Foreword
It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm not going to come up with excuses to explain my absence. The short of it is, I just stopped caring. My life has been incredibly busy the last few years, and has honestly robbed me of both the time and passion to pursue any of my hobbies: reading, gaming, cooking, poetry, and obviously, writing. I've been focusing entirely on work, and given my hours, any time I have off, I just use it to catch up on sleep.
Recently I've been trying to manage my time as optimally as possible, working on both my gaming and reading backlogs. This has now inspired me to try to get back into writing, as I miss both the creative process of storytelling, and the mechanics of typing (as weird as that sounds). Furthermore, while I'm not a fan of Game of Thrones, either the books or the show, the "gigabotch" of its final season inspired me to binge read the entirety of Professor Tolkien's works, along with Shad M. Brooks' new book, "Shadow of the Conqueror (Chronicles of Everfall Book 1)". This reignited my desire to write the stories that have been sitting in my mind over the years, deepening and expanding, as well as the desire for competent well written storytelling. Therefore, this little one-shot/short story is my warm up before returning to the stories I began years ago.
With that being said, I should explain a bit further why I'm writing this type of story specifically. I used to be a pretty big fan of RWBY, but I stopped watching the series after Volume IV; only popping back in when yet another controversy rears its ugly head. To be clear and upfront, I am very, VERY unhappy with what Rooster Teeth has done with the series. While I have to admit the first two volumes were flawed, with more blemishes becoming apparent while writing this story, most of those flaws were repairable; unlike what Rooster Teeth has done going forward. The characters are now unrecognizable, and are only shadows of their former selves. The very soul of the series is gone, and I've come to accept that the show did indeed die with Monty Oum. And with every new season causing an uproar in the community, followed by new video essays explaining the situation and why people are jumping ship, both the series and the community, I don't think the show has much time left. If I could hazard a guess, I think it's why RT announced Volumes XIII and IX are in simultaneous production; to get the show finished as fast as humanly possible before Warner/AT&T pulls the plug.
So why am I even writing this then? For those who haven't read my previous works, most of my stories are about the Naruto series; a series that I very much hate, but used it as a template, as I saw that there was something salvageable, but only if heavily modified. Also, the more I look back onto the series, the more I realize that it was never good; not just from cradle to grave, but from its very conception. RWBY on the other hand, was a series with an incredible amount of potential, and I still love the original Monty run, along with the characters and the world.
That's why I'm writing this. This (and possible future RWBY fics) is a celebration of the early series; about two of my favourite characters, who've been made mockeries of, finally allowed to have what was taken away from them. This will essentially be a rewrite of Volumes II and III, but mostly focusing on Jaune and Pyrrha's story. That's why I'd still consider this a one-shot, as an actual full rewrite would be a lengthy and time consuming process. I'd also be unable to help myself and start from the beginning, as that would allow me to correct every continuity and writing flub I've found on rewatches. Hence you will see many changes from the original show, though not as many as I wanted. Given that we are starting halfway through Volume II, the changes I would want to make would appear without context, and would only make sense if I did a rewrite starting from Volume I Chapter I. Thus, I did the best to restrain myself, though no doubt many of you will have questions.
Furthermore, because I care about doing this story right, I've decided to write it in a completely different manner: I'm writing it from stem to stern before posting. Now obviously that doesn't sound revolutionary, in fact, that is how you should write any story. But for any of you who've read fanfics or written fanfics on this site, you know that chapters come out one at a time, written one at a time. It's actually kind of maddening that's how we did it, and that I did it with previous stories I posted. This has resulted in many stories being abandoned due to authors not properly thinking their stories through, and in my case, having plot holes and continuity errors (and spelling errors for that matter). I may think my stories through, and know how they will end, but that doesn't mean that I can craft a chain with perfect links right out of the forge. Hopefully this way I can avoid wanting to throw myself off a cliff when in the first five minutes after posting a chapter, I'll get a review pointing out several spelling errors.
Either do it right, or not at all.
So without further adieu, please enjoy my first ever RWBY fanfic, and my (hopefully) triumphant return.
—DragonoftheEastblue, Friday, October 04, 2019, 6:36:24 PM
Chapter I: Setting Things Right
The Beacon Dance concluded as well as anyone expected. The students enjoyed themselves, the guests felt welcome, and romance had begun to bud. Many Huntsmen and Huntress-in-training took advantage of the Dance to ask their teammates out as dates, to hopefully convey their growing feelings that always bloomed in teams such as these, as well as foreign students meeting their Valian counterparts. One such couple was Neptune and Weiss, whom may not have come together to the Dance, had clearly enjoyed each other's company, and had left together, arm in arm.
Another couple however, weren't so lucky. It was clear to nearly everyone who met Ren and Nora that they were together. How well they played off one another, communicated, and understood each other, made them appear to be a strong couple long since in love. But it was always a shock to learn that they were merely friends, even to their own companions. The truth of course was that the pair were in love with one another. Spending nearly a decade together, without question had caused both Ren and Nora to fall for each other, but certainly there was more to it than that. While the couple hadn't confessed their feelings that night, their dancing and time alone had only deepened their feelings for one another. How much longer would they wait was only something the Gods knew.
One couple however, stole the entire show. When Jaune Arc strutted into the dance hall wearing a white dress that barely fit his tall frame, all heads turned in shock. None were as shocked as Pyrrha, who couldn't believe that her captain had kept his word. She couldn't contain her laughter at this realization, which the many onlookers had expected such a reaction. Who was this joker coming up to Pyrrha Nikos, a champion of Mistral, asking her to dance? Of course the partygoers had no clue that Jaune was her captain, as it seemed obvious that any team Pyrrha was a part of, would make her captain. They weren't wrong to think so, given the young woman's prestige, though they couldn't see what Pyrrha saw in him, as she shocked them when she accepted his proposal.
The two danced alongside their teammates to the surprise of the attendees, but surprised them further when they danced to several slow songs. Jaune and Pyrrha could not keep their eyes off one another as they swayed gracefully to the music along with the other dancers. Nora watched them mischievously, as she knew how much Pyrrha had fallen for their captain, and wasn't able to hold back a cheeky grin at the scarlet haired woman's blissful smile. Across the dance floor were Neptune and Weiss, who were also keeping an eye on the unlikely couple. The white-haired woman didn't quite understand Pyrrha's attraction to Jaune, as she had found his advances and behaviour rather cringe worthy. And yet, she had to give the young man credit. By being himself, he was able to win over Pyrrha's heart without even trying. Furthermore, by going so far as to humiliate himself in front of a crowd, he now had her in his arms, smiling as if she was on her wedding day. Weiss had assumed Pyrrha would have gone after a warrior as mighty as herself, but if she wanted a man like Jaune, then who was she to judge? After all, that same man had convinced Neptune to take back his rejection, so perhaps a thank you and some respect was in order.
With the conclusion of the Dance, the couples were now going on their separate ways. The Beacon students were returning to their dorms, and the foreign students to their arraigned lodgings. Some had decided that the night was still young, either because they weren't first year students, who would be sent on their first missions guided by veteran Huntsmen, or would gladly pay the cost of sleep for a few more hours of fun. One such couple was Sun and Blake. While initially rejecting Sun's request to the Dance, Blake had come around thanks to Yang's advice. She was having trouble admitting it, but she had enjoyed herself far more than she thought possible. Sun had proven himself to be far more of date and dance partner than she had assumed. He had given her his entire focus, and communicated through his eyes so clearly, that it was as if she was able to read his thoughts.
Blake wasn't blind to Sun's advances, and was quite aware that he was interested in her. Of course it wasn't as if Sun's feelings were a secret, as he was quite upfront and persistent; admittedly being more suave than Jaune had been with Weiss. Nevertheless, like Weiss, she had pushed him away, but not for the same reasons as her heiress friend. Blake had spent her entire life dedicated to the cause of the White Fang, before finally running away from her past. However, running away physically had not meant she had run mentally or spiritually, and was constantly haunted by her past actions. This had made her unable to trust people, fearing not only their discovery of her past, but the looming dread that she very well would have to run away once again. Why grow close to just have to betray them?
This made the idea of having a romantic relationship with someone even more impossible, and frightening. Relationships were built, held together, and strengthened by trust. If she could not trust her partner, then how in the names of the Gods could she have a meaningful relationship with him? These emotions were conflicting heavily within Blake, going against the new emotions that had been developing since she revealed herself to be a Faunus to her friends. She was beginning to feel as if she had finally found a place to belong. A place where she could trust and rely on people, united for a cause that wasn't so easy to pervert and darken. Now with Sun in the picture, her emotions were now in even greater turmoil, fueled by the fear that her past was now coming back to haunt her; this time with a vengeance.
The former guerrilla fighter had to admit to herself that she was very flattered by the Vacuo student's attention. She indeed did find Sun attractive, which she had done her best to suppress, along with revealing that his happy-go-lucky attitude and comedy was rather infectious. His free spirit and radiant smile made her feel special, in a way she had never felt before. Acknowledging that she had no real dating experience, given she had no time or interest in such things during her revolutionary days, having a boy to confidently and passionately court her, was as or perhaps even more exciting than was described in her novels. Her books were her only escape over the years, and began reading romance novels with many a prince charming like character would sweep the young lady off her feet. While Sun was no prince in shining armour riding on a white horse, he was still charming, genuine, and honest.
After the life Blake had led, honesty was something she dearly desired. And after such a wonderful night with Sun, who was now walking beside her arm in arm, perhaps now was the time she was waiting for to trust someone. She gently squeezed the crook of his arm to guide him away from the direction of the dorms, to now go for a stroll through the grounds. Since she had delayed her date with her hesitation, a few more moments might be in order to make up for it.
At last, the most popular couple of the night, walked slowly through the Beacon grounds, smiling, thoroughly pleased by the entertainment. And like some of the other couples, they decided that the night was not yet over, and things that were also far too delayed, needed to be made up for.
"Honestly Jaune, you didn't need to go so far as putting on a dress!" laughed Pyrrha.
"Hey, an Arc keeps his word. I wouldn't be able to look you in the eye if I didn't own up to my mistake" defended Jaune with a half serious half amused expression on his face.
"Well" she replied, returning with the same expression, "while over the top, the thought and public humiliation was very much appreciated. Thank you."
"You're very welcome, though it would only have been humiliating if you turned me down. Not to mention this dress wasn't easy to find, ya know."
"I could never turn you down, Jaune; especially after learning that you were such a skilled dancer" the redhead said warmly. "Though I have to ask, where in Remnant did you find a dress at this hour?"
The blond began to blush and scratched his cheek with his free hand.
"W-Well...I kinda had to buy one" he explained sheepishly. "I ran to all the clothing shops in town, hoping to find at least one that might still be open. Obviously they were all closed, but I was lucky enough to catch a shopkeeper that about to leave for the night, and convinced him that I needed a dress. I knew lying wasn't going to convince him, so I told him the truth, and got a pretty big laugh out of him. He somehow believed me and reopened his shop to find a dress that fit. I had to rush to get one in time, and this one was the best I could get on such short notice. When I offered to pay for it, he said that was free of charge so long as I return it tomorrow. I gave him all the money I had as a sort of down payment; just in case. I didn't think I had enough time to change twice so I ran back to the dorm in the dress, dropping my suit off, and got back to the Dance. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Pyrrha blinked at her captain's story in mute amazement, before becoming unable to contain her laughter.
"J-Jaune! To go through all that trouble!" she laughed covering her mouth with her hand, "Th-That's just too much!"
Jaune couldn't help but smile at his date. Though he wasn't exactly sure if she was laughing at him or with him, the sound of her laughter was so musical and warm-hearted, he didn't care which it was. Was her laugh always so beautiful, or was it only so obvious in the quiet night beneath the stars?
"For you, it's worth it. Even if it as a bit tight across the chest."
"Yes, it doesn't quite fit you" Pyrrha admitted regaining her composure, her eyes falling onto the young man's half exposed pecs.
Muscular athletic men were nothing new to Pyrrha, as not only she had seen many during her bouts in the arenas, but it was nearly impossible to find a single Huntsman that wasn't in peek physical form. This meant that she had hardly been swayed by the attempts made to woo her during her days at Sanctum, as few as they were. But Jaune had not wooed her with sweet words or glistening muscles, but by being himself. His kind, innocent self was what had kindled the flame in her heart; so now to see that sweet young man's bare chest, was causing a blush to blossom on her cheeks.
"Perhaps we should turn in. We wouldn't want you to catch a cold right before the tournament" she added, though it pained her to bring this night to a premature end.
"I think I can handle a light breeze if it means spending more time with you tonight" replied Jaune, causing the heart of the young woman on his arm to skip a beat. "Besides, idiots don't catch colds, from what I hear."
This made Pyrrha frown. "Jaune, you're not an idiot."
The blond shrugged as he looked to the shattered moon that loomed overhead.
"I have to be to not notice that the most beautiful woman in Vale and Mistral wanted me to ask her out to the Beacon Dance; especially when she's on my team."
Butterflies immediately took flight in the Huntress-in-training's stomach.
'Is he...flirting with me?' she asked herself in bewilderment. 'Where is this coming from all of a sudden?'
Indeed, this was certainly not normal behaviour coming from Jaune. Even during his attempts to court Weiss, he hadn't said such things with such certainty. Why was he doing this now?
The young captain didn't see the reaction his words had caused on Pyrrha's face, but likewise, Pyrrha couldn't see the reaction said words had caused on Jaune's.
'Damn, I just said that without thinking. There's no going back now is there?' he thought, his cheeks now several shades redder, knowing the gravity of his words.
That gravity was carried over by the powerful words Pyrrha had said to him when he had first spoken to her earlier in the evening.
"Everyone assumes I'm too good for them. That I'm on a level they simply can't attain. It's become impossible to form any sort of meaningful relationship with people. That's what I like about you. When we met, you didn't even know my name. You treated me just like anyone else. And thanks to you, I've made friendships that will last a lifetime. I guess, you're the kind of guy I wish I was here with. Someone who just saw me for me."
That had not simply been the words of a friend frustrated with her position. That was a confession. Pyrrha Nikos had feelings for him. While he had treated her like a person and not a celebrity, he nevertheless had treated her as if she were unobtainable; so far out of his league that the idea of asking her was absurd. The reason he was wearing a dress in the first place was because he incorrectly assumed that Pyrrha had guys lining up to ask her to the Dance. Hearing her voice her frustrations, that being a celebrity had been the sharpest double-edged sword possible to carry, had cut Jaune deeply. Not only because he never realized what she had gone through, but that she valued him so greatly for treating her like a person over her accolades.
This only made things more confusing for him, however. Why in Remnant would one of the best Huntresses of their generation be interested in a man like himself? He could barely hold a sword, let alone fight competently, so why would someone like her even give him the time of day? That was the rational side of Jaune's mind of course, trying to justify his disbelief that Pyrrha wasn't be able to get a date for the Dance. The other side however brought back to every instance of Pyrrha taking time out of her day to help him, even after learning that he forged his records to get into Beacon Academy in the first place. But wasn't that such an insulting thing to both a Huntsman and a warrior? Was it not as if he had stolen a spot from a more capable Huntsman or Huntress?
These were the thoughts that had been flying through his mind as he ran to find a dress. It didn't make sense to Jaune that someone like Pyrrha would be interested in him. Placing the titles and achievements aside, the redhead was outrageously beautiful, kind, compassionate, humble, and caring. Those qualities alone, in his mind and certainly in the minds of those who looked upon them as they danced, made Pyrrha so far out of his league. Could he be blamed for thinking he had no chance? Eventually during his dash for a dress, two words came screaming to mind: Weiss Schnee. Why had he thought that the heiress of one of the most profitable and powerful companies in the world, was more obtainable than Pyrrha Nikos? He had spent the entire evening thinking on it, and honestly couldn't come up with any suitable answer.
It was when he was dancing with Pyrrha, gazing into her eyes that maybe, the answer to why she wanted him over some champion Huntsman or athlete, didn't really matter. Of course it did matter in terms of his pride, but for right now, trying to rack his brain to figure out why such a woman wanted to be with him, was just being stupid. While it was true that he had absolutely no dating experience, he knew that now was the time to take action. Who knows when the next opportunity would come his way? He gently pulled his arm away from Pyrrha, allowing him to face her, which snapped her out of her own thoughts.
"Pyrrha...I'd like to ask you something..." he said slowly, though he wasn't able to make eye contact with the young woman. 'Damn it, my heart is racing. Why was this so much easier with Weiss? Gah, don't think about that now! Just do it! You can do this. You're an Arc, just look her in the eyes and-'
However, the moment he locked eyes with his date, he felt the words lodge themselves in his throat. Pyrrha was standing before him with her hands held together, and was looking at him with nervous anticipation. Her beautiful green eyes seemed to Jaune as if they were sparkling like starlight, with her cheeks lightly painted with blush, complimenting her carnelian coloured hair. In that very moment, Pyrrha became the most beautiful woman that Jaune had ever seen.
"Yes?" she asked, sensing that his question had nothing to do with fighting or Aura.
'Why didn't I notice before?' the blond asked himself. He had obviously always known how beautiful Pyrrha was, but now, she seemed to be on an entirely different level. Of course there were many things he hadn't noticed, either out of pure ignorance or self doubt, but now he had to make things right.
"I was wondering if..." he began, scratching the back of his head in nervousness. 'Keep it together, damn it!' he cursed himself, the sound of his heart pounding in his ears, only adding to his anxiety. 'Don't keep her waiting any longer.'
"If...um..." Jaune looked to his left, no longer able to maintain his gaze.
"Then do it. Tell her exactly what you said. No ridiculous schemes, no pick-up lines. Just...be honest."
"But what if-"
"Jaune, you can't get if wrong if it's the truth."
"Gahh! I'm so bad at this!" he grumbled, rubbing the back of his head furiously, before looking back at Pyrrha, and holding the back of his neck. "Pyrrha Nikos" he straightened his back, "when the tournament is over...would you...like to catch a movie, or something?"
The redhead was silent for moment, almost as if she hadn't understood what had been said. But then the worried expression on her face began to melt into the warmest and most radiant smile Jaune had ever seen.
"I would love to" she replied softly.
Her smile was contagious, causing a sheepish grin to spread across Jaune's face, as he breathed a sigh of relief. The couple gazed at each other lovingly for a little while, taking in the moment, as they knew their lives had just changed forever, before a cold wind blew through the grounds.
"We should return to our dorms. We'll have to get up early tomorrow" said Pyrrha. "And you might catch that cold after all."
"Ha! Yeah, you're right" agreed Jaune. He held out his hand, which Pyrrha took gladly, and the couple began to walk to their dormitories, fingers interlaced.
λΛλ
Jaune and Pyrrha reached their dorm rooms, which were next to each other, hand in hand. They were both reluctant to end the night, for it felt as if time had passed too soon, but they knew that the following day was going to be a busy one.
"Thank you for such a lovely night, Jaune" said Pyrrha standing before her door, still smiling warmly. "I'm sorry for all the trouble you had to go through."
"Hey, there's no need to apologize" the blond replied, also smiling. "If putting on a dress got you to forgive me and not turn me down, I'd say it was worth it."
Pyrrha blushed at his honesty. "Well, while it did work in your favour, I personally prefer you in a suit."
Jaune laughed. "I'll keep that in mind for next time." He looked down for a moment, his smiling fading slightly. "Though, this does feel so surreal. I saw how everyone was looking at us at the Dance, like I had no right to be with you. I guess that's about right, as I also did exactly what you hate, place you on a pedestal and not even consider asking you to be my date. I know admitting this isn't going to come across great, but I can't help but feel undeserving. Not noticing your feelings until you got fed up and told me directly, brushing off your comments...you said I saw you for you, but I didn't when you needed me to most..."
Pyrrha's smile faded, but only slightly. She understood what Jaune was trying to say, and what he was feeling. He may have kept his word, believing it was the right thing to do after being wrong, but the guilt hadn't left him so easily. He felt as if she had forgiven him too quickly, that what he had done was so insulting to her, that more needed to be done to make things right. Unbeknownst to her captain, his continued honesty only deepened her love for him.
"Jaune..." she said calmly, yet assertively, and placed her right hand on his cheek, causing him to look back up at her. "If I thought you not realizing that I had feelings for you, was so grievous that it couldn't be forgiven, why would I have said yes to a second date?" Jaune remained silent, but breathed out of his nose sharply, indicating he realized he was over thinking things again. "I think you are more than deserving. I think you are exactly what I've been looking for."
Without hesitation, she leaned forward and kissed him on his right cheek, causing both of them to flush, and his eyes to widen. Pyrrha's own cheeks had turned red, and her smile had returned to its full radiance, clearly pleased with the blond's reaction.
"Good night, Jaune."
"Night..." he replied, now possessing a warm smile of his own.
Pyrrha opened the door of her room and entered, but kept her gaze with the young man as she closed it, just to keep the moment going for just a few seconds longer. Even with the door closed, Jaune remained outside, staring at the door as if he could still see the beautiful young woman who had just taken his breath away. He then looked up to the ceiling and sighed, before chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief.
"I am so over my head..." he said to himself, rubbing the back of his neck once again, before returning to look at Pyrrha's room one last moment. Keeping a smile on his face, he finally grasped the knob of the door to his own room and entered, determined not to mess things up.
λΛλ
Pyrrha's heart was racing as she stood on the opposite side of the door, unable to believe she had just done that. But she wasn't sorry that she had. Jaune had finally taken notice of her, accepted her feelings, and asked her on a date. She had never felt so nervous, happy, terrified, and exliherated in all her life. She leaned against the door, tilting her head so that it rested on it, eyes shut and smiling as if it was all she knew how to do. It was as if she were on top of the world.
"Well now..." came a sly voice, causing the Mistralese champion to jump to her right. To her left was her teammate Nora, already in her pajamas, lying on her side with her head resting on her right palm, and a shit-eating grin plastered on her face. "...someone looks like they had a great time tonight."
"Nora! You scared the daylights out of me!"
"Did you then?" the ginger asked, ignoring the previous comment.
"Yes, I did."
"Aaaaand?"
Pyrrha blushed, "Jaune asked me out."
"Yay!" cheered Nora, leaping to her feet and hugged her friend tightly. "I'm so happy for you! So..." she continued, pulling out of the hug, but kept her hands on Pyrrha's shoulders, "did anything else happen?"
"...I kissed him; on the cheek!" she replied, making sure to quickly add the last detail, knowing what kind of reaction it would get from her friend.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaand?" Nora asked again.
"That's all."
"Really?!...boring."
"Nora!" Pyrrha gasped incredulously, pushing past her to reach the armoire and begin disassembly her evening wear. "Honestly, what were you expecting for us to do so soon?"
"Probably what a lot of other students are doing right now" she admitted, sitting back on her bed, and reaching for her Scroll.
"W-Well they can what they wish" replied Pyrrha, placing her earrings into their box, slightly flustered. "Such things are far too soon for us. You should have seen how nervous Jaune was while trying to ask me out. Furthermore, we haven't even kissed yet."
"And whose fault is that?" asked Nora playfully, sending her text. "Could have kissed him properly instead of on the cheek."
'Maybe' thought the redhead. "I feel there is something special between Jaune and myself. I want this relationship to work, so we'll be taking it one step at a time. I don't want to rush things, nor does Jaune, which I'm sure is why he asked me on a date after the tournament."
"Hmmm, that's true" agreed Nora, eyeing the reply to her text, "not to mention that you're probably his first girlfriend. That would explain his nervousness; if you kissed him it would be his first kiss too."
The Mistral champion wiped away some of her makeup before responding.
"It would be mine as well" Pyrrha admitted softly, but not regretfully.
The ginger looked up from her Scroll and saw the blissful look on her friend's face. It took her a moment to remember that Pyrrha was just as inexperienced as Jaune, as her status in Mistral had kept anyone from asking her out. Nora watched her teammate carefully, and observed her removing the rest of her makeup, clearly delving into her own thoughts of the past few hours. It was now easy to understand that Pyrrha wasn't merely crushing on their captain, but was falling deeply in love with him.
Nora grinned devilishly. "You two are so adorable" she cooed playfully.
Pyrrha turned to her left and squinted at the girl with pursed lips.
"I don't want to hear such comments comings from you. What did you do when you left the Dance? Did you and Ren go off to kiss, away from prying eyes?" she asked, sticking her tongue out.
Nora snorted at Pyrrha's sudden act of childishness, and looked away with flushed cheeks.
"No, we just came back to our rooms. No kissing or anything like that. Still..." she admitted disappointingly.
The redhead's gaze softened into one of pity, seeing her friend's frustration. She rose from her chair and walked to Nora's bed, seating herself to her right.
"You didn't tell him?" she asked.
Nora sighed. "No, I couldn't. It just didn't feel right."
Pyrrha frowned. "What do you mean? He was the one who asked you to the Dance. Did Ren not make any kind of sign that he wanted to take things further?"
"Not at all" confirmed the ginger, bringing her knees to her chest and folded her arms onto them. "I think he asked me because it was the obvious choice, which would make me happy if I knew he had feelings for me. We're friends so going together made sense, I guess." Nora sighed again and buried her face into her thighs, pressing her forehead into her arms in defeat. "I don't know anymore."
Pyrrha gently placed her left hand on the ginger's shoulder.
"Don't think that way. There will be another chance to tell him how you feel" she said reassuringly.
"I've been telling myself that every time I couldn't. Every time I look at him, and I feel the words building inside me, my stomach does flips, my heart races, my knees get weak, and then...I can't. All I'm able to say is 'boop' and tap him on the nose to hide all the emotions raging inside me" Nora explained, not lifting her head. "Maybe Ren just sees me as family and not as a woman."
Pyrrha remained silent. She had always been able to sense her teammate's frustration with her situation with Ren, but she had not realized it had grown to this level. Admittedly, she had been preoccupied being frustrated with her own boy problems, but the talks they previously had, hadn't revealed how deeply the discouragement was entrenched. To Pyrrha, Nora's discontent was very similar to her own as a celebrity, feeling as if she were underwater and gasping for air, but having to pretend she was sailing.
"You don't know that for certain, Nora" she said at last. "I can speak openly that everyone, and I do mean everyone, believes that both of you are already a couple. I thought that the moment I met you both, Jaune thought that-"
"Yeah, I was in the room when he asked about that. That was awkward" laughed the ginger half-heartedly.
"But do you see what I'm getting at? People around you interpret how you two bounce off one another, as evidence of a strong loving relationship. Does that not say something about Ren? I'll be honest; I was initially shocked that someone so full of energy like yourself, was with someone so docile as Ren. And as soon as the thought was in my mind, I saw Ren be right up to speed. I knew right away there was something special between the both of you. I think you're not giving him as much credit as he deserves."
Nora lifted her head and looked at her friend sheepishly.
"Maybe...but I'd like to have some idea that he might feel something more. I don't wear my skirt that short for nothing, ya know" she mumbled, playing with her hair, embarrassed. "I'd hope I'd catch him checking me out, but I haven't yet."
Pyrrha covered her mouth as she began to giggle.
"Well, Jaune and I will keep a look out for you when he does."
This finally got Nora to smile, and playfully nudged her friend with her elbow.
"Thanks, Pyrrha" she said genuinely. The hammeress remained silent for a moment, before looking at her teammate. "Did I ever tell you when I fell in love with Ren?" she asked. Pyrrha shook her head gently, so Nora rested her chin on her forearms and began to speak.
"It was about ten years ago. I don't have any memory of my parents, and I grew up on the streets, wandering from place to place, before I finally found myself in a village called Kuroyuri. I was scavenging around for food one day, and found a loaf of bread, right before I was surrounded by a group of boys. They bullied and attacked me, which happened at lot back then, but then out of nowhere, Ren and his father appeared and scared them off. It was rare that anyone would bother to help me, so I got scared and ran away.
Not long after, the village was attacked by the Grimm. I hid under a house during the attack, hoping that I wouldn't be found. Then Ren appeared again. He seemed like he wasn't afraid at all, and told me to be brave while being surrounded by monsters. I only learned later that he was using his Semblance to cloak us from the Grimm. He found a wooden mallet on the ground and gave it me, promising that we would keep each other safe. He had such a warm and calming smile on his face, and despite what had just happened, I felt completely safe with him.
That's when I fell in love with him. He's been my family for all these years, and I couldn't imagine being with anyone else other than him. He's the bravest man I have ever known."
Pyrrha listened to her friend's story intently, and was shocked to hear how horrible Nora and Ren's past were. Neither had shared any details other than they had been together since they were children, but them being orphaned due to a Grimm attack, had not been at the forefront of her theories. A small piece of guilt began to develop in her stomach in comparing their upbringing to her own, but she also quickly gained a new level respect for her teammates. However, despite the darkness of Nora's story, Pyrrha noticed the warmness in the ginger's turquoise eyes and smile. Her love for Ren was now fully on display, and her smile was so infectious, that it made the redhead smile herself.
"You two are so adorable" she echoed, nudging her with her elbow.
"Shut up!" snorted Nora, pushing Pyrrha back with a good shove. Pyrrha laughed as she toppled to her side, and quickly grabbed Nora's pillow, swiftly whacking her across the face. The thunderess recoiled but quickly recovered from the blow, a wild grin on her face and a twinkle in her eye. "Oh, we're grabbing weapons, huh?" she asked, jumping to her feet and cracking her knuckles in excitement.
"Wait! Now we might be taking things too far!" laughed Pyrrha, holding up her hand in surrender. "Though, I'm saying that for the sake of my dress, more than for myself."
"Aww..." sighed Nora, slumping over in disappointment. The redhead laughed again as she rose to her feet, while the ginger face planted onto her bed, and reached for her Scroll once more.
Pyrrha finally finished removing the rest of her eveningwear, and changed into a pair of golden brown pajamas.
"I firmly believe" she began, letting her hair down, "that Ren feels the same way about you. I think that being here at Beacon, surrounded by friends, he'll take notice, if not feel that the time has come to confess. In the meantime, I'll get Jaune to get any information possible out of him."
Nora looked up at her teammate, and smiled sincerely.
"Thank you, Pyrrha" she said gratefully, "that means a lot. I owe you one."
"Don't mention it. What are friends for?" the redhead replied smiling back. "It's getting late. Try to get some sleep."
"Same. Night, Pyrrha."
"Good night, Nora."
Both girls tucked themselves into bed, with Pyrrha switching off the lights before turning over to her right. However, she opened her eyes as she immediately became distracted by a new light source hitting the wall on her side of the room.
"Put your Scroll away, Nora. We have to get up early tomorrow" she said in a false scolding tone.
"Just give me a sec" Nora said back, typing quickly.
"Nora..."
"OK, moooom" she whined, throwing her bed sheets over her head to dampen the light.
Pyrrha giggled at the girl's childishness, and closed her eyes, pressing her cheek into her pillow with satisfaction. The images of the night's events replayed in her mind on repeat, warming her cheeks, and easing her gently into a deep and blissful sleep; the handsome face of her blond captain being the last image she saw.
λΛλ
While the girls were having their conversation, Jaune had entered his room smiling, and closed the door behind him.
"Things went well, I take it?" asked a voice.
Jaune looked to his right and saw Ren sitting on his bed, dressed in a simple light green t-shirt and matching pajama bottoms, reading a book.
"Yeah, they did" Jaune replied, maintaining his smile from earlier. "I asked Pyrrha out, and she said yes."
Ren looked up from his book and gave his captain a small but endearing smile.
"Very good, Jaune. I am glad you came around."
The blond laughed. "Thanks, man, but I don't want to hear you of all people talking about how long it took me to notice a girl's feelings. Especially since you and Nora aren't 'together-together'; whatever that means" he shot back, making air-quotes with his fingers, as he walked to his bed and began removing his dress.
His back was turned, so he was unable to see Ren's smile fade, and his eyes return to his book, but was not actually reading.
"Speaking of which" continued Jaune, struggling with his dress, "what does that mean exactly? Not being together-together?"
Ren did not answer right away, as his Scroll buzzed, forcing him to quickly reply and hide it so not to appear rude. He then placed a bookmark in his book and closed it, before giving Jaune his full attention.
"What do you think it means?" he asked at last.
"Umm..." thought the blond, unsure of how to correctly phrase his response. "...friends with benefits?"
Jaune had looked over his shoulder to deliver his comment, and was shocked to see Ren glaring at him. While they hadn't known each other for long, this was the first time he had ever seen his teammate with a genuine look of ire.
"Absolutely not" Ren said coldly.
"Whoa whoa wait!" protested the swordsman, waving his hands defensively. "I'm not saying that I actually believe that! I meant that it just sounds like it does. Everyone thinks you guys were already together, me included, so it's weird that Nora said that you guys are together but not 'together' together. You get what I'm saying?"
Ren's glare softened as he exhaled through his nose.
"Yes, I do" he said sighing, looking downward. "I'm sorry."
Jaune continued to observe his subordinate worryingly, as there were new emotions bubbling to the surface, and manifesting in Ren's eyes.
"Don't worry about it" he reassured, "It's my fault for wording it badly. I never meant to offend or insult you."
"I know you didn't. I just don't like the idea that people would think that Nora and I would be engaging in such a selfish relationship. Nora is not that kind of girl" explained Ren, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall.
Jaune paused for a moment, before pressing further.
"So may I ask what kind of relationship do you and Nora have? Cuz like I said, everyone thinks you guys are just dating like any normal couple. It's only because of how Nora explained it that makes me confused" he reasoned.
The dark haired Huntsman-in-training sighed and closed his eyes.
"It's...complicated..." he admitted, sounding tired; as if this had been eating away at him for a long time.
The blond continued to look at him, waiting for some form of answer. The fact that Ren was beating around the bush made him even more curious. If they were just friends, then both of them would have come out and said it. However, it was obvious to Jaune that Nora was in love with him, so perhaps Ren was aware of this, and wasn't sure of how to go about it.
The silence between the two had now grown from a pregnant pause to an awkward one, leaving Jaune with the feeling that he may have finally overstepped a line, and the conversation was now over.
"I'm gonna go take a shower now...yeah..." he said at last, gesturing with both index fingers to the bathroom door to his left. He finally succeeded in undoing the dress, and placed in on a chair, before reaching for the knob of the bathroom door.
"Ten years" said Ren quietly, halting his captain.
"What?" Jaune asked.
"Nora and I have been together for ten years" he repeated, his eyes now open and looking at the blond with a sombre expression.
Jaune blinked in surprise. "That's a long time, Ren. But that doesn't exactly answer my question."
Ren's eyes dropped to his knees and took a deep breath before speaking.
"Nora and I have been traveling across the Kingdom on our own for a decade. We've drifted from town to town, doing our best to survive. We first met in my home village where she was living on the streets, stealing food to live. When my village was attacked by the Grimm, none were left alive, safe for the both of us. By some miracle I activated my Semblance, and managed to get to her, shielding ourselves from the horde. That is what my Semblance does. Tranquility dampens my emotions, thus shields me from the Grimm, effectively turning me invisible to them. Ever since then, we promised to protect one another. We've been by each other's side through thick and thin, never straying far and never wishing to. Essentially, we're family."
Jaune swallowed in mute shock at his friend's story. The man had always been the quiet type, and spoke very little on any matter, let alone of his past. Jaune had naively assumed that he and Nora were just childhood friends, having grown up together and naturally became so close as a consequence. But now learning of the truth, Jaune began to feel deep remorse and pity for them. For them to have gone through something so traumatic, and remain so upbeat, showed the blond just how strong his new friends truly were. A profound respect for the pair quickly emerged from the depth of Jaune's soul, and was more grateful than he could express to have the both of them under his command.
He walked to Ren's bed and sat next to him, placing a hand on his right shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Ren. I had no idea."
Ren nodded understandingly, and glanced at his friend.
"There's no need to apologize. You could not have known."
"I couldn't have even guessed, but I guess I now get what Nora meant by not being together-together. If you see each other like family, then it makes sense how close you two are" Jaune reasoned. 'Wait...that doesn't add up' he thought. 'Nora is clearly in love with Ren, so even if they have been together this long, and have looked after one another as if they're family, she clearly still sees him as a man. So what about Ren?'
"Do you see her like a sister?" he asked directly.
Ren looked away, hesitant to answer the question, which was already serving as an answer to his team captain.
"I..." he began slowly, "...don't know..."
Jaune tilted his head in intrigue, 'Now we're getting somewhere'. "Are you in love with her?" he asked bluntly.
Ren hesitated again, unable to establish eye contact with Jaune, and only repeated "I don't know..."
He closed his eyes, causing every memory he had with the ginger hammeress, to come flooding through his mind. Every laugh, every smile, every tear, all came into his mind's eye with crystal clarity. Then the memory of Nora when she was a child, crying and hiding under one of the destroyed houses, came into view. That image had been etched into his very soul, for he hated it with every fiber of his being. He hated seeing Nora cry, thus that memory served as fuel for his drive to protect her, at all costs. He could never forgive himself if harm like that would ever come to her again.
"Ren?" asked Jaune, noticing that his friend seemed to be a thousand miles away. "Ren?"
The young dark haired man finally came back to the present upon hearing his name a second time. He looked at Jaune in momentary confusion, before remembering where he was and what they had been discussing.
"I'm sorry, I was just lost in my own thoughts" he confessed.
"Yeah, I figured. If you don't want to talk about it further..."
"No..." sighed Ren, "I'd like to share this with you. You came to me for advice before, so now I would like to ask you the same." He waited for Jaune to nod before speaking again. "What I feel for Nora...is not something that I can explain in words. For so long she's been by my side, that I couldn't imagine a day that she wouldn't be. It feels as if she's a part of me, one that I'm always afraid of losing. Nora is my entire world."
There was a momentary silence between the two boys, before Jaune smirked and clapped Ren on the back, startling him.
"I may be pretty bad with girls, but it's clear to me that you're totally in love with her" he said confidently. Ren looked up at him in surprise, his cheeks lightly tinged with pink.
"I..." he began, trying to form a coherent sentence, but his mind was now filled of images of Nora smiling.
"Oh don't act like this is some earth shattering revelation!" Jaune shot back impishly. "You probably fell for her years ago and didn't even realize; that or you didn't have someone like me around to point it out."
Ren cleared his throat. "That is a tad rich coming from you" he said, regaining most of his composure.
"Yeah, that's fair," admitted the swordsman, "but I'm still right." Ren sighed, causing his captain to laugh. "Oh c'mon! This is a good thing! And I'm damn sure that she feels the same way. Why are you looking even more gloomy than usual?"
Ren leaned against the bedroom wall once again, and inhaled deeply before replying.
"Because of what I feel for Nora...makes me feel undeserving of loving her" he said sadly. This caused Jaune to snap into a sharp focus, keeping his eyes locked onto his friend, who seemed to not notice. "I promised Nora years ago that I would protect her, and she promised she would do the same for me. That was how we built our relationship; with trust and support. It's what's kept us alive. And then came the day Nora discovered her Semblance. Do you know how? She was hit by lightning. She was climbing a tall apple tree while a storm was coming, and when she reached the top, she was hit with a bolt. I was watching her climb, and saw her get hit, throwing her out of the tree and crashing to the ground. I hadn't been that terrified since the attack on my village. I ran to her, praying that was alive, and was shocked to see her immediately wake up and stand, as if nothing had happened.
From then onward, Nora began to grow stronger at an incredible rate. She became stronger, faster, and more durable, making it seem she were indestructible. I was so proud of her, seeing her grow from a scared child to a smiling, fearless young teenager. But I quickly saw how much of a gap was growing between us. We would train together, and I could never beat her. No matter how hard I trained, all I could do was watch her soar, and feel as if I was being left behind. It's why we wanted to become Huntsmen; so we could become stronger and fight evil together. We wanted to never be helpless again. But how could I help her, protect her, when I myself, was helpless? And now being on this team, has only cemented how far behind I have fallen. Nora and Pyrrha are warriors through and through, excelling in combat. While you haven't discovered your Semblance, it will undoubtedly benefit you on the battlefield. My Semblance however" he explained, opening his left hand and turning over his palm, flowing Aura into it, "is not meant to be used in open battle. And that is what I'm afraid of. I'm afraid that a day will come where she'll need me to defend her, and I won't be able to. And the thought of that happening, her getting hurt or worse because of my weakness, fills me with..." he finished, clenching his fist tightly, "rage."
Jaune stared at Ren in shock. He hadn't said a word during the entirety of his friend's monologue; how on earth could he? Ren was a very quiet young man, rarely speaking more than a few sentences, or raise his voice, unless he needed to keep Nora in check. So to hear him speak for so long uninterrupted, and with his emotions on display, was bizarre and unexpected. Furthermore, Ren had never spoken about his past. Jaune had assumed he and Nora had grown up together, but as childhood friends and classmates, not homeless orphans. Hearing him now completely open up, in context to his past, to in the short run a complete stranger, was deeply humbling and eye opening.
What surprised Jaune the most however, was that Ren was feeling the same emotions he was. As on top of the world as he felt knowing that Pyrrha had feelings for him, he couldn't for the life of him, understand why. He was a terrible fighter and leader, who lied to get into Beacon. She knew all of that, and yet still wanted to be with him, despite being one of the best warriors of their generation. "Undeserving" was exactly how Jaune would phrase his feelings.
"I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?" asked Ren, letting his fist fall, slightly weary.
"No, you're not" replied Jaune, pausing a moment before answering. "I get exactly what you mean about not feeling worthy. I feel the same way with Pyrrha."
"Why? You don't have the history with her, as I do with Nora, so why would you think that?"
Jaune sighed, knowing that what he had to tell Ren could change how he thought of him.
"You're right" the blond began, "I don't have a decade of history with Pyrrha. In fact, I have no history at all...I forged my transcript to get into Beacon." Ren's eyes widened, it now being his turn to not have expected his teammate to admit a secret. "Pyrrha is absolutely amazing" continued Jaune. "She's beautiful and kind and incredibly talented, and just like you said, a warrior through and through. So why would she want to be with a guy like me, who can't fight worth a damn? Even after I told her the truth, she still stood by me, helping me train, and agreeing to go out with me.
I'm having the same thoughts you are; about not being able to protect her. And what makes things even worse, is that I'm the leader of this team. Not only do I have to worry about Pyrrha, but you and Nora as well. I'm supposed to make hard decisions in the field, keep it cool under pressure, and lead you guys to victory. How am I supposed to do all of that, when I can barely hold my sword? I'm constantly plagued with doubt, and I'm afraid of making mistakes, since they could cost someone their life. I keep thinking of how Pyrrha would make a much better captain, and how I don't understand why Huntmaster Ozpin chose me over her. Maybe because JNPR sounds better than PNJR; whatever word that makes.
But I realized something tonight. I can't keep thinking as if there is nothing I can do to change for the better. Feeling sorry for myself, and as I currently am, is not only a waste of energy, but the worst possible habit I could have. Pyrrha likes and supports me, you consider me like a brother, and Nora has followed my orders without question since the get-go. I'm going to use the faith you guys have in me to fuel my drive to improve as both a warrior and a leader. I think you should do the same. Nora loves you, and I don't believe for a second she thinks of you as deadweight. And I'm certain there's more to your Semblance than just controlling emotions. We'll figure it out together, and we'll both grow as Huntsman; myself for Pyrrha, and you for Nora. Together, got it?"
Ren looked into his captain's eyes with amazement. He saw his determination as clear as the shattered moon, and realized that the Jaune he had come to know over the past several months, was beginning to give way to a more confident and focused one. He could see that the blond had meant every word, and how profoundly he had been affected by Pyrrha's love. Furthermore, Jaune had completely understood his feelings, and that was something that made Ren more grateful than he could ever express in words alone.
"Got it. Thank you, Jaune" he replied, closing his eyes and bowing his head slightly in gratitude, a small but content smile on his face.
"Don't sweat it" Jaune said smirking, punching his friend on the arm puckishly. "On a lighter note, I've got a question for you." Ren nodded, allowing the swordsman to proceed, "I know that Nora's been like family to you, but she's a very pretty girl. You must have realized that and checked her out over the years, right?"
The normally composed Huntsman-in-training swallowed nervously, as the question began to tint his cheeks pink.
"W-Well..." he tried to say, not being able to maintain eye contact. A roguish grin began to form on Jaune's face as he saw how the question was affecting his teammate, and eagerly awaited for his response. Ren coughed skittishly and shifted his sitting position slightly. "Nora...um...has very distracting legs" he admitted at last.
Jaune snorted before doubling over from laughter.
"What?" demanded Ren, becoming more flustered by the second.
"It's nothing! It's just funny seeing how nervous you are admitting this" reassured Jaune.
Ren huffed, folding his arms. "Well, it isn't as if I've ever had the company to discuss such things" he shot back poignantly.
"That I know. I grew up with seven sisters, the rest of our team are the girls in question, and Team RWBY is all girls. But you don't have to be so shy, dude; Pyrrha's got great legs too."
"True, but she doesn't go barelegged like Nora does. She's been wearing that skirt for almost two years now and it's very distracting."
"Hey, Pyrrha's thigh-highs don't leave much to the imagination, either" the blond pointed out. He then tilted his head slightly. "So you think Nora is beautiful?"
"Very much so" Ren replied nodding.
Jaune placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Then tell her."
"Not...not yet."
"I know this is incredibly hypocritical coming from me, but you shouldn't make a girl wait. And if telling her how you feel about her it too much for now, then at least say that you think she's beautiful. Just a word or two like that could make all the difference in the world. That you can take to the bank" Jaune advised confidently.
Ren looked at his captain suspiciously, but knew that he was right.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you again, Jaune."
Jaune smirked. "Hey, what are bros for? Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna go take that shower, as having such a heart-to-heart conversation in my underwear is starting to get real awkward. OK? OK."
With that, the blond tapped Ren's shoulder twice, before getting to his feet and waltzing to the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed, Ren chuckled slightly and shook his head. He replayed the conversation he had just had as he pulled the covers of his bed back, and slipped under them. He then felt something under his elbow, and realized that his Scroll was still where he had hidden it. He pulled it from under his pillow with his left hand, while resting his head in his right, and noticed that Nora had responded to his earlier message.
Nora: Pyrrha just came back. Jaune asked her out finally! She's over the moon!
Ren: I know. Jaune just told me, and he seems pretty beside himself.
Nora: Awesome! She's so in love with him too. They make such a cute couple, don't they?
Ren began to type a reply, as he had become entirely invested with his conversation with Jaune, that he completely forgotten he had been speaking to Nora.
Ren: I'm sorry, I was speaking with Jaune. Yes, they certainly do. He thinks the world of her, and feels incredibly lucky that she has feelings for him.
Nora: It's ok, I was talking with Pyrrha. Awww, they're so cute! They won't be going on their date till after the tournament though, but we have plenty of time to tease them now ;)
Ren smirked at her mischievousness.
Ren: Be nice, Nora.
Nora: Nyuuuuh!
Ren audibly laughed at her text, clearly hearing her protest in his mind, as if she was standing before him. He stared at their conversation quizzically, new emotions growing in his heart. Nora's enthusiasm for Jaune and Pyrrha, was causing him to feel something he had never felt before: jealousy. He was jealous that his captain and lieutenant had become a couple, and how they could openly talk about their feelings. Of course if he admitted this to Jaune, the blond would without a doubt begin to grill him that if he just told Nora how he felt, there would be no need to feel jealous. There was truth to this of course, but for now, he began to recall a more fitting piece of advice.
"I know this is incredibly hypocritical coming from me, but you shouldn't make a girl wait. And if telling her how you feel about her it too much for now, then at least say that you think she's beautiful. Just a word or two like that could make all the difference in the world. That you can take to the bank."
Ren took a deep breath before typing out what could either be a very good idea, or a disastrous one, before hesitantly pressing send.
Ren: Speaking of nice, I had a nice time tonight. You looked very beautiful in your dress.
He was incredibly nervous sending the message to Nora, and his nerves were straining by the second, as she was taking longer than usual to reply. He stared at the bottom of his Scroll, waiting for her response, his heart beginning to race. For a moment, Ren thought about activating his Semblance to calm himself, but it felt as if that would be cheating. So he continued to sit and wait, nearly unblinking.
On the opposite side of the dorm wall, Nora saw Ren's message appear, and her eyes immediately widened.
'Where is this coming from?' she asked herself, a strong blush blossoming from her cheeks. 'Is it because he was talking with Jaune? Is this really happening?'
The ginger read the message over several times until she convinced herself that it was indeed what her crush had written. The question that was now racing through her mind, was what in Remnant was she supposed to say back? Yeah, you look great too, sexy? Of course there was no way, as she knew she'd pass out before the message reached Ren's Scroll. Nora took a deep breath to steady herself, before composing her reply, stared at it, and slowly pressed the send button.
Ren tensed as soon as Nora's reply appeared on screen, but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw what it said.
Nora: Thank you, Ren. That's really sweet of you. I had a really great time, too. You looked handsome in your suit.
The dark haired Huntsman-in-training bowed his head and shut his eyes; a small but warm smile now spreading across his face. He then looked back at his Scroll, and began typing a reply.
Ren: You're welcome, and thank you. I hope I wasn't a boring date and dance partner.
Nora: Boop. Don't be silly. You were great, and amazing at dancing as always. Maybe we should go dancing more often.
Ren's heart skipped a beat at the last message, but his thumbs were already typing his response.
Ren: That would be fun. Hopefully we will have time off soon.
Nora: Bleh, that means after the tournament if not the festival :P School and Hunting takes up sooo much time!
Ren: Speaking of which, we should go to bed. We have to get up early tomorrow.
Nora: Nyuuuh fine. Good night, Ren! Sleep well! Boop!
Ren: Good night, Nora. Same to you.
Ren placed his Scroll on his bed stand, and lay on his side, facing the wall. He shut his eyes but continued to smile peacefully, allowing the drowsiness to wash over him. On the other side of the wall, Nora was rereading their conversation, and beamed. She closed her Scroll and nuzzled into her pillow, felling as if she were on cloud nine.
'I love you' she said in her mind, and slowly drifted into a blissful sleep filled with pancakes and a handsome young chief making them.
And here's the first chapter! I hope it's piqued your interest, and will hold it till the end.
While I'm here, I'd like to say two things. One, Gods on high, have I forgotten how much I hate the Document Manager on this site. And two, I didn't realize how long this story was going to be. I genuinely recommend in some way, to bookmark where you left off...because you are NOT finishing chapters in one sitting. Then again, Covid happened so, who knows.
Cheers, stay safe, and take care.