A new day had come, yet Nora had not fully returned to her usual self. While she still retained her smiles and insatiable need for pancakes, her hasty actions had slowed, evolving into constant sideways glances at her best friend.
Thoughts of Ren were consuming her every moment now. Days dreams of adventures and leisure were overrun with a raven haired companion. Butterflies swarmed like a blizzard in her stomach. Her heart thundered in her chest each time he met her gaze. A blush. An adverted gaze. It was all Nora could manage.
She thought something had changed inside of her, but that would be a lie. These feelings, whatever they were, had always been there. Just dormant, cast to the side and buried deep below their sibling-esque relationship. With her feelings bubbling to the surface she had no intention of burying them down again.
"So Ren," Nora cooed. "Got any plans for today? Because with the tournament still coming up I was thinking you and I could do some training with just the two of us...alone. NotThatI'mPlanningAnything."
"Sorry but I can't," Ren said as he turned over his breakfast, waffles coated with syrup.
"Oh," Nora mouthed, falling silent, sadness growing in her eyes.
"Pyrrha asked me to help her with teaching Jaune how to control his aura," Ren said without looking up from his breakfast. "You can join us if you'd like. I believe you would also benefit from learning to control your aura."
"No," Nora grimaced as she turned away from Ren. "I think I'll pass." And without another word she quietly slinked away.
"Suit yourself," Ren shrugged as he continued to munch on his breakfast, occasionally taking bites of Nora's forgotten plate.
When Ren returned to JNPR's assigned dorm room he found his other two teammates waiting expectantly. "Shall we begin?" Ren asked, somehow ignorant to the worried smiles they wore.
"Yeah but before that," Jaune interrupted with a wry smile. "How are you and Nora?"
"We're fine," Ren said with a tilt of his head. "Why do you ask?"
"Hasn't Nora seemed...different to you?" Jaune asked, pushing forward.
Ren took a moment give it thought. "Now that you mention it she has seemed a bit more absent minded lately." Ren stroked his chin, looking for a solution. "But Nora has always been like that." And with that Ren simply shrugged.
"But doesn't it seem a little bit odd?" This time it was Pyrrha who asked. "She seems to be looking at you much more intently lately."
"Yeah, kinda like a love-sick puppy," Jaune added and rightfully received an elbow to the kidney.
"What are you trying to say?" Ren asked. He didn't seem to put 2-and-2 together, the point they were trying to make completely going over his head.
Pyrrha sighed. "Ren," she tried putting it as simply as possible. "Have you ever thought about the possibility that Nora is in love with you?"
Ren's eyes snapped wide in shock. A fire burned in his cheeks as he tried to look anywhere in the room but at his friends. "That's impossible," Ren said, his voice cracking. The break in his stoicism catching them both off guard. "Nora's like my sister, why would she ever fall in love with me?"
"Well you two are best friends," Jaune said immediately.
"And you two really complement each other," Pyrrha added.
"Not to mention you guys do that weird nose thing all the time."
The moment Jaune mentioned the reoccurring gimmick in his relationship Ren stiffened, his entire body going rigid. Every instance of it flashed through his mind and the feelings that came with it. How it made Nora and he happy. How it was a symbol of their connection and affection. Their own little way of saying what they could never say.
"Do we really do it that much?" Ren asked he touched the bridge of his nose.
"Kinda," Jaune said matter-of-factly, once again receiving an elbow. "What? It's true! They both get these huge smiles on their face and-"
"Ren...are you okay?" Pyrrha cut off the stammering blonde as she caught sight of her friend. Ren had turned beet red, even his hands had become coated in a pinkish hue. Pyrrha exchanged a glance with Jaune, a nervous smile tugging at her cheeks. Ren's embarrassment, his nervous glances. Pyrrha knew that look better than anyone, she had worn that look for a time herself.
"Ren..." Pyrrha began as calmly as possible. "Do you love Nora?"
Ren's blush faded. An innocent smile spread across his face. "Of course I do," he said simply.
"WHAT?!" Jaune nearly shrieked. "B-b-but then why aren't you two y'know, together-together?"
Ren shrugged. "I think Nora only sees me as her brother. I mean we have been together since we were kids. She probably doesn't want to ruin things between us."
Pyrrha mentally smacked her forehead. They were both idiots. Both of them were to worried about the others feelings to allow them to express their own. She didn't know if it was sweet or pathetic. "Ren, think about it. the reason why Nora has been acting so strangely lately is because of you."
Nora's change in character since the Grimm attack on Vale raced through his mind. Her smiles. Her laughs. It all came racing through. Then he remembered how she had crawled into his bed because her night terrors had returned. He saw her frowns and her scowls. He saw the sadness she wore in her eyes. Then he remembered...
"I have to go!" Ren shouted as he raced from their room. With each heartbeat fear spread throughout his veins. How had he missed it all? This had happened before. With Nora's emotions all over the place his best friend was in danger. Ren didn't know where she was but he knew he'd find her. They were connected. Their bond would bring them together and he would protect her.
Months before coming to Beacon Nora and Ren sat on the porch of the only place they could call home, eyes turned to the horizon. They were waiting for a delivery, for letters to arrive saying whether they'd be accepted or rejected in furthering their dreams of becoming professional a Huntress and Hunter.
"What if I don't get in..." Nora sighed.
"You'll get in," Ren said nonchalantly. "Though you haven't really practiced your aura control and your test scores were...lacking, your battle capabilities far surpassed the other candidates. I think they'll find it hard for to say no."
"But what if they say no?" Nora whined as she fell back onto the shabby wood flooring. "What if I don't get in? What if I never get to become a great huntress like my mom? I'll never be able to protect people from Grimm. I'll never get to see you again. You'll probably get in and go off to have all these adventures and make new friends and forget about me."
"Nora," Ren cut off the already rambling girl. "You'll get in."
"You have to promise you won't forget me if I don't get in."
Ren snorted. "I doubt I'll be able to forget you. Plus we've been together since the orphanage. You're my family, Nora, there will never be a time when I don't think of you."
"Yeah...family," Nora repeated the word. Though a smile was on her face there was still a hint of rejection in her voice. She mulled over her future, a possible world without Ren, it seemed all so much bleaker. "Hey Ren, this is going to sound crazy but, I have an idea..."
Ren rolled his eyes, but still he faced his friend with a smile. "What is it?" Three words he'd soon learn to forget.
"TA-DAAAAA!" Nora said as she wheeled Ren around to look at himself in the mirror. "What do you think? Isn't it great? It's great isn't it?"
What Ren saw in the mirror was the reflection of his visage. Except now, among this black locks was a streak of pink. Nora had dyed his hair.
"See, now if you ever get homesick you can look in the mirror and think of me!" Nora explained with a puffed out chest, proud of her work.
"...It's great." Ren said with a smile. It was an overly dramatic act for Nora to get Ren to remember her. He would never forget her, could never forget her, dyed locks or not. Nora had a far more special place in his heart than she would ever know.
"Boop," Nora said with a smile as she poked Ren's nose.
A knock rang against their door. The mailman had come with two letters from the prestigious Beacon Academy. Two acceptance letters; one for Lie Ren and the other for a Nora Valkyrie.
Nora let out a sigh. She sat alone on the cliffside that overlooked the Emerald Forest, the location of their initiation exam. It was in that forest that it was decided that Ren and her would not only be on the same team but partners so long as they remained at Beacon academy. There were many fond memories here for such a short time spent there. Nora let out another sigh as her mind flooded with memories of Ren, a sharp pain shooting through her chest.
Nora placed a hand over her heart, felt it thump in her chest. "Didn't think it would hurt like this." Another sigh.
Then a snort. The sound of hooves digging into the dirt. Nora wheeled around to see a Boarbatusk glaring her down. It was huge, even bigger than the one that had destroyed her home. Nora cursed herself as she met the Grimm's gaze. She knew that she had brought it here.
Nora grit her teeth as she reached for Magnhild, only find it missing. Her trusty hammer was back on campus, tucked away in her locker. Nora slowly reached for her Scroll, keying in her lockers activation code. Her hammer would soon arrive, with the speed of rocket thrusters behind it, but until then she was defenseless.
The Boarbatusk howled as it charged. Nora rolled to the side, evading its charge but it still bore down on her. It charged again before Nora could evade so she met the attack head on. She grasped the Grimm by its horns and met it in a power struggle. The Grimm was strong, it slowly pushed her back, daring to push her off the cliff. Nora made the decision to shove off the Grimm, using the moment to dash to the side, but its tusk still grazing her side.
Pain. That's what she felt. Pain and fear. It all gripped her so tightly as she struggled to sit up. Her heart pounded in her ears as she faced her end. Nora swore under her breath again, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm sorry mom," she choked out. "I'm not as strong as you were." Another face flashed through her mind, his. The sight of it yet another knife in her heart.
"Nora!" Ren cried as he raced to her side, bullets spraying from StormFlower as he charged.
The Boarbatusk, angered by Ren's assault, reared back on its hind legs before charging. Ren met it with a barrier of aura, holding off the Grimm with everything he could. But the Boarbatusk was far stronger than he could imagine. With a whip of its head the Boarbatusk shattered Ren's defenses. And with another impaled the boy through the chest.
"Ren!" Nora called his name as he watched her friend slip from the Grimm's tusk, a gaping hole in his chest. The Boarbatusk snorted as it turned its gaze on Nora.
An explosion shook the ground between her and the Boarbatusk. As the dusk settled Nora stood tall, Magnhild hoisted over her shoulder and a cold glare in her eyes. "Get..." her voice came like a lionesses growl as she compressed her legs. "Away..." With the assistance of Magnhild striking the ground Nora launched herself like a cannonball and charged at the Grimm. She went into a wild spin as she prepped her swing. "FROM MY FRIEND!" When her hammer struck the Boarbatusk its fearsome tusk were immediately shattered, likely along with every bone in the Grimm's body. But it's suffering was far from over as the Boarbatusk was launched far off into the horizon, never to be seen again.
With the threat gone Nora dropped her hammer, her thoughts instantly turned to Ren who lay bleeding on the floor. "Ren, are you okay?" Nora asked as tears clouded her vision. She gripped his shirt as she shook him, trying to rouse him to life. "Ren open your eyes! You can't die. You're all I have left. Ren, don't leave me. I...I lo-"
"Miss Valkyrie," Glynda shrieked. "Not only do you go off on your own, resulting in you getting attacked by a Grimm, but you also got your teammate injured in the process! Exactly how do you intend-"
"Glynda," Ozpin said as he touched his assistants shoulder. He shook his head before gesturing to Nora, who sat at Ren's bedside. "I think she fully understands the consequences of her actions." Nora's face was completely flushed, she had been crying since they brought Ren in, nor had she left his side aside from during his surgery. "We should give them their privacy." Glynda clicked her tongue but accepted Ozpin's decision to leave the two be.
Nora still sat there, sniffling as she looked at Ren. He had regained consciousness but his arm was in a sling and his chest was covered in bandages. He was okay but the doctors said that he would be unable to speak for quite some time.
"I'm sorry Ren, I'm so sorry," Nora said as she tried to wipe her tears with a very soggy sleeve. "You wouldn't have gotten hurt if you had come to save me. I'm so sorry Ren. I'm so sorry." She sobbed out. "You wouldn't have gotten hurt because of me. You're the most important thing in the world to me and all I ever do is cause you trouble."
Ren felt a flutter in his chest. How had he been so blind? It was right in front of him. He wanted to say something. Say how much she meant to him. Tell Nora that she was more than simply his best friend. Tell her that she was the most important person in his life. But here he was unable to speak. All he could do was.
Nora felt a something brush her nose. She opened her eyes to see Ren's smiling face. He had reached out to touch her nose, their little gesture of affection. Their little way of saying...
I love you.
END