READ THE BOTTOM PLEASE
Jaune was ready.
He took a deep breath as he readied to turn the corner, flower in hand.
He was done with being over confident and macho, and was going to say what was on his mind.
No macho.
No false bravado.
Just him.
Just Jaune.
A goofball who was the village idiot.
Who was a softie and a coward, with a smile and heart that his mother had told him was his strongest attributes.
Who just wanted to say what he thought without the date offers, and the ability to be on his side, the stupid 'I am awesome and the honor is yours' attitude.
The truth.
Just to say, 'Weiss, I know I haven't been well... I've been more than an idiot, hell I was borderline retarded, but if you can just give me on chance...Just one... well, I was hoping you could do me the honor of allowing me to be your date to the dance. I know I really don't deserve it, but even so I just want to say... You're beautiful. Talented. And like a star that blazes like a supernova. Just... Fantastic. I don't want to act like I am better than you, because clearly, we both know that isn't true, heck, it probably never be true. I understand if you refuse... but I also want to say sorry. For acting like a jerk. For bothering you. and everything.'
"Neptune!"
Jaune jerked up and hid behind the wall, heart pounding in sudden anxiety.
'Great,' he groaned mentally, 'I can't do this with someone else around!'
"Oh. Hey. What's up?" Neptune said.
"I know this is a little unorthodox..."
Jaune drew back, his confident smile dimming.
"... but I wanted to ask you something... would you... like to accompany me to the dance tomorrow?" Weiss managed to say, looking down and scuffing her shoes on the floor.
Jaune watched as a beautiful pink flush splashed across Weiss' face, and Neptune having a small blush as he rubbed the back of his head, grinning widely.
Jaune smile grew faint before completely evaporating.
He moved away and stared forlornly at the flower he had brought, letting it slip from his hand and onto the ground with as he silently walked away.
He felt strange, although he had a hole punched through him.
He shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets and decided he wanted to go to a walk, or else the hollow feeling he had acquired might fill up with something weird.
'What does he have that I don't?' Jaune thought, 'What do I need to do to be like him?'
"No... that's not it. What did he do that I didn't?" Jaune murmured softly.
His heartbeat pounded a steady rhythm to accompany the sound of his footsteps as he followed the wind. Like a comforting hand it seemed to press the cold reality into his head along with the chilly night air.
Jaune didn't need to be anyone else.
He had just needed to be him.
That's what everyone had been telling him.
That was what Neptune had been.
Neptune.
He didn't act suave or confident.
HE JUST WAS SUAVE AND CONFIDENT, KNOWING WHO HE WAS AND BEING OKAY WITH THAT.
That's just who he was, it was his mannerisms, and that's why Weiss had responded to him so well.
That was the most ironic thing, he thought that maybe if he faked it, he would make it, when in truth, all he need to do was be himself.
And that revelation led to another starburst of clarity.
Dad had told him confidence.
Jaune had misunderstood.
Not be confident in your actions and act like a big shot.
But be confident in who you are, faults, likes, dislikes, attitude.
Be confident in yourself.
Be confident in that if you are fine with who you are, people will be comfortable with you are and accept you for exactly that reason. Jaune took a deep breath and the chilling air chilled his throat as it swirled down into his lungs. He looked up and saw his great-grandfather, Crocea Mors in hand, looking all the part of a unbeatable warrior that was Jaune's goal. Which he had always thought he was just never going to be.
Jaune's vision blurred with tears.
Frustrated.
Sorrow.
Rejection.
Hurt.
Pain.
Jaune pressed the sleeve of his hoodie into his face, reviewing all the actions he had been doing so far.
He surprised himself as he looked at it objectively.
He began to chuckle.
Snicker.
Chortle.
Laugh.
His laughter, tinged and broken by the sound of his sobs racked his body. He doubled over gripping his aching sides as he gasped through his pain and humor. Tear of mirth and tears of pain flowed down his cheeks in equal measure.
Monty Oum, what exactly was he doing these past weeks?!
He was acting like an idiot!
No wonder everyone thought he was a dork.
He flops back and instead of landing on the cold ground he finds himself sitting on the statue.
And Jaune realizes something as the laughter and sobs finally end.
He isn't sad anymore.
He feels clean.
Like his soul just went through spring cleaning.
And his laughter is more genuine and he feels a weight being lifted.
He smiles through his tears and closes his eyes, letting the cold wind prick his face and cool him down.
He wanted to stay here and enjoy the night air for just a bit longer.
He would apologize to Wiess later.
He wouldn't ask for a date, or even a single dance.
He would be the one thing that he knew to be above all else.
Jaune Arc.
A friend.
A goofball.
And a adorkable idiot to the end.
AN: yeah a bit shorter than I like but I think this is what might have gone down after Jaune last scene in the latest episode. Hopefully, Jaune realizes what was dragging him down and can be someone worth respecting. Anyway I may continue this to Pyrrha's POV if people want. Drop a review and tell me what you think!
-Y.A.R.N.