Troubled Hearts: When Time Isn't On Your Side
People everywhere, living, laughing, loving. That was what she was taking in today, not the dreary atmosphere or the cold temperatures. Those were temporary, like sadness or pain. No, the people were eternal, a driving force that yearned for something greater while enduring the worst. She wanted to protect them, but it wasn't her place anymore. It belonged to Jaune, to the rest of them since she lost her ability to fight. Pyrrha Nikos, the prodigal Huntress, walked beside the man she loved on cold streets that never felt warmer.
"Looks like the weather is finally giving out, those clouds are dark and low," the boy said, pointing off to the west. "We're gonna have snow soon." Pyrrha followed his eyes toward the clouds, taking in the immense grey mass moving lazily toward them. "Everyone should be alright though, their taking care of the tent city situation well."
"I guess, it's gonna be hard but there's been worse," she responded, idly fidgeting with her collar, "it's not like Shash or anything. There's a plan in place for these people, to do something about all of this." Pyrrha looked over at Jaune, taking in the quizzical blue eyes that were so full of life.
"Um, what's Shash?"
She smiled at the boy's confusion, thinking about the other day. "Oh nothing, just a place that isn't around anymore," Pyrrha replied softly, thinking about all the pain people endure in life. "I heard it from someone yesterday who gave me some good advice." With her free hand, she felt at the star in her pouch, the points sticking slightly at the sides.
Jaune seemed to accept it, turning back toward where they were walking. "So this woman, you said you couldn't remember where she was but that she was out this way somewhere?" Pyrrha nodded, smiling at the wild goose chase he insisted on. "Alright, hopefully luck is with us this time."
They walked along the busy streets, out towards the market on her hunch and his own gut feeling. The bite of Winter was forcing its way to the forefront of her mind, but it didn't bother her that much. Pyrrha had faced worse on the way here with Cinder, and that was when the witch bothered to cover her up. No, being next to Jaune took away any of that mild discomfort. It's not everyday I get to wander behind my fearless leader as he traipses off on another adventure. She fiddled with the star again, wondering when the right moment would be.
Noises around the town seemed to pick up as they walked, and Pyrrha noticed that the wall wasn't far from them. Jaune seemed to be looking in that direction as well, he'd come from there not too long ago. Normal business, nothing happened last night, got sent back again. So what could be going on over that way? The noise seemed to pick up as they went, Jaune slowing down to walk next to her. Pyrrha felt at the collar again, the cold metal that marked her captor's firm hand. And the inevitable change that Cinder will have.
"Hey, let's take a detour," he said suddenly, taking her hand in his, "I think I know what's happening. I just can't believe their back already." Pyrrha nodded again, picking up her pace to match his. Worrying about the little things would have to wait.
"Jaune," she said, looking at all the people who were going the same way as them, "what exactly do you think is happening?" The wall was in sight down an alleyway, they were only a little ways away now.
"Well, when we finished setting everything up, the professors left to try and find something in the city." He breathed outward, looking back with those big blue eyes that she so adored. "That was so long ago, and we didn't hear anything. I don't know, I guess it's exciting that things are moving forward."
"I see, I guess we've been doing the same thing for a while now it must have felt like..." Like time standing still. "Uh, I mean, it's exciting!" Jaune looked back again, this time clearly confused at her sudden tone. Pyrrha smiled some more, trying to hide her worry behind it. What will happen when time isn't frozen anymore?
The clatter and voices started to reach them now, a crowd forming and steadily growing in front of their destination. Jaune weaved through the people, dodging arms and elbows as he pulled Pyrrha through. She looked up at the wall, smaller than Jaune had described it but still tall enough to keep the average Grimm out. He was there last night, standing guard with Neo. There wasn't any malice in the thought, just regret and resignation at no longer being able to fight. Life had dealt her a cruel hand, but it wasn't all bad.
"Look! They're opening a section up, they're back!" The shout came from near the front, and Pyrrha saw a piece of the wall moving towards them. The low rumble became a calling as it opened up far enough, then a deafening roar as people came into view. She felt Jaune pull her again, pushing through the last few rows of people and emerging at the front. A path had been cleared, several junior Huntsman smiling at the people they held back. Behind them, a tiny parade had formed.
"Look, there they are. They're back," Jaune shouted over the roar, smiling like a young boy, "and they don't look too bad either. Not for being gone a month." Pyrrha couldn't help but feel his excitement, even through the butterflies in her stomach.
She watched the various professors walk by, haggard and worn but still upright and proud in their own way. It wasn't the return of the defeated, there was triumph in the way they walked, in their eyes. Pride welled up inside of Pyrrha as she remembered why she wanted to be a Huntress in the first place. This happiness, everyone forgetting how bad things can be. I still... but I can't. She looked over at Jaune and found her peace again as several men jostled him forward, calling out for one of the Huntsmen walking by.
To her surprise, professor Port noticed and came over. Pyrrha stepped back, it was too dangerous right now to risk being seen. "Oh, my boy! How have things been here? Been keeping the peace?" Port's boisterous voice broke through the noise easily to reach her as she watched him clap Jaune on the shoulder.
"Uh, yeah," her love responded, trying not to let the big man overwhelm him, "it's been pretty quiet though, I think. I've never really... done this before." Jaune shrugged, trying to shrink back. The men who had shouted out pushed him forward, ruffling hair and patting him on the back. You still don't get it, they want to thank you.
"Hmm, I see," the man boomed at Jaune, puffing out his chest and smiling a little underneath the mustache. "Well Jaune, I wouldn't sell yourself so short if I were you. Why, back when I was a young lad, I-"
A tap to the shoulder brought Pyrrha around into the eyes she was looking for. "Ezzy! What are you doing here?" The short woman smiled up at her, pointing at the procession of Huntsmen. Pyrrha looked over and back, beaming at finally finding this woman again. "So I guess they were talking about it around town?"
"Yes, a couple hours ago the men on the wall started shouting," Ezzy answered, that same sage smile still on her face, "but enough about that. How have you been? It's been a little while, did you forget where I was Nike?"
Nike... it hurt to lie, but what choice did she have? She tried to hide her shame, glancing down at her feet. "I... might have forgotten exactly. But-"
"Well, at least you didn't forget to bring him along." Ezzy pointed at Jaune, who was now trying to wave off the ever expounding Port. "He's quite popular it seems. What was his name again?"
"Jaune," Pyrrha breathed out, watching as the boy failed to quell the raucous story, "and I guess you could say he is very popular. People need a steady person to cling to in dark times." Her mother had told her that once, maybe even before she decided to be that rock.
"Oh, so that's who they've been talking about." Ezzy nudged Pyrrha in the arm, drawing the latter's gaze back to a grinning face. "He's quite the looker, you should be proud that he's also modest." A small smile grew along Pyrrha's face, this woman hadn't changed much. "So, did you do what we talked about? I think you did, seeing as that grin of yours is only getting bigger. So show it to me girl!"
Pyrrha fished out the star, holding it up to Ezzy's eyes. She's so funny, trying to act like a school girl into her forties. It was part of what Pyrrha liked about her so much, someone she could remember the better times with. "I'm still not sure when to give it to him. Or what to say either, especially since he's been doing so well."
"True, this Jaune is quite the talk about town with the men," Ezzy mused, tapping the metal trinket, "but I think you'll find the right time. Now, why don't you go save him from-"
"I can't," Pyrrha interrupted, pulling the star back as she huddled into herself, "I just... can't. Not right now at least. Maybe... not ever." Trying to wrestle with that was one of the things she never seemed to get away from. Hiding, worrying, knowing that her freedom and happiness were a short moment from being taken away. Time couldn't stand still forever.
"Alright dear, don't worry. Let's just listen to that beast of a Huntsman talk some more." The blush that took over Pyrrha's face brought a smile out of Ezzy as she gazed at Port. "Mmhmm, I could definitely go for... oh, sorry, that must be making you uncomfortable."
I guess you get to a point where you don't care anymore. They stood there, watching Jaune smile and try to ward off the Huntsman and his own fans. Pyrrha shook off her own mood to smile at Jaune each time he looked back at her, waving with Ezzy to try and give him some support. The story kept going on and on, getting larger and more grand with the passing sentences. If you didn't know better, one could think professor Port had done everything there was to do in life. It was like being back in class again, except Jaune wasn't nodding off.
"And that was how I took care of the foul beast, and saved three little cats as well," the large man finished, standing proudly. "Ho, but that's enough about me. It's good to see you doing well son, truth be told I was worried about you." Port leaned in, placing a hand on Jaune's shoulder in camaraderie. "I knew professor Ozpin was right in his choice. Keep living up to that greatness."
"T-thank you," Jaune stuttered, shaking Port's offered hand. The men around him jostled him a bit before shaking hands and walking off to their own business. "But... I didn't do anything."
Pyrrha felt Ezzy brush past her, stamping up to Jaune. "Oh enough of that! You just got praised and told you're doing fine. So live it up a little, stop being a stick in the mud!" She ran up to the woman who was wagging a finger in Jaune's face, smiling an apology at him.
"Um, excuse me? I don't believe we've met?"
Pyrrha stepped between the two of them. "Jaune, this is Ezzy, the woman I told you about before. Ezzy, I'm sure he doesn't mean to be so gloomy," she chided, giving him an equal look to force his hand, "so you don't have to jump on him."
"I don't know Nike, this isn't the wonderful, lovable, and charming dork you promised me." The color on Jaune's cheeks flared up just as surely as hers. "Anyways, young man, maybe you should introduce yourself."
"Oh, um, I'm Jaune. Jaune Arc, it's nice to meet you miss... Ezzy?"
She sniffed, taking a hand in her own. Yep, that's normal. Same thing she did with me. "It's Esmeralda, but I never really liked that name. So yes, Ezzy is fine." She paused for a second, looking closely at Jaune's hands. "You have remarkable hands, kind of like Nike's. I can see why-"
Oh no! Not more of this! "He's put in a lot of practice Ezzy, I'm sure you can understand why they look like mine." The save was still embarrassing, but having her blurt out more of the things she'd said was too much. Pyrrha tried to make amends, smiling in her own special way.
"Well, if you say so," the woman mused, looking at Jaune with critical eyes, "I still say he needs to relax a little. This is a big moment, you're not much more than a kid and already being held up to this standard? Come on, live it up a little."
Almost in defiance, Jaune sighed and looked away. "I don't think I should. I've been doing the same thing for so long, what happens now that everyone is back? What happens if I was faking it all along? I'm not... I'm not some hero, just someone trying to help people." His arms sagged as he finished, still refusing to look Ezzy in the eye.
"Are you done?" she asked impatiently, "good, now then. It doesn't matter whether or not are a hero or not, you have a responsibility to these people. They look up to you, and so do I." Blue eyes swung back now, pain ringing across Jaune's face. "Knock that off, I know you think time's standing still, but it's really always moving forward."
That's right, it always is. So why do I feel like I've been stuck for so long in one spot? Her words touched Pyrrha, ringing out the truth in them. "Jaune, I think you might have guessed why I wanted to go talk with her again."
"Yeah, I can imagine it's a lot of fire and brimstone mixed with the occasional life changing wisdom." He smiled at Ezzy, tensed to dodge anything thrown his way.
"Alright you two, I can see where this is going," she exclaimed, stepping back from Jaune to regard Pyrrha, "I hate to run so soon after meeting you, but the shop needs me. Nike, don't forget where I am this time, I'll look forward to more time with you and... our dashing prince." Ezzy stepped up to hug the taller girl, pulling Pyrrha down some. "You better not waste this, it's a perfect moment," she whispered before letting go. Waving goodbye, the older woman started off toward her street.
Pyrrha waved at the woman until she was out of sight, turning to smile at Jaune. "So, what do you think? Looks like luck was one our side today."
"Yeah, she's a real lively one, isn't she?" her love replied, scratching at his head in bewilderment. "If I didn't know better I'd say this was all planned." Jaune stepped forward, toward the direction the Huntsmen had left in, before stopping shortly. "I just," he started, before stopping that too.
"Jaune, it's alright." Pyrrha stepped up beside him, touching an arm as they stood amidst the dispersing people. "Everyone... we all feel like that, like we aren't really living up to what people expect. I should know that more than anyone. But you can't let yourself be caught up." Don't let time stop. "You need to keep moving forward, have a little faith in the people around you."
The man looked back at her with those blue lakes that swallowed her whole. "You don't really think that I stopped believing in you?"
"Not just me, Neo, Ren, Nora. Ruby and Blake, all of them. Here," Pyrrha said as she pulled out her gift, "this is for you, so you don't forget what we talked about here." She closed his hand around the star, pushing away her hallowed symbol and into his waiting self. Jaune opened his hand to look at the trinket, glancing back at her with curiosity in his eyes. "It's called the star of Mistral, it's supposed to guide lost souls back to their loved ones. But it is also a destination, a place for us all to reach for."
"I see, so like a beacon to light a way back home?" Pyrrha nodded, the warm smile trying to impart all the love she had in her. "Thank you," he said at last, "for everything, for being there when I didn't think about anything but myself and how miserable I was. For being you."
Those words were all she wanted, the knowledge that he wouldn't stop, he couldn't stop was enough to satisfy her. Pyrrha had done much in her life for the sake of a boy, risked so much on a childish crush. To be able to watch a man emerge out of that brought warmth and pride to her own heart. She took his hand, pulling him in for a small kiss, a chaste kiss. But one that would let him know the depth of her love for him. Jaune looked back afterward, feeling the spot on his cheek where she grazed him.
They walked hand in hand for a little ways before Jaune hummed a bit. "Pyrrha?"
"Yes?"
"Did you really say all of those nice things about me to Ezzy?"
"... Yeah."
Nice and warm, unlike the cold wall she had been standing on. That was what Neo wanted most right now, her warm bed and her warm companion. Well, maybe something more, but that was for another time if the way things went stayed the same. Not that they were bad, just that they were a little slow for what Neo had seen in her life. I think it's better though, all of those harlots seem to be miserable after rushing things. She fidgeted with her Scroll, looking for the inevitable signal and her own voice.
"It won't be long now," Jaune said from under her, "if my guess is right, a few more days at most." She leaned back onto his chest, propping her head to look at him upside down. He smiled back, arm wrapped lazily around her torso. "I think you'll get a headache if you keep doing that."
A quick flurry of typing before raising the device over her head. 'I think you'll get a stomachache if you keep teasing me. Now, what happened today? You were grinning like a fool coming in tonight.'
Jaune smiled at her, trying to keep a level head at her upside down face. "Do you remember that woman Pyrrha was talking about? Well we finally ran into her, and all the buildup was worth it. She's a wonderful person, and it was so good to see Pyrrha smiling a little."
'Oh, so that's all then? I was starting to get worried there that this illustrious leader had found yet more wayward souls.'
"Oh no... wait, what?" Jaune puzzled, looking into her upside down eyes. Neo smiled at his confusion, fluttering her eyes in a playful pattern. "Err, anyways. We talked for a little bit, during a parade of all things, before she had to go. I swear, I've never seen someone so old act so young."
She paused him with a flip, laying on her stomach as she typed on her voice. 'A parade? That seems like something to mention before anything else. What was it for, seeing as nothing ever seems to happen around here.'
Jaune looked up at Neo, now laying upright with her head resting on her hands. The calm rhythm of his breathing brought a peace to her, a steady pulse that she missed so dearly. "It's... because of the Beacon professors coming back. They found something, out in the city, and it looks like they're planning a way to get it back." He laughed a mirthless laugh. "It looks like our peaceful time is almost over, we have to move forward again."
Time has to move forward, always, Neo pondered, letting the message from the past roll around in her head. Roman said that once, before his mother, before the crime. 'What does that mean for us?'
"I don't know," Jaune answered, trying to keep a smile on his face, "but I'm not going to let it come to the worst. After all, who else would put up with you for so long?"
The worst, when you have to leave. She'd accepted it could happen, he was still a Huntsman, he still had dreams of being a hero and helping everyone. So why did she expect him to stay with her? Maybe it was that honesty and sincerity when he spoke to her. Neo hadn't experienced it too much, only from one person really. But Jaune wasn't like so many others, he had a selfless side that bordered on sacrificing. Was it from losing Pyrrha? Or from something else that he hadn't shared with her? Neo felt at the Scroll in her hand, the precious voice of hers. Losing it would be like losing a part of herself.
So was losing him now, Neo realized as she watched him. Jaune fidgeted with a small thing under his shirt, a necklace of some sort. He noticed her watching and pulled out a metal star. "Pyrrha gave me this today, after I got accosted by Port. She told me it was so lost souls can find their way home." Jaune smiled at her. "I don't know why, but I think I'm going to need it."
It clicked then, that he would have to leave eventually. Their world was moving again, Cinder's attack was being addressed, her own... deeds would have to be dealt with. And Neo didn't want any of it. She didn't want to run out of time with him, Jaune meant too much now to leave. It all clicked, and the realization dawned on her. Time's running out. He could fall in love with her, by his own admission. Now she needed to make it a reality.
'Jaune, do you still have feelings? For me?'
He looked up after reading the message into her slight frown. Neo didn't want to frown, she wanted to stay happy and carefree, but time doesn't allow for such things. It's always moving forward. She accepted that now, but she didn't have to like it.
"Yes. I still do."
Tears formed in her eyes, the frown still on her face as she crawled forward. If time wouldn't stop for her, she would fight time with her own actions. Jaune face came closer, still closer. And the sweet taster of his lips rewarded her with another step on her road. Neo lay there, resting her head on his shoulder. Time won't stop moving, so I won't stop moving with it.