Hello everyone and welcome back. I'll admit I'm not too happy with this chapter or even the last few. I feel as though Jaune is turning out to be a bit of a Mary-Sue, so i promise I'll try and tone him down a little. Anyway please enjoy the latest chapter.
Jaune groggily opened his eyes and was confused to see white ceiling tiles. His head felt like an death-stalker had danced the fandango upon it, in short, it hurt. He turned his head tentatively so as to better take in his surroundings. He was lying in a bed covered in sterile white sheets. Around him there were several others just like his own, some empty and others not. He recognised the room as being Beacon's infirmary. Next to him was a heart monitor, beeping steadily along with his heart.
To his surprise, his eyes fell upon a flash of red in the otherwise white landscape. Sitting by his bedside was Pyrrha. She had fallen asleep, her head resting on the sheets next to his leg. He reached out and ran his fingers through her hair, it was smooth to the touch. As he did she stirred, looking up at him with blurry eyes. Surprise and joy bloomed across her features at the sight of the now awakened Knight. Her emerald eyes sparkling midst their puffy surroundings.
The Knight tried to move himself into a sitting position but gave a stifled cry as an unbearable searing pain shot up his right leg from the knee. He took deep breaths whilst his head swam and his vision flickered.
In an instant Pyrrha shot out of her seat and helped Jaune to sit up, her touch was gentle and yet firm. Once he was settled comfortably and the pain had receded to a dull throbbing he wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned his attentions back to his partner.
"P-Pyrrha, what happened to me?" his face held a confused expression which Pyrrha couldn't help but giggle at, before her face once again took on a concerned look.
"Well Jaune, you remember the qualifiers for the Vytal festival?" she asked slowly, Jaune nodded dutifully, it was the only bit he could remember.
"Well, after we all went in and fought we waited outside for you to come through, but you didn't. We were all moved out of the way and you were carried out on a stretcher. The doctors said a piece of metal had torn into your leg, and that you'd lost a lot of blood. They took you straight into surgery. W-we...I was so scared Jaune, I thought I'd lost you."
Her voice trembled as fresh tears made their way down her face. The blonde reached out and took one of her hands in his own, tracing circles across the back of it with his thumb.
"Hey now Pyrrha. Don't cry, I'm alright aren't I? It's gonna take a bit more than a little piece of metal to take me away from you. I am not going anywhere anytime soon OK? You have my word." He smiled reassuringly and drew her into a hug, ignoring the protests from his leg. He held her there in a warm embrace until she had cried herself out. Then with a final kiss on the top of her head he released her, allowing her to return to her seat.
The doctor knocked lightly and entered.
"Ah Mr. Arc! You're awake at last. How're you feeling?" he asked cheerily.
"Uh, well aside from the feeling that the Beacon marching band is playing a drummers chorus in my head, I'm OK."
"Hmm, well that is to be expected I suppose. You took quite a nasty knock to your head. Other than that you have the injury to your leg. Your aura will heal it of course but it will take some time, but until it has were going to keep you in here."
Jaune sighed and leant back into his pillows. If there was one thing he hated most it was being cooped up for any lengthy stretch of time.
"How long do you think it'll be doctor?"
The doctor scratched his chin before moving over to the Knight. At a nod from the doctor Jaune pulled back his covers exposing his heavily bandaged leg. The doctor unwrapped it, but regardless of how gentle he was Jaune still gave the occasional groan of pain.
Jaune took a steadying breath and took a look at his mutilated leg and was surprised to find it was not as bad as he had feared. A long line of stitches trailed the full width of his thigh on a slight diagonal running from his knee up to his inner thigh around midway up. The skin was red and slightly inflamed but overall didn't seem to badly damaged, the metal having made a clean cut.
The doctor poked around at the tissue eliciting groans from the Blonde through gritted teeth. He felt Pyrrha tighten her grip on his hand in an effort to support him. He gave a sharp yelp as the doctor probed a particularly sensitive area.
"Hmm. Well it seems to be healing nicely, with the rate its healing you should be back on your feet in time to spectate the upcoming tournament."
Jaune's jaw dropped, the doctor re-wrapped his leg and left the two teenagers alone once again. The Knight turned to his girlfriend his eyes glazed over.
"I-I'm sorry Pyrrha, I know you wanted to compete in bo-"
He was silenced by the red head placing a single slender finger on his lips.
"Jaune, you have nothing to be sorry for. I'm just happy that you're going to be alright."
"But we were going to compete together! I dont wanna miss this because some stupid robot exploded and hit my leg! I would've qualified if it hadn't and then we'd be at the partnership division qualifiers!"
Pyrrha attempted to mumble a consolation but her eyes widened and her jaw dropped as his whole body glowed in pale white light. Jaune gave her a terrified look .The room took on an eerie appearance as the Knight's aura flared brightly. Jaune grunted as he felt his leg itch,then burn until he found himself howling in agony. Every fibre of his thigh screamed out it pain as his aura went to work.
The doctor came running through the door, drawn by the blondes agonised shouts. His jaw dropped at the spectacle before him. His patient was lit up like a Dustmas tree, wreathed in a white mist. Never in all his medical career, some thirty years, had he seen an aura flare to such a degree. He could feel it, an oppressive power full of frustration.
After a couple of minutes Jaune ceased glowing. His sat slack-jawed, just as clueless as the others. His head had ceased to pound. He gave Pyrrha a mischievous grin and raised his hand. Before the confused Champion had a chance to react he made balled his hand into a fist and brought it down with a resounding thud onto his 'injured' leg.
"Well Mr. Arc, you are full of surprises aren't you?"
Pyrrha gave her boyfriend a look of wonderment, she had only ever seen and felt his aura flare like that in cases of extreme danger such as his sparring match with Nora or during a spike of anger or frustration. Given the circumstances, it seemed most likely that this was a prime example of the second option.
"S-so does this mean I can go now?" Jaune gave the doctor a hopeful look.
"Now, now Mr. Arc lets not get ahead of ourselves. I'll need to check over your injuries before I can clear you to leave."
The next five minutes for Jaune were some of the lengthiest in his life. The doctor unwrapped his leg for the second time and spent what Jaune was sure was an unnecessarily long time examining the muscle tissue and prodding his leg accompanied by a series of 'hmm's. Finally he stepped back from the Knight with a surprised expression. Jaune looked at him expectantly.
"Mr. Arc in all my years I have never seen anyone heal so severe a wound entirely with their aura in so short a time without exhausting their reserves. It is beyond my knowledge as to how you did it, but from a purely medical standpoint your leg is in a perfectly serviceable condition. Your aura flare even removed all traces of my stitching work. I suppose that you,uh, well I suppose you're free to go. I'll have a nurse bring you your personal effects and the discharge paperwork."
He turned on his heel and made his way out muttering to himself about 'kids these days'. Jaune chuckled as he watched his doctor leave before returning his attentions to the Spartan at his bedside whom was still staring at him in shock.
"Y'know Pyrrha, you could take a picture. It'd last longer." he winked playfully, drawing the Amazoness out of her stupor. She smiled warmly and drew him into a bear hug.
"And why Mr. Arc, would I want a picture when I can have the real thing?" she retorted as she released him. Jaune blushed at her compliment and looked around for a change of subject in an attempt to save face. An idea dawned on him.
"Pyrrha! What time is it?!" his question shot out with more force than he had intended. The Red head checked her scroll. "
It's 4:30, why?"
He responded by throwing back his covers and leaping out of his bed.
"Cause if we hurry we can make the qualifiers for the partnership division!"
Pyrrha couldn't help but giggle at her boyfriend's exuberance, it was odd enough for her to see him hopping about with an energy to rival Nora's but the fact he was doing it in a hospital gown pushed her over the edge. She leant forward onto the sheets of the now empty bed, her body hit by wave after wave of mirth until tears streamed down her face and her lungs burned for air.
That was how the nurse found them. Him stood hands on his hips his gown open at the back and shifting in the breeze and her gasping for breaths, desperately trying to quell another wave of laughter. She pinched the bridge of her nose and set Jaune's clothes on his bed along with the discharge forms. She gave a sigh and walked back out.
Jaune feverishly tore off his hospital gown leaving Pyrrha unsure of where to look, she blushed and ended up staring at the floor drawing circles with the tip of her left foot, although sneaking glances when she thought Jaune wasn't looking. After all she thought mischievously, why not enjoy the eye candy if it's there?
Once Jaune had scrambled into his clothes he scrawled his signature onto the discharge forms and practically ran out the door pulling Pyrrha along by her hand. He handed he document over at reception and rocketed off to the dorms, his partner hot on his heels.
They burst through the door panting heavily to find a very surprised Ren and an overly excited Nora. At the sight of her leader she bounded over and drew him into a bone crushing hug.
"Jauney! You're all better!"
Jaune replied only with a series of gurgling sounds. He loved his teammate like an eighth sister but he did wish that she would be just a little more gentle sometimes.
"I-it's good to see you too Nora." he gasped out.
She let him go and with an ear-to-ear grin before 'booping' him on the nose. Jaune gave Ren a smile that promised an explanation later as he changed his jeans. He tossed the torn and bloodied ones onto an old hoodie in the corner, his 'lucky' hoodie.
Satisfied with his fresh set of jeans he nodded to Pyrrha whom returned the favour, a look of fierce determination in his eyes. He gave his excuses to Ren and Nora and set off down the hall and out of the residential block at a run, Pyrrha keeping pace by his side.
Once outside they angled towards the training centre, they crossed the campus in a record time and were relieved to see the registration stands still out and manned. They came to a stop and taking a breath Jaune approached, slamming down his family seal. Pyrrha doing the same a moment later.
"Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos to register." he said proudly, puffing out his chest.
"Very well, Step into the arena when you're ready and the test will begin."
The two warriors walked into the main arena side by side, prepared for whatever the Vytal judges had to throw at them.
The two warriors emerged from the arena no longer than half an hour later to find an audience of their friends waiting, surprise on their faces. They were enveloped in the rising haze of the evening sun. Jaune's hoodie and jeans were torn and ragged and the Invincible girl's armour was scratched and dented. They both had determined looks on their faces. They each had their respective weapons in hand and before their assembled crowd Jaune held Crocea Mors out, its blade pointed to the sky. Pyrrha reached out with Miló and clanged against it. The sword and spear silhouetted in the dying sunlight, a testament to their partnership.
Weiss rolled her eyes at the blatant showmanship, muttering about it being;
'Ill befitting of a warrior of Pyrrha's stature to show-boat'
The rest of team RWBY and Juniper merely laughed at the Heiress' reaction cause her to turn bright red in a mixture of frustration and embarrassment.
"Careful there Ice Queen, you'll hold up traffic with a face that red!" Yang teased, the teenagers doubling over with mirth, tears streaming down their face.
The JP of Juniper finally made it over to their friends, wide smiles rushing to their faces at the sight of the disgruntled Weiss. Their friends plied them with questions about Jaune's miraculous recovery, but all the two would say was that it was a 'secret'. Ren shot them a look to tell them that he would be expecting a full explanation that very evening. Jaune simply confirmed his understanding with a nod.
True to his word, as soon as team Juniper were alone in the dorm room with team RWBY having left for bed, he cornered the warrior couple.
"So, now we're alone what happened to you? Nora and I saw you getting stretchered off with a huge chunk of metal sticking out of your leg. Then only a couple of hours later you burst through the dorm room door, change and leave like theirs a pack of rabid Beowolves on your tail! What happened?" Ren's voice rose steadily, laced with a mixture of confusion and frustration.
"R-Ren we're sorry we didn't explain earlier. Come to think of it, it's not gonna be easy to now. Basically when I was in the infirmary when the doc comes in and tells me it's going to be a few days before I'm back on my feet. I remember getting kinda frustrated and thinking I'd let Pyrrha down 'cause she wanted to compete in the partnership division. From what I understand my aura flared up and it hurt like hell. But when it died down again my leg was good as new. In a weird way my aura flares up when I get angry or frustrated. It happened with Cardin in forever fall and again today."
Ren was silent as Jaune finished his explanation. For all his studies in the field of aura he had done in the effort to master his own, this was the first example he had heard of someone's emotions bolstering their aura and even manipulating it.
"And how did you feel afterwards?" he asked.
"Like a million Lien! Well, I was a little tired but otherwise I felt great."
Ren gave a satisfied nod and made his way into their dorm's en-suite bathroom, for is nightly shower. Nora listened to their story wide-eyed before she leapt back onto her bed and put on her custom headphones, her orange hair bobbing along with her music.
"We did it!" Jaune gave a grin to his partner.
"Yes we did, together." she took his hand in hers as though to emphasise her point.
"Together." he replied.
Leaning in, the Knight lightly pressed his lips to those of the 'Invincible Girl'. The awkwardness that had been present at first was only a distant memory, the two seemed to become one being flowing seamlessly together. His hands upon her hips and her arms wrapped around his neck, and for the two of them it couldn't be more perfect.
The Sword and Spear broke their kiss and looked one another in the eye as Ren emerged from the bathroom followed by a cloud of steam.
"I suppose we had best get ready for bed, it's been a long day." Pyrrha said and gave him a peck on the nose before heading into the bathroom to shower.
Jaune and Pyrrha lay in their bed that night, a tangle of limbs. Her head lay on his chest listening to his heart beating as was the usual, and he rested his chin on her head, burying his face in her voluminous red hair. It was a simple arrangement they had, but neither of them would have it any other way.
"Pyrrha?" Jaune's voice broke the silence, but Pyrrha didn't mind.
"Yes Jaune?"
"D-do you think I'm ready for the Vytal tournament?"
"Jaune, we qualified didn't we? We earned our place, the same as anyone else."
"I-it's just I don't wanna drag you down y'know?"
"Jaune, there is no-one I would rather have by my side in this tournament. I don't care if we lose, that's not what it's about. We will compete side by side and win or lose, we will do it side by side."
Jaune kissed her head, whether she knew it or not, the Champion always knew exactly what to say to calm his nerves or bolster his confidence. They faded back into their comfortable silence, the sounds of their conversations replaced by the steady rhythm of their breathing. It slowed and became more relaxed as the two fell into their respective dreams.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter more than I did writing it. I'll be taking a bit of a harsher stance towards Jaune most likely in the next few chapters, i think the way I've written him is a tad OP. Anyway next chapter should be out soon. As always please do follow, favourite and Review. It's you guys that keep this going so thank you all. Feel free to flame review the hell out of this one, I'll probably join in.
POLL RESULTS:
ARKOS-18
ROSEARC-13
JAUNExCOCO-8
WHITEKNIGHT(WeissxJaune)-3
Keep voting, only four options remain, and only a week and a half left to vote! I've begun plotting and I'm excited to get going. This one will be a warm up act in comparison i think. So yeah Please vote for your preferred ships. I aim to please you guys so vote for what you'd like. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! Poll is linked through my profile.
This is TheFlagshipArkos and I'll see you all in the next chapter.