"Jack and Diane" John Cougar Mellencamp
Pyrrha found Jaune sitting out in the hospital garden strumming a wordless tune. Aside from the bandage wrapped around his head covering his left eye, he looked as he always did. Faded jeans, Pumpkin Pete hoodie. She smiled as she saw that he was mostly recovered from the ordeal that Atlas and Mantle had suffered three days ago. It was testament to his will that he had been able to recover so much more quickly here than at Vale, then again they had known what to do this time. Cinder, Oscar/Ozpin and herself flooding him with aura as soon as he finished singing.
"So how you feeling?" she asked as soon as she was close enough.
"Good. Better that when I first came here, at least." he replied as he stopped playing his wordless tune.
"So how...?" she wanted to ask but felt uncomfortable finishing the question.
"It doesn't hurt anymore, but the Dco said..." Jaune paused thinking how best to pass the information on to someone who cared for him so deeply. He decided it was best to just be blunt. It was best. "The Doc said it was dead. I'll never see from it again."
"I see." Pyrrha responded, Jaune instantly feeling the regret and sadness welling up inside her.
"I'm okay Pyr. This is not your fault. It's mine for not keeping up at least a portion of my aura to defend myself." He tried to ease her discomfort. "You want to see it?"
"What about the bandages? Don't you need to keep them on?"
"My aura has done what it could, There's nothing these bandages are doing but hiding it."
"I don't know."
"You'll see it sooner or later. I'm not going to be wearing these things for the rest of my life."
"I guess."
Jaune nodded as he removed his guitar from his lap, and leaned it against the bench they were sitting on. Then he reached up and fumbled to pull the securing tape free. Seeing that he was struggling, Pyrrha stepped in, reached up and pulled the tape loose. With that task accomplished she sat back and watched as Jaune unwrapped the three layers of cotton gauze dropping it into his lap. He kept his head turned away from her, as he performed action.
Once done he turned his face towards her. His good eye took in her reaction. She didn't exactly recoil, but he could see, as well feel her concern and self blame as she took in the milky white orb. Reaching out he placed his hand upon hers and gently fed her comfort and some happiness. He was after all still alive thanks to in no small part Oscar/Ozpin's actions. She gave him a weak smile as she felt his slight nudge.
"Life goes on, Pyr, I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere I promise."
"It's still hard to see, at least right now."
"I know, I feel the same when I looked in the mirror after the second bandage change."
"Can't they do something though? An eye transplant? A cybernetic eye maybe?"
"Probably, and I might look into in the future, but right now we have other things to think about. Right?"
"There's only one thing I'm thinking about. Nothing else matters to me."
"I know, and that's also why right now I don't care about it. I feel the same."
"Did you know Penny is back? Pedro rebuilt her, after..." she tried changing the subject but the self loathing of her actions at the festival rose up.
"No I didn't. What else is everyone up to?"Jaune asked as he pushed a little more of his semblance into her, quashing the negative emotion. "They all freaking about what happened?"
"No. They're being them." Pryrrha replied thankful for Jaune's comforting touch.
"So what are they up to? Really?"
"Weiss is seeing her family, Ren and Nora are exploring, Ruby and Yang are doing sister stuff, Blake I think is checking out rumours of White Fang activity with Penny of all people."
"Figures about Blake. What about the others, Qrow Cinder and Oscar?"
"Last I heard they were in a meeting with General Ironwood."
"Cinder went willing to a meeting with those two?"
"Yeah. I ddin't think she would, I expected her to be hovering around you when I arrived here."
"I haven't seen her. Guess she feels I'm safe, and there are more important things for her to be doing."
"You did a number on her, Jaune. What did you make her feel?"
"I'm not proud of what I did, so I'm sorry I don't want to talk about it." He replied as he remembered the complete mind shattering amount of anger and regret he had thrown into the air that night. He hadn't expected that it would cause her to switch sides; he thought it would have made her run away, and keep running.
"Want to do something?" Pyrrha asked, "It's not like I mind just sitting here, but..."
"You like a change of scenery." Juane completed her comment, "So would I."
Pyrrha smiles and as a pair they rose from the bench. Jaune broke contact with her to pick up his guitar and sling it over his shoulder onto his back. He returned her warm smile with one of his own, before reaching out to her with his hand. She paused for a second before accepting it. Jaune let her feel his contentment, and joy at the touch, not enough to influence her, just enough to confirm to he he had feelings for her as well. Pyrrha's smile deepened and she pushed her own feelings forward knowing he could feel them.
"Where would you like to go?"
"Anywhere." Pyrrha replied, "Maybe just wander around, enjoy the day?"
"I'd like that."
/=/
The pair eventually found themselves in a quiet park, near the centre of the city. Having wandered aimlessly for hours. They window shopped, laughed at Jaune's corny jokes, and enjoyed each other company. They did all the things that two average young people who were coming to terms with the feelings in their hearts would do. Stopping at a couple of outdoor cafe's they sampled the sweet offerings. Jaune even giving Pyrrha a bite of his own chocolate and cream crepe.
In the park the pair sat beneath a tree and just took in the sounds of the city. Their fingers intertwined with each others. Pyrrha with her head leaning on Jaune's shoulder, his guitar laying in the lush grass beside him.
"This is nice. Thank you." Pyrrha commented with a contented sigh.
"It is."
"We should do this again. Sometime after all this other stuff is done."
"We should, and we will." Jaune responded give her hand a light squeeze.
He knew at that point he truly did care and love her, and he let the feeling trickle into her; as a response to her confession of love in Vale. There was no hiding it, he would do anything for her; and he was sure, no confident she would do the same.
"Play me something?" she asked as she straightened up.
"You sure?" he asked, not wanting to break contact with her.
"Yes. Please?" she replied, slowly standing up, and surprising Jaune by moving to sit in his lap. She reached down and pulled up his guitar.
Jaune took a moment to adjust himself, to keep Pyrrha comfortable in his lap and situate his guitar, so that he could comfortable play. Pyrrha adjusted he own position, so the guitar ended up on her lap, with his arms surrounding her.
"A little ditty 'bout Jack & Diane." Jaune started in a soft voice after playing a few chords, "Two Mistrelian kids kids growing up in the heart land."
Pyrrha had a soft smile on her face as he continued, and just went with the flow of the tune. It was soft and reassuring and as Jaune continued he could help by start to let his own feeling of satisfaction, and other warm feelings start to drift into the air with his voice. Pyrrha could feel them through her contact with Jaune, and hear them in his voice.
"Saying Oh yeah life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone." his voice sang out rising just a touch in volume.
Around them other couples who were also enjoying the park, slowed as they passed, some completely stopping. Hands and fingers entwine, smiles broadened, arms wrapped around waits; heads leaned against shoulders. Jaune and Pyrrha either ignored or where unaware of the onlookers, as Jaune continued his little ballad to her. At the conclusion, the pair were surprised when applause rose up around them. It wasn't a concert roaring sound, but more subdued, appreciative of the tender scene that was playing out before them.
Jaune and Pyrrha both blushed, but made no effort to break their contact with each other. From somewhere a camera flashed, and Pyrrha normally shy about unscripted photo shoots, didn't care anymore, or at least for the tender moment she was sharing with the man she loved. So she leaned in closing her eyes and brushed her lips against his. Jaune was taken a little by surprise,but quickly his mind stopped and his heart took over and he responded returning the gentle touch.
"Again?" Pyrrha asked her eyes shining.
Jaune just returned the smile, his own eyes shining, as he once again strummed the strings of his weapon of choice. More people gathered to listen as once again his voice rose into the air. From another side a camera flashed followed by a second and third. Scrolls came out, began to record, some even going live. The pair didn't notice or care, even as more people gathered around to listen and share in the heart warming sound the young man was putting into the air. No, Jaune and Pyrrha were happy, and continued to look at each other. Oblivious to the world around them, uncaring of the troubles they had faced; or the ones that were bound to come.
"Never leave me." she whispered.
"I wont. I promise." he responded continuing to play the tune while breaking from his singing. He leaned up and kissed her.
/=/
Nora who had grown bored just wandering around with Ren, had pulled out her scroll, and was checking out social media videos. She stopped when she noticed a live stream show up in her recommendations. Thumbing the image she watched a broad and knowing smile splitting her lips.
"About time." she whispered before turning towards Ren and shoving her scroll in his face. "You owe me twenty."
"You want it in lien or pancakes?" Ren asked, a smile also on his face. It was about time, he thought as he watched the video play. His own hand reaching out and taking Nora's. Seeing his teammates finally recognizing what everyone else saw making him comfortable to show a small token of affection to the most important person in his life.
/=/
In fact they were not the only members of their small squad that saw the video. They all stopped what they were doing, and each allowed a knowing smile decorate their faces. It was about time they all thought as they continued to watch the video or live streams they had in tuned into conclude.
Each of them uttered variations of the same thing.
"About time." or "Finally."
/==/
So a short little vignette to break up the combat oriented chapters that I had been putting out.
Plus this is a song I spent a good portion of my youth listening to. It was my first "record" when I started really paying attention to how music could make me feel. And YES I am that old that I remember when they used to still sell vinyl records just as tape cassettes were taking over.
I didn't proof this one, so there will be errors, and typos.
I've decided after some advice, and some deeper thinking. I know there are plot holes, but I feel that this story works how it is. If I complicate it with rewrites and trying to close it up, it will go on for much too long. I recognize their are holes, and I appreciate all the comments that point them out. It'll help me with my other longer stories.
I wanted to do one with AC/DC (and I promised one) but I feel this filled in something people wanted to see, and was one I wanted to write. Not much left to this story.
Hope you enjoy it.