She walked through corridor after corridor, not knowing exactly where she was going. She stopped as she came before a simple door. As she pushed it open and stepped out into a familiar courtyard, she was met by a breeze that made her shiver. She rubbed her arms in an attempt to bring some heat back to them, but ther stiff limbs felt like they were frozen to the very bone. With each exhale, a small cloud formed in front of her face that quickly dissipated into nothingness.
The further she walked out into the courtyard, the quieter her surroundings became. The chirping birds, the blowing winds, the chattering people, they all became so silent as if they ceased to exist. The silence became so gripping that her breathing was deafening in comparison.
As she put her boot down, she froze in response to hearing something cracking and groaning. She looked down, and saw a small crack in the ground beneath her foot. The crack grew quickly in size, becoming thicker and longer, splitting off and forming into new ones. The ground beneath her shattered and gave away, robbing her of her footing and sending her plunging toward darkness.
Acting on pure survival instinct, she threw her arms out and dug her fingers into ground, leaving her hanging. As she tried to yell for help, no words came out. Instead, only gurgling was heard, as copious amounts of water sloshed out of her mouth. Her grip slipped, and the cold, liquid darkness swallowed her…
With a gasp, Pyrrha flung her eyelids open and threw her upper body up. She whipped her head around back and forth, her breathing being quick and shallow. Realizing that she was safe in her team's dorm, she took a deep and slow breath to compose herself.
Relax… It's just a nightmare. You've had similar ones before. Nightmares were nothing new to her, but it had been many weeks since she had had one that reminded her of her drowning accident.
She did not know what time it was, but the darkness she saw on the other side of the window was an indication. Pyrrha looked at the other three beds within the room. To her relief, her teammates remained quiet and still, especially Jaune who was snoring quietly.
She then focused her gaze on the bed furthest away from her, the one that belonged to Nora. A few days ago, she had slept in it together with her, who had made her feel safe and comfortable by holding and cuddling with her. Pyrrha remembered their first night together, some hours after her traumatic fall into the pool. She had stepped up to Nora's bed and asked if she could sleep with her, like a scared child seeking safety at her parents' bed.
Pyrrha embraced both pillows in her lap, poor replacements compared to a warm and living person. I miss being held by someone. No, I miss being held by Nora.
She felt an urge to walk over to her and ask if she could sleep with her again. She supposed Nora would not object. The tricky thing was, she had specifically told Nora she wanted them to sleep in their own beds from now on. To go back on her words after just three days would be pathetic.
Pyrrha became aware of how damp her nightgown was. She felt slick sweat on her arms and face. She did not want to go back to bed like that. Moving as quietly as she possibly could, she swung her legs over the edge and placed her bare feet on the floor, sneaking into the bathroom and closing the door behind her. Good thing the hinges and door handle were freshly oiled and caused minimum noises.
Her eyes that were accustomed to darkness, squinted uncomfortably for a few seconds as the lights in the ceiling came on. Pyrrha looked into the bathroom mirror and was met by self-disgust over how sweaty and pale her face looked. Her long and red hair was in need of a comb. She rubbed her face with both hands, trying to bring some color back to her skin.
"Bad dream?" whispered someone behind her.
As Pyrrha looked into the mirror, she saw the reflection of Nora peeking in through the ajar door. Pyrrha nodded.
"Wanna talk about it?" asked Nora in response, her eyes expressing silent concern.
Pyrrha thought for a moment, before she turned around and gestured to Nora to come in. I could use some company, even for just a minute. "Close the door, carefully. Sorry for waking you."
Nora did as she was told. "No harm done," she said as she walked up to stand next to Pyrrha in front of the mirror. "You remember what happened in your dream?" she asked, keeping her voice down to a hush,
Pyrrha tried to recall as many unpleasant details of the nightmare as possible, tightening her fingers' grip around the smooth edges of the porcelain faucet. The memories were blurred, difficult to focus on. "I… I don't remember much. I was walking by myself, feeling cold. And then, I think I… fell into a dark hole." She glanced at Nora.
I could really use a hug now, Nora… Or just at least hold my arm.
"Sounds terrible. I'm sorry to hear that," Nora said sincerely.
Pyrrha smiled and nodded in appreciation to her concern. "I'm just going to wash my arms and face and then go back to bed." It was tempting to shower, but that would likely wake the others. She twisted the faucet, sending a thin stream of water down into the sink. As soon as she put her hands down into the water, she gasped and quickly pulled them away, splashing some drops onto herself and Nora. The cold water was a reminder to her icy nightmare.
"What happened?" asked a surprised Nora, raising her voice slightly. "Did you get scalded?"
Pyrrha shook her head and blinked, trying to understand the situation herself. "I-I don't know. I got… scared." She slowly pushed her hands back into the now lukewarm water. Although she was more successful, her fingers tensed up, making it difficult to wash herself.
"Here, let me help you." Nora reached for her pink towel and dipped a corner of it into the water. She then squeezed some water out and began rubbing the wet towel up and down along Pyrrha's arms to get rid of the partially dried sweat. "Brings back memories, doesn't it?" she jested, trying to raise the mood for them both.
Pyrrha managed a tired smile in recognition to her reference. The situation was indeed quite similar to the time when Nora had helped cleaning her with a sponge bath. Nora hummed on a merry song as she dipped the towel back into the water a second time, and began scrubbing Pyrrha's face.
I feel so weak. I can't even wash my own face and arm. Now I know how Jaune must have felt when I patched him up.
"I don't get it," began Pyrrha, "Two days ago, I submerged myself into the pool without panicking. And now… I tremble just from washing my hands? That doesn't make sense."
Nora shook her head and smiled. "Don't think too much of it, silly. You're spooked by the nightmare. Tomorrow you'll feel better. You'll see."
Pyrrha hoped that Nora was correct. After everything she had been through the past week, her fear of water growing stronger again was the least she needed. "You're probably right. Thank you."
"No problem! Anything for a dear friend!"
After they finished their business, they sneaked out of the bathroom. Pyrrha sat down on her bed, and watched Nora walk past her, heading toward her own. She opened her mouth, wanting to tell her to stop and sit with her for a moment. No such words came, to her chagrin. At least her brief talk with Nora had made her feel a bit better. Pyrrha switched her damp nightgown into a fresh one and tucked herself in, hoping that the nightmares would not return the same night.
A few hours later, Pyrrha and Nora were heading to their first class of the day. Jaune and Ren had already gone on ahead.
Last night's visit to the bathroom together with Pyrrha was on Nora's mind. She could tell that Pyrrha had felt uncomfortable about talking about her nightmare. It was a reminder to how much her fear was influencing her life, even when not awake. Nora had wanted nothing more than to embrace her friend as a means to comfort her.
But you told me a few days ago not to touch you… She had not dared not to find out if hugging was allowed or not. She knew how to comfort people with words, but she knew that sometimes a silent hug could be more helpful than a hundred words.
Not being allowed to hug a friend is worse than not eating or drinking. Hugs are needed to feel healthy. Maybe I should just ask her? Nora wondered while glancing at her friend.
Suddenly, Pyrrha's Scroll rang. "Oh? I wonder who that could be." She stopped to take it out and answer. "Hello?"
Nora stopped too, looking up at Pyrrha curiously. She wanted to whisper and ask who was calling her so early in the morning, but chose not to disturb.
Pyrrha continued her conversation with the person on the other side of the line, shifting her feet slightly. Nora thought she looked surprised, even a bit concerned. "Yeah…, that's right…, Sure, I can do that…, Um, not really. I guess I'll save the questions for when I meet you, Doctor."
Nora grew worried at the mention of a doctor. Are you sick?
"Thank you for calling me. Good bye." Pyrrha ended the call and sighed, as if letting out some tension from her body.
"Who were you talking to?" asked Nora as soon as the call ended, eager to get answers. "Was it really a Doctor?"
"That was… Tawny Katz, my soon to be therapist, actually."
The surprise brought a toothy grin across Nora's face. "Really? Wow! That's great… right?" she asked hesitantly, noticing that Pyrrha did not seem to share her excitement.
Pyrrha stared down at her closed Scroll, repeatedly flipping it over in her hands. "Yeah, it is. It's just that... I've never talked to a therapist before. I have no idea what's going to happen when I meet her."
Nora knew exactly what to do, the only right thing to do as a good friend. "Afraid to venture into the dark unknown on your own, huh? Sounds like you need a fearless companion to light your path!" she suggested exaggeratedly. "Want me to go with you?"
Pyrrha looked away from her Scroll to instead look at Nora, smiling at her. "Yes, I would really like that," she replied. "But, Nora, I have permission from Ozpin to miss classes whenever I need to see my therapist. You don't."
Nora shook her head. "Skipping one class won't be a big deal. Not like we're gonna miss out on anything. I'd rather stay by your side than listen to one of Port's 'heroic tales'. What a snore fest!"
It only made sense for Nora that she was meant follow Pyrrha to the therapist's clinic. She had been with her ever since the reawakening of her fear. She had given Pyrrha invaluable support and comfort along the way. It was Pyrrha's journey, but Nora had become a helpful and willing passenger. She wanted to see the end of the journey, too.
"Okay then. Let's leave after first class. Come on, we're going to be late," said Pyrrha.
Nora was glad and proud of Pyrrha having decided to seek professional help. Yet, it made Nora feel disappointed with herself. It felt like she had failed her precious friends, that all her efforts had not been enough. Could she have done more? Something different and better? She was not sure. It belonged to the past now. She needed to focus on the present and the future.
No matter how good or bad things go for you, Pyrrha, I'll never stop helping you.
After having taken the transport ship across the strait, Pyrrha and Nora made their way through Vale City until they arrived to their designated street address. "That must be the place," said Pyrrha and pointed at a sign on a door that said, 'Katz Psychotherapy Clinic'.
Seeing the building before her made her feel nervous. She knew that Doctor Tawny Katz would contact her eventually, but to having actually talked and made an appointment with her over the phone felt like a big step. She had considered asking for a later time to give herself more time to prepare. She had then realized that would be procrastination, a delay of the inevitable, cowardice.
The sooner I begin, the sooner I can be cured.
As the two girls entered the clinic, they were greeted by a young, female receptionist sitting behind a desk together with a computer. "Hello and welcome. What can I do for you?" she asked in a polite manner.
"Hello. I'm here to see Doctor Katz for a one 'o'clock appointment," responded Pyrrha.
The receptionist turned her attention to the computer screen and began tapping the keyboard. After a brief moment of silence, she nodded and said, "Ah, Nikos, right? Do you have any ID on you?"
Pyrrha took out her wallet and presented her ID card. Her name and photo matched up.
"Everything seems to be in order. I'll inform Doctor Katz that you are here." The receptionist pointed down a corridor. "Go down the hall and then to the left. Take a seat outside her door and she'll bring you into her office soon enough. Your company, however, needs to stay here."
Pyrrha and Nora exchanged looks with each other. "I guess this is it then," said Pyrrha with a nervous smile.
Nora smiled reassuringly at her, instilling some last-minute confidence into her. "You'll be fine! It's not like you're heading toward your own execution. Remember, always think happy thoughts. Think of me even!"
"Then, what about you? Are you going back to the Academy?"
Nora reacted as if she was insulted. "What?! And leave my friend alone behind enemy lines to be interrogated? Never!" she exclaimed. "I'll wait here, no matter how long it takes."
"Okay then. I hope it won't take too long. See you again soon." While smiling, Pyrrha waved good-bye to Nora and headed down the hall. Her feet felt heavier than usual.
As Pyrrha turned to the left at the end of the hall, she continued walking until she saw a door labeled 'Dr. Tawny Katz'. She went to sit down on a chair nearby the door.
I haven't been this nervous since when I had met and killed my first Grimm. Ah, the memories. I felt so proud and relieved after killing it. Will I feel something similar after I step out from the clinic?
Only a few minutes passed until the door was opened, revealing a bespectacled, middle-aged woman with waist-length, dark-orange hair and clad in a blue business suit. A pair of feline ears stood out from the top of her head.
"Pyrrha Nikos, I assume?" the woman asked with a smile.
"That's right," answered Pyrrha and stood up, returning the smile. She reached out with her open hand in a greeting gesture. "Hello."
The woman took Pyrrha's hand and shook it gently. "Tawny Katz. Nice to meet you. Please, step inside."
As Pyrrha entered through the door, she stepped into what looked like a cozy office with bookshelves, a desk, and a couch. The room was illuminated by streaks of sunlight piercing through a wide and tall window. She saw multiple framed diplomas and academy degrees on a wall, proofs about the doctor's skill and experience. The room's decorations, furniture and lightning formed a serenity that helped Pyrrha relax a bit.
"Welcome to my office." Tawny pointed to a small table with beverages and snacks. "Feel free to help yourself if you want something to drink or a snack. There's water, coffee, tea, biscuits, and fruits. I can also offer some relaxing music."
"Music?" echoed Pyrrha while looking at the refreshments. Even though she was a little hungry, she felt no appetite to eat or drink anything. I bet if Nora was here she would have wolfed down all those biscuits in an instant, she thought and smiled to herself.
"A couple of my patients are able to relax and talk more easily if they have some ambiance or music in the room. Silence can make them feel uncomfortable," explained the doctor.
"I see. I think I can manage without."
"Very well. Please, have a seat," said Tawny and gestured to the couch.
Pyrrha sat down and leaned back, crossing her legs to make herself comfortable. She took a breath to collect her thoughts, preparing herself for whatever was about to begin. I know I can do this. I must. Not only for my sake, but my friends as well.
Tawny sat down in a chair in front of her. "First of all, allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Tawny Katz. I have a doctorate degree in psychology. For nearly fifteen years I have been helping traumatized hunters and soldiers to a better life. It is brave of you to come here. The first, and sometimes hardest, step is to admit you need help. We are going to work together to address what troubles you."
The calm, professional, yet caring manner Tawny spoke with, similar to a mother, helped Pyrrha relax a bit. She had feared that she would meet someone who would be cold, treating her like just another patient. "Thank you, Doctor Katz."
"By all means, call me Tawny."
Pyrrha broke eye contact to let her gaze roam over one of the walls. She then saw a group photo of what looked like four hunters, young adults who smiled and looked into the camera. A particular, huntress with glasses, cat ears and long, dark-orange hair looked familiar.
Pyrrha looked at Tawny and the photo, and realized the connection. "Are you a former huntress? Why did you become a doctor instead?" she asked out of curiosity, wanting to learn a bit more about the woman who was going to listen to her problems.
Tawny nodded. "That is correct. I acted as a combat medic for my team for several years. I could splint limbs, stitch bleedings, and treat infections while killing plenty of Grimm in-between. I was good at easing the physical pain of wounded hunters. However, I learned that it was much more difficult to treat a different kind of wounds, the ones within our minds. I began to study psychotherapy part-time while still being a huntress."
The woman paused briefly, and then continued with a more solemn voice, "The life of a hunter, even while at the academy, is a perilous one. Even the most well-trained and experienced hunters can be traumatized. Glory is not the only thing you will find on your path. There is also despair, fear, and tragedy. Some hunters return from missions with no injuries, but the things they have seen and heard may leave their spirits, their resolves... damaged. If left unchecked, the damage can become permanent and lead to more tragedy for themselves and others."
Even though Pyrrha was only doing her first year at the academy, she was fully aware of what Tawny was talking about. She knew that on every mission that she participated in, she faced the risks of being injured, poisoned, or even killed. She liked to believe she did not fear dying, but she did fear the death of her friends. That was why she trained to hard, not only to keep herself alive, but her friends as well.
Pyrrha realized how dark the subject was. She chose to talk about something else instead. "Um, has Ozpin sent many students to you from Beacon before? Or am I the first?"
"I have known him and helped his students for many years. I could go on and continue talking about myself. However, that is not why you are here, isn't it?" reminded Tawny and chuckled briefly.
Pyrrha blinked and looked away in shame. "I understand, but I have no idea how this works. It's my first time," she said, hoping Tawny would understand.
"Don't worry. I shall help guide you through this. I promise." Tawny took out a notepad and a pencil. "First, as part of the first meeting's procedure, I'm going to ask you a series of questions where you will answer either yes or no. Are you ready?"
As Pyrrha nodded, she was asked dozens of short questions about her history, health, and habits. Did she smoke, drink, abuse drugs, or take any medications. Any known allergies. Ever thought of suicide. Any suicides in the family before. Ever been cruel to animals. More questions followed. Each time Pyrrha answered, the doctor wrote it down on her notepad.
"Excellent. Now then, for the next forty minutes, you can tell me anything you want in complete confidentiality. Your friends, parents, Headmaster Ozpin, no one outside this room will ever hear of it. Is there something about yourself that you would like to talk about, Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha realized the moment where she was supposed to open up and talk about herself was now at hand. What am I supposed to say exactly? "Yes…," she began, readjusting herself in her seat. "I would like to talk about something that happened to me last year's winter."
Pyrrha began to tell about the origin of her aquaphobia. She talked about falling through the ice, sinking to the bottom, struggling futilely to swim up toward the light. No details were left out. She even described what she had experienced when she only had a few seconds left of air in her lungs, before they were filled with water, killing her. After a brief pause, Pyrrha continued about how she had been rescued and brought back to life.
Tawny listened without interrupting, occasionally nodding and writing something on her notepad. "Which part about the accident scared you the most?" she asked.
Pyrrha thought deeply in search for that answer. Was it the sound of the ice cracking beneath her boots? The feeling of being fully submerged into the ice-cold water? To suddenly return to life on top of the ice, coughing up water and shivering? Each of those moments was terrifying in different ways. The moment she feared the most was the one she could not remember, because she had been dead.
She averted her eyes, and began speaking softly, "I remember nothing except... nothingness itself. For almost two minutes, I ceased to exist... and turned into a lifeless corpse floating at the bottom."
"Do you fear dying, not knowing what awaits in the afterlife?" asked Tawny, going a bit deeper into the subject.
Pyrrha shook her head. "No, I'm scared of leaving behind so much sorrow for my family and friends."
Tawny decided to ask about something else instead. "Ever since you fell through the ice, have you talked to anyone about it, or have you kept it for yourself?"
Pyrrha dropped her shoulders and looked away in shame as she was reminded of how foolish she had been back then. "I thought I could overcome my fear and keep it a secret. I only succeeded with the latter. I was scared that everyone would find me a weak-minded scaredy-cat for being afraid to go near water. Last week, however, I told Nora, a good friend of mine. She has been helping me a lot."
"Nora, you say?" Tawny raised an eyebrow and wrote the name down. "Tell me more. How did she help you exactly?"
Pyrrha did as she was told and elaborated. She told Tawny the whole story of how it was Nora who had unintentionally reawakened her fear of drowning by pulling her into the swimming pool. Nora, however, had sought to make amends for her mistake by talking and listening to Pyrrha about her doubts and anxiety. It was partially thanks to Nora that she was seeing Tawny in the first place. Pyrrha also chose to mention how Nora had tricked her to dive into the water as an unorthodox, yet effective method in dampening Pyrrha's fear.
"Nora is a little crazy, but she's a very compassionate person. The things she has done for me… and to me… She…," Pyrrha began to speak slower, her voice turning into a whisper as she recalled the moment where she and Nora had sat together on a bed. The way Nora had silently and passionately looked at her before giving her a sweet and short kiss. Pyrrha remembered the taste of her lips upon her own, the warm breath caressing her skin. Pyrrha felt her heart fluttering, the same way it had done back then. She shifted nervously on her seat, her hand gripping the couch's armrest.
Tawny's hand continued writing down multiple notes, and Pyrrha was not sure whether that was good or bad. As the session continued, she went on to talk more about herself, her fear, how she was fighting it, how Nora was by her side. Occasionally, Tawny asked questions, which Pyrrha answered as best as she could.
Sometime later, Tawny looked at the time. "I am sorry, Pyrrha, but our time is almost up. I hope you feel good for having come and talked to me. Do you want to come back for a second session? How about next week?"
"It felt good. Yes, I would like to."
"Good to hear. I shall go over my notes for next time."
Pyrrha stood up and shook hands with her therapist, smiling warmly in appreciation. "Thank you very much," she said sincerely.
"Take care of yourself, Pyrrha. Feel free to message me if you have any questions."
Pyrrha left the office, feeling relieved and less burdened. I think that went fast and smooth. As she returned to the reception, she noticed Nora was nowhere to be seen. She took out her Scroll and called her.
Nora answered the call. "Oh, hey Pyrrha! You done?" she asked, sounding a bit winded.
"Yes, where are you? You said you would wait for me," replied Pyrrha, trying not to sound too disappointed.
"Ack! Be there in a minute!" True to her words, Nora returned to the clinic a minute later, almost crashing through the main doors. "Sorry about that! I went for a walk to check the area, and found a comic book store just around the corner." She showed a plastic bag full of comics. "Bought myself some new 'literature'."
"Oh, Nora…" Pyrrha smiled and shook her head.
As they were walking away from the clinic and making their way through the central city, Pyrrha was going over all the questions Tawny had asked, and the answers she had given her. She wondered if she had said anything wrong, or if she should have had elaborated on something. She hoped that all of her words had come straight from her heart.
Nora asked her, breaking a brief moment of silence between them, "Sooooo… what did you two talk about? Wanna share with your bud Nora?"
A short moment of silence passed as Pyrrha pondered. She turned to Nora and gave her an apologetic look, saying, "Umm, no offense, but I would like some time to think about it myself first. We talked a lot, and I need to reflect on it. I will tell you later, okay?"
"Oh, got it! I hope something good came out of it at least. Did you get a lollipop for being a good patient?"
"Yes, I do look forward to the next meeting, which Tawny said will be soon, thankfully. The sooner I no longer need to visit her the better. Sadly, no lollipop."
Nora clutched her stomach and grimaced. "Ow, my poor, empty tummy's so hungry it's trying to escape my body in search for food."
Pyrrha was reminded of how hungry she was too. I guess I should've asked if I could've taken a couple of fruits with me from Tawny's office.
To ensure that they would get to her appointment with the therapist in time, she and Nora had left the academy just before lunch was served at the dining hall. "I'm hungry, too. I feel I need something in my stomach, anything, before we take the airship back to the academy."
As they continued walking, trying to find a solution to their hunger, Nora suddenly sniffed the air. "Hey, do you smell that?"
Pyrrha sniffed the air, too. Smells like… baked bread and… molten cheese?
Nora craned her neck, and realized where the mouth-watering aroma was coming from. "Wanna sink your teeth into a hot and greasy pizza?" she suggested and pointed at the nearby pizza restaurant.
Pyrrha's face lit up in excitement. "Oh, gladly! I've never had pizza before. Always wanted to try it."
Nora frowned at her, as if expecting her to say that she was only kidding about never having eaten pizza before. "Really? Then you have some serious catching up to do. Come, time to eat your homework."
Pyrrha offered no resistance as Nora took her arm and lead her into the restaurant. Their rising appetites were further teased by the strong aromas lingering in the air. Nora took two menus, giving one to Pyrrha.
Pyrrha felt almost a bit overwhelmed from reading the dozens of listed pizza names. There are so many different choices. Toppings, crusts, cheeses, spices… "I… I don't know what to choose. They all sound delicious to me." Since she was about to eat pizza for the first time, she wanted it become a pleasant memory. "What do you recommend?" she asked Nora.
"That's easy! I'm having my favorite! Bacon and pepperoni with extra cheese! Extra everything! Extra deliciousness!"
"I'll have the same then."
After having made their orders, Pyrrha and Nora went to some free seats by a corner and waited. A couple of moments later, a waiter arrived and placed down two plates with identical and sliced up pizzas. They were so fresh out of the oven that Pyrrha felt the warmth rising from the hot cheese caress her face, only adding to her rising appetite.
Pyrrha had seen and smelled pizzas before, but to have a fresh one in front of her, ready to be eaten, was a new and pleasant experience. She took hold of her knife and fork.
"Hold it!" shouted Nora just before the utensils could touch the warm cheese and bread.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Nora shook her head disapprovingly. "Seriously, Pyrrha? You disappoint me. You're supposed to eat pizza with your bare hands! Getting your fingers greasy is part of the experience."
Pyrrha looked at the knife and fork in her hands with an embarrassed expression as she placed them aside. "Oh, right. I can do that." She picked up a pizza slice and bit off a chunk. "Oh... wow!" she said in-between chewing. The crust, cheese, tomato sauce, and toppings, they all came together so perfectly. She finished it and went for her next slice.
A moment later, Pyrrha paused and stared down at her half-finished meal as if in a deep thought.
"Shomething wrong with... your order?" asked Nora while munching.
Pyrrha shook her head, smiling reassuringly. "Not at all. It's delicious! It's just that, I have a kind of strange and somewhat bad history with pizza."
"Really? But you said you've never tasted it before. Did you once have a nightmare about those old-fashioned and creepy, pizza animatronics trying to kill you?"
To sate Nora's curiosity, and vent herself of an unpleasant feeling, Pyrrha began to explain, "After I graduated from Sanctuary and returned home to my parents, I asked them if we could go out and celebrate by eating dinner at a pizza restaurant. I had never eaten one before, and would like to."
"I get the feeling they said no," said Nora, who had stopped eating to pay full attention to Pyrrha's story.
Pyrrha nodded. "They did, because they believed there was no need for me to eat junk food at all. I think they were scared that I would develop a taste for it." She bit off a sizable bite of her pizza, leaving a greasy smudge on her lips. "I think I understand why now," she said and took another as if in defiance to her parents.
After wiping away the grease from mouth, Pyrrha continued her story. "I got angry. It was the first time I yelled at them. It was so stupid of me. It was just a question about food. Coming to this restaurant has reminded me that there's a lot of stuff I have never tried."
"Congratulations on losing your pizza virginity then," snickered Nora.
The joke triggered a brief, yet hearty chuckle from Pyrrha. "There are more things I want to do. I just want to try them a single time in my life so that I can tell myself that I have done that and never want to do it again." She was aware that even she had a small, rebellious side within her. She kept it under control, mostly. From time to time, she decided to let small bits of it to out play and explore.
After having eaten the last of her food, Pyrrha was feeling so sated she believed she could last until tomorrow's breakfast. She knew she had a strong food coma to look forward. She recalled her talk with Ren from yesterday, when they had briefly talked about Nora and her mother who had abandoned her as a child.
"I get heartbroken just thinking of her growing up without knowing why her own mother left."
"Is... that what she said?" Ren had asked hesitantly.
Since they had just talked about her parents,Pyrrha thought now would be a good enough time to bring it up. "Nora, we're always honest to each other, right?" she asked, breaking the brief moment of silence.
"Of course we are."
"Do you want to tell me then... why your mother really left you?"
Nora froze with her mouth open as she was about to finish the last of her soda. "You think I lied to you?" she asked plainly, putting the beverage down.
"No, it's just that-" Pyrrha was interrupted by Nora raising her hand in a preemptive manner.
"I didn't lie to you. I only told you half the truth." Nora paused, her gaze wandering around, seemingly avoiding her. "Listen, daddy explained to me that a couple of weeks after I was born, my mom felt she wasn't ready to be a parent. She had some kind of weird, post-pregnancy depression. Not sure if I can blame her for that. She was just a little bit older than me when she noticed she had been knocked up." She paused to look questioningly at Pyrrha. "How would you react if you were to discover tomorrow that you're pregnant?"
Pyrrha could not even begin imagine what her reaction would be like. Would I be overwhelmed with joy or mortified with fear? Would I keep the baby, go through an abortion, or let someone adopt it? What would my parents' reaction be like? To have a baby at my age might be the end of my huntress training.
She looked at her flat stomach, imaging it to be large and round as a new life grew within her. Just thinking about it made her anxious. "I… I don't know," she said weakly. It was the only answer she could give.
"That's the million Lien question. I dunno either," added Nora, shrugging her shoulders.
"Was that the second half of the truth? Your mother left because she was depressed?" Pyrrha chose her words carefully. She had never seen Nora angry before, and she hoped she never would.
Nora shook her head slowly. "No, the other half is that she was... unfaithful."
"Oh, she left your father for another man. How cold of her."
"Nope, Pyrrha! She left him for a woman."
Just as Pyrrha was about to apologize for having brought the subject up, a ringing noise was suddenly heard coming from Nora's Scroll. Nora picked it up and opened it, frowning. "Hmm…," she said to herself while looking at the display.
"Who is it?" Even though Pyrrha could only partially see the back of the of the Scroll's semi-transparent, holographic display, she nonetheless saw enough to determine that it was neither Ren or Jaune who was calling Nora.
"Oh, no one... special," replied Nora nonchalantly, still keeping her gaze locked onto the display.
"Aren't you going to answer?"
Nora pressed a button and closed her Scroll, putting it back into her pocket. "Nah. I'll call back later. Would be rude to talk while you're present, yeah?"
Pyrrha wondered if the unknown caller was the person Nora once 'liked', as Jaune had mentioned yesterday. Whoever it was, Nora seemed reluctant to talk about it. "Does the caller have a name? Anyone I've met before?"
"Just a no body. Don't think about it," said Nora and waved her hand dismissively.
Pyrrha however, let her suspicion get the better of her, and made her continue asking, "A 'no body', who happens to have your number?"
"I know, right? Crazy!" Nora slammed her palms down on the table and stood up. "Right then! Let's get outta here. I'll go and pay for us both. My treat!"
To her confusion, Pyrrha watched her hastily leave her seat and walk over to the cashier, as if fleeing the scene to save herself from further embarrassment. Reluctantly, Pyrrha got up as well, and chose not to ask any more questions about the mysterious caller, for now.
As the end of the day approached, Nora stood in front of the dorm's bathroom mirror, having just finished brushing her teeth. She stared at her own reflection. The pitiful girl before her had to be an impostor. Where was her warm smile? Her endless mirth? Those eyes of hers looked as lifeless as a zombie's. Disgusted by her own reflection, Nora sighed and looked down into the faucet instead.
She had not expected Pyrrha to ask about her mother again. She figured Ren had let his tongue slip. She did not blame him for it. She had told Pyrrha more about her past, but not everything. There was more that she could tell, but she feared that telling too much would do her no good. She wanted Pyrrha to love her, not feel pity for her. To love someone who did not even know it was agonizing.
What can I say or do to show that I love you, without risking scaring you away like last time?
Nora knew she needed to be patient, to take things slow, just like she had told Jaune to handle Weiss. Patience, however, had never been, and would never be her strongest side. She feared that if she was too patient, Pyrrha would eventually be charmed by a handsome prince. Nora did not even want to imagine the pain she would feel in her heart if that would happen.
The silence within the bathroom was interrupted by a ringing noise coming from her Scroll. She grunted softly as saw it was the person who had tried to call her earlier. Nora's thumb hovered over the 'Answer' button for a few seconds. The ringing stopped as she pressed the 'Decline' button instead. She then turned her Scroll off to ensure that she would not receive any more calls during the night.
I know that I must answer and talk to you soon, but not today.
As Nora pushed the bathroom door open and stepped out, she saw Pyrrha sitting on her bed. Jaune and Ren had apparently already fallen asleep.
"Nighty. Sweet dreams," she whispered to Pyrrha. As she was about to walk past her, Nora felt someone grab her wrist in a gentle manner. She looked down and saw it was Pyrrha.
"Nora," said Pyrrha gently, pausing to look into her eyes, "Would you mind… if you were to stay with me, and hold me as I go to sleep? For just a moment?"
Nora froze, feeling her face heating up. Had she heard correctly, or was she dreaming? "Sure!" she replied, struggling to contain her excitement.
Pyrrha laid herself down and made room for Nora to come lie next to her. "Thank you," she whispered sincerely and smiled.
"Anything for a dear friend." Nora repeated the same words she had used earlier in the morning. She acted and moved carefully, as if Pyrrha was made of glass, and one misstep could shatter her. Rather than embracing and cuddling closely against Pyrrha the way she had done before, Nora settled for lying next to her while embracing one of Pyrrha's arms. She would not risk the precious moment that which had been given to her.
She hoped no nightmares would haunt Pyrrha that night.
End of chapter 9
Author's note: Writing the scene where Pyrrha meets Tawny for the first time was a bit difficult because I have no personal experience of ever meeting a therapist. I asked and talked to a few people who have met therapists before, and managed to learn some things about how to write the scene.
Nora's comment about old-fashioned and creepy pizza animatronics trying to kill someone was a reference to Five Nights At Freddy's.
Also, following Monty's rules for naming RWBY characters, Tawny's name means dark-orange or burnt-orange.