This idea has been stuck in my head for the past months. I couldn't not write it, so, it's here. Reviews are welcome, but please, first of all, enjoy.
I've been really inspired by Couer al'aran, who has and continues to write some of the best stories in this site. Also, RebukeX7, who has inspired me with his stories for years and years and gave me the idea for scenes based on songs in stories. Especially, "The best man" and "The wingman" are my favourite stories and I must have re-read them more than 10 times each.
In addition, I was heavily inspired by the 2012 movie "The Vow". Great movie, highly suggest it.
The story contains songs. The scenes have been written with them in mind, so it makes sense if you listen to them while reading. There are markers on where each song should be played. I'm including the songs here if you want to prepare. If you copy and paste the title on a certain famous video viewing platform.
(The ones who've hurt you - Aurelio Voltaire)
(The dirtiest song that ain't - Aurelio Voltaire)
(Death of a Bachelor - Panic at the Disco)
(Hallelujah - Lucy Thomas)
(Leaves in the stream - Aurelio Voltaire, Alissa White-Gluz)
It was late at night, not much before midnight, and Pyrrha had just finished with her shower. It had been a long day of practice spars, tests and training and any time to unwind was gold to everyone.
She had long since taken to walking around Beacon at night, both to wind down, and to sate her curiosity about the expansive academy she enrolled in. Now, more than a semester in her huntress training, there were few places she hadn't set foot on throughout the campus. Some of her favourite were the rooftops. The dim light from the night sky cast everything in an exotic, surreal light that made everything seem magical.
It had been raining all day, up until late afternoon, but now that the clouds had cleared up, the atmosphere was completely cleared of any dust and dirt particles. That, along with the wind dancing through the trees, had combined into an even more mystical environment around her, and she was determined to enjoy it to its fullest.
That determination led her to find a secluded nook under the corner of a roof, sitting on one of the few dry places she could find, ready to soak up the peace. Suddenly, the direction of the wind changed, bringing with it a faint melody and a mournful song.
(The ones who've hurt you – Aurelio Voltaire [2:16])
"And I don't know what more I,
Could have done to heal your heart."
'Tha- that voice is familiar! But, why does he sound so hurt?'
Curiously, she made her way towards the voice.
"I want to hurt, the ones who've hurt you.
I want to really make them pay.
I want to hurt, the ones who've hurt you
For stealing our chance at love away."
She stopped, right before she turned the corner to confront the singer, the suffering in the song making her shiver more than the breeze which had turned bitingly cold, in seemingly a moment.
"So, I suppose, this is really goodbye.
Gods I hope, that you saw, how I tried!
And I envy the man, who'll be holding your hand,
As our bond is left behind.
I, wish you all, that love has to give,
It's around you just all of the time!
Because love is a thing,
Like a bird on the wind,
Once you break that cage inside."
Tears came to her eyes, as Pyrrha surged past her hiding spot to hug the also tearful boy.
An empty, neutral expression immediately slammed down in his face.
"Pyrrha, hey, what are you doing out here?"
Without breaking contact with him, she mumbled into his shirt.
"What was that Pyr? Didn't hear you there."
Lifting her head and finally looking him in the eye she noticed the tear tracks left on his cheeks, as well as the slight crack in his voice she realized now meant that he was crying.
"What is that song Jaune?"
Jaune's eyes darkened.
"How long were you there?"
"Long enough. What happened Jaune? Who was the song for?"
He sighed in resignation.
" I-… I lied to you. Remember when I told you that I forged my documents to get into Beacon?"
"Yeah."
"Remember the reason I gave you for why I did it?"
"Yeah, you told me you wanted to be a hero, like your family."
"That was the lie. I don't want to be a hero. In fact, I never even wanted to be a huntsman. That's why I never trained for it. I- Jeez, this is so cliche. I actually came to Beacon… For a girl."
Pyrrha stared. She stared hard.
"You came to Beacon, to get a girlfriend? So, that song is because that uptight litt- I mean, Weiss rejected you?" She asked, incredulity dripping from her every syllable.
Jaune chuckled.
"No, not A girlfriend, it's a little more specific than that. As for the second part of your question, yes. It's because Weiss rejected me. But-"
Pyrrha sighed, her face meeting her palm.
Jaune cleared his throat.
"But, before you say anything, the story goes further back than you think. Let me tell it first and then decide what to think, ok?"
The words made the girl raise her head and nod.
"It all started, well, it started some time ago. Around 2 years to be honest. Get comfortable, it's a long story, filled with sighs. You have to understand, I never really wanted to be a huntsman. I've seen what the job does to people. My father was a huntsman, and I've seen him come back from missions wounded, hurt, hell, he even lost his eye a few years back, not due to a grimm, but to a mob of civilians who thought him responsible FOR the grimm. I never wanted to be a huntsman. I wanted to be a musician. In fact I've even played some gigs at a few small bars in the villages surrounding Vale. Anyway, me being here, it started a few years back, when, after a lot of time spent on lessons and practice, it was time for me to sing in front of an audience…"
/-/-/
It was almost time for him to go out and sing. The anxiety in the greenroom was almost palpable, and it had gotten even him nervous. Once more he cursed his name which had him coming out first. The screen turned on and had his name on it. One of the organizers came up to him and took him backstage to get ready for his performance. Walking out, he spared a glance for the rest of the artists in the room, anxiously waiting and preparing for their turn and with a final sigh, he started towards the door, finally making his decision.
As he got ready, the announcer was heard from the stage, introducing him to the crowd.
"...Our first performer, from the village of Ansel in Vale, let's welcome Jaune Arc!"
A round of lukewarm applause welcomed him to the stage, the kind that was more habit than actual want. Nevertheless, he didn't let it bother him. He took a deep breath, and walked to the person in charge of the background music instead of the microphone. After whispering in his ear, he finally made his way to the center of the stage. He smiled as he took out his guitar from its bag and sat on the stool. Ready to start his song, he started strumming.
/-/-/
"I still, for the life of me, cannot understand why we came here, Winter."
"I told you. You want to be a professional musician. It wouldn't hurt to look into your peers. In contrast, I think it would be very beneficial for you. You might even form connections to some very important people in the industry, that would help you later."
"Yes but still, these people can hardly be called my peers. After all, I have already signed with a record company. After all, for most of these people, music is a hobby, something their parents push them into. I've poured sweat and tears and blood into it to get to where I am and to get the skills I have in music and frankly, I'd feel insulted if even one of these people were to be nearly as skilled as I am."
Winter's eyes hardened.
"If only father could hear you right now, he would be proud"
At the mention of their parent, Weiss' eyes widened in shock, as Winter continued.
"You are neglecting the fact that a lot of the people that will appear today live not in one of the major cities, but in villages outside the city walls. Not everyone has had the opportunities that our hard, but admittedly lavish, upbringing has afforded us. Try to judge others on skill and not let our father's bad habits affect you."
Weiss merely nodded, her sister's words circling her mind as the lights in the room dimmed and a well dressed woman came up on stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming this evening to our annual up and coming musicians concert. As you know, the following performers are selected based on different musical competitions throughout the world, and have gathered here today to perform in perhaps the capital of the music industry, the city of Argus. Now, without further ado, our first performer, from the village of Ansel in Vale, ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome Jaune Arc!"
The boy that got up on stage must have been around her age, Weiss thought. He was tall and thin, giving him a scraggly appearance. His blond hair was messy, as if someone tried to calm and comb them but failed, and his suit was just a bit too wide for his frame, making him seem even thinner.
He seemed nervous as he got on the stage and then off to the other side, to talk to one of the people on the consoles that would play to accompany the young musicians. After that, he got on the middle of the stage and grabbed a guitar from a case he was carrying with him.
As soon as the guitar was in his hands, he evidently calmed down, an easy smile on his face as he started strumming. Weiss promised herself she'd be professional in her critique of him, even in her own head, as she leaned back in her chair to listen to the upcoming song.
(The dirtiest song that ain't -Aurelio Voltaire)
I've been 'round for a long time
And I learned along the way:
If you wanna go on the radio
There are words you just can't say!
Well, I thought hard about it
And I found a way around it
To help me go on the radio, you gotta say the words I can't.
You got to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song that ain't.
Come on, ma'am, won't you give me your hand
And say the words I can't?
You got to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song that ain't"
Weiss stared at him. Then to Winter, then back to him. He wasn't serious. He couldn't be serious. She dreaded listening to the rest of the song.
"Down in Carolina
I met a girl with a nice...
So I reached down between us
And I whipped out my...
Skipped right past the suckin'
And got right down to...
She turned and said: "I gotta ask,
Would you slip it into my..."
Help me go on the radio and say the words I can't.
You got to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song that ain't.
Come on, ma'am, won't you give me your hand
And say the words I can't?
You got to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song that ain't"
The atmosphere in the room had split in half. One part was amused, silently murmuring whatever words they felt best filled the gaps. The other was appauled at the story the sixteen-year-old was singing.
"Her husband was a trucker
He was a filthy mother...
I didn't wanna wrastle
With this no-good stinkin'...
I heard him come through the kitchen door
When I was bangin' his filthy...
I knew I'd end up in a ditch
If he caught me ridin' his...
Help me go on the radio and say the words I can't.
You got to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song that ain't.
Come on, ma'am, won't you give me your hand
And say the words I can't?
You got to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song that ain't"
Weiss belonged firmly in the appalled half of the audience. The words he was using, and worse yet, the words he was implying, were filth and she turned to Winter to make her opinion known. However, much to her shock, her sister seemed to enjoy the… performance, if she could call it that, evident from her amused grin and the tapping of her foot.
"Mercy, please!" I told him,
But he grabbed me by the...
And he did something heinous
He exposed his...
I said "I don't mean to seem crass,
But why are you buttering up your..."
He said "My wife's a beard, and she lured you here.
'Cause I'm queer and I love it in the..."
Help me go on the radio by saying the words I can't.
You have to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song that ain't.
Sir and ma'am, thanks for lending a hand.
By saying the words I can't.
You have to sing along to make this song
The dirtiest song,
The filthiest song,
The dirtiest song that ain't."
With a small bow to the audience, the young man left for the backstage, followed by the, tentative for some, and enthusiastic by others, applause of the audience.
/-/-/
Later that evening, after the concert had come to a close, Weiss and her sister were having dinner in a nearby karaoke bar, which the event promoters had suggested, as they were offering a discount to people that had attended the concert. Probably a sponsorship deal, Weiss had thought. Not that they really needed the discount, but Winter had visited the establishment in the past and enjoyed it, so it became their destination as well.
"Can you believe the gal? To sing that filth in such an establishment?"
"Why filth? I found it particularly witty to be honest. And he seemed talented. Probably the most talented of the performers tonight."
Weiss' shock was evident.
"Talented? The song was a gimmick to shock. It did not have any particular message to convey. It would take absolutely no practice at all to perform it. "
Winter's eyebrows shot to the top of her forehead and she tried to motion Weiss to stop, but her sister continued on with her rant.
"And those words he used. Worse yet, the words he implied? Filth. "
A cough was heard from behind Weiss and her eyes widened as she closed her mouth with both hands, appalled at her own behaviour this time. The young man faced Winter.
"Okay, first of all, thank you for the compliments, but there were people far more talented than me in that place, they were just crippled by the stress."
Now he turned to Weiss.
"Now, second, snow princess, the words I used, while a bit risqué, were perfectly fine. In contrast, if the words you thought to fill the blanks were not up to your standard, well, I guess there's no one else to blame but you for those, you thought of them. And third, you want a song you won't be able to perform without practice? Fine. Watch and enjoy. "
With that, he went up to the DJ, whispered something in his ear, in a scene very similar to the concert, and went up to the microphone.
Weiss was blushing a little, but her expression was still annoyed. She turned to find her sister giggling softly into her hand.
Her blush deepening, she turned to watch the blonde perform as the music started
(Death of a bachelor - Panic at the disco)
"Do I look lonely?
I see the shadows on my face
People have told me I don't look the same
Maybe I lost weight
I'm playing hooky with the best of the best
Put my heart on my chest so that you can see it, too.
I'm walking the long road, watching the sky fall
The lace in your dress tingles my neck, how do I live?
The death of a bachelor
Oh oh
Letting the water fall
The death of a bachelor
Oh oh
Seems so fitting for
Happily ever after (woo)
How could I ask for more?
A lifetime of laughter
At the expense of the death of a bachelor
I'm cutting my mind off
Feels like my heart is going to burst
Alone at a table for two and I just wanna be served
And when you think of me am I the best you've ever had?
Share one more drink with me, smile even though you're sad
I'm walking the long road, watching the sky fall
The lace in your dress tingles my neck, how do I live?
The death of a bachelor
Oh oh
Letting the water fall
The death of a bachelor
Oh oh
Seems so fitting for
Happily ever after (woo)
How could I ask for more?
A lifetime of laughter
At the expense of the death of a bachelor"
As the performance went on, Weiss' eyebrows had slowly climbed up to her hairline, where they had stayed throughout. Winter watched her Weiss look with shock and, dare she say it, a little admiration in her eyes, at the boy she so easily bad-mouthed before. She grinned, feeling her sister had learned an important lesson.
"The death of a bachelor
Oh oh
Letting the water fall
The death of a bachelor
Oh oh
Seems so fitting for
Happily ever after (woo)
How could I ask for more?
A lifetime of laughter
At the expense of the death of a bachelor"
The crowd in the karaoke bar burst in applause. The young man locked eyes with Weiss and bowed. Going back to his seat, he turned it to face the young heiress.
"Was that acceptable, snow princess?"
Weiss' cheeks reddened in embarrassment and annoyance in equal measures.
"It was adequate. How come you did not sing that song in the concert?"
Jaune rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, I was going to. I've been debating between which of the two to sing for the past week. On the one hand, 'death of a bachelor' showcases my range more, but on the other, I wrote 'the dirtiest song that ain't' myself and I'm proud of it. I had finally decided on the bachelor, only last night."
"Yes, but you did not sing that. What happened?"
Now the young man blushed.
"Well, as I was getting ready, I saw all the other performers stressing out, I thought they needed to chill. So, I decided to help."
As they were talking, a few of the other contestants decided to go up and sing, in a far less stressful scenario. As one was finishing their performance, the DJ called.
"Everyone, give it up for William Hernandez! Now, anyone else wants to show us their talent?"
The blonde grasped the chance to change the subject.
"You know, you kept boasting about how good you are. Time to put your money where your mouth is, princess! Go on! Or, are you scared?"
A competitive smirk bloomed in Weiss' face.
"Fine. You better perk your ears and listen, Blondie. You might learn a thing or two."
With a confident strut, Weiss went to the DJ to tell him her selection.
Winter's face had just a small smirk on, but inside, she was cackling in delight at the exchange.
"Oh brothers, they're just adorable! I can't wait to tease her later."
Jaune was focused on the girl on the scene, as she prepared to perform. She seemed confident on stage, just as he suspected. In all honesty, he was sure she'd be a good singer. Her voice had a melodic quality to it. He couldn't miss the chance to listen to her sing.
(Hallelujah - Lucy Thomas)
"I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled King composing 'Hallelujah'
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Maybe there are Gods above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not someone who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
(Hallelujah, Hallelujah), (Hallelujah), Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah"
The audience were applauding, some of them even standing up and Jaune was glad to join them. The white-haired girl bowed, keeping eye-contact with him and smirking. Then, she got off the stage and back to her table.
"Holy shit. That was amazing. How are you not famous, princess?"
Weiss blushed and Winter's grin trembled, threatening to turn into a full blown proud smile.
"Well, if you must know, I'm in the process of recording an album. It is Weiss Schnee by the way, not princess."
"Oh, I'm Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue. The ladies love it!"
Weiss' left eyebrow shot up as Winter choked on her drink.
"Do they now?"
"Well, my mom says they do."
The Schnee women blinked.
"You're, oh gods, you're serious. You're not from one of the big cities, right?"
"Nope. I'm from one of the villages outside the walls. Just big enough for it to have proper walls, but not big enough to offer any higher education. How about you? You seem Atlesian."
"Yes, as a matter of fact. I'm from Atlas, have been there most of my life. And you talked about higher education, what do you aim for? A Huntsman?"
"Not really. Grew up with a Huntsman father. I know a lot of the stuff he has gone through to save ungrateful people. I wouldn't want that. I want to follow music, actually. That's why I entered the competition. I wanted my participation to appear in my CV so that the Mistrali Institute of Arts would be more likely to accept me, seeing as a lot of the professors attended the event. You? I mean, you talked about your record deal, but you could be following it out of a hobby until you can join one of the Academies."
"Not really. While I do have some huntress training, I've my eyes set on music. It's my passion, and I'll follow it all the way…."
/-/-/
"We talked for hours that night. At some point, her sister got called in for an emergency, so me and Weiss stayed in that bar and talked. We sang some more, even did a duet. We found we had relatively similar tastes, though hers leaned more towards the classic and refined and mine more towards the modern sounds."
Jaune's eyes were a bit unfocused, as if he was reliving the events as he recalled them. His fond smile speaking volumes of his feelings for the white-haired girl.
'I really never stood a chance, huh? The way he describes her, I'm jealous. I wonder what changed.'
"Eventually it was time for me to go, as the airplane I would get was an early morning one. We said our goodbyes, and left. She offered to have her driver give me a ride to the airport, but I didn't want to impose, so I took a cab…"
/-/-/
Jaune was sitting in the airport chair, thinking. He had passed through passport control, and was now just waiting for the bullhead. He had almost an hour until boarding opened, but until then, he was just left with his thoughts.
He liked Weiss.
That was a fact he couldn't deny. He had noticed she was beautiful from way back, when he went to sing in the concert. For better or for worse, the sisters were eye catching, with their pure white hair and sharp, royal features.
However, he had just thought her as the unattainable beauty which he'd never meet. As fate would have it though, they came and sat right behind him in the after-show bar. He had gone there to eat, seeing as he wanted to save as much money as possible to not burden his parents even more than what they used to sent him to another continent for the concert. They weren't poor, by any measure, thankfully hunting was a lucrative enough profession. However, any household with 8 children would be hard-pressed, and him, as one of the oldest, he wanted to help.
Hearing her comments had hurt a bit, so he wanted to prove to her he wasn't as bad as she thought. And he believed he had proved himself better than her. He was, you see, fairly confident in his skills. However, she quickly proved the superior artist.
As soon as she opened her mouth to sing, he was entranced. Her voice portrayed all the emotions, the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows of the song perfectly.
She was amazing. He was glad he got to know her. And he liked her. A lot. He didn't know if she felt the same way, but he wanted to spend more time with her. And instead, he was here, waiting, to get to another continent.
/-/-/
Weiss was sitting in the back seat of their private car, the more discreet of the ones their father owned, but still luxurious. Klein, her caretaker since as far back as she could remembered. She was contemplating the events of the day.
She liked Jaune.
That was a fact she couldn't deny. He was a handsome and charismatic, if a bit awkward, young man. That she realized as soon as he stepped onto the stage. Despite her complaining about his song at first, she couldn't deny the wit and humour behind it.
As he sung, he commanded the attention of the audience, not wanting to seem far above them in skill, but as if he was just singing to a group of friends. It brought to mind stories of people singing in pubs and taverns, with more and more people joining in and eventually all the tavern singing and being merry. That was the atmosphere that had taken over as in the few minutes of his performance.
She had missed that at first, wanting to seem above the performers there by complaining. How wrong she was. Now she really understood what Winter said about her behaviour. She hated how similar to her father she had sounded.
Realizing he was sitting behind them while she bad-mouthed him had been mortifying. It was a surprise. What was even more surprising were his abilities. She had rushed to judge him, and he showed her how wrong she was.
Conversing with him had been so interesting. His wit and talent were on par with her own, and his passion for music matched hers as well. She had even forgotten her sister was there with them until she had to leave. Weiss shivered. She knew Winter would tease her to death when they met again. She had more important things to worry about now though.
He was amazing. She was glad she got to know him. And she liked him. A lot. She didn't know if he felt the same way, but she wanted to spend more time with him. And instead, she was here, going home, while he was leaving for another continent.
/-/-/
(Leaves in the stream - Aurelio Voltaire, Alissa White-Gluz)
Jaune got up from where he was sitting, picking up his backpack and hand luggage and heading for the exit. He had to find her.
'Sitting here, bored
Waiting for a flight
Though I've got to go
Something isn't right
So I called a car
And head back to town
To the place we met
But you were not around'
Jaune got in the cab. He had to at least tell her.
'And I wonder what you've done to me
I've lost all my ability to think logically
I know I've never felt this way before
Like someone pushed me through a door
And there's no turning back
No'
/-/-/
Weiss told Klein to head towards the airport.
'Your left the bar at 4am
I feared I'd never see your face again
So I went to the airport and looked around
And didn't know your flight or where you were bound
And I wonder what you've done to me
I've lost all my ability to think logically
I know I've never felt this way before
Like someone pushed me through a door
And there's no turning back
No more '
Weiss looked around the exits. The airport was big and she started looking everywhere, taking all the gates in order.
'Oh now it seems
You and me
Are two leaves caught in the stream
You and I
Side by side
On the tides swept out to sea'
/-/-/
Jaune had just finished asking around the bar for the young woman. Not many knew who she was, and those that did, hadn't seen her after they left.
'I pray you tell
What kind of spell
Have you placed on my soul?'
/-/-/
Weiss couldn't find him. The boarding of his plane was already halfway through when she arrived at the gate, and the employees there, too tired by the night shift, couldn't remember if he had passed by them or not.
'What's affected you
It has got me too
And I'm losing all control'
She was now walking slowly up the sea-side street. In the morning, this would be one of the most popular streets for pedestrians, but now, it was empty and silent. She thought of how she'd never see Jaune again. The first person she had met to make her feel like that. She missed her chance.
/-/-/
Jaune was walking dejectedly down the sea-side street. The sun had not yet broken over the horizon, so everything was painted in the dark orange glow of dust lamps about to go off. He thought of how he would never see Weiss again, the first person to make him feel like that. He missed his chance.
'I've given up
I was at the end (Where are you?)
I lost all hope
Of seeing you again (I'm searching)
In another time
In another place (I'll find you)'
A flash of white down the road caught his eyes and he looked up
"Weiss?"
'And here we are
Standing face to face'
/-/-/
"Weiss?"
She was pulled out of her thoughts by a familiar voice. Looking up, a mop of blonde caught her eyes. And she rushed forward.
'And I wonder what you've done to me
I've lost all my ability to think logically
I know I've never felt this way before
Like someone pushed me through a door
And there's no turning back
No more'
"Oh gods, I was looking everywhere for you, why weren't you at the airport?"
"I came looking for you. I couldn't leave. Why were you at the airport?"
Weiss' gaze lowered, but then she steeled herself to do something she has never done before. At the same time, Jaune took a deep breath.
"I have to tell you something"
"I have to tell you something"
'Oh now it seems
You and me
Are two leaves caught in the stream
You and I
Side by side
On the tides swept out to sea'
"I like you"
"I like you"
'It would seem
You and me
Are two leaves caught in the stream
Maybe life
Did decide
That we're simply meant to be'
Smiling, they started up the street, going to their bar again to talk.
/-/-/
"I got an earful from my parents that night, for missing the flight. However, it was worth it. We sat at that bar that night and just talked about everything. We left in the morning, when the bar was closing and just spent the day going from café to restaurant and just getting to know each other. We exchanged contact information and Weiss pulled some strings to have me on the next flight to Vale free of charge. That was when I learnt she was the heiress to the biggest company on the planet. It was quite a shock. We, well, since we were from different continents, we met twice every month once on Vale and once on Atlas, and both put our all into our studies to go to the same college. She continued her music career and her talent shone through as you probably know. Meanwhile, I tried as well and slowly got a following. She offered to have me sign for the same company as her, but I wanted to earn it. It was slow going. Now, fast forward two years, and she had invited me to her last concert before we both went to MIA, where we had gotten accepted."
Pyrrha could sense the story nearing its bitter conclusion by the darkening of his tone.
"The concert was to be held in the same concert hall as mine had, the night we met. A nice bit of callback she was so proud to tell me about. I was there first, having visited her earlier, she told me to go ahead first and go to the hall. Eventually, the time for her concert to begin came. And then it went. She was late. I got worried, since I knew she was never late. Going out of the building, I finally got reception on my scroll and got all the messages her sister had sent me. Turns out, there had been an attack on her car as she was coming."
Pyrrha didn't realize she was holding her breath. Jaune's voice was lacking in emotion now, clinically stating facts. It felt truly wrong coming from a person as emotive as Jaune.
"The White Fang had bombed her car. Her driver died, and she was hospitalized with cranial trauma. She had luckily focused her aura on time to guard her, otherwise she'd be dead. I stayed by her bedside for days, having to leave only when her father came to see her, as he couldn't learn about our relationship. Winter knew, she and Weiss had gotten much closer ever since that concert. Even I got to see Winter as a friend as time passed. Regretfully, when Weiss was gonna wake up, her father had asked the doctors to be notified, and we couldn't do anything. I felt so happy that she woke up, Winter almost had to lock me up in a room to get me to not be there while her father was. Eventually, far faster than he should, but far slower than I wanted him to leave. I went to her almost immediately. I-..."
Jaune's breath hitched.
Pyrrha laid a hand on his shoulder in silent support.
"She had amnesia. She had completely lost memory of the past 3 years. Every meeting, all our time together was lost. She didn't recognize me. It was… it was terrible."
Tears started pooling in his eyes, but he made no motion to wipe them.
"As soon as she was able to leave, her father kidnapped her to his house, and Weiss, not remembering her rebellion against him and all her plans, went along. He pushed her towards being a Huntress, to avoid music, so as to not lose another tool in his arsenal for power. He limited the number of visits she had with Winter, and he kept her close and monitored for the entire period, hiring the best trainers to get her up to 'Beacon' standards. I could only sit and listen to what Winter sent me on her, on how she was doing. As soon as I learnt that she was gonna come to Beacon, my mind was made up. I had to come here. I got my father to teach me the basics, in secret from my mother. When the time came, I set off. And, well, you know the rest."
He finally wiped the tears that were now flowing free from his eyes. Pyrrha moved and hugged him, holding him as he weeped from wounds that evidently didn't heal.
"An- And, she didn't even recognize me from the hospital, when we met here. It's like she never met m-me and I can't take it anymore… That's why I wrote the song. Had to, had to remind myself all that existed. Had to."
Pyrrha slowly rubbed his shoulder, hoping to give him at least some comfort.
"Shhhhhh, it's okay, it's okay, shhhhh"
After a while, his sobs quieted, and he calmed down.
"Sorry to unload all that on you… seems like I needed to tell it more than I realized."
"It's okay. What are partners for anyway, if not to help. What do you plan to do now?"
Jaune mulled over her question, thinking.
"I love Weiss. I don't think I'm ready to give up on that."
Pyrrha took a deep breath and asked the question that had been bugging her.
"I, I never stood a chance, did I? "
Jaune bit his lip and looked at the ground.
Pyrrha sighed.
"Ok, that hurts, but it's not your fault. Now, what I think the problem is, you're facing the whole issue from the wrong perspective. You keep chasing after Weiss, hoping she'll remember. Like she's your Weis-"
"But she is my W-"
"No. I can't possibly imagine what it feels like, but that isn't your Weiss. She isn't the person you fell in love with. But, you are the person she fell in love with. You did it once and we both know you can do it again. "
A look of epiphany shone across his face.
"You're, you're right. I have to make her fall in love with me all over again. From the beginning. Oh gods, how have I not thought of that before. Oh thank you so much!"
Pyrrha had mixed feelings about his joy.
"And, you have a benefit most people don't. You know it's gonna work. So, what are you going to do?"
Jaune smirked, a huge weight visibly off of his shoulders.
"Win her back!"
Aaand, scene. Hope you enjoyed this. I wrote this as a one-shot, but I have ideas to continue it if people want it. Again, please review with some honest criticism. Anything else is meaningless. Have a good one y'all.