The Silver Reaper (male Fox Faunus Reader X RWBY)

Chapter 7: Forever Fall

In the Beacon Academy student dorms, where Pyrrha looks out the window sadly as Ren loads StormFlower and Nora is jumping on her bed in the room for Team JNPR.

Nora: How come Jaune gets home so late?

Ren: He's become rather scarce since he started fraternizing with Cardin.

Nora: That's weird... Doesn't he know we have a field trip tomorrow? We need our rest! (she proclaims this while twirling in midair so her back hits the covers)

Pyrrha: (angrily) I'm sure our leader knows exactly what he's doing.

Nora and Ren exchange glances, not knowing that Jaune himself is looking in through the crack of the door.

Nora: Mmmm... I guess so.

Jaune hangs his head and closes the door, just as a voice interrupts his thoughts.

Ruby: Hey, Jaune! (startled, Jaune turns around to see her in her pajamas, and she giggles at his reaction) Long time, no see! Did you lock yourself out again?

Jaune: Oh, uh, nope! (raises his Scroll, attempting to laugh) Got it!

Ruby: So! Where have you been lately?

Jaune: I, uh... (he tries to come up with something, but just sighs and lowers his head) I messed up. I did something I shouldn't have, and now Cardin has me on a leash, and Pyrrha won't even talk to me, and... (breathes heavily through his nose) I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea. (presses his back to his team's door and slides down to the floor in depression) I'm a failure.

Ruby: Nope!

Jaune: (looking at her in surprise) 'Nope?'

Ruby: Nope! You're a leader now, Jaune. You're not allowed to be a failure.

Jaune: But... What if I'm a failure at being a leader?

Ruby: (thinks about it for a moment, then gives her answer) Nope!

Jaune: (laughs as she joins him on the floor) You know, you're not the easiest person to talk to about this kind of stuff.

Ruby: Nope! (as Jaune leans into the door some more) Jaune, maybe you were a failure when you were a kid... (Jaune groans and sinks lower to the ground) ...and you might've even been a failure the first day we met! (he groans and goes lower still) But, you can't be one now. You know why?

Jaune: Uhhh, because...?

Ruby: Because it's not just about you anymore. You've got a team now, Jaune. We both do! And if we fail, then we'll just be bringing them down with us.

She gets up and places her hands on her hips as she speaks)

Ruby: We have to put our teammates first, and ourselves second. Your team deserves a great leader, Jaune. And I think that can be you.

She walks over to her door and opens it as Jaune, now slightly inspired by her words, watches her wave.

Ruby: Have a good night, Jaune! (she goes inside)

???: She's right, you know.

Jaune got startled and turned around to see Y/n in his pajamas was coming around the corner.

Jaune: Dude stop doing that!

Y/n:(chuckles) Sorry. But Ruby is right, Jaune.

Jaune: About being a leader?

Y/n: Yes. You have a great responsibility placed on you. Your team trusts you with their lives as much as you trust them with yours. A great leader always helps his or her team and friends no matter the risk. Anyway I need to get to sleep, night Jaune.