Elderfire1

Heh, things are coming together nicely… oh so nicely… eheh… ahah! AHAHAHAH!

JourneysEnd1

*jumps back at the horrifying noise* um… Elder? You… you okay?

Elderfire1

Huh? Of course I am! I'm so happy things are turning out nicely and happy times are coming! AHAHAHAH!

JourneysEnd1

Yup. Preferred it when you were my grumpy partner and not crazy villain laughing in the dark…

A thank you once again to our lovely followers on a certain site, I truly hope we bring out chapters and stories that great people like Enigma42, Lufftewaffle, Lyruil, and our newest member, Splash43

Anyone else looking to join our page, here is the Link!

ht tps / /ww w.pa tre on.co m/ElderfireAndJourney

Also, sorry for being a day late, finished this… and then realised I missed a good idea for Pyrrha and re-wrote her bit.

The Song Of Her Heart

Chapter 31

A smile for my own?

"MOTHERFUCKING STUPID, PIECE OF UTTER… BASTARD! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE HAVE THE DECENCY OF LETTING ME BEAT YOU UP FOR SCARING ME! YOUR DUMB ASS STILL HAS TO BE HURT! FUCKING, FUCKER!" Jaune… couldn't help but smile as Coco continued to swear her absolute head off at him… couldn't help it because… because it showed him how much she cared… dear gods… what would she and Velvet have done if he had gone through with his plan? "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE! I SEE THAT AURA GOING GREY, DUMBASS!"

Heh… he really was an idiot, wasn't he?

With a small smile… he enveloped them both in a hug that felt so nice… so incredibly nice… even if he was also doing his best to try and not be crushed by Coco and not sneeze when Velvet's ears brushed up against his nose.

"J-Jaune… I…" He felt Velvet hiccup into his chest, and yet still he smiled… even if only because it showed just how much of an idiot he was… "You utter numpty! I swear I'm g-gonna… Oh! You pillock!"

He held them all the tighter as their arms wrapped around him, Jaune really couldn't do anything else. After what Doctor Oobleck had had him realise… had showed him who he would have hurt and destroyed emotionally with his cowardly… pathetic…

*whack!"*

He jolted at the pain in the back of his head, turning in shock to Weiss… only to find she was stood too far to have reached up and done the deed, her eyes wide and a hand to her mouth… what?

Coco suddenly pushed off of him with a scowl, shaking her hand in the air with a pained hiss coming from her lips. With a growl, she came up and pointed a finger in his face. Those glasses came down her nose a little, chocolate eyes glaring up at him, even if she didn't have to look up all that far with her height.

"I am gonna say this fucking. Once." That finger jabbed him in the nose, Jaune feeling bolted to the spot as Coco froze… her eyes turning dull and muted… her entire frame going limp when Velvet appeared at her side and shook her shoulder. She shook, her eyes blinking rapidly as if she was waking up from a dream… she hurriedly wiped her eyes and resumed her scowling, finger staying an inch from him this time. "You. Are never to pull that shit again. Got that!?"

He jumped at the threat, Velvet returning to his side and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, her smile gentle and caring as he glanced at her. He… what else could he say other than-

"O-Okay…" he whispered, not entirely prepared to deal with the way she looked at him… not prepared to deal with the utter and complete anger she looked at him with.

Imagine his shock and surprise when that apocalyptically angry stare switched to a positively beaming smile.

"Good to hear! Now! Enough of this crying bullshit! Your ass is coming with me and honey-bun over here!" she grabbed his hand, making to take him away, but Jaune managed to keep his footing much to the shock of the girl.

"C-Coco? I… I can't" he ashamedly looked away, not able to bring himself to look at her when he denied her after she had clearly been so happy to see him. "I promised the teachers I would go to class…"

He had expected her to get angry, heck… maybe even full on storm off… instead she laughed a little, a cheerful thing completely out of the blue.

"Oh… Oh, you poor silly thing… Heh… one minute" with that, Coco sauntered off back to the room he and Weiss had left mere moments ago.

Jaune stood there, an utterly bewildered look upon his face as she went, turning to Velvet for answers… and got it in the way of the deadpan expression she hit the retreating form of her girlfriend with.

"Heh… oh, Coco… You really care too much sometimes…" She whispered, turning to him and hugging him once more, though this one was less desperate, less worrisome… just pure relief and happiness upon her face. "Jaune… you are a complete and utter muppet, you know that?"

"I… I'm… heh, you know what I want to say… but I also know you won't let me say it" he admitted, a humourless laugh escaping him as Velvet gently tapped her fist against his chest.

"For once you are right, Jaune. I worry this may be a trend" Weiss joked, Jaune turning to her with a laugh… though Velvet froze in his grip, the sudden tenseness that she gripped him with worrying him greatly… Weiss had freely admitted that Velvet didn't like her and for someone as kind and gentle as her… that meant a lot.

Weiss clearly realised it too, from the way she flinched and shrunk in on herself when Velvet released him from her grip and walked over the girl she, somehow, seemed to tower over her in that very moment.

"Velvet…?" he asked nervously, gently reaching out but paused when Weiss minutely shook her head, eyes flickering to him for all of a second.

As the tension built and built, Jaune felt his every nerve begin to stand on end as the terrible unknown of what would happen got to him all the more…

Yes… look at all the hatred and anger you've-

And then, she moved… and Jaune felt himself smile in relief once more, that dark and cruel voice disappearing as Velvet brought her into a gentle hug…


"… Thank you…" Two words. Two words and Weiss' entire world froze. She had fully expected to be slapped, punched, kicked and shouted at with utter hatred by the girl she knew to usually be calm and gentle to anyone and everyone she knew… and yet now she instead felt the comforting embrace of her, Weiss' wide eyes searching for Jaune whose only reply was a tiny little smile that brought an equally small *ba-bump* to her chest… oh… oh why did he have to look at her like that? Why did he have to look at her, and Velvet she had to remind herself, with such pride and happiness? "I… You proved me wrong… and I am so glad for it… you saved him…"

The words were whispered and quiet, gentle and sweet… she truly had no idea how to respond to such actions and words.

"I… I…"

Weiss found her arms ever so slowly wrapping around Velvet's body, words failing her so instead she chose to simply show it in the only way she knew how... heh, her father would have a coronary if he saw her hugging a Faunus, wasn't that a pleasant thought?

They separated after a moment, Velvet hitting her with a beaming smile so bright, Weiss was near blinded by it.

"Okay!" Coco suddenly appeared, a grin on her lips as she strolled over and wrapped an arm around Jaune's shoulders, the slightly taller boy awkwardly leaning to the side, clearly not minding it. "We're clear! Got permission from the devil herself to give you a free pass, which means your ass is mine, twiggy!"

"T-Twiggy?" he asked, Weiss hiding a giggle at the nickname.

"Yup! Punishment for scaring the shit outta me! Until you get bulky, Twiggy you shall be!" she proudly declared, dragging him away as Weiss, if a bit perplexed, watched on fondly... hah... she was not going to get upset at him leaving, those eyes searching hers with a worry that she waved off.

"Weiss?" he called, stopping the trio once more.

"It's alright, Jaune... I'll… I'll find something to-"

"Schnee"

Ah… oh, so this was where she would be hit… heh. Very well. It wasn't like she didn't deserve this…

She closed her eyes as Weiss took in a deep breath, ready to deal with the pain, and opened them once more… only to find the taller girl looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"No. Not doing that shit, so don't go being all dramatic on me" She announced, a blush overcoming Weiss' cheeks as she tried to maintain her dignity and poise, not that it did her any good. "… You coming with?"

And just like that, her poise was completely gone. Weiss blinking wide eyed in shock. Jaune looked happy once more, that was something at least…

"I… Do you actually want me? I thought that you would hate me…" the question was a fair one, if Coco had done what she had… she would struggle to forgive her.

"… Don't get me wrong. I hated you, wanted to pound your face into the fucking ground… but you saved this dumbass from doing something real fucking stupid… so I guess you can't be all bad. Glad you were the one I called, heh, makes me think having Pyrrha give me your Scroll contact was the best idea I had" Coco grinned, walking over and clapping a hand to her shoulder… Weiss… what in the gods' names was going on!? This made absolutely no sense! Where was the anger and screaming!? Where was her telling Weiss to never come near any of them again!? Where… where was all the anger she deserved?

"I… what…?" it was all she could say, the fashionably dressed girl sighing and placing a hand on her cheek, hearing Jaune and Velvet gasp behind them… then she felt it… all her worry and fears… they just… they faded away, even as the brow of Coco Adel furrowed greatly.

"Heh… well, at least that proves you're the real deal… Anyway, ya coming Forever Flat?" she asked, Weiss bristling at the insult to her bosom… but couldn't actually bring herself to get angry at her as she finally understood just what Coco had done… catching a glimpse of those cool eyes and the tiredness slowly fading from them… how could she ever bring herself to shout at her?

"I'm… my apologies, but I believe it would be best if I headed for class" she admitted, clarifying at the confused expression upon her face. "Well, with Jaune going with you two, it would be best if I went to class to take notes for him… Oum knows he needs it" she joked, managing to put just enough snarky attitude into it to make it seem as if she was not currently reeling from the fact that Coco Adel hadn't beaten her to a pulp at the mere sight of her.

She faintly heard Jaune groan, Weiss sending him a small smile that he, much to her relief, reciprocated. She was so happy… so happy to see him smiling and knowing it was real… those eyes still dull, but there was light to them… and that was what she wished to see grow and grow every day.

Coco belted out a laugh, a mirthfulness to her movements as that hand squeezed down from the position it held on her shoulder, knocking Weiss out of her revery.

"Heh… maybe… maybe you aren't so bad… Come on you two! Get your butts moving! We got shit to do!" Velvet gave her one last smile, making to move… but Jaune made his way to her, Weiss eyes widening as he closed the distance.

"J-Jaune?" she whispered, faintly hearing a questioning 'hrmm?' beside her as she watched those eyes steel themselves… and he embraced her.

She froze, completely and utterly frozen to the spot as those long, strong arms pulled her close and Weiss' face pressed against his chest… he was so warm…

"Thank you… I… I'm sorry if this makes you a little uncomfortable, but I just… thank you, Weiss…" Her arms wrapped around him in an instant, a warmth filling her chest as the beat ever so slowly grew in tempo to the thump of his own song.

"You never need to thank me, Jaune… never. I would do it a thousand times more if needed and I would never expect a thank you. Alright?" She murmured, gripping him even tighter as he gave her one last squeeze before letting her go… heh, stop it you stupid thing, he does not need you going off like this right now.

"Heh, thank you Weiss… alright, I… I better go before Coco starts dragging me away by the ear" there was that smile again, the song refusing to listen to her at the sight of the sea blue eyes.

With that he left with Velvet, Weiss watching them leave with a happiness in her chest… things would get better, she just knew it.

"Oh, the irony… the cruel irony…" she faintly heard to her left, watching Coco eye her oddly before making her way down the hallway after the pair, Weiss cocking her head confusedly about the words spoken… just… what did she mean? A thought passed through her mind, a blush overcoming her cheeks that she quickly shook away. No. That was foolish and childish.

With a shake of her head… Weiss made her move to go and join her friends for breakfast, already preparing herself for the barrage of questions that would come at both her late appearance and the fact that Jaune was not with her.


Jaune followed Coco and Velvet to their dorm room, confusion written across his face as he prepared to deal with… whatever they were preparing to do with him.

He smiled as they intertwined hands with each other, happy to know that he hadn't ruined things for them… he had come so close to ruining things for everyo-

A hand whistled past his ear, Jaune jolting in place as he was met with the passively angry face of… "Velvet?"

"Don't think for a moment that I'm too nice to not tell you off for being a numpty, Jaune. Coco may be able to see your emotions but I know all about trying to hide bad feelings, Mr. I know the signs" she pouted, her angry face far less threatening than Coco's but it still left him blinking in shock.

With a pat on the arm, she tugged him along, Jaune silent but… kinda happy that he had two people like Weiss around to call him out whenever he let the emotions get just a little too out of whack.

They finally got to their room, Coco opening the door without hesitation and sauntering on in with Velvet close behind.

As he too entered, he was met with the grinning face of Coco, holding up a…

"I see by your stunned silence that you are impressed with my work?" she proudly boasted, skipping up and dragging him in while shoving the jacket she had presented to him into his arms.

It was a heavy style jacket with padding in the shoulders and across the torso, it was a shadowy black in colour, almost cloudy coloured in a way. There was probably a name for the style but he honestly didn't have a clue. What he did know was that the thing was padded, something giving just a little as he pressed into the coarse feeling material.

He opened it up and looked inside to find smooth silk sown into the inside. Orange in colour and clearly built for comfort, it was a good material and clearly cost a lot… but why was she…?

"Yep! Figured it out! I was planning on altering the crap I got from that store for you… but someone ruined it" he shrunk at the accusatory stare she set him, Velvet smacking her shoulder before turning back to their dorm-room kitchen where she was apparently working on something. "So instead, I guess I had a few clothes from Fox and Yastu lying around that fitted you, so gonna make a few of those changes I wanted"

"Coco, don't even try it, I know you had those materials imported and put together a redesign for his outfit the moment you heard he was hurt" out of the corner of his eye, he caught the sly smile on Velvet's face even as Coco's turned a rare and shocking shade of red.

"Shut it Vel! He didn't need to know that!" she yelped, Jaune actually laughing at the sheer absurdity of Coco being embarrassed to the point her voice broke ever so slightly, the usually calm and collected girl shooting him a betrayed look.

"Grr… don't go thinking this means anything, Twiggy" she growled out, stomping forward and shoving him down onto the one bed he remembered as Velvets, the cute slippers giving it away.

"Heh… just wasn't expecting it, I guess. Never thought I'd see you embarrassed is all" he admitted, Coco seemingly ignoring him, though her red face proved she had heard him. As she rifled through her wardrobe, he let his thoughts take over for a moment… and a thought occurred to him…

"I… I take it you want to talk about what I… what I… tried to do?" it was obvious, really… put him in a nice place, a familiar place that helped to keep him calm and then talk about stuff he really didn't want to talk about…

"No, Jaune, we're not… would you like some cake?" Velvet asked shyly, presenting him with a slice of some kind of chocolate roulade with… was that strawberry flavoured buttercream? He accepted it with a furrowed brow, Velvet smiling happily and placing herself next to him with her own portion. "I… I have personal experience with what you're going through…" he paused in worry, raising a hand to grip her shoulder but Velvet gently took it and replaced her fingers with a fork, gesturing to the cake. "Don't worry, I'm better now, Coco helped me. It's just… sometimes it's nice to have people treat you normally, not make a big fuss about it all the time and… and just have fun, yeah?"

He… he didn't know what to say, really he didn't.

What was he supposed to say to such generous kindness and care? What… what could he say other than-

"Thank you" he mumbled, it kinda was nice… having people just want to talk to him, share some cake and stuff… he took a bite, eyeing the fact there was something inside the cake itself… oh dear gods… "Velvet… this… this is incredible" he mumbled, the mystery chunks were pieces of slightly bitter dark chocolate that was offset by the mixed fruit buttercream, actual pieces of raspberry, strawberry and cherry mixed within the sweet cream. the cake itself was super light and fluffy with its' own cocoa taste.

"Th-Thank you!" she happily replied, eagerly taking her own bite as Coco returned from her closet with a large chest in her hands.

"Hey! Where's m-oop!" the cake was dropped atop the chest with Coco sending a wink right at the smiling Velvet. "Okay, Twiggy! I got a present for ya! Why don't you take a look and we can eat some damn good cake, yeah?"

The chest was dropped at his feet, Coco snatching away the cake with a greed in her eyes and a lick of her lips, sitting the other side of him while he eyed the box… he knew what was in there, after all, so he kinda was prepared for it. It was just a matter of putting down this delicious… oh. The cake was gone, literally nothing but the tiniest of crumbs left… touching his lips, he realised they were slightly smeared with cream.

"Yeah, happened with my first time too, turns out Vel here is kind of a master chef" Coco grinned, nudging his shoulder, directing his gaze to a horrendously blushing Velvet who was doing her best to hide behind her plate. "Now c'mon! Open it! I wanna hear all the praise you'll have for me!"

He laughed once again, his mind barely realising that he had laughed, and actually meant it, a lot today…

Placing down his plate, he opened the chest… and was shocked by what he saw…

The jacket had been the first thing she had given to him, and he now realised it was a revised version of the long coat she had brought for him. While the flexible armour around his legs was good and had helped him shrug off that one Ursa's strike… he knew that this was a better all-around thing, Jaune feeling something like mail between the two layers… huh… that was a nice addition… the coat itself was armoured by hardened but still flexible leather but the chainmail that felt like it went throughout the thick material was perfect.

"Oh yeah, that baby was hard to work with, but you seem to like the whole 'knightly' stuff, plus you seem to like taking stupid hits to the body, so I thought this would work well for ya. Got a full upper body mail of Mistralian bronze that can tank the blows and the thick jacket itself kind of acts like an arming doublet" She poked the material, it turning almost rigid against the sudden pressure. "More suited for fights against people, but I wreckon my beautiful creation could handle an Ursa's strike, will still hurt like hell, but won't go through, I can promise you that!"

He guessed immediately just why she had mentioned that, assuring him that next time, and there would be… he wouldn't be so at risk from it. He also noticed there was a buckle along the collar, probably to wrap around his throat to keep that safe, along with four more along the chest.

The first item in the chest was a shirt with short sleeves. It was a pale white, partial button up with a gentle blue cut along the collar and sleeves. It was strong of course, all Huntsman grade material was, but this was clearly more fashionable than anything.

Along the breast was his Family's symbol, Coco chuckling and nudging his shoulder when he looked at her wide eyed… she gotten it perfect, even the small offset the outer moon had compared to the inner one.

He carefully laid the shirt down on top of the jacket, noticing it was cotton. He kinda missed the vest, but the colour wouldn't really work with this set… Oh! But the sash was still there, Jaune happy to see that it had survived the damage the rest of clothes had taken.

There was a pair of deep-sea blue jeans, padded across the knees and multiple attaching points for… something he just knew was going to be further down the pile. They looked like they were skinny jeans, Jaune looking up at her confusedly.

"Nah, they won't make it hard to move, Twiggy. I mean, c'mon! You know me by now! Fashion doesn't have to be without function!" She grabbed up the pants and gripped the leg, showing that it was actually fairly stretchy. "This thing will grow with you, durable as hell and can attach so many pouches to itself that you can store a freaking weeks-worth of supplies in them!"

She dived forward and grabbed out a great deal of pouches, showing him just where they attached to him. Some were large and meant to lay on his hips and hold dust, food and… ammo? But he didn't use guns? Heh, not like he was going to tell Coco she had pointlessly made something when she had clearly put so much effort into creating this stuff. Others attached to his legs and looked like they could hold a knife and general supplies he would need.

"Now, I'll show you just what I want going in these beauties later, but I we're not quite done yet~!" she happily giggled, so much life in her movements… it was kinda nice to see Coco so excited about something.

At the bottom was a pair of brown boots, they went up a long way and he had the feeling they were more meant for wrapping around his calves. They were strong and also steel-toed just like his last pair, but these felt more… right? Yeah, like they just suited him better…

"Coco… I… these are amazing… they really are…" he whispered, the outfit itself he knew would make him look more mature, even with his mop of hair. "I… How much do I owe you? And don't say that I don't, before you do. This is custom and handmade… I… want to do it, okay?"

Coco paused in her praising of herself to look at him… look at him and cross her arms angrily.

"Heh… fine. Fine!" she turned to him, looking him over… and settled on his head. "You can pay me back by getting rid of the stupid mop on top of your head, you're a big, strong Huntsman now! Gotta look the part!"

His hands instantly launched to his precious hair, a panic in his eyes that the fashionable girl rolled her eyes at.

"Hey. Not gonna lie, dude. The mop top suits the cute country boy look… but you need to kinda up your game a little, I'm thinking the edges trimmed down short with the top long and… Bun, Whadda you think about a tail?" she asked, Jaune still clutching his long locks as Velvet looked him over critically.

"Hrmm… as long as you leave a few locks to hang over his forehead, I think it will look good… I-if you want to, that is, Jaune" she squeaked at the end, the move so much like Velvet that he couldn't stop the smile that came over his lips, his nerves leaving him ever so slowly… hah… these two really were some of the best friends he could ever ask for…

"Agreed! Love your input, babe! So, that's the payment I demand, we got a deal?" she asked, holding out a hand that he… reluctantly took. He guessed Coco would be the person to know what really would look good on him… he took the hand with a smile. "Good boy~ There are a few other things I wanna do, but we need some help from the boys… they're busy right now, though. Fox apparently was busy getting some rare books he wanted to read and guess what? He actually wants to see you! Something about your Aura… Hrmm…"

Suddenly she was in front of him, He and Velvet jolting in place.

"C-Coco?" he quietly asked, those dark brown eyes scanning over his entire body for a moment.

"I heard something… something I wanna try…" she asked, before she slammed forward and gripped him tightly in a hug, her arms fully around him and head laying against her shoulder. He jolted, unable to move for a moment, but in the end he did wrap his arms around her… enjoying the warmth she gave to him even if he didn't really understand just what she was doing.

This lasted for a long while, Jaune turning his head to Velvet as she too eyed her girlfriend curiously… with a huff, Coco released him and muttered something about something hating him? It… kinda confused him, but Coco quickly explained.

"I heard about your Semblance, wanted to try it out I guess" she shrugged, going to move away… only for his hand to shoot out and grab hers, Jaune concentrating on what he felt whenever it activated… whenever that golden glow began to surround him… when… when he was with Weiss... like you deserve it... like you deserve to feel that when you're with h-he stomped down on the thoughts, seeing the way both girls were eyeing him.

He heard her gasp, Coco's eyes shooting wide as her body was enveloped by the power of his soul… it felt different, not like all the other times, but it was still kinda nice. It was like being enveloped in a hug where all his problems just… just faded away…

"H-Holy… I… the emotions… the everything… it's… oh gods…" she whispered, Jaune letting go as she stumbled backwards, a grin slowly splitting across her face… Velvet was at her side at a moments' notice.

"Coco? Are you alright?" She asked worriedly, but all Coco did in response was lay a heavy kiss upon her lips, the rabbit Faunus girl squeaking in shock as Jaune averted his gaze in embarrassment.

"I can feel everything! I can see and feel the emotions of everyone around me, even through the fucking walls!" she gasped, eyes roaming around and focusing on the door as Jaune heard a few people walk on by. "But I can control this shit! If I ever got too wound up, their emotions would come to me-but now I can decide what comes in and what I just read! All I got from Twiggy was comfort and peace, none of the bullshit his body usually throws at him! H-Holy shit, Jaune! You're incredible! You uber-charged my Semblance! I'm like a freaking psychic! Even the tiniest change of emotion and I can see it! Velvet! You're trying to stop your heart jumping out of your chest at the kiss I just laid on you while also wondering if I have a screw loose! Hah!"

She bounced over to him once more, a truly epic grin upon her features that had him leaning back awkwardly, even if he did smile at her completely joyous attitude. Clearly she was too busy being happy to care about the fact Velvet had just thought she was going insane…

"Twiggy! You're also wondering if I'm crazy but are also happy as fuck! I see that you have this pissing annoying black cloud hanging over your entire body, but you… you are actually happy! Oh! And you just thought of Forever Flat, I noticed you went that colour when she hugged you! Hah, oh this is awesome!"


Velvet giggled as she watched her beautiful girlfriend hop about, happy as can be while Jaune went along with it, heh… oh she really was enjoying this… enjoying Coco's happiness and that Jaune was truly smiling right alongside her…

Eventually, she calmed down, going on and on about how he truly had something incredible on his hands and she couldn't help but agree. Really… a Semblance boosting Semblance that also healed? She honestly wondered how the two worked in tandem… but that wasn't something she got to think about all that much, not when Coco dragged her over and practically demanded she let Jaune try on her next…

"C-Coco! You can't just demand Jaune use his Semblance on a whim! H-he needs to want to, natura-Eek!" she jolted around from where she had been telling off her girlfriend to find Jaune was holding her hand ever so gently, a calm smile on his face as those tired eyes were lit up by a golden glow…

"It's okay… just… I don't mind, I want to help… I want to be useful…" she barely heard him, but she smiled all the same… oh gods.. what was this feeling? What was this incredible feeling? She… she didn't quite know how to describe it… It was if everything felt so vibrant and in focus… her senses were skyrocketing, with her Faunus heritage it was as if the entire world had been turned up to eleven.

Then… then there was this other feeling deep down inside her… she felt it… she knew each and every move of Jaune's without ever trying to use it on him… and Coco's… and the people down the hall as their footsteps slowly faded away, her knowledge of how their feet were placed with every step translating into how they fought... she knew it all… she… there was always a limit, the same as her weapon… but now? Now she felt as if she could learn the fighting styles of every single person on campus with but a glance, a whisper or a touch…

As Jaune let go, it was all she could do to whisper "Wow..."

"I know, right? Oum above, Jaune! You're awesome! I can see you being a major powerhouse with this shit! Seriously! You could turn anyone you wanted into a super Huntsman!"

He bashfully rubbed the back of his head, Velvet knowing at a glance that it was something he did when he was nervous, had clearly been doing it for years… wait… how did she know that? That… wasn't how her Semblance usually worked… he dropped the hand when Coco grabbed his head, body straightening out and the darkness, that had been building ever since he started to self-deprecate about how good he could possibly be, slowly fading away… she grinned, none of the usual pain showing in her eyes as she instead picked him and hugged him, yelling more and more about how she was gonna so kick up his training regime to match his Semblance.

They continued to talk for a good while, time flowing by and before she knew an hour had gone and passed right on by, Jaune enjoying the small treats Velvet happily provided for him while they simply talked with the knight-in-training. She never ignored what happened, never treated him like they could pat him on the back and make a joke of it... no. Instead whenever his eyes would grow dull as a dark thought came to mind, she would smile, touch his shoulder to have him look at her and offer him something that would take his mind off of what was going on with him. Be that cake, humour or Coco telling him about all the little touches she wanted go add to his new outfit.

She apparently wanted to add some upgrades to his near destroyed armour, turn him into a 'human wall' of armour and aura... she couldn't blame Jaune for the nervous way he leaned back as Coco giggled near evilly at the thought of what she would do to his clothes...

It was-well, no. It wasn't perfect, but instead it was as good as it could be... and that was all she could ask for...

Only, her ears picked up on something, something that made her heart jolt in her chest… Oh, she was happy to hear the noise… but she also knew that the reasons behind the noise would possibly cause problems if not handled correctly.

"Coco?" she called, the fashionista turning from where she had been excitedly showing off the bandolier she had created to hold onto a multitude of dust cartridges she was still forgetting Jaune didn't own the gun for yet. She was the one in charge of that.

She stared off at the door, the residual effects of Jaune's Semblance showing as she cocked an eyebrow.

"On it"

She patted Jaune's shoulder as he looked on in concern as she quickly slid through the small crack in the door she had made.

"Hey, Jaune? I want to go over a couple ideas we had for possible armour upgrades, is that okay?"


Coco stepped out of the door, shutting it as quickly yet gently as she could right as the storm of teen angst and worry came shooting down the hallway. They all crashed to a halt before her, raising an eyebrow as they fell over each other in an attempt to come to a stop before they slammed into her.

The blonde one was the one on the bottom, a groan leaving her lips as the weight of four other people landed atop her. Huh… damn, she was never one for feeling jealous but the girl had an impressive chest on her.

Next came the black-haired girl who… oh? She didn't know she was a Faunus, wasn't sure how Vel had never noticed, she was usually good at this kinda thing.

Then there was his two teammates… Nope, she was drawing a blank. Ah well, she guessed Pyrrha would fill her in, wherever she was. The guy was currently being crushed into the chest of his panicked looking partner, a blush on her cheeks as she jumped off of him with a nervous giggle, launching the last member of the pile off to land onto her ass.

Heh… gods were these really the year below her? Oum above… heh, no. Be nice, Vel would be pissed at you, plus they care a lot about Twiggy so…

"So… You wanna explain just what the hell you guys are doing?" she asked casually, smirking a little as Red stumbled to her feet and got herself to the front of the group. Okay, she remembered this one, was Ice queens partner and all around adorable.

"W-Weiss told us that Jaune was here! W-We wanna see him! We have a free period and when she said he was with you, we decided to come see him before our next class!" She squeaked, Coco now fully realising Velvet's worry… ah crap.

"Heh, calm down, Rubes…" the blonde one whispered before she made herself the one in the front, a friendly smile on her face But Coco took a glance with her Semblance and knew she was beyond exhausted and her nerves were frayed… "Hey, I'm Yang, look… we're just kind of worried about our friend, like my lil sis said, we heard he was here. Mind if we see him?" she was polite about it, Coco appreciating that for what it was.

They all looked so happy and hopeful, all ready to smother him in affection and love… a love that she just knew would strangle the poor bastard…

Which was why, with a lowering of her sunglasses to look them all in the eye, she stated a simple but powerful sentence.

"Not a chance in hell right now" she openly told them, not even bothering to adopt a proper stance, why should she? Instead, she leaned to the side and placed a hand on her hip as the tiny short-stack ginger got into her face as best she could with an, adorably, feral snarl.

"What does that mean!? He's our friend! We got a right to see him and you can't keep hi-" she halted in place as her partner placed a hand on her shoulder, gripping it gently as the colour left her body completely, her expression turning blank as the now introduced Yang took her aside.

"I'm sorry for my girlfriend-" Coco raised an eyebrow at that, she could have sworn Jaune had told her that they were almost permanently stuck in limbo with their feelings… huh, she just knew he had something to do with that. "-We're just worried about our good friend and team leader… is he alright? My name is Lie Ren, but please, call me Ren"

Ah, the cool and level headed one, it was a good counter alongside the quiet and illusive looking girl in black to the red eyed brawler with big front bumpers and the teeny tiny raging ball of anger who was back and already looking a little pissed once more.

"Yeah, he's good, doing better than he was last night I can promise you that" that cheered them all up at least, even the tiny terror smiled for a moment… before getting right back into her face.

"Then why can't we see him!? Won't it make him even happier to see us!?"

"Oh, it may… but then again, I'm gonna take a wild guess and say the second you get in there, you're gonna start fussing all over him and treat him like he's made of glass. Making a big deal of every little thing he does and then, when he starts to panic, you get even more worried about every little thing he does and then-!" She cut herself off, it wasn't their fault… it… she had more experience with this shit, knew more… she'd seen more, with Vel.

They all backed away a little, Yang losing the red in her eyes and the ginger looking a little unsure of herself… dammit, she didn't need this, today was supposed to be about being calm and happy, not getting angry at concerned friends.

"I… We… we wouldn't do that, right?" little Ruby asked, her big sis not looking her in the eye as she rubbed her elbow. Coco decided she hated this nervous and awkward atmosphere even more, and so decided to fix it.

"Just… heh, much as I hate to admit it, the only one I think he's truly okay with being vulnerable enough to accept being overly caring and worry about him like that is the Schnee girl and hell, even she doesn't go overboard like I know you guys were gonna do… You guys are his friends, but take a moment to think, would you suddenly want all your friends surrounding you and treating you like you were some problem they needed to solve after going through what he has? Or would you want them to just help you through it by making you feel normal? Not trying to bury it, before you worry… just treating him like he isn't something you have to watch 24/7 like a hawk. You all know that he already thinks he's a burden on everyone"

They all grew quiet, the ginger backing off with wide eyes and a confused and hurt look in them… she knew it, she knew that was exactly what she would have done... and Coco hated bringing the kid down, but the situation was delicate. One bad move could send him spiralling once again. The ginger looked like she was gonna try and deny it a few times… but that died an ugly death as the realisation clearly fully set in.

Yang was pulled in close by the girl in black who wrapped her arms around her, both of their gazes distant and in the past… their secondary aura's… they knew just what she was talking about.

She searched around for Weiss, dammit it was gonna take a while to stop herself feeling a little angry at looking for her to help… and found she was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is she, anyway? If anyone knows what's going on in that head of his, it's her"

Once again, though with a look in her eyes that didn't match her age, Ruby walked on up to her with a determined look about her.

"Weiss… she said she had to do something… something important, that we agreed would help Jaune… she'll hopefully be by later" She stood just a little straighter, Coco actually surprised to see Beacon's resident cookie monster looking like a grownup for once. "So… how do we help him? We all want to see him, but I won't if we're just going to ruin things" she openly admitted, even as Coco noticed the pain that such a thought caused her.

"Hey… there's no need for that. You guys can help him by just being yourselves around him. With my Semblance, I'll know instantly if the dumbass is letting that shit storm of a brain of his get to him and can act accordingly… you guys just focus on making him feel normal by being yourselves, cool? You can ask if he's alright, simple stuff like that, just avoid putting all focus and attention on him" there, crisis averted with a lot less drama than she had expected. Hell, she'd actually planned on secretly getting Yatsu and Fox to come on by and make them leave if they hadn't listened to her… maybe these guys would make half-decent Hunters after all…

Though… she did kinda get worried when Ren leaned over and whispered something in the remorseful looking gingers ear, that sad look disappearing and replaced by an apocalyptically happy smile… dear Oum that is fucking terrifying…

"So… we should be ourselves? Huh, I can do that"

It was in that moment that Coco Adel, the girl known for going with the flow and always being in control of the situation, lost it entirely as the door behind her was opened to find Jaune… stood there with wide eyes and nervous manner to his movements… ah fuck… this was what she had been worried about… he looked almost like he was about to have a panic attack… his breathing quickening, eyes blinking and moving rapidly and she could see the way his hand twitched against the door. Fuck, this was gonna be bad. Too many people, too many voices, too much attention all on him…

"G-Guys? Wh-what are you doing here? I… I'm sorry if I made you all wo-" the ginger flew through the air and tackled him to the ground in a fit of giggles and cheers of 'fearless leader!'

Coco's heart leapt into her chest, what the fuck was she doing!? She lurched forward to drag the fucking moron off!... when the oddest thing happened…

"Hah! N-Nice to see you too, Nora-ack!" he laughed… he actually laughed as she practically crushed him into a hug that she brought up to standing level with the ease of someone picking up an apple. "M-Mind letting go? Kinda struggling to breath right now!" he gasped, but he still smiled all the same…

"The fuck?" she mumbled, jolting herself as a hand was placed on her shoulder, Ren shooting her a knowing look.

"Heh, don't think on it too much… Nora may mess up at times, and her methods may seem eccentric… but she knows what she's doing right now… she knows what it is like to feel how he does, and her way to make it stop is with cheer and hugs" he looked on with the fondness of a brother and a lover respectively as Jaune slightly shakily nodded his head when 'Nora' asked if his 'noggin' was okay before tapping a finger to his nose with a cheeky smile.

Dammit if he wasn't right… Jaune… those dull eyes got just that little bit brighter as she talked about how awesome his scars from the Ursa were going to look, how she thought his new clothes were cool…

The others filtered in, all explaining in their own ways that they wanted to 'just swing by and see him'. It was almost insane to see them all go from being panicked messes ready to tear down her door to see him… to this…

Yang walked over and she faintly heard a 'thank you' pass her lips as she and the girl revealed to be called Blake interlocked hands… those eyes of his staring at them intently for a long while, before flicking up to them with a 'seriously?' look to him. The answer was two beaming smiles… before Yang wrapped an arm around his shoulder and ruffled his hair, joking about how he was some sort of match maker…

When he eventually got away, though, Coco noticed some of the tension and worry in his shoulders leave as the pair hugged.

He was met with Ruby who wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug of her own before pulling out the design for his armour Vel and herself had been designing and thusly began to gush over how cool it was and that Coco's blushing girlfriend was a genius.

Ren and Jaune exchanged a knowing nod… Ren placing a hand on his shoulder and asking if he would like to come and try some herbal tea with him later, not so subtly hinting that it was good for calming the mind.

She looked over at her girlfriend for an answer on just what was going on… and was met with a finger pointing right on back to Jaune…

She focused on him once again, letting her Semblance flow… and felt a warmth bloom in her chest at what she saw…

The darkness was still there, it never left even when he smiled and tried to be as happy as he could be… but it was almost like it was being fought down by a happiness that permeated throughout him, getting more powerful with each word his friends said to him… it was just like when they had been alone with him… expect this time it was all that much stronger…

Heh… he big blonde idiot had a long way to go… but she had a good feeling that with friends like his around…

It wouldn't be this hard for him forever...


She tapped her foot rapidly against the floor of the platform... the Bullhead was late, why was it late? It shouldn't be late!

Her dream was over, she had never really had a chance, had she?

She couldn't face him… none of them after what had happened, how could she? She… she was a failure.

She needed to leave… go back to her solitude and be alone once more… the one person she had thought could truly understand and come to love her had rejected her… She was the lonely champion once again, but that was fine… she was used to being alone.

Hollow green eyes looked about the docking station where her luggage lay at her feet. Beyond was the mass of crowds that gawped and stared, attempted to come closer and yet faltered when her unblinking and numb gaze met theirs.

He would never look at her like that.

He would come up with a big grin on his lips and place a hand on her shoulder… so warm and comforting… so pleasant to behold… she enjoyed that feeling oh so greatly…

She had enjoyed that feeling oh so greatly… but then he had rejected her when she had bared herself to him… and had been ensnared by the one she loathed with all her heart.

Where was the Bullhead? Shouldn't it be here by now?

'We apologise, but there has been a delay in the launching of our Bullhead for Mistral, we shall get this on track as soon as possible'

"Dammit!" She hissed under her breath, eye twitching as the little boy who had come up to ask for her autograph ran away in fear back to his mother who scowled in her direction. Heh… no, she had to remain calm. She had to be the symbol of gentle grace and indominable will that she had always been known for.

"It won't come until I give the all clear, you know"

Ah… there went that calm…

With a venomous glare, she turned to find the one who had ruined her chances, beaten her so fully and completely that she was left to limp home alone.

Icey blue eyes stared passively at her, not even moving or twitching as the champion glared down at her from their full height, a vicious snarl on her lips as she growled out "What are you doing here?"

A mouth that held no sneer of contempt, nor fear of her possible and much thought of attack, simply opened and answered with a cool voice.

"To see you, of course. Why else would I call in a favour to have the Bullhead stopped under promise of cheap Dust prices for a year for the pilot and his family?" Ah, so money paid for everything once more… would she use it to turn him into her loyal servant? She wouldn't put it past the bitch.

"Oh, come to gloat? Come to bask in the glory at knowing you ruined any chance I had at a normal life with him? Well, gloat away, Schnee. See if I care anymore…"

A sigh of annoyance, the first real emotion she had shown, past through her nostrils as the girl dared to look insulted at the notion. "Please, I have far better things to do than waste my time insulting you. It isn't worth it."

She couldn't hit her… couldn't hurt her in public… no matter how much she may have wished to…

"Oh, I forgot how easy it is for you to look down upon us mere mortals" the Champion snarled out. "If you aren't here to gloat, why don't you leave me alone? You have already won, there is nothing else for you to take away from me…"

"Take away…?" Schnee leaned her head forward in confusion, eyebrow raising as she seemed to try and understand her words… "Oh dear gods, is that really what you think this is all about? I never knew you were such a selfish person. No wonder you think this sad little thing is your only option"

Her fist made contact before she could stop herself, but dammit did it feel good. The Schnee was on the ground, not having even activated her aura as her lip was split open and bled. There was many a shriek from the crowd as guards moved in to back the people up, all knowing better than to come between the champion and her prey.

She stood once more, that neutral expression written across her face that enraged her so.

"You have no idea what selfish means! You stole the one person who has ever truly understood me! You stole him away, despite your constant cruelty and malice! You took away my only chance at happiness! I lost! There! I said it! Are you happy now!? You claim that you are not here for that, and yet what else could you be!? I'm leaving, I'm done! You can have him, it's not like he would ever see me the way he sees you, clearly!" she made to punch again, and yet her opponent simply side stepped it, the Champion losing her footing and stumbling to the ground, the dirt sullying her clothes.

"You lose one fight and now you are running away like a petulant child, leaving behind many a person who cares for you… I would call that selfish, wouldn't you? Actually, no. Cowardly is what I would call it, even when one much weaker than you in nigh on every regard stands tall and fights on for his friends"

The Champion stared at her for a long moment, anger and sadness welling up inside her in equal measure… and yet neither came fully to the surface… instead she stood, dusting off her sash and picked up the luggage that had been scattered in her fall and made to leave. She was done. She was tired. She… she would find another way home to her lonely life as the Champion.

Schnee could have him…

Schnee could have it all…

They would be far happier together, Schnee's victory securing her the rights to the one prize she could not win…

She brushed past her foe, not willing to let her see the tears that threatened to spring forth as the image of that smiling face once more assaulted her… The Champion would remain strong… she would never lose like this again… never would she open her heart to risk it being torn apart like it had been.

"Did you know, after you left… he attempted to kill himself?"

Pyrrha Nikos froze mid-step… eyes flying wide as she spun around to find the Schnee was still staring on impassively… and yet there was a sadness to those icy eyes that had not been there before.

"Wh-What?" she whispered, legs feeling weak, arms loosing the luggage as her words sunk in… and memories of her words from last night flung to the forefront of her mind.

"You heard me right… Apparently the dunce had it in his mind that he was a burden on others, so much so that he thought all he created was pain and suffering for everyone around him… and so he attempted to commit suicide"

"I… It's… it's all my fault…" a harsh slap resounded through the air as Pyrrha's face was hit to the side by the hand of Schnee, emotions abound upon her face in the form of a dark, angry glare the likes of which Pyrrha had never seen before.

"No. No do not go there. I have had enough of people blaming themselves, do you hear me? Yes, you clearly said hurtful words in the moment, words that caused him great pain… but I know for a fact he was planning to do what he tried to do long before he got to you. So don't you even dare to try and play the martyr and make it all your fault. I am not in the mood"

She stumbled once more, not under a failed attack having received one herself… she stumbled under the gaze of the girl half her size who seemed so much larger in that moment.

"Pyrrha. You are going to listen to me and listen well. I saved him. I saved his life and he is right now with dear friends who are making sure he stays safe" she pressed a button on her Scroll and Pyrrha immediately heard the rotors of a Bullhead start up. "I do care for him…. though I am not sure as to the nature of it yet, be it one of friendship… or more. But I do know this. He needs me there, no matter how little I deserve it, because he cares about me. The same that he cares about you"

The Bullhead came into view behind the girl in white, Pyrrha's head shaking as those damn tears came back. "N-No… he doesn't… he… he will never see me like-"

"Oh, so because he isn't romantically interested in you, then the world is over? You lost for the first time in your life in a battle you actually cared about… and now you run away? So, his friendship, and that of all the people who call you friend, matter so little to you that you will throw them away after a simple rejection?"

"N-No… I.." words failed her, what was she to say? The girl before her as indominable a foe now as she had always been to her in one way or another. She breathed out a heavy sigh as Pyrrha found herself hauled to her feet, a hand placing itself on her shoulder with an almost comforting tenderness.

"Look. You can get on that Bullhead, run back to your sad life of being all alone… or you can come back and join me, join me in helping a young man attain what we both know he can. Help the young man who considers you his very closest friend to heal from his pain and to become what you saw in him that day in the forest… loneliness or a friend more loyal and kind than you could ever hope for, even if that means they will never feel the love you wish them to. The choice is yours, Pyrrha Nikos"

The Bullhead touched down, Pyrrha looking behind her as the pilot looked on expectantly, eyeing the Heiress who walked away without another word… What… what was she to do? She… she couldn't go back… right? Not after what had happened… no, she couldn't… right?

"Miss Nikos? You coming?" the pilot called as Pyrrha shakily turning and laying a hand on her luggage, a picture falling out and seemingly placing itself in her hand as she eyed its' surface… four smiling faces greeting her…

She had lost…

Been soundly beaten and destroyed so efficiently that she had no idea what was up and what was down at times…

It hurt… it hurt so much… to even look at him brought agony…

Pyrrha Nikos made her decision.


Jaune sighed with a little tugging upon his lips as Yang told another corny joke while Nora lay her arms over his shoulders, going on about some dream she had the other night… this… this felt nice… Ruby poked his cheek and asked stuff about what colours he wanted in the armour she and Velvet had made plans to start forging at the weekend…

He barely noticed the dark words and whispers in his mind at the sheer love and care about him… he… he just missed…

The door knocked, a hopeful expression dawning his face as Coco called out that it was for him.

He got up with a start, ready to apologize for everything, for hurting her, for making her feel like she could never be loved!

White hair and crystal blue eyes greeted him, Jaune forcing himself not to show disappointment as Weiss entered with a gentle smile upon her lips, walking up to him and surprising everyone including himself when she pulled him into a hug… that familiar golden glow beginning to surround him as he felt everything that made her who she was flood into him… felt her very soul link with his… he hid his pain well, not willing to worry the others as they gasped and awed at the display.

She released him, standing to the side and looking towards the doo-

Green eyes brimmed with tears as they watched him, a gentle and sweet smile upon her lips that trembled with every breath she took.

Flaming red hair fell down her head and behind her back, framing her face perfectly as he tracked the tears that had been spilled upon the porcelain skin…

"P-Pyrrha?" he whispered, not quite believing his eyes as they continued to stare, the room silent as she uttered two simple words… words he would cherish until the day he died…

"Hello again"

Eldefire1

FUCK! I AM NOT CRYING! No! Happy shit is coming! It's starting and I will not cry!

JourneysEnd1

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF YOU EVIL, GLORIOUS, BASTARD!