If there was one word that could describe Jaune's nights, it would be sleepless. Most nights before Beacon, he'd sleep like a baby. Not even earthquakes could wake him. But ever since his first night at Beacon he's had trouble sleeping. Of course, it didn't help that Pyrrha was in the bed across from him. It just gave him one more thing to think about at night. Nora and Ren always managed to fall asleep quickly, and Pyrrha would usually stay up longer than the others. Jaune would pretend to be asleep while Pyrrha managed the room. That included cleaning the messes Jaune and Ren left, studying for school, and usually followed by reading for a while before she'd finally turn off her bedside light and turn over.
Pyrrha would sometimes write things down in a notebook or diary of some kind. That surprised Jaune, since she didn't seem like the kind of person who would have one of those.
But, there are always those special moments. Those few times when something truly magnificent happens that Jaune absolutely loved. Ranging from simple things like putting away his clothes when he was busy, to helping Jaune with his fighting technique. It just so happened that night would be one of those moments.
Pyrrha had made a few noises in her sleep, sometimes light whimpers and other times grunts followed by her rolling over. After a long pause, Pyrrha moved in the moonlight. "Jaune...?" Pyrrha asked quietly from her bed. The lights were out and the only thing visible was Pyrrha's shoulder, lit up along with the side of her bed by the moonlight through the window. Jaune wasn't sure if he should answer or not. "Are you awake?"
Jaune decided to go out on a limb. "Yeah?" He said in an equally quiet tone.
"I didn't wake you did I?"
"N-no, of course not." Jaune played with his hands, not sure if Ren or Nora was awake either. It was around 2 in the morning, which was way later than Pyrrha would usually be up. She had turned her light out at least 2 hours earlier.
"Oh, good..." She responded in her harmonic, steady voice. Jaune could see her move her hand up and out of the light. "I was wondering... Are you usually up this late?"
"Yeah, I haven't really been able to sleep since I got here."
"Have you tried counting sheep?"
"Since when has that ever worked for anyone?"
"Just a suggestion. Warriors need their sleep."
"So then, why aren't you asleep?" Jaune asked, to which Pyrrha didn't respond. Jaune cocked an eyebrow which of course wasn't visible in the dark. Pyrrha shuffled in her bed.
"I... I'm not sure. I couldn't sleep I guess." Pyrrha lied. "Nothing big. A lot to think about."
"Pyrrha, did you have a nightmare?" More silence. He lifted his head up and looked at her, hoping she wouldn't end the conversation.
"It's stupid, I was just wondering why you were up too. Do you have a lot of nightmares?"
"You have to sleep to have nightmares. Maybe that's why Ozpin always has coffee." Jaune speculated. "Maybe he has insomnia too."
"That's definitely a possibility." Pyrrha stated in her optimistic-yet-serious tone. Any time Pyrrha talked, Jaune paid attention. Her voice was like hearing the sirens talk. Jaune believed his voice was unmanly and girly, which made him not want to talk all together some days.
Jaune rubbed his eyes, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I'd rather forget about it altogether." Pyrrha decided. But then she realized she might be able to talk to him more if she confessed. She wasn't tired after her nightmare and loved to talk to Jaune. Even with his high voice, Pyrrha found comfort whenever he talked. "On second thought... I... I had a dream that, I was fighting Grimm. They were everywhere and I was surrounded. I fought as hard as I could but to no prevail. Nora, and Ren, and you, Jaune... were all counting on me to save you and... I collapsed under the pressure. I was overwhelmed." Pyrrha took a breather.
"Was that all?"
"No. I trained so hard to train, and prepare for every possibility and when it came down to me I couldn't handle it." Her voice cracked slightly near the end. "What good am I if I can't handle the pressure? It's just a waste of time and resources." She breathed in sharply and Jaune knew all too well what she had started to do; cry. He had his fare share of crying at Beacon, but had never heard Pyrrha cry. It was light and quiet, almost like a laugh.
He could see her hand come up to her face to try and keep herself quiet. Jaune was never good at speeches. But he decided that he might as well make a fool of himself to help her.
"Pyrrha, there's always going to be someone stronger. Or better. But you can't let that get to you. I'll stay by your side and make sure you never have to be alone again. I promise you that." He cleared his throat. "It was just a dream. I bet that you can handle more pressure than any of us combined. You're fine, Pyrrha. You're more than fine." Now it was Jaune's turn to take a breather.
"Do you mean that, Jaune?"
"Absolutely. I'll leave you to get some sleep."
"Wait," She said holding out her arm slightly. "I'd rather talk to you than go to sleep."
"But you said it yourself, warriors need their sl-"
"I don't care, I spend all of my time studying and training, and sleeping. I never give myself time to just... talk."
Jaune smiled in the darkness, glad that Nora and Ren hadn't woken up yet. "Alright, what do you want to talk about?"
And the two of them talked until the sun came up. But what they didn't know was that Ren and Nora were awake, listening in on their conversation eagerly. They each had their Scroll out under their blankets so the light wouldn't shine, sending messages to each other.
Can you believe these two? -Ren
I know! They're sooooo CUTE together! -Nora
I mean, they're talking at two in the morning. I'm going to tell them to go to bed. -Ren
Don't. You. DARE! They are having a moment! -Nora
I guess you're right. I just hope this doesn't continue all night. If it does, I might just force them to kiss each other. -Ren
I better be awake for that! -Nora
Unfortunately for Jaune and Pyrrha, Ren didn't do what he promised. But these conversations continued on night after night, Pyrrha and Jaune expressing themselves to each other over the moonlight.
It was one of Jaune's favorite moments.
