JourneysEnd1
Eeeee! Oh my gods! You actually made a really cute chapter!
Elderfire1
Yeaahhh… but don't go expecting this to last! I am a cold, heartless monster and you know it!
JourneysEnd1
… I literally watched you make baby noises at a puppy earlier.
Elderfire1
Sh-shut up!
TSOHH
Ch32
Recollections of the past
Ruby skipped down the hallway with a smile, ready as can be to get back and kick Grimm butt for a new semester!
Well… that and getting to see Jaune and Weiss again.
She and him had been spending time with Ruby on Patch over part of the holidays, fixing up some cool new armour with his friends Coco and Velvet… though, she guessed she could also call them her friends with how Coco had said her cape was cool! It was the best thing ever in her opinion!... even if she had dared to say it would look better in brown! Uh! The horror! Red was best!
The armour was cool… everything improved, larger and far more defensive than before with the addition of Atlas steel and Valean silver-steel to the mix made it so much better.
The one arm and shoulder pieces were even thicker and more protective for the nondominant side that would hold his shield, making him a wall of super cool steel when he raised his shield and stood side on. A full chest and back piece that fully enshrouded his torso in thick metal… especially on the front… Weiss… Weiss had made it clear that had to happen…
Jaune had been confused at first, but Weiss had put a hand on his chest and gone misty eyed, looking up at him like it was the only thing she wanted in the world… Ruby had caught a glimpse of them through his baggy top being pulled taught.
The scars... They were so big that Ruby knew each was longer than her hand… Which was why she had found it so cute When Jaune had took her hand and put it on the biggest one and smiled, saying he got it and would do it for her.
Hee! She'd done her very best to not giggle as Weiss had gone all flustered! Jaune was just funny when he'd asked her if she was sick, Ruby not able to hold in the belly laugh at the annoyed yet relieved 'really' look Weiss had sent his way.
And then Jaune had revealed this really cool thing about him that the meany had hidden from her!
Past
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I've actually worked at my uncles forge a couple times, he was the one who helped me to forge my armour and sharpen up Crocea Mors!" Jaune helpfully told a flabbergasted Ruby as he happily picked up a pair of tongues and got ready to help her forge.
He… had decided that he was gonna try and find joy in any little thing he could over the holiday, anything he could that would make him smile without making himself do it.
Forging, it turned out, was one of those things he enjoyed. Why wouldn't he?
It reminded him of times where he was working up the muscles he kinda had needed to even be able to move Crocea in the first place… warm summer evenings spent working at the cherry red metal… his uncle sharing a beer with him and his dad the year before he came to Beacon when he'd started his 'training'.
"You… You what!?" Ruby squeaked, Jaune not able to stop himself from laughing at the looks Ruby and Weiss were giving him.
"What, you need me to show you?" He asked with a smirk, gripping the disassembled metal of Crocea Mors' shield… hrmm… with what Ruby wanted him to do… well, he did love it. How couldn't he?
But… well… It was weird seeing the ancient metal taken apart… Then again, He reckoned his dad would be proud of what he was doing with it. Keeping Crocea Mors pretty much the same… but with a few very much needed upgrades… Plus that other thing Ruby had suggested.
*Boom!* went the hammer as he turned and moved the metal as the power hammer struck down, Ruby having asked him to do it purely for the fact that she wanted to know if he could. His Semblance boosted everything about his aura and what it gave to him.
From his strength, stamina, speed, mental processing… whatever that was, Weiss had told him it and he had simply nodded his head and pretended he understood.
He smiled… heh… this was nice… really nice, actually…
The dark thoughts hadn't really plagued him for a while… in a bad way at least. They still came every now and then and he… well, he still hadn't been able to face the idea of being near his razor, Weiss keeping it safe for him and smiling whenever she asked if he wanted to use it tonight, never judging him when he said no.
Hah, but he was so warm, having forgotten just how hot it got working a forge… having been forced to get down to just his white tank top and the leather apron up top, Ruby helpfully supplying him with thick gloves.
Though… he was kinda confused why Weiss and Ruby had gone quiet when he'd started working the forge, not entirely sure why they had gone so quiet…
"Uh… what's wrong?" he asked, wiping the sweat from his brow with his leather apron, not entirely too sure as to why they were looking at him like that. It actually somehow managed to get worse when he lowered the apron. The shield was coming along nicely, Weiss' work with him when it came to Dust meant that their plan was gonna be perfect in his opinion.
Ruby giggled nervously for some reason… walking up to him and showing him something cool she had planned for this little side project of hers. He turned around in worry for Weiss, her face was so red he was honestly fearful she was going to pass out.
But she was hurriedly walking out, muttering something he didn't quite hear…
"Uh, what did I do?" He asked Ruby, the reaper not meeting his gaze… as she helpfully supplied him with a blueprint of the ranged option she was making for him… Oum... that was a BIG pistol…
"Nothing! Nothing!" Ruby giggled that nervous little thing once again, Jaune shaking his in confusion as they got set to work as the shield pieces had been quenched and were fully cooling off at the minute. "… Hey… Uh… how are you… anyway?"
He paused as he looked over the dust mechanic for the blade… Heh… this was something he had been preparing for. He was ready…
He smiled as Ruby tried her best to not act as if she was relieved to feel the hand on her shoulder, feeling her jolt slightly before she relaxed into his touch and smiled warmly to herself and into the table.
"I… I've been… I've been okay, actually" and there went the last of her tension, Jaune huffing out a laugh to himself as Ruby let that smile turn into a grin. "I've been feeling happy more, not letting the… the bad thoughts get to me as often and… and I haven't had nightmares for a while, Weiss has been helping with that" he smiled, she really had been helping him so much… he needed to find a way to repay her as soon as he could.
"That's great, Jaune… I'm really so happy for you!" she cheered, pulling him close and hugging his chest as Jaune happily returned it… Then again… he also had some other people to thank…
"It's… it's also thanks to you, Ruby… you and the others… you've helped me so much that I can't even begin to thank you all…" he smiled, Ruby hugging him tighter with a small sniffle leaving her nose. "Hey… Hey, I'm here, okay? I… I won't leave you… I promise…" he whispered, sucking in a deep breath, holding back the thoughts he was getting better and better at ignoring every day.
"I know… and I can believe you now" she pulled away, eyes a little puffy from the tears she had shed. "Okay! Let's get moving! We gotta kick things up a gear if we wanna test out the dust function before the end of today!"
"Heh, agreed! Just lemme change my shirt, kinda sweaty" he replied, walking outside so Ruby didn't need to see him.. he knew she wasn't the best at dealing with his scars.
As he made his way outside, Jaune breathed in a sigh as he watched the sun ever so slowly rise into the sky. It really was beautiful… the sky the colour of Weiss' eyes… hah…
He pulled the shirt over his shoulders, the leather apron having been discarded to the side and onto a nearby stump.
He looked down at his scars… they were healing nicely at least… he'd be stuck with them for life, nothing was ever gonna fully make these things go. But hey… at least they served as a reminder of the life he had saved… the life that he would save any time she needed him.
"Hah… okay, I'm-eeek!" *thump!*
"Oh crud, Weiss!"
The life that had promptly passed out the second she had come around the corner and seen his bare chest.
Present
Heheh, Ruby still found that scene funny… Poor Weiss had been so awkward around Jaune after that and Jaune had been so confused why she was doing it.
Ruby knew why… people thought that just because she was socially awkward, she didn't understand people. Heh… nah, she just didn't like to be dealing with social stuff… but with her friends? She was always good at reading them. She knew when they were sad… knew when they were happy… and also knew when they were doing their absolute best to not freak out at the sight of her topless guy bestie.
Heh, Ruby… wasn't really interested in relationships at the minute, but she guessed she saw the appeal.
Weiss definitely did, if the way she had refused to even look in Jaune's direction for the rest of the day was anything to go off of!
Hah, it was nice… even if Ruby also knew that… the way Weiss had looked angry whenever she'd not been able to stop herself from looking at Jaune's back. Heh… there was gonna be trouble there… But at least they were friends no-
"YOU UTTER REPROBATE! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I WILL TURN YOU INTO SHARDS OF ICE!"
… No… Ruby thought… she knew that voice, she knew it was Weiss'… and she sounded so angry…
She raced down the hallway, doing her very best to not collide with the people who were coming back to enjoy the morning before school started again later in the day.
This couldn't be happening! Not again! Things were just getting better! Why was this happening!?
They had been literally laughing and talking yesterday! Weiss and her doing their very best to not laugh as Jaune had gone and blown himself into a wall with frazzled hair from the lightning Dust.
She slammed into her dorm room door, smashing her Scroll against the scanner with a panic.
The screaming was getting worse, so much worse! She could hear Jaune now…
"Hah! What's the matter? Can't handle the truth!?"
She smashed open the door as fast as she could, tears coming down her face as she was prepared to stop this!
"Please don't fig-!… uh… the heck?"
Only for her brain to stall as it did its' very best to try and understand just what she had walked into…
Weiss… was hopping up and down… looking angry as can be and trying her very best to look like a grape ready to pop…
In front of her stood a smiling Jaune who was looking down on her hopping form, smirking down at her the entire time.
Weiss was dressed in her full Beacon attire, the uniform spick and span as always… everything looked about right… except for one thing…
Weiss' hair was done up in a loose ponytail held in place by a scrunchie, resting down her back and was without her signature hair thingy, it was bouncing up and down with every jump she made as Jaune laughed more and more…
His smile was wide and real… as he held something above his head.. wait…
"GIVE ME MY TIARA, ARC!" she yelled in fury, the… the… the scoundrel daring to laugh all the more as Weiss continued to hop in such an undignified fashion. Urgh! She hated him! She hated him so much!
"Nope!" he replied as if he found her glare of death humorous! What on Remnant had even brought this on!? She had been kind enough to invite the dolt into her room to check up on him and make sure that he was faring well! She had even dared to be such a kind hearted individual as to make certain that his uniform was done right! And then… as she had been fussing over his lapel, the monster had dared to do something horrendous!
He had chuckled suddenly, so suddenly that Weiss was rather unsure as to just why he was… until she had looked up to see her tiara was resting in his hand as he smirked down at her.
Cue her reaching up for the thing as Arc continued to smile that damn smile of his… the one she hated with all her passion! As her fingers had gotten closer… it was suddenly yanked out of her reach by Arc.
Dammit, the damned fool dared to act like he didn't understand just what he was doing as Weiss had glared and… asked for her Tiara back.
But then he had done the most despicable thing on the planet!
He had said no!
"WHY NOT!?" she eloquently screeched, doing an even larger hop that very nearly managed to get a hold of her precious accessory.
"Because!" he replied, that smile turning a little softer… and Weiss paused in her angry shouting at the damned fool… "I've only ever seen what you looked like with your hair down once… and if I'm being honest I really think you'd look cute with it down, I mean, that's just my opinion"
Weiss froze… completely and utterly in her actions… eyes flying wide at the words… what… what had he just said?
That.. hahah, no, she had very clearly just heard him wrong!
Yes! That must be it… it… there was no chance he had just called her cu-
"Don't get me wrong, I think you look really nice with your ponytail, but I just want you to try it, okay? If you don't like it, hey at least you gave it a try… but I really think that you should give it a try… I really do think you'd look even better than you do now, and that's saying something!"
…
…
…
Cute…?
Ruby eaped as a stuttering and red as can be Weiss suddenly summoned a glyph that froze a yelping Jaune to the floor, her entire body burning up as she reached up and finally managed to get a hold of her crown thingy and stormed into the bathroom, her head down so she clearly missed that Ruby was even in the room… which She guessed wouldn't have been hard since Weiss was practically steaming…
"What did I say?" Jaune called out, Weiss not replying for obvious reasons, Ruby sighing in relief as she went over to help her dense friend… hah… "Oh, hey Ruby… Uh… little help?" he asked, a sorry state as she happily came over and started smacking at the ice…
Hah… "It's great to see you again, Jaune, though I didn't expect to find your butt frozen to the floor like this" She giggled, pulling her friend close the second he was released… She… She… "You kept your promise…"
He laughed a little once more… pulling Ruby in tight… Her loving the warmth that he gave to her in that moment, he really was her best friend…
"I told you I would, I… It hasn't been the easiest, but I did it for you all, for the faith you put in me" Ah, that she didn't like… not one bit as she elbowed his side with a huff.
"I thought I told you to do it for yourself as well?" She grumbled, Jaune freezing for a moment, Ruby narrowing her eyes, fully expecting him to try and come up with an excuse.
"You're right… you're right, and I'm… well, I won't say it as I'm kinda scared Weiss will come out and smack me around the head again, but you know what I want to say" he laughed a little, Ruby doing the same as she readily agreed that Weiss would have come back out and smacked his head if he had tried to say he was sorry for something again.
But she much preferred his answer in any case.
"… why do you have stubble by the way? it's kinda itchy, heh"
Jaune smiled as he saw Pyrrha approach, Ruby having run ahead since his feet were still a little cold from Weiss' earlier freezing of them to the ground… he still wondered just what the heck he had done to deserve it, but hey Weiss hadn't flung him out the room so it could have been worse!
Besides… she had apologised afterwards… even if that apology was for not doing something else and less… freezy… Heh, he would give Weiss credit, for how messed up she clearly had been for whatever he had done to her… Still, she had practically shoved him out the door with a yell when he had asked if she really was gonna go without the tiara then.
He embraced Pyrrha when they got close, Jaune whispering that he was happy to see her once again.
"It's good to see you as well, Jaune…" Pyrrha sighed into the embrace, Jaune feeling a spike of worry for what he was doing to her… Pyrrha had been having to deal with the fact he couldn't return her feelings all over the holidays and even though he and Pyrrha had talked a lot, well he couldn't help but think that he was hurting her… the joys of being in his head these days.
But he hoped that something had happened that meant his worry was for nothing…
"So… How are you and Fox?" he asked, smiling a little smidge of one at how Pyrrha stiffened a little, his partner gasping and bouncing away with a pout and a blush. She fiddled with her fingers, poking them together in a nervous way that had Jaune grinning.
"W-We.. we are, um… We are d-doing fine… g-good friends! Yes! Just… just friends!" Pyrrha squeaked, Jaune grinning a little and placing a hand on her shoulder. Heh… that… that put his head and heart at ease… the dark whispers being stopped long before they could surface… That nervous smile, that inner giddiness… it was all he needed to know that she was happy. "A-ah, ahem! Anyway!" aaaaand there was Pyrrha's firm expression, Jaune backing up a little as she went into 'teacher mode'.
"P-Pyrrha?" He nervously questioned as she approached… and poked his chest. She then looked over his arms and back. He felt like he was being inspected or something…
"Hrmm… you seem to have been keeping up with your training" she mused, smiling at him and delivering a pat to his shoulder.
"Y-Yeah… I have been, my mom and dad have been helping me with the physical side while Weiss has been helping me with my Dust and Ruby with my reflexes and speed… though to be honest the hardest part has definitely been the physical stuff…"
Past
"Ah!" Jaune groaned as he was sent flying back into the dirt and dust, his aura stopping him getting any real damage, but it didn't stop the pain… gods, he felt like his bones were forcing themselves to not break. "Urgh… oh that hurt…" he groaned… feelings the hands of his dad land on his shoulder as he pulled him back up, his fists armed with the Dust knuckle dusters he'd used whenever he wasn't using his punch daggers.
"You alright there, son? You lasted a lot longer than usual, in fact you managed to get a couple good hits in!" he praised, Jaune smiling even if he didn't feel it… in fact, he still hated how weak he felt compared to him, how couldn't he? He… he needed to be stronger… "Jaune. I know that look. Don't go thinking that just because your old man beat you, it means you're weak. Heck, I'd say you're pretty darn powerful, especially with that Semblance of yours"
Jaune… hah… why was he thinking like this? He… he knew he wasn't as strong as his dad, not a chance… in fact, he was pathetically weak compared to him… But that didn't really matter. Because he was getting stronger. That was all that mattered.
"Yeah… guess you're right. Though don't worry, I'm not gonna just rely on it too much, I gotta still be good without it" he replied, forcing himself to his feet with a smile.
"Eyup! I reckon, with a power like yours, you could make yourself a great tank!" the voice of his mom cut in, a grin on her face as she happily swung the… hah, the log on her one shoulder. She had been adamant that she wasn't gonna use her weapon, his dad agreeing as she had shown him just what it could do… and Jaune had done his very best not to freak out when she had displayed to him just how powerful its' main attack was… Oum above, the area of forest she had pointed her weapon at had been reduced to ace with her mace… "Sweetie, I've decided what I'll be teaching you to do for the rest of the holiday. You see, I reckon you should use it to help tank blows and launch heavy attacks but only just before the blow hits or you are. It means you'll conserve your power and the bad guys won't expect you to be able to hit three times harder than they expect"
He blinked… oh, that sounded… that sounded great actually… His mom and dad over the last four days, every evening… they had been putting him through the ringer. Every night he would come back with a sore… everything, but be proud of what he had managed to achieve.
Normally he would have been working with Team CFVY, but Coco had told him she had been too nice on him, and that he was to suffer through the hell his mom and dad were putting him through as punishment for scaring her and Velvet the way he had.
"Thanks mom, that sounds pretty cool… though how are you gonna teach me that?" the question was a fair one… just how was he gonna learn be able to activate his Semblance on a dime like that?
And then his mom grinned… grinned a grin that scared him to his very core…
"Oh, ever heard of 'trial by fire'? You said you wanted to learn fast after all" she shone shark like teeth in that moment, Jaune gulping heavily at the very sight of it. "Ready?" she called, her aura expanding out as Jaune clutched at his training sword and shield tighter.
15 minutes later…
Jaune groaned, doing his very best to try and make his Semblance focus on his worst affected areas, his mom gently as she could patting his back in cheer as she also told him how well he was doing… heh, he guessed she was right.
She really did prove to him just how powerful she was as he had managed to land an attack on her arm… only for it to dink off as his mom had slammed the log into his chest.
"Hah… you really are pushing yourself so hard, Jaune… is this all for that little 'friend' of yours?" … Heh… here we go again…why am I not surprised?
"Mom. She really is just my friend, okay? How many times am I gonna have to do this?" he grumbled, he hated this… hated how his dad could believe that he and Weiss were just friends and yet his mom couldn't… "Weiss doesn't wanna be with me and I… I'm more than happy with just being her friend"
"Well~ I've never known a guy work this hard to be able to protect someone who wasn't family or someone they loved… and I'm pretty certain I remember you sending letters to Saphron about 'the beautiful girl with white hair'" and of course she would act like this… heh, he was tired… he was so tired and he didn't wanna deal with this. "I mean… Would it really be so bad to try and be with her? Heck, I'd say that you may even have a cha-"
"Mom!" He hadn't wanted to yell, hadn't wanted to make her jump like she had… but she had done this every night, and he'd had enough.
Her arm surrounded him, his dads as well and Jaune shuddered out a sigh… he… he was…
"I'm sorry" he whispered, their grips tightening for a moment as his mom kissed his head gently.
"No, I am… I shouldn't have done that, I just… heh, I want you to be happy sweety" she whispered, Gently offering her hand to him and Jaune took it, gripping it tight. "But… if this is what you want, I guess I can't really argue with that"
"Thanks… mom, I really am happy this way, I swear" Of course you are…
"Okay! Enough of this grumbly stuff! Why don't we just go and get some grub? Your mom and I got the ingredients for a good curry earlier, why don't you invite Weiss? And don't worry, I'll make sure your mom behaves" he grinned, Jaune laughing a little as his mom pouted and demanded to know just what he meant by that!
This… this was what he wanted, wanted to enjoy this moment with them and not be bothered by the rest of his ever so slowly improving life.
Present
"Oh, I'm so glad to hear that, now… assuming you aren't cheating… and lying to me about how hard you've been working… I imagine you have earnt a reprieve from myself testing you" She smiled, showing that humour so unique to her… that he couldn't help but grin right on back… which turned into dread as she looked behind him… and moved precisely two steps to the right. She didn't look apologetic, actually she clearly found what was about to happen to him funny.
Oh no…
"FEARLESS LEADER!"
"Ah! Nora! No tackle hu-ooph!"
Yang smiled as she watched Jaune limp his into the cafeteria, Nora hanging off his shoulders in joy even if the poor guy looked ready to die from the Nora's weight pressing down on him and ooo…~ Was Ren looking a little jealous of Nora's fun bags being pressed into his back?
"Heh… guess Rubes was telling the truth about them finally getting together" she grinned, feeling Blakey nudge her with a questioning sound in her voice.
"You mean Jaune and Weiss? Huh… didn't expect that yet" She asked, not looking up from her smut for a moment, not that Yang was surprised in the slightest.
"Nah… not them" Blake grumbled a little, Yang agreeing with a small huff of a laugh. "Ren and Nora… Guy looks like he wants to set Jaune on fire right now, heh"
And then Ruby appeared, giggling at her side having clearly heard her joke, a plate of… heh… yell at Ruby later for deciding a balanced breakfast was a plate of cookies… ask how Vomit Boy is now, looks happy at least.
"Yo! How you doin' Vomit Boy?" she called, Jaune groaning a little as he plopped himself down in his seat, Nora being picked up by Ren and… being put in his lap? Holy, they were both blushing like Dustmas lights! Wait, no. focus on VB. "*whistle* Damn, you look more bruise than person! You been busy getting wacked around the forest with a tree or something?" apparently so busy that you forgot to shave… huh, guess it looks kinda good, better tease Weiss about that later.
"Wait, you were watching? I thought you were in Menagerie?" He asked confusedly, as Yang spat out her drink at the absolute seriousness in his voice… he had actually been taking trees to the face!? Who the hell would… oh wait, Weiss had told her that she thought Jaune's mom had a strength Semblance or something. But still! Damn!
"D-Dude… are you nuts? You nearly got gutted by a Major only a few weeks ago and you tell me you spent your holiday getting the crap beat outta you?" Jaune… holy crap, was he okay? This was maybe something she'd need to ask Weiss about later… if the guy was pushing himself this hard… crap, did that mean he was risking his health in some stunt to get strong?
… Nah, Weiss would have kicked his ass and then called us to also kick his ass for being stupid… with love of course She added at the end, realising how her train of thought could be considered pretty horrible to anyone outside of their friend group.
"Yeah, don't worry though, my mom and dad made sure they only pushed me as hard as they needed to, heh" he grinned, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly when Nora poked his muscles and proudly told him he was turning into mister muscles, and Yang could admit to her herself when she said she liked seeing him like this. Like their ol' funny Dork Knight was coming back bit by bit. Which was a good thing, since he was kind of the reason for her happiness at the minute, Yang squeezing Blake's hand beneath the table with a grin. She still needed to find a way to thank him… hrmm… yeah... maybe, so long as things pan out the way I think they will...
"Well, if you say so… though in return for not sicking your handler on you, I wanna see your new gear dude! Rubes here says it's awesome and I am a girl who can appreciate all things awesome" See… Yang was always kind alike with her sister… she kinda had a knack for being able to tell when someone wasn't doing good, and Jaune had been doing badly for a long while, she was ashamed to know that she hadn't realised just how badly though. Now… Now he looked happier though. He really did.
"Nope!" was his answer, Yang pausing mid bite of her bacon, raising an eyebrow as Ruby smugly nodded her head… they were hiding something from her… okay, what the hell were they up to and what the hell had they done to his gear? "You'll have to wait and see like everyone else, Ruby doesn't want me showing off until I can show everyone what she, Weiss and me have come up with, sorry… also, since when did Weiss become my handler?"
Oh… Oh you fool… you're making this way too easy~
"Hey, you said it was Weiss, for all you know I could have been talking about your mom, Coco or Miss Goodwitch" she grinned evilly, watching in evil joy as Jaune blinked a couple times… before he erupted red in embarrassment, hearing Blakey giggle next to her almost silently.
"I-I uh… heh, okay I can't even deny that one, oh Oum Weiss has basically become my boss over the holiday. But you still suck. Like, a lot. Don't tell Weiss, she'll never let me hear the end of it" he groaned, though she could tell he was joking, the smile he badly hid at her teasing was proof enough… heh, she'd missed awkward happy Jaune, was fun to tease the guy.
The doors opened and were accompanied by the clickity-clack of a pair of heels Yang knew off by heart these days.
"Aw, see, you should have said that earlier…" Jaune froze mid bite of his bacon, everyone pausing as well to see just what Yang was up to. "Heya, Weiss cr-" only for Yang to be caught off guard and freeze mid call… the see that Weiss… the hell?
Never. Not in her entire time at Beacon… had Yang expected to see the sight before her right now. Sure, she'd seen it in the mornings and evenings in their room and once during initiation, but that was very different to it being in public…
Long locks of white hair fell down her back, a small amount of curls being laid into the ones framing her face, leaving her neck fully exposed along with a small veil of hair laying just above and over the eye not bearing a scar. Oum above… that looked like it had taken a lot of effort. It shimmered in the early morning light, almost a vale of snow…
Just why the hell had she gone for the sudden design change? Was she trying to impre-… oh, fuck…
Her mouth fell open as Weiss approached with her face held in a firm expression of 'Oh? No, nothing is out of the ordinary, nothing at all!'… that Yang didn't believe for a moment as everyone else turned to wonder just what had made her sputter to a close just now.
And then all equally had their jaws drop at the sight of Weiss with her hair down… waaaaiiit… Jaune wasn't sitting there with his jaw open… why... do I have the feeling this isn't gonna end well?
Weiss seemed to be in same vote, pausing and glaring at the knight who innocently continued to smile back.
"What are you staring at?" She growled, her face shooting red as she glared an arctic stare into Jaune who… okay, seriously, he was still smiling and wasn't fearing for his life, the hell?
"Oh, just glad to know I was right, you really do look pretty cute like that" he replied oh so innocently and Yang could have sworn that you could hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence… silence that only Jaune managed to break, clearly oblivious to what he had done. "I honestly think you should try letting your hair down more often"
Jaune smiled at Weiss.
Weiss glared daggers of icy hatred at Jaune.
"H-hah! You really th-think I would do this for you? You must be joking!" Weiss nervously laughed, lilac eyes narrowed at the completely out of character move for the usually fancy shmancy girl.
"New look Weiss? It looks good on you" Blake interrupted, both looking at the other with a small smile that filled Yang with pride. The two had been talking about going to a spa before the holidays had started and Blakey had even brought back some books from her library for Weiss to read.
Heh... Yang... Had been too busy dealing with Kali and Ghira grilling her over what her plans for their 'baby' were. The two did like her at least. Then again, Yang now knew where Blakey got her... catty side from. Heh, gods that was a lot of smut.
"Thank you, Blake" she replied happily... Hrmmm... "And yes, though I would have gone with my normal look if someone hadn't gotten my tiara grubby" she grumbled, glaring at Jaune who was laughing a little now.
"Aw c'mon, how come Blake gets a thank you and all I get is frozen shoes?"
"Another word, and I will make you suffer" she growled, sitting down and grabbing her Scroll in a bid to ignore the compliments Jaune was sending her way about how nice her hair looked.
Despite the risk to his health, Jaune clearly didn't care about Weiss' threat... And Yang suddenly found her interest peaked at the conversation that followed.
"Hey, I'll make you those blueberry waffles again if that'll earn your ladyship's forgiveness" he joked, Weiss freezing for a moment and he knew he had her. He still remembered her face when he had first made them. Oh gods, he'd never imagined he could see Weiss look so pure and giddy. It had been a day just for them, a day where he... Hadn't wanted to be alone so had asked Weiss if she wanted to spend the day together.
She had happily agreed of course, Weiss knowing without words that he had wanted someone around him, Ruby was busy, Ren and Nora were on a date.
Besides... He and Weiss had really enjoyed each others company. It turned out he had shared a love for competitive board games with the Heiress and their competition had been legendary.
Risk was the name of the game and he and Weiss had played for hours. In the end, they had needed to call a cease fire purely for the fact that it had been 9pm (they'd started at 11am) and they had still wanted to watch that movie Weiss had suggested. He had controlled Vale and Vacuo, Weiss with Atlas and Mistral. The fighting for Menagerie as the last kingdom had been fierce and had been the reason for their stalemate as the troops they would gain form claiming the nation would have allowed either of them to win.
Hah… she was still convinced she would have won and Jaune always took pleasure in reminding her that he could have let her wear herself out trying to batter down his walls while simply biding his time with all his resources.
But, back to Weiss as she was doing her very best to not look giddy as she still scowled his way, but he saw that glint.
"V-Very well then! I… I will forgive you if you make me them… but only if you make me that caramel cream to go on top!" she demanded, Jaune rolling his eyes, of course she would say that. It was such a Weiss thing to do.
But… that wouldn't stop him from getting one last joke in, he liked seeing the real Weiss beneath the mask she thought she had to wear. A mask… that he had tried to convince himself he needed to wear at one point.
"Heh, only if you say please" he grinned, Weiss' small smile freezing… before she narrowed her eyes and grew a pout of great magnitudes.
Yang watched with a firm expression at the interaction between Jaune and Weiss, Jaune actually grinning a little as Weiss huffed at his words. She was fairly surprised to find that Jaune of all people was teasing her…
Which ended up getting him a grape to the head that he happily ignored in favour of talking to Ruby who was busy muttering to him about what she wanted him to try out in combat class.
Yang could have listened in and heard just what Jaune and Ruby had been up to over the holidays… but her attention was grabbed by something that… something that worried her a little.
The way Weiss was looking at Jaune.
She clearly wanted to have his attention. But she also looked angry at herself for doing it.
She was more than happy to tease so long as no one got upset or hurt by it. Why not? It was just fun more than anything and everyone got a laugh, especially if they laughed back!
But… she was thinking of not following through with her plan to tease Weiss about her and Jaune now… Not until she had proof.
Weiss held her chest, doing her very best to not think of what she had done just now… just what had her plan been? It… it made no sense! Just what on Remnant had she been thinking!?
She couldn't.
She couldn't!
And yet… she had. She was doing her very best to try and stop herself from looking at Jaune too much… the dolt had gone and caused this! She should have been so very angry at him for making her feel like this!
But… heh… she knew this feeling and her reasons for doing this were purely because of herself and the fact that she, despite her refusal to let it develop further… Weiss was unsure if… heh… dammit, why was life so hard?
She looked up, playing with a lock of white hair, doing her very best to not look at Jaune… which ended up having her eyes meet Yang's… whose were narrowed and stared at her intensely.
"Hey guys, me and Weiss need to talk for a minute, be back soon! Jauney Boy? You're on Nora duty, she steals my bacon? I steal your nuggets" she grinned as Jaune protectively held a hand over the aforementioned nuggets.
Weiss? She was very confused at the sudden words of Yang.
Though she felt suddenly quite nervous as Yang clamped a hand on her shoulder and gripped her tightly. She looked up… and knew she was in trouble from the look that she was receiving from the brawler… But there wasn't much she could really do now, what else was she supposed to do other than stand and follow her with a mildly nervous smile?
Nora smiled as they left, knowing what was happening. She'd known from the moment she'd seen Weiss' hair.
No one did something like that without there being a hidden meaning behind it. She'd wanted Jaune to say something, but... Well, also not. Heh, she remembered when she and Ren were like that... Holy moly was she really that awkward about it?
Ren squeezed her hand, Nor happily sighing as she nuzzled into Him.
"So, Jauney? What'd you and Weissy get up to?" ah... And her Fearless Leader was oblivious as always. He really didn't have a clue, did he?
"Oh, Weiss actually spent a lot of time teaching me about Dust over the holidays, kinda helped a lot since i-uh... well I'm not really all that good with the stuff, since Crocea Mors didn't use dust before and all" he admitted with a rub of his head, Nora giggling as she saw the Jauney she loved was comin' back! She… had been really worried about him, even if he had clearly been getting better, the days she was without her leader had made her scared out of her wits.
But now… now she felt certain he was gonna be okay.
"Ooo! Does that mean you have a really cool, badass dust weapon now!? Ah! I bet you can use gravity dust to blow people back and lightning dust to make thunder storms!" she giddily exclaimed, she knew that was more than likely not the case with the last one, but she was Nora.
Her thing was making people happy and smile. That was… that was something she enjoyed because she knew what it was like to be so sad that you don't know if you'll ever smile again. Life had been hard and horrible for so long, and it had gotten even worse when she had been left to the Grimm on that fateful night she had met Ren.
She had honestly thought for the longest time that the only thing that made her… her, was being strong and hitting stuff… the goofy idiot that no one took seriously.
But Ren, Jaune and Pyrrha and all her friends had proven to her that wasn't all that defined her. In fact, it was barely even scratching the surface.
So being the giddy goof that gave everyone a laugh was something she would be in this moment. All to make her friend smile.
"Heh, nah… I do think you'll like what Ruby and Coco came up with though, and my the biggest change came about thanks to Velvet. Tell you what, after my first match today, you and me will spar and I'll show you just what I can do. It's a lot more than I showed you in our spar the other day" he told her, Nora's eyes widened in joy, ready and waiting to see as she had a feeling her amazing friend, brother figure and leader had something put in with her in mind.
"Oh, Jaune? I ran into your mother earlier, she invited us to dinner with her later in case she didn't tell you. She wants to get to 'know her sons' team' as she put it" Pyrrha cut in, Nora's eyes flying wide as she turned to Ren who gave that tiny little smile that told her he was excited as well!
"Oh, huh… no, she didn't but that's my mom for you, heh. You guys are in for a fun time, my dad is such a good cook. Nora, you think my pancakes are good? My dads are out of this world. Ren? My mom brews this tea that helps to sooth the brain and helps with aura regeneration, I've… been using it a lot lately so I can tell you it works" Jaune proudly told them, sitting taller and straighter with every word. Nora was near vibrating in place at the thought of getting to try these pancakes and Ren showed his own kind of joy at the thought of trying… eh, Nora wasn't a tea girl.
She preferred hot chocolate, but that wouldn't stop her enjoying watching Ren loving some weird herbal smelling tea.
"That sounds lovely, Jaune, tell me do you know if it has ginger in? I… have a bit of a weakness for it" he joked, Nora giggling as she remembered how Ren had reacted when she had made him that stem ginger pound cake for his birthday last year.
Yang stood before Weiss who rubbed her arm nervously.
Yang knew why… and it was the reason she had gotten Weiss to follow her so that they could be alone to deal with this. She needed to, naturally, since she imagined that Weiss wouldn't want people hearing this.
She was always a fairly reserved person, kinda the opposite to Yang. But Yang knew that Weiss seemed to like coming to her when it concerned Jaune. Was okay with talking to her when her thoughts were on the lanky blonde.
"Hey, Weiss"
"Hello, Yang... How are you?"
"Fine, pretty good actually"
"Good... Good..."
Heh... Okay, this is painful enough already...
"So. Wanna tell me what that was all about in there? You… well, you don't do that sorta thing, Weiss" she asked, narrowing her eyes when Weiss looked away with a frown and a blush.
"I… I know what it must look like, but I swear it isn't!" A raised eyebrow was all Yang gave in return, eyes boring into Weiss who refused to look her way. This was not the sorta thing she had expected to come back to when she got back from Menagerie. Hell, she had half expected Weiss to come running to her and begging for her help the moment she saw her. But Yang could make this work, she was gonna be here for Weiss. She was her friend… and, despite Weiss saying she was forgiven, Yang still felt a little guilty for the part she and Nora had played in how badly things had gone down.
"Really? Looks to me like you were trying to get Jaune to compliment your hair, well, mission accomplished" she grinned, gently placing a hand on her shoulder as Weiss blushed.
"I… I… I have no idea what you're talking about… I was very clear when I said I only did this because Jaune mucked up my Tiara!" Hah… looked like she was gonna have to use a roundabout about way of going about this.
"Hah, okay, fair enough... sheesh~ calm down, Weiss cream, gonna pop a blood vessel like that" she grinned, Weiss squawking indignantly, going on about how she was perfectly fine and that she was the one who was acting high strung. Oum above, it was worse than she'd thought. "But... I gotta ask since the goof worries me, what'd you get up on the holiday? Y'know besides waffles"
Heh, she couldn't help the small add on, the way Weiss puffed her cheeks was just too adorable.
"We... We had fun... That's the best way to describe it" and there it was, that smile... The one that told her all she needed to know.
Past 1st day
"Weiss? You okay?" he asked, a worried smile lighting up his face as Weiss placed her own hand atop his. He really was such a worrier.
"Yes, I... Well, you know my opinion of my father, correct?" she asked and got her answer when he frowned and looked like a puppy trying to scare off the bad man from their owner.
"He giving you trouble? I thought he said you could stay?"
"Calm down, it's alright I'm here to stay" and there was that smile... The one she... No... Do not think that. "I guess I was just thinking of him and... Realising just how little he actually cares about me or my family. He only cares about how much Lien he can make off of the suffering of others... He admitted he never loved my mother my birthday of all days! We're nothing but pawns to him..." she didn't truly understand why she was saying this, not that she didn't trust Jaune.
It was just... She'd never thought she'd ever be able to tell someone this.
"..." she gave a startled squawk as Jaune suddenly pulled her to a standing position, his face resolute in a clear determination she found herself staring at... Huh.
"Well then. Wanna know the best way to get revenge then?" he asked, chipper tone laying over what she knew to be anger behind those sea blue eyes. Anger... At her father?
"Wh-what?"
"You get revenge by living the best life you can, by being the best person you can be. Frankly, you're already doing it, I mean... Look at you! You're perfect! And... I get the feeling he wasn't that big on you being a Huntress?"
She felt the twitch of her lips as she remembered the look on his face when he'd been forced to allow her to go, after beating the Arms Gigas. Hah... Fond memories...
"Heh, take that as a yes" he grinned toothily, Weiss giggling at the dolt's words. "You're more than a pawn. In fact, bring under someone's thumb is the last thing I'd say about you. You. Are Weiss. A proud, brave, smart and just an all around amazing girl and I bet it annoys him every day you prove it because it means he can't control you like he wants to, so... May seem petty, but... Yeah. Also has the benefit of proving you're nothing like him. I mean I know that... how can I not?"
"..."
"Weiss? S-sorry if I was... A little much the-"
"No, no! You weren't! I was just... Thinking of the best response! And... It's thank you. Thank you for believing in me" she whispered, unable to face the knight who smiled innocently at her.
4th day
"Wait... He cut you off?" Jaune asked surprise all over his face as Weiss nodded her head with a frown. She was just lucky that she and Jaune managed to go and get the Dust needed for his new weapon... Heh, he had been so lost, unable to fully understand the difference between positive gravity Dust and negative Gravity Dust... Lucky thing was that she there to help him.
Gravity.
Ice.
Fire.
... Hard Light.
That was the one she imagined had been the line that had caused the embittered Jacques to cut her off. Hard light was a very rare and hard Dust to find and even if you did find some, it was ludicrously expensive.
You could buy a whole week's supply of the other Dust they had gotten for a single fights' worth of Hard Light.
But, Jacques could go... What was the phrase Yang had used at Cardin? Ah, yes, he could swivel on it! ... Whatever that meant.
They had enough to last him until he could save up to buy it himself... Or, rather, his mother would since she apparently had money to burn from her work as a Huntress. Jaune had been so adamant that he buy it himself, and Weiss had been treated to the stare.
Mr Arc had filled her in, That the stare was... Something all Arc women had. It was the ability to make any man, from the lowliest little boy, the someone like General Ironwood shut up and listen.
And so, upon seeing this look, Jaune had quickly shut up and accepted his mother's love. She still didn't quite understand why Mrs Arc was convinced she needed to learn it.
"Well! C'mon then!" he said, offering his hand... That she stared at in confusion.
"Come on... Where?"
"You just got some bad news, and it's Arc family tradition to make something tasty for the person who got it. So. You like Blueberries and bananas right? Ah, of course you do, I remember that yogurt you ordered yesterday"
... "I... Jaune..."
9th day
"Weiss..." he whispered, Weiss turning her head and gently brushing a hand through his hair... oh Jaune...
He was sleeping beside her, the two having decided to enjoy a good movie and it had been good! Nora and Ren had come to enjoy it with them, Nora giggling excitedly at the comedy scenes whereas Ren and Jaune had laughed at the action scenes. She had never expected to find out Ren of all people enjoyed action, but there we go.
And Weiss herself?
She had enjoyed the romantic scenes, having always been a sucker for a good romance film or play... And had smiled when Ren and Nora had kissed gently, laying against the other in a romantic embrace.
Her eyes... They had trailed to the other occupant of the room, he hadn't noticed, but had smiled when Nora had coughed and drawn his attention her way.
Weiss had silently cursed the Valkyrie girl, glaring at the unapologetic looking plebian who dared to grin like she had just been clever.
Nora and Ren had retired to their dorm room later, the girl making some rather… disturbing comments that Jaune had better stay the night with herself in Team RWBY's dorm… yes, she and Jaune had blushed, but not as much as Ren had, the usually calm and aloof young man near steaming as he was dragged out of the room by his giggling partner and girlfriend.
And… then they had decided to stay up a little longer to enjoy another film he had claimed she would love.
Well, she had, but Jaune had passed out part way through and Weiss had giggled at the way his head had jerked back and forth a little as he had fought to stay awake for a little while longer. Heh… he… he was… why do you do this to me?
10th day morning
"YyyyyaaaAAAHHHHHH!" Nora boomed as she charged Jaune with a manic grin, Weiss' heart in her throat as she watched Jaune simply stand his ground, a determined expression on her face.
Work… Please, Oum above work! She yelled in her mind, not noticing how she near crushed the hand of Ruby who was incessantly tapping her arm in a beg for mercy.
She wanted to close her eyes, wanted to scream at the fool to run for he was clearly going to be crushed under that giant hammer of hers!
But then… then his shield started to glow and Weiss released a victorious yell as Nora was sent flying back into the wall with a yelp. She… was a little embarrassed when they had all turned to her in shock as she had whooped Jaune's name in pride. But Jaune's appreciative smile had made it all worth it.
10th day night
"Urgh… thanks, wasn't aware how much effort I needed to put into the shield bash so…"
"You put far too much effort into it and pulled you shoulder?" Weiss sarcastically finished, her mind focused on her snark and berating Jaune for injuring himself instead of the fact she was massaging his bare back… since when had it become so… defined? The trapezius and the latissimus dorsi were larger than she had expected and the whole thing was solid as stone.
"Yeah… you're right…" he muttered and Weiss took his silence as him focusing on her work on his shoulder, Weiss not entirely sure why she had volunteered to do this, but the moment she had seen his wincing every time he moved his shoulder, she had stormed over and demanded he let her take a look. "Thanks…"
"Hrmm? Jaune you already thanked me" she reminded him with a quirked brow, not entirely too sure where he was coming from.
"No… I… thanks for… for being here for me, for helping me… you're… you're amazing, Weiss…" he whispered, shoulders shaking and Weiss' breath caught at the raw emotion in his voice. Not prepared in the slightest for what he was saying… "You... I know things haven't been easy... But even last night when I had a... Well, a not very good night, you were there for me. You always are since we made up, and I can't possibly thank you enough for it"
What… what could she possibly say to such a thing?
"Shut up, dolt, of course I would do it!" she grouched, Jaune stilling in his thanks to her to laugh at her barb, not even noticing the embarrassed smack she delivered to his arm.
Ah… apparently she knew what to say… and it was her scolding him… oops?
11th day
Weiss stared at him… stared at him and wondered just what had led her to this evil moment where she was doing her absolute best to try and not freak out as Ruby would put it.
He… was asleep, laying on the common room couch in nothing hut his black vest top and jeans, boots haphazardly kicked aside with the strength of a man who'd had no sleep the previous night.
It… hadn't been as bad as the others, but he'd had another nightmare last night and had woken up with a scream, Weiss at his side in an instant and holding him close, Jaune apologising for it the entire time.
She had politely reminded him every time he did, that he had done much the same for her the previous night. She'd seen him dead again… his face matted with blood as he had looked on in silent horror… Jaune's strong arms had encircled her, whispered gentle words that he was alright to her… until she had gently fell asleep in his arms just as he had done with her many times.
But that was then, and this is now.
And now… now she stared at the face of Jaune Arc… or in particular… the bristle of hair that had grown upon his jawline.
He was still unable to even face being around his razor and Weiss still had it hidden underneath her bed for safekeeping beside her mirror and her photos that she had collected of her team and JNPR spending time together.
But… this had, had the unexpected side effect of Jaune growing a rather… rather… unexpectantly prominent growth of hair upon his cheeks and jawline. While his blonde hair made it not as noticeable when compared to someone like… urgh… Winchester, it was surprisingly dark. While the hair upon his head was near bleach blonde, the bristles were much more akin to the 'dirty' blonde colour.
It was definitely something that would have looked very much out of place during his first few weeks of Beacon.
But they had all matured since then. Jaune more than anyone else… those storm blue eyes, the way he held himself these days, like he finally fit inside his own skin. Was comfortable being himself and that was something she was proud to see. That, and with his hair now held in the way it was… she found herself looking his way more and more often… for reasons she hated herself for. Though she had to wonder what it would…
No… no I shouldn't, it isn't right… he… we're friends. That's all! I can't…
And yet, her fingers were reaching out on their own accord… towards the bristles… dear gods… what was she doing?
She…
She…
Oh gods, he's waking up!
Weiss beat a hasty retreat, and would deny that she had collided with more than one wall in her haste to get away.
13th day
"Hey, Weiss, you ready to go over Dust again?" he asked her, Weiss nodding her head as they sat opposite each other in the library.
Over the holidays, Jaune had been being tutored by her on the finer points of Dust so that he didn't accidentally blow himself up trying to refill one of the Dust containers in either part of his sword/shield combo.
"Yes, and since this is realistically the last time we will have the chance to do so, I will be quizzing you"
"Really? Thanks! I really wanna be challenged here. Don't hold back" he told her with a smile that he seemed to only grow for her… no. do not even try it.
"Hah! You are not even close to be being ready to deal with my hard tests, but I shall give you a medium one. Be proud, Ruby can't handle these yet" she smugly told him with an imperious look about her. Jaune? He rolled his eyes and muttered something about Princesses... Hrmm... She would have to get back at him for the cheek later, he couldn't be allowed to think he had won this verbal spar of theirs.
And so they began, Jaune doing... Rather well, actually. He still had trouble understanding the fundamental difference between raw and refined Dust but the differences were a little hard to understand unless you had used Dust for as long as she had.
But his knowledge of the elements and their uses in combat situations was rather impressive!
Strong muscles bristling with power as he flooded himself with his aura… his body strong as steel as he heavily took on the massive blow of Yastuhashi.
He had always been rather good at tactics, the best in their year really, not that she would admit it, didn't want him getting s big head now! The way he had devised a plan to create a pitfall trap with Earth and Gravity Dust which would work perfectly and make it easy pickings for those with ranged weaponry to pick off the floundering Grimm.
Clever blue eyes always looking for the best way to help... Calm as the sea but holding the storm when it comes to protecting those he cares about...
His hair was tied back as usual, Jaune not wanting to have it cut for some reason that he refused to tell her. The leather strap he used looked rather fetching in amongst his surprisingly soft blonde locks. This, alongside his new facial hair…
Fingers reaching out and touching it, his smile warming her chest with every glance his way…
She coughed into her hand, hiding the blush upon her cheeks by burying her head into the book she had decided would be the one used to quiz the blonde lummox with.
Stop it, Weiss! For the love of the gods, Jaune wants to be your friend… he said so himself and… even if I did feel like that for him… I couldn't do that to him. she growled to herself, this was a fact. Jaune didn't need this. Didn't need her trying to pull them back into the dark times they had been dealing with before their friendship had evolved into what it was.
Even if he did still love her, like he had admitted in the medical ward wing, that was something to be allowed to flicker and fade out into nothingness until she and him were nothing more than good friends. So that she could not worry she was leading him on with her smiles and the… the hugs she had begrudgingly given to him when he had looked down.
So why… why do I feel this way?
"Weiss?"
"WHAT!?" She screeched, curling in on herself a little as the librarian glared at her for the sudden outburst of noise. She forced herself to look up to find a curious looking Jaune staring at her with the textbook in hand.
"I… uh… wanna ask you to quiz me on this bit before we get to the actual one?" he asked curiously, reaching out a hand, laying it upon her own that at this very moment felt like fire to her hypersensitive skin.
She snatched it away, hiding her embarrassment behind her scowl as she grabbed the damnable thing and looked over where he had been pointing.
"F-Fine! Whatever! Prepare to be tested, Arc!"
Heh… why… why does life have to be so complicated… why can't I just… just say that I want to be friends and… believe myself?
Present day
"Huh... For someone who looked ready to kick his ass a minute ago, you seem to be having some pretty good memories there~"
Yang was grinning a toothy grin that Weiss hated with all her heart and soul.
It was a look of someone who thought they were clever. Who thought that they knew something no one else did. It angered her greatly!
… and yet she couldn't bring herself to direct it at Yang… she was simply trying to be a good friend, even if it was extremely misguided.
"Heh… Yang? Can… can we please drop this? I… I'm perfectly fine just being friends with Jaune. Prefer it even! This way, I no longer run the risk of upsetting the balance we have, and quite frankly, I think Jaune himself has lost the love he feels for me and so the point it moot!" Weiss muttered out, happy that she had left no room for argument.
"... Weiss, be honest with me, would it really be so bad go admit you have feelings for Jaune?"
... or so she had thought. There... What?
"I-I don't! What on Remnant gave you that idea!?" she screeched, doing her very best to try and understand where Yang had gotten such an insane idea from!
"Heh... Oum, give me strength" she whispered, moving forward and placing a hand upon either shoulder. Weiss flinched under the contact, not that it was anything other than caring and concerned, for what she wasn't sure. "Weiss. Look at me. I won't try and force you. That ain't gonna work and we both know it... But please answer my question. I'm your friend, Weiss, right? You trusted me with this before, you can now, okay?"
Eyes of cool sapphire, holding a gentle gaze as he held her hand, telling her it would be alright...
"Yang..."
A laugh of such innocent joy at the way they 'fought' over land and her pout whenever he beat her…
"I-I…"
Arms… toned, strong and gentle as they held her while she shook… whispering his care for her as she muttered how he was dead, her waking mind not recognising in the moment that he was alive and the one holding her…
"…"
"Weiss? I want you to know that… that I'll be here for you, no matter what, alright? I know you've been through a lot, so if you can't trust me, then that's fine. But if you need me for anything, just let me know, alright?"
Hic*
"I know your family kinda… isn't the best, but if you ever want, you can come and join me and my family any time you want, my mom and dad love having you over!"
Yang felt her heart break just a little as Weiss pressed herself into her, her body shaking as Yang enwrapped her in her arms.. oh, this poor girl…
She began to cry a little, Weiss clutching at her in an almost begging way, Yang's eyes closing as she did her very best to comfort her.
"Yang. I can't and I won't… please just… if you are my friend, I'll beg you to have to let me have this. I don't love Jaune. He is my friend… one of my very best friends… but that is all he is. I don't feel anything for him" liar. "And he… well, he will not in time, or maybe he already has and that is… great" there was a weakness to her words, Yang knowing it for what it was… but also knowing that she was lying. But Yang had already gone down the route of trying to force things… and it hadn't exactly ended well to say the least.
"Okay, Weiss… it's fine, don't worry, I believe you…." No, she didn't but for Weiss? Her Friend? She'd lie… until she was ready to admit this feeling.
"Thank you…" Weiss let go with a watery smile on her lips, as she did an about turn and made her way down the hallway. Yang following with one of her own… even if she felt kinda crappy for how this had gone down. She'd talk to Blake later and ask her opinion.
Weiss was glad Yang understood.
And now… well, now she felt she believed herself. She guessed all she needed was a small talk and a minor breakdown to admit to herself that all she felt for Jaune was friendship. So what if she felt affection towards him? She felt affection towards Ruby, but that didn't mean she wished to have a romantic relationship with her!
Yes… she was free of this burden of worrying that she would hurt Jaune again by developing feelings for h-"oof!"
She fell backwards, actually near falling onto her rump if it wasn't for Yang catching her, Weiss coming to her senses with an embarrassed flush as she realised she hadn't been paying attention to where she was going and had bumped into someone!
"M-my apologies! I wasn't watching where I was going for a moment" she looked up at the stranger… and was met with blue hair, tanned skin and sky-blue eyes. Perfect teeth shining out as he smiled down at her.
"No worries, it happens" he winked, Weiss' head jolting back just a little in confusion at the wink he sent her way. "Anyway, cutie. My name's Neptune. What's yours? Or can I just call you… Snow Angel?"
JourneysEnd1
… okay, this is revenge for what I said about the dog, isn't it?
Elderfire1
eyup!