Trapped
Chapter 3: Recovery
By Lightningstrxu
Jaune stared up at the clock that hung above the door of his hospital room.
"Three, two, one." He whispered to himself.
The door opened revealing Weiss carrying a tray of what he knew to be breakfast.
"Good morning Jaune." Said Weiss.
She took a step forward and stumbled slightly, but recovered with all the grace expected of a Schnee. She placed the tray before him.
"Weiss you could have let the nurse bring it in." he sighed
"I made an oath and I'm sticking to it." She gave him a small glare.
Jaune shook his head; it had been three days since he first woke up and only one since Weiss was officially released from hospitalization. His gaze flickered down to the brace she now wore on her right leg.
"I can tell I timed you to the second."
"Of course you did." She replied haughtily. "Visitation and breakfast promptly begin at eight AM."
She removed the cover on the on the food tray revealing a modest breakfast of scrambled eggs and three pieces of bacon with a side of toast.
"Or did you presume I would be late"
"No, I didn't." Jaune laughed.
Of course, she wouldn't be late; she had all but declared that she would assist him as much as she could until he recovered. He wasn't sure how he felt about that but also couldn't bear to tell her no either.
He reached forward grabbing a fork with his left hand, it still felt awkward using it for everything. He glanced down at right arm still in its cast. It would be at least another two days before his aura would even start working on his arm.
He speared a portion of eggs it barely moved an inch before falling off the fork and back onto the plate.
"Dang it." He tried again only to meet similar results. He dropped his fork onto the platter before just picking up a slice of toast and eating that instead.
"You better pick that fork right back up." Weiss admonished. "You need protein to recover."
"This is why I usually just ordered toast." He stuffed another piece in his mouth along with some bacon. "Easier to eat one-handed."
"While true it is not a balanced diet." She grabbed a chair and brought it over to his bedside.
Weiss picked up his fork with her left hand and held it up.
"Hold it like this." She handed him the fork and helped him position it correctly. "That should make it easier."
Jaune scooped up another portion of egg and brought it shakily to his mouth, he made it much farther than before still losing the bite of food halfway.
"Well better than before." Jaune sighed.
Weiss simply stood before grabbing a napkin and using it to retrieve the fallen morsel of eggs and throwing it in the trash. She sat back down.
"The fork please?" she held out her hand.
Jaune handed her the fork.
Weiss stuck the fork back into the eggs and then brought them up to Jaune's face.
"What are you doing Weiss?" he looked curiously at the eggs in front of him.
"What do you think?" she snapped.
Weiss glared at him with an expression somewhere between annoyance and embarrassment.
"Or perhaps you would like me to make train noises?"
"No that's fine." Jaune shook his head before leaning forward and taking a bite.
Weiss gathered up another bit of egg and held it up again.
Jaune took another tentative bite, still unsure of what to make of the situation.
This action repeated in awkward silence until the eggs were gone. Weiss then placed the fork on the plate.
Jaune stared at her still confused by the situation.
"Well, aren't you going to finish your breakfast?"
She crossed her arms over her chest, foot impatiently tapping the ground.
"Right." Jaune said still in shock slightly.
He slowly reached down and grabbed a piece of bacon before eating it.
When he had finished Weiss stood up and took the platter and placed it across the room. She then returned to her seat.
They sat in silence for several minutes avoiding eye contact with each other.
"So…" Jaune began.
"Yes?" Weiss looked over to him.
"Did you want to do anything?" he glanced over at the clock, had it really only been a half hour.
"Did you?"
"Well I mean we could play a game, or just talk or something. Anything is better than just sitting here in silence."
"Hmm." She brought her hand to her\chin as she thought.
"I didn't think about games, I suppose I could try to bring some for tomorrow. Is there a particular game you were thinking of?"
"Nothing too complicated, maybe just cards or checkers something like that."
"Very well." She nodded. "Was there anything you wanted to talk about?"
"Not really." Jaune shook his head.
He looked around nervously.
"I guess without the threat of imminent death we're pretty boring aren't we?" he chuckled.
"Don't remind me of it Jaune; I don't even want to think about that again." Weiss's face fell as she looked away from him.
"Weiss, you can't just forget it ever happened. Do you want to talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about." She replied indignantly.
"There is Weiss, we can start with the fact that you feel like you owe me."
Weiss's body went rigid, she opened her mouth to speak but her words caught in her throat.
"You don't owe me anything Weiss, my injuries aren't your fault. I made the choice to take the hit for you."
"But…" Weiss began.
"No buts." Jaune cut her off. "We're Hunters we know the risks, and I would throw myself in front of a thousand more Grimm if it meant you or any of my friends went home safely."
Weiss blinked a couple of times unsure of how to react; she was a bit taken aback at how determined Jaune was to protect his friends.
"I still want to help you recover." Weiss finally found her words, as she spoke in a low whisper.
"You're allowed to help; I just don't want you doing it because you feel trapped by some sense of moral obligation."
Jaune smiled; that goofy smile that only someone like him could do. It was infectious as Weiss found her own lips curled into a smile as well.
"I'm not a very good nurse aren't I." she laughed. "I'm supposed to be helping you feel better and here you are helping me."
"You're doing an alright job so far. Maybe you should wear a little nurse's uniform."
Weiss's face turned red as she flinched.
"Don't push your luck Arc. I'm not that grateful."
Jaune shrugged his one good shoulder.
"It was a joke, not saying I wouldn't appreciate the view."
"You appreciated the view enough up in the cave."
Jaune blushed as the memory of Weiss changing flitted through his mind.
"I told you I didn't see anything." He gave a nervous chuckle.
Weiss smirked she knew he had seen everything, how could he not have. But the fact that he was still so embarrassed was flattering.
"If you say so." She shrugged.
They awkwardly looked away from each other.
Jaune glanced at her.
"So…" Jaune began. "Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Go ahead."
"How did you get your scar?"
Weiss froze as she grimaced, that was not the question she expected.
"You don't have to answer." He leaned forward concern evident on his face
"No its fine, I just…"
Weiss took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"I told you before, that my father was against me becoming a huntress."
She took another breath, her hands nervously playing with the bottom of her skirt.
"Before he would give me consent to come to Beacon I had to pass a test. A trial by combat if you will."
She sat up straight in her chair.
"Somehow the SDC had managed to get ahold of a Geist; they had it possess a giant suit of armor. I was to defeat it in single combat in order to earn father's approval."
"You got the scar fighting it then."
"I did, it only hit me once, but the blow was strong enough to break my aura and scar my face."
"Only one hit." Jaune's eyes widened "But that means it could have seriously hurt you."
Weiss nodded slowly, her hand absentmindedly reaching up to trace her scar.
"I wasn't meant to win."
"Your father could have killed you!"
Jaune visibly shook with anger.
"Remind me to have a very stern discussion with your father if I ever meet him."
Weiss was a little taken aback; she had expected him to be upset, but seeing his eyes ablaze with righteous fury. He looked intense like a knight defending his princess.
He looked…sexy.
Weiss shook her head banishing such evil thoughts.
"I appreciate that Jaune, but I'm pretty sure I taught him enough of a lesson when I walked out on him. I don't keep up with him much anymore. But I would wager that the board of directors has lost a fair amount of faith in him."
She chuckled lightly perhaps even a bit evilly.
"After all if he can't even control one little girl, how could he be expected to control an entire company."
"It would take a brave man indeed to call you a little girl Weiss." Jaune remarked.
"Well you're not wrong Jaune?" she sat up a little straighter now brimming with pride. "But enough about my family history, what is your family like?"
"My family? Not all that much to say really." He brought his good hand up to his chin to ponder.
"My mom's as nice as can be. Dad…well, I told you he denied me huntsman training, but other than that he was always there for me, worked hard to keep a roof over all our heads. I doubt it was easy between all ten of us."
"Ten?" Weiss said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well my mother, my father, myself." He began listing names. "Sapphire, Coral, Sable, Jade, Hazel, Lavender and Amber."
"You have seven sisters?"
Weiss shook her head, briefly entertaining the idea of seven Winters of varying ages glaring at her with disapproval.
"Well yeah. There really isn't a lot of entertainment in Ansel." He gave a sheepish grin.
Weiss nodded slowly. She fidgeted in her seat, unsure of what really to do now.
Why was this so awkward, she was a socialite idle conversation should be easy? Why was he so difficult?
"Would you like to watch a movie?" Jaune asked snapping Weiss out of her thoughts.
"That sounds fine to me."
Anything was better than sitting here in awkward silence.
Jaune retrieved his scroll from the table by his bed. He stared at it for a moment.
"I just realized that I can't work this one-handed." He chuckled.
"Idiot." She held out her hand, an amused smirk on her face.
She took the scroll from him and began to look through the options on his scroll.
"Where do you keep your movies in this cluttered mess?"
Weiss clicked through a few screens trying to find where Jaune kept his movie collection.
Was that her single?
Her eyes scanned the title, Mirror, Mirror. It shouldn't have mattered; thousands of people probably had this song on their scrolls right now. But a small part of her felt flattered.
"It's in the folder called Spruce Willis."
"Okay." Weiss nodded.
She clicked on the folder and gazed upon the wall of content that was Spruce Willis.
"Do you have any other movies?" Weiss said with a frown.
"Not really, why not a fan of his movies?"
"I've never really seen any of his movies."
Jaune's eyes widened.
"How have you not seen a Spruce Willis movie." He asked mouth agape in shock. "Well pick one and we'll watch it."
"I suppose it couldn't hurt to broaden my horizons." She clicked a random movie and it started to play.
#####
"I don't understand." Weiss scrunched up her face in confusion as the end credits rolled.
"Did the boy have more than one semblance that I didn't notice?"
"No, he only had the one that let him see dead people." Jaune replied.
"Then why was the movie called the Sixth Semblance?" she gestured dramatically at the scroll.
"I don't know, I guess they thought it sounded cool." He sighed. "Did you at least enjoy the movie?"
"Misleading title aside it was fine. The acting was superb, the director made good use of pacing and suspense to craft an interesting tale and a decent twist to hook the audience at the end. It was acceptable."
Weiss leaned her head against Jaune's shoulder just as the last of the credits rolled. She blinked a moment and took note of her position.
She was laying next Jaune on his bed, curled up against his left side his arm around her. When had this happened? She vaguely remembered becoming uncomfortable while watching the movie from the chair and had moved to a better viewing position.
Her cheeks turned red as a blush crept across her face. Why had she chosen to lay here with him, why had he let her? Was this a good thing, a bad thing? Her mind raced trying to make sense of everything.
"Well I guess acceptable is an a…acceptable answer." He glanced over at her. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine." She shook her head. "Let's just watch another movie."
She laughed nervously pushing a button on the scroll. Causing another random movie to start playing.
This one didn't grab Weiss's attention as much as the last, she blinked a couple of times as she shifted against Jaune careful not to put any of her weight on him. Her eyes closed as she found a more comfortable position and began to drift off to sleep.
####
Weiss felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, Weiss." A voice called as the hand gently shook her.
"Go…sleeping." Were the only two coherent words that Weiss mumbled.
"C'mon Weiss." The hand shook harder. "Visiting hours are almost over and Jaune would really like to get some sleep." The voice pleaded.
"Aww let her sleep a little longer." Another voice called. "This is the best thing to happen all week." The voice laughed. "Hey, Jaune can you at least smile don't look so mortified."
"Yang just please stop."
"No way Vomit Boy."
Weiss's eyes shot open as she sat up.
"Do you mind some of us are trying to…"
Weiss stopped cold as her sleep addled brain slammed into reality.
To her left was Ruby, the younger girl fidgeting with her hands.
To her right was Jaune, face red with embarrassment.
To her front was Yang, the blonde's face twisted in perhaps the most infuriating grin Weiss had ever seen. Her scroll held up as she snapped several photos.
Weiss stood without saying a word, her face doing a rather good impression of Ruby's hood. She turned and faced Jaune.
"I am sorry for inconveniencing you Jaune." She said her voice stilted, only just barely holding back the mortification she felt at that moment. "I shall see you tomorrow then." She turned on her heels and briskly walked out of the room not even waiting for Jaune to reply.
####
Blake reclined on the chair that adorned her team's quarters. It was a lot comfier than one would expect to find in an Atlesian dorm room.
She hummed blissfully taking a sip of tea before flipping another page in her book.
"I told you there is nothing to talk about!" Weiss screamed as the door to their dorm flew open and she angrily stomped into the room not even acknowledging her opposite color teammate.
Blake sighed, well there went her evening.
"Weiss, what are you even so upset about?" Ruby walked in on the heiress's heels her sister only a step behind. "It was not that embarrassing was it?"
Blake raised her eyebrow, had something happened when Ruby and Yang went to pick up Weiss from the hospital? She shrugged oh well it didn't concern her. She brought her cup to her lips for another drink.
"Yeah Weiss it isn't that big a deal, so we happened to walk in on you sleeping with Jaune?" Yang practically shouted.
Tea spewed forth from Blake's mouth.
"What?" Blake gasped out.
Weiss seemed to freeze in place, her face red with anger, frustration, and embarrassment.
"One more word Xiao Long and so help me." Weiss glared at Yang anger evident in her eyes but also the beginning of tears.
"Weiss what's wrong?" the brawler's face softened suddenly concerned.
Weiss gave an exasperated sigh as her only response before storming off into the bathroom.
"So what was that about?" Ruby looked at her two teammates hoping one of them could provide answers.
"I'm not sure Ruby." Yang shook her head.
"Okay can we rewind to the part about Weiss sleeping with Jaune for a moment?" asked a very confused Blake.
#####
Weiss stood in the bathroom for a long while just staring in the mirror. She had never been so embarrassed.
"The nerve of all of them." She griped to no one in particular.
She sighed as her hand reached up to undo her ponytail. She shook her head allowing the white locks to flow freely.
She walked over to the shower and started the water running, stepping back to the sink she began to undo her boots, sliding them off. She flexed her toes; they seemed to relish their newfound freedom from the prison that was her boot.
She went about undoing the brace on her right leg next she was only allowed to have it off for showers and for sleeping.
"I've already slept enough today." She mumbled bitterly under her breath.
She emptied her pockets; she saw her scroll had a message on it.
From Jaune… he never messaged her before
Hey, Weiss just wanted to make sure you were okay, you looked pretty upset when you left.
She smiled and replied.
Yes, I'm fine.
Thank you for asking.
She wasn't fine but he didn't need to know that.
That's good to here.
About tomorrow, maybe come a little later in the day. I appreciate you wanting to help me but you obviously still need to rest up. Don't worry Ren and Nora will be back tomorrow morning to spend time with me.
Weiss frowned as she read the screen.
Okay, I can do that.
Sorry for falling asleep on you…literally.
She waited for a reply.
Its fine you wouldn't have slept if you didn't need it.
Besides, you don't take up much room anyway.
She brought her free hand to her face trying to stifle a laugh.
Hey!
She set her scroll down on the sink, as she undid the zipper on the back of her dress and allowing it to slide off of her. The scroll buzzed once more.
Sorry, just try and get some rest okay, I don't want you getting sick because of me.
She quickly typed back a reply.
You caught me just as I was about to step into the shower.
But I will go to bed as soon as I'm finished.
She didn't necessarily need to tell him that she was practically naked but she definitely wanted to.
Weiss walked over to the shower shedding her last article of clothing before stepping inside.
"Mmmm." She let out a little moan as the hot water washed away the stress of the day.
Today hadn't gone as she had planned, not that she had really all that much planned.
"I made a promise to keep him company and I ended up sleeping half the day away." She sighed.
It was a stupid thing to be so upset about. It shouldn't have even mattered, but it did to her. Worst of all she knew why it did. She had developed the smallest amount of affection for Jaune, and that scared her.
Did she really even have feelings for him? Or was it just gratitude for having saved her life?
Worst of all if she really did like him in that manner, could she ever bring herself to even act on those feelings. She had rejected him so many times back in Beacon and now all of sudden she was willing to date him. It just made her feel like a hypocrite.
"Yeah Jaune isn't it great, you finally get to go out with me. See all you had to do was save my life twice." She spat out in a mocking facetious tone.
No, it was worse than being a hypocrite, it was almost like being her father. She was only doing something for him because he did something for her first.
"Damn it!" she slammed her hand on the shower wall.
Weiss turned the water off, she hadn't bothered to wash. She would just get another more proper shower in the morning.
Exiting the shower she reached for her towel and wrapped it around her middle giving her back a modicum of modesty. She saw she had another message on her scroll.
Oh…okay then, have a goodnight Weiss C:
She smiled as she read it.
Goodnight Jaune
She looked at the message but didn't hit send. She had an idea, a dangerously bold idea. Well, maybe not that dangerous. She tapped the scroll twice more. It was only two more characters added to the message but those two characters could mean everything or nothing at all depending on how Jaune chose to interpret it.
Goodnight Jaune (There should be a Heart Emoji here the site will not let me put one)
She pushed the send button…
Well another chapter down, I hope you enjoyed this one cause I really enjoyed writing it, especially the end.
I find it fascinating how writing can get away from me sometimes, I initially went into this chapter with the plan for Weiss to have a less than wholesome dream about Jaune when she accidentally fell asleep, causing to realize some things. But as I was writing I ended up cutting the idea at least for now cause it just didn't seem to fit with the tone and it felt like it made her attraction to Jaune seem more physical than anything else. Not that I haven't been exploring Weiss's sexuality in other ways, as she seems to very much enjoy Jaune seeing her body.
As always read and review, I really love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Also a credit to Coeur Al'Aran for the names of the Seven Arc Sisters.