Weiss and Pyrrha are in the beginning stages of a rather risky relationship. How will they make this work?
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Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Chapter 4. Simple Solutions
Weiss hardly slept the night after her first date with Pyrrha.
Even after she'd arrived home and had showered, changed clothes, and allowed the exhaustion of the long day to catch up to her, she couldn't bring herself to sleep just yet.
Firstly, she needed to report back to her father about how the evening had gone, though she made sure to leave out certain details. All she told him was that it had been successful enough for Pyrrha to ask to arrange a second meet-up.
Naturally, since he wanted them to become close for the sake of the benefits their combined reputations would bring, he was rather pleased, enough so to offer a flash of a smile. As far as he knew, Weiss and Pyrrha were becoming close friends.
But of course, they were already much closer than that.
She was dismissed from his office, and as soon as she was out of his sight, she scurried down the hallways and up the stairs to her room. There, she dug out her scroll and all but jumped to lay down onto her bed, bouncing slightly on her mattress.
Pyrrha had said she would text first when she arrived home, since her flight was a little bit longer. Therefore, as she waited, Weiss texted Winter of the success of her date tonight, but again, didn't go into great detail.
Winter's response told her how pleased she was as well, but it was a much more genuine delight than their father's.
They texted for a short while, with Winter wondering how things had gone and Weiss responding with conversations she'd had with Pyrrha. Then her scroll buzzed as she received the text from Pyrrha:
I'm home now! And I had a grand time with you tonight, Weiss! I can't wait to do it again sometime soon!
Weiss replied with just as much enthusiasm.
I had a wonderful time as well! I can't wait to see you again, Pyrrha!
And then came the second reason why she was unable to sleep that night.
She kept texting Pyrrha for a while afterward, reminiscing on the events of the evening together with her, discussing dates for their next respective performances, and pondering new places they could go out to eat together.
But neither had the courage to talk about the kisses yet, nor the fact that they both knew what that meant for their relationship.
A few hours past midnight, Weiss felt herself fading and texted Pyrrha one last goodnight message.
But even after she'd put her scroll aside, she couldn't fall asleep. She just kept thinking about everything that had transpired that evening, particularly their parting. Her heart refused to calm down, the tightness in her chest never unwound, and her mind couldn't stop buzzing like a hornet's nest. She tossed and turned for another hour at least, trying to get ahold of herself.
If I make things too obvious, I'll have no choice but to tell Father or Winter what really happened between us. And I'm not sure I can bring myself to do that just yet...
She couldn't allow herself to be so obvious tomorrow around others.
Though she was fretting quite a lot that night, a good part of her was also overwhelmed with a giddiness she'd never felt before in all her life.
She'd always had plenty of opportunities in her life to experience a combination of emotions. The time preceding her concerts often provoked anxiety and anticipation, or before seeing her father it would be fear and uncertainty. Of course, something like the prospect of being able to see Winter often sparked joy and excitement.
But never before had Weiss felt this particular combination.
It was excitement and fear put together.
She knew she wanted to be with Pyrrha, and she knew Pyrrha wanted to be with her as well. At least, that's what tonight's endeavor had implied to her.
But she was scared about it, scared what it might do to their reputations or personal lives, scared how her father might react, let alone the media.
Weiss knew the life of a celebrity. She'd seen it a million times. The paparazzi never let them sleep, let alone date someone without trying to create some kind of scandal out of it.
Thinking about it all in hindsight was terrifying, and she tossed over again and buried her face in her pillow.
No. It won't be like that. It can't...
She just tried to remember Pyrrha's smile, the feeling of her hand on her shoulders, the warmth of her lips...
At last, Weiss managed to fall asleep, temporarily pushing the worries to the back of her mind.
She was rather lethargic and a bit distracted in her lessons the few following days.
But thankfully, she didn't let it show so much that it roused the suspicions of her tutors or her father.
However, her older sister was another story.
Winter stopped by the mansion to visit on her day off that week and brought Weiss outside once more for some summoning practice. But Weiss was far too flustered and had too many things on her mind to be able to focus.
Presently, she was putting in her full effort to cast the spiraling glyph on the ground, pouring as much concentration into it as she could. Winter was watching her with calculating eyes.
"Good," she called out. "But not good enough."
Weiss grit her teeth.
Focus...
But the more she tried to aim her thoughts at the task at hand, the more it seemed her heart directed her mind elsewhere. She heard Pyrrha's merry laughter in the back of her head, saw her smile, felt her lips-
"Ah!"
With a gasp, she stumbled back as the glyph repulsed her and faded out of view. Using Myrtenaster as a crutch, Weiss flinched as she imagined the disapproval in her sister's gaze.
Winter approached briskly, and Weiss could more or less hear the annoyance in her pace. She braced herself as she felt Winter's hand on her shoulder, turning her around to face her.
"What was that?"
Weiss avoided her gaze at all costs.
"I'm sorry! I just couldn't maintain it."
"I don't care about the glyph, you fool! Are you hurt?" The vehemence in her voice was only invoked by her concern.
Weiss hesitantly looked up into her gaze to find Winter was more worried than angry.
"No. I'm fine."
Winter looked her over to check for herself before she was satisfied enough to accept her sister's answer.
"All right. Good." She let go of Weiss, returning her hands to fold behind her back in their trademark military position. "Now then, care to tell me why that execution was so sloppy? You can't afford to be shirking your training, Weiss. I shouldn't have to tell you that recently the White Fang have been getting rowdier by the day. You need to learn how to defend yourself properly."
"I know." Weiss hung her head in dejection, feeling sick at the mention of the radical group that had been posing threats to her family for generations.
Winter looked her over once again before she sighed.
"Tell me what's the matter." Her tone softened, and she reached out once more to touch Weiss' shoulder.
It reminded Weiss of the last time someone had touched her there.
Fidgeting a bit, she lifted her gaze once more.
"Well... Winter... it's about Pyrrha..."
Her sister didn't seem terribly surprised for some reason.
"Oh? Is it now? Didn't you say your evening together went well? Whatever could be causing you to lose focus like this?" A slight glint in her eyes told Weiss her sister already knew the answer.
Still, the heiress checked their surroundings to ensure they were completely alone before she replied softly.
"Well, we really did have a wonderful evening together. I don't want to tell Father or anyone else yet, but... at the end, when we left one another..." She stopped.
Winter tapped her shoulder to encourage her to continue. Weiss felt her face warming up as she inhaled a shaky breath and wheezed the rest of her sentence.
"Pyrrha and I... kissed..."
Silence.
She stared wide-eyed up at her older sister, fearing she might explode with anger or smack her upside the head – or worse – run off to inform their father immediately.
Winter had been preparing herself to hear many things come out of Weiss' lips then. Perhaps that she and the champion had hugged, made plans for their next date, or shared secrets with one another.
But she hadn't at all been expecting a kiss.
Despite her line of work and her professional stature, Winter's jaw dropped when she heard the truth. She was flabbergasted.
Weiss forgot how to breathe for a moment as she waited for some kind of reaction. The silence was starting to weigh down on her chest to the point of threatening to splinter her ribs, and she just had to say something.
"I realize it might've been a bit uncouth, with it only being our first date and all, but really we've known each other for much longer than that, Winter. I mean, she... she didn't refuse-"
But the babbling didn't seem to be doing her any good, and she abruptly stopped, not wanting to embarrass herself further.
Winter blinked again, still too shocked for words. So she did something else instead.
She laughed.
Weiss could count on one hand how many times she'd heard her sister laugh. Her choice of lifestyle wasn't exactly one that dealt with humorous events, after all, and she wasn't one to show her enjoyment in front of just anyone.
Weiss didn't know how to react. She almost feared it was bitter laughter, or that Winter would jeer at her.
But when she saw the smile on her sister's lips and the sparkle in her eyes, all of Weiss' fears vanished.
"Oh, Weiss," Winter patted her shoulder again. "You don't need to justify yourself to me. I've no issue at all with how you feel for the champion. But you said she didn't refuse you? So are you telling me you were the one to make the big move?"
It was Weiss' turn to be baffled by her sister's reaction. Winter was... actually happy for her?
"Um... well, kind of..."
"Weiss, either you did or you didn't. Now give me the details." She motioned Weiss to follow her over to a small table on the veranda, declaring they needed a break from all the training anyway.
It only took a bit of verbal prodding for Winter to get her sister to open up about the events of a few evenings ago.
Weiss had been dying to tell someone what had happened between Pyrrha and herself, so it was a relief to finally be able to get it off her chest.
Winter listened to everything she had to say, trying to keep her expression serious. But the smile just kept twitching on her lips and reappearing, particularly whenever Weiss started to get bashful.
At one point, Weiss knew she was already in deep enough now, so she decided to go all-out and ask Winter for advice.
"What can I do? I still want to... maintain that level of our relationship with her the next time I see her, which should be next week... But I don't know what to do about Father, or the rest of Remnant, for that matter. People have already seen us together, and if it becomes a frequent affair, people are going to catch on. I just... don't want Father to hear about it the wrong way, but I don't know the right way to tell him."
Addressing her father on more significant matters had always been one of Weiss' greatest struggles in life. Winter knew that, and she knew from experience just how intimidating it could be to speak with him alone.
"I have a theory," she began. "You're the first out of the two of us to face this dilemma with Father, so unfortunately I can't speak from experience to assist you. But I think there's a simple solution to all of this."
Weiss perked up and leaned forward attentively, a hopeful glimmer in her eyes. Winter continued.
"I know you often need to do a lot of the work yourself in most situations. But for this one, just let Remnant do its job. News and the media will begin to catch on, and it won't be long before Father catches wind of it. When he confronts you about it, simply tell him the truth. I highly doubt it'd be a development he wouldn't like. After all, this is the heiress to Schnee Dust and the renown Pyrrha Nikos we're talking about."
The more Winter said, and the more Weiss processed it, her suggestion made more and more sense.
"Alright. I'll do as you say then, Winter."
"Don't set it in stone," she advised. "If something comes up and it feels best to change things up, follow your instincts. But until then, your secret is safe with me, Weiss."
The heiress nodded.
"Thank you, Winter. Thank you so much. For everything. Without you, I wouldn't even have gotten to meet her when I did. Thank you."
"No need." She waved her gloved hand dismissively. "Now then, I've got to head back to base soon, so let's practice your technique a little more."
With the weight of hers and Pyrrha's secret relationship finally lifted a bit now, Weiss was able to focus on her training a lot more effectively.
A short while later, Winter took her leave, but not before Weiss embraced her tightly.
Winter kissed her head and wished her the best of luck with Pyrrha.
Weiss began to look forward to the evenings after her daily lessons were over with. Which was a bit odd for her; she'd never really had many events to look forward to, and she'd certainly never had something every single day.
But Pyrrha's texts and messages were always waiting for her at the end of the day, and Weiss would indulge herself as soon as she was finished with her assignments. Conversing with Pyrrha was her motivation to get her work done, as well as her reward for accomplishing such tasks.
They talked every evening without missing one, and as the days that would lead to their next rendezvous drew nearer, the anticipation only built up higher and higher.
Before Weiss knew it, she was waking in bed on Saturday morning, all but springing up from her mattress in her eagerness to get changed and prepare herself for today's date.
She and Pyrrha had decided to see one another a bit earlier than last time, and rather than a fancy restaurant, their destination for today would be for a much more casual meet-up. Instead of dresses and shawls and formal shoes, the girls dressed themselves in skirts and blouses and comfortable boots. They even sent pictures of their outfits to one another to get some feedback. Naturally, all each of them had to say about the other was nothing but compliments.
Before long, they'd both boarded their respective ships, and continued texting during their flights. They would be meeting in the same spot as last time, in Mistral, so Pyrrha was closest to their meet-up spot. By the time she texted Weiss that she'd arrived, Weiss was still on her ship. Weiss texted her a quick apology.
I'm sorry for the delay! I guess I left a little late. I'll be there soon!
To which Pyrrha replied almost instantly: Not at all! Please don't worry about it, Weiss! You're not tardy. I just left far too early because I was so excited!
Her message both relieved Weiss enough to make her realize that she wasn't late, and it made her immensely happy that Pyrrha had been excited enough about today to leave so early. Weiss sent her another message:
I was planning to leave earlier as well. Now I wish I had.
Don't worry! Pyrrha replied. I'll be here when you land!
Thankfully, neither of them had to wait much longer for that. Weiss' ship landed not five minutes later, and after ensuring her purse was secure on her shoulder and calling a quick thanks to the pilot, she hurried off the ship.
The landing docks were busy at this time of day on a weekend, so Weiss was preparing herself to hurry through the crowds to find Pyrrha waiting at the terminals where Weiss had waited last time. But to her immediate surprise and delight, she spotted a familiar crimson-haired girl waving at her just a few yards away.
"Weiss!" she called out. "Over here!"
"Pyrrha!"
With a joyful cry of her name, Weiss rushed to her. Pyrrha opened up her arms invitingly, as though they'd been dating for months, rather than having shared a few kisses on the night of their first date.
But neither seemed to mind how quickly their romance had escalated.
Pyrrha wasn't hesitant to offer hugs this time, and Weiss certainly wasn't hesitant to accept them.
Once she was near enough, she gave a small bound, like an excited child, and threw her arms around the other girl. Pyrrha caught her expertly, squeezing her with a gentle firmness as she peppered small kisses all along Weiss' temple and through her hair.
"It's so grand to be able to see you again! I'm so excited!"
"Me, too..."
The short run combined with the enthrallment was making her breathless, but her heart was soaring higher than ever before.
Pyrrha noticed she was panting slightly. She drew Weiss aside a bit, out of plain sight of the passerby, and curled her fingers up beneath the singer's chin. Although she was quite sure of where she and Weiss stood now in terms of their relationship, she couldn't help but resort to asking permission.
"May I kiss you?"
Weiss' response was to squeeze her tighter, guiding her down.
"Oh, please do."
With a small giggle of delight, she did just that.
Confidently, Pyrrha kissed her lips this time. It was only the second time they'd done so, and the first time, it had been Weiss who'd initiated.
This time, it was the other way around, and the heiress resorted to kissing back. Pyrrha's lips were soft, but burned with a subtle ferventness. A desire to do this that had been kindling for many days. A longing to continue kissing her for many days to come.
With the crowds still bustling around them, and the thrill of their date still swirling in the air, the kiss was the eye of the tornado. All other noises seemed to mute themselves for a moment, their sights faded with their vision as they closed their eyes.
The only scent was each other's.
The only taste was of her lips.
The only feelings were her hands, her warmth, and her breath.
Weiss sang for a living. She had no trouble whatsoever utilizing her strong, capable lungs during their kisses. Just because Pyrrha was a bit taller didn't necessarily mean she had greater strength than the singer. It was she who pulled away a moment later, her hands still braced on either of Weiss' hips, her cheeks coated in a healthy blush.
"I'm... so happy to see you, Weiss." She said as much as though her eyes and kisses didn't already explain it.
Weiss' breath hadn't been fazed by the kiss at all. She strained up to peck Pyrrha's cheek once.
"I'm very happy to see you too, Pyrrha."
Another giggle. "You're quite skilled at holding your breath for so long! You'll have to teach me how you do it! But perhaps, not right now. I'll need a few minutes to recover!"
Her lighthearted comment earned a soft laugh from Weiss.
She still had trouble believing it. That the girl she'd admired from afar all her life was now standing right in front of her, in her arms, fantasizing about future kisses.
It really was like a dream come true for Weiss.
And the fact that Pyrrha returned her feelings wholeheartedly only made it seem even more fantastical.
But another small peck to her temple roused Weiss from her reverie, and just went to prove Pyrrha's affections for her.
"Well then," Pyrrha mused as her hand found a comfortable grip on Weiss'. "Shall we be off, then?"
Weiss curled her fingers around Pyrrha's and nodded.
"We shall."
"Great! It will be rather nice today since we won't have to rush in order to fulfill a reservation on time. We can go at our own pace! If I remember correctly, you're free until evening, right?"
"Yes. And I think it's the same for you?"
"Yes! So we've got several hours until then! We should try to do as many of the things we'd discussed as possible! Are you up for it?"
Weiss presented her with a private smile.
"Yes. Let's do as much as we can together here."
"Then we shouldn't waste any time! Come with me!"
Keeping a warm grip on Weiss' hand, Pyrrha began to guide her through the crowds.
As she followed, Weiss took a moment to admire Pyrrha's more casual clothing, which consisted of a flowing skirt and shirt that didn't constrict her as much as the everyday armor or special occasions attire. Her clothes today were of autumn-like colors, and simply looking at them gave Weiss a warm, pleasant feeling.
But Pyrrha only walked ahead of Weiss for as long as was necessary, until they'd slipped out of the crowds. From there, she seemed to be consciously ensuring that she keep pace beside her.
Due to her line of work, Pyrrha was more physically fit than Weiss, and her taller stature promised a longer stride by nature. But she was very certain never to walk too quickly or to tug on Weiss' hand. The heiress made note of that and took it to heart.
Of course she knew today's date wasn't a business venture, but in the past when she'd been required to meet with people, she was often made to follow them around. Or, she would be the one giving directions or tours.
This was the first time Weiss could ever remembering walking beside someone as an equal.
Even so, she did her best to compensate for her smaller pace by making it a bit quicker, so they could both stay together as they walked down the side streets of Mistral.
Pyrrha soon began telling her about each of the buildings they passed by, how long it had been there, who used to own it and who owned it now, as well as the more intimate tidbits of history she knew about the area.
Weiss listened attentively, absorbing the new information that only a native could provide. No textbook or lecture could ever possibly be as interesting and engaging as seeing the real things for herself and hearing the lessons from the lips of someone who'd lived there for most of her life.
At one point, Pyrrha seemed to realize she was carrying on a bit. She stopped Weiss sheepishly on a sidewalk and cleared her throat.
"I'm so sorry, Weiss. I didn't mean to go off rambling like that. I hope I didn't bore you." Her eyes were downcast, fearing she'd already made a blunder when their time together had barely just begun.
But Weiss quickly shook her head, reaching down to grasp both of Pyrrha's hands in hers.
"Not at all! I was enjoying it very much, Pyrrha. I've been to Mistral plenty of times before, but I've never been able to actually see it for myself. I've only ever seen the towns from above, and then I'd just sing at a concert and be flown back to Atlas... I want to hear more about it. And there's no one else on Remnant I'd rather hear it from."
Pyrrha's gaze lifted, and her spirits went along with it.
"Oh, do you really mean it, Weiss? That makes me so happy!" She returned the gentle grip on her hands, bringing one of Weiss' to her lips for an appreciative kiss. "Then, if you're certain I won't bore you, I'll tell you a few other things as we go. But first, let's stop in for some lunch! I know just the place!"
With a smile on her face, Weiss kept pace beside her, crossing the streets and passing the quaint little buildings until Pyrrha brought them to a halt outside of a shop that looked to be both a bakery and a cafe combined. She led her inside, and instantly, Weiss' senses were awakened.
The lighting in the place was gentle, the colors were calming, the sounds of the radio were relaxing, and the tastes that were already hitting the roof of her mouth were impeccable. But overall, the strongest was the scent of freshly-baked bread and newly-poured cups of coffee.
Pyrrha led her to the line of people inside, urging Weiss to look over the menu choices that were written on a board behind the counter. She made recommendations of foods and drink flavors for Weiss to try, clearly thrilled to have someone she could finally share all of this with.
Now that they were standing still indoors rather than walking down the streets outside, people began to notice them. Rather, they began to notice who they were, standing together, holding hands.
There were murmurs at first, then a few people who came up excitedly asking for autographs on notebooks or napkins or whatever they could find.
While one of the famous girls in public without her bodyguards may have caused a bit of a stir, both of these well-known prodigies nearly caused a scene.
Pyrrha politely signed away the autographs as quickly as she could, regretting that all of the attention had forced her to let go of Weiss' hand. The heiress was also entertaining questions as swiftly as possible to satisfy her own fans.
Both girls answered questions and accepted autograph requests, but politely declined photo requests, be it together, or with their fans.
Of course, they both knew that people were snapping shots in secrecy from their seats, and the news of their being together at some little cafe in Mistral was probably already all over the online networks.
As the satisfied crowds gradually left them alone, Pyrrha wasted no time in finding Weiss' hand again. Weiss tensed a little bit, keeping her voice low.
"Is all of this okay with you, Pyrrha? That people will find out this way?"
The champion reassured her with a confident tone.
"It's absolutely fine with me, Weiss. So long as it's fine with you."
They'd discussed this briefly in their previous calls and conversations. They'd been expecting this kind of reaction from the public, and now they were in the midst of it. But they'd both opted to accept it sooner rather than later.
"This way," Pyrrha reminded her. "Our relationship will be known right away. Better to get it out there sooner while it's fresh and genuine rather than later when people might think we've been hiding an affair, right?" She chuckled at the thought. "As if I'd ever need to have an affair. How could I ever possibly ask for anything more than what I've found in you?"
Her words were nothing but genuine, and perhaps that heartfelt quality of them was what made Weiss' chest tighten. She looked away, if only to hide the tears that were threatening to rise up, but she made sure to squeeze Pyrrha's hand to show she'd heard every word.
A minute later, they were at the front counter, and Weiss quickly composed herself enough to place her order. Pyrrha did the same, and the staff soon put their respective orders of sandwiches, snacks, and coffees on the counter and read them the total price.
Weiss immediately fished out her credit card, but Pyrrha covered her hand.
"Please," she insisted. "Let me pay. It's no trouble at all."
Weiss bit her lip.
"But you didn't let me treat you last time."
They were silent for a moment.
Both girls faced the same dilemma; they wanted to treat the other, but also wanted to cover the cost of their own food. But since both of them were offering to buy, it would be rude to refuse, especially when they were both more than capable of paying for the entire shop, let alone a bit of food.
But luckily, Weiss' mind was still working as quickly as ever, and she offered a solution.
"Then how about I pay for your part, and you pay for mine? This way we're technically still treating one another."
Pyrrha's face lit up as her grin returned.
"That's a wonderful idea! Perfect!"
So they did just that, each covering the cost of the other's portion of food, which ended up being about the same for both of them.
It was the first time Weiss had eaten at a cafe alone with someone her own age. In fact, she couldn't remember ever eating at a public place so casually with anyone. It was more than a little strange trying to get herself used to the carefree atmosphere, especially for a girl who was almost constantly stressed out every other waking moment of her days.
But Pyrrha made relaxing easy.
As Weiss tried and failed to recall the last time she'd ever eaten anything without using utensils, Pyrrha was chattering pleasantly, again elaborating on the history of different parts of Mistral.
Weiss cut in occasionally with a question, or to boast about her own knowledge of a particular subject. Pyrrha was always impressed whenever Weiss showed she knew something that ordinary people probably didn't know about.
The atmosphere was very different from that of the restaurant they'd been to previously, and now that they'd already established a relationship, things were much more natural between them.
While Weiss got used to holding a sandwich and eating with her hands, Pyrrha grew accustomed to conversing with someone her own age and of the same intelligence level as herself.
Even after they'd both finished their food, they remained in the cafe, chatting and laughing the time away. After a while, Pyrrha remembered they were on a date of sorts, and that they shouldn't just be staying inside the whole while. So she stood and offered Weiss her hand, giving a smile that could making any heart skip.
Unashamedly, Weiss accepted, no longer caring for the eyes of the public.
They exited the cafe and continued their leisurely walk around town.
They entered little shops, places their parents and agents never would have allowed them to venture into due to the cheapness of the products.
But Weiss found that the price of any item didn't necessarily demonstrate its value. She found many little trinkets and knick-knacks that caught her eye, and Pyrrha took note of every single one of them.
Once they'd visited close to a dozen shops, Pyrrha guided Weiss instead towards the source of the salty sea breeze.
They took a small ferry tour around the gulf beside town.
Weiss had only ever been on cruises before, and even those had been few and far between. Pyrrha was sure to brief her on the protocol, but most importantly of all, she made sure Weiss enjoyed herself.
The heiress felt a little queasy at first, but once Pyrrha steadied her with a warm hand on her back and urged her to look out over the dazzling blue water, Weiss got lost in the sights and smells of the ocean.
Only once Pyrrha was certain Weiss was enjoying herself did she do the same.
The tour lasted close to an hour before bringing them back to land. As soon as Weiss had adjusted to walking on solid ground again, Pyrrha led her to the local park.
With their collective pace set at a comfortable saunter, they followed the little dirt path. The grass was very green this time of year, and all around them, people were running through the open fields playing with dogs or shouting happily in sports games.
The girls paused for a moment on a bench beside a playground, where children's squeals filled the air.
Even as they sat there, however, Pyrrha noticed Weiss' stiff posture, which was like that by nature. She herself could easily lean back against the bench, but Weiss was always as poised and professional as possible. She probably didn't even notice it herself.
Therefore, with a very subtle grip of fingers around her wrist, Pyrrha gently tugged Weiss back a few inches, until her posture had slouched slightly and her back leaned against Pyrrha's shoulder.
Pyrrha's message was clear: you can relax around me.
So Weiss did her best, intentionally allowing her posture to slouch for the first time in years as she eased back onto the support of the bench and Pyrrha's arm. She kept her eyes trained on the peaceful scenery before her, and spoke softly.
"I can't believe it's already been over three hours."
Behind her, Pyrrha sighed, not unhappily.
"I know. We did a lot today! I really hope you had a good time."
Weiss tilted her chin and tried to look up at her.
"I did, Pyrrha. There's no doubt that this was the most fun I've had in... well, for as long as I can remember, to be quite honest."
"You flatter me."
"Not at all."
They smiled at one another, and Pyrrha couldn't resist leaning down to steal a kiss to her cheek. Weiss relaxed her posture even more against her and closed her eyes for a moment.
It was still hard to believe all of this. She'd never felt so relaxed before, so safe, so happy...
And it had all happened with Pyrrha Nikos, the only person outside the family she'd ever admired so deeply.
Weiss still had trouble believing Pyrrha felt the same way about her. She feared the champion might wake one day and decide this was all a mistake.
The singer must have lost her smile as she thought about it, because Pyrrha nudged her softly, coaxing Weiss to open her eyes.
"Weiss? Is something the matter?" Pyrrha's expression had become hesitant now, her eyes wavering. "I hope it's not because of... what I said earlier..."
Sensing her discomfort, Weiss pulled herself back a little so she may look into her eyes directly.
"Nothing's wrong," she assured, finding Pyrrha's hands. "Pyrrha, today was the best day of my life. How could anything possibly be wrong?"
She attempted another smile, feeling a warmth behind her eyes. Lifting Pyrrha's hands to her lips, Weiss kissed them both with a tenderness Pyrrha had never known before. She sighed, and Weiss didn't miss the way it trembled.
"It makes me so happy to hear you say that, Weiss. Especially after what I said before... I've been worried this whole time it might've been upsetting you."
Weiss met her eyes calmly.
"Pyrrha, I don't even know what you're referring to. Nothing at all you've done today has bothered me in the slightest. I assure you."
She saw the relief work its way into Pyrrha's eyes.
"Oh, thank goodness. I've been worrying..."
"About what, exactly?"
Pyrrha kept silent for a moment, flashing her gaze almost guiltily into Weiss'.
"Back at the cafe... what I'd said... 'how could I ever possibly ask for anything more than what I've found in you?' I didn't realize it at the time, but it really was a hefty statement. And you didn't respond to me after that. I was afraid I'd overstepped my boundaries and offended or hurt you. I understood after I'd said it how much pressure such a statement could probably weigh on your shoulders, and I don't want you feeling like that."
Her gaze dropped to the grass. "I don't want you thinking we... rushed into this. I mean, I know we sort of did, or at least it feels that way. But just because we got... together in such a seemingly brief amount of time, I don't want you thinking that makes my feelings superficial or short-termed."
She lifted her eyes again, and they nearly took Weiss' breath away. Weiss couldn't recall ever seeing so much honesty in a single person's gaze before in all her life.
Pyrrha squeezed her hands earnestly. "I really do like you, Weiss. I don't want anything to come between us. Especially not something foolish I said myself. So please... if it bothers you, please let me know. If anything I ever do or say bothers you, let me know right away, okay?"
She was so genuine in her concern for Weiss. Pyrrha truly cared.
Weiss could feel her own tears beginning to drip down, but before Pyrrha could get the wrong idea, she leaned forward, wrapped her arms around her, and buried her face in the girl's shoulder.
"I will, Pyrrha. Promise. And you'll do the same, won't you?"
Gentle hands covered Weiss' back, and she felt another kiss on her cheek.
"I will, Weiss. I promise, too."
Weiss bit her lip, doing her best to swallow back the little sobs threatening to become audible. Pyrrha pulled her in closer.
"Weiss? Are you crying?"
The heiress sighed. Caught red-handed.
She nodded, sniffling softly in her arms.
"But it's... it's not bad, Pyrrha. In fact I think it's... it's the first time it's ever been good..."
Hearing those words made Pyrrha just as joyful, also to the point of tears. She smiled again, pressing herself as close to Weiss as physics would allow.
"I'm so glad, Weiss. I'm so glad..."
For a few moments, they didn't move.
From anyone else's perspective, they were simply another couple enjoying a warm day at the park.
But only Pyrrha and Weiss knew that this embrace was so much more.
They made promises they'd never made with anyone else before, because they'd never had someone they could trust like this.
They cried softly, and for a change, it was for joy.
And they kissed, to affirm and reaffirm that these affections were as real as the beats in their hearts, and the smiles on their lips.
A/N: It's not over yet! Weiss and Pyrrha still have more to their story.
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