"I absolutely love this part of you."
"Curse that 'Vomit boy.'" Yang winced in pain as she barely pinched her nose.
"Are you sure about calling him 'Vomit boy' anymore?" Blake tried to sound innocent enough, but her little smile showed an obvious tease she meant. Yang cocked her eyebrows, thrusting her eyes into her teammates "He'll always be a 'Vomit boy' boy for me. It's just….he landed a few shots on me." Wild brawler's eyebrow twitched as Blake's expression told that she didn't buy into that one bit.
Ruby giggled at her sister's dishonesty "I don't think that's what you would call-landing a few shots on me." Her finger circled around her sister's resting body, an obvious indication that it told a completely different story.
"A few, good shots." Yang corrected herself.
"Or you could just be honest and admit that you barely scratched the victory." Blake corrected Yang.
Brawler scoffed angrily, though stayed quiet at first "He….I underestimated him. And he got lucky because of that."
'If that makes you sleep sounder', is what Blake knew she could say to royally piss her off. Though decided to stay quiet to not cause any unnecessary drama.
"Come on sis, you don't have to be so hard about it. None of us knew as well that Jaune was so strong," Ruby said.
"It's not like I'm saying he's weak. Jaune is strong. But I would have pulverized him into dust had I known that." Yang's nerve pulsed just from remembering how annoyingly close she had reached her limit while fighting him.
"I think it would still be a good fight." Ruby innocently stated her opinion.
"It would be a good ass beating." Yang frowned.
Ruby did sense her sister's dreadful mood, but decided to push on just one more time "Oh come on. You don't have to be so bothered that Jaune almost won."
Almost won. Jaune almost won. She had her weapons and had to use the semblance in the end, yet he still managed to almost win. Yang's eyes narrowed even harder. She knew. Behind the cracked wall of her pride and dignity, brawler knew the reason why Jaune was able to compete with her so evenly, despite everything. Though that only made her all the more furious.
"I said already. I underestimated him and he got lucky because of that. Or what?! Are you saying that a guy who was a push-over for more than a year could suddenly compete with me?! A push-over who couldn't even beat Cardin a few weeks ago, but now has suddenly reached my level?!...Like hell it could be true." She silently hissed the last part, facing the wall. Though soon realized that Ruby was simply meaning well for her friend, yet she almost went ballistic on her. Turning her head, brawler wanted to apologize, but her lips froze in place.
Ruby's glare was deafening. Her look faced to the floor, her silver eyes radiated burning emotions. Ones so intense Yang would have to recall hard if she had ever seen her like this.
"Why would you say that? Why would you say that when you know how hard it has been for Jaune. How much people were making fun of him, especially when he first started." They called him a failure. Ruby knew he wasn't, because-"He tried none the less. Trying to put more effort than the rest, he moved forward, but since his progress was slow, people still made fun of him." And all of them were idiots. They didn't see the pain and struggles he was facing, but she did, because-"He often told me. Told me how he wanted to leave Beacon and just strive for something which would be possible for him. I ,of course, always encouraged him and said that he would be fine. But I saw it. I saw how troubled and hurt Jaune was about the fact that he wasn't as good as everyone else around him." But he was. Or at least now is, with-out a doubt. Though it seemed that he had to be even better, because-"Even now, when Jaune finally proved to us that he's as good as everyone else, you still want to drag him down and call him a push-over? Say that he still isn't good enough?!" Ruby shook her head, no, she wouldn't let her. There had to be a stopping point somewhere.
Yang felt a sudden stab in her gut. She messed up, big time. Her own frustration was no excuse to say what she did, making her sister upset.
"Ruby, I-"
"Jaune deserves better than that. He's the best boyfriend I've ever got so even you-I mean," She blushed sheepishly. "Not like together, together thing, but like best boy and friend thing, you know, like…..aaaarh, Jaune is way above a push-over! Deal with it!" And she stormed out of the room.
Yang only managed to blink once before her sister was already gone. With a frustrated sigh, she covered her face with the back of her palm, and for one of those rare occasions, just wanted some peace and quiet.
'Jaune is way above a push-over! Deal with it!' Weiss repeated Ruby's words to herself, her gaze nonchalantly looking through the dorm window. She was wrong. In more ways than just one, but everything Weiss was wrong about was connected with blonde leader. Even if Jaune did end up losing, he did far better than Ice queen could ever imagine he would. The heart and courage Jaune displayed being just as admirable as the result of it, if not even more. Weiss turned her eyes to Yang, then went back to the window. (She barely won.) Huntress in training could barely believe the statement even right now. 'Jaune is completely outmatched here.' Yang's battered state suddenly forced her to remember the words she so confidently stated. Weiss bit here lip. He wasn't completely outmatched there, at all. And it was rather irritating. Not the fact that Jaune proved to be a splendid fighter, but how ignorant Weiss was about it.
"You were wrong father," Ice queen silently hissed. 'Failures stay to be failures, while people of greatness achieve what they are destined to.' That is what he always grinded into her through-out the years. But she never really questioned it, because Weiss saw how often that ideology proved to be right. That is, until Jaune vs Yang happened. And for the first time, Weiss saw live how there are exceptions to even that rule, which she so strongly believed.
"And because of that, I'm wrong too." Her frustration started to increase, especially remembering how confidently she was running her mouth during the duel. Not being able to calm herself, Weiss started to walk back and forth as she started to wonder if maybe she should-apologize to Jaune? Weiss stopped temporarily. And then continued to aimlessly march past the window as she wasn't sure about the idea.
"All Jaune did was prove that he isn't a failure at combat. That he had a hidden potential, but it only proves that the ideology wasn't wrong. Jaune simply showed that there's a lot more to him than I ever gave him credit to. I wasn't wrong. My perception of him was wrong so it's not like I owe him an apology because-sigh" Ice queen stopped again. Turning on her heel, she went for the exit. If not apologize, Weiss felt like she had to say something to him.
Medical room.
"Come on in!" Jaune called out from his bed, pulling himself up a bit.
With a rather soft creak, the person allowed herself in, and approached JNPR leader with a slightly worried look.
"Hi, Jaune." Ruby greeted her friend.
"Sup, Ruby." Blonde waved her back, mildly surprised that his first visitor would be a fellow leader, and not his partner.
"How's it going for you?" Ruby ran her eyes over his damaged face and bandaged upper body.
"I know." Jaune could already tell from her expression. "It looks-not so okay- but believe me, it isn't that bad. Besides-" Jaune showed a little smile. "I think it was well worth it."
Ruby smiled back to him. "You're right." She remembered with warm fondness how everyone was applauding and congratulating him, when they thought that he had knocked Yang out. And knowing Jaune, it must have meant to him more than even Nora's vivid fantasies could ever display.
"You know…" Ruby's smile grew timid. "I was rooting for you to win."
"For real?"
She nodded "Whenever Yang fights, I obviously cheer for her to win. She's my sister and all. But this time, this one time, I wanted her opponent to win. Because it was you Jaune, and I knew how much a victory over her would mean to you."
"Thanks, Rubs." He warmly smiled, even more glad that he pushed himself to the maximum there. "I didn't win though." His look hanged a bit lower.
"But you still looked so frikkin cool!" She beamed to him, and much to his amusement, started to imitate a rather lackluster shadowboxing. "You moved like this and that. Taking punches from left to right. But you never gave up and kept moving forward." Her shadowboxing stopped. "And that was like watching an action movie live, I-"She stuttered a bit "I really thought that you would give up much earlier, but you didn't. And I'm so glad about that."
"I just…..remembered a lot of things."
"It obviously helped then."
"Yea, it did." he agreed.
"Jaune…" Ruby pulled out something a bit shyly.
"Yea?"
"I want you to take these." Ruby offered him a plastic bag filled with chocolate cookies.
"Oh, thanks, Rubs." Blonde gladly took her offer.
"But I have to warn you, these are handmade."
"You made them?"
"Yea."
"I didn't know you could cook." Jaune took a better look at the goodies. To his eyes, they looked well made.
"I haven't really told anyone. Besides, I'm not sure if they taste good or not. I mean I have tasted a few and did like them, but-"She scratched her head "You know me. It's impossible for me to not like sweets."
Jaune again looked at the cookies. "Well, they look great so it's a good start already."
"Could you…..taste a few and tell me if they're good or not?"
No. Is what he should have said. It's not like his stomach was in severe pain, but eating any hard food wouldn't be the wisest decision to make. But since his friend looked so hopeful, Jaune decided to make an exception for a single one.
"Sure." And he took one out. "Smells great." He commented, inhaling the sweet aroma.
"If only it will taste as good." She said with anticipation.
"Well, there's only one way to find out," He said as his teeth sank into the sweet.
Delicious. Jaune was happy to know that it was delicious. The texture wasn't too hard, little chocolate pieces soon melted on his tongue and it had a nice, buttery kickback to it.
"It's really good." He complimented with a smile. "If not for my annoying injuries, I would have eaten the rest right away."
Ruby's eyes beamed brightly. "Really?! Yes! I'm so glad!" And she did a little dance.
"You sure are happy." Jaune chuckled.
"Of course. Now I know that I can make my own sweets." Ruby explained. "Anyways, since you seem fine and all, I'll be going now." She slowly skipped to the exit.
"Okay." He waved her a good-bye.
"Also, let me know if you want any more. I'll gladly make you some." She happily offered.
"I'll let you know."
"Then bye, Jaune." Ruby waved at him warmly and closed the doors.
"Bye." And he dared to take one more. Taking small bites, he really appreciated that Ruby was inspired and proud about his efforts. Though obviously, she wasn't the only one. Judging by their reaction, almost everyone in Jaune's class was impressed by his performance today.
Blonde's heartbeats made a joyful melody. It felt so pleasant to him. But even so, remembering a certain person, the next few bites Jaune took were rather uncertain and anxious. Lilianna.
"Would she….would she be proud as well?" Jaune solemnly looked at the last bite, yet his eyes couldn't hide the deep hope. "Would she praise me, if even for a little bit?" Could it be that even his mother would say a kind word or two about his hard effort? "It would be nice." Jaune didn't try to fight the fact, eating the last piece. Moving his arm, blonde took the scroll, but before he could even press the display once, he heard a knock on the door.
"Must be Pyrrha." Jaune placed the scroll back on the table, though did note that he should give his mother a call.
"Come in!" He called out.
Doors soon opened, and to Jaune's surprise, Weiss came in.
"Weiss?"
"Do you have a minute or two?" She still stood close to the door.
"Yea, sure." He didn't really know what she wanted, but could spare some time none the less.
Moving herself closer, ice queen stopped right next to his bed. Giving him a solid look, she decided to start with a text book example and try to move things from there.
"How is it?"
"Not as bad as it looks."
"Good," She rather blandly said and swayed on her feet.
Jaune patiently waited for her to say something, but she stayed quiet.
"Do you…..need something?" He was getting rather uncomfortable.
Weiss stopped her swaying, half opened her mouth, said nothing and continued to sway.
(She looks irritated as well.) Jaune gulped. Yet what on the earth did he do wrong to her, he couldn't phantom.
"You're not in trouble." Weiss reassured, realizing that she gave off a wrong impression.
"O-oh, okay." His shoulders became lighter.
Just start already! Weiss scoffed to herself as this was just getting embarrassing. "I just…..you did a lot better today than many expected."
Jaune weakly nodded.
"I too, thought that you wouldn't do nearly as good as you did. I was certain, absolutely, but ended up being wrong. And I….wanted to congratulate you on that." Say it. "And also apologize. I wrote you off before the fight had even started, but look how it turned out to be." Weiss stopped for a moment, almost chuckling to herself, questioning, why did she find this so stupidly hard to do just few moments earlier. "Yang barely won. And that is a solid testament of how competent of a fighter you actually are."
Jaune scratched his head, feeling flustered from how kind she was to him right now. "But I can't really blame you. I mean, it's obvious that people wouldn't expect much out of a guy, who most of a time is a loser."
Weise's nerve pulsed. This reminded her why she wasn't that fond of him. "You see!" She suddenly pointed to him. "This! This is why it's so hard to respect you!"
Jaune pulled back, startled by her sudden aggression.
"You're thinking so low of yourself, and letting other people to push you around so easily. Why do you do that!?"
"I-I just…..I-"
"Today, you proved that even in combat you're way above the average and that was the thing you were lacking in the most. You're grades are good, you're doing a good job as a leader, and as it turns out, you're very competent at combat as well." She stomped her foot. "And yet despite that, you still act like you're barely more than a trash." And that was wrong. So very wrong and pissed off Weiss more than Yang's stupid remarks ever could. "You dunce! Stop lowering yourself to a failures status when you're obviously not one. But ooooh no! Since you have low self-esteem, you can't help it but do that all the time." She rubbed his wound. "Grow a spine you idiot. Be a man or at least decent enough human being to see the good in yourself. Other-wise you will stay to be a failure, not because you are one, but because you think that you are one. Got that?!" Weise's eyes like arrows pierced Jaune's, waiting until he would approve of her superb knowledge.
"O-okay?" Was all though, Jaune could manage at the moment, still being both scared and surprised.
Ice-queen pulled back a bit, realizing that she got a little bit too engaged there, but it was impossible to hold back once she started. With a cough, her features soon relaxed and even showed kindness. "Jaune, you're quite cool."
"Quite cool?"
"Yes, you're quite cool. So push that chest of yours a little bit forward. You can do that, trust me."
Jaune visibly blushed. It was odd to hear her say it, but just as pleasant as well. "Thanks, Weiss." He remembered to thank her. "And I'll try it. To push my chest out a little bit."
"Don't try it, just do it." She advised with a confident smile.
Even if he couldn't promise her that, blonde still nodded back.
"But I have to say." She chuckled. "It was rather entertaining to see that brainless orangutan have a big, sour taste of that humble pie. If you think too low of yourself, then she's certainly the one who thinks a bit too highly, so it's a good treatment to pull her back into the reality once in a while."
'Brainless orangutan.' Jaune couldn't help but to snicker at that one.
"Don't you dare to tell her that I told you that." Though Weiss quickly warned him, her fingernail like a blade pressed to his throat.
"I won't, I promise." He gave her an honest word.
"Good." She pulled back her weapon. "Then that would be all I wanted to say." Turning on her heels, Weiss marched for the exit feeling satisfied. Opening the door, she stopped temporarily. "Bye." She flashed him a smile and went away.
"Bye." Jaune said to the closed door. Leaning back on the pillow he smiled. 'Stop lowering yourself to a failures status when you're obviously not one.' Jaune felt how his heart wanted to sing again. He would try. Try not to think low of himself. Of course, Jaune knew better that fighting low self-esteem was a lot harder than many gave it credit to. But he had to. Jaune knew that it was an absolute necessity to fight the demons inside, as much as those who lurked outside. If not even more. "So I'll give it my best," He silently said to the ceiling.
His mother, Jaune suddenly remembered. Turning his head, he picked up the scroll again. He…..he wanted her to praise him. Just a kind word or two, but Jaune so badly desired to hear her acknowledge his efforts like the rest did. But since such possibility was not written in a stone, he pressed the screen nervously. With a few taps, her number was ready. All he had to do was to press it.
"I'll just…..do it later." And he placed the scroll back on the table. "What would I even say to her?" He gave it a hard thought. "What, something like, 'Hey, Lilianna, guess what! I just fought a really strong student today. It was a really good fight and all, but I got my ass handed to me in the end.'"…sigh. Jaune knew that he was simply scared. Not so much of her, but the look of her disappointment. People always say that it's possible to get used to everything, yet somehow, Jaune could never handle her hurtful look of 'So this is the best my own son is capable of?' No matter how many times he had to endure it. Jaune sighed again. Turning to his scroll, blonde strongly pledged to himself that he would call his mother, just later. Yawning once, Jaune came to a realization that he was rather tired, and his body pleaded for some solid sleep. Since such idea seemed like a fairly good deal to him, blonde's eyelids soon closed shut. The last thought he would have was that it was somewhat unusual that the person he was sure would visit him, ended up being missing somewhere. "Maybe she'll come later." He quietly murmured and soon after, was drifted away by the tiredness.
Couple of hours later. Past midnight.
Jaune couldn't help but to smile warmly. Not only was he feeling so much better than before, but the young man was also rewarded by the sight of his red haired beauty sleeping right next to him. Her stool close to his bed, the upper body was heavily bent over, so everything starting from her chest was resting on his bed. "She's not letting me go either." He mumbled with fondness as her hand was tightly wrapped around his, the grip gaining extra strength whenever blonde tried to move his limb. "Wait, is she drooling?" He only now noticed since it was dark. Upon closer inspection, blonde snickered as his sleeping beauty indeed, had quite a bit of drool hanging over her lip. With a corner of his blanket, Jaune wiped her mouth clean. Even with his duty being done though, blonde's eyes stayed locked on her lips. They looked tempting. So much that he wouldn't mind stealing a kiss or two. The same sensation he had felt plenty of times before, whenever his gaze would be pulled in by her lips. And that in return reminded him of something important. Unfinished business so to speak. "Then I guess I should wake her up." He came to a conclusion as her posture didn't look comfortable as well, another reason to poke her cheek. Luckily, one time was enough as her eyes slowly twitched open. Straightening up, she greeted him shyly.
"Hi, Jaune."
"Hi."
"Seems that I accidently passed out." She smiled sheepishly.
"It's okay."
"How are you feeling?"
"After a good sleep, much better." He reassured, flexing the bicep.
Pyrrha smiled back as not only did Jaune sound lively and truthful, but his wounds had truly healed a great deal. With her smile still there, she moved closer to him and pressed her lips against his cheek. "I'm glad." And Pyrrha wanted to move back on her stool, but was suddenly grabbed by the shoulder. With a questioning look, she waited for Jaune to say something yet instead, he moved to his right, creating enough space on his bed for her to rest besides him.
"But are you sure? You're injured." As much as Pyrrha would be happy to do what he offered, his well-being came first.
"Yea," he timidly nodded and pulled her closer. Quickly, Pyrrha gave in to the offer and placed herself closer to him, her head comfortably resting in the crook of his neck.
"Is it really okay?" She would ask one more time, her cheeks showing a blush. Even if they had done something like this a couple of times before, with Jaune's upper body being completely naked, except the bandages, it somehow felt more intimate.
"Sure," He calmly said back, wrapping one of his hands around her shoulders, the other one around her hand. Pyrrha's cheeks blushed darker. Somehow, it felt like her knight was being uncharacteristically bold right now. But she loved that.
"Today-I mean yesterday was awesome." He started.
"I agree." She remembered a few moments.
"Being so close to besting Yang, it just…..even right now it seems a bit hard to believe. Really thought that she would just knock me out in a couple of seconds."
"I always told you Jaune. You're a lot more capable than you think."
'Don't you dare to give up.' He suddenly remembered. "Now that I think about it, I didn't really have a choice but to give it my best. Otherwise I would receive double the treatment."
"What exactly do you mean?"
"'Don't you dare to give up.' That's what you repeated relentlessly."
Jaune felt how Pyrrha noticeably tensed in his arms.
"Y-you got my message?"
"With how furious you looked, it probably saved me a couple of years that I did." He chuckled, though meant it fairly seriously.
Her eyes shifted a bit nervously, but then were locked into his. "I just…I really wanted you to finally see it."
"See what?"
She placed her hand on his cheek. "The strength I knew you had in yourself. I mean, I know that you always try hard and don't give up easily. But at that particular moment, at that exact moment I just couldn't bear a thought of you not giving you're absolutely best. I really wanted you to finally see that you're not a failure or weakling. You're not." Pyrrha smiled earnestly, losing herself in a moment. Moving closer, redhead managed to snap back and realize what she was trying to do. Her eyes showing sheepishness and what even seemed as pain, she wanted to pull back, but Jaune quickly moved his hand behind her head.
"I absolutely love this part of you, Pyrrha." Jaune rather boldly stated. "You were the first one, here at Beacon who saw that there was potential in me. But for what I'm even more thankful is that you always tried so earnestly to pull it out of me. Whenever I thought that I did good enough, or told to myself-'This is my best.' You never failed to prove that I could do better." Jaune stopped temporarily, his heart carelessly crushing in his chest from the overflowing emotions. He could still pull back, Jaune knew. But the mere thought of doing so disgusted him and would end up being regretful. He wanted to move forward. Desired.
Pyrrha's own heartrate syncing with Jaune's, she dared to move closer again. "I just did what a good partner would do." She whispered, eyes reflecting hope.
"No, Pyrrha. You did a lot more than that. It simply wouldn't be possible for me to pay you back anymore." Jaune moved closer as well, until their foreheads pressed together.
"Actually….there is a way. To pay me back." Pyrrha moistened her lips, enjoying how Jaune's breaths touched her lips.
Jaune didn't say anything. He didn't plan it go like this. Jaune initially wanted to confess his feelings to her and be content with it. But with his partner being so bold about what she wanted, which perfectly matched his own true desires, a realization that a simple confession wouldn't be nearly enough moved him to do what both of them truly wanted.
Which led their lips to finally meet each other.
A simple brush, they both got lost, it felt too good, they wanted more. Their lips now intertwined with each other, soon turned into a lustful dance created by their repressed emotions. Ones which they held inside for too long it seemed. Amidst the pleasure, both of them felt that their tongues wanted to meet as well. No objections there. At first a bit nervously, but all too soon the fear was casted away and their tongues did what they pleaded. It felt like a fiction. Meaning that the sense of pleasure moved out of the borders of mere words description. Were they just that good at it? Most likely not, but it mattered very little. Their lips danced with each other, tongues recklessly played, saliva was exchanged and mouths were being explored. For them, this was perfect.
Both of them moved just a bit closer, desiring to explore whatever there was left of each other's lips and everything beyond that.
'This is perfect.' They both felt in the haze of emotions and slowly parted away. Not too far away though, only so much that their warm breaths could still mix in a one.
Jaune didn't plan it be like this. Again. But unlike many times before, he was so glad about it. This was so much better. Being pulled in by his partner's lust and his own, was a new sensations to him. One which he prayed to enjoy through-out the rest of his life.
Pyrrha gulped, her breathing only now returning to somewhat normal. "Jaune…." She said his name, but didn't even know what to say.
"Yea….?"
She opened her mouth, closed it and moved herself to kiss him again. This one didn't last long, but just enough so she could remember that there was something to be said.
"I love you." She admitted quietly, yet also passionately.
Jaune opened his mouth to say the same, but ended up staying quiet as there was something else which he had to let her know.
She didn't like this. Pyrrha got really uncomfortable and nervous as to why her partner hesitated to say it as well. It scared her already, heartstrings daring to be pulled painfully that Jaune would reject her, and this whole moment was a colossal misunderstanding. She simply wasn't ready to handle something that heavy.
"Jaune…." She touched his cheek, her face covered in layers of fear.
Blonde forced his lips to move again, but it was evident that he felt almost as scared and anxious as her.
"Pyrrha I….I don't deserve you yet-"
Slap.
With everything she had, redhead unleashed all of her might and fury into Jaune's face. "Don't…..don't you even dare to say it again." Her words were an unmistakable threat, arm cocked back, shaking, as she barely fought off a hurtful temptation of slapping him again.
Jaune was solid frozen for a few seconds, but with a blink snapped back to reality. Uncharacteristic action of her, yes, but so understandable too. Turning back to her, blonde could see that his partner's eyes shined in the dark, most likely because she held back the tears. He felt both pathetic and guilty, but wouldn't let it end like this.
"Pyrrha, please listen to-"
"No." She shook her head. "I've had enough of that, Jaune Arc. I won't. You listen to me? I won't let your terrible self-esteem ruin our relationship. No matter what I won't."
"Please, Pyrrha, I-"
"Whatever the excuse…..whatever the excuse you have, I won't accept it."
Jaune grabbed her hand and pleaded her to listen. "Please, I meant it differently."
"What differently?!" Her nerve almost snapped apart.
Even if crippled nervous, Jaune wrapped his other arm around her waist to hold her tightly.
"Pyrrha, just give me a chance to explain."
"Y-you can…..shove your explanations anywhere else." She only managed to softly whimper. "I don't need your explanations. Just you…is it really too much of me to ask?" She gently held his face, feeling that maybe she should kiss him again, just to show that she was happy with who he was right now-no, proving that she loved him exactly because of he was right now.
"Jaune…" He heard her softly call his name, her lips just ever so slightly brushing against his, yet instead of enjoyment, Jaune's heart skipped painfully as her teary emeralds were now right in front him. Enough. He couldn't take it anymore.
"I want you to marry me." Pyrrha barely managed to hear him state in a hurry. Slowly pulling back, she locked her wide eyes into his. Normally, one would feel grandest of happiness at moments like this, yet Pyrrha's twisted expression showed heaviest of confusion. I don't deserve you, but please marry me. This coming from Jaune, just didn't make any sense.
Blonde nervously looked sideways. He certainly didn't want to start it that way, but Pyrrha's suffering and misunderstanding made his lips to move before he could think. Soon, he felt how his partners hand forced him to look back to her. Pyrrha's gaze, it was obvious that she waited for him to reassure that her hearing didn't go wrong, and also to go into further details with the sudden confession he made.
(I guess this is it.) With his bold statement hanging in the air, Jaune knew that moving forward was the only option he was left with. Frankly though, even if he was anxious about it, Jaune was just as thankful as well. Running through the text in his head one more time, he carefully started to explain.
"First I…..have to admit something. (Oh great Arc's above, let this end well.)" He gulped, but still continued. "I have loved you for quite some time really. Though never dared to confess because I didn't believe to be good enough for you. Still don't, but please." His grip around her tightened. "Let me continue." He sincerely pleaded. Jaune felt how her body resisted at first, but fortunately gave in. With a nod, Pyrrha would let him continue. Though also made it clear with her glare that one chance was all he had.
Thankful, Jaune weakly smiled, nodded back and spoke further. "Ever since I gave up on boxing, my self-confidence dropped really low. A dirt on the name of Arcs, good for nothing son, weakling, loser, that is how I started to see myself. Still…..still sometimes see." Jaune shook his head, brushing off the memories which proved those statements to be true. "Coming here to Beacon, didn't change that either, if anything, it got even worse. That is-until you came along, being the first one to let me see that there was still something good in me. That I could still be something more than average." He smiled, she did too. "Even if my self-esteem was still horrible, knowing that someone as amazing as you believed in me was good enough. It made me happy and for the longest of time, I never really whished for more. And wouldn't have either, if only my feelings for you stayed the same." He solemnly chuckled. "As you can see, they didn't. Being your partner, friend, leader it just wasn't what I wanted anymore. I wanted to be closer to you, as close as I could. But every time I wanted to do that, the memories always reminded me what I was, and the difference between us." His look went lower. She's amazing, you're not. "So…..I got stuck in a place, too scared and worried to move anywhere." 'Grow a spine you idiot.' "But recently, with everything that has been happening lately like…..k-knocking you out, a visit to home, return to the boxing, fight with Yang and the rest, I have finally gained enough courage to step forward and be closer to you. Pyrrha I….I-I damnit." Jaune stopped, his thoughts running all over the place, he was suddenly at the loss of words. Damnit. There was so much more which he wanted to say, yet like a complete wuss got flustered, locking himself in a never ending circle again. But he wouldn't quit, nor would follow the same, miserable pattern led by the fake comfort. If Jaune couldn't think of what to say, he would simply allow his heart to speak instead. Something, which he maybe should have done from the start. "I won't allow myself to become a failure, only because I think that I am one. For you, and everyone else I care about. That's why, for year and a half, right till 'The golden gloves' championship, I will train relentlessly and be the best I can be. No more running away or giving up early. My absolutely best. So I wouldn't have any regrets or excuses…however the result of it would turn out to be. And once the championship is over and you have seen the best man I can be, Pyrrha I…..please….n-no you have to-I-I mean-Jesus Christ, you already said it once!-I want you to marry me." Even if stumbling till then, the last part he was able to finish strongly. Beats of sweat coming down his forehead, Jaune was now left waiting for his partners, hopefully girlfriend's, hopefully future wife's answer. Though with anticipation eating him up, he hoped she would be quick with it.
Which she wasn't. For better amount of time, Pyrrha was silent, her expression seemingly neutral one. In the end, she didn't say anything, but simply buried her face into his chest.
"P-pyrrha?" Blonde couldn't really tell if this was good or bad. Leaning closer, he called her name again, but suddenly, redhead snapped her head up and launched forward to kiss him. Surprised, Jaune at first couldn't really follow her lips, though soon enough found the right rhythm and kissed her back. This is different. Jaune could tell from how gently yet firmly she held his face, and how her lips weirdly, yet so familiarly curved under his. Only when his beauty moved away from him, did it click to Jaune why this felt different, both physically and emotionally. She was fighting off her ever growing smile on her face.
"You clumsy, clumsy idiot." She giggled. "Why, why on earth this wasn't the first thing you said after I confessed to you?" She caressed his cheek, soft laughter still escaping her lips.
Jaune scratched his head sheepishly. "Well I…..you know…" He hanged his head. "I messed up." Jaune had to admit.
"That you did." She agreed. "Also, it's a yes from me."
"A yes?"
"To be your wife, I say yes to it." And she kissed him again. Certainly, this new activity would become a habit of hers. Separating their lips, Pyrrha let herself to rest in his neck, appreciating how dearly he held her to himself. This moment, Pyrrha smiled to herself, enjoying her lover's heartbeats playing right under her ear. It was everything she wished it to be. Minus the misunderstanding, but even that proved to be well worth it. Jaune loved her and wanted to marry her. Pyrrha's little, ordinary dream wouldn't stay to be a mere fantasy. It would actually be a reality she could live in. Pyrrha smiled even wider, she was happy. Both of her sides were.
Author's notes-Sup, everyone! Here I am again. A new chapter complete, just little bit closer to the finish line. And despite all the dangerous turns I have taken with this story, like OC's and experimentation with canon characters, there are quite a few of you who do enjoy my piece of work. And hopefully, most of you will right till the end. But enough with sentiments, there's still plenty of chapters to come and plenty of adventures for both canon, and my own characters. Anyways, I'll just move to answering your reviews so here it goes-
The SENDER and the TRAVELER-Glad to hear that you enjoyed the fight. Worked my ass off for it so it's nice to know that the effort payed off. As for the white feather thing, that answer you'll have to wait, so sorry about that. Round 2? Actually…I have plans for it already so you'll see soon enough. As for morphing Jaune into a Tekken character, that's very unlikely, if only for a sheer coincidence because I have very limited knowledge in Tekken games, so yea, low chances on that to happen.
Anyways though, thanks for the review and until some other time;)
Darkkseid-Well, not much to be said there honestly. It truly wasn't very sportsman like of her. I guess I just thought that it would fit her character, but could be wrong about it.
Jkdelta38-Awesome to hear that you enjoyed the fight. Also, not only you, but most of the characters as well didn't think that he would do so well against her. But as it has been proven before, Jaune is full of surprises and that makes him interesting. As for him doing better next time, I already have plans for it, which you will see soon enough. By the chapter count, not the time it will take, because I think you guys have already figured out that I'm not the fastest of updaters:D
And thanks. Will do try to keep it up;)
TheSeagullMilker-Well, most of them truly were. As for reasons, one, to create a bit of drama and tension, two, because it was Jaune vs Yang, a seeming mismatch.
DARKPHANTOM13-Truly appreciate to hear it:) Hope that the rest of the story will be just as enjoyable and engaging.
Jaune hater-Well, looks like I was completely wrong about that then:D
Yes indeed, Jaune has no professional experience to speak of. Seems that you did miss this detail.
Damn, it would be quite hilarious to see Jaune do a lap dance for Pyrrha. Normally, it would be the other way around, but that's a good scene for some comedy, so I'll keep that in mind. As for Yang helping Jaune with boxing, I do have some plans for it, but that's in the far future, though they may change a bit.
Glad to hear that you loved the fight. As for it showing his low self-esteem, that is how I planned it so good to know that it showed.
So to you she seemed ooc. Maybe you're right. I mean I do believe that she would leave her thoughts on the fight, but maybe she wouldn't be so open about it. Anyways though, appreciate the honesty.
As for Ruby and Blake missing, yea, they kind of truly are. I guess the reason I didn't include them was to not make the chapter too long, though I do understand that Ruby definitely should have had some appearance in the chapter. Oh well, at least she has some in this chapter, so hey, that's something.
Anyways, thanks for the plenty of reviews, and hope to see you all on the upcoming chapters as well:) And maybe even some newcomers. Hey, a man can always dream.
Like always guys-
Have a nice one;)
