Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/2906213.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      RWBY
  Relationship:
      Jaune_Arc/Pyrrha_Nikos
  Character:
      Jaune_Arc, Pyrrha_Nikos, Lie_Ren, Nora_Valkyrie
  Additional Tags:
      arkos, Romance, Humour, Smut, Lucid_Dreaming, Explicit_Language
  Stats:
      Published: 2014-12-29 Completed: 2015-08-30 Chapters: 2/2 Words: 11178
****** Dreamscape ******
by spyder_m
Summary
     Jaune Arc blurs the line between reality and fantasy when he, quite
     literally, sleeps with the girl of his dreams. Arkos.
***** Chapter 1 *****
It was an unforgettable sight that plagued his dreams, one that his mind would
return to night after night, whether he wanted to or not. It was a vision of
bright red hair trailing loosely over sweat-covered skin, of vibrant green eyes
cloudy and unfocused, overwhelmed by an emotion he struggled to identify. It
was wandering hands and curious lips, desperate pleas and hushed confessions
stirring an aching need deep inside of him.
At first, he couldn’t seem to move, couldn’t look away or even open his mouth
to speak her name. He was rendered speechless and immobile to the sight before
him. All he could do was watch, wide-eyed and mesmerised.
Her body lay before him, stripped bare of her usual armour, exposing lithe,
toned limbs and shapely curves that he had somehow overlooked before. He was
confronted not with the body of a huntress-in-training, or an infamous athlete,
but that of a youngwoman. Her face appeared lightly flushed and her expression
coy, yet at the same time it was open, honest and unashamed.
Jaune was confused. Why was Pyrrha there before him? Naked, of all things, and
looking at him in such an alluring way? He and Pyrrha were just team mates,
friends even, but nothing more. No matter how much he may have desired it,
there couldn’t possibly be a scenario where anything more existed between them.
This could not be happening. It was just… Too surreal.
That’s when Jaune realised just how right he was. None of it was real. There
was no way that fate would even consider entertaining the possibility of this
situation. Nothing that he was seeing was actually happening, but rather, was
something created by the deepest recesses of his own mind as he slept. A dream.
This sudden clarity seemed to offer Jaune influence over all the he saw in this
realm. When he found himself overcome by the desire to touch her, his hands
reached out steadily, unburdened by the apprehension that was typical of him.
His fingers scarred her flesh, tracing over her the smooth contours, relishing
the feeling. It was a confidence he would only possess in his dreams, a place
where there were no repercussions, where everything played out the way he
hoped. Ren and Nora were both undisturbed by any noise they made, lying in a
sleep so deep it would probably be more accurately described as a minor coma.
His name trickled from her lips, slowly, enchantingly, his body convulsing
involuntarily at the sound. His mouth silenced her call, his lips caressing
against his own in a manner he had often imagined.
He’d heard about lucid dreams before, but he couldn’t recall exactly from
where. Oddly enough, it wasn’t until he’d learnt of the concept himself that he
began to experience it first-hand. He had been nothing more than a mere
spectator of his dreams in the past. He’d never had the ability to act upon or
control any of the scenarios presented to him by his conscious. Early on, he
wasn’t able to get very far before waking, the excitement of being intimate
with Pyrrha stirring him from sleep. Over time, and with a practice, however,
he found himself able to maintain his calm, reminding himself consistently that
he was merely dreaming. In the process Jaune was able to last longer within
this subconscious realm.
As the dreams became more intense, Jaune found it a regular occurrence for him
to wake in a cold-sweat, his lower anatomy twitching against his now
uncomfortably tight pants; that is. Relieving himself in the shower was now
also part of his daily ritual, as he lent his head back against the tiled wall,
struggling to hold onto wisps of the images from the night before.
.
Jaune was tired. Damn tired. After a particularly excruciating training session
with Pyrrha earlier that evening, his body wanted nothing more than to give out
on him. He felt he’d been making good progress, despite still not being the
most… graceful of fighters, and Pyrrha had not let his improvement go unnoticed
either. He blushed lightly as he recalled the way his partner looked as they
fought. Her hair dishevelled, sweat perspiring over the column of her neck from
exertion, not dissimilar to how she had appeared in his dreams the night
before, lying beneath him, breathing heavily, her face distorted as she mewled
in pleasure. The recollection had made it difficult to concentrate during their
fight, as he struggled to conceal himself stiffening against his jeans.
Jaune shock his head with a scowl, upset at himself for having such thoughts
about his friend, especially after she had been going out her way to help him.
He had really come to care for Pyrrha and didn’t want to their relationship
tainted by the perverse side of his imagination. Yet, as much as he loathed
himself for it, it was almost inescapable. He was still a teenage male,
susceptible to such obscene, testosterone fuelled fantasies.
Jaune remembered the way Pyrrha had looked when he had initially turned down
her offer to help train him. The offer she had made to him so selflessly,
wanting nothing more than to bring out the best from him. But he had been too
stubborn, too determined to prove himself on his own merits. She had reached
out for him and he had stepped away. Jaune couldn’t bear the thought of seeing
her like that again, so down and dejected, especially knowing he had been the
one to cause it. Pyrrha was bright and cheerful, she saw the best in everyone.
He wanted nothing more than to express in words how she made him feel, how much
he cared for her, but whenever he felt an opportunity arise, he faltered. Just
like the hesitance he showed when noticing an opening in his opponent’s form,
or a chink in their armour, he second-guessed himself and missed the prime
opportunity to act. If only he was more like one of his teammates. If only he
had the openness and exuberance of someone like Nora, or even the calm
confidence that Ren and Pyrrha possessed. But no, he had doubts and
insecurities holding him back, preventing him from reaching the things he
aspired to most.
If nothing else, he was happy to have Pyrrha as a friend. He wouldn’t risk
losing that for anything.
Stumbling into his team’s dorm, Jaune dropped his sword and shield carelessly,
before collapsing onto his bed without even bothering to get under the didn’t
even bother to remove the gear he been wearing during their spar. His chest
plate was weighed heavily down against him, and his belt buckle dug into the
flesh of his lower abdomen. He knew sleeping with his shoulder guards on could
possibly strain his neck and his clothes felt sticky from his own perspiration
but he didn’t care. After blissfully accepting the comfort and warmth his crisp
sheets offered, Jaune doubted he would have the willpower to get to his feet,
let alone change.
His eyes drooped heavily. Relief washed over him in knowing that he wouldn’t
have to fight to keep them open any longer.
What felt like mere moments later; but for all he knew, could have been hours;
his consciousness registered something. A familiar voice was uttering his name
gently as a hand grasped at his shoulder, turning him. He was dreaming, he
could tell. Just like any other night, as soon as he realised what he was
experiencing was a product of his own consciousness, he was able to gain
complete control over it.
Blinking, Jaune glanced over at Pyrrha, curiously, their eyes catching in the
darkness. He flushed slightly, noticing the urgency with which she held his
gaze, her hand still resting upon his shoulder. The gesture was simple, yet
something so typical of Pyrrha. A strong, supportive grasp, yet one that was
also calming and reassuring. Several seconds passed. Her captivating eyes
remained penetrating him. Somehow he felt as though he was no longer in control
of what was happening. Her hand reaching up to rest at the back of his head.
Pulling him closer, her lips captured his gently.
Jaune’s eyes widened and his body stiffened, but reflexively his arms
surrounded her, pulling her form closer and returning the kiss with just as
much fervour. He felt her gasp against his mouth in response. Boldly, Jaune
took this as an opportunity to deepen the kiss, the scenario having already
played out in his head many times before.
This time it was… Slightly different, though. Usually, when he had these kind
of his dreams, he was the one who sought Pyrrha out, not the other way around.
Not to mention, his dreams had never been quite this intense before either. Not
that he was complaining. His senses appeared stronger, almost. As if everything
was enhanced. The scent of her hair, the feeling of her body against his own,
the taste of her soft lips. It almost felt real.
Jaune fell back against the mattress, pulling Pyrrha down with him. His lips
never straying from her own, his hands never removing themselves from their
exploration of her body. The weight and the feeling of his partner against him
was a welcome one.
Pyrrha was much more appropriately dressed for sleep, Jaune noted, admiring the
thin nightgown that accentuated her long legs and the deep, full cleavage of
her chest. Her hair was loose from its usual ponytail, surrounding her face,
the colour contrasting against her bright eyes. He could feel her pulling at
the pauldron on his shoulder, wanting to remove the barrier separating him from
her.
Only then did he take a moment to pull his hands away from Pyrrha’s skin, in
order to help her in pulling the armour from his body. He untied the strap
holding his pauldron in place, before moving to undo his chest plate. Jaune set
the plates aside and began to impatiently tug his hoodie over his head, wanting
to feel his naked skin melding against her own. Pyrrha giggled softly at the
sight of him blindly trying to pull his head out through a sleeve, before
moving to help pull off the jacket the rest of the way.
With the garment removed, Jaune could feel her hands, warm and firm, stroking
soothing patterns over his upper body. Grinning mischievously as her lips
descended lower, caressing against his neck, his pectoral, his abdomen,
rendering his body almost completely limp and powerless beneath her
ministrations. He could barely resist the urge to moan as she took his nipple
between her teeth.
Jaune, in any other situation, would probably have felt too self-conscious and
reluctant to reciprocate. Not having to deal with repercussions, however, he
felt compelled to take things as far as possible. He wanted to evoke the same
reactions from Pyrrha, to pleasure her, to elicit sensations from her she had
never experienced before; even if it was just in his own mind. After all, while
he didn’t know much… anything really, about her romantic past, he liked to
think that she was just as inexperienced to this as he was. They were both
still only teenagers after all. This wasn’t like the sparring sessions that he
fumbled through clumsily, with Pyrrha’s guidance. They were on equal footing.
Boldly, Jaune sought to venture into new boundaries.
His fingers peeled delicately underneath the fabric at Pyrrha’s thigh. She
sucked breath in sharply through gritted teeth, as his hand grasped her,
skirting mere, dangerous inches away from her nether took the reaction as
encouragement and trailed his lips beneath her collarbone, kissing between her
full breasts.
"J-Jaune," Pyrrha cried, his name spilling from her lips, her fingers gripping
at his hair. He pulled away briefly to silence her with slow searing kisses,
one after the other.
Jaune, for one of the first times in his relationship with Pyrrha, was happy to
take the lead, guiding her through something new and unfamiliar. Slowly,
Jaune’s fingers took hold at the strap adorning her shoulder, but made no move
to pull it away. Silently, his eyes searched hers, searching for any sign that
she objected to him carrying on. She nodded, her lips curling bashfully, as he
carefully removed the straps from her shoulders, exposing her to him
completely. Jaune sucked in a breath at the sight. It was one that never grew
old, no matter how many times he had envisioned it before.
Pyrrha’s cheeks reddened and she smiled coyly, noticing how Jaune gazed at her
so intently. Jaune moved Pyrrha against the mattress beneath him, positioning
himself directly above her. Tentatively, Jaune positioned himself above Pyrrha,
sucking a harsh breath as the tip of his erection brushed experimentally
against her folds. Pyrrha bit her lip, a strangled scream escaping her. Taking
her response as a hint, Jaune lowered himself into her carefully.
He wasn’t entirely sure why he was suddenly feeling nervous. Sure, they’never
really progressed this far in one of his dreams before; it was difficult to
hold onto conscious lucidity, to remain calm and in control during particularly
exhilarating moments. The mere idea of becoming so intimate with Pyrrha scared
and excited him. Even though he knew his imagined actions would hold no
consequence, he couldn’t help but realise how significantly and irreversibly it
would change their relationship. It was a point at which there would be no
turning back for them.
As warmth clenched around the most sensitive part of his body, Jaune groaned in
pleasure, almost finding release immediately. He could his feel his heart rate
increasing significantly, his muscle tensing as his body ached to reach its
climax. Wanting desperately to hold on to this feeling, and to last long enough
to satisfy Pyrrha,Jaune grit his teeth and tried to focus on anything else in
the room, doing everything to prevent his dream scape from collapsing in on
itself. He had to ignore the sound of Pyrrha’s normally calm, regal voice
cracking, the sight of her hair draping of her bare shoulders and breasts, her
hips rocking against his own and her walls clenching mercilessly around him.
His body thrust in time with his partner’s, as they began to pick up the pace;
his every move complimenting her own. Pyrrha was arching upward, her moans
breathless and ragged, as he drove in harder and faster. Sweat began to drip
from the tips of Jaune’s blonde bangs as they fell into his eyes. He gasped for
breath, the familiar urge for release building in his lower anatomy. Never
before had it been this overpowering.
Jaune wasn’t sure how much longer he could last. He wanted to ask Pyrrha if she
was close but could barely find his voice. A loud cry from her throat answered
shortly, the convulsing of her inner walls around him. His muscles tensed as he
spilled inside of her with a low grunt. Jaune felt the strength drain from his
body as he collapsed against Pyrrha, the exertion from holding out as long as
possible finally getting to him. He was steadied by her toned arms, supporting
him without difficulty. Jaune felt Pyrrha embrace him against her chest, her
right hand stroking his hair soothingly, as he breathed in deeply. The
vibration of her own rapid heart beat against him as it gradually slowed down
provided Jaune with a relaxing melody. He remained content to lie with her that
way for a few moments longer.
Eventually, Jaune turned to lie beside her, his eyes seeking out her face in
the darkness. She smiled at him wordlessly, her hand cupping his cheek
affectionately. His lips curled softly in return, as he leaned into her caress,
feeling completely at peace.
It wasn’t much longer before he slipped away once again.
.
Jaune groaned at the blare of his alarm clock pulling him from his slumber. He
hit the snooze button emphatically on reflex, not even needing to open his
eyes. Jaune wasn’t normally much of a morning person; much like his other male
teammate; yet today he actually felt quite refreshed. He wasn’t sure if it was
due to being particularly tired from the physical strain his body had gone
through the day before, but last night, he had slept remarkably well.
Despite this, he couldn’t bring himself to get out of bed. He was just too
comfortable and warm. Even more so than usual. It probably didn’t help that his
body was still aching from training yesterday. Deciding to put off getting up
for another few minutes; he could afford to, his teammates would surely wake
him up if he ran the risk of being late to class; Jaune pulled the sheets
further around his neck.
And froze in realisation.
He couldn’t recall getting under the covers last night. He’d been too tired and
had decided to simply crash without changing. His armour and his shoes must
have been removed as well, because he was certain he hadn’t bothered with
taking them off the night before. Normally this wouldn’t have been a cause for
concern. His teammates, after all, were caring enough. They could have just
been looking out for him and making sure he slept comfortably. Jaune however,
dismissed this, as he deduced upon further inspection that he was in fact
completely naked.
That… certainly wasn’t normal. Sure, there had been some particularly hot
nights where he had shed his regular blue onsie in favour of some lighter
pyjamas, but he’d never taken it this far before.
Confused, Jaune moved to sit up when he felt a weight against his shoulder,
restricting him. A soft of murmur of protest followed as he something solid
stirred against him. He barely choked back a high-pitched shriek in shock. It
was the movement of another person’s limbs tangled up in his own, an arm
surrounding his waist, a head resting against the juncture between his arm and
chest. His eyes fluttered open, apprehensively, immediately taking in the red
tresses splayed out in stark contrast to the bed’s white sheets.
Yep.
That was Pyrrha alright.
Pyrrha, who upon closer inspection looked like she was…
Jaune lifted the sheet covering them and quickly peaked underneath it.
…
Yep, she was definitely naked.
So, if Pyrrha was here, barring some fantastic coincidence, then everything
that had happened between them the night before was definitely not a dream. It
had been real.
Oh.
Shit.
…
Well, it certainly explained the tent that was currently pitched in between his
legs.
Jaune’s stomach lurched uncomfortably, suddenly feeling as though he were
riding on an airship again. So he may as well pack his bags and leave Beacon
now, right? On top of forging the papers to get in in the first place, he
couldn’t imagine the penalty would be anything lighter than expulsion for
fucking his own teammate in their co-ed dorm. If nothing else Goodwitch was
probably going to kill him. She had reacted badly enough when he and his
teammates had started that food fight with Team RWBY… Although, to be fair,
they did practically destroy the cafeteria.
Gingerly, Jaune pried Pyrrha’s head from his shoulder and manoeuvred it
directly onto a pillow, so as not to wake her. Sitting up, his hand swept
through his dishevelled bed-head as he tried to comprehend exactly what was
going on. He scanned the room once-over quickly, determining that it was all
clear. Ren and Nora must have been up already, judging by the state of their
beds, and were probably out getting breakfast… Or in the bathroom. Maybe they
hadn’t noticed him and Pyrrha? Ren was practically a zombie when he first woke
up and Nora was probably too busy chattering. Had they seen them?
He didn’t think there’d be any way he’d be able to wake Pyrrha up and explain
himself without her freaking out, so his only option was to sneak out of the
bed himself… But then how would he explain what Pyrrha was doing in his bed? Oh
Remnant.
If he hadn’t been preoccupied with freaking out over his inevitable expulsion
from Beacon, he might have taken a moment to simply bask in the sleeping form
of Pyrrha Nikos next to him. Even just a few fleeting seconds to study her,
brush the hair from her face or some of the other, innocent things he had found
himself wanting to do. Her was expression relaxed and serene, a content smile
lighting up her face as she unconsciously cushioned herself more comfortably
against his chest. Jaune couldn’t help but revel in the burst of masculine
pride he in felt knowing that it had been him and his actions that had put that
expression on her face.
There was a part of Jaune that was absolutely terrified about Pyrrha waking up,
dreading the conversation that they would have. What was he going to say to
her? Jaune, despite what he liked to believe about himself, was far from smooth
at the best of times. It was going to be awkward.
There was no denying that he was attracted to Pyrrha now. There was no way of
explaining why he acted the way he did last night. Not to mention they had been
so natural about it as well. As if them sleeping together was normal
occurrence. He definitely wasn’t going to bring up the fact that he’d been
having regular, explicit dreams about his partner, yet he wouldn’t be able to
hide his feelings for her any longer either. If he did, it would cheapen
everything that had taken place between them last night. It would seem like
just a fling, and something he had only pursued because of Pyrrha’s fame or
looks, when nothing could be more further from the truth. He had really come to
care for Pyrrha. This was a woman who had gone out of here way to help better
him, not only as a warrior, but as a leader and as a man. She was someone who
had resolved to fight tooth and nail in defending, along with the rest of his
team. But the feelings he had could completely ruin their dynamic, as friends,
as teammates.
Although, come to think of it, she’d actually been the one to initiate things
between them. She had approached his bed, she had kissed him. He’d only
reciprocated. Could she have feelings for him too? She’d certainly had more
than enough opportunities last night to turn him down if she wasn’t interested,
yet she hadn’t taken any of them.
He had just slept with Pyrrha, he shouldn’t have been feeling worried. This
should be the best day of his life! He should have been running up and down the
halls of Beacon, praising Dust and high-fiving every person he encountered
along the way. There were certainly a number of guys from his last school he
would have loved to have called on his scroll and taunted incessantly. As Jaune
pondered over whether or not he had maintained a list of scroll numbers of
jerks who had picked on him his thoughts were interrupted by a distinct, nearby
throat-clearing.
At that sound Jaune’s body leapt into action, instinctively. With speed he
wasn’t aware he possessed, Jaune flattened himself against the bed and pulled
the covers up over himself once more, hoping to preserve what little modesty he
and Pyrrha had left. He lay against the mattress perfectly still, as if
clinging to some naive hope that they somehow hadn’t seen him.
Here he’d been beginning to think he could sneak out undetected. He must have
forgotten that he was in an academy that trained hunters and huntresses,
because there, standing before him, were his teammates.
Shit.
The day had only just begun, yet it was apparent that all the world was
aligning to scheme against and completely fuck over Jaune Arc. Sighing in
defeat, Jaune glanced over his shoulder hesitantly.
Nora was situated at the foot of his bed, her arms folded and lips creased in a
smug grin. Ren’s eyes had widened comically, before glancing at the far wall of
their dorm, away from the sight of his naked, quite obviously post-coital
friends. The expression was unusual for the stoic young man and didn’t last
long. Though it did not go unnoticed by Jaune, who had come to know Ren well in
their time together as a team. Even the slightest lift of an eyebrow from Lie
Ren spoke volumes of what he was thinking or feeling.
He’d just been found naked by two of his friends, wrapped up quite intimately
with one of their other good friends. Sure, there was a sheet separating them
from… well, him, but that didn’t make the situation any less awkward. Not to
mention, now Nora knew. He couldn’t imagine she would be keeping that piece of
information to herself for too long. RWBY would probably know of this before
they had their first class. He was never going to hear the end of it.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
All the while Pyrrha lay breathing softly, the smile adorning her face evident
to how blissfully unaware she was of all that was happening. Dust, she really
looked cute when she was sleeping.
"So," Nora smirked. "Still in bed, Jaune? Pyrrha must’ve really worn you out
last night, huh?"
Man, how he wished this was all just a dream.
***** Chapter 2 *****
It was late when Pyrrha finally decided to retire to her dorm for the night.
The broken shards of moon above remained her only source of light as she
strolled idly down the darkened hallway, most other students having already
gone to sleep. Her training session with Jaune had already run overtime, yet
she had stayed out longer, despite her leader's protests. Despite her success
in tournaments and being, arguably, one Beacon's most talented first years,
Pyrrha continued to train hard. She wanted to always be at her best. So, she
remained outside, alone, lost in thoughts of her partner, as she carried on
through her forms.
After the dance, after everything that had come between them in their time
Beacon, she was unsure where exactly their relationship stood. Earlier in the
semester, when they were first partnered up, Jaune had pushed her away, ashamed
of his shortcomings and not wanting to drag her into his situation with Cardin.
Over time, however, he had come to confide in her, speaking of his fears and
insecurities, vulnerabilities he might have been anxious about exposing before.
They had grown closer, not just emotionally, but in the physical contact they
shared together. She had become bolder, showing her encouragement and support
through restrained gestures; warm smiles, the grasp of her hand upon his
shoulder, while Jaune had begun to show his appreciation and his gratitude for
her help through acts of affection, surrendering impulsively to the excitement
he felt at the signs of his improvement.
Pyrrha could recall one such instance, in which an ecstatic Jaune embraced her
tightly during combat class, finally having won a match. There were was a thin
sheen of sweat staining his clothes and skin, his chest plate was digging into
her chest, and she was fairly certain she could make out their friends wolf
whistling obnoxiously in the background, yet she paid that no mind. With the
way his hand gently caressed her hair and the soft words of thanks he whispered
against her ear, she was overjoyed. Her happiness stemming not only from the
intimacy and closeness to Jaune she had longer for, but the pride she felt for
him and his accomplishment.
Their friendship, along with the ones she'd forged with Nora, Ren and Team RWBY
were amongst the things most precious to her, far more valuable than any
physical reward she had attained in her years as a Huntress. Yet, Pyrrha
couldn't help but entertain the helpless desire that there was now something
stronger between Jaune and herself. Something that she wanted more than
anything to acknowledge, to act upon, but she did not know how.
Pyrrha, for one of the first times in her life, was frozen by trepidation,
unsure of how to act.
Retrieving her scroll and unlocking the door to JNPR's dorm, Pyrrha stepped
inside carefully, not wanting to disturb her sleeping teammates. The room was
perfectly silent, blanketed almost entirely by darkness, excluding one lone
light by the door. Knowing Pyrrha wouldn't be back until later, her team had
apparently kept it on for her, saving her from having to stumble around blindly
in the dark. Pyrrha smiled softly, a warmth flooding through her at the simple
gesture. Having spent much of her adolescence lonely and isolated, Pyrrha took
comfort in having friends who cared for and looked after her with small, often
unconscious acts of kindness.
Setting down her sword and shield Pyrrha began to methodically strip away the
heavy, armoured plates of her combat gear, as she walked towards her bed.
Pyrrha sat down upon her matress with a slow, steady exhale, her muscles
relaxed as the weight bearing down on them was removed. Despite beginning to
settle down for the evening, Pyrrha's mind seemed to remain active, as she
couldn't seem to steer her thoughts away from Jaune.
All she knew for certain was that she really cared about Jaune. Perhaps more so
than she had cared about anyone who wasn't related to her by blood. The thing
she struggle to work out, however, was whether or not these were feelings of
love. Was that even an emotion she would be able to identify, or was she too
socially naive? It was, after all, the first time in years that she'd been able
to forge a genuine relationship with someone else. It's not like this an area
she was particularly knowledgeable in. In the past, it was only a word and
emotion she'd reserved for her family. Maybe she was blowing things out of
proportion? Perhaps she had misunderstood the feelings she held for Jaune, and
they weren't what she thought they were? Something intimate, certainly, but not
necessarily romantic.
But surely, that could not be the case, Pyrrha dismissed. The feelings she
harboured were too intense in the grip they had over her heart, the sway of
emotions they had pulled her mercilessly through. The happiness and pride that
overwhelmed Pyrrha when Jaune made new progress in improving upon himself, the
frustration and dejection when she failed to communicate how she felt about
him; or he failed to pick up on her hints. Though, perhaps the hardest to
endure of all was the jealously that bit at her when he spoke so fondly of
Weiss. It was a part of herself that Pyrrha had never been exposed to before; a
petty, ugly side that she felt shame in stumbling upon. Something she wasn't
entirely comfortable with, but one that she was slowly learning to stomach;
unaware in her naivety, that the emotion was a perfectly human one, and not at
all something to feel ashamed about. Pyrrha couldn't believe she would have
such undeservedly horrible thoughts about Weiss. Weiss wasn't a bad person.
Perhaps, a little cold initially, but she had come to show that she was kind
and loyal, particularly to her team mates and her friends. She was beautiful
and talented. It only made sense that Jaune would fall for someone like her.
Besides, Pyrrha had no claim to Jaune. He wasn't obligated to be anything more
than her friend just because she had feelings for him. He was his own person,
with hopes and needs and desires. She especially wouldn't want him to
compromise his own feelings just for the sake of pleasing her. More than
anything, she wanted him to be happy. It was why she was helping him train, and
why she had encouraged him to pursue Weiss.
Pyrrha knew that she was important to Jaune. After his actions on the night of
the dance and the lengths he had gone to out of concern for her, it was made
perfectly clear. He had stuck to his word, and set his own ego aside just to
cheer her up. The loyalty and care he had shown here then was more than enough.
She was happy with being his friend.
Pyrrha smiled as she noticed Jaune sprawled out on his bed across from her,
asleep and breathing softly. She was happy to see him like this, his face
relaxed and at peace. He must have have really been tired, she thought.
Considering how he hadn't bothered to even change from his combat gear and how
deeply he appeared to be sleeping.
Noting this, Pyrrha couldn't help but feel slightly guilty, knowing that their
training sessions were, more than likely, building on his exhaustion. Yet, she
knew Jaune would be upset with her if she didn't push him to his limits. He had
asked for her help, determined to learn and to improve himself. Which, over the
past few months, he had done. Quite significantly. It was just a shame that he
couldn't realise it himself.
She just wished that for once he could find happiness in his own achievement.
She certainly was proud of him! For someone constantly doubting their own
abilities and place in a prestigious academy, she felt Jaune was doing a
capable job of leading their team. He always looked out for each of them and
could formulate a plan that greatly utilised each of their unique fighting
styles and abilities.
While a part of her couldn't help but find the sight endearing, Pyrrha knew
that it couldn't be comfortable for Jaune to sleep like that. After their
training tonight, he needed to best rest possible. With the tournament starting
up soon, he couldn't afford to get any kind of aches or strains. She should
wake him up, Pyrrha decided, at least long enough for him to change into his
pyjamas. She moved closer towards his bed, uttering his name softly as she
reached out to gently touch his shoulder.
As Jaune turned, waking from his slumber, his tired, misty eyes caught her own.
Pyrrha froze, the intensity of his gaze scorching her. He watched her in
confusion, his hazy consciousness trying to process what was before him.
Pyrrha's suddenly fell silent, her mind blank. There was something in his gaze
that was so intimate, so enchanting to her, that all she could do was watch in
awe. Perhaps, in that moment, that rift between dream and reality, he was
exposed completely to her. He was unguarded, his shield stripped away and sword
out of reach.
Everything that had seemed ambiguous to her before was now suddenly, perfectly
clear. Swallowing, as he looked up at her, Pyrrha felt her body moving
involuntarily, uninhibited, acting solely upon her desire.
An overwhelming longing to venture forward.
.
Pyrrha shivered, her arms wrapping instinctively around her middle as goose
bumps prickled against her bare skin. It seemed to be unusually cold in her bed
that morning. After moving to Vale, Pyrrha had found the climate to be much
cooler than what she was used to in her native Mistral. Thankfully, as a
Huntress in training, her body usually warmed up quickly as a result of her
active lifestyle. That didn't make the cold mornings any easier, however.
Her bed wasn't particularly large; more than big enough for one person; yet she
was rolled over to one side of it, leaving the other half completely empty.
When she woke, her arms had been spread out towards that open space, as if
reaching and searching for something. It was almost as if a significant source
of warmth had been ripped away from her during the night. A chilling wind
traced its fingers down the side of Pyrrha's arm and she pulled it reflexively
back under the covers with a jerk. Had someone left the window open overnight?
She was certain that it had been closed when she had come into the dorm last
night after training with Jaune. Lifting her head from the pillow wearily, she
decided to check.
Pyrrha's nose wrinkled, as she glanced over her right shoulder, expecting to
see the window, only to come face to face directly with the bare wall of their
room. Shrugging, she glanced over her other shoulder and noticed that their
room's window, to her left, was in fact closed. Tangling herself up amongst the
sheets on her bed and wrapping her limbs around her own body, Pyrrha attempted
to cocoon herself warmly amongst the fabric, deciding to allow herself a few
more moments of rest.
Pyrrha lay still for a moment, before her eyes suddenly burst open once more.
They were alert and clear as realisation struck her. The window wasn't supposed
to be on the left side of her bed, it was on the right. She had looked out of
it that way every other morning. This wasn't her bed. She was in the bed
furthest on the left of the room. Jaune's bed. Furthermore, she noticed that
the room was completely empty. She had assumed, initially, that the silence had
meant it was early and she was the first one awake, something that was more
than often the case. It appeared, however, that Pyrrha had overslept and her
teammates had already left for breakfast without her.
Sitting up, Pyrrha glanced around the empty room, trying to make sense of what
she had woken up to. What had happened last night? For what possible be reason
had she been sleeping in Jaune's bed? Suddenly, Pyrrha froze, her heart
lurching in her chest as the fatigue clouding her brain gradually dissipated,
and memories of the night before came flooding back. She hadn't gone straight
to her own bed.
Images from the deepest recess of her mind flooded back to her, vividly. Images
similar to the ones that had plagued her conscious on several nights before,
leaving her to wake, sweating, aching with need. This time, however, when she
woke, she was naked, lying to one side of Jaune's bed... No, it couldn't be
possible, Pyrrha thought, as her mind began to piece the information together.
Surely, it was all just a coincidence.
Certainly, she and Jaune had gotten closer, but there was no way their
relationship had progressed to that point yet. She was far too nervous and
confused about her feelings to act in such a decisive manner, and Jaune,
well... He simply did not view her in that light. Surely what she'd seen last
night had been nothing more than her mind entertaining a fantasy.
Maybe she hadn't made it to bed last night like she thought she had and Jaune,
like a gentleman, had let her sleep in his own. No, that didn't make sense. Why
would Jaune put her in his own bed?
Yet, there was a part of her, a part she was achingly conscious of, that
swelled with happiness, at the feeling that dream awoke inside of her. It had
seemed so real.
The way he held her, the way he had looked at her with such devotion and
desire, in its purest, most sincere form. Not for her fame, or her abilities,
but for her. All of it had felt so real, a stark contrast to the adulation, the
idol worship, she had been surrounded by for most of her life. The aching,
pleasurable torture her body had endured the night before, at the hands of the
first man she had felt genuine affection for. The man who allowed her to be
seen as something more than a cereal mascot or a tournament record. She
couldn't stand for that to be ripped away.
Collecting her scroll from beside her own bed, Pyrrha's eyes widened as she
noticed the time. It was later than she realised. She needed to head downstairs
for breakfast, otherwise she may be late for her first class.
Tossing the sheets aside, she rose from the bed and quickly retrieved her
clothes, finding them strewn haphazardly beside the bed. That was unusual.
Pyrrha was by no means the most orderly person in the world, but she at least
made sure her clothes were hung up and ready for the next morning. Deciding not
to dwell on it too much longer, she retrieved them and began to dress,
preparing to head downstairs.
.
Jaune was not eager to head to the cafeteria that morning.
Sure, he was hungry, just like any other morning, but he would be willing to
skip breakfast on this one occasion. Especially if it meant not having to see
his friends, or having to explain certain things that may or not have gone on
between he and Pyrrha the night before.
He swore he could feel their eyes on him the moment he entered the room.
Usually, his teammates and RWBY were too engrossed in their own thing to pay
too much attention to each other. Blake, and often Ren, would be reading, Weiss
preening herself, Ruby scarfing down cookies, Nora chattering. Jaune, however,
wasn't used to being such a focal point of attention, it was unnerving.
Weiss didn't regard him with the same thinly veiled disdain, but appeared far
more composed and... almost accepting of his presence. As if he'd somehow
earned a modicum of her respect. That was weird. Creepy, even. Maybe she wasn't
feeling well? Beside her, Blake studied him quietly. Her eyes, bright and
mysterious as ever, were tinged with curiosity. Jaune raised an eyebrow at her,
wondering what had caught her attention. Colour flooded her cheeks and she
quickly hid her face away behind a hardback cover. It was probably the most
expressive he'd seen her before. Ruby, thankfully, seemed normal, if a little
apprehensive; almost as if she suspected something was amiss. He really didn't
like the look on Yang's face most of all, though. That mischievous grin of hers
that looked eerily similar to the one she got whenever she was about to make a
shitty pun. That rarely meant good news.
Pyrrha's seat beside him remained empty, the sight eating away at him a little
bit.
He pictured her bright smile across from him, as they listened to Nora chat
animatedly. He could still feel the soft grasp of her hand across his shoulder
and the look in her eyes when she'd been trying to comfort him, trying to help
him through the trouble he was having with Cardin. He could recall vividly how
much harder it had been the night before, her strong grip bruising the skin at
his collarbone. He could still see how much darker her eyes had been, clouded
and wanton. How her hair, usually tied back so neatly, was loose and spilling
over her naked shoulders. Jaune shook his head wildly, trying to fight off the
images plaguing his mind. He could already feel the blood engorging his lower
anatomy.
Jaune strategically positioned his tray of food over his lap.
"Where's Pyrrha?" Ruby asked.
Jaune immediately felt his muscles lock up at the question, his stomach
churning. He wasn't sure why the question worried him so much. Their team mate
was missing, therefore it was a perfectly innocent, reasonable thing for Ruby
to ask. There was no accusation in her tone, nor any hint of sarcasm.
"She'll be down later," Ren offered calmly. "She was still in bed when we
left."
I mean, it technically wasn't a lie.
"That's not like her," Ruby continued, concerned. "Is she feeling okay?"
"She's fine. She just been working herself hard lately and we felt she needed
some extra to rest. We decided no to wake her just yet."
Thank you Ren Jaune thought, exhaling softly in relief, hoping that he didn't
draw attention to himself. Trust Ren to remain calm and calculating in a
situation like this. He might not have spoken often, but when he did, his words
were always concise and to the point.
"Man, I sure am starving after last night," Jaune said, hoping to move the
subject away from Pyrrha.
"I'll bet you are," Yang smirked, only for Blake to thump her deftly across the
arm without even looking up from her book. "Hey!"
"What are you guys getting?" Jaune asked, ignoring Yang's jab as he looked over
to Nora and Ren.
"How about some Pumpkin Pete's?" Yang continued, her voice slightly strained.
He was pretty sure he could hear Blake kicking her underneath the table.
"What? Don't you know remember the last time we tried to have some and Pyrrha
lectured us about how unhealthy they are?"
"Hey," Yang shrugged dismissively. "I figured you liked them. After all, you
were the one ravishing their model last nigh- mmph!"
"What I think Yang is trying to say," Blake began, after pulling her partner in
a headlock and lodging a fist into her mouth. "is that we've all been working
hard and should all be allowed to treat ourselves once in awhile."
Jaune sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. Despite Blake's best
attempts at covering, it was apparent that news of last night had spread
quickly. He glanced over at Nora, his expression apparently reflecting his
frustration. She laughed awkwardly in response, her cheeks flushed.
"I'm sorry, Jaune, really," Nora said. "I was trying to keep it a secret,
honest, but they could tell something was up."
Jaune supposed that made sense. While he had no doubt that Nora was
trustworthy, from what he knew of her, she was very open with her emotions. And
for some reason, unknown to him, she was particularly excited about the recent
developments in his relationship with Pyrrha.
"No, I'm sorry Nora." Jaune answered, making sure to keep his voice at a low
murmur. He motioned with his open hand for Nora to move closer. She grabbed
Ren's hand and huddled up to Jaune, happy that her team was having their own
secret meeting. "I don't mean to be such a jerk. I'm just a little on edge. I'm
really worried that I've done something stupid and fucked everything up...
Again."
"What are you talking about?" Nora interjected, her volume several decibels
higher than what the average person would consider appropriate for such close
proximity. "I don't think you've done anything wrong. After all, you both
seemed pretty happy snuggled up this morning-"
"Nora." Ren said, an uncharacteristic blush returning to his cheeks once again
as he held a finger to his lips.
"Oh. Right." Nora answered, lowering her voice to match Jaune's. "How do you
know Pyrrha will be upset at you for this? It's not like you were taking
advantage of her or anything, right? Wasn't she just as much a part of it as
you were?"
"Yeah, I guess that's- Wait, how do you even know that?!" Jaune sputtered.
"We share a room, don't we?" Ren dead-panned.
"Wait, what?!" Jaune's voice rose and cracked, catching the attention of Team
RWBY from the other side of the table... Along as a number of other students
sitting near them. Jaune covered his mouth with his hands.
"Anyway," Nora continued knowingly. "Maybe you should actually talk with Pyrrha
before you decide to cut yourself off from human contact for the rest of your
life. You might be pleasantly surprised. At the very least, even if somehow you
didn't something to upset her, I can't imagine that she doesn't want to be your
friend or in your team anymore."
"You're probably right. Thanks Nora, Ren, good talk." Jaune said, pulling his
team mates in closer for a group hug. As they moved apart, Jaune stood from his
seat and began to make his way out of the cafeteria. "Save me some pancakes,
I'll be back later."
Seeing their friend off with a wave, Ren glanced over at Nora.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to tell just Jaune how Pyrrha feels about him?"
"Maybe, but there are some things those two need to work out on their own."
.
So this wasn't difficult. Sure, it could potentially affect the nature of his
entire team, but it wouldn't do any good to stress out over it. He was their
leader, he had to deal with it in a calm, sensible manner.
No rash decisions, he just had to make it through his last few years at Beacon
without seeing anyone again. Ever. Especially not anyone who knew him.
Yes, completely avoiding any kind of human contact, that was the best solution.
No more going to class, or out on campus, anywhere he might run into a member
of staff, or one of his friends. He was just going to stay here, hidden under
his bedsheets, until all of this blew over... Or he died. Probably from
embarrassment. Whichever came first.
"So, uh... You want to talk at all about what happened last night, buddy?"
Jaune flinched at the sound of Nora's voice. Neither of team mates had said
much after finding Pyrrha and him.
In all honestly, he did want to talk about it. Jaune really wasn't sure what to
do. He was worried that he had messed up, and badly. Last night, he had acted
completely on impulse, convinced what he was experiencing was a dream; one that
he'd had several times before, at that.
He didn't want to cause a rift between him and his friends, his team-mates. He
owed them an explanation, almost as much as he did Pyrrha.
All he could do was shake his head in response, not able to harness the courage
to actually speak. He didn't feel the need to elaborate. Given how long she had
known Ren, he had no doubts that Nora was more than capable of holding one way
conversations and interpreting silent gestures. His movement was apparently
vivid enough to rustle the fortress of sheets he was currently hiding beneath.
"Okay, that's fine. We'll give you some time alone. Ren and I will just head
down to the cafeteria for breakfast. You might want to come soon after us if
you don't want to raise too much suspicion though."
Jaune sighed as he heard their footsteps growing distant and the door to their
dorm eventually clicking shut. He slipped his head out from underneath his
hiding place, double-checking that the coast was clear.
Well, almost alone.
Thankfully though, she was still asleep.
It was unusual for Jaune to see Pyrrha like this. She was by no means a bundle
of energy like Nora, but she normally rose early, with the sun, eager to make
the most out of the day.
Even though Jaune was the leader, he often felt like Pyrrha spent a lot of team
carrying their team. She was so selfless, always doting over and looking out
for them, that Jaune couldn't help but wonder if, at times, it was detrimental
to her. Was the time she spent training with him cutting into her own schedule?
Was it talking a toll on her physically?
There was also something about last night that his brain hadn't yet taken the
time to completely register. Pyrrha had sought him out. She had woken him and
kissed him, without a word. At the time, he hadn't thought anything unusual of
it, simply because he assumed he was dreaming. He had written it off as a
product of his imagination and desire. What did that mean?
Pyrrha was clearly not the type to throw herself at a guy, not unless they she
felt something for them...
Last night was the first time he had seen her go after something she wanted,
for lack of a better term, selfishly. She had acted solely on her own desire.
It was cowardly of him, but he knew he couldn't brave facing her yet, let alone
explain why he had acted the way he did last night. There was just no way of
phrasing it that wasn't inappropriate or creepy.
"Sorry about that, Pyrrha. See, I've been having pretty vivid, erotic dreams
about you over the past couple of weeks and I just figured last night was one
of them. My bad."
He was going to need a moment. This was something he needed to handle
delicately, for the sake of his team and his relationship with Pyrrha.
For the time being, however, he was content to drag out this moment as long as
possible, prolonging the time before he had to go downstairs and face his
friends. He watched his teammate in silence, calming his nerves with the sight
of Pyrrha lying asleep, and at peace, something he had not had the opportunity
to bask in moments ago.
.
"Jaune!"
Jaune froze in the middle of the corridor, Pyrrha's voice startling him back to
attention. He had just been making his way back to their dorm, hoping to find
her there still asleep, as he mulled over exactly what he should say to her.
Now, as he turned, Jaune could see Pyrrha closing the distance between them
with a light jog. He could feel the vibration of his heartbeat as he swallowed.
It was just his luck that she would catch him by surprise like this, completely
unprepared.
"P-Pyrrha!" He answered, cursing himself for stumbling. "You're up! How uh...
How are you feeling?"
"I... I feel fine," she answered, slanting her head slightly in confusion. "Why
didn't any of you wake me when you left this morning?"
"Sorry, we didn't meant for to feel left out." Jaune said, tousling his hair
sheepishly. "We just don't have classes until later today, so Ren, Nora and I
all thought you could have used the extra rest. Y'know, someone needs to take
care of you for a change." He added with a nervous, rather forced chuckle.
"Oh, right. Thank you, Jaune. That was most kind of you."
"Hey, don't worry about it. Always happy to help out of a frien-"
Jaune caught himself before the word could properly form on his lips. He
trailed off, awkwardly, not entirely sure if the word he had been meaning to
use applied to them anymore.
The silence pierced through the two, sharper and more painful than any fall,
any shot they had taken fighting against Grimm, or in combat training. The
words they exchanged had been civil, friendly enough, but removed of a certain
ease they possessed before. The politeness of two passing strangers, two
friends who hadn't met yet. They were not entirely comfortable in their
conversation. Though neither would mention it, they could not erase the very
subject, the very thoughts they wanted to avoid, from their minds.
Pyrrha smiled at Jaune, normally a soft, genuine gesture. Now, however, it just
seemed awkward and forced, lacking the usual light that alleviated his doubt.
Jaune grit his teeth, feeling as though he was suffocating under the sheer
discomfort that lingered between them. He couldn't stand that the interaction
between Pyrrha and himself had been reduced to this. Pyrrha was someone he
could speak to openly and freely, without feeling self-conscious or doubting
himself. Now, it seemed like what had happened between them last night had
ruined it.
He really hoped that wasn't the case.
Scratching the back of his head, he glanced at Pyrrha again, her eyes piercing
him expectantly, as if silently pleading for him to break the silence. It was
something he wanted more than anything to do.
He wanted the reassurance, the clarification from Pyrrha that things were okay
between them. He wanted to hear from her, to know that somehow, by some
miracle, Nora was right, and in spite of his mistakes, he had managed to avoid
disaster. But he was frozen. He just couldn't find the words.
"Jaune," Pyrrha began, her arms wrapping around her stomach, tentatively.
"About last night... I- I'm sorry, alright?"
Jaune looked up at her, puzzled. His confusion must have been apparent in his
expression as Pyrrha continued, words spilling out in a frantic hurry, unlike
the manner in which she usually spoke.
"I don't know what came over me, or why I kissed you. I just... I understand
that what I did last night was inappropriate and that I may have upset you, but
maybe I haven't been clear enough. I've certainly tried to be, but-"
"I don't have a lot of experience with this, so I'm not entirely sure what my
feelings mean exactly. All I know for certain is that I haven't felt about
anyone else this way before."
"Whoa Pyrrha, hold on... Please, what are you trying to say?" Jaune said
eventually.
"I'm very attracted to you, Jaune."
She held her breath, her posture uncharacteristically tense as her eyes caught
on her shoes. There it was. Pyrrha almost sighed in relief. She had finally
said it. Considering how many times this scenario how played out in her head
before, and the sheer amount of time she had spent contemplating the
significance of her feelings for Jaune, Pyrrha supposed she shouldn't have been
surprised by how easily the words rolled off of her tongue.
Confessing her feelings out loud, however, was child's play, compared to the
enduring the torturous seconds that followed. The anticipation clawed at her as
she waited in silence. She still wasn't looking up at Jaune, but she could
picture the expression on his face. Naturally, he would be completely taken
aback; his mouth hanging slack, and eyes bugging out; having been completely
unaware that she had any modicum of romantic feelings for him. In any other
situation, she might have laughed at the outlandish image her mind had conjured
up.
Eventually, with an audible swallow, Jaune found his voice.
"Y- you're kidding, right?"
"No, I'm not." Pyrrha answered resolutely. "What happened between us last night
meant the world to me. I wouldn't change it for anything."
"How- how long have you..." Jaune trailed off, struggling to find his words.
"I'm not exactly sure." She admitted, suddenly feeling bashful, yet still not
allowing herself to falter. Now that she had found her voice, she didn't want
to hesitate. "I know that from the moment we meet there was always something
about you that I was drawn to. You were the only one who treated me like a
regular person. I've never been in love before, but I feel like this is it."
Allowing her words to wash over him, Jaune could feel an impulsive pull at his
lips, as they broke into a smile. Despite her hesitant body language and
reluctance to maintain eye contact, he could tell from the clarity in her
voice, the sincerity in her tone that every word she spoke was the truth. He
could barely contain his grin, his heart brimming with happiness. He couldn't
believe his good fortune. In spite of being cold to her initially, of
unknowingly overlooking her affections, she had remained steadfast in her
belief and love for him. Somehow, he shouldn't be surprised. It was just in
Pyrrha's nature. Patience, kindness, loyalty; in knowing her, as a teacher and
and as a friend, these were traits he had come to associate with her
unequivocally.
Pyrrha, eyes still downcast, mistook Jaune's silence for rejection. Sighing,
almost shakily, Pyrrha steeled herself, clenching her fists at her sides. She
refused to be upset. Even if this wasn't the outcome she had hoped for, she
knew confessing her feelings was for the best. She had grown tired of hoping
and wishing, wanting instead to take action, to rid herself of the burden. She
would rather have that definitive answer than never act and torture herself
wondering about may have happened. Now she knew.
Pyrrha realised her friendship was important to Jaune, and assumed, in his
silence, he was trying to think of a way to turn her down gently, without
hurting her feelings or damaging their relationship. While Pyrrha appreciated
the sentiment, she didn't feel it was necessary.
"Jaune, I don't want you to feel like I'm pressuring you into anything here."
She began. "I don't want you to feel obligated to return my feelings. I know
how you feel for Weiss, and I don't expect you to put all of that behind you
for my sake. I just wanted to get this off of my chest. I'm happy to be your
team mate and your friend-"
The words died on her lips, as she felt Jaune's arms surround her, crushing her
tightly against him in an embrace. Pyrrha stumbled at the sudden movement,
steading herself against his chest. Jaune's arms caught her, his fingers
caressing the soft hair curling at the nape of her neck. Pyrrha gasped, taken
aback not only by Jaune's sudden gesture, but the obvious heated, desperation
that was behind it. It was as if there was more he wanted to convey, but
couldn't trust himself to do so with words. Slowly, tentatively, she moved her
own arms to surround his waist, sinking into the comfort it brought her.
She shivered as she felt his breath tattooing a single word against her skin in
a whisper. A word that, in Jaune's mind, was one with warmth and strength and
selflessness, the closest thing he had felt to home since leaving his own for
Beacon.
Pyrrha.
Pyrrha; whose fame and abilities had left her elevated on a lonely pedestal,
unable to forge a genuine relationship for most of her life; who, in his eyes,
was good enough to be with any person she desired; had only ever wanted to be
with him. Yet he had been oblivious, too smitten with Weiss to notice, too
inexperienced himself to pick up on the hints that Pyrrha had been leaving him.
He didn't want to reject her affection, albeit inadvertently, any more. He
didn't want to be the cause of her sadness.
"Pyrrha, you have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that." Jaune began.
"Last night, I- I thought I screwed up. Last night, was something that I wanted
with you for a long time, but… I didn't know how you felt. I was scared. I
thought I had taken things too far and ruined everything between us."
Pyrrha rested her against Jaune's chest, moving, begrudgingly from his embrace,
to stare into his eyes. There was strength in her gaze, a warmth and
reassurance she radiated that always seemed to ease his doubts.
"No Jaune, you didn't do anything wrong. You did everything I could have ever
asked for. Last night, you made me feel loved."
Jaune smiled shyly back at her, his gaze lowering subconsciously to her soft,
pink lips. Despite learning how Pyrrha felt for him, and having kissed her
several times already, he was hesitant and self-conscious, no longer fuelled by
the courage he possessed in his dreams. There was a light flush painting
Pyrrha's cheeks as she gazed back at him, already sensing what he was doing.
Her eyes fluttered closed slowly, her lips pursing. Swallowing, Jaune began to
lower his head to meet her own.
"Will you two just hurry up and kiss already!"
Jumping, Pyrrha and Jaune immediately moved out of each other's arms, their
faces searing with embarrassment. Glancing wildly around the hall, they saw
Nora, eyes wide and hands clasped over her mouth. Apparently, it hadn't been
something she'd meant to say aloud. Ren stood beside her, his hand slapping
against his forehead with a sigh.
"Nora!" Pyrrha and Jaune admonished their friend in unison.
"What happened to letting them work things out on their own?" Ren said from
behind her dryly.
Balling her hands into fists, Nora looked over her shoulder at Ren indignantly.
"Well, I'm sorry, but there's only so much I can take. Honestly, those two are
so hopeless sometimes, it's infuriating. It's obvious they've wanted to jump
each other's bones for the longest time, now they've finally done it and
somehow they're still tip-toeing indecisively around each other! It's so
simple! Pyrrha, you like Jaune. Jaune, you like Pyrrha. Why do you have to
complicate and overthink everything?!"
Jaune's gaze lowered to his feet self-consciously. From the corner of his eye,
he could make out Pyrrha standing in a similar fashion, her cheeks flushed.
"Also, I've got fifty lien from Team RWBY riding on this." Nora added, not as
loudly.
"Wait, run that last part by me again."
"We had a pot going. They didn't think you two were going to hook up before
graduation, if at all." Nora said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I mean, I
know you guys aren't the most socially capable people in the world, but that's
just plain cynical."
"You were betting on whether or not Pyrrha and I would get together?!" Jaune's
voice now rising in frustration. "You couldn't just let us know that we had
feelings for each other?!"
Nora gave a forced laugh, her hand rubbing at the back of her neck sheepishly.
"Well, uh- It wouldn't be a fair bet if we were influencing the outcome like
that."
"That's not what I meant!"
"Jaune, calm down." Pyrrha said, placing her hands on Jaune's arms soothingly.
He turned to look at her, his anger suddenly dissipating underneath her glance.
"There's no need to be so upset. I'm grateful that Nora didn't say anything to
you about my feelings. They were something very close and important to me,
something that I wanted to confess on my own. I think Nora understood that and
didn't want to encroach upon something that was personal between us."
"I guess you're right." Jaune admitted. "I'm sorry, Nora. I didn't meant to
overreact like that."
"It's alright, Jaune. I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to lash out at you guys like
that."
"Sooooo," Nora drawled, a teasing smile on her lips. "Are you two like
'together together' now?"
"Well…" Pyrrha begun, before looking over to Jaune in uncertainty. They hadn't
exactly clarified where their relationship stood yet.
Smiling softly, Jaune took her hand nodding in encouragement. Pyrrha blushed,
at the silent confirmation. Their fingers laced together.
"Yes, I suppose that we are." Pyrrha answered bashfully.
"Oh my gosh," Nora squealed, running over and engulfing her two friends in a
tight hug. "That's so great! I'm so happy for you two!"
"T- thank you, Nora." Pyrrha responded, returning her hug.
"Nora please," Jaune winced. "Not so hard."
"Oh. Sorry."
"Alright Nora," Ren said, placing his hand on her shoulder and gently prying
her away. "Why don't we head back to the cafeteria? Haven't you got some
winnings to collect from RWBY?"
"Ohhhh, you're right. C'mon Ren," Nora said, hooking her arm with Ren's and
walking him with her down the hall.
"We'll be down with you guys in a minute," Jaune called after them, rolling his
eyes half-heartedly at his teammate's antics.
Beside him, Pyrrha did her best to muffle the laughter that spilled freely from
her mouth. Jaune glanced over at her with a smile. He hadn't really noticed
until now, but he loved the sound of her laughter.
"So, uh…" Jaune began, smiling teasingly. "Shall we carry on from where we left
of?"
"I don't see why not." Pyrrha answered, returning the grin, slyly.
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