"Hey there girls, how's it hangi—woah!"
She would never forget the day she met her dork. Nor how the moment she turned her head towards the then stranger his mouth snapped open and his eyes widened as he stared at her awestruck.
Her easygoing smile turned a bit wooden at the sight, even as she felt her cheeks flush a bit, fearful that this too was yet another one of her fans. But her worries were swiftly put to rest.
"W-what?! How dare you interrupt us you dolt! Don't you know who she is? Matter of fact, don't you know who I am?" asked the white haired girl by her side who had been a tad..clingy.
The blond boy snapped out of his trance and gazed at the girl with an owlish blink.
"No, should I?" he asked with a cute tilt of his head, tone innocent, causing the redhead to hurriedly stifle a giggle as her fears were dashed. No, this one didn't know her, he was simply..appreciative of her. And the girl, casting a quick glance over the oblivious boy's form found that she was fine with that.
"Of course you should you dolt! I'm Weiss Schnee," pompously declared the now named Weiss. "Heir to the Schnee corporation?" she continued with the wind taken out of her sails upon seeing the boy continue to stare at her, confusion plain for all to see.
"Uh-huh, I see." He said, nodding his head in a manner that indicated that no, he very much didn't. "Yeap, I remember now, very important company, yep!"
His words caused the white haired girl to deflate and a small giggle to escape the redhead's mouth, drawing his awestruck gaze back to her once more.
Upon seeing his reaction Weiss hurriedly recomposed herself, seeing a new avenue of attack.
"And this, is Pyrrha Nikos, the invincible girl, multiple times champion off—"
Her smile turned brittle —even as she felt like throttling the white haired girl— as the still unnamed boy's eyes widened in surprise, aaand there he goes. Now he will realize who she—
His fist slapped into his open palm even as he gave a nod of recognition, excitement shining in his eyes.
"The pumpkin girl!" he said, his words eliciting an outraged squawk out of Weiss and a confused "Pardon?" out of her.
"You know," he continued. "From the cereal? I knew I'd seen your face somewhere before. Now I'm sorry to say but I hope you found a better deal for advertisement or..whatever it is you do elsewhere." He said and leaned in close, not noticing the minute shaking of Pyrrha's shoulders or how she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "You didn't hear it from me, but those Cereals…yeah not that good." He said and leaned back with a nod.
"I…you…" Weiss incoherent grumbling caused the teen to startle and his eyes to widen.
"Oh, right, my apologies. How silly of me, I've forgotten to introduce myself." He said and hastily performed a bow. "Name's Jaune Ark, sweet, short and the ladies love it." He finished, flashing the pair a suave smirk that was so out of place when compared to his previous expression, indeed his next words confirmed Pyrrha's suspicions. "Wait..Father said it was short then sweet wasn't it, and did i forget something? Ah damnit." He murmured to himself.
The redhead, ignoring the girl by her side only giggled in response drawing his eyes back to hers and giving him a warm smile in return.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance then Jaune."
Said boy's cheeks flushed scarlet at her smile making him nod dumbly back. "Y-yeah.."
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"So, you really are a Champion then?"
Pyrrha winced at his excited tone, averting her gaze from his starstruck eyes. Maybe..maybe she was wrong after all…
"Then Pyr, I..I have a favor to ask. Will, will you teach me?"
Her head whipped back with an almost audible 'crack' making the blond wince.
"What did you say?"
Jaune rubbed the back of his neck with one arm while a small blush kept working its way down his neck.
With a small voice he repeated, "Will you teach me? I'm…not that good." He finished making her snort, that was putting it mildly.
"Hey!"
Pyrrha smiled, it would seem that her worries were indeed for naught. Her hand shot forward ruffling his hair, making them both blush like mad.
"O-of course I will J-Jaune." She replied. Right Pyrrha, think of this like another fight, focus on the words needed and not on how cute he—"After all, you are our strong and cute Leader aren't you Jaune?" she cooed. Curses! She failed.
"What was that middle part?" he asked.
"I've got no idea what you mean Jaune." She replied with a beaming smile before leaning forward and— "Also, training starts now."
"H-hey!"
Lifting the boy up and carrying him like a sack of potatoes on her shoulder, thanks to her aura not even feeling the strain, and if she did cast a couple of appreciative glances on her team leaders taut buns..well nobody cared.
And all things considered, neither did Jaune for some reason, quite enjoying his new position after a few moments of pondering said fact. The view didn't hurt either, nor did the extra sway on Pyrrha's hips.
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"Seven sisters?!" she exclaimed with a surprised laugh.
Jaune nodded, staring absentmindedly at the sky above, his head propped up on his arms as they lay underneath the red maple tree, their backs against the trunk and with the cool autumn wind blowing around them. Causing the tree's leaves to sway in the breeze, letting the mid morning sun's rays pass through.
"Yeah." He replied, his gaze vacant and relaxed as his mind undoubtedly showed him visions of home. Pyrrha loved those few precious moments they had just for themselves, in them she and Jaune both could truly relax and let their guard down. "I'm sure they would love you too, but…"
Pyrrha, lifted her head off the trunk and turned slightly sideways, casting a curious glance at the youth with whom her shoulder was touching.
"But what Jaune?"
A small flush crept up his neck.
"They would, they would fret over you and your beautiful hair and…" he mumbled something with a voice so low that even her enhanced senses failed to hear.
"I didn't catch that."
He paused for a moment, his face turning scarlet, before with a sigh he steadied himself and replied.
"They would tease me about how I managed to score such a beautiful girlfriend. Making both of us uncomfortable."
Pyrrha blinked even as she felt her own cheeks turn hot.
"Why would that make either of us uncomfortable." She questioned with a light tone, causing the blond to turn and face her.
"I..you..well, I definitely wouldn't want to presumeandmysistersare—"
"Jaune." She said in a somewhat loud tone, snapping the teen out of his trance.
"Y-yes Pyr?"
Feeling her heart beat madly within her chest the invincible girl once more took the initiative.
"What are we?" seeing his eyes start to widen she hastily continued. "I mean, would you be averse to their words being t-true?" she asked while tearing her gaze away and staring at a swaying branch above, the sweet fragrance of freshly fallen leaves mixed with the scent of moist dirt from last night's rain hitting her nostrils.
For a couple of heartbeats, no answer was forthcoming, making the redhead slowly start to panic before a strong yet gentle calloused hand grasped her chin softly.
Following the hands guidance her gaze once more met Jaune's worried if serious own. "No, Pyr, I wouldn't mind at all." He replied in answer to her earlier question and before her lips could do much more than start to turn upwards, he leaned forward, capturing her soft cherry lips with his own.
A few short moments later they slowly pulled back, both of their hearts pounding madly in their chest and soft gasping breaths escaping from their mouths. Unconsciously the girl raised a finger to her mouth, tracing the outline of her lips and the curious sensation of the soft electric like tingle she could feel emanating from them.
Jaune broke the silence, "I hope you can meet them." He said, his tone hopeful. "Maybe, maybe in summer? After we finish with our exams?"
She smiled, "I'd like that Jaune." She replied, tucking a strand of red behind her ear. "And perhaps, I could show you the natural beauties of Mistral.
"I've got the best one right here, all for myself!" He replied with a cheeky grin even as his whole face turned scarlet.
Pyrrha giggled before lightly swatting the blond at the shoulder. "Oh Jaune.." She said amidst her giggles causing the boy to only smile wider before hesitantly wrapping an arm around her waist causing her to lean her head on his shoulder with a content smile as they watched the sky together.
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Staring at the ruined ceiling above her the redhead could no nothing else but continue to draw in short gasping breaths.
'I'm sorry Jaune, it would seem that I won't get to meet your family after all..' She thought as a lone tear escaped and trailed down the side of her cheek.
Perhaps she had been wrong, maybe it would have been better if they had fought this evil woman together. Black started to creep in from the edges of her vision. Regardless, it was too late for regrets now. Oh, if only she could—
"Pyrrhaaa!"
The agonized scream reaching her ears coupled with the feelings carried by said scream made her soul pulse in response. Restoring some of her lost strength and pushing back the darkness, if for but a few moments more.
"Jaune?" she questioned with a tiny voice, using the last vestiges of her newfound strength to turn her head sideways and see that indeed, the man dashing madly towards her, heedless of the rubble in his path, was none other than the clumsy boy who had stolen her heart.
"Oh, how sweet. Prince charming rushes to his beau's rescue." Cooed a sickeningly sweet voice from a Pyrrha's left and right in Jaune's path.
"R-run." She managed to croak, trying to convey the magnitude of the danger the boy was in. But Jaune had eyes only for her, rushing past and utterly ignoring Cinder. As the evil woman made no move to stop him, even if her complete and utter dismissal by him rankled her pride if the annoyed expression on said woman's face was not simply an illusion produced by Pyrrha's tired eyes.
"No, no! Pyrrha, Pyr! C-come on stay with me." Said the boy, panic coloring his tone as he fell to the ground in front of her carefully lifting her up and embracing her. The panicked boy's actions making her wound ache but the girl didn't care, she didn't have long anyway, at least, like this she could die in the arms of her love she thought with a blood stained smile as her eyes fell close.
"Let it never be said that I'm so cruel as to separate partners from one another." Said that same disgustingly sweet voice, making Pyrrha's eyes snap open once more, her enemy's voice restoring some measure of clarity again and causing her to panic. "Don't worry dear, you will be together soon enough." Cinder said with an evil smile as a bow started to form in her hand.
Pyrrha could only gaze impotently, dread filling her heart as Jaune, heedless of the danger he was in, continued to hold her tightly against him. With tears lining her eyes she started to close her eyelids before a miracle occurred.
It is said that semblances are awakened when they are most needed. Responding to the heart's need and not the mind's desire. And for a selfless if somewhat foolish boy, who aside from his dreams of being a hero, cared more for other people than for himself. There wouldn't come a greater time of need than when he was holding his dying partner in his arms, wishing, praying, hoping for the means to save her.
With a flash of light and a resounding 'gong' moments later, the invincible girl once more stood tall. Slightly smoking shield in hand and a rapidly disintegrating arrow buried in the stone a couple feet away as their roles were now reversed. Whereas before Jaune had been holding her, now she was the one holding the boy's unconscious form, guarding him against any more moves from the bitch in front of her.
"Well now, isn't that a surprise?" asked said bitch with a raised eyebrow and a haughty smile. Pyrrha snorted, she could pretend all she liked but she couldn't fool the invincible girl. With a flex of her digits her spear flew back to her hand, landing with a wet smack, traces of her blood still lining its shaft and the rough familiar leather she felt against her fingers.
Not deigning to respond, she carefully lowered the unconscious youth behind her, not letting Cinder out of her sight for even a moment. Before standing up with a flourish and slamming the back of her spear onto the ground, the force of her thrust jostling a couple of pieces of ruble loose and causing them to crush down from the ceiling.
The she-demon in front of her only smiled glibly in response.
"Impressive honey, at least, I'm sure your boyfriend there would approve. But why you think this will go any different this time around…" she said and shook her head, taunting smirk still in place before her eyes landed on Jaune's immobile form behind her. "And speaking of said boyfriend…now that's a rare gift he has there, I'm sure my mistress would be most interested in him."
Pyrrha's fist clenched around her spear, eliciting a tortured whine out of the weapon. "You will not touch him." She snarled.
Cinder's smirk only widened in response. "Oh, honey, I will do more than just..touch him. After all, someone will need to console him after your tragic death." She said as her finger trailed the span of her hourglass figure.
Pyrrha saw red. Despite her bold words the redhead's experienced eyes did not miss the small beads of sweat trailing down the smirking woman's form. Unlike Pyrrha she was still tired and spent from their earlier bout, whereas Pyrrha… The girl glanced at the unconscious blond, a small smile forming on her face. Thanks to her partner's gift she was whole and healthy once more. And this time, this time there would be no mistakes or hesitation.
Dropping into her combat stance, shield in front spear at the ready, the girl's eyes shone madly. She had been a fool after all, how could she forget that the great hero Ajax fought at his best when fighting with someone, and more importantly in defense of his people.
Pyrrha felt the warm, caring glow of Jaune's energies still coursing through her veins. This time, she was doing both.
"If you want him, come and take him!" she replied and exploded towards Cinder.
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Jaune awoke with a pained groan, the sun's rays crushing down on his eyelids not helping with his headache.
"Easy there Jaune, you are safe now."
"P-Pyr? W-what's going on?" he asked with bleary eyes, taking note of his strange surroundings as well as his girlfriend smiling softly at him from her place, seated next to his bed. "I had the most horrible drea—" he said before his eyes fell on his partner's arm, specifically the arm that was in a cast making him gasp and tremble and his eyes to quickly seek her thankfully unblemished chest. No sight of that horrible, horrible wound…
"Pyr?"
She only smiled softly in response her unbroken arm slowly rising and her fingers intertwining with his own.
"A lot happened since your nap yesterday, and I'll tell you all about it, but the important thing is we will face what is to come together."
At her caring words and tone, Jaune's tension left his frame even as he gave her fingers a soft squeeze.
"Together."
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To paraphrase Yoda, 'Once bitten by the writing bug, forever will it dominate your destiny'
So, and since i don't have enough time for the foreseeable future to begin arc 2 of "Booty" or deal with "embers"...this quick fluffy oneshot will do. For now.
And yes, for those wondering Jaune did heal Pyrrha with his semblance. For any canon bores, no, I don't care if his powers don't work exactly like this or that.
And yeah, Pyrrha did make cinders out of Cinder (stop boeing! Dad jokes are hilarious :xD)
Also, deciding on a name for a fic continues to be one of the most irritating parts for me. Writing the darn thing assuming I have the time and sufficient energy? Easy.
Naming it? Fuck. No wonder Sauron simply named his magnum opus 'the one ring'...