It's time for Weiss and Pyrrha to meet up for their first 'date'!

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Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.


Chapter 3. Dinner For Two

Even hours after Weiss had returned home on her air ship that night with Winter, she still couldn't believe what had happened.

She kept asking her sister if it had all been real, then checking and re-checking the piece of paper in her pocket. Being it was already so late now, she'd decided that she wouldn't send a message until tomorrow.

Weiss was dropped off back at the Schnee mansion just before midnight, where she headed straight to her quarters to reflect on the success of the evening.

She was simply trying to process it all, because the idea that her idol of ten years had recognized and even seemed interested in her was simply beyond comprehension. Surely Pyrrha Nikos had better people to spend her time on?

But still, Weiss couldn't un-see those delighted, shimmering green eyes, nor could she un-hear the sweet, pleasant voice. She'd seen and heard Pyrrha interact with people many times before, but somehow, the way she'd done it with Weiss last night made the heiress feel almost... special.

Of course, she fully understood that those feelings could simply be things she herself was imposing after the long evening and her unbridled excitement.

She tried to clear her head as she showered, dried her hair, and changed into her nightgown. When she re-entered her bedroom, she was almost surprised to find the little slip of paper still lying on her pillow where she'd left it. Part of her had expected it to have disappeared, and she probably would've suspected it had never existed at all.

But there it was, those familiar digits she'd read and re-read a thousands times already and committed to memory. And just beneath it was Pyrrha's signature, neat, flowing calligraphy, despite the fact she'd written it out so quickly and with only the feeble support of a thin notepad.

Weiss couldn't help but trace the letters with her eyes as she flicked off her lamp and laid herself down. The exhausting night caught up with her all too quickly, and before she could even finish replaying her meeting with Pyrrha in her mind, sleep swept over her.


She was surprised to wake the next morning and find that she still had that piece of paper in her hand.

It was still real.

And yet she still couldn't believe it.

Being the day after one of her concerts, Weiss didn't have a terribly packed schedule for her lessons today – just a few in the afternoon. It was one of those rare days where she actually had the luxury to sleep in a bit and keep to herself for the morning hours.

Rolling over, she reached out to grab her scroll from the nightstand and brought it onto her pillow.

It was almost surreal to be typing Pyrrha Nikos' number into her personal scroll, and part of her actually expected it to be a hoax. She didn't know what kind of message to type out, what would be too formal, or perhaps too informal. She didn't know if now would be a good time either, but she supposed it would be as good a time as any.

So she kept things polite but simple and typed out:

Hello, Pyrrha. Good morning.

Weiss read and re-read the four words close to twenty times to ensure she hadn't misspelled anything, making sure the punctuation was correct. She didn't want to end up sending Pyrrha a typo as her first message. Not only would it make Weiss seem more desperate than she was, but she'd also never live it down personally.

Once she was satisfied with reading it over, she hit SEND before she could change her mind.

At that point, she intended to get up and dress herself, but before she could even remove the covers from herself, she got a reply. Her heart admittedly started to pound a little faster as she tapped the screen of her scroll and opened her new message.

The number she'd input as Pyrrha's was displayed on-screen, and a little green bubble appeared beneath the blue one Weiss had sent. The reply read:

Oh, is this Weiss? Good morning!

The singer stared at the message for a moment or so, trying to comprehend the fact that Pyrrha had actually replied to her, and within such a timely manner. Weiss didn't want to keep her waiting any longer than she had to.

Yes, it's me! Sorry, I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time.

Again, the reply was fairly quick.

Not at all! You have perfect timing! But I think it'd be best to make our dinner plans later this evening. Will that work for you?

Weiss was shocked that Pyrrha had remembered their plans of a dinner date, and perhaps even more shocked that she'd truly meant for such an event to take place at all. Weiss' heart was still thumping as she typed out her response.

Yes. Later this evening works. Please message me whenever it's best for you.

A few seconds later:

Oh, you're so sweet! Alright, I'll message you again later, maybe around 6. Have a good day, Weiss!

It was all the heiress could do to reply with, Thank you. You as well before the scroll slipped from her hands and onto her pillow.

Even after she'd just conversed with Pyrrha, nothing felt real. Weiss felt she might not believe any of this until she was physically at a restaurant with Pyrrha standing in front of her.

But eventually, she managed to get herself out of bed and prepare for the day.

Winter had gone back to the military base last night after dropping Weiss off at home, so aside from her servants and father, Weiss was alone in the mansion. And even with so many people there, when Winter in particular wasn't with her, Weiss felt more alone than ever.

But that morning, it wasn't as bad as it typically was. The promise of speaking to Pyrrha again later on in the evening made it seem as though there was someone beside Weiss all morning, even if there really was no one there.

It was more like the presence of a promise had been gently wrapped around her heart.

It was something she didn't normally have – something to look forward to.

. . .

Before her lessons began, she found herself face to face with her father.

He always made sure to see her a day after a concert to give a critique, whereas any other day, he wouldn't care much for her presence.

Weiss listened attentively to the good and the bad, the praises and the faults of her most recent performance.

But overall, her father seemed rather pleased with her this time around. It was the first time in months Weiss didn't feel her heart drop into the pit of her stomach after speaking with him. She felt almost elated in knowing he'd approved of her concert. He even praised her for turning down the offers that had been made to her.

Though there was one thing he said that made her jolt.

"And what about that girl, Pyrrha Nikos?" he asked sternly. "The one you'd gone to see and then your sister tells me you'd backed out on meeting her? It wasn't wise of you to go back on your word, especially in meeting such a well-known young person. I understand she attended the concert last night. Did she seem pleased?"

Weiss swallowed, trying to maintain eye contact, though she often purposefully blurred her vision so she didn't have to see his eyes directly.

"Yes, Father. She was in the front row, and came to see me afterward. She praised me highly."

She left out the more personal details and the scroll number exchanges for now. All he wanted to hear about was Pyrrha's reaction.

Weiss was relieved to see he seemed satisfied with what she told him.

"It's good to know she enjoyed herself after you so rudely decided not to meet her after her own match. Make sure to invite her again. She could be a valuable asset."

Weiss dipped her head and stepped back to let him exit.

This was the only part about all of this she didn't like, that if she and Pyrrha did become closer, it would ultimately help her father's reputation in the long run. Weiss didn't want to feel she was becoming friends with Pyrrha solely for her father's sake, and she didn't want Pyrrha feeling that was the case, either.


As the rest of the day passed her by, Weiss tried to plan out exactly what she wanted to say to Pyrrha tonight around 6PM without seeming too distracted.

The day seemed to drag on a little slower than most others, and she realized it was exactly because she had something to look forward to.

By the time her lessons were over, Weiss ate a quick dinner in the dining hall and then scurried up to her room before anyone could stop her. She completed her lesson assignments right away, so they wouldn't be hanging over her head as she talked to Pyrrha.

Once her work was done, she changed into her sleepwear and then relaxed on her bed to file her nails. It was difficult not to look at the time displayed on her scroll every single second, but after six o' clock hit, she started getting butterflies in her stomach. Her scroll vibrated a few minutes later, and Weiss eagerly read the message.

Sorry I was a bit late! I had a busy day!

Weiss typed back quickly, her fingers fueled by her excitement.

It's perfectly fine!

You really are too sweet, Weiss! Alright then, I guess we should figure out dinner plans. Well, first tell me what kind of food you'd prefer.

Weiss was easily drawn into the conversation with her, following Pyrrha's lead and asking what kind of food she liked as well.

Weiss found out a surprising amount about Pyrrha in just those few minutes of exchanging messages.

The two girls ultimately decided seafood might be best, since they both had a particular liking of it. Pyrrha also admitted to Weiss that she enjoyed junk food and burgers from time to time as a guilty pleasure. Weiss confessed that she had a bit of a sweet tooth at times.

The tone that was set between them was casual and comfortable.

Weiss was amazed at how quickly she forgot she was talking to a renown young fighter.

And little did she know, it was the same for Pyrrha, who'd just about forgotten that the girl she was texting now was the same one she'd seen giving an outstanding performance onstage last night.

Next, they decided on the larger details.

Weiss' residence was in Atlas and Pyrrha's was in Mistral. Finances were hardly an issue for either of them, but there was the matter of distance and transportation.

Pyrrha ended up searching for restaurants located about an equal distance between them, while Weiss was checking her calendar for a day her schedule was free.

They eventually decided on a restaurant that would only be under an hour flight for both of them in private ships, and they chose to do it on a day when both of them had free time.

Both girls knew this could have been figured out over a few days' worth of time. But both were so excited, so thrilled with the idea of getting to see each other again in a much more casual environment that they were both overcome with a sense of urgency. They'd wanted to get all of the details figured out as soon as possible to make it official.

About an hour later, it was done. Their dinner date was set for just about one week from now, on Saturday evening.

Weiss needed to let it sink in that she and Pyrrha had actually made these plans. She herself had called the number for the restaurant Pyrrha had given her and made reservations for two at the designated time and date. As soon as she'd gotten off the phone, she'd texted Pyrrha news of her success.

They only typed back and forth to one another, but it was clear they were equally joyous in the way they messaged each other. They even talked casually for a short while after that, but soon wished each other goodnight.

Even after she'd said goodbye to Pyrrha, Weiss looked over their text conversation again. She really had learned a lot about Pyrrha.

She enjoyed seafood on special occasions, but her agent would often help her sneak junk food and justify that she needed the calories. She had a match almost every weekday except Tuesdays, which had recently been designated to be the days she practiced fighting Grimm before she brought them to the arena.

Weiss also learned that although Pyrrha traveled all around Remnant for her matches, she tended to stay in Mistral's general area more so than anywhere else. Which Weiss felt was nice, since Pyrrha would get to visit her own home fairly often, as Pyrrha herself had told her.

It had only been twenty-four hours since they'd formally met, and yet somehow, Weiss felt as though she'd known Pyrrha this well for at least a week.

She re-read the messages again as she lie in bed that night, trying to configure Pyrrha's voice in her mind and hear her words being spoken from her lips.

The girl she'd always admired was now someone she could message at will and meet up with whenever it was convenient for the both of them.

Weiss never thought this would have been possible for her. She knew this never would have been possible if not for Winter, and Weiss made a mental note to message her sister about this development tomorrow.

But for now, her chest was bubbling with excitement, which conflicted with the residual exhaustion from yesterday and today combined.

Weiss read Pyrrha's goodnight message one last time before sleep took her.


It was tricky for Weiss to convince her father to let her go meet up with Pyrrha for dinner.

When she'd made the plans with Pyrrha, she'd been so caught up in it all and had made the reservations right away, without thinking how her father might react to the idea.

Weiss had messaged Winter her words of thanks as intended, and then made her most recent dilemma known.

Due to her age and her more aggressive line of work, Winter knew how to talk to their father much more effectively than Weiss did. She wasn't scared of him nor in his debt, and had he not been partially responsible for her birth, Weiss might've gone so far as to think Winter and he could have been almost equals.

The next time Winter came to visit home a few days later, Weiss rushed to hug her, finding she didn't care how unprofessional it might've been. Winter patted her shoulders reassuringly and murmured to her.

"Leave everything to me."

She and Weiss went to see their father together after that, entering his office with his permission granted. As they walked inside, he looked them both over with unreadable eyes and leaned over his desk.

"What's this about?"

"Father," Weiss began, trying not to falter. She wanted to be a part of this. She didn't want Winter to have to fight all of her battles for her. Weiss met her father's eyes and smiled calmly. "I wanted to inform you of a certain arrangement I've made. That is, dinner reservations with Miss Nikos in Mistral next Saturday."

The man's eyes widened a bit, just enough to let her know he'd heard. He remained still, calculating eyes trained on his youngest daughter.

"You did all of this without my permission? What if I'd arranged an event for you on that day? You're certainly lucky I haven't, but if I had-"

"Father, please." Winter boldly cut him off, but somehow did it so smoothly it didn't sound rude at all. "You've just got to hear about how enthralled Miss Nikos was the night of the concert. She was so impressed with Weiss, she could hardly wait to meet with her backstage. And all the while, she was highly interested. In fact, it was she who made the suggestion of seeing Weiss for dinner."

Winter had told Weiss beforehand that mentioning this tidbit to their father would be very important. This way, he knew that it had been Pyrrha who had taken the initial interest in meeting his daughter, and not simply Weiss being presumptuous and initiating things with a guest.

Weiss could see his demeanor changing before her very eyes. She might've even dared to say he looked pleased.

"Really now? A famous young girl like Nikos asking my daughter to dinner? That's quite something. That could indeed be a very good matter for the press to focus on. Perhaps we can find some terms to agree upon..."

Winter had warned Weiss about this, too. She'd known her father would only see this as a business venture, but given Pyrrha's exceptional reputation around the world, it was one he clearly enjoyed mulling over.

If Weiss and Pyrrha grew close, he could eventually make contact with the other girl's agents. Pyrrha's and Weiss' performances alone were major attractions. But for him to imagine potentially combining those performances some day...

It was an opportunity he couldn't afford to ignore.

And just as Winter had predicted, Weiss heard his approval.

"Very well. You have my permission to go meet her. I'll prepare a ship for your transport. And be sure to make plans for a follow-up arrangement."

Weiss needed to keep herself from bouncing in place. She hid her growing smile with a deep bow.

"Yes, Father!"

Winter dipped her head to him and quickly turned Weiss around to lead her out of the office and closed the door behind them.

At that point, the older girl's lips broke out into a smile as well. She might've been a very serious woman, but when it came to seeing her little sister so happy, Winter couldn't help but be overjoyed.

"Well, you've done it, Weiss! Congratulations!"

Weiss threw her arms around her again.

"Thank you, Winter! Thank you so much!"

"Believe me. It's my pleasure." Winter held her close for a moment, savoring Weiss' mirth. Then, she stepped away and made a casual offer. "Now then, why don't we head outside and I'll show you a few new glyph techniques you might consider using in your next performance? I'll help you practice."

Weiss agreed and eagerly followed, now counting down the hours until she'd next see Pyrrha again.


When the day finally arrived, Weiss hopped out of bed after a good night's sleep and was eager to start getting herself ready.

She ate a light breakfast and spent the majority of her time that morning fussing over her appearance.

Considering the rarity of the occasion, she decided to select one of her best dresses for the evening. It was strapless and sleeveless, and the main color was a brilliant white that faded into silvery blue around the edges.

But she felt the exposure of her shoulders was a bit too much, so she immediately covered them with a soft white shawl. Matching shoes went to her feet, and she then spent a good amount of time brushing and fixing her hair. She left it mostly down except for a small section at the back of her head which she rolled up into a bun, and placed her tiara on top to secure it.

She'd gone out to dinner a few times in the past, but those had all been pleasantries for potential sponsors or business partners, and each time Weiss had been accompanied by her father and sister.

This would be the first time in her life she'd be going on an actual dinner date by herself.

She did her best not to display her bursting excitement all morning long. Whenever her father happened to pass her by especially, she would slow her stride and act as though she had nothing particularly special to do today. But the second he was out of sight, she'd give a twirl that sent her dress flowing.

Before she knew it, the hour to catch her ship was approaching. Weiss retreated to her room and grabbed a small blue purse to take with her. Into it, she slipped her scroll, her wallet, and the slip of paper with Pyrrha's number on it. She also added an extra spritz of perfume to her neck before putting the bottle in as well.

At that point she paused herself briefly, taking a moment to process it all. Her heart was thrumming, and her chest felt tight again, even though she hadn't even seen Pyrrha yet.

I'll have to be professional, of course. If I don't make tonight a success, Father won't be happy, and he might not ever let me meet her again...

The thought made her stomach twist, but before the panic could rise up, it was pushed down when her scroll buzzed. She unzipped her purse and dug it out quickly to find Pyrrha had just messaged her.

I'm leaving for my ship now! I'll see you soon!

And just like that, all of the uncertainties crumbled into dust. Weiss typed a swift response:

I'm leaving as well. See you soon!

With Pyrrha's reassuring presence now soothing her mind once more, Weiss hurried out of her room, down the stairs, into the parlor, and out the door.

One of her butlers was waiting for her there and led her across the property to where her small, private air ship was waiting for her. Weiss boarded and got herself situated, and in a matter of minutes they were off.

At the very least, she was alone in the seating area of the ship, which allowed her the privacy she required to work off some of the jitters.

Using a small handheld mirror, she made sure her dress, shawl, and makeup were perfect multiple times, fixed and re-fixed her hair, and controlled her breathing.

But even though she could change all of those things to her heart's desire, no matter how hard she tried she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

It felt like much less time than an hour when the ship began to descend. Weiss initially thought they were landing elsewhere to refuel or something of that nature.

But when she peered out over the city below, the architectural style of the buildings and old-fashioned paneling of the roofs confirmed they were indeed in Mistral. Pyrrha's ship should be landing at the same platform soon, if she wasn't already here.

Weiss checked her appearance one last time, then slipped her mirror into her purse and stood as the ship landed.

This wouldn't only be her first time going out to meet someone for dinner, but also the first time she'd be permitted to go about at her leisure without guards. She'd be lying to say she wasn't a little nervous.

But as she stepped off the platform and joined in with the crowds of people, she found the prospect of being unsupervised was exhilarating.

No one to keep tabs on her and report back to her father.

Weiss could enjoy herself to the fullest tonight - and she intended to.

She'd discussed with Pyrrha where they'd find one another once they'd landed, and Weiss quickly directed her gaze up to the large numbers hovering all along the platform, indicating which terminal was which. She hurried to number 4 and searched for a familiar face.

But it seemed Pyrrha's ship hadn't arrived yet.

There were several vacant benches nearby, but Weiss found she was too excited to sit still. Yet there were too many other people walking around and jostling her where she was standing, so she moved back until she was pressed against the wall and waited.

Her heart thumped hard every time, partially because of the nervousness and partially because of the excitement.

Now that she was still, the sounds around her were reaching her more easily, and they were boisterous. She felt like she was a part of a particularly rowdy audience again. She closed her eyes, not wanting to overload her senses all at once and end up causing problems before Pyrrha had even arrived.

But not long afterward, past the roaring of departing ships and the din of the bustling crowds, a new sound reached Weiss' ears. It was a single voice, clear and familiar and overjoyed.

"Weiss!"

And just like that, any queasiness she'd felt before was gone.

She opened her eyes and saw her, hurrying towards her with a bright smile on her face.

Her attire for the night was equally as formal as Weiss' was, though the dress was a deep crimson with a bit more of a mature design. The straps crossed around her collar, and her shoulders were bare. Her hair had also been let down, and it flowed behind her like a small scarlet ocean. Her eyes were two gleaming emerald guideposts, drawing Weiss to them in the sea of unfamiliar people.

After taking in her stunning appearance, Weiss could scarcely breathe as she stepped up to meet her.

"Pyrrha..."

The other girl reached her just then, joyously reaching out to take both of Weiss' hands in hers.

"Oh, I'm so glad you could make it! Sorry I was late! I hope you didn't have to wait too long."

Weiss' heart rate increased again when she felt Pyrrha's hands grasping hers with a gentle firmness, spreading a foreign but welcomed warmth over her knuckles.

"Not at all. I'm glad you could make it as well, Pyrrha. I've been wanting to see you very much."

"It's the same for me!" She gave a slight tug, coaxing Weiss a step closer to her. Her smile was infectious, and probably bright enough to light up a small town. "Weiss, you'll have to forgive me. I'm just so excited to be with you this evening! I know we only met formerly a short while ago, and since then most of our interactions have been via messaging, but if it's alright, and you don't find it inappropriate... may I hug you?"

At first, Weiss wasn't sure if Pyrrha had really made the request, or if Weiss herself had imagined it being said. She stared up into those emerald eyes and blinked in confusion, but there was no mistaking the subtle eagerness in Pyrrha's gaze.

Weiss' family had never been one for much physical affection, even though Winter had been hugging her a bit more often recently. But Weiss had never known any embrace other than her sister's.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. A strange feeling coiled at the top of her chest, and her fingers curled and uncurled subconsciously against Pyrrha's palms.

"Um... I..."

It didn't take a genius to realize Weiss had been made uncomfortable by the request. Pyrrha quickly shook her head and stepped up a little closer, until she'd found Weiss' shying gaze again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't really think to consider your feelings about it, Weiss. Don't worry about it! But we really should get going before we miss our reservation time! Do you know the way to the restaurant?"

Weiss' mind was still latched onto the question of the hug, and her indecision and lack of response had made her temporarily despondent. She shook her head, still trying to find the words she'd wanted to say.

But the time for them had come and gone, and Pyrrha's mind was set ahead, not behind.

"Then I'll lead the way, if that's alright! Would you like me to keep hold of your hand? This crowd is a little rowdy."

And though Weiss had missed her first opportunity, she made sure not to miss the second one.

"Yes, please. If you will."

Pyrrha's smile returned tenfold.

"Of course! Then please stay beside me, Weiss!"

Pyrrha let go of only one of Weiss' hands, but kept a loose hold on the other. Being a native of these parts, she knew her way around this cities even on foot and unescorted.

They still had a good amount of time before they'd need to check in for their reservation, so she didn't rush their pace at all.

Both of them were in rather formal clothes, and it wasn't exactly easy to walk in their shoes amongst a crowd at air ship rush hour.

Weiss stayed close to Pyrrha's side, her gaze alternating between staying trained ahead or dropping to the ground. But she made absolutely certain to never let go of Pyrrha's hand.

She was still trying to absorb it all, how she and Pyrrha had just met up for the first time like this, and yet it had felt as though they were old friends who'd been doing so for ages already. It just felt so natural, so comfortable.

Pyrrha made her feel as though she could just take all of her concerns and push them aside for the time being.

Weiss hadn't realized the smile that had crept onto her own lips as Pyrrha continued guiding her. They'd just gotten out of the bulk of the crowds at the platforms, and the activity and motion around them was beginning to die down a bit.

Weiss dared to focus on the girl at her side rather than where she was going.

She didn't notice the man rushing towards them in the crowd, carrying a large suitcase, clearly hurrying for the platform. His luggage scraped her leg as he passed, shouting out an apology over his shoulder as he hurried on. The impact had Weiss stumbling, yelping softly as her weight shifted and her knees buckled.

But no part of her ever touched the ground, save for the undersides of her shoes. Pyrrha gave a small, swift tug to her wrist and reached out with her free arm to catch the heiress around the waist, pulling her up to steady her.

"Weiss! Are you alright?"

Too embarrassed to meet her eyes directly, Weiss looked down and smoothed out her dress.

"Yes. I'm fine."

"That's a relief." Pyrrha's hand remained on her back, rubbing gently. "Some people don't look where they're going when they're in such a rush. I hope wherever he was going is important enough that he could afford to knock someone over."

To Weiss' surprise, Pyrrha's voice was filled with bitterness and perhaps even an ounce of resentment for the man who'd hit her. It was almost alarming to hear the champion who was typically so polite and well-mannered suddenly become angry at a random passerby.

But Weiss couldn't help but be flattered by it.

Because that meant Pyrrha cared for Weiss more than she cared for her reputation.

Weiss squeezed her companion's hand a little tighter, a grateful smile curling up on her lips.

"Thank you, Pyrrha."

Just like that, all the ill feelings Pyrrha had been plagued by vanished, and she returned to her cheerful self.

"Oh, not at all! I'm just glad you're okay! I don't know what I would've done if you'd gotten hurt."

Weiss had no response to that other than to bite her lip and look away.

"No need to worry. I'm fine, thanks to you."

Her words seemed to empower Pyrrha and rejuvenate her excitement.

"Then if you're sure you're alright, let's continue on our way, shall we?"

They started off once again. Pyrrha reached across herself to keep hold of Weiss' hand, and her other hand remained on Weiss' shoulders over her shawl. She hadn't really realized she'd kept it there, since it just felt like a natural way to be supporting a beautiful girl walking beside her.

But Weiss noticed the change. She noticed it a lot.

She'd been pulled in closer to Pyrrha's side now, so much so that she could feel her warmth very easily. Something told her that, had it been any other person on Remnant holding her like this, Weiss would have slipped away or pushed them off of her, depending.

But since it was Pyrrha, she found she really didn't mind.

They walked in this manner together, keeping close and comfortable as they followed the sidewalks leading to their destination.

When they finally arrived, Pyrrha didn't let go of her, and Weiss didn't ask her to.

They entered the restaurant and gave their names to the waiter at the indicated spot. His eyes widened as he realized who they were, and rechecked their names on the list before profusely apologizing that they would have to wait a few minutes.

The girls happily agreed and took a seat on a cushioned bench in the waiting area. Only then, after they'd stopped needing to walk and talk, did Pyrrha realize where her hands were.

"Oh! Weiss, I'm so sorry! You should have said something!"

To Weiss' indescribable dismay, Pyrrha let her go and withdrew her hands into her own lap. The singer reached for them back and took them in her own.

"Pyrrha, please. I didn't want to say anything. Because... I didn't mind at all." She managed to muster up the courage to look directly into her eyes as she said as much. The time for timidness was over, and she didn't want Pyrrha to feel as though she'd overstepped boundaries, especially boundaries that didn't even exist.

The panic in those deep green eyes began to fade as they met with crystal blue.

"Are... Are you sure? I'm sorry. I know we've only just met a few times in person, but I just-"

"Pyrrha." Weiss smiled and squeezed her hands. "It is completely fine. I assure you."

Relief filled her eyes now, and Pyrrha's tense shoulders went lax.

"Thank goodness..."

"Please don't worry about it." Weiss maintained her smile, glancing down at the small space between the two of them. Clearing her throat, she got her companion to follow her gaze. "Then... may I?"

Pyrrha nodded right away and opened up her arm again.

"Of course! By all means!"

"Thank you."

Weiss slid in the final inch to press herself close to Pyrrha's side, resting her cheek lightly against the champion's shoulder.

Pyrrha, who'd just been fretting to the point of alarm, was now nearly bursting with joy. She draped her arm gently over Weiss' back and shoulders, letting her lean more of her weight onto her side.

They'd chatted enough on their scrolls over the weeks to get close mentally. But this was the first time they could cover physical space.

Even though they had only met a couple of times in person, they'd met many, many more times in texts, calls, and videos. They may have only been formally acquainted a few weeks ago, but they'd known each other for much, much longer.

And now they could let it show.

For each of them, this was the same girl she'd spoken with nearly ever day and night for several weeks now. They both seemed to come to the realization at the same time, that there was nothing to worry about.

They were already close intellectually – tonight was the night for an intimate physical proximity.

In a way, it was unfortunate for them how quickly their names were called; they both would've liked to perhaps skip the meal altogether and just sit there like that on the bench. But they separated only as much as necessary and stood before following the waiter to their table.

There, they sat on opposite ends, the farthest apart they'd been all evening since they'd met up, but it was a proper distance for this formal environment.

They were both sure to act as the refined young women they were supposed to be now that they were here. Backs straight, shoulders stiff, chins high, they looked over the menus and placed their orders for drinks.

Weiss didn't even realize when or how she and Pyrrha had delved into conversation yet again. It was such an effortless transition that neither paid its process any mind. They talked about anything and everything, from their favorite kinds of food, to their daily activities, and even as far as their family lives.

Pyrrha had a lot of wonderful things to say about her family, but Weiss mainly kept to speaking about Winter when that topic arose.

As they ate, they got to praising one another.

Weiss admitted how much she loved Pyrrha's advanced fighting style and admired her agility, flexibility, and quick wit in the arena.

Pyrrha made a comeback by praising Weiss' music, the air of sophistication she always gave off, and how she could change and fluctuate the volumes and tones of her voice during a song.

It almost became like a small, polite argument of who could praise who more.

They talked for nearly two hours, even after they'd finished eating and had been given the bill.

That was a new topic to discuss, and both girls earnestly insisted they be the one to pay.

But ultimately, they just ended up laughing merrily and split the cost as evenly as possible.

By the time they'd stepped out of the restaurant, twilight had fallen. Each girl used her scroll to send for their respective air ships to pick them up at the platforms, then they began walking.

Pyrrha put her arm around Weiss' shawl, and the heiress leaned into her with ease.

They'd gotten so used to one another this evening. They'd talked, laughed, shared secrets and bashful glances. Each had hidden her fair share of blushes, and been caught pink-faced as well.

But there was no awkwardness left between them, no nervousness, no distance, be it physical or otherwise. They were as close as two people who'd known one another since childhood would be.

They savored the evening breeze as they sauntered back through the city, bound for the air ships. As they walked, Pyrrha pulled Weiss a little closer to her.

"It's almost strange," she said, still smiling. "We've only just met not too long ago, and this was the first evening we've spent together... and yet I feel as though I've known you for years, Weiss."

"It's the same for me." Weiss slipped her arm across the small of Pyrrha's back. "But you know... it's true, isn't it? We've known about each other for a long time. It's just that recently we've actually gotten to know each other."

Pyrrha's eyes sparked with clarity at the way Weiss had worded it.

"Yes, you're absolutely right! That's it! And somehow, I feel as though we've shared two lifetimes with each other in just as many hours tonight. It was wonderful. I'd love to do it again sometime, preferably as soon as possible when it's convenient for you."

"I would too," Weiss agreed. "Whenever it's convenient for you, Pyrrha."

"Well then, it shouldn't be too difficult to arrange our next date! We can discuss details later on our calls just like before! And I'll be sure to send you another ticket to my next match – free of charge!"

"I was just going to say the same thing. I'll send you a ticket for my next concert."

"Wonderful!" Pyrrha laughed and hugged Weiss to her side.

They soon entered the ship docks which were much less busy now. They glanced at their respective terminals and realized their ships were already waiting for them.

Weiss' heart started to pound again, and she went stiff as the realization that they'd have to leave each other crashed over her.

"I don't want you to go..." she murmured, mostly to herself.

But Pyrrha had heard her and replied softly.

"I don't want you to go either, Weiss. But I'll call you as soon as I get home and we can start planning our next date right away! We'll see each other again soon, don't you worry!"

Weiss refused to allow herself to be dejected. Pyrrha was right. They'd be together again before long. So she smiled and let Pyrrha's positivity rub off on herself.

"Right. And if I'll still get to message you every day, waiting won't be so bad."

"It definitely won't!"

They let go of one another, only to grasp each other's hands. Crystal blue me forest green, and mirrored smiles reflected below. Pyrrha sighed a little sadly.

"Even if we can text and call each other... I'll still miss you until the next time I can see you in person."

"I will, too."

Another beat of silence passed, and the whirring of the air ships' engines seemed to intrude on them. But Weiss didn't want to leave Pyrrha without one last request.

"Pyrrha...?"

The young champion titled her head curiously.

"Yes, Weiss?"

The heiress hesitated. She took a deep breath, and from the bottom of it, she found her resolve.

"I think I'd like that hug now."

Pyrrha's eyes sparkled with an incomparable brilliance. She didn't waste a second.

"Oh, Weiss! I'm so happy!"

She threw her arms around the girl's shoulders and pulled Weiss in close.

The heiress didn't care if anyone else saw them. She returned the embrace full-force, squeezing Pyrrha's back tightly as their cheeks brushed together. Pyrrha gave a tiny bounce of merriment. Then, her hands slid up to Weiss' shoulders and she pushed herself back slowly, seeking her eyes once more.

"Weiss...?"

She sounded much more timid than she had mere seconds ago. Her expression had changed as well, into one Weiss had never seen on her before. Now it was Pyrrha Nikos who was nervous.

Weiss squeezed her hands.

"What is it?"

Pyrrha's eyes were suddenly bouncing all around as though following the path of a ping-pong ball, her eyelashes fluttering.

"I was... I was just wondering... if it would be all right... to kiss you?"

Silence fell. Even the engines of the ships seemed to quiet down to an unimportant hum.

Weiss felt her jaw drop ever so slightly, and her heart rate doubled at least.

But she didn't need to think about her answer. She knew what she wanted.

Weiss dipped her chin in the tiniest of nods. Pyrrha perked up slightly.

"I-Is that a yes? I'm sorry, I just... I want to be sure."

Weiss inhaled and drew up her voice.

"Yes. Yes, Pyrrha."

Her face felt about as warm as Pyrrha's looked.

"Okay. Then if you're sure..."

Pyrrha's hands squeezed her shawl and shoulders, bracing them both. Locks of her crimson hair slipped over the front of her collar as she leaned forward and down.

Weiss didn't want to miss a second of it, but as she drew nearer, she simply had to close her eyes. She forgot how to breathe, and had it not been for Pyrrha's hands keeping her steady, she might've forgotten how to stand as well. Weiss could smell her perfume, faintly feel the warmth of her breath.

And then the contact was made.

Warm and soft.

On her cheek.

Weiss held her breath, swallowed, and savored it for as long as she could before Pyrrha pulled away.

The champion didn't know why, but she apologized.

"S-Sorry..."

Weiss blinked up at her with a newfound resolve.

"Pyrrha..." Her heart was soaring, and it boosted her confidence beyond limits. "I know it's only the first date, but... please forgive me."

She reached up and looped her arms around Pyrrha's neck, drawing her down closer as Weiss herself strained a bit on her toes.

And she kissed her full on the lips.

She knew what she wanted.

She knew it was what Pyrrha wanted, too.

The small squeak that was released into her mouth confirmed as much.

Pyrrha kissed her back instantly, her arms locking around the small of Weiss' back.

She was too happy for words.

She lifted Weiss up, spun her once, let her back down, then kissed her again.

They kissed and laughed and kissed some more, until they were both too breathless to continue.

They parted that evening knowing the next date would be even better.


A/N: You can't be moving too fast if you're already at the destination you want!

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