"I am sorry Pyrrha, but I might be late for training today."
"Oh. Why is that Jaune?"
"Well, I was hoping could go out with me this afternoon."
She smiled, "I'd like that."
The streets of Vale were busy, however people stayed to themselves. Small cafes and stores lined the main street. The cloudy afternoon held to world in a shadow, the street lamps holding a haven for the denizens on the city. Along the street however walked a different light, the small smile of a young woman and wide grin of her blonde companion. He and she walked in their school uniforms with little regard for their image, strangers would take a second glance at them, passer-by's would keep would look even as they passed and the odd couple would whisper to themselves about those two.
"Jaune, do you think that going out like this would attract TOO much attention." Pyrrha said to him with a slight worry.
"Don't worry about them," Jaune said, "I could help you take your mind off it if you'd like."
Jaune said and held out a hand and Pyrrha took it without a moment's hesitation.
"There, does that help?" asked Jaune.
"That helps a lot," Pyrrha said as she held his hand firm, their pace became in sync as they walked down the street.
"So where are you taking me Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, Jaune smiled slyly at her question.
"You'll just have to wait and see." Jaune said, "Though I am very excited for this."
Jaune dropped the little façade and overcame himself with joy, with Pyrrha chuckling at his outburst of happiness. Jaune stopped and faced Pyrrha.
"I think you'll really like it, it's not like a lot of places in Vale. My dad served with the owner, we were always welcome, and even some of my sisters even had their first jobs there." Jaune said, "It's not much further ahead."
"I hope so Jaune," she says and looks up. The heavens above are dark and heavy, before the pattering of raindrops against the concrete was filling their ears. Others around them began jogging or putting up umbrellas to protect them from the rain.
"So it is." Said Jaune, letting go of Pyrrha's hand, he strolled around the little piece of sidewalk around them.
"Jaune…" She giggled, "What are you doing?"
"Don't you know the song?" He asked, holding onto a street lamp and spinning around it, all while singing, "I am Daaaannccceing in the raaaaiinn…"
Though Jaune's signing was terrible, Pyrrha couldn't help but laugh at the light-hearted moment, as the rain poured down heavier, many of the people on the street sought cover and rushed past the two dawdlers.
"Yeah, I think we should get there before we become completely saturated." Jaune said as he removed his blazer and used it to cover the both of them.
Walking in the heavy rain to a side street, Pyrrah spotted a single shop still operating, it's Dark green awning still extended over the street. Walking to the entrance, there was a line going from the centre of the restaurant to the door. Jaune started drying his blazer as soon as they got undercover, shaking it of some of the excess water. Pyrrha looked inside the surprisingly large restaurant, the building was very light, and the walls were a creamy white, with accents of red throughout. There were many tables inside, many only sat two people, with a larger red tablecloth underneath the clean and minimalist white cloth. From what Pyrrha could see, the tables were set with accented porcelain plates and shining silver cutlery, she felt slightly intimidated as Jaune re-joined her.
"Are you sure Jaune, this place is very busy and to be honest, it looks a little too nice." She said.
"Pyrrha Nikos. Don't you worry about that, it's my treat." Jaune said, "Just hang on one second."
Jaune pulled out of the line and walked towards the waitress podium, much to the annoyance of others.
"No cutting." Said one overly verbal customer.
Pyrrha was worried, as she looked up the line, she watched Jaune have a quick and friendly conversation with the waitress at the podium. He looked like he knew her and she gave him a genuine smile. She saw him mouth the words thank you before walking back to Pyrrha at the back of the line.
"May I show you to our seats?" Jaune said.
"Are you sure? We are not stopping any of these people from getting in?" Pyrrha said with concern.
"No, we are not taking their seats, I called the place earlier. They know we were coming and have kept our table free since I called." Jaune said, holding out his hand.
"Alright then, lead on." Pyrrha agreed. He led her left into the crowded restaurant taking another left to face the windows in the front of the restaurant. Under the window was a table for two, set out like any of the other tables, with a small card with a yellow double arc symbol on it. Jaune pulled out a chair and invited Pyrrha to sit. She sat down graciously and he helped her with her chair before strolling around to his part of the table. He put his still wet Blazer on the back of the chair and sat himself in.
"So what do you think?" He asked.
"I don't know what to say Jaune. This place looks amazing." She said, "And from the dancing to this, I am not too sure what to expect from you anymore."
"It's nice to not be just a fighter. I think were both pleasantly surprised at Ren's cooking skills when we first found out." Jaune said.
"I remember. Nora was very eager to have us try his pancakes, but she was extremely defensive of the syrup, she even threatened you with her spoon when you got too close." Pyrrha laughed.
"So, is there any secret gifts that I should know about?" Jaune asked, leaning forwards into the table.
"Hmm," she said playfully, "You'll have to wait and find out."
He gave her a joyful smile before noticing a large presence standing at the table.
"Jauney-boy!" said the large man, opening his arms for a hug.
"Massimo!" Jaune exclaimed and stood from his chair to give the man a hug.
"It is good to see you my boy." Massimo laughed. Massimo was not an overly large man, short black hair, a persistent tan and Pyrrha noticed a little bit of a gut around him, but getting the vibe of someone who was trained for combat. Jaune sat back down at the table as Massimo addressed Pyrrha.
"And you must be the lovely Miss Nikos," Massimo continued, "I am honoured that you are here at my restaurant." He set down two menus on the table softly, "Anything you want, and we can cook it for you."
"Thank you." Pyrrha said politely.
"Very well, a waitress will be with you two shortly." He said, "Jaune, blanc or a rogue?"
"We aren't old enough to drink yet Massimo." Jaune said.
"Bah, in my restaurant you can." He said bombastically.
"Just water please." Jaune insisted.
"Very well. You two let the wait staff know if there any problems." Massimo said before leaving, Jaune and Pyrrha saying their last thanks to the chef.
Pyrrha looked down at the menu laid out before. Opening it, she was exposed to something that she hadn't seen before.
"Umm, Jaune. What is 'Pasta', I don't think I've heard of that before." Pyrrha asked.
"Umm…" Jaune pondered the question, "I would say it's kinda like noodles, except it doesn't have to be in the shape of a string. I… ummm" he trailed off as he tried to describe it, "It's tasty though. Pasta doesn't sit in water, but like a sauce, Meat and other vegetables can be trapped inside giving little bursts flavour. It's… ahhh… very nice."
Pyrrha was not surprised at his lack of insight, but still very much intrigued by it, amused by Jaune's sporadic explanation.
"Sounds interesting. I will try some then." Pyrrha said.
"So are you ready to order?" Jaune asked.
Pyrrha nodded her head in anticipation and Jaune raised his arm.
Down the long, silent halls of the student dorms, walked a couple, laughing happily and most certainly annoying anyone they passed. Jaune held his wet blazer over his shoulder
"That was wonderful, I am so happy we did this." Pyrrha said.
"Even if we skipped out on training today." Jaune asked.
"Well… I can see that as a, different kind of training." Phyyra pieced together the words slowly as she thought.
"Oh yeah," Jaune said impishly, "and what kind of training was that to you?"
"Oh, I don't know. Training the Taste buds?" Pyrrha guessed. Jaune gave a quick hearty laugh.
"Though we can't miss too many sessions like this Jaune." Pyrrha continued, "We can't stop training just because you can take a single baby Ursa."
Jaune sighed and smiled, "Yes mum. I will train hard." Pyrrha returned with a warm smile of her own.
They stopped just outside of their dorm, with a faint ruckus from Team RWBY across the hall. Jaune stood next to it and faced Pyrrha.
"So uhh, I guess, see you tomorrow?" Jaune said awkwardly.
Pyrrha laughed as she reached into her pocket, pulling out her scroll, "Jaune? You do remember that we share a dorm room?"
Jaune's back straightened as that sudden and what should have been obvious fact sunk into his head with new context.
"I wonder how Nora and Ren will take that then." Jaune said, still a little stunned. Following abruptly as Pyrrha walked inside.
Pyrrha widely smiled as she removed her jacket, folding it and placing it with a washing basket, "Well, I hope they take it well."
Jaune gulped down the saliva in his throat at her sentence. He was petrified at what was he was witnessing, trying to act cool, he placed his wet blazer in the basket. He watched her disappear into their designated changing room area and turned his back. He removed his tie and vest as he heard Pyrrha from a distance.
"Where are Ren and Nora actually?" Pyrrha asked.
"Well, I told Nora that they could do anything they wanted while we were out." Jaune stiffly said, "They could be doing anything."
"So you only told Nora." Pyrrha said, Jaune could only tell that she was moving out from behind the cover, "Someday we are going to have to apologize to Ren."
Jaune bravely turned around, to see Pyrrha in an orange with her emblem and pair of comfortable black short shorts. He looked at her in her pajamas in a new way.
"I… ugh." Jaune cleared his throat, with Pyrrha raising an eyebrow.
"Yes Jaune?" She asked.
"It's like I've seen a whole new you today." Jaune said with his hand behind his head. She smiled sweetly.
"Do we have to close our eyes and walk in backwards Jaune?" Nora's loud and high pitched voice was heard just outside the door. Both Jaune's and Pyrrha's faces went bright red, before bursting into a small laughter.
"No you don't Nora, just come in." Jaune said calming down a little. The slight click of the electric lock and the door opened with an exhausted Nora and a stoic Ren, both holding a tower of books.
"There is only so long I can do homework Jaune! I need time to have rest too!" Nora said.
"You spent most of your time looking at various videos of animals." Ren clarified.
"And it takes a lot out of me Ren." Nora retorted.
Pyrrha was giggling, with Jaune trying his best not to smile too much.
"So when I ask that you two cover for me when we go out for some fun during the week, I hope that you will agree." Nora concluded. Jaune looked over a Pyrrha, who was still very collected with her giggleing, he looked to Ren.
"Sorry Ren." He said, with Pyrrha laughing some more.
"Apology not accepted." Ren said, "For both of your reasons."
Pyrrha had controlled her laugh, now wiping away the water from her tear ducts where Jaune had a quizzical look on his face.
"On both counts? How long were you two out there?" Jaune asked.
"Oh long enough to hear you guys start getting-" Nora was cut off.
"Nora!" was said in sync from both Jaune and Pyrrha.
"So are we at the stage yet where we start moving beds yet you two?" Nora teased instead.
"No, there will be no moving of anything." Jaune ordered, "For all of our safety, sleep now."
Team JNPR sprang into action for their most important mission yet, resting.
