Author's note: I don't know. Really, I don't know why.
Chapter 21
…
He heard noises all around him. Clapping of hands. Whispers of his name. Some exciting shouting and even loud cheers.
Yet.
Inside, there was nothing but silence. A tranquil serenity and peace, which he very much enjoyed, but also one which, admittedly, surprised him.
"And the winner…"
Even as his hand was raised, even as those whispers and cheers grew just a little louder, the silence and calmness within him remained the same. Eh, I'm just getting started anyways. Jaune thought to himself, his blue eyes gazing upwards for a moment. Gazing at those bright ceiling lights, and he then remembered. Both good and bad. Both amazing and terrible things he remembered. His face didn't change though, even as he remembered. And the calmness within was disrupted just ever so slightly from the flood of memories. Before he felt a touch on his shoulder, and turning his head to his right, he saw his grandfather's face.
"…"
For a moment, they merely stared each other into the eyes. For a moment, no words were needed and that was fine. Before his grandfather hummed ever so gently, and a tiniest smile found its way to his lips.
"Good job, El Jauney. That straight right was almost as good as it's ever been. Almost." He emphasized the last word, and Jaune of course, knew what that meant.
Butt-loads of training. He thought with a chuckle, but honestly, a better part of him was looking forward to that. "Thanks," He said, paused for a moment, and then his lips tugged into a smallest of smiles as well. "No really, thanks," He said, and his grandfather's smile deepened a bit.
"Of course," He said, and then his attention was shifted elsewhere for a bit. "Seems like there are people waiting for you."
Jaune cocked his eyebrow. He followed his grandfather's gaze and…
"Oh."
"Go on then," He said, giving his grandchild a pat on his back. "Best not to keep them waiting too long. They seem quite excited to congratulate their soon to be champion."
"Old pops…"
He snickered. "Oh shut it boy. We'll get there soon enough, you'll see."
Jaune parted his lips, but then closed them shut. After giving his grandfather a meaningful look, he started to walk away and outside the ring.
"We'll get there for sure. It's a promise."
"A promise it is then," His grandfather said, and for a few moments to come, he stared proudly at his grandson's back. A hellish road is ahead of us, and I'm sure there will be times when we'll grow weary and scared. But...we'll forge ahead regardless. A promise is best to keep, after all. He thought, and decided to linger inside the ring for just a bit longer.
…
"Nora!" Jaune squealed as he was being crushed in her arms. He legitimately thought that he was starting to see the light at the end of a tunnel.
"That was incredible! You won with a single punch, like a total bad-ass!" She spun him around, and seemed not at all concerned that all color was starting to drain from her leader's face.
Fortunately, others took notice of the grave danger the blonde leader was in.
"Nora, you're killing him." Ren decided to be the voice of reason. Fortunately, it seemed that she would listen quickly this time as she soon placed the poor guy back on the ground.
He doubled over, his hands on his shaking knees as he gasped for some much needed air.
Nora scratched the back of her head. "Uh, yea, sorry about that. I was just so excited!" She exclaimed, and it seemed like she was going for a second hug, but Ren placed a hand on her shoulder just in time. His look disapproving.
"Oops, sorry!" She whisper-shouted.
"It's fine. Just no more hugs please," Jaune said, but then noticed his fellow leader jumping on her toes, her look begging him.
He sighed. "Just...careful, okay? I'm still recovering."
"Yes!" Ruby exclaimed with hands held high in the air. She leapt, and then wrapped her arms around her best friend-gently though.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for you! Winning a fight with a single punch!? That is ~sooooooo~ cool!" She said with elevated voice.
He smiled. "I did alright, yea."
"What?! You did amazing!"
His smiled deepened, and his hands wrapped around Ruby's smaller frame. "Thanks," He said with warmest appreciation bubbling in his chest, and for a few moments to come, silence befell upon them, and they just held each other.
"…"
Held each other just a little while longer before they broke apart, and Jaune was now able to stare at her grinning face.
"I take it you'll come and watch all my fights then?"
Her eyes sparkled. "Of course!"
He snickered. "Looks like I made a devoted fan tonight. That was quick."
She grinned again, and then went for a second hug, although this one was brief.
"I swear I won't miss a single fight."
"Okay." He replied simply, and then noted Yang standing closely to her sister. Her look unmistakably pointed to him, her arms crossed just under her chest, and her expression surprisingly serious.
If she was going to tell him that something about his performance tonight just wasn't right, he was prepared for it. However, instead of receiving words of critique, he noted her expression changed as her lips curved into a wide grin, and it almost seemed like relief was written in her lilac eyes.
"Guess I was worried over nothing. You demolished the guy with a single straight." She emphasized the point with a clench of her fist.
He smirked. "Did you honestly expect anything else?"
For a moment, she seemed surprised. "Whoa, getting cocky, are ya?" She said, and then punched him in the shoulder, her fist staying put for some moments to come. And again, her expression changed as her grinned disappeared, and her eyes zeroed in, in the dead center of his blue.
So they stared into each other's eyes, and Jaune had a hunch he understood every single unspoken word written in her glare. And so could Yang, as he of course, was glaring back at her. Before her expression relaxed, and a moment later, so did his.
"Count me in being there to watch your next fights as well, blondie."
"Wow, another fan? Guess I'll be swarmed by them sooner than I expected." He opted for a humorous reply, even though he knew the true reason why she'd be there to watch him.
"Just don't get too attached to them and you'll be fine."
"Duly noted," He said, and then noticed Weiss and Blake taking some steps closer to him. Weiss was first one to speak.
"Finally, it seems that certain someone is starting to show some actual confidence. Honestly, it was about time you'd pull your act together, Jaune."
He winced, even if slightly. "Ouch, it almost hurts how right you are."
She crossed her arms, almost offended. "Of course I'm right you dolt! For the longest of time you were a pitiful ball of misery. Do you have even the faintest idea just how infuriating it was to watch you act like a wimp for so long?" Her old emotions were getting the better of her, but fortunately, she was quick to notice, and even quicker to calm down. "Look, All I'm trying to say is that it's nice to see that you finally have some self-belief," She said, and then finally, her lips struck a tiny smile. "I won't make any promises, but I certainly wouldn't mind seeing you fight again."
"Thanks, Weiss. I appreciate that." He said, and then pointed his look to Blake as he heard her start to speak.
"I think I won't make any promises either, but just like Weiss, I wouldn't mind seeing you fight again. You did great today, and I'd like to see you do it again," She said with a tiny smile.
"Thanks. And I'll try not to disappoint you. Any of you," He said, and moments later, his eyes finally found Pyrrha's.
She was standing some distance away, her fingers crossed before her. Her eyes expectant, but not impatient. And a little smile etched in her lips.
He of course, smiled back to her, and they didn't break the eye contact.
Yang seemed to be the first one to clue in. "Alright people, I'd say it's time for us to go," She said as she grabbed her sister by her sleeve, and started to pull her away.
Some were confused at first, others not, but eventually, everyone got the hint, and after exchanging some farewells, everyone left for dorm. Everyone, except for Jaune and Pyrrha of course.
"Mind if we walked for a bit?" He asked as he offered her his hand.
"Not at all," She said as she gladly took his hand in hers.
…
They didn't say a word to each other for quite some time. They just walked, hand in hand, and were perfectly fine with that. They were content observing the brilliant, seemingly infinite lights of city of Vale at this dark hour. And shining above them was starry night sky, every bit as beautiful as the city below, just in ways that differ from smaller to bigger scale.
He pointed his look upwards, and admired the vast beauty above him. He also finally found some words to share.
"You know...it's almost odd, the way I feel right now."
She looked at him. "What do you mean?"
He took a moment to find just the right words. "The moment old pops mentioned my comeback fight, I was feeling just so many things. Happiness, excitement yet also fear and anxiety, and many other things. Just so many emotions were practically causing a havoc inside me, but now…now that the fight is over, I only feel peace. I'm not even all that excited about my victory or the way I won. I'm glad, sure, but that's about it, and, I don't know, I just thought that was strange."
"Hmm." She hummed thoughtfully, and then was quick to notice that true to his words, his face looked utterly peaceful. "Maybe it isn't so odd." She started, and pointed her look to the night-sky as well. "Now that the fight is over, and you've earned your victory, you can finally take a deep breath and simply relax. You've overcome your first step, and you now know you have what it takes to take a second one." She finished, and a moment later, Jaune gave a nod.
"Yea, that must be it," He said, but moments later, he also added, "And just like you said; this was only the first step," He said as both of them finally stopped, and then gazed into each other's eyes. "Meaning my victory tonight was a small one."
"But a victory none the less, Jaune. Besides, the first step is usually the most important one, isn't that what they say?"
He cracked a tiny smile. "I don't know. Maybe," He said, and in that moment, he was struck with a flood of memories which were quick to remind him; the first step being a successful one wasn't as big of a deal as many would like to make it out to be.
She noticed. She could see in his eyes bits of fear now lingering. She took a step towards him, and then gently cupped one of his cheeks with her hand.
"Remember, we're in this together. You and me, our friends, your grandfather, your sisters and even your mother. Never forget that no matter what you'll be going through, you're not alone, Jaune."
He blinked, and the fear in his eyes was now gone. "It'd be hard to forget. You alone have been through thick and thin with me. I don't know where I'd be or what I'd with-out you, Pyrrha. I only know I'd never want to find out," He said, and his eyes were brimming with nothing but love he felt towards her.
"I'll do my best so you'd never have to find out," She said with a loving smile, and he smiled back. She hugged him, and he hugged her back. She then kissed him, and he kissed her back, and then finally...finally, it really sunk into him.
He won tonight.
