Chapter 9: The Walk Toward Redemption

"Jaune, you're breaking up. The hell are you?"

Arslan dug her hand under her shirt, scratched at her breast—good thing it wasn't a video call. Although that in and of itself was strange, they always video called one another, and he didn't usually sound like he'd just been hit by an eighteen-wheeler. He was hoarse, like he was sick. He tried to laugh it off, but it was weak and stilted, coming out more like a haggard cough from sucking down toxic fumes. She wouldn't reward that pathetic attempt with her own. The fuck could he even be calling for at six in the morning? And more so since in Vacuo it was likely late at night for him? She muttered, "Jaune, can you hear me?"

"Sorry, yeah I'm here." he said, and Arlsan looked around just to make sure her teammates were asleep. She slipped out, the yukata she wore barely covering her as she stepped into the cool hallway, feet tingling on the carpet and shut the door behind her.

"Not exactly the best time for a catch up." Arslan whispered.

"I know, I… I can go if you want?"

"No, no, you're good just…" she let out a breath, then cracked open the door just to make sure Reese wasn't somehow listening in. Girl could gossip in her sleep. Probably was. "It's good to see you."

"You can't see me."

"Shut the fuck up, you know what I mean." He laughed a bit more, and Arlsan couldn't prevent the smile from crawling up on her. "What is it anyway? I have a pretty strict beauty sleep schedule."

"I just wanted to, you know, hear a friend."

"Could've called Velvet." Arslan suggested. Or Pyrrha. A stupid choice, staying out of contact, at least in her opinion. There were many times when Pyrrha would fight with herself over calling him, and she'd found out from Jaune, it had been much the same. The two were, or should've been, inseperable.

"She's on missions more than she's at school, third year regimens and all that… besides, she already helped me so much. I don't want to disappoint her."

Arslan's eyebrow rose, and at the same time there was a scratching over the call. Was he in a tunnel? Was it the wind? "Why would you disappoint her?"

"I…" he paused. "Nevermind. Sorry I woke you up."

"Hold on, you can't just bail now that I'm wide awake." She took a set, drew her knees up. "Turn on your camera. Let me see you."

"... I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you'll ask questions."

Arslan's lips pursed, but there were lines she didn't want to cross, especially with him. It was good to hear from him, really good. When he'd been in Mistral, it sometimes felt like he wasn't there. She'd always cheer him up with a match, but it never lasted long. She just didn't think she could help him… at least in the way he probably needed. Most she could do was listen. And try to push him toward Pyrrha.

"Why don't you talk to Pyrrha? Don't you miss her? She told me you called her once, but didn't answer when she picked up. Care to explain?"

Silence, for a long time. "What are Nadir and everyone else up to?"

"You did not just ignore my fucking question."

"I think Nadir has been talking to, uh, who is that girl… Nebula! Yeah, so what is that, a long distance thing?"

"Jaune—"

"A-and isn't Reese part of that, u-uh," stammering now, the scratching becoming louder behind his voice. "Exploration group? T-the…"

"Jaune, where are you?" Arslan brought the scroll closer to her ear, lamenting how it didn't make a difference. "I can barely make you out. Its like you're in a blizzard or something?

"Sorry Ars… otta go… really tired. Walking for hours…"

Did he mean he was walking? Hours? To where? Where the hell was there even to go in Vacuo? She brought the mouthpiece as close as she could, fingers clenched so tight on it that they started to sweat. "Jaune, tell me where you are."

"Somewhere, I don't… a lot of sand everywhere. Cold, but I feel hot for some reason... chest is on fire. Is that weird?"

Sand everywhere? No. Why would he be out there late at night? He was clearly alone, and you didn't go into the desert alone without permission, if at all. None of it sounded right, and the brutal wind only made the ear-splitting static louder. "Jaune, I need you to turn around and head back to the school. Jaune, are you listening to me?" She could hear him, voice a bit distant but heaving, he grunted like he'd been hit by something or fell. "Jaune? Jaune!"

"—ister Arc! There you are! The staff have been looking for you!" That wasn't Jaune. It sounded like an adult. More static. Jaune sounded like he was grumbling, growling, like something was clogging up his throat.

"—that his aura?" another voice yelled through a haze.

"Stay back, I'll grab him!"

Arslan was on her feet now, yelling into the scroll, squeezing it with bone-chilling vengeance. Was he okay? He had to be okay. Why wouldn't he be? What the fuck was going on? "Please Jaune! Answer me!"

But the signal fizzed out like a dated television with the cord pulled.

Not even in battle has Pyrrha seen Weiss move so fast.

The spring was real, Pyrrha could gladly confirm. Not a hallucination, not an exaggeration, like the others had skeptically thought. Sparkling clear water, smelling fresh like it was recently distilled, plunged into the lake bed like the cliff it was coming from was salivating. Weiss was probably salivating much herself, seeing how she slid in the mud at the bank, landing right on her side, then like a desperate animal had scrambled toward the water. Blake was close behind. Somehow the Gods had been merciful—no Primals or Watchers the whole way, not even that jaguar Grimm the whole way here.

Weiss threw her hands in the water and scooped it up and into her mouth, caring not an ounce about how she looked. Blake was right by her in an instant, almost laughing, Ruby had oddly been pretty slow about it, skulking her way over like an old horse knowing the feed wasn't going anywhere.

"Where is he?" Nora asked.

Pyrrha nodded toward the new campsite. An outcrop of a shallow cave that was more than big enough for all of them and with room to spare. Moss, foliage, and giant leaves fell over like messy mop hair, leaves Pyrrha had used to make a bed inside for Ren. She hadn't wanted to leave him alone, but so pressed for time, she'd had no choice but to leave him to fend for himself while she retrieved the others.

But he was there on the other side of the pond. Scrubbing his shirt in a small break in the water that formed smaller pools surrounding it. He had a scar now, a long dry scar running down his face, curling at the bottom of one eye and across his nose, red and still healing. Shirtless to reveal his own scars from nearly being eaten by that monster alive. Nora wasted no time getting to him, and Pyrrha paused being sure to hold her unconscious partner steady on one side while Yang did the other. Nora pounced like a leopard on him, bowling them both over and into the shallow pond, mashing her lips against his like it was the last chance she'd ever get. "You okay? Does it still hurt?" Pyrrha heard her asking before tuning out, best to leave them to their privacy. Even though she told Nora what happened, there was nothing quite like experiencing that slippery, slippery edge where death was right there. At the snap of a finger, in the blink of an eye, her entire world could have been gone. Needless to say, it didn't make the journey to retrieve the others a pleasant experience.

"I can take him," Pyrrha said to Yang, "Might want to get a drink while you can before Weiss scarfs it all."

"I'm good, you go ahead." Yang said, pulling the unconscious Jaune close to her. "Seriously, you deserve a break. It's fine, I'll lay him down."

Odd initiative, but Pyrrha appreciated it. Yang went off, though the way she kept Jaune close almost seemed… strange. Oh what was she talking about?

"I can't believe it. Oh god, real water." Weiss looked like she was crying by the time Pyrrha joined them at the bank. Her face was just covered in water, finally able to get the crust and red out of her eyes, and the muck off her face after days stewing in it.

And Pyrrha hadn't either, when she'd made sure Ren was okay, the first thing she'd done was dunk her head in the water and swallow a mouthful. So forgivingly cool, like fresh toothpaste, a taste she'd long been kept from, long been craving. Blake had her head in the water now, her black hair a flowy mess at the surface like hair swimming in a bath. She jerked out with a gasp, almost moaning, hair whipping back and smacking against the back of her neck, smiling so broadly Pyrrha thought it might leave a permanent mark. Took us so long, but finally we got something. The losses had piled up since they'd landed on the island, constantly kicked in the groin, constantly had things snatched away. To have this? To finally be able to win?

It was almost a miracle.

Ruby didn't nearly show so much desperation as her teammates, scooping gently with her hands, blinking at the water like it's very existence confused her, then sipping it up all quiet. She'd been quiet the whole way really, blank and expressionless sometimes. "Is it too cold, Ruby?"

The girl didn't respond, still staring into the empty water.

"Ruby?"

"Huh?" The girl turned to her, silvery eyes dim but wide as if she'd just noticed Pyrrha was there. Just acknowledged that she existed. "Oh, what is it?"

That was... direct. Ruby was always direct of course, but that didn't sound like the way she'd respond. Maybe she was overthinking it? "You're distracted. Anything you want to talk about?"

She could have lied, could have denied it, could have literally said anything, but Pyrrha really had to give it to her for the honesty. "... not with you, really. Sorry."

Pyrrha's head almost jerked back. Did Ruby actually say that? She was perhaps the most open when it came to talking about her feelings. And not particularly picky with who she talked to, either. But this new one, crouched with hands hanging between her legs, staring into the clear blue and the yellow flowing sand beneath, didn't feel like that. She was perched, weirdly enough, like a bird. A crow watching dutifully as if she sensed threats from every direction. And she wouldn't be wrong to believe so, either.

Pyrrha touched her shoulder, but felt her stiffen up, reflexively reach for her weapon. So jumpy. But they were safe here, couldn't she tell? "Well, you know I'm willing to listen if you need to talk."

"Why didn't you kill that jaguar?" Ruby wasn't looking up at her.

"I…" She'd wanted to, but the circumstances hadn't allowed it. The Ape grimm clearly had warped her mind somehow because she couldn't remember much of anything after it dropped in front of her and stared into its eyes. Ren had as much confirmed so to her great humiliation. Next thing she knew, the jaguar had her throat in its mouth. Pyrrha thumbed the fleshy holes in the sides of her neck, not deep, but not completely healed yet. So close to having her windpipe crushed by dagger-like teeth. "I suppose its because I was useless."

A damn disgrace, she felt like. She'd never been a hostage before, never been the damsel that needed saving. But just like everything else, this forest was thrusting her into things she'd never thought she'd ever be.

"It's still out there." Ruby said, and seemed to hang on it as she looked out to the forest above the inclined hill.

"I know, but we're safe here." Extraordinarily so. With the cliff behind the cave and steep hills bodyguarding the left and right and packed thick with trees, and the spring smack dab in the middle, their new campsite was perfect. She doubted they'd find anything nearly so ideal anywhere else in the forest. "We can worry about the Grimm later."

She looked at Ruby… and flinched. Again, she was staring into the water, with the knife-sharp eyes, glaring like there was a great, insulting abomination before her. Her frown was deep, nose scrunched up like she was seconds off from snarling like a dog. Like she was disgusted, offended by what she'd seen. What she'd heard.

"Ruby—"

"I'm going hunting." Ruby stood, legs firm and strong. She walked past Pyrrha without another word.

"I'll come with you."

"No, stay here and protect everyone else. I'm the least tired, so I'll handle it."

"But—"

"Pyrrha." Ruby's eyes were hard, yet soft. There was moisture in them, and yet the way she looked back at Pyrrha, like a general to his men, made Pyrrha swallow what she wanted to say. "Stay. Okay?"

"Right…" Pyrrha nodded. Ruby was gone and Pyrrha could only sigh. No denying being tired, I guess I should try to get some rest at least.

Ren and Nora had joined the others down by the spring bed, and Pyrrha, for the first time, felt like she might be able to close her eyes without worrying about what might happen next. Her eyes were droopy, her legs ached like a meat hammer had been taken to her thighs, and all she wanted to do was sleep. She pushed back the leaf curtains and—

"Ah, fuck…" Interesting thing, the way something being said often mattered more than what specifically was being said. The word fuck could denote a bad thing or a good thing.

For Yang, it was very much not the former.

There were a great many things rolling through Pyrrha's head, lost in the universe's vast spiral of questions. Why couldn't Yang do it later when everyone was asleep? Did she think Jaune wouldn't wake up to her sounds? Why was she moaning his name? And why, dear god, was she staring at her?

"I-I'm sorry!" Pyrrha squeaked, voice going up several pitches. In hindsight, not the best plan to yell like that, for Yang had gasped right as Pyrrha dashed out the cave and pressed against the outer wall like she was hiding from a predator. Wouldn't be long before Yang came storming, ready to beat her to a well-deserved pulp. Why didn't you knock, he might yell after an extensive pile drive, and why the hell didn't you install a door?

Pyrrha's raging thoughts didn't persist for long, not when she heard. "You can come in now."

There was an appropriately inappropriate way to twist her words, but Pyrrha didn't want to entertain the double entendre. She steadied herself then headed inside, Yang thankfully sitting up instead of laying down, legs crossed instead of spread, and leaning with her hands behind her back. Pyrrha was secretly thankful for that. Pyrrha didn't meet her eyes, though she doubted Yang did either. She sat across from her, back against the wall, and for a moment they said nothing. What could be said? Hey Yang, sorry for walking in on your touching yourself. Oh no problem, Pyrrha.

"Well, shit, that's embarrassing." Yang muttered, trying to smile, failing to make it last.

"Its perfectly natural…" Pyrrha said. "Everyone… does it." Can we just not talk about it?

"Yeah, I know its natural, genius." Yang said, then ran a hand through her hair. Thankfully the left hand, but then Pyrrha didn't quite remember which one she'd been using. Could've been both. Pyrrha nearly slapped herself, thinking about it was hardly doing her any favors. "I guess I should say I'm sorry, not many safe places to go to be alone. Weiss is a lot braver than me."

"Weiss?"

Yang queried an eyebrow at her. "Never guessed? That's why she was running off sometimes when we first got here. Usually waits for everyone to go to sleep."

Pyrrha was suddenly keenly aware of the fact that she'd been shaking people's hands all her life, hands that likely engaged in many activities. While she knew fan art was drawn of her when she still had a big fanbase, and that much of it was pretty risque, only now did she think about what people were using those pictures for. "I could have lived many, many years never knowing that."

"So could I, but back at the dorms, Weiss had the decency to go to the bathroom at least. Blake thinks she's staying quiet at night when everyone's asleep, so we just pretend to ignore her. But don't tell her that—she'll get all defensive."

These are not things I want to know! Why Yang are you telling me things I don't want to know?

"Oh and Ruby? Hoo boy. That's like the only time she'll ever curse—"

Pyrrha slapped her hands down on the floor. "Okay, okay, I've had enough. I don't want to hear about it anymore!"

Yang burst out laughing, a bit forced, but there was still a bit of good nature there. Pyrrha huffed, wondering if it was all a joke, wanting to ask, but realized that might only lead to more of Yang's jokes. Best left untempted. "I suppose I can't chastise you for it, like you said, there's no real chance to be alone."

"Well if you walk in on me again, just know that I might hit you." Yang shrugged, "Or I just won't bother stopping. We could all have one big jerk-off party? Could be fun."

"Or irreversibly traumatizing."

"Or that."

Silence again, but a bit less awkward thankfully. How that was possible when talking about self-stimulation, Pyrrha didn't think she'd ever, or should ever, understand. But her shoulders did relax, at least. That was something.

"Well?" Yang asked.

"What?"

Yang crossed one leg over the other. "You saw my dirty little secret. Share some of yours."

"You want to know about me… playing with myself?"

"If it helps, I'll hear one about Ren or Nora too." Yang tilted her head toward the only unaware person in the cave, laying on a thick bushel of leaves by the mouth of the cave. "I bet Jauney has some good ones, too. You all live together, so no way you guys didn't catch each other at some point." Yang circled her hand in the air toward her, the left one. "Go on, hit me."

Pyrrha rubbed her neck wounds again, surprised she was even going through with it. At this point, what did privacy really matter? "Its hard to say. Nora normally isn't subtle at all, but I've never seen her do it. And Ren is so tidy that I wonder if he even can leave evidence behind."

"I know he can—Nora says he's like a turret." Yang made a gesture like she was holding a turret gun, making a bullet hail noise with her lips. "And considering Nora's hips, those two will be baby conveyor belts."

Pyrrha chuckled. "She's blessed then—I could see Nora managing as litter. As for Jaune, I've never caught him, but…" Pyrrha giggled, "This sounds strange but, we used to look at his magazines together. Even helped me buy some."

Yang's eyebrows rose, a peal of laughter coming out. "No way."

"Way, we'd be laughing and reading through them out loud. Commenting on the names of the magazines and things of the like. And when we went to buy some, we wore disguises because we were too embarrassed." Pyrrha thought back on it now, barely able to contain her own laughter. "We wore all black, beanies, gloves, combat boots, shades, the whole nine yards." Pyrrha had a gesture as if she were adjusting her collar." Jaune had even put on a trench coat that was much too big for him, and we were sneaking around Vale at night. We looked like family movie criminals. I swear you'd think we were trying to rob the store instead of buying pornography."

"You two are a pair." Yang said.

"We were. As for me, I tried to be subtle. Only did it when I bathed. Naturally, I thought bringing the magazines with me would be a good idea." Pyrrha raised a finger, "One day, I dropped the magazine in the bath and put it on the tub rim. I'd forgotten it there, so naturally when Jaune found a porn magazine completely soaked…" Pyrrha shook her head, her smile reaching from dimple to dimple, "We had a long talk about the output of the female anatomy after that." Another burst of laughter. This was supposed to be awkward, and it was, but not as much as she'd thought it would be. This was… nice. Just a moment to laugh with a friend, when there'd been so much darkness, so much pain ever since they'd arrived. "When do you think he'll wake up?"

"Dunno, he really knows how to keep girls waiting."

Isn't that the damn truth? And it was only now that she looked at Yang again. She had feelings for Jaune. How had she not found that out until Ren told her? It suddenly made sense why she wanted for his attention more when Jaune first got back to Beacon.

She swallowed an ugly feeling. It wasn't her right to be upset about it, she'd promised herself that this wasn't about that. A romantic relationship with Jaune was asking for too much, if she could have his friendship and trust back, then she'd be happy. He didn't belong to her. Jaune should, and did, have the right to choose someone who loved him for him.

Yang was good for him, better than Pyrrha could be, and she had to respect that. She had to. In fact, she should give Yang the go ahead, then there was no stopping it. That was the right thing to do. The good thing. So Pyrrha swallowed the boulder in her throat and said, "He likes you, you know."

Yang turned to her, frowning. "What are you talking about?"

"I can tell." At least she thought she could tell. Jaune didn't seem to show much favoritism, but all the time he'd spent with Yang back during the tournament, it'd make sense right? "I ruined his ability to trust people. I bet, with lots of fans, it became hard for him to know which like him for who he is."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know I'm not one of them? One of the ones that just want to fuck him?"

"Because I'd have ripped your tongue out if that was the case." Pyrrha said, raising her eyebrows at her. She'd lived on that side of the tracks all her life. And it would take the Gods themselves to stop her if she found some girl trying to use her partner. Because I care about him? Or because I think I'm the only one allowed to manipulate him? "Believe me, I'd be able to tell if you were that way."

Yang crossed her arms. "And I'm just supposed to believe you're okay with this?"

"Even if you don't believe, is that really going to stop you?"

Yang looked at Jaune, reached to touch his hand, squeeze it. "I guess not. But why?"

"I've given up on him. At least, in that way." Pyrrha admitted. "Thing is, after a long time away, I realized that I was that kind of person. Someone who used and used and used people until they weren't useful, like wringing out a towel. I lov—liked Jaune for superficial reasons, and when I couldn't see him for a while, I realized that. I'm still his friend and partner, but… he doesn't want me nor do I want him as anything more than that."

Yang's eyes softened, her crossed arms loosened up. "You sure?"

No, she wasn't. Jaune was, well, he was hers. She wanted him to be hers. And her his. Pyrrha's everything protested for it, warred for it, threatened to burst out of her chest and strangle Yang for even considering what felt like betrayal. How many times had she laid in Jaune's arms, just hoping he'd be bold enough to touch her? How many times had she fantasized a ring on her finger given by him? How much had her heart bled as the months went by and she hadn't so much as heard from him? It was madness at its core, and she had been, and still was, desperately subservient to it.

But the saying was, "If you really love someone, you let them go, let them choose, and accept it" right? Seeing Jaune with another, better girl, would be for the best. It'd hurt, yes, but if she had to suffer for Jaune to be happy, then she'd do it. It was the least she could do.

"You really do like me?" Yang smiled down at Jaune, leaning toward him. Both hands were clenched tight around his hand, and she beamed from ear to ear, shoulders hunched like she might spring like a cricket out of her skin. Pyrrha smiled too, smiled because she was glad for her, glad for them both. They deserved to be happy. This was what Pyrrha wanted.

Definitely…

In Mistral you prayed to either a god, the planet, or your ancestors for the meals you got. That was a tradition. Pyrrha didn't much think about why it was that way.

But now as she bit into a burnt-black trout as big as her hand, spat the bones, and bit in again, she was beginning to understand why.

The fire crackled and sputtered gently, a high rise sailing gorgeously into the sky, leaving near untraceable smoke flying off into the still night. Cold tonight, but near the flames it was almost unnoticeable. Everyone sat around in a circle, sticks stabbed into the ground as they cooked over the fire.

Ruby had brought in a good haul, as she currently shared a snake with Yang, while Ren and Nora were peeling at a couple of fried birds. Hadn't been able to get out all the feathers, so they were spitting every once in a while. Blake's mouth dripped with an animalistic vengeance—Thank God, she couldn't hear that—as she bit into a much bigger fish than Pyrrha, sharp teeth pulling apart the skin in a long stretch, then snapping off at the end, allowing her to chew the rest up. Pyrrha half expected Weiss to have conjured tableware, forks, and knives for herself. To eat her food like a distinguished, dignified elite. But the violent, almos angry chunks she bit out of the snake almost made Pyrrha pity the creature. Almost.

No one even needed to say anything, was how good this meal was with no special make. In fact, it wasn't even cooked well. Either burnt to hell or having parts of them that were still bloody raw, but still they ate. The snarled and bit and gnashed and swallowed… and it wasn't delicious in the slightest.

But Pyrrha's stomach no longer wanted to kill her, and that'd beat a fine rotisserie chicken any day.

Nora's throat bulged as she swallowed, wiped blood away from her mouth. "So what's the plan now? Got the food, water, and shelter. Not that I'm not like, super appreciative. But we still need to get out of here."

No one was able to answer that, even Pyrrha was shocked. For the first few days, getting home was all she could think about. Now that it had been over two weeks, she hadn't thought about it in so long that the concept damn near sounded foreign. She couldn't have been getting used to this place, could she?

"I've been thinking about a signal fire," Weiss suggested. "Its possible there are ships out looking for us. We could find that beach again and build a fire from wood."

"That's a long trip back." Yang said, "so soon after getting here, that might be a little too much. Can't we just… sit still for a while? What do we have to lose?"

A lot, Pyrrha wanted to say, but that not neither disapproved nor proved Yang's point. Sitting still sounded great, a few days to eat and rest would get them back to full strength, let their injuries heal, and maybe by then Jaune would be awake too. He was, unfortunately, a burden they couldn't ignore and he made traveling difficult. If there was one thing she didn't want to do again, it was split up. But there may come a point when that'd be necessary.

Ren looked up at everyone, eyes tired, but he nodded toward Ruby. "I'll follow whatever you think is right, Ruby."

Ruby looked at him, but didn't say much, snatching a bite out of her snake again before speaking. "Rest a few days, then signal fire. Groups of four. Me, Blake, Ren, and Nora will do the fire. Any questions?" None. Pyrrha wondered by Ruby had even asked the question, she'd asserted the orders, not asked their opinion, at least not truly. She'd always known Ruby for being a good leader, but she'd sounded so concise, so sharp and instantaneous, again like a general. "We also need to start hunting."

Nora raised an eyebrow. "We have enough food right now, plus there's animals all over this area."

"I don't mean for food."

Pyrrha paused mid-bite, didn't miss how the whole group turned to Ruby, and yet she remained unfazed as if she hadn't just said the damndest thing possible. "You can't mean…"

"I do." Ruby said flatly. "Remember what you told us? Those Grimm were clearly intelligent, enough that could do that writing. And you said that ape Grimm had red glowing eyes, like the Watchers." Ruby swallowed another bite. "The Ape was their leader." and she gestured around them, "And I'm assuming that everywhere from the beach to here was its territory."

Pyrrha froze. That… made perfect sense. It had been all ape-like Grimm that they'd seen for the most part, very few outside of that. That could have been a matter of geography, but Pyrrha wasn't betting solely on that. And if they weren't controlled, then why hadn't and Primals attacked her while on her way to pick up the others? Of course that begged the question, had they simply died when their master was slain?

Or did they run off and find a new master?

"We're surrounded by Grimm, Ruby." Weiss said, "What use is hunting them if they are coming for us anyway?"

"Studying." Ruby said. "That Jaguar Grimm has be a big fish, like the Ape, and Pyrrha said it didn't kill her when it had the perfect chance to. She was in its grip and Ren was defenseless. It should have killed you both, but it didn't."

"Then it made a mistake."

"The fact that its capable of making mistake is the problem in and of itself. It has to be able to comprehend and think for that to happen. Right? What if this is all a game to them? What if the only reason you guys, that all of us are alive, is that they want to take their time? Pick us off? Drive us insane? Why else would the Watchers or the Ape try to mess with our emotions if they're in such a hurry to kill us?"

A round of exchanged looks, Pyrrha's blood was cold, and the chill of the wind was getting stronger to the point that the fire wasn't protecting her anymore. "That's very far-fetched, Ruby."

"I don't think Jaune would disagree with me." Ruby asked.

She was incredibly confrontational now, Pyrrha wasn't sure she much like it. "I'm just concerned that we might be walking into a trap. Say you're right, what if they want us to figure out their plan and go after them?"

"Can't be worse than staying here. We're just as likely to get killed here and than out there. You think just cuz we got water and food that we're safe? Jaune got us food, then what happened?" Ruby had closed her eyes for a few seconds, taking a hard, heavy breath. Weiss tried to touch her, but Ruby shrugged her off. "That's why we need to hunt them, try to stop them before they can do… whatever it is they plan to do to us. We can do it. We're Huntsmen, aren't we?"

Pyrrha hadn't felt like much of a Huntsman these past few days. She felt like a village girl way in over her head. This place wasn't the arena, it wasn't a combat class. Back then, there was no death, few serious injuries, and good food that she could eat any time. Everything was civilized.

Here it was as different as different could get. They weren't the Hunters anymore, they were the hunted. They were the victims, rabbits running scared from a pack of wolves. This was not their kingdom. This was not their world.

But then, Vale hadn't been their world either before it was conquered and the kingdom was established. So had Mistral belonged to the Grimm before humans drove them out and took over. Was this situation any different? Besides it being eight versus eight million? Not much. But those numbers speak for themselves.

"We don't need to start now," Ruby said, "But at the very least, some investigating and studying what we're up against is good for gaining knowledge. We can't afford to get surprised by what the Grimm around here can do anymore."

Pyrrha sighed. "Fair enough."

Ruby gave a curt nod, sharp and final as if her word was final—and it damn well was—then stood. "I'm… going to check on Jaune." she rubbed at her eyes as she went, boots crunching in dark grass, and left the group in silence. Yang hurriedly followed after her, calling out to her sister, but Ruby heard her, she didn't bother stopping and they both were soon too distant to be heard.

"Hey, Pyrrha." Blake waved at her, "Are you… going to finish that?"

Pyrrha looked at the half eaten fish in her hands. She was hungry, just not for food anymore. She still had to remind herself that things were good for now, but as she tossed her meal to Blake, listened to her bite savagely into it, and stared off at the abyssal forest stretching a thousand years into the future, she wanted for the answer to only one thing:

What the hell was coming next?

She needed to pee.

That was what got Pyrrha to get up, that instantly difference between being deep asleep and her body's need for relief shooting her awake. The bed of leaves beneath her had finally gotten warm too and the night blowing in couldn't have been more cold, and she rubbed her arms to stave it off.

"Mmff, sorry Winter…" Weiss mumbled, turning over onto her other side. She and Ruby had curled up next to each other, wrapped under her hood. The Ruby from earlier had been hard and stoic, now she was curled up, hugging herself and sniffling in her sleep. Pyrrha could only imagine what she was dreaming about.

Getting up, she crept around everyone, a jumbled mess of arms, legs, mumbles, farts, and peace. When was the last time all of them had been able to sleep so soundly? Not long ago that they'd needed to trade watch shifts through the night. Pyrrha nearly fell over as she tripped on someone's foot—Yang's. "Sor—"

She was laying alone, which in itself wasn't a surprise. What was that the person she'd been laying with, or close to on top of, was Jaune. And Jaune was quite plainly gone. Which meant…

Pyrrha rushed outside, was about ready to scream his name. But he hadn't gotten far.

There he was a tiny hunch in the pouring moonlight by the water bank. Not dead on the ground like she'd thought he might be, no convulsing and light beams spearing out of his eyes. He really was awake, it didn't seem real. The sparkling water, the cool air and the dark surrounding world made it all seem like a dream.

Go. Go to him. But was it her place? Imagine how Jaune felt, the first person he talks to after he wakes up is the girl he hates. Even Pyrrha wouldn't want that. Even so, she headed toward him, wondered if he heard her and simply chose not to turn around. Once she was close enough, she looked over at him as he swirled a finger in the water.

"You're not dead." Jaune said. Was that thing creeping up at the edge of his lips real

"Neither are you." Pyrrha tucked her legs beside her as she sat down, mud soaking her backside. "Shame too—I was really hoping to inherit your family fortune."

"One Arc down—seven to go. Hell, they'll probably love you enough to just give it to you."

"I am pretty lovable."

"Unfortunately."

Silence for a moment. They just watched the water and Pyrrha slipped off her boots and let her feet soak in them.

She looked up at Jaune, only to find staring forward, at nothing in particular. Tears spilling out of his eyes and matting his cheeks. "Pyrrha, I'm sorry."

Her eyes widened. "Wh… what are you sorry for?"

"You're wasting your time on me. I don't think I'll be able to forgive you."

Pyrrha grinned a little. She didn't want to. She wanted to do anything but that. But it wasn't about her, what she felt didn't matter and she had no right complaining. That was how it had to be. "I understand. I still want to help you if I can. You're my partner."

"Still spitting that bull?" Jaune almost yelled, but it was shot down into a pained squeak. He clenched his teeth, held his stomach in pain, but that intense glare hadn't gone. Only burned brighter blue in the cascading darkness. "Don't you get it? There's nothing for you to gain by sticking with me. I haven't been remotely kind to you. I'm not worth it."

Pyrrha dipped her pinky into the water, let it spin around, watched the tiny fish rush against the ripples. Endlessly fighting the current of the world they lived in, perhaps pointlessly, but still they did it. "I think I've had enough of people choosing what I should want, don't you think?"

"This…" Jaune fumbled for an answer, then hung his head. "Its different." he finished, lamely.

"How? Why is it different? I can't know unless you tell me, Jaune." Pyrrha moved a bit closer, and there was a flash of cold fear in his eyes as he scooted away. As if her mere proximity repelled him like bug spray.

"I-I can't." Jaune said, "Just forget it."

"Just forget it. You always make things sound so damn simple." Pyrrha gave him a weak smile, sent it over the dark sparkling water where tiny fish scales glistened in the light. Unceremoniously beautiful. She didn't have the courage for this—perhaps this was hardly the time to be saying such things. Miss Onyx had told her to respect his space, to let things slowly piece back together… and maybe she was right.

But doing it the right way just wasn't quick enough. She was tired of waiting.

"Sometimes, I wonder if you know what you've done to me. Maybe this whole time, you've been the one manipulating me, and I was the one under your spell." Pyrrha chuckled, "No matter how much I lie to myself… I am still in love with you."

Jaune almost moved back again, eyes wide like he was seeing a monster. Perhaps he was. Perhaps all he could see in her was the Pyrrha that beat his face in, crushed his heart into the gravel, called him a nothing and a nobody. He didn't say anything, nor did she, but the way face scrunched up like she;d said something putrid made it clear he didn't believe her. But how could I expect him to?

"I love so much about you, and things I hate. I don't much care for your hair, but your eyes more than make up for it. I hate how impressively stubborn you can be, and yet I love it when that stubbornness helps you more than hampers you." Pyrrha raised her shaky hands before her like she was holding a delicate vase and afraid to drop it, then gestured to her left and right hands back and forth. "You make me smile, you piss me off, you make me want to be near you and want to run away, you make me want you all to myself." She sniffled, hot tears welling up. "I dream about us holding hands and kissing and having sex and fighting… and I know its all a fantasy. I know its not real. I tell myself again and again, but you're still there, controlling me like a whip to a slave. I never told you any of that, have I?"

She knew she hadn't, to admit it would make her vulnerable, open to sure destruction. What sweeter revenge could Jaune have than to shatter what remaining hope for his love she could ever have? Maybe this would be the way. Just open herself to him and let him have at her. "What'll it take, Jaune? Do you want to yell at me? Beat me up?" She spread her arms, defiantly frowning at him. "Get out everything you feel. I deserve it."

Jaune tried to glare at her, but his countenance proved weak and he looked away. "That's not what I…"

"Tell me something, Jaune. I tried so hard to make things work, but all you do is push me away. How can I ever show you how sorry I am if you refuse to even look at me? Am I that ugly to you? Am I beyond forgiveness to you? How am I supposed to know if you won't tell me?" Yelling now. From talking, to crying, now to screaming her heart out. Could this get any more humiliating?

"Screw this." Jaune didn't answer, had pushed himself up and headed back to the cave. Or tried to. Pyrrha's hand snatched his wrist before she could stop herself.

"So now you're running away?" Pyrrha said. He tried to pull away, and she expected him to, but he proved too weak, too low on energy. "I ask you for one thing Jaune, one thing!" Pyrrha came closer and Jaune backed up, foot slipping in the mud. He coughed as he crashed onto his back, and before he could get up, Pyrrha had her hands wrapped around his wrists, her legs to either side of his stomach and pressed his down. He strained against her, but he was still too physically weak to break away and escape.

Oh how she wanted to kiss him. To smash her mouth against his, to whisper "I love you" between every unbrushed morning breath, to inhale the smell of his sweat, gross and sweet at the same time. No longer possible for her. Time to let it go. "You tell me right here and now, how you feel about me, what you want me to do to make things better between us." she swallowed a regretful lump, "Do that and I'll leave you alone. Our relationship will be completely professional and it'll never go past there. Well?"

Jaune's eyes narrowed into vitriolic slits, he tried again to fight against her but couldn't manage it with him pressing down on him. It felt no different than back at the arena, even if he'd been the one on top of her. She remembered screaming at him, hurting her voice to the point of no return, breaking her heart and his bit by bit.

But she needed these answers, it was the only way to move forward. To accept that Yang was the one Pyrrha loved. Or Velvet, like she'd thought before. Or Ruby or Arslan, someone… anyone.

She felt Jaune heat up, a great furnace that had just been turned on, face almost going red and eyes shining paradoxically blue. "You want to know the truth?" he snarled, "Everything you say to me grinds at my head, everything you do pisses me off, the way you walk, the way you talk, everything I remember about you hurts like nothing else! I hate it! I hate you!"

Her heart was a glass pane, a nail and hammer chipping at it. Plink, plink, plink. "That so? What else?"

"No matter where I go, you follow me everywhere! Taunting me!" he flared and spat, muscles straining like he was caught in death's grip. "I can't ever get rid of you! Why won't you just leave me alone!?"

Red hot fury, a drooling snarl, like these emotions had been held back for so long. They had been. The whole time he'd been withholding this, despising her at every moment, at every look, at every sound of her voice. Pyrrha wanted to run, to run as far as she could and cry. She'd thought she could take it. Thought she was ready for it.

But she wasn't, didn't think she'd ever be. And all she wanted now was to get away. She loosened her grip.

Jaune was chuckling now, and when she looked to him, he was shaking his head like he couldn't comprehend something. Something so alien and incomprehensible that all he could do was laugh, even with the mad tracking his hair and face, he laughed. "You want to make it up to me? You want to make things better between us? That's what you really want?

"More than anything." Pyrrha leaned closer. "More than anything, Jaune. You have to believe that."

His eyes waned, looked like he pitied her almost. Then the world flipped, Jaune had pushed her off and into the wet grass. Jaune was up, not even bothering to brush himself off. He sent her one final, baleful glare. "Make me stop being in love with you."

Slowness. The world has stopped, frozen strict to the sudden break in the flow of time. Pyrrha had never felt warmer, never felt colder, never seen things so clearly, never been more confused. It had to be a dream. It couldn't be real, it just couldn't.

"You're... in love with me?" Pyrrha stared, eyes plate-wide, mouth parted and yet she was somehow unable to breath. What even was a breath? What was life? What was anything anymore? Pyrrha had been so certain, so confident that she knew better.

What the hell did she really know now?

Jaune walked off, a dark figure disappearing out of the moonlight and into the dark shadows cast by the cave and left her with, "Still glad you asked?"

Ladies and gentlemen, we have our hero and our villain. The hero has her goal, the villain puts her to the impossible test. We knew it was coming at some point.

Thing about ships is I don't care much for them. Hell, that's why Tournament Arc doesn't have one even though the amount of demand for a ship was really insane, holy hell. Too many fics do a ship just... cuz. I feel I can only get into reading, or writing, a romance if it makes sense thematically, character-wise, and story-wise, I hate when its there just for the sake of it.

Now of course, this romance is a bit different. Is it the true endgame? Or is it doomed to death? Who knows! Maybe I don't even know! I could just be making this up as I go along. Which I am, of course, but whatever.

Anyway, I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. I realize this story can get overbearingly dark, but I hope this chapter manages to balance it out a bit. Make no mistake, this fic is far from done being dark and hellish, but little in-betweens like this chapter are definitely so this doesn't turn into a grimdark fest. There's gotta be a little hope.

So that when I snatch it away, it hurts even more! MUAHAHAHA! Later.

ISA