The streaks of sunlight pierced the window outside of team JNPR's dorm, heralding the beginning of a new day. It fell upon Pyrrha's face as she lay in bed, awakening her from a deep slumber. Groaning softly, she shielded her face with a hand while letting her eyes grow accustomed to the bright illumination.
The bed feels warmer and softer than usual… Oh, that's right.
She looked at the still form of her friend. Nora was resting her orange-haired head on her shoulder; her bare limbs sprawled over the taller girl. Judging by her slow and drawn out breathing that caressed the skin of her neck, Pyrrha assumed she was still asleep. She smiled at how peaceful Nora looked, in stark contrast to her characteristic hyperactive nature.
I'm so thankful for everything you did for me yesterday.
She sighed, quietly to not wake Nora up. I should have said no and not gone to the pool. Now she knows my secret. Even worse, I made her worried and scared. I thought I could've handled it… I should've told her the truth. I blame my pride and fear.
She did not recall having had any nightmare last night. She was thankful for that for that least. It had been a few months since she last had one. Sharing a bed with someone made her feel safe and comfortable. She had felt hesitant about a girl embracing her so closely while in bed, but had then realized how pleasant it felt. It was not that different from receiving a hug from a dear friend.
Well then, as comfortable as it is to lie in bed with her, I must get up and get ready for class.
With the utmost care, she moved the sleeping girl off from her and sat up on the edge of the bed, placing her bare feet onto the floor. Cracking noises were heard from the joints in her limbs as she stretched and twisted them. Just as she was about to stand up, a pair of slender arms hooked around her stomach from behind.
"Pyrrhaaaaa," whispered Nora melodically into her ear while resting her chin on her shoulder, "Come back to beeeed!"
Pyrrha felt her face grow a little bit warmer. She looked at Nora and smiled. "Good morning, Nora. Did you sleep well?"
"Mhm! I sure did. Your boobs make a cozy pillow!" Nora giggled. Pyrrha felt the hands around her stomach shift upward. Her eyes widened as she felt the hands resting on her stomach shift upward, and to her great surprise and embarrassment, cupped both her breasts. "Honk! Honk!" said Nora and gave her chest two playful squeezes in quick succession. She giggled again, more heartily.
A quick and short yelp escaped Pyrrha's mouth, shuddering slightly in Nora's grasp. The warmth in her face grew hotter, and spread throughout her body. "O-oh! Well, I'm… glad to hear that." She chuckled nervously and scratched her head. "I… I'm going to shower to get rid of the smell of chlorine from my hair and skin!" She spoke noticeably faster than usual. Standing up and freeing herself from Nora's friendly grasp, she took hold of a clean towel and hurried over to the bathroom. "Don't linger too long in bed! We have class in less than an hour!"
The moment Pyrrha got inside and closed the door behind her, she exhaled deeply. It was awkward of her to rush away like that, but she did not want to let Nora see her deeply flustered face. Even though Nora's grope was meant as a harmless tease, she did not know it was the first time anyone had touched her in such manner.
Having been touched by a girl was strange, yet oddly exciting to a small degree. Her heart was still beating faster than normal.
Then again, with her highly limited experience about physical intimacy, she was not sure how she was supposed to think or react. She had never even been kissed by anyone at all. Living on a pedestal as a celebrity and champion had plenty of downsides. She shook her head.
I'm overthinking things. Nora's simply being Nora. Ren must be accustomed to her shenanigans.
She cast her thoughts aside and focused on the real reason why she had gone to the bathroom. After taking off her nightgown and underwear, she gazed at the shower stall as if it was an opponent, ready to clash blades with it.
Okay, Pyrrha. You can do this…
Positioning herself just outside it, Pyrrha stretched out her hand and slowly twisted the faucet to let a spray of water pour from the shower head above. As soon as the very first drops touched her arm, she gasped and pulled away. She groaned and gritted her teeth, rubbing her arm as if she had been scalded. Taking a deep breath, she thrust her limb back into the falling water. Although more successful, her arm began to twitch so violently she was forced to pull out again.
No! I refuse to be beaten by a shower!
With renewed determination, Pyrrha boldly stepped straight into the shower. Immediately, her muscled tensed up as if she was turned into a statue. Her breathing turned faster and shallower. The pressure of the multiple, thin water beams felt so powerful she feared they were going to pierce straight through her skull. As the water splashed against her face, her subconscious relived the terror of lying at the bottom of the frozen lake, surrounded by the cold and liquid darkness that drained her warmth and life. The sensation of safety disappeared, turning into terror.
I need to… ESCAPE! Taking a clumsy step backward, she fell out from the shower stall and onto the bathroom floor.
She did not know for how long she sat curled up against the wall. It was not until the shower turned itself off automatically that her scattered thoughts became clear. She reached for the towel and began to dry herself while facing the ugly truth.
I've fought hunters and Grimm. Yet a shower got the better of me. It's like a bad, humiliating joke…
Shortly thereafter, Pyrrha stepped out from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. "Ah, that was… refreshing. Exactly what I needed." She smiled thinly, and began to prepare herself to head to class together with Nora. She was glad that Nora had not seen her, not wanting to worry her further. She needed to try shower again later, at least so that she could get the smell of chlorine out of her hair and skin.
Unbeknownst to Pyrrha, a pair of concerned, turquoise eyes had peeked at her briefly through the barely ajar bathroom door. Nora had taken no pleasure in snooping on a friend, but had done so out of necessity. Usually, Pyrrha did her daily showers quickly, but when she had not come out of the bathroom for over twenty minutes, it had been a reason for her to be worried.
Nora's dark suspicions had been confirmed; she's so scared of water she can't even shower anymore.
To her chagrin, Pyrrha still acted though as if everything was normal. I gotta talk her; find out how I can help her. I can't have her go on and pretend that everything's fine. Not wanting to confront her just yet, she chose to instead play along with her charade for the rest of the day.
At their first class, her focus shifted back and forth between Pyrrha and the teacher. Any teacher would describe the red-haired champion as a studious girl, a model student who actively participated in class and performed excellently on her exams. Now, however, she was but a shadow of her former self. The few notes Pyrrha had written were nothing more than incomprehensible scribbles.
Twice, Pyrrha embarrassed herself by not reacting to the teacher addressing her, much to the teacher's surprise, and Cardin's amusement. Her body was present, but her mind was somewhere else. Nora did not know what Pyrrha was thinking about, but she speculated she was going through her traumatic memories repeatedly, like a hamster running in a wheel. Hopefully, Pyrrha was trying to come up with a way to not let the past burden her with fear and doubt anymore.
Later, at the academy's dining hall, Nora watched Pyrrha eat and drink with the appetite of a robot, barely even chewing. She did not say much, despite Nora's attempts to make her talk.
I wish Jaune and Ren were here. Maybe they could figure out how to help and cheer her up. It was tempting to call them, but the promise she had made forbid her.
As evening approached, Nora was sitting and fidgeting on her bed. As an impulsive girl, sitting still and keeping her thoughts to herself went against her very existence. What she was about to do would be painful and risky for both herself and Pyrrha, but she saw no alternative.
Might as well get this over with. This will not get pretty…
She left her bed to walk over and open the dorm's miniature fridge, taking out a bottle of water. Taking a deep breath and gathering up courage, Nora broke the silence in the dorm. "Pyrrha, we gotta have a chat." She did not like how serious she sounded, but she could not force herself to speak with her typical, merry voice.
"Oh? About what?" asked Pyrrha curiously.
"About you should stop pretending that you're fine," answered Nora bluntly while approaching her. She placed the bottled water at a table nearby within reach. "Look, I know you're still spooked and shocked about what happened to you last year, and at the pool yesterday. We should talk about it. I'm your friend, and I care about you. You know you can talk to me about anything."
Pyrrha blinked, appearing stunned from having been confronted so suddenly. It took her a couple of seconds to respond. "I... I understand and truly appreciate your concern, Nora. But I assure you, I'm fine," she said, smiling thinly.
Nora, however, saw right through her fake smile. Her answer only drove her to continue, harder. "No, you're not! Your fear of water haunts you! I know it!" The tension resonated within her voice.
Pyrrha remained resolute, with Nora's words glancing off of her like dull blades against strong armor. "I can deal with it on my own. Don't let my problems burden you, too."
Nora felt the frustration rise within her. What Pyrrha said conflicted with who she was and what she believed in. "How can you say that? What happened to the spirit of our teamwork? Aren't we supposed to help each other when we're in danger? When we need someone to talk to? You chose to help Jaune with his training. Why won't you let me help you?" she wondered.
"Jaune's problem was different," Pyrrha quickly corrected with a raised finger. "I've dealt with my issue once before, and I'm capable of doing so again. I just need some more time."
Nora huffed. "Just because you bury a problem doesn't mean it'll go away!" She stomped her foot in a childlike manner. "What will you do if you need to fight someone in the Vale Tournament who uses water Dust? A water Semblance? Will you panic then, too?"
Damn! I'm not making much progress here. Time for a risky gamble... "I know you struggle to even shower," she admitted.
Pyrrha's vivid green eyes narrowed into slits, and eyed her suspiciously. "How… do you know that?" Her face turned red, but not only from embarrassment.
"Am I wrong? I can still smell chlorine from you." Nora held her ground against the piercing eyes. Making Pyrrha upset was not her plan, but the words were now out in the open. Her hand reached for the bottle of water on the table, unscrewing the cork.
"Did you-" Pyrrha's sharp response was abruptly interrupted as Nora splashed her face with water, causing her to shriek as if it was acidic. "N-nora? Why?" whined Pyrrha and wiped her eyes, shivering from a wave of cold washing over her.
Once again, Nora stared into her friend's visage of fear. "I'm so sorry for doing that!" she stated, feeling so guilty as if she had just kicked a cute and innocent puppy. "Look what happens when someone splashes your face; you're rendered into a frightened, defenseless little girl!" She took hold of Pyrrha's shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes. "You can't go on like this, Pyrrha! You need help! Let me help you, please!" she begged, praying that Pyrrha would see reason.
The water melted what resistance she had, and allowed Nora's words to reach Pyrrha's heart. "I-I don't understand, Nora. When… when I'm surrounded by Grimm, or fight opponents in tournaments, I feel no fear." Pyrrha's lower lip trembled while she futilely choked back her swelling sadness. The sight touched Nora's heart. "But… as soon as I get near water… I feel so helpless." Clear drops fell from her eyes. "Help me… Nora, please. I don't want to be scared anymore."
It had been a short and uncomfortable fight, but Nora emerged victorious, as she made Pyrrha admit she could not overcome her problem alone. She took a quick step forward and threw her arms around Pyrrha, hugging her dearly. "Of course I will! That's what friends are for." Her smile and her cheerful voice returned. She wiped away a couple of tears on Pyrrha's cheeks.
After a moment of peaceful silence passed with the two girls embracing in each other passed, Pyrrha asked, "So, what happens next? How are we going to proceed?"
Nora grinned. Oh I know exactly what to do next!
"First of all, we're gonna get you sparkling clean at the bathroom. Gotta get that smell of chlorine outta you. And your long and beautiful hair is starting to look messy."
"You want me to try to shower again? Isn't that a little too much, too soon?" wondered Pyrrha.
Nora shook her head. "Not a shower, silly. I'm gonna scrub you with sponge and water! Now, march inside the bathroom, get undressed and wait for me. If you aren't naked by the time I enter, I'll tear off your clothes myself!" She giggled gleefully.
Pyrrha looked at the nearby bathroom door and then back at her. She hesitated before she did as she was told and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
A short moment later, Pyrrha was sitting on a plastic footstool with a red towel wrapped from her chest down to her thighs, leaving her arms, shoulders and legs bare. Her garments had been neatly folded and put on the shelves. She was nervous, and for more than one reason. Not only had she recently confessed her fear of water to a good friend, but now, the same friend was also going to help her overcome it. Pyrrha always saw herself as selfless and benevolent. Receiving help from others felt unorthodox.
Nevertheless, she could not deny she did need it. How am I supposed to help others, if I can't even help myself?
The door opened, and in stepped Nora, carrying a plastic bucket. She filled it with steaming hot water from the shower stall and added some shampoo. "Who wants a sponge bath?" she exclaimed with a crazy grin. She squeezed a sponge in her hand, causing thick foam to leak out between her fingers. She sat down on her knees next to Pyrrha, smiling at her reassuringly, like a caring nurse would to a worried patient.
Pyrrha knew she had agreed to the sponge bath, but began to have second thought about letting someone else clean her. "I'm sure I can do this myself, Nora. You don't need to."
"Don't be such a baby!" quipped Nora with a dismissive wave of her hand. "This isn't anything new to me. Ren and I have given each other sponge baths before." Taking a gentle hold of Pyrrha's arm, Nora dragged the soaked sponge across the bare skin, covering it in a glistening and foamy layer. "Does this feel okay to you?" she asked.
Pyrrha felt the muscles in her arms tense up. Her body was remembering the fear of drowning. After having gotten her face splashed with water only moments ago, she had not been sure if she was going to be able to handle the sponge.
She steeled herself. This is not the frozen lake, the swimming pool, or the shower. It's just a soaked sponge. I know I can handle this.
A few seconds later, her tension began to soften, allowing her to enjoy Nora's help. It was not her first time feeling a hot and wet sponge against her skin, having scrubbed herself before. To let someone else do it on the other hand was a different, yet still pleasant experience.
Noticing that Pyrrha was now relaxing, Nora picked up the pace and moved the sponge back and forth across the arms, over the shoulders and the upper part of her back. She hummed merrily as she cleansed the skin, removing any fragrances of chlorine.
The recent mention of the dark-haired individual of team JNPR raised some curiosity within Pyrrha. "Do you mind if I ask you something? It's been on my mind for some time. Is there anything… you know, romantic going on between you and Ren?" Her voice trailed off, but then she quickly spurted out apologetically, "You don't have to answer if that's too personal!"
Nora took no visible offense to the question and answered without any hesitation at all. "We've kissed two times before. The first one was very spontaneous, even for me. We had just killed our first Grimm together and I let my super-duper excitement surge over me! Next thing I know, my mouth is pressed against his. I think his lips tasted minty. Probably from his toothpaste."
Pyrrha could not hold back a giggle. "And how did he react to that?"
"Meh! Ren was being Ren, as always," said Nora with a shrug of her shoulders. "After a brief smile, everything was back to normal. He didn't even ask me why I did it."
Although Pyrrha could change the subject, she decided to go a little deeper with Nora's and Ren's shared past. After all, part of the temporary partner switch was to improve bonding. "You almost sound disappointed. What about the second kiss?"
"Oh, I just wish he could've dropped his typical persona for like five seconds and lemme have a real kiss, from one friend to another. Sooooo…, later, I asked him to kiss me, and he totally did! I learned that you can tell a lot about someone you're sharing a kiss with. Thought I would feel a spark of passion, but neither of us did. Lame! We came to terms that we aren't really suited to be together-together, you know?"
Pyrrha nodded. She was hardly an expert, but she imagined it could be difficult to form a relationship with someone you have known since childhood. It could endanger the precious friendship. It was heartening to know that Ren and Nora were good friends still.
Done with scrubbing and rinsing Pyrrha's arms, Nora repositioned and began to do the same for her legs instead, save her thighs. The scrubbing against her ticklish feet elicited plenty of short giggles from Pyrrha.
"What about you?" asked Nora while eyebrow waggling suggestively. "Ever kissed any hot guys before? Come on, tell me the juicy details!"
Pyrrha responded to Nora with silence and looked away. I'm not sure if I want to tell her that I've never been kissed before…
She remembered how out of place she had felt when some of her female classmates back at Sanctum talked about the guys they had kissed, a few even having had sex.
Nora followed up with a second question before Pyrrha could answer the previous one. "Hey! Pyrrha! You the type of girl who thinks her first kiss should be special and memorable?"
"Uh…, I don't think so?" Pyrrha frowned. Uh oh, I don't like the way she's grinning at me. What's she up to now?
Unexpectedly, she saw Nora's hand drift to her chin. It settled there and gently pulled her closer until their lips met. Just like that, Pyrrha received her first kiss. Not from a handsome, friendly guy as she had thought, but from her friend and a girl just like her. Nora's mouth felt so warm, the caress of her lips softer than what she could have imagined.
I can push her away or tell her to stop… then why am I not doing it? The kiss radiated warmth that spread throughout her body, fluttering her heart. Is this the 'spark of passion' she talked about? The kiss lasted for a couple seconds, but it felt longer than that.
Nora withdrew, giggling and blushing. "How was that? Not so shabby, huh?" She licked her lips. "You taste yummy!"
Pyrrha could still taste the tang of Nora's lips upon her own. She could ask why she had kissed her, but kept her silence and smiled shyly, believing it to be just another harmless tease from Nora.
"Alright!" Already, the restless Nora was moving on, as if the recent kiss never happened. "Let me clean the rest of you! Can't leave any dirty spots behind, now can we?"
"T-the rest?" echoed Pyrrha hesitantly.
"Yep! Take off your towel."
Pyrrha's nervous gaze shifted back and forth between her friend and the red towel. Hesitantly, her fingers pulled the cloth down to her waist. Her nether regions were an area, which she intended to clean herself.
Nora sat still, her gaze being focused at the bare chest and stomach before her, like trying to submerge herself into a detailed picture with multiple layers and mesmerizing colors. "Looks like your mother made you eat all your vegetables and drink a lot of milk as a kid."
"Please, just hurry up and finish."
Nora dipped the sponge into the bucket again. Pyrrha averted her eyes. It was not enough, so she closed them instead. Without her vision, the remaining senses, especially touch, worked harder to feed her with information of what was happening. The rubbing of the sponge against her stomach, collarbones and neck felt more pleasant than she wanted to admit. She chewed on her lower lip and curled her toes while trying to stop herself from fidgeting on the plastic footstool.
As Nora began to scrub her sensitive breasts, a moan escaped past her parted lips. With eyes wide open, she quickly put her hand on her mouth, too late to stop the embarrassing vocalization. Both girls looked at each other while silence passed between them.
Nora tilted her head inquisitively. "Was that a moan of discomfort… or pleasure?" she asked teasingly.
"N-Nora!" A flustered Pyrrha protested. "Behave, or I'll throw you out!"
The shorter girl snickered heartily and did as she was told.
As the daily night swept in and covered Beacon Academy in temporal darkness. Pyrrha and Nora were resting next to each other in bed. Nora could get used to this. She had asked if Pyrrha wanted to sleep with her again, and to her delight, she had agreed with a smile.
Nora rested a hand on Pyrrha's bare arm, feeling how smooth and warm it was. That sponge bath had done wonders for her skin. Her long, red hair was silky and glossy once more after having been washed and combed.
It had been another eventful day for the two of them. If she were to tell anyone that she had kissed Pyrrha and scrubbed her breasts on the same day, no would likely believe her. Not even Ren. She had no desire to tell anyone anyway, not wanting to spread any rumors about her and Pyrrha.
It will have to be our own little secret. A super fun secret that always makes me smile!
She was trying to relax her mind so that she may fall asleep. She could still recall the softness of Pyrrha's lips. The image of her topless form had been imprinted on her retinas. She could not stop herself from smiling as she recalled Pyrrha's moan.
That was definitely a moan of pleasure.
"Nora? Are you awake?" she suddenly heard Pyrrha carefully whisper close to her ear.
"Mhm?" Nora moaned, her tired voice being muffled by her pillow.
"When I told you yesterday of how I drowned… I didn't tell you quite everything."
As she heard that, she realized Pyrrha was not out after simple chitchat. She slowly turned herself around to face her. Taking hold of her hand, she waited for her to continue.
Pyrrha seemed to appreciate her hand being held, as she squeezed her gently. "When I felt the cold water fill my lungs, the pain was... excruciating." She paused for a second, shuddering. "But, the moment before I succumbed, I believe I experienced a strange form of… serenity. Like, the moment when you're relaxing in a hot tub and feel yourself drifting to sleep."
Nora repressed her mouth from yawning. "Why are you telling me this all of a sudden? Are you feeling well?" she asked out of concern.
"Because I've been thinking... What if I sink and don't want to resurface so that I can experience that sensation again?"
Nora blinked. "You… you seriously believe you would do that?" She tried to understand why Pyrrha would say something like that. I don't know what it means to drown… and I hope I never do!
Pyrrha slowly shook her head. "Truth to be told, Nora… I don't know, and that scares me. When you pulled me into the pool yesterday, I think I intentionally stayed beneath the surface for a couple of seconds longer just so that my subconscious could think about it. I'm not sure what I might do if I fall in again."
Nora fell into silence as she was filled with self-doubt. The more Pyrrha talked about her problem, the more she realized how big it was. She had so far only seen the tip of the iceberg.
What else are you waiting to say? Can I really help you, or will I only make things worse? It was me who pulled you in after all…
"Pyrrha, I'm… not so sure if I'm the right person to help you. It sounds more to me you need professional help. We can go and talk to Ozpin and let him contact a therapist. I'm sure he would understand. They're sworn to professional secrecy and-" She was gently interrupted.
"I don't want to do that, not yet at least." Pyrrha shook her head. "If I must visit a therapist regularly, people will notice my absence. I know that rumors spread easily."
Nora pondered a brief moment to come up with an alternative solution. "Okay, how about this then? I'll help you throughout the weekend. If things don't get any better, will you talk to Ozpin? Ren and Jaune deserve to know, too."
"I will." Pyrrha nodded. "I have faith in you, my friend." Both of them smiled warmly as Pyrrha stroked Nora's cheek. "So, besides giving me sponge baths, how do you want to help me?" she curiously asked.
"Hmm, we should work on to get you used to showers first. Eventually, I wanna take you back to the pool. You think you're ready for that?"
"There's only one way to find out. But, whatever happens, I know I'll have you by my side."
"I guess that's another date then," jested Nora, making Pyrrha giggle.
With nothing more left to say, both girls remained quiet until they fell asleep. Tomorrow would be an interesting and challenging day for them both.
End of chapter 2
Author's note:
What Pyrrha said about what she experienced before she drowned was not something I made up. Survivors of drowning and other near-death experiences have said similar things. In some extreme cases, the survivors have attempted to experience that sensation again.
The scene where Nora confronts Pyrrha was tricky to write, because Nora was being serious and tense, while Pyrrha grew slightly irritated. Oh, and Nora wasn't really being a voyeur near the beginning. She just took a quick look to see if Pyrrha was fine.