Ch14: I Want Your Starry Eyes on Me
Beta: Voltegeist
"I did a little better this time, I think."
She gave him a smile, a visual courage to ignite the spark in Jaune's eyes. A push here, a little white lie there, it kept him optimistic. There wasn't yet a natural extension yet, an inclination towards battle that would give him the edge to cross the proverbial barrier that kept him behind the others.
Not just the training, but the drive that would surely push him to greater heights. He aspired, certainly, but he didn't crave like the others did. He wasn't starved for greatness, and undoubtedly, that would be the thing that kept him where he was.
But well, she couldn't tell him that. Where he was now, he'd still make improvements. And so long as he had her there, he'd not even consider giving up. She was his partner for a reason, no?
A satisfied breath to the slow night, the rooftop always happy to grant them a gentle breeze. How often did the day close out like this? Jaune laying on the ground as Pyrrha sat beside him, saying nothing, doing nothing. Just absorbing the cool air and scent of sweat before finding the strength to head back to the dorms. Repetition was good, Pyrrha preferred that. It kept things constant, everything stayed the same.
Everything stayed perfect.
"Hey, Pyr?"
He'd only recently given her that nickname, yet Pyrrha found herself giddy every time he said it. "Yes?"
"I just wanted to say thanks," Blue eyes met green, "You know, for your help and everything. I always feel bad because you're wasting all this time on me when you could be doing other things."
"It's not a waste," Pyrrha shook her head, "It's no trouble at all. I yearn to see you make improvements."
"But I feel like I drag you down, you know? I can't contribute nearly as much as you. You're... incredible."
A pang. A creature crawling up her leg, yet she did not reach to stop it. Guilt, it should have been. Humiliation even. Instead she got warm. Warmer. Hotter. It felt good... very good. Would it trouble Jaune to carry on?
Thankfully, she needed not even ask. His eyes cutely shifting both to and away from her. Clear signs of anxiety, nervousness... yet desire to keep talking. Desire to say something to her. To praise her, "I mean, I guess its a bit too much to want to catch up with you, isn't it?"
It wasn't unreasonable to want that. It was natural for someone wea - someone in Jaune's position to desire for what she had. Anyone would say that such an aspiration was unrealistic, but a good friend supported their partner's dreams, however crazy they might be. She respected her partner for having such humility. Not many people truly knew their place in life, where they belonged.
"I think it's noble of you to aspire for a big goal like that. That's what I like about you, Jaune. You always keep trying."
"Yeah, I guess I just feel lucky."
"Lucky?"
"Yeah, to have you as my partner."
Pyrrha swallowed, legs tensing. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're smart, strong, everyone likes you, you're popular," Jaune chuckled, "You even picked a dummy like me as your partner - and when I was being an idiot, you still forgave me for it. Just makes me think I deserve you."
The words rang in her head like a bell, arousing a deep seated feeling. The flutter grew, rising, hissing like a flame sprayed with oil. Pyrrha's legs rubbed together, as if a hand had slipped between them. His words and voice enticing entirely more than he thought.
He took her hand in both of his. Devoid of a smile, yet not needed, for the way he looked at her told her everything she needed to know. Laid on the ground, he looked up at her, were the sun out, her shadow would be cast on him.
Like the clouds - no, the sky, the very heavens, Pyrrha smiled down on Jaune. He was earthly, mortal, and in his eyes, in his heart, she was a goddess. And he smiled then, as a man pouring his soul out in thanks. For giving him more than what he deserved.
For saving him.
Pyrrha gave him a squeeze back - who was she to deny him such a joy? He was improving, however little, and Pyrrha truly was happy to keep training him. That was all she needed. And she was all he needed. At the end of the day all that mattered to her was helping her partner.
With the past left behind, Pyrrha could be new. And here, with Jaune, with her team and friends, everything would be great. Everything would be perfect again. She would be perfect again.
Still, compliments every now and again were pretty nice. Pyrrha stared right back at her partner, a confession she hadn't expected had surfaced. "You shouldn't praise me so much. My head may grow."
"I think you've earned it," Jaune said, "You're an angel, Pyrrha, seriously."
An angel.
Just... perfect.
~Tournament Arc~
Drip… drip... Drip.
That was the one to wake her - the tiny splash of water against porcelain. She was in the mirror again, fingers tight on the sink as if struggling to keep herself upright. The memories played on an loop for some reason, the moments she spent alone with her partner. Normally she was happy to reminisce, to look back fondly on those moments between just him and her…
Not so much today.
She ran a hand over her fist, an ache left in her knuckles from a jaw it met. Her opponents were hardly a challenge, easily dispatched. Fear killed skill, and Pyrrha took control. Like always.
Oh but the rush, the thrill, the satisfaction... it hadn't been there. No payoff, no sense of success. Instead she felt nothing, empty. Bodies on the floor and Pyrrha hadn't been more glad to forget she'd wasted her time. They weren't worth her.
They were not who she wanted, damn it!
Pyrrha finally splashed water at her face, washing away the bug before it could fester. A towel dried her face, bringing back her glow. Or tried to. It barely lasted before her eyes began to wane, the fool she was for letting her thoughts keep her up all night. It carried on into today, and she'd barely said anything to her team. And at least for the first few rounds, she'd opted to sit alone, assuring Ren that she was fine. Which she was.
Or she hoped she'd be.
Pyrrha left the restroom, hoping to find some kind of solace back in the stands. But a chance glance stopped her, a pair of eyes locked onto hers. Surprise in both, a vat of ambiguity in the air. It hadn't always been that way, and how poetic that she'd just been thinking of the older times. They'd had fun together then, they were friends then... did Arslan think ever think about that?
Pyrrha knew better than to ask. "You're next?"
"Group fifteen, yeah." Arslan answered.
The world seemed to be in motion around them, the two frozen in time. Pyrrha found herself at a loss, suddenly comparing the twelve year old Arslan to the one now? They'd known each other this long... but there was nothing but bitterness left between them. What had once been couldn't be revived, she knew that.
But that didn't mean she didn't ever yearn for it.
Arslan was the first to conclude that there was nothing more to say and walked off. Pyrrha wanted to call out. Stop her. Tell her... something. Anything. But what would she say? How would she say it? What would Arslan say in return?
"Pyrrha."
Eyes widened, Pyrrha turned, Arslan faced her now. Her face it... it wasn't angry. Normally she'd catch her narrowed eyes, baring teeth as if prepared to bite. A growl barely concealed in her throat as her claws sought to run her through. But now, she was calmer. Tranquil somehow.
And then Arslan approached, Pyrrha's heart pounding in her chest as many scenarios played over and over in her head. There really was no reason for Arslan to talk to her if not angry... unless…
"Yes?" Pyrrha said, an inkling of hope slipping out. Maybe it had been years, but did Arslan finally see that she was different? Did she finally know how much her apology meant all those years ago?
Could they, if even a little bit, be friends again?
"Your partner..."
"O-oh…" Her heart fell like an ice cube down a dark shaft. Pyrrha swallowed that cube, but she could still feel its weight in her throat, pit stopping in her stomach to haunt her forever. Really, why hadn't she realized by now? "What about him?"
"Can you tell him something for me?"
Incredulous, Pyrrha stared. Arslan wasn't joking, she rarely was, but this was so out of nowhere that Pyrrha had to wonder where the camera was to catch this prank. She wanted Jaune to know something? Why? Arslan hated him, she wanted nothing more than to gut him. What could she have to say that she hadn't said already?
"Did something happen between you two?"
And there it was.
Arslan was not the kind of person that could hide behind a mask. Like Jaune, she wore her emotions like clothes. A faint tint of red in her cheeks, the aversion of her eyes - it sped up Pyrrha's heart more than she thought Arslan ever could.
"Kind of," She huffed, "Look, I don't need you to tell him if you don't want. It's whatever."
"I mean, its fine, I suppose I can," Pyrrha took a steady breath, "What is it?"
~Tournament Arc~
"Suuurprise!"
The girl looked up, sunlight beamed down onto her face, cast onto the form of someone standing before her. Then it cleared and Jaune was revealed, as if materializing him from nothing. Blue cotton candy in one hand and pink in the other.
"Jaune, I can't. My diet..."
"My diet," Jaune mocked playfully, "You love candy. Or should I pretend I don't see you sneaking chocolate late at night?"
"If you wish to see tomorrow, then yes." Pyrrha shook her head, taking the blue one anyway.
"Ouch. No need to kill me." Jaune laughed, plopping next to her, "You looked kinda down this morning, so I was hoping I could bribe you into telling me what's wrong."
"Nothing is wrong, what makes you say that?"
He didn't look like he believed her, but let it go anyway. The crowd filled the void as the current match continued, though it wouldn't be much longer before Arslan's group went up.
"Watch me."
Pyrrha's lips pursed, killing the thought immediately. Perhaps if she pretended long enough, she could convince herself she forgot about it. But it kept coming back, nagging her, and she swung with the first topic she could think of. "Shouldn't you be with Velvet? I thought I saw you recording."
"Well Vel is doing that for me. I haven't really talked to you since the second round so here I am." Jaune shrugged, "Seriously Pyrrha, you look really drained. Are you sure nothings -
"Damn it, Jaune. I said I'm fine."
In essence, she was glad she kept her voice low, but for Jaune she may as well have yelled at him. She'd have needed the luck of a god if she could somehow convince Jaune she was fine after that. "I'm sorry, I just... I don't feel well. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"It's fine, but what's wrong? Maybe I can help."
He couldn't. There was no way he could. It didn't seem like Jaune was upset with her for the second round, and a part of her chastised herself for thinking it. Some part of her thought Jaune saw through the facade, through the tease of excitement that she at first thought was what she was feeling. She thought somehow he just knew.
But if he did, what did she expect him to say?
The comfortable silence they used to enjoy was gone. And Jaune was a lucky man to not be able to feel what she felt, as she was sure the tension was one-sided. He was blissfully unaware, while she warred with her emotions at every moment he was near.
She looked at him, and he caught her glance through the corner of her eye with a smile. Her face warmed and she turned away. Right... those feelings too. Maybe this was her torture, her nerves running high on a plethora of feelings all aimed at one person. Some sort of greater punishment, one set to tearing her mind apart piece by piece.
"Yes, we haven't spoken in a while. Not even before bed last night."
"Well, the tournament and all. I guess that's just where my focus has been."
"Just the tournament?"
Jaune raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, what else would it be?"
Pyrrha frowned, recalling Arslan's blush. A stray glance finding Velvet and Coco laughing along with their teammates. "I just assumed that you and Velvet were busy... together."
"She's just teaching me, she really helped me come a long way so its not like that."
She had? So Jaune had gotten to this point only because of her? Was that what he was saying? Pyrrha fought not to make a fist, a different kind of heat in her face as she fought not to look Velvet's way. "Jaune, you could have come to me for help. I was training you. Not… not Velvet."
A guilty lump in his throat, Jaune fell into it with ease. "That's... we were both training for the tournament. I didn't think you should waste your time on me, especially since we might end up facing each other."
That made sense, and Pyrrha felt a little silly for questioning him about it. It wasn't nearly as big a deal as she made it sound, Velvet was only training him. And Jaune wasn't interested in her that way clearly. It was up in the air with Arslan but the more she thought about it, it was perhaps just her overthinking. She had no reason to worry.
Jaune was still hers.
"But Velvet really did manage to get me out of my rut, turned out to be exactly what I needed, I guess."
Excuse me?
"I mean, without her help I wouldn't have learned what I needed for the tournament" Jaune said, "Even if I didn't do like super good, I'm happy with where I got. I seriously need to thank her somehow."
Why? Why would he need to? Exactly what he needed, what the hell did that even mean? Had he completely forgotten everything his partner had taught him?
"You look up to her."
The warning sign should've been the chuckle, or perhaps when he scratched his head. But Pyrrha was too slow this time, and the blow was in motion far before she could do anything about it. "Yeah, I guess."
Pyrrha's blood boiled, and suddenly she wanted to break something. That... no, that wasn't right. That wasn't Velvet's place. Training him, encouraging him, earning his respect and reverie... that was for Pyrrha. She was his partner. She was the first one to believe in him, Jaune said so himself. He had always relied on her before, so why was he giving Velvet the doe eyes?
If Jaune had come to her for training, he'd be even stronger. For sure. Pyrrha simply hadn't pushed him very hard because his progression needed to be slow and sure, not sporadic and exhausting like Velvet did. It couldn't have been the training techniques or a specific style she used, so what was different? What was it Velvet had that pushed Jaune to this level?
"And ladies and gentlemen the next round is about to begin!"
The old field had cleared, replaced now with a flat zone. Arslan stood off at one end, forming the circle with her fellows as they stared down their target. But then she looked up, catching Pyrrha's eyes, wait no... not her…
Perhaps it was her imagination, but it felt like something passed between Arslan and Jaune. Their eyes met, and all was unsaid. Unheard. Yet when Jaune shot a thumbs up, and Arslan a curt nod in return, she couldn't doubt it anymore.
"Will you tell him that for me?"
Something happened between them. Whatever it was killed the animosity that once defined their relationship, but that was a good thing, right? It seemed Arslan didn't want to harass Jaune anymore so that was good. They could even be friends. Yeah.
Then why did that bother her so much?
Roy was the first to make a move, saws charged at Octavia who had barely begun to defend her flag. Neptune and the two others had closed in right then, a frenzy erupting between them in mere moments.
"A timeless strategy, Bart." Port announced, "I can see why, getting rid of your main obstacle can be quite advantageous. The immediate use of your peers after the same goal allows a quick stomping of the guardian!"
Pyrrha nodded. The King of the Hill round didn't offer much leeway in terms of strategy, the field was randomly generated, and while it was a technical free-for-all, it was under the illusion of the one versus five. With very limited time, who would be stupid enough to not work with their fellow invaders to take out the guardian? After that it was just a matter of who had the flag after that. Bodies would drop until one was left standing.
"That's the best way to go in the Invaders' position."
Jaune nodded. "Funny, Coco was saying I should do the same thing."
Boom!
Dirt, rock, the faint smell of ash despite being seated so far away. It seemed up Pyrrha's nose, it alone setting her senses ablaze and taking her back to the ring. One fighter took the blast well, his shield taking the brunt of the damage as he moved to strike back against Arslan. It was a short lived thrust, for Arslan slid out of his path and let gravity take him down. She launched at the others, scrambling for grip on the flag.
"Come on, Arslan!" Reese screamed from the back.
From there it was like a mad dance, Pyrrha sure to keep her eyes on her old friend. Her hair flew about her, rough yet smooth arcs carrying her in and out of her opponents' attacks. One of them, a mountain of a boy, threw his weight into a swing. His huge tomahawk cutting right into the ground. Poor accuracy that one.
Or was it?
Arslan gaped as that tear unleashed of wave of raw red energy, like a geyser it shouted up and around the field, igniting the air. Everyone was forced to respect it, jumping quickly out of range. Arslan's feet skidded on the ground, and she was first to intercept him as he took the flag.
"She needs to fight smarter." Pyrrha said.
"She is."
Pyrrha looked at Jaune, who leaned toward the match as if he could see nothing else. She might have taken it as analysis, wanting to know more details about his opponent's skills and such but... it didn't feel like that. It felt like he was eager to see something. That he was hoping for something.
But what could that be?
A torrent of red ether, ripping apart the battlefield as it picked up in intensity. The earth user struck out, bending a formation of waves to hurl at the flag wielder. The latter saw though it though, his mere strength enough to shatter it. Wind and dust swirled around Dew, rapidly chasing down her enemies. It kept the others back, while allowing her to get in range of the tomahawk. From there it was a match of speed and strength, while the other four fought to find a way through.
What will you do, Arslan? Pyrrha nearly shaking her head as Arslan futility used her semblance on the wind walls. They were too thick, laced with aura and dust - even her semblance was powerful enough to break through. All the while the timer was only ticking down. Moment for moment, Arslan didn't seem to even consider altering her plan, and Pyrrha could only roll her eyes.
She was still stuck in her old ways. Always trying to force her way through everything. That was why she would never -
Wait, why was she running away now? Pyrrha gaped as the girl beelined for the exit, completely abandoning her position. Was she giving up? Not unheard of for Arslan, but it was to ear -
"ly..." Pyrrha's eyes widened as Arslan spun around, throwing both arms behind her. Her fingers flexed, sparking like a fuse, and then it dawned on Pyrrha.
The dual blast shot her body like a bullet, careening her through the air. At the last second, she threw her hands in front of her, the following blast letting it kart her right over the wall. Pyrrha gawked, lost for words.
How uncharacteristically clever. Arslan didn't normally do things like that. No, she almost never did. She was far from dumb, but she'd always been the type to try to hit things harder in the hopes of overpowering it. Her fighting style revolved around tearing things down, not finding a way around.
Very few took the path of the least resistance, prefered to plan and adapt on the fly. Ren, Weiss, herself… Jaune. Pyrrha whipped on Jaune, the boy leaning toward the arena, eyes the most attentive she'd ever seen. Did this have something to do with him?
"Smart!" Oobleck chirped, "It seems Miss Atlan has taken some inspiration from a fellow competitor!"
It was Jaune's technique, the very one he'd used to bring Arslan down in the first round. How would Arslan's pride have even considered such an option?
She dived, her opponents all too aware of her sudden drop in. Tomahawk swung, sending the wave of energy her way - only for Arslan to twist her body over its disc like arc like sliding over a pane of glass. Crack! Arslan's foot met his face, knocking him into the dirt. Dew was quick to the take the flag, but Arslan was faster still. Dew coughed up as her neck caught on Arslan's arm.
Pyrrha painfully swallowed.
"The awareness! The prediction! Miss Atlan is saying to her competitors that they cannot stand against her!" Oobleck cried out, "But there is time left yet, her opponents are not down yet!"
Arslan had to have taken that as a challenge. The wind wall had gone, and one opponent was down. But tomahawk was back with a bloodied nose and a burning vengeance. Rampant swings, unfocused and angry. Whatever he was saying to Arslan, it couldn't be anything be expletives. But Arslan stayed moving, weaving past each attack as if she memorized the pattern already.
No, not as if, she had.
Roy's buzzsaws zeroed in, targeting the two. Arslan was quick to flip back, taking the flag and getting distance. Something whistled in the air, bursts of blue dust shaking up the field. From the distance, a boy with a cannon arm open fired.
Arslan hit the ground, the blast radius larger than she anticipated. Tomahawk closed in, the shadow of his weapon sailing overhead. Arslan quickly rolled out of the way, only to be knocked off her feet again by the missile hail once more.
Close and long distance pressure. And with two more sneaking their attacks in, Arslan wouldn't be able to hold up for much longer. She had to - oh.
Far before Pyrrha could even think it, Arslan beelined for the missile launcher. Her opponent smugly grinned as he readied a point blank shot. Arslan had two options, back off or dodge and pursue again. But both would stall her attack and allow the others to catch up… only that's not what she did at all.
The missiles fired, homed in on their suicidal target. With a mad grin, Arslan he thrusted both hands out to form a half open sphere. Aura and light coalesced, and before it overtook the arena, Pyrrha could swear the boy firing panicked.
The flash was brilliant. Like fireworks bursting in the night sky, red flames and blue dust spread about the field like falling stars. It bombarded everything in radius, the boy's missile launcher now a fried mess. It's owner motionless in the dirt.
"Who else wants some!?" The beast known as Arslan roared, commanding the cheers of the stadium, "Give me everything you've got, you weaklings!"
Her fire started the others, Tomahawk, Roy and Neptune were the last three standing. Nothing had changed, not about her personality or her fighting style or... anything. And yet, as Pyrrha watched Arslan fight on, she couldn't help but think that so much was different. Slight adjustments here, smoother movement there. Patience. Analysis. Capitalization.
Evolution.
As if guided, she weaved through attacks that Pyrrha had only ever seen her try to overpower. She no longer tried to match everything, now her skill and mentality were in sync.
"She's crazy strong..." Jaune shook his head.
Pyrrha's fingers squeezed her knees. Arslan always had been though, hadn't she? Even if she lacked natural skill, she'd always carried some uncanny ability to be rampaging animal with no sense of control. It was what carried her in her younger years. Here, the beast was leashed, the owner knowing exactly when to let her break free.
Was this really the same Arslan?
Neptune was down. Skilled as he was, three good hits and a final aura palm to his chest saw to his defeat. Roy was next, Arslan dodging his rapid swipes as she waited for an opening. There was a feeling, an instinct maybe, but Arslan somehow just knew when they opening came.
He overstepped, Arslan sweeping him off his feet. Her claw swung down to his face, slamming the back of his head into the floor. Raw abandon saw to her tossing the boy aside like a beaten ragdoll.
Tomahawk stood alone.
Frantic, he looked around, the bodies of Arslan's victims laid in plain view for all to see. He visibly sweat, and Pyrrha was sure that couldn't just be because of the explosions. His weapon shook in his hands, glaring feebly at the girl that had so easily torn them all down. Arslan took a step forward, he took five back.
"One chance," The girl's voice dripped with fury, "Give up, or I blow your ass into orbit."
"F-fuck you."
"I tried asking nicely."
"No, you didn't!"
Arslan's arms took on a faint glow, the blue seeping into it as she closed the distance. Tomahawk met her head on, but the clash of painfully one sided. His weapon sideswiped by Arslan's bare hand, he threw a fist at her. So muscular, so strong, he should have flattened his opponent. But no one had strength like Arslan.
The punch was easily caught, and she hurled the boy over her shoulder if only to teach him that. Asserting her strength, showing him the difference between them. Yet, it wasn't like she was bragging, not anymore. That side of her seemed gone somehow. Tomahawk yelled like a madman, weapon held high as he threw everything he had into a final attack.
Arslan was already way ahead of him. Aura filled her arm, the glow charging until it seemed into her palm. Her eyes closed, she seemed to take a breath. Pyrrha could only imagine how slow the world was for her - that she somehow found tranquility when a towering man charged her like a bull.
"Arslan, are you nuts!?" Nadir called out.
Apparently she was. Tomahawk swung down, throwing all his rage into a mighty yell. Arslan's hand stopped it cold. Her other did the rest.
Pyrrha recalled the windy season back home, when they would get so strong that they could lift people off their feet. Scattering paper, leaves and even umbrellas into the greying sky above. Seemed Arslan remembered them too.
The blast shook everything. The seats, the floor, the air. Such a sudden expulsion of wind carried a heat wave that spread over the stadium like a bomb. Pyrrha winced as her hair flew backward, people shrieking and shouting as everyone including her was forced to shield their faces.
Everyone, except Jaune.
He sat there, pushed back by the force himself, hair shooting back like it was caught in a vacuum and yet...
And yet he smiled. Beamed, more like.
When it all settled down, Arslan was left standing. Clothes burnt, hair a mess and a little lost for breath. But still she stood, Tomahawk and everyone else finally defeated. Except for…
Dew stood, her dagger had barely been drawn. "Eep!" She yelped as Arslan met her eyes, a silent dare exchanged between the two. But not much else needed to be said, she dropped her weapon and booked it.
"JAUNE!"
The world fell silent. Completely. Where the whispers lingered, they were few and far between. Arslan's force alone stole the spotlight, and fire lidden eyes stared up at the one person she'd called out. Jaune leaned on the handlebars, staring back intently.
"I'm will beat you! Do you hear me!? I will not let you beat me again!" Arslan pointed at him, roaring like a raging lion, "You'd better get through this round, so we can have a real fight and decide which of us is better!"
One would take this, understandably, and think Arslan was threatening him. The way she yelled and screamed, anyone would surely come to that conclusion. But Pyrrha knew different, she could feel it in her chest as if Arslan was saying it to her. The fact that it was being said to her partner though… she didn't think she could harbor a feeling so gut wrenching.
You're strong. I acknowledge you. I want to beat you. With all my heart, I want to surpass you. That's what she was saying. Arslan would never say it, she'd be dually too proud and embarrassed to do so.
"I want a real fight, everything you have! I'm in now, so you'd better promise me you'll be there too! Promise me!"
And then Pyrrha eyed Jaune, heart racing in anticpation of the response. What would Jaune say? He couldn't have expected her to say something like this. Not in front of so many people. But she'd called him out.
What would he do?
Arslan hadn't expected Jaune to leap over the railing. It was against the rules, but he'd done so anyway, and it seemed no one wanted to stop him. He ran up to her, a big, dumb smile stretched from ear to ear.
"What are you smiling for?" Arslan asked.
"Eh," Jaune shrugged a shoulder, "Just good to see you decided to stop moping.."
"I got good advice."
They stared at each other, and at this point Arslan didn't know what to say. She'd said what was on her mind since their talk. He'd been right, and she never thought she'd admit that. She couldn't keep wallowing, blaming her failures on the past and taking it out on others. If she could make her anger her power, well, who knew how much stronger she could get?
If it let her meet Jaune in the future rounds, in a fight that really mattered, then that's what she would strive for.
Jaune held out his hand, a challenging grin provoking her to meet it. "You're on."
He had a cute smile, she could admit that. It was probably the only reason she returned it. Still, their hands shook, and the best way she could put was better explained before she could even try.
"Oh... Oh my... what a stellar finish!" Port hollered, Pyrrha could nearly imagine him leaping out of his seat, "Miss Atlan! With vigor, with strength, with overwhelming power, uttery decimates the competition! Not only that, she challenges Mister Arc! Rivals betting on a future clash, oh so much more rides on the tournament than just mere victory, my friends! There is nothing else to be said! Miss Atlan will be in the top sixteen of the biannual Vytal Tournament!"
Craze upon craze, people were jumping out of their seats in pure celebration of the charred landscape. Arslan didn't seem to revel in it, her joy undoubtedly came from her own sense of satisfaction.
Jaune clapped himself upon returning to his seat, Pyrrha staring between him and Arslan as it seemed the entire world sided with her. Pyrrha didn't know what to think, what to do or say - Arslan had always had this potential, maybe she hadn't seen it but now that it was being acknowledged...
So what? Why did that matter?
"Looks like you wanted her to win."
Jaune chuckled. "Not really, well, maybe a little."
"I thought you wouldn't like her, after everything she did to you."
"I mean, its not like I've forgotten about that," Jaune admitted, "She's... got her own problems. Her own demons. But can't there more to her than that?"
More than that?
This was so different than what she was used to. Jaune was normally afraid, nervous. Be it facing Grimm or people, he didn't go in confidently because he just wasn't someone who enjoyed conflict. Pyrrha could easily remember the many times he'd look up at her before a match started, and Pyrrha would give him a smile, reminding him to do his best. That would always motivate him, and even if he failed, he still made strides to progress.
But now, it didn't seem like he'd need that at all. Why? This didn't make sense.
When had her beloved partner changed so much?
Pyrrha stared at Jaune's back.
While he said she didn't have to accompany him, she'd opted to anyway. They'd walked in silence almost entirely, occasionally Jaune would rub his head or face. Clear signs that he was nervous for his match, but otherwise he'd say nothing.
Normally, he'd come to her when unsure. Asking for her encouragement. That was Jaune. He wasn't confident in himself, and so he relied on people's... no, relied on her undying support. Why wouldn't he? Was she not the one he thought of when he went out to fight? He'd admitted that to her, solidifying herself as the most important thing in his heart. Right?
But he wasn't in her arms now, his eyes didn't graze the floor, hoping for Pyrrha to raise his head. It felt like that had been ripped from her. Stolen.
They stopped, the arena just outside the walkway. "Hey Pyr?" he asked as he turned to her.
"Yes?"
"I wanted to ask you something, its kinda been bugging me. I talked to Arslan last night, and she said something about you…"
What? She had?
Pyrrha's blood was ice, feet frozen to the ground as Jaune turned to her. She couldn't read his face, because she refused to look his way. "What did she say?"
"It's… you said Arslan and you used to be friends. I guess I'm wondering why you two… well, stopped. Why does she hate you so much now?"
Pyrrha wavered, unsure of what to say. Tell the truth was the first thought. But how well would that go? Why give in to that if Jaune didn't already know? Was this a plot? Was Arslan trying to turn her partner against her?
A part of her wanted to admit the truth, to see what Jaune would say. Only to redact, and question why she should. Jaune's eyes wanted for something, and when they bore into her, they weakened something inside her.
"It's her fault."
Jaune's eyes widened. Pyrrha's nearly followed suit. But sensing, no, believing it was too late, she carried on.
"It's like I said before, she only ever cared about winning. She assumed I was arrogant, and only got angry when I defeated her. I told you that."
Pyrrha rubbed her arm, choosing not to meet Jaune's eyes. It's not like she wanted to deceive him. It wasn't anything he needed to know since that part of her was gone. Her hand was forced, she had no choice! What other choice could there be!?
The truth, the cold, merciless truth hurt. It wrenched her heart. No. She couldn't go through that again. She wouldn't.
"Yeah, you did."
Alarms in her head, Pyrrha's heart instantly sped up. What did that mean? Something riled in Pyrrha, and she said something before she had time to think.
"You don't believe me?"
"No, it's not that. It's just -
"You would believe Arslan? Maybe you forgot about the horrible things she said about you. But you question my integrity?"
"Pyrrha..."
"Did she bat her eyes at you? Is that why? I didn't think you took joy in company with manipulative people like her."
"Manipulative? She doesn't seem like..."
"So you believe her right? Do you hate me now too?" Pyrrha's arms straightened against her side, trying to hold everything in, "I thought you were different than that, Jaune."
"Pyrrha..." Jaune reached out, grabbing her wrist. "Why are you acting like this? What is going on with you?"
It was nothing... it was everything.
It felt like she was crumbling. Suddenly all too aware and sensitive of everything around her. It would been so easy to scream and hit something. In just a few days, her partner was stronger than she'd ever seen him. No, maybe she just hadn't paid enough attention to the the potential there. With Velvet by his side, and him breaking the animosity between him and Arslan, by all means, Jaune could walk alone. He didn't need her. Or perhaps he never did...
But... she needed him to need her.
Everything was so perfect. She'd dedicated herself to teaching him, her new goal to help him become what he dreamed of becoming. Instead he'd gone and built himself up all on his own, becoming the wall that now Pyrrha feared to overcome. That wasn't right. That wasn't how things were supposed to be.
And amidst this, brimming among that realization, was the fear that if they fought, things would never be the same. He'd see a side of her she wanted so much to be rid of. He'd see the ugly. The monster.
And the end, just like Arslan, Nadir and everyone else, he'd be disgusted by her. He'd leave her. How could she admit the truth, knowing what would happen?
"You wouldn't forgive me, Jaune. I know you wouldn't."
"What?"
"Last call for the final round contestants, the match is about to begin!"
The two stared at each other, a paramount feeling as the question lingered in the air. Pyrrha didn't think she could take more. Looking into his face was like standing in a tornado, caught up in the chaos. Hoping for it to pass, yet trapped behind its walls nonetheless.
"Pyrrha, please -
"Good luck, Jaune, do your best."
Pyrrha did not look back as she left, telling herself she could not hear Jaune calling out to her. It was just her imagination.
~Tournament Arc~
The roar of the crowd was lost on him.
Even when the light hit his face, and people openly called his name, Jaune neither saw nor heard. Sure, he noticed the stage, a flat field strewn with trees - it was a battlefield ideal of movement and trickery. But that was just his battle mind, taking everything into consideration before the round could start. His opponents were all gathered in their designated spots, waiting only on him as he trudged to find his.
What... what did Pyrrha mean? He'd never forgive her? What happened? What had she done?
Everything was fine yesterday. Competition aside, there hadn't even been much room for him to talk to her. So what could have possibly happened?
"A match I have personally been waiting for, I cannot lie, Bart!"
"Yes, yes! This is a match many have been anticipating, and to end off the preliminaries here, its all the more fitting!"
You have to focus.
But Pyrrha…
How could he focus now? Wasn't it more important to be there for his partner? It just... everything was fine! How could anything be wrong right now? Something hot burned in him.
Jaune shook his head. He had to stop. That wasn't important right now. Pyrrha... he'd talk to her later, immediately after this, in fact. But for now, Jaune looked ahead, at what was truly important. The obstacles ahead, the opponents he now faced as he took his spot in the circle surrounding the flag... and its guardian.
Yang?
Sure, she looked like Yang. Gauntlets, lilac eyes, blonde hair… that was now so short that it brushed her shoulders...
A single heartbeat jolted the image into reality, and Jaune knew then that he wasn't just delusional. Her once bouncy, lush mane was now a modest, yet mature flow of curls. She looked older. Wiser.
Unreadable.
For the first time since meeting her, Jaune actually had no idea what to think. It was like cutting her hair had shifted his entire perception of who Yang was supposed to be. In a way, that feeling of ambiguity was chilling. For what on Remnant could have possibly convinced her to do away with something she treasured so much?
Yang must have seen his reaction, for she simply smiled and waved. It felt forced somehow, the smile dropping almost instantly when she saw he didn't quite return it.
"Competitors, are you ready?"
Jaune squared his feet, shield up, sword twirled readily in the other hand. Around him were nameless faces, a few he recognized but overall mere shadows next to the grand prize at the center.
Yang Xiao Long.
To fight her meant to know what punishment felt like. To know what getting hit by an eighteen wheeler felt like. Now with her gauntlets, there wasn't anywhere Jaune could run where she wouldn't snuff him out. What use the trees could possibly be against someone who could fell them in one punch was lost on deaf ears.
He recalled the first round, entertained the idea that Yang was still angry about it. Maybe she was downright pissed off, furious even. Jaune shook... the blood boiling under his skin in stark contrast to the cold sweat. And she raised her fists, shielding her body - those lilac eyes, sharp as an eagle, zeroed in on the only person that mattered. Him.
What those eyes said, Jaune wasn't yet sure.
"In 3!"
Attack as a group, staying behind and waiting wasn't optimal. He and Velvet had decided that his best option was to exploit Yang's weaknesses with the others and fight with them to incapacitate her.
"2!"
If they brought her down, the rest would be easy. Jaune had the stamina and aura necessary to take hits that the others surely couldn't. Yang would wear them down too, as she certainly wouldn't go down without a fight. If she took down one or two before she fell, all the better.
"1!"
It was a simple plan. An easy plan. The smart plan. Jaune sized up his opponents, as expected, they were all focused on Yang. From their weapons, they were suited better for close range. With only one that he saw holding a gun. It wasn't hard to guess which option most of them would choose.
Then it was time.
"Begin!"
It happened so fast.
When Jaune had moved, he didn't know for sure. A cloud of dust had been kicked up, a rush of wind against his face as the opponent closest to his right came into view. Not a bad looking guy. Handsome, Jaune would say.
Hopefully when he woke up tomorrow, he'd forgive him for dislodging a tooth.
And somehow the world was dead. Silent as the grave. Even the other contestants had momentarily stopped, just to gawk at what happened. The aura that supercharged Jaune's arm burned with discharge, his opponent unconscious on the ground and... Jaune's shield looming victoriously over him.
"ARE YOU INSANE!?" He heard Velvet yell. He'd likely be scolded for this later.
Perhaps he was insane, Jaune didn't think he totally agreed with it either. But Aura filled his legs, it guided him forward. This time his target was ready, the girl shrieking as Jaune's sword smashed into her spear. Weak physically, it crumbled her defense and Jaune pushed past her, parting the gang attack in half.
"What are you doing" Yang asked, watching the others as Jaune stood back to back with her.
"Helping myself."
Then screw the optimal plan.
"You want me all to yourself? Hm, Vomit Boy, you really might make me fall for you."
"Oh you will."
Yang chuckled. And Jaune couldn't help a smile either. Sure, this wasn't the optimal plan, and more than likely he was digging his own grave here. But to fight Yang one on one, to finally see if what he'd learned had changed anything, how could he pass up a chance like that? Their opponents closed in, the timer had long since started. This was it. Whoever lost here could not advance, it was win now or lose forever.
Jaune's grin widened. Why have it any other way?
So yeah, it's been a while.
A lot has happened in this time, a lot of changes and stuff like that. As a result, my love for RWBY has dwindled. Like, a lot.
As a result, my updates, while already sporadic, definitely have taken a hit. I can't say for sure when I'll update anymore since I've felt much less inclined to over the past few months.
Anyway, let's move on to the chapter.
This one was a real struggle since I was having a hard time trying to figure out whose perspective to write it from, in the end I decided on Pyrrha and I think that works. More depth on her, her relationships with Jaune and Arslan, blah, blah.
As many people guessed in the reviews based on Pyrrha's chapter a while ago, her ego problem is something the skews her relationship with Jaune a little.
And yes, as many people guessed, Yang did cut her hair. Why? Well, I'm sure some of you have an idea but it'll be elaborated on more in the next chapter, which will focus almost entirely on her.
Jaune and Arslan become rivals, for real this time. Ah I love tying up story arcs. This is where Arslan (sorta) takes a back seat as more important character arcs come into focus. The beginning of the story up to now was mostly Jaune and Arslan precisely because their rivalry was the most important thing to develop first. But fear not, she still has much to do!
Anyway, its super late, and I've got work tomorrow. Later!
ISA