is doing!

Nora:
Hmmm... (Y/n), what do you think?

(Y/n):
I think that he'll be just fine. If he wants to believe he can handle everything by himself, let him. We'll be here when he realizes that there's no shame in not being able to do everything by himself. It is actually pretty dumb.

Ren:
(Y/n), do you--

(Y/n):
I'm still annoyed that this trip will be cutting into my time at the bakery.

Nora:
Which you refuse to spill to us!

(Y/n):
And I won't stop now.

Nora:
Just tell us, woman!

(Y/n):
Not a chance. Night.

* * *

Outside of the room, Jaune sighs and closes the door before being frightened by Ruby

Ruby:
Hey Jaune. Long time no see. Did you lock yourself out again?

Jaune:
Heh, no, no. I got my scroll here.

Ruby:
So what have you been up to?

Jaune:
Oh, uh, not much. I just, um... I... I messed up. Cardin has some dirt on me and now has me working for him, and I blew up on Pyrrha, and now she won't talk to me. I'm starting to think coming to Beacon was a mistake. I'm a failure.

Ruby:
Nuh uh.

Jaune:
Nuh uh?

Ruby:
You're a leader now, Jaune. You can't be a failure.

Jaune:
Then what if I'm a failure at being a leader?

Ruby:
Hmm... Nope!

Jaune:
You know, you make talking about these things pretty hard.

Ruby:
Listen, Jaune, maybe you were a failure when you were younger, and maybe you were one when we first met. But you can't be one now. Do you know why?

Jaune:
Because...?

Ruby:
It's about more than just you now, Jaune. You have a team now. We both do. If we fail, we're dragging them down with us. Your team deserves a good leader. And I really think that you can be that for them.

Jaune:
Thank you, Ruby.

Ruby:
Good night, Jaune.

She heads into her dorm room as Jaune stands with newfound courage until his scroll beeps, and he listens to Cardin's voice message