3rd Person POV

"Hey Y/N, can you take over for me a bit? I need to take a break for a moment." Y/N lightly nodded his head as he poured a customer's drink. At the moment, Y/N didn't mind working a lot more. As long as he could get the thought of Ruby out of his head, he was all for it. However, as he continued working, he heard a song which truly embodied him at the very moment. Why Do Fools Fall In Love? Truly it was classic. Though it was odd to hear a child singing about how love was. Either he had better luck than him... or it was just something the kid was curious about. Just as Y/N placed the bottle back, he heard someone clear their throat. "I'll be right with you ma'am." As Y/N turned he nearly fell over. Sitting in front of him was Ruby, looking down at the counter. "R-Ruby?! Why are you... What are you doing here?"

The redhead didn't look up from the counter, only tapping her finger to the song. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love, huh? Dad listened to this when he and Mom got together. I really found it funny that a kid was singing this." For a brief moment, Y/N could've sworn he had seen Ruby smile. Just why was she here? Maybe she was curious? Or maybe... she was here to talk to him. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility due to what happened earlier today. "I... Yeah, I find it weird too. I was... just thinking about it. So Ms. Rose... what brings you here?" Slowly, Ruby's gaze moved towards the bartender, a small smile beginning to form on the redhead's lips. "Well, I came to see what Joey's was all about. If you're here then it must be great."

"Yeah, it... it is. I feel like... I'm at home here."
"Seems like it... gramps."
"G...Gramps?! Oh not you too!"
"Relax Y/N, I'm just messing with you."
"...So how are things with... Jaune?"
"They... They're fine. He's out with a couple of friends tonight. Sun, Neptune, Ren, Sage, Scarlet..."
"You just named a whole bunch of people I don't know."
"Well we did all go to school together. I... kinda miss those days. Being an adult kind of sucks you know."

"Sounds like you're going through a couple of things yourself." Y/N then chuckled lightly as picked up a bottle and poured a glass of what Ruby believed to be... wine? "Hey... Y/N?" The bartender on hummed in response. "Are you... mad at me for turning you down?" For a split second, Ruby noticed a certain change in Y/N's eyes. She saw pain... distress... and heartache. Then, something else popped up. An emotion she didn't really know. "No. No, of course not. Ms. Rose if I were angry that at you for not loving me back, is that truly love? Or is it a desperate attempt at gaining affection?" Ruby's eyes then moved back to counter as Y/N continued. "If I were angry that you already had someone, would I even deserve your love? If I were to have gone crazy and went out of my way to harm people close to you just so I can have you... is that love? Or is that obsession? Is it passion? Is it fear? I could never be mad at you Ruby. You are already in a relationship. A beautiful and joyous one. Jaune is a lucky man to have you."

"...Is that glass of wine for me?" Ruby quietly asked. "If you wish to drink it, then go on. If not, I'm sure that I'll have it."
Just as Ruby was about to pick up a glass, the song changed into something rather... off for the moment they were in.

Return to me... Oh my dear I'm so lonely... Hurry back, hurry back...
Oh my love hurry back I'm yours

Return to me... For my heart wants you only... Hurry home, hurry home... Won't you please hurry home to my heart

My darling, if I hurt you I'm sorry... Forgive me and please say you are mine...

Return to me... Please come back bella mia... Hurry back, hurry home to my arms... To my lips and my heart...

Retorna me... Cara mia ti amo... Solo tu, solo tu, solo tu, solo tu
Mio cuore...

As both Ruby and Y/N looked at each other, the redhead's scroll began to go off. Sighing, she took it out of her pocket to see that Jaune had been calling her. "Hello? What are you... Okay but I'm... wait, are you drunk right now? Jaune you know you aren't supposed to be... Jaune... Jaune calm down. You fought who?! Oh my God... Alright, I'll be done there in a little bit. Love..." Another sigh escaped Ruby's lips as the call ended. "Sorry Y/N, looks like I have to go. It was nice talking to you." Ruby then flashed him another smile before walking away. Y/N, still shocked by what just happened, could only blind in surprise. "So... that was something."

"...Quentin were you watching the whole time?"
"Eh, not really. I came in during Dean Martin. That's the Ruby girl you were talking about?"
"Yeah..."
"And she's dating someone named Jaune? I think I remember him..."
"You do?"
"Yeah. He used to be a regular here. However, one night he came in all stress about work or something. He got drunk and tried to fight Mr. Clemente. Let's just say he isn't allowed in here anymore. It's another reason why we have a couple of guards here."
"We have guards?"
"See those guys standing in the corners? The ones in the seats in the back? The ones up top? They are the guards. Armed to the teeth. Just can't see the weapons."

"...Is Mr. Clemente a mob boss?" At Y/N's question, Quentin simply shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. Don't want to find out though."
____________________________________________________________________

"...Are you mad?"
"..."
"Ruby... Ruby... Ruby!"
"What?"
"Are you mad at me..."
"...No Jaune, I'm not mad."
"...So... where were you? You weren't at your apartment since that is pretty far away..."
"...I was with a friend."
"Guy or girl?"

As the car stopped at a red light, Ruby closed her eyes in annoyance. Every time Ruby was out, Jaune always wanted to know who she was with. Mainly if the friends were guys or girls. If they were girls, Jaune wouldn't care... but if they were guys he would be a little too protective over her. "Girls Jaune. We were just talking about... things."

"What kind of things?"
"Girl things."
"...Hey Ruby?"
"Yes... babe?"
"The last time I went to your department I saw a guy there. He looked... tired. Hell, he looked like he needed to sleep for a few years."
"...Y/N."
"Isn't that the guy you fired?"
"Yes. What made you bring him up?"
"Just curious. What did he need from you?"

Ruby's eyes finally opened as the light turned green. "He was just asking about a few papers. That was it."

"...Why'd you fire him?"
"He... slept too much. He would come in late sometimes and never do anything."
"I see. Did he find a new job?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"From what I heard... he works at Joey's."
"Joey's. I hate that place. It's too... old for me. The music sucks. Dean Martin is horrible, Frank Sinatra is god awful and-"
"Jaune?"
"Hm?"
"Shut up."
____________________________________________________________________

June 6, 2XXX

Ever since Ruby found out about Y/N's job, she would always head to Joey's whenever Jaune was out with friends. To Ruby, Y/N wasn't the same employee she knew. Now, he was more of a friend who she could talk with, whether it be about what happened at work or if she needed to rant. Her rants usually consisted of how much work she is given, family matters, and even Jaune. That last one she tries to keep to herself, but sometimes they happen to slip out. Recently however... something did happen between Jaune and Ruby. Something that truly hurt the redhead deeply.

"Just stop this! You don't need these stupid bottles to cope with stress! Babe, you can talk to me!"
"Can I now? When I need you, you're always out with your friends! Friends that I don't even know!"
"That's because you are out with Ren, Sun, and Neptune all the time! You can't expect me to always be at home waiting for you to come back like... like some sort of dog!"
"..."
"Look Jaune, I know how stressful our jobs can be. It can even feel like hell... but this won't hell. Please, just let me help you."
"Just leave me alone Ruby..."
"I can't do that Jaune!"
"You know what..."

Jaune's fist slowly began to curl into a ball "What Jaune? What do you have to say?!"

"At least Pyrrha knew when to fucking stop!" Suddenly, Jaune's anger vanished, quickly being replaced with regret. If someone were to be listening very carefully, they could hear the sound of shattering. No, it wasn't glass. It wasn't a vase. No... it was the sound of Ruby's heart. During there relationship, Jaune made a promise to never mention past lovers up to Ruby. Tonight, however, Jaune broke a promise. An Arc promise. "Ruby I... I-I didn't mean-"

"You... You... FUCK YOU!" With tears in her eyes, Ruby turned around and stormed out the door, Jaune quickly following. "Ruby I didn't mean it!" Jaune's words apparently fell deaf to her ears. Once Ruby got into her car, she wiped her eyes and pulled off, leaving Jaune alone in the driveway. Right now, the redhead didn't know who to go to. If she went to Yang, there would most likely be blood. Going to Weiss wasn't much of an option since the two haven't even talked in years. Blake... well she didn't want to get into all of that. Going to Ren and Nora was like going back to Jaune since they would force them to talk. However... there was one friend she had that Jaune didn't know about. Y/N. She had never told Jaune that she and him were now close. And he would never know.
____________________________________________________________________

"Hey you coming Y/N? We're closing up!"
"Not yet! I still got a few things to finish up!"
"Alright. See you tomorrow Y/N be careful man."
"You too Quentin."

Just as Quentin was about to leave, Ruby stormed in through the door. "Uh, ma'am we are about to..." Quentin's words slowly died out as he saw the tears in her eyes the moment she walked passed him. "I... Nevermind. Y/N you have a visitor." Y/N quickly turned around to see Ruby walking towards him, her eyes red and pink in color. He could see her tears slowly sliding down her cheeks. "Ruby, what happened?" Slowly, Ruby sat down and looked at the counter, staring deep into her reflection. "Ruby? What's wrong?"

"..."
"I'm guessing you... don't wish to drink."
"It... It's kind of funny. Earlier I was arguing about alcohol with Jaune... and now here I am. A place with tons of it..."
"Ruby, just tell me what's wrong. You know I'm here for you."
"...You know how Jaune and I have been arguing a lot lately?"
"Yeah. You always come in and talk about it."
"Well today... after weeks of arguing... something broke. In both of us."

"What did he do?" For a brief moment, there was a fire in Y/N's eyes. A fire which was fuel by rage. Had Jaune laid a single finger on Ruby, things would've turned ugly in a matter of minutes. "Well... I know that this may seem quite common and small... but in our relationship it was a big thing. When we first started dating, we both swore not to speak of past relationships, no matter what happened. Tonight... he broke his promise."

"What exactly did he say?"

"He compared me to his more successful... more beautiful ex-girlfriend. Pyrrha."
"Nikos?"
"That's the one. He told me that at least she knew when to stop. I was just trying to help him with his stress. I wanted to prove that he didn't need alcohol to relax. Again, I know it seems small, but... after all the things we said previously... this just shattered the glass with enough force."

Seeing Ruby like this was enough to make Y/N's heart ache. He had always seen her with a large grin, a sad smile, and even a look of rage. However, he had never wished to see her look so upset. He never wanted to see her in tears. "Sometimes I wonder... if I was just his rebound girl. Someone who was used just to relieve his stress..." Noticing that more tears were about to spill put from her eyes, Y/N hopped over the counter and wrapped his arms around her, pulling the redhead into a tight hug. As he heard her sob into his shirt, Y/N could only sigh.

"Ruby, you are so much more than that. You are quite the astonishing woman yourself. Don't let the wealth of the other girls or their looks get to you. So what if she knew when to stop? You wanted to help Jaune through his stress and if he didn't want your help... He can go fuck himself."

A/N: Out Of Reach: Stardust Crusaders ends and Out Of Reach: Diamond is Unbreakable (Not Crash) begins!