Jaune fiddled with the collar of his black button-up, "Weiss, this thing is way too tight for me..."
She slapped his hand, "Hush! Now go out and wait for Pyrrha!"
Jaune sighed, "Fine. But you owe me!"
"It's the other way around you dolt!" She argued, "Now go!"
A glyph appeared behind him and bodily shoved Jaune out of Team RWBY's room.
Blake looked at Weiss over the top of her book, "Wasn't that a bit harsh?"
Weiss brushed her hands with a self-satisfied smirk, "Not at all."
Yang crossed her arms behind her head, a grin on her face, "Vomit-boy was looking pretty nice... Mama likey."
Weiss rolled her eyes, "Yang, can you fantasize when we aren't around you?"
Jaune stumbled out of RWBY's room and almost crashed into his dorm door before he managed to right himself (granted it wouldn't hurt him, but he had no idea what was going on in there and if Pyrrha was in any state of undress...).
He shook his head hard, slapping his head for good measure, "Gah! Bad thoughts!"
He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, letting out a deep exhale as he silently waited. He looked up when the door opened and he blinked in slight surprise.
Pyrrha was dressed in a red hoodie with golden trim over a white dress shirt and a simple pair of blue jeans. In an uncharacteristic move, she hadn't tied up her hair into its ponytail and it hung down to her mid back. It wasn't extravagant, and granted casual was what they agreed on, he never really seemed to get over how she looked. She really was beautiful when he took the time to think on it.
"Wow." He managed, he hurriedly cleared his throat and smiled, "You look great."
She smiled, noticeably embarrassed, "Really? But it's... so..."
"Casual? I don't see how that's a problem." Jaune said shortly, "You worry too much. It's pretty refreshing to see you out of your usual getup. It is nice and a good look on you."
She blinked but smiled, her usual confidence quickly returning to her, "I must say, you look quite dashing yourself."
"I should hope so, I had to play dress-up to Nora and Weiss, if anything you owe me hours of pain, abject misery, and torture." Jaune huffed, he grimaced in an exaggerated fashion.
She laughed and offered her arm, "Shall we?"
Jaune looped his arm through her's with a grin, "We shall."
He took a bullhead to the city and casually departed, Jaune led Pyrrha to a small restaurant and seated her at a booth before sitting opposite her. It wasn't overly fancy or high-class, if anything it was simple and casual. Soft music wafted through the restaurant as people chatted and talked. The atmosphere of the place was generally relaxed and soothing. Fortunately, no one seemed to know who she was and therefore regarded her with attention of a pretty girl on a date.
Which she hoped this was.
"So, what would you like to have?" Jaune inquired after they received their menus.
"Hm... what would you recommend?" She replied, propping her chin over her hands as she scanned the menu.
Jaune hummed thoughtfully, "How about a veggie wrap? Healthy and tasty, it's basically a make-your-own-wrap sort of thing. It's an appetizer and then we can start on the real food.
With a quick word to the waiter when he stopped by, they began to absently chat.
"It's a nice night." Pyrrha noted idly.
Jaune nodded and looking at the shattered moon through a window, "Can you imagine what it would have looked like whole?"
Pyrrha looked at him, "A white sphere in the sky?"
Jaune nodded, "It's kinda strange. Can you imagine our predecessors looking at the sky when the moon was still full and whole? I wonder what they would think now? Would they be shocked? Worried?"
Pyrrha chuckled, "I think that they wouldn't mind so much, so long as we weren't getting hit by the pieces."
He blinked at that and then laughed, "True enough."
"Remind me again how you convinced me to do this." Weiss sighed at Yang as they sat at a outdoor cafe that was within eyeshot of the restaurant.
"No puns intentionally aimed at you for a week." Yang said absently.
Blake smothered a grin and nudged Weiss, "I can't tell whether you got shortchanged or not."
Weiss scowled, "She said it'd be ten times worse for me if I didn't come with her."
Yang grinned unrepentantly at the heiress' disgruntled expression.
Ruby was busy with the slice of cake, but did managed to interject, "I really think this is a bit far Yang..."
Yang waved her hand in a dismissive manner, "Nope. Now hush, lip-reading is hard when you're distracted."
Nora and Ren had tagged along as well.
As for Ren tagging along, it was really more of Nora tucking him under her arm and bodily carrying him out of the room.
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose as his only sign of exasperation as this all happened.
"I'd try to stop you." Ren sighed, "But after knowing Nora for my entire life and knowing you girls for a few months, there really isn't a point in saying a word."
Jaune rested his arms behind his head as he and Pyrrha exited the restaurant a long time later, "That was a good meal!"
All throughout their dinner, they simply chatted and talked, laughing and trading stories of their childhood. Jaune already knew a lot of it, but happily listened to all of them over again. He told her about him growing up and all the problems he faced when he had been growing up. He had been made fun of, ostracized for not being able to live up to his name when he longed to show them his power. He talked about what friends he did have and how they had played.
It was relaxed and easy, the conversation between them wasn't forced in the slightest.
Pyrrha smiled, "Indeed, but did you really need to order the chocolate cake for dessert?"
Jaune raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "As if You didn't have any?"
Pyrrha looked away with an embarrassed expression as Jaune smirked knowingly, leaning forward as if trying to catch a glimpse of her face, "Oh! Is little miss reproachful feeling a bit ashamed?"
"Oh quiet." She playfully retorted, swatting at his arm.
Jaune mock-cringed, but was happy seeing Pyrrha so relaxed and happy. They walked down the street in a comfortable silence.
Suddenly a voice called out raucously, "Hey redhead, wanna ditch blondie and grab a drink?"
Jaune and Pyrrha looked over at the other side of the road to see three guys laughing and patting one of their trio on the back.
Jaune turned to her, eyes glinting in suppressed annoyance, "If I kicked their ass, would you really mind?"
She almost scowled, first at the guy across the road and then at Jaune, "Really?"
He raised his hands as if surrendering, not quite able to hide his smile, "Just an option... No need to get so defensive!"
She bumped his shoulder with her's, a fond smirk quirking her lips, "Quiet, Arc. I'd much rather have a peaceful night with you than have you ruin it with all your typical testosterone."
"Yes Ma'am." He replied, chuckling slightly.
It was refreshing to hear her tease him and insult him, even if it was a bit too wordy, she never would have said something like that before.
"So what do you have planned next?" Pyrrha inquired.
Jaune shrugged, "I was thinking you choose. I am the sort of guy to be happy with a nice meal outside, but I am no sure if a movie would be too cliche, so I figure it'd be best if I let you take the reins or a bit."
She floundered a bit, "Well I don't really know what we should do..."
Jaune hummed inwardly. It was true, despite the number of times they had gone to the city, they actually very rarely went out to do something for fun.
He put a hand to his chin and smirked, "I know a place."
They boarded a bullhead and returned to Beacon. Pyrrha looked at Jaune when he took her hand and led her to the side of the building instead of inside. As they circled the large building, they came to a meadow that was filled with flowers and bathed in the white glow of the moon. Pyrrha stared at the beautiful meadow. The flowers a myriad of color spanning from a vibrant yellow to a deep blue. Pyrrha noticed that at the very edges of the flowers the faintest white glow glimmered along the edge.
"Wow..." She breathed.
"I know." Jaune replied, a content smile on his face.
He moved to the edge and crouched down, examining a small flower. He gently ran his hand against it's gentle petals.
"Do you like this garden?" He inquired.
"It's beautiful." She replied honestly.
"I cultivated it a while ago. I added a small drop of my aura to each flower." Jaune said, "It actually helps keep them healthy."
Pyrrha stepped next to him and sat next to him, "That's interesting, I didn't know you could do that."
"It makes sense if you think about it." Jaune said, taking her hand and pressing her fingers against the flower's fragile petals.
She blinked, "It's warm..."
Jaune grinned, "Everything that 'lives' has a soul, therefore, if you can use your aura on a person... well doesn't it stand to reason that you can do that another living thing?"
By the time curfew was in ten minutes, Pyrrha and Jaune had made their way back to their room. Jaune noticed Pyrrha's head was drooping, her shoulders were slumped, and she was putting a little more effort in her footsteps than usual.
She was really tired.
With a amused sigh he scooped her into a bridal carry.
"Wha- Jaune!" She yelped, "You don't have to-"
Jaune shook his head, " I don't mind at all. You seem ready to collapse."
Pyrrha made to refute that, but immediately yawned.
"Were my lectures that bad Pyr?" He said mildly, eyebrow raised.
She flushed in embarrassment but quickly recovered, "What? No! Not at all!"
To be honest, she was lucky she had learned to listen while not looking like she was (thanks to Port), she had been watching him. His eyes gained a level of warmth as he talked about the flowers he had grown, his demeanor shifting to contentment and losing some of the tense awareness that always seemed to simmer under his skin.
And to be honest, she was interested in the material.
She hadn't known aura could be applied to plants, though in hindsight, it stood to reason.
"I really enjoyed tonight." She said honestly.
He smirked in a teasing fashion, "Says the girl who is trying not to pass out."
"It's late!" She protested, "I'm surprised you're still so aware."
Jaune waved a hand noncommittally, "Ah well, you know how I am with sleep."
Pyrrha frowned at that, her face making Jaune chuckle. She closed her eyes and lay her head against his shoulder, beginning to drowsily fight to stay awake. He began to hum a soothing tone and Pyrrha found herself wishing that this small walk would last for as long as possible, forever if it could be. Unfortunately, too soon for her, they stopped in front of JNPR's dorm room and Jaune set Pyrrha back on her feet.
He began trying to fish his scroll out from his pocket, smiling, "Tonight was fun."
Pyrrha stretched and she smiled, "It was."
Jaune pulled his scroll out and unlocked the door, and froze when he felt a kiss pressed against his cheek.
He turned to see Pyrrha draw back and smile, "I do hope we can do that again sometime Jaune."
With that, she walked inside, leaving Jaune wide-eyed and stunned.
"Um... That be great." He said quietly to himself as he smiled.