Together-Together
Okay Jaune, get it together. You can do this
For what felt like forever, Pyrrha and Jaune stared at each other in awe, neither one saying so much as a word since Pyrrha's dramatic entrance.
A man on a mission, Jaune was determined to hell and nothing was going to stop him.
"Pyrrha I…I…I'm really glad you're here".
Okay baby steps
Upon hearing his voice, Pyrrha rushed up to him and hugged him, burying her face in his collar.
It hurt quite a bit at first, but Jaune was willing to endure a little stinging from his wounds if he got to be close to Pyrrha.
He snaked his arms around her, gently pulling her closely towards him.
"Jaune", she cried, her voice a little muffled.
"I'm so happy you're awake. I was so worried that…"
"Hey it's okay Pyrrha. I'm fine now. Even better actually now that you're here".
The amazon had a fierce blush on her face upon hearing Jaune's compliment.
Reluctantly, Pyrrha released her hold on Jaune and pulled up a chair to sit next to him.
She inhaled deeply, readying herself to speak.
"Jaune. There's something I need to tell you".
Jaune straightened himself up, giving Pyrrha his full attention.
"Jaune, back on the battlefield, when you were wounded. You were going to say something to me".
Okay Juane, you've gotta do it now
"I don't know if you knew what it sounded like, but I wanted to let you know how I…how I feel about you. As a friend and…"
Jaune panicked and before he could consciously register his actions, he opened his mouth to speak.
"Pyrrha I…"
Pyrrha stopped talking looking to Jaune with an unnerving expression of curiosity and nervousness at his next choice of words.
Crap
Jaune swallowed the lump in his throat and prepared to speak.
Well, here goes nothing
"Pyrrha I know what you're thinking, but I'm sorry. I feel…differently about you".
Pyrrha looked to the ground, saddened. Her heart shattering into a thousand pieces.
"I…understand Jaune. I'm sorry for…"
"No Pyrrha wait!"
Oh God what did I do? Why am I doing this!?
Though it pained her, Pyrrha remained in the room with her friend.
"Pyrrha I'm sorry. But I can't…I can't help how I feel about you".
Pyrrha stood before him, confused.
"What can't you help?"
"I can't help that I…I…"
Oh for God's sake, just say it!
"I love you!"
Time froze.
Everything in that one room seemed to move at a fraction of its actual speed.
Pyrrha gasped at Jaune's revelation, whereas the blonde boy could only look to his knees, too scared to meet his partner's eyes.
"Wh…what?", Pyrrha managed to jitter out, her voice shaky with shock.
"I said I love you", Jaune breathed.
There. I did it
But to be honest, Jaune did not know if he felt better or worse for finally saying it.
"I've wanted to tell you for so long", he whispered.
"I think I've loved you since that dance. Or the first night on the roof. Hell maybe even before that, but I was too stupid to understand".
He held back a wave of tears and steeled himself against the hitching in his voice.
"But whenever the heck I started feeling this way about you, you've been all I could think of. You're smart, brave, kind, beautiful and…"
He inhaled a deep, shuddery breathe.
"You are the most amazing person, I could ever have to call a friend. And that's why I never said anything. Because if I did and I ruined what we have, if I destroyed one of the first and greatest friendships I've ever had, I'd never forgive myself".
"And even then I screwed it up. I didn't want to tell you in case I hurt you. And now that I did, you're upset and I'm such an idiot and I'm so, so sorry Pyrrha. But I love you. And it's been killing me, to choose between keeping my friend or never telling you. So there it is. That's what I've wanted to say to you on the battlefield. And probably a lot sooner than that too".
Jaune finally looked back up at his partner.
To his horror, she crying, her face covered by her hands.
No Pyrrha, please…
Jaune was about to talk Pyrrha around, until he heard…
No it can't be…
Laughter?
Is she…laughing?
Sure enough, as Pyrrha's hands fell from her face, Pyrrha was laughing.
Though her eyes shimmered with tears and he laughter just a little bit watery, she looked…happy?
"Jaune…", she breathed.
She ran towards him.
"Oh Jaune! I love you too!", she cried in joy, hugging him tightly.
Wait what? What!?
She loves me? SHE LOVES ME!
Jaune's train of thought was thrown out the second Pyrrha said those words he'd thought he'd only hear in dreams.
He instinctively hugged her back, not minding the slight aches it caused him, he hugged her as tightly as he could pulling her close to him.
"Jaune, I've wanted to tell you for so long. But I was afraid. I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same. That somehow you thought you and I couldn't be…
"I thought you would never feel this way about me. I thought…"
Man it feels stupid saying this now after…this
"I thought you were way too good for me".
"Jaune", Pyrrha said, starring him straight in the eyes, relaying how serious she was.
"You are my best friend. You are never less than me. Please don't ever think that again. It just not true".
"Okay Pyrrha", he whispered, in awe at her sincerity.
They hugged again, sharing each other's warmth and allowing their breathing to slow down and settle back to normal.
"But ya know, even if I can't think you're too good for me, I'm still gonna think you're incredible right?"
Pyrrha's mumbled chuckles was music to Jaune's ears.
Pyrrha sighed, over dramactically.
"I suppose I'll just have to live with that".
Jaune smiled.
"Oh yes you'll have to. Because despite what you think Pyrrha Nikos, you are, without a doubt, the most amazing woman I've ever met".
Pyrrha lifted her head so that Jaune's face was meeting her own, their smiles mirroring each other.
Their smiles fell and their lips pursed together as their eyes slowly shut.
And at last, the two hunter's lips met each other, clumsy and unpractised, but with all the power of the longing the two felt for each other, finally shared in one single moment.
Only parting for air, the two starred breathlessly at each other.
"That was…perfect".
"Yeah. Completely perfect".
Jaune grinned.
"Wanna do it again?"
Pyrrha threw her head back laughing, her red hair flying back with her. She then looked back down to Jaune, a devilish glint in her eyes.
"Do you even need to ask?"
Pyrrha descended upon Jaune, the two's lips crashing together in a far more passionate kiss than before.
Just then, Nora, Ren and Doctor Scarlatina walked in.
"Hey Pyrrha, I got more of those chocolate bars you like from the broken vending machine. There a bit melty but…."
Nora dropped everything she was holding and all three stopped on the stop at the sight of Pyrrha and Jaune kissing.
If the pair noticed the presence of the others, they didn't show it as they remained as they were.
Nora squealed in absolute delight.
"Yeeeeeesssss! Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
She glomped a very confused Ren, tears streaming down her face.
"Ren. This, Is, Happening!", she cried out loud.
"Wait. What is happening?"
"I believe Miss Nikos and Mr Arc could use some time together. Come along".
Doctor Scarlatina ushered the two out, albeit with Ren having to drag Nora away.
The two laughed.
"I take it they know now?".
"I believe if Nora knows, soon everyone else will".
Jaune sniggered.
"Well then, may as well make it official. Pyrrha Nikos, would you like to be my girlfriend?"
Pyrrha smiled and raised an eyebrow.
"Was there ever really a chance I was going to say no to that after all this?"
She rested her head on Jaune's left shoulder.
"I love you Jaune".
"I love you too Pyrrha. I always will".
It had been eight weeks, since Jaune left the hospital.
All in all, he'd made a fantastic recovery. The doctors had did a fantastic job at patching him up and his aura had dealt with all the minor wounds that remained, leaving very faint traces of where the slash had been made.
At the moment, Jaune was standing on top of the rooftop, where his life truly began to look a bit brighter.
Man, how long has it been since that first night up here with her?
Speaking of Pyrrha, the young gladiator had managed to sneak up behind the blonde boy.
"Couldn't get any sleep?"
"Nah, just wanted to get some air. Courtyard looks real creepy at night and the roof top just feels…comfortable".
Pyrrha walked up and wrapped her arms around Jaune's shoulders from behind.
"Feel more comfortable now?"
"Oh yes. Very comfortable", he sighed.
Jaune placed his hand on hers, turning her around to face him. The pair looked deep into each other's eyes. Sparkling emerald pools met sapphire, straining not to get lost in each other's gaze.
"So, what do we do now?", Jaune asked.
"Now", Pyrrha parroted.
"Now, we face whatever the world throws at us, together. And then I guess we take it from there".
"I can really get behind that plan".
Pyrrha laughed.
The two of them stood in light of a broken moon, united together.
"Pyrrha, if this isn't a dream, I'm gonna punch the first person who wakes me up".
"I wholeheartedly agree".
"Uh, I mean unless it's you. I mean I wouldn't punch you. I don't think I could without breaking my hand and even if I did I'd feel bad. Or if it was any of the guys cuz, well you know, they're our friends. And if it's any of the professors then…"
"Jaune. Breathe", Pyrrha interjected.
Jaune took a massive inhale.
"Right thanks".
"Don't mention it".
Then Pyrrha touched her head against Jaunes, closing her eyes and smiling.
I haven't been this happy for as long I can remember
Jaune hugged her closer.
"So, is it gonna be this nice outside all night tonight?"
Pyrrha opened her eyes.
"It's supposed to be quite calm, why?"
"Well, if we were to be accidentally locked out of our room tonight, we'd be forced to have a wonderful night underneath a full moon and all the stars. It just, seems like such dangerously possible outcome".
It took Pyrrha a mere five seconds to cop on.
She flashed a wicked grin and outstretched her hand, using her polarity to lock the windows shut.
"Oh dear. Jaune, it looks like we'll just have to enjoy the quiet, beautiful night sky alone together".
Jaune gasped in mock horror.
"No! Really? Oh dammit".
God I love him
Jaune sighed.
"Well, I guess we'll just have suffer through it".
"I think we'll manage".
And whilst the rest of Beacon slept peacefully, two lovers kissed under the night sky.
Even when surrounded by darkness, the two would always bring light to the other's life, for as long as they lived.