Authors Notes: LETS DO THIS

Jaune had expected to get in trouble for the incident, the whole destroying entire tables, columns of stone, and not to mention the food they had waisted. In the end however, they didn't receive so much as one detention, thanks to the intervention of the headmaster. All though the deputy headmistress did not look to be as accepting of the decision.

The two teams had separated out to do various things shortly after. While they had been on opposite sides of their little war, no grudges were held and everyone had a good laugh about it. Yang had dragged him off to continue their little lesson and delve into what he did right and wrong, a discussion which had a surprising amount of the former.

"A few more tricks like that table one, throw in a few good hits and blocks, and you might have beaten me." Yang had draped herself over a couch in one of the general areas in their dorm building. Technically the areas were meant for everyone but most people left as soon as they saw either team RWBY or JNPR approach meaning they usually had the room to themselves. The perks of being socially awkward and driving everyone away... the more he thought about it the less it seemed like a perk.

The relaxed atmosphere was always appreciated though, especially now. The food fight had been strictly for fun of course but that hadn't stopped the normal thrill that came with combat from setting in. Another thing he could blame Yang for, he had started to enjoy that rush just a bit.

"Feeling a tad bit optimistic today are we?"

"Stop it," She sat up and punched him in the arm before laying back down. "you did good."

Jaune sighed but knew not to voice his disagreement.

"You need to stop being so hard on yourself." Yang sighed, sitting up all the way this time. "You've probably improved more than anybody else in our year."

"Only because everyone else was already skilled." He bent over in his chair and kept his eyes locked on anything that wasn't red or lilac.

"Most the fighters here are set in their ways, they have a lot to learn and they aren't doing it because they are 'skilled'. They don't think they have to learn anything. That little fact is what distinguishes between average people and real fighters." Yang dropped more of her uncles wisdom, attempting to pass it off as her own.

"It took me almost half the school year to get this far, I haven't won a single spar in combat class." He had gotten better, he knew that, but he still had a long ways to go. He just wanted to be honest with himself and everyone. He didn't want them to be set up only for him to fail them.

"You've come farther in half a year than most these guys have come in a decade." There was a moment's hesitation before she continued. "Besides, it's not your fault you haven't improved faster."

Jaune failed to understand her meaning. "If not me, than who? I'm the only one to blame."

"Well… Pyrrha kinda failed the whole teaching thing." This time Jaune did look up, she had gained his full attention. "Seeing the progress you've made with some honest criticisms and real experience, not just a beat down followed by a compliment, she could have done way better."

"Pyrrha is the only reason I wasn't kicked out already, it's because of her that I haven't failed my classes, she's the reason I have any sort of hope in combat class." If he sounded a little irritated it's cause he was. Pyr had been nothing but perfect, he knew Yang didn't mean anything by it but Jaune couldn't let his partner be talked down in any way.

"I'm not trying to insult her, she did a good job training you, but seeing the progress you've made over the last few months?" Yang paused a moment to think. "She's a good person and a hell of a fighter, she did some amazing things with you but… she was too polite. She never wanted to tell you what you did wrong, how could you improve if she didn't? She kinda failed to teach you the essentials."

Jaune knew the words were true but he disliked them nonetheless. "She has told me what I can do to improve plenty of times, she was only being kind!" Jaune tried to keep his voice calm.

"I've seen the way she helps you. Every critique she gives is always followed by a compliment or reassurance, that doesn't help much if the real advice gets muddled."

"She knows exactly what she's doing." Jaune once again struggled to keep his voice calm.

"She's knows how to fight, I wouldn't ever say she didn't, but I don't know." Yang shrugged her shoulders softly. "I think she could have done better."

"I knew nothing before she helped me." Jaune stated it how it was. "She taught me everything I know."

"Oh come on, she helped you get better yeah, but really? Everything?" Yang rolled her eyes at what she thought was an over exaggeration. "You had training before Beacon, so she wasn't exactly working from scratch."

Perhaps it was the leftover adrenaline from the food fight earlier, or maybe the annoyance at hearing his friend being insulted, but Jaune made a mistake.

"I never went to a combat school! I didn't have any training! I never trained a day in my life!" It was only after the words left his mouth that he realized what he had done.

Jaune and Yang had gotten close over the last few months but his fraudulent stay at the academy was something he had only told his partner.

He checked around the room to make sure they were alone, which they thankfully were and stood from his chair before walking away. Yang had risen from the couch and had taken a few steps to follow but stopped when she got a good read of his anger, realising to late that she should have backed off.

Jaune tried to check his anger but was unable to do do anything to really calm himself down. Shame, fear and anger wared inside of him, he couldn't decided which he felt more of.

"Bet that won't bite me in the ass." He whispered to himself through clenched teeth.

Yang was used to anger, that being one of the main driving factor for her fighting style, but she hadn't ever expected to see it from Jaune. He didn't have a calming and quiet demeanor like her partner did nor did he have a cool head like his own partner, quite frankly he was simply slow to anger. That's why his outburst was all the more surprising.

She hadn't meant to sound like she was being unfair to Pyrrha, Yang had nothing but respect for her, but looking back she could see how it might have looked. She had been tired of Jaune always blaming himself, even when he worked twice as hard as most the students their year had.

His combat ability was nonexistent at the start of the year, Pyrrha had been a big help in getting him started but…

Yang released a sigh, she should have worded it better. Pyrrha and Jaune were close friends, and if the champion ever got her way they would be more than that, but their relationship was still something special.

She wanted to go after him and apologies, the only reason she didn't was because she knew he needed time to calm down. That and she needed some time of her own to think.

Jaune had said he hadn't trained a day in his life, that he didn't have any combat experience. That raised a few questions, such as how he got in the school at all.

She didn't doubt for a second, however, that he was able to defend himself now. Regardless of how he got in the school he had earned his place, if not through how hard he trained then his actions. He had turned out to be a rather good strategist when it came to combat, as well as a quick learner when it came to actual technique, but more than that he had shown he had the mentality of a hunter.

That might not be enough for the teachers but it was more than enough for Yang.

Besides, at the end of the day, he was her friend first and foremost.

It didn't stop her from being worried though, that little part of her mind whispering that he wouldn't be able to protect himself or that he would endanger his team. That she should go to the teachers as soon as possible and turn him over.

Yang hated herself for considering the idea on any level. That anger at herself unfortunately reflected onto Jaune with ease.

For the most part Yang had been left alone to war with her choice, few people attempting to talk to her and those who did quickly saw her mood and found something else to do. It had been an hour or two before someone who wouldn't be intimidated found her.

Yang wished it could have been almost any other person.

"Do you mind if we have a talk?" Her ever present smile might have fooled most but something in her eyes mixed with her tone of voice made it clear even Pyrrha didn't want to have this conversation. Though whether that was because the subject or just person she was talking to Yang didn't know.

Yang gestured to the chair sitting across from her spot on the couch but made no move to sit up.

"What you wanna talk about?" Yang had a pretty good idea what it was but she still hopped it could be anything else. She had no such luck.

"Jaune told me about what happened." Yang made to speak but Pyrrha continued before she could interrupt. "He didn't tell me what you said but… he did tell me what he said."

Yang's jaw snapped shut as she realized that she didn't know what to say.

"He made his mistakes, and he paid for them." Pyrrha paused to think on something before continuing. "Cardin found out earlier this year, that was why Jaune was acting so weird before Forever Fall."

"Cardin was blackmailing him?!" Any frustration or anger Yang had towards Jaune redirected in an instant. "Why didn't he tell me? I could have ki-"

"He didn't tell any of us." Pyrrha's shoulders fell slightly for a moment before returning to their normal position. "He took care of it though, as you probably noticed."

Yang thought for a moment and realized she was right. It wasn't something she had noticed at the time but Cardin had backed off, there had only really been one or two encounters since Forever Fall. In truth she hadn't really give it any thought, but to know Jaune handled it after everything that happened? She was proud of him, even if it was a while back.

"He told me what he let slip." Emerald eyes met lilac as Pyrrha stared yang down. "He trusts you, or at least trusted" The past tense on that word hurt Yang more than she had expected but she refrained from interrupting. "Please, keep it a secret."

"Pyrrha…" The champions spirits fell as Yang struggled to decide what would be the right thing to do. "As far as I'm concerned, he earned his place here." Pyrrha's smile came back, and although it was little more than a slight curve of the lips, it felt more honest. "If the teachers ever find out, it won't because of me."

Pyrrha sat up straighter and dipped her head in a slight nod. "Thank you, and not only from myself but Jaune as well. He may be mad but… he still cares." Once again she paused to think before speaking. "I think it's because he cares so much that he reacted the way he did. He didn't tell me what you said, and I won't ask" she cut Yang off before she could say anything. "But he's an emotional person, I'm sure you've noticed."

"Yeah, it's one of his most attractive features. He cares for pretty much everyone, he has a good heart. Somehow, that's enough." Pyrrha's smile fell, taking on the less sincere one form earlier.

She seemed to struggle with some for a moment, though Yang couldn't even begin to guess what it might be.

"You and him are friends… right?" This time, Pyrrha refused to meet her eyes.

"Yeah… why?"

Again Pyrrha seemed to struggle with whether to speak or not. "Is that… all you are?"

It took Yang a moment to realize what she meant, and in truth she kinda wished she didn't figure it out. Her cheeks took on a red hue and she avoided answering for a moment.

In the end, she told the truth. "We're just friends, admittedly a little closer than some friendships but there isn't anything there." The words left her mouth in a little bit of a jumble but Pyrrha seemed to be able to make sense of them.

"Would you like to be more than that? This time Pyrrha looked up at her from the corner of her eyes, unable to fully address the awkward topic but still clearly wanting to know the answer.

"He's a cool guy, and he's actually a pretty good looking one at that, but…" Yang had to think hard on how to continue. "I like our friendship, I wouldn't want to risk it for the world." Pyrrha didn't seem like she fully believed her but was unwilling, or unwanting, to drill her any further.

"Thank you Yang."

"Would you like to know what Jaune and I were talking about?" Yang despised talking behind a friends back in any negative way, it never felt right, and she considered Pyrrha a friend. Not as close as her and Jaune were sure but the Mistrillian champion was always cool to be around.

"I know it was about me in some way, but… in truth I don't care." Pyrrha sighed quietly. "Jaune is frustrated, honestly if it weren't him I would say he was angry, but that word doesn't seem to fit him right."

Yang couldn't help but agree. As the two sat there in silence she had a moment to piece together Pyrrha's questions, and decided to ask one of her own.

"Are you gonna tell him how you feel?"

The question seemed to catch Pyrrha off guard. "I don't know what you mean."

"Pyrrha, there is only one person in the school who doesn't know how you feel about Jaune. Somehow he hasn't figured it out yet." Yang paused to let Pyrrha regain her composure. "You should tell him, while you still can. You never know when he might fall for someone else. You'll hate yourself for waiting."

"I know, believe me I know." Pyrrha sighed and brought a hand to her face. "It… might be best if you gave him some time to calm down."

Yang's eyes feel to the floor. "Yeah, I planned on giving him a few days."

Pyrrha nodded and left without saying another word.

Authors Note: Ha HA, I have fooled you all! This was really an Yang x Pyrrha all along! Next chapter they fu- I don't think I have to specify I'm joking.

I hope you enjoyed, I encourage you to review and give me your thoughts. It helps me a ton to know how you all feel bout the story.

Sincerely
SE