As a gust of wind slowly crossed both Izuku's and Pyrrha's faces, he watched with some amusement as his partner's teeth chattered slightly and she tucked herself even deeper into the larger, red coat that she was wearing, closed up nice and tight. It almost looked like Pyrrha was trying to physically bury herself into Tenya's birthday gift to her, the tournament fighter doing her best to shelter herself from the chill of the cold autumn winds that were increasingly prevalent here in Vale. The fact that the two of them were at the air dock, waiting for one of the buses to arrive that would fly him over to the city proper, where the wind was able to lash at the both of them freely without buildings to hide behind, well, it made it all the worse for Pyrrha and her skirted attire. Izuku'd bundled up into his fall uniform for this occasion with one of his lighter jackets worn over it in order to keep the cold out. He'd have to remember to thank his mom for reminding him to pack his fall and winter clothes when coming to Beacon.
"I take it that it doesn't really get that cold in Mistral, does it?" Izuku asked, sympathetically, as Pyrrha shook off the chill.
"Well, I wouldn't go that far. There are some places in Mistral that usually get hit with the cold weather... just not the coasts where I come from or Mistral proper." Pyrrha seemed to resist the urge to bend over and rub at her legs to get some heat back in them. Izuku honestly felt kind of bad for Pyrrha; as tall as she was, she really couldn't borrow any of his friend's outfits for the sake of going out. Maybe Coco might've had something that'd fit but Team CFVY was out on a mission. So she had to make do with just sitting in her usual attire, coat notwithstanding, while going out on a little shopping trip. After spending weeks in the Vale weather, Pyrrha had finally decided that it was a good time to go out to get some warmer clothing. Weiss and Nora had other plans at the time and, given the fact that Izuku himself was thinking of getting some new clothes, though more for Hunter outfits and something to help protect him than anything like what Pyrrha might be looking for, it was decided that Weiss and Nora would keep their plans and that he'd just go ahead and help Pyrrha out.
'Hey, why not? Kill two birds with one stone and get some time to hang out with my partner, hardly a bad deal.'
"So I'm guessing Mistral usually stays pretty lush year round, then?" Izuku asked idly as an airbus arrived to pick up the group of students, himself included, looking to go out to Vale for the day.
"It does; the harbors on the coasts are almost always busy year round because they're almost always open and the weather never takes such a horrendous turn that people outside of the mountains or the far north really need to think of it. It does snow occasionally in Mistral but that's more a fun, rare treat that happens every now and then than a guaranteed occurrence like here in Vale." Pyrrha and he bundled on up into the airbus, still chatting away as it slowly flew off toward Vale. "Not that it's hard to get to the more snowy areas... you just have to go around or up the mountains and eventually you'll hit parts of the country where snow is guaranteed." Izuku nodded in understanding, readjusting his jacket. It was often easy to forget that Mistral really was such a huge Kingdom when he just looked at the maps, but something like that really put it into perspective. The only part of Vale with a significantly different climate to the rest of the country were the parts that were either closest to Vacuo or closest to the sea separating Vale from Atlas. Aside from that, the land Vale occupied was generally very similar. To live in a Kingdom where there were so many different climates...
"It sounds pretty convenient. I guess especially for someone with your resources that means that you can pretty much go anywhere you want to experience the kind of weather you want." There was a slight dip in Pyrrha's smile for a moment, though one that didn't entirely reach her eyes which contained a slight bit of nostalgia.
"It's true; ever since I started my career in tournament fighting, my family has had the resources to live that kind of life. I remember one year where my family just decided, apropos of nothing, to just take a holiday up to the North because it'd been so many years since we'd last seen any snow." Pyrrha chuckled slightly as she nodded her head. "It... it was a good trip. I managed to make enough time for it in my schedule so I could really enjoy it with my family before I needed to get back to Mistral." Izuku nodded, a slight frown on his lips as he looked up at her.
"Yeah, I guess with your career you really need to stay around Mistral a lot, right?" Izuku saw Pyrrha nod slowly.
"Yeah... before I graduated the Combat School and officially retired as a Tournament Fighter, I think I spent the vast majority of my year in Mistral, signing deals, making appearances, going to parties and fighting in tournaments. Mistral's the heart of the Kingdom, after all, in a cultural sense... it's where everybody who's 'in' needs to be." Pyrrha shrugged her shoulders slightly as she looked out the window. "Honestly, before coming to Vale, I think the last time I left for anywhere outside of Mistral was... gosh, I think it was four months."
"... Well-" Izuku offered up a smile as the airbus approached Vale, slowly but surely, "-I guess that makes trips like these pretty fun right? Seeing an entirely new city with no obligations... except to make it back to school before the buses close down..." Izuku sheepishly scratched at his cheek, Pyrrha chuckling slightly as she nodded.
"Indeed. It has been an interesting experience... mostly." As the airbus stopped, he and Pyrrha were quick to rush out before the rest of the students bulldoze them over, many of them looking quite eager to hit the town while the weekend was still young. A sharp breeze hit the both of them and, while his outfit let him get through the brunt of the hit without much worry, Pyrrha visibly shivered, her knees slightly knocked into one and other as her exposed legs got the worst of it...he couldn't imagine the metal bits of her outfit felt comfortable to have skin contact with in cold weather. "A-Anyway, let's get to business. I'd like to get into something warmer before my legs fall off." Pyrrha joked as he nodded, tapping his hand against his chin as he took a moment to think.
"Alright, so I know this little place that Yang and I went to on a trip through the city. It's pretty homey and it should have what you'd need in order to get yourself warm clothes for the weather and I have some business to attend to myself. Two birds with one stone, right?" Pyrrha smiled slightly as she nodded her head.
"Well I haven't been around town all that much except to just go out whenever Nora or Weiss would want to go somewhere... so I'll take your word for it Izuku. If you swear by it, then it sounds like a fine place to go to." Izuku nodded as he and Pyrrha immediately started walking away from the air dock. Izuku 'really' started missing Bumblebee as they were walking through the streets of Vale. Anytime he rode on that motorcycle it seemed like the city passed him by in the blink of an eye, taking him to where he needed, or wanted, to go without a worry in the world... well, except for falling off of Bumblebee but Yang was a good driver so he didn't have to worry about that too much. Back when he and his class had to go to the train station, there had been a bus waiting to transfer them all once they got off the air bus as well making the trip quick.
Now, however, he and Pyrrha were just walking along, occasionally getting recognized by passersby who'd wave at Pyrrha or, far far more rarely, Izuku himself before moving on, thankfully no one stopping Pyrrha for her autograph. The girl seemed uncomfortable with that in the best of times and now, legs shaking slightly in the cold breeze, it really did just seem like she was in as much of a hurry as he was to just get done. So moving as fast as they could, and to the best of his memory, he quickly traversed The City of Vale and, in due time, find himself at the little clothing store that he and Yang had frequented those weeks back. Opening up the door, he smiled slightly as he saw the familiar, quaint little shop spread out before them. Nothing had changed all that much, as many of the items that had been on display were still hanging up on their various racks. However, something he was keen to notice was the fact that several of the summer wear goods that had previously been hanging were now replaced with more season-appropriate clothes. Sweat pants, boots, thick coats, gloves, short and long, thick stockings, long pants, long skirts, etc.
As the little bell over the door rang the woman who had been running the shop last he was here looked over and smiled a bit. "Well, welcome back there young man. Been a little while. Those workout clothes been treating you well?" Izuku smiled slightly as he nodded. In truth, Izuku really hadn't worked out too much sense having gotten them like he had been with Yang before hand, so Izuku really hadn't explicitly 'broken them in', he supposed. Still, they made for comfortable wear during One For All training sessions and other just walk about sort of work, so he didn't want to insult her by putting down her craftsmanship.
"Oh yeah, they're great. Really comfortable." The older woman smiles and nods as she looks over at Pyrrha. "Well now, Yang not escorting you this time? A surprise..." Izuku chuckled a bit as he looked over at Pyrrha.
"No, this is actually my partner, Pyrrha. She originally was from Mistral so... well, she doesn't exactly have winter weather clothes. Figured we should probably fix that before the really bad weather checks in." He felt a bit nervous, an emotion clearly shared by Pyrrha, as they both awaited the shopkeeper's response from hearing her name.
"Pleased to meet you..." Pyrrha said as politely and sweetly as possible, though her own nervousness over the possibility of being recognized was all too apparent. However, it seemed both of them were going on about that for naught as the woman just nodded as she walked around the counter and put on a pair of glasses.
"My she is a tall one now isn't she? Well... let's see what we have here that might be able to suit your needs Miss Pyrrha. Come along now I'm sure we've got something that'll keep you warm once the chill really sets in." To both their surprise, it really didn't seem like she recognized Pyrrha at all as she quickly grabbed her wrist and tugged Pyrrha along deeper into the store. Izuku blinked at the sudden departure of his partner but, in the end, he shrugged as well, deciding that now was as good a time as any to get his stuff taken care of. He started with the stuff already on the shelves and clothes rack and then peered through them, looking for anything that might catch his eye. Eventually though, he approached the counter and flipped open a leaflet on the front counter which seemed to dictate the store's policy on custom-made outfits.
"Ah, Izuku, we're back..." As Izuku got done looking through a particular rack of clothing he smiled slightly as he heard Pyrrha's voice. His turn around and look at his partner and found that she'd actually changed into a different outfit, one more appropriate for the winter weather...
And Izuku couldn't help but force himself not to frown. It's... well, it was a combination of clothes from the shop's various racks and shelves that had been brought together into an outfit to combine with what Pyrrha had been wearing that would've been appropriate for the weather. Pyrrha's jewelry, her necklace and her circlet around her head as well as the earrings that Weiss had gotten her, were still there and Tenya's coat, the red winter coat that had the frills and had, despite being obviously utilitarian, had actually still looked rather nice and fancy, were there and still looked as good as ever. However, now they were combined into an outfit that... well, just didn't scream Pyrrha. It was hard to put into words but... well, it was kind of plain. If there was one thing Izuku could say about Pyrrha's outfit normally, plain wasn't one of the adjectives that would come up. Anything but, if he was being honest and the entire thing worked well together, the little bits of jewelry complimenting the various flairs and quirks of the outfit.
However, with just what the store had to offer on the shelves... well, now the parts that stood out, her jewelry, the coat, it all seemed to clash against the rest. She'd taken up a pair of winter boots that, without the normal metal she wore, yeah, wouldn't be uncomfortable but were very strictly utilitarian. A pair of gloves with just the slightest bit of trim sticking out from the inside had replaced her long opera gloves and, while she had tied her sash around her waist as per usual, it really didn't fit with the thick sweatpants she wore to go along with the rest of her outfit. It was beyond a question that she'd be warmer in something like this but... well... it really didn't scream Pyrrha.
"So... er... how do I look?"
Izuku frowned slightly as he crossed his arms and look at Pyrrha's attire, tilting his head to the side as he did so. "Well... it looks like it'd be comfortable..." Pyrrha grimaced a bit at that, before he spoke up. "But... well, I think it's missing something." It's weird. He might've expected Pyrrha to take it a slightly wrong way or to be dismayed at that. Instead... she looked slightly relieved, in a weird way. She seemed thankful for his words, as if glad that he'd backed her up. The shopkeeper nodded her head slightly as she looked Pyrrha over.
"Yes... compared to our young lady's normal tastes, it doesn't quite seem to fit the bill. I do apologize, most of our readymade product is rather plain. I can see why you'd pick that out compared to her usual attire, young man. It doesn't suit her." The relief still stuck with Pyrrha as she turned to face the shopkeeper, an apologetic look on her face.
"I'm sorry. Your clothes really do feel quite comfortable and I'm sure it'd keep me warm-"
"Please dear, don't apologize. I understand how it is these days. Even Hunters like to look nice in their attired. Goodness knows that one little troublemaker from Beacon spent so much of her time down here last year picking over every possible look or pestering me for tailor jobs. At least you're being polite, young lady. Manners seem to be an increasingly rare thing to find in people these days." Izuku tilted his head to the side as the woman went to the register, looking over at him. "Tell me young man, will you be purchasing anything today, or were you just browsing?" Izuku tapped his chin slightly as he considered it... but in the end he shook his head.
"Just browsing this time. I wanted to see what kind of options I had on the table compared to my budget. Sorry for wasting your time, miss." The old woman crowed a bit as she waved her hand.
"Think nothing of it." The both of them quickly bowed their heads as he waited for Pyrrha to change back into her other attire before the pair of them left the shop. Pyrrha exhaled slightly as she scratched at the back of her head, looking quite sheepish as she did so.
"I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for Pyrrha? It's alright if you didn't like the stuff that was in there. I probably should've thought of how limited the selection in there was before dragging us all the way out here."
"No no, you had your own business you wanted to do too Izuku, it really should've been the best way for us both to get what we wanted if I just bought those clothes and was done with it... but... well..." Pyrrha sighed as she scratched the back of her head. "It's... just kind of shameless is all, don't you think? I mean... like Blake said back in Mountain Glenn, it's clear how little I care for my fame... but... well..." It seemed as though Pyrrha's sheepish scratching got faster as she spoke, almost to the point of her hand being a blur, while her face goes slightly red well.
"Pyrrha... who doesn't like having nice things?" Izuku asked as Pyrrha stopped scratching the back of her head. "I mean, I like new clothes as much as the next guy... well okay maybe not as much because fashion isn't my thing, but I like looking nice and feeling nice too. Everybody does, it's half the reason why anyone bothers to dress up in the first place." The other half being that utterly terrifying, to Izuku, world of 'dating' and 'attracting potential dates' that still made him feel incredibly nervous, but none of that for right now. "There isn't anything to be ashamed about in just wanting something nice for yourself or to look nice. You really don't have to feel bad about that, Pyrrha."
"... Izuku, thank you... but I just disagree. At least, in part." Pyrrha responded slightly as she looked over at him, a smile on her face. "I do... feel rather bad about wanting nice things despite everything. I get what you're saying about that being natural but... well, it seems two-faced. That on the one hand... well, I feel awkward about my fame, that I don't necessarily enjoy being around my fans every moment of the day, that I feel so nervous about it all that it becomes blatantly obvious to you all as my friends... but that at the same time I enjoy... well, 'the perks'." Pyrrha reached a hand up for her circlet, her fingers daintily dragging across it. "I don't have to dress this nicely, especially now that I'm retired. I'm a status symbol, sure, and my managers would probably balk if I just started wearing thick grey coats or something like that, but it's my choice. I could choose to toss it away as part of remaking my image, getting rid of the red and bronze and gold that signifies to so many people that I'm Pyrrha Nikos, The Invincible Girl. I could very much be exactly like Professor Aizawa and I'd probably fade into the ether, soon enough forgotten for all but my reputation as a fighter, so long as I kept my head down and didn't draw attention to myself…"
"But, obviously, I haven't. There were things about my outfit that were decided from the get go, of course, as part of my contract with my managers. It had to emphasize my best features, like my height, to help give the impression of my strength and superiority in the midst of a duel and it had to scream of a fighter, of a warrior, someone who belonged there fighting alongside far more seasoned fighters in those tournaments... but so much about this outfit was my decision. My choice in the matter. The necklace, the circlet and this sash, things that bring so much attention to me and are instantly recognizable... but, well, I enjoy wearing them. I thought they looked nice and I thought..." Pyrrha sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.
"Well, it doesn't matter what I thought. The point was that these were the sorts of things I never could've afforded for myself before becoming a Tournament Champion and I wanted them... and to some degree, I still want it. It isn't quite like Weiss, where she feels that her appearance is so much about maintaining her image and presenting herself in a certain way... I just... like it because I like the way I feel and look. I mean, not right now obviously because-" A blast of chill, Autumn air buffeted the two of them as the conversation went on, causing Pyrrha to shiver slightly, "-because of that, obviously. However, when presented with the chance to just by some normal, functional clothes that, sure, didn't exactly make me feel like me but would've kept me warm... I wanted to pass on it..."
Pyrrha smiled at Izuku at that. "It's why I'm a little grateful you spoke up about that when you did... I really didn't want to... you know, come off like that to a woman who really has just been working hard and who either spent good money to get those clothes for her shop or made them herself to stock the shelves. I... would've felt really bad about it..." Pyrrha stroked her arm slightly as Izuku frowned. Izuku understood what she was saying and all but... well, without the prospect of being famous himself, he didn't understand it all the way.
"Well I mean... is it that bad? Not enjoying your fame but still enjoying what you can get out of it, I mean?" Pyrrha frowned as she nodded her head.
"I think it is... look at people like Toshinori or Professor Yamada. They're incredibly well known and famous Hunters and... well, they give themselves over to that. They're always willing to autograph a fan's work, always willing to share some words and, even just a week after he probably exhausted himself fighting that bird brained thing down in The Tunnels, Toshinori still appeared at Mountain Glenn's festival because people wanted him there. Then... well, again, people like Headmaster Ozpin or Professor Aizawa. They're well known but... well, they don't try to stand out and be famous. Whether they do it on purpose or not, they reinforce that by just not being out in public too much or not putting themselves out there. Both of those things... that seems fair. Toshinori and Professor Yamada earn the right to enjoy the positive aspects of their fame by throwing themselves into it while Headmaster Ozpin and Professor Aizawa are able to be more private people because they don't put themselves out there at the expense of what fame they could easily have if they were more active...
"And here I am. Concerned about not looking or feeling right in an outfit meant to keep me warm when I'm... I'm all too hesitant to even sign a fan's autograph in a hallway. My family and I are in a position we couldn't have even dreamed of being in before I got famous because of my career as a Tournament Fighter. Jewelry, living in Mistral, nice clothes... all of it afforded by my fame. Yet... well, I'm always trying to run away from it these days... but never to the degree of someone like Professor Aizawa, when doing so would be just as easy as... well..." Pyrrha reached up after a moment to remove her circlet from her head, her hair looking very oddly barren as she brought that piece of jewelry down to look at it.
"I'm not afraid to call it what it is, Izuku. Weiss' and Yang's gifts, those earrings of Weiss' and Yang's bracelets, from my birthday were up my alley because... well, I'm a little vain." Pyrrha smiled over at him, though it was a little strained. "So you'll have to forgive me if I can't entirely agree with you that it's an okay thing, Izuku. If... if I were really serious about what I wanted, I'd dedicate myself one way or the other, instead of just hovering here in the middle."
'...'
'That's wrong-'
"Pyrrha, why do you think those are the only paths you have to take? You're absolutely right about both Toshinori's and the Headmaster's ways, that they both chose how they wanted themselves to be seen. But do you think they started out at the top, perfect and already exactly in the positions they wanted to be?" Pyrrha turned a bit red at that, the tournament fighter looking off to the side as she pursued her lips a bit.
"Well... no, of course not, even they had to start from somewhere..." Izuku nodded, trying his best to keep his grip reassuring as he spoke.
"Right? They spent their careers finding out where they wanted to be, and part of that path started here, learning just like we are right now. They made their paths, and I know if you talked to any of them they'd tell you to work on finding your own." After that he shook his head as he did his best to look up at his taller partner, "So what if you're a little vain? Good! You worked hard to be as good as you are, and you're allowed to take pride in yourself and what you've done. There's a difference in being proud and being arrogant, and you're not that. If you're really worried about going too far, then our team and I will help keep an eye out."
Izuku looked up at his partner, and fell back a bit as Pyrrha smiled sadly as she looked down at Izuku. She shook her head, and placed a hand on his shoulder, and looked directly into his eyes.
"I appreciate that Izuku and I agree... but my point was that, well, those benefits, those things I like and take pride in, they go hand in hand with my fame. I should be able to handle them hand-in-hand rather than try to have my cake and eat it too."
Izuku felt his mouth drop, but quickly regained control of himself, and frowned slightly as he shook head.
"So you don't like your fame. That's fine too. Fame isn't something easy for anyone to handle, even people who really 'want' it! I mean, come on Pyrrha, you've seen how I am in crowds, or people I don't know, or some people I do know...or girls..." Izuku coughed into his fist as he spoke before moving on, and he lost eye contact for a moment, but quickly tried to reestablish it, "-look, the point is you need to find the amount you can handle that's good for you. The whole thing about all of this is finding a balance where you're happy. One day that's going to be something that I'm going to need to work on too as the Symbol of Peace. Pyrrha, you've worked hard and if you don't like your fame, that's okay, you don't have to and I know I'll do whatever I can to help support you whatever you're feeling about all this!"
"As for clothes, I think there's something to be said about being allowed to dress as you want to. Being a Hunter is, let's face it, an insanely dangerous job and not even the professors wear armor. I think we should be allowed to wear things we like or are comfortable in, because they're as much our choice as our profession is. So wear that circlet and sash if you want, because even if you don't think you've earned it yet, I know without a doubt you'll show yourself and everyone else you will!" Pyrrha turned her head off to the side slightly, the girl having raised he left arm to cradle her right. She had completely abandoned eye contact, and was staring at the ground, trying to keep from looking at him. She seemed a bit overwhelmed by his defense but he couldn't stop now, and pushed forward.
"Pyrrha, you're amazing. You're honest, and humble, and try to be the best you can be. You're also really hard on yourself for having fun, or enjoying things when you think you should be serious. That's just not fair, to yourself and others around you, who want you to be happy and accept yourself." Izuku took a deep breath as he considered something.
'Pyrrha…' he stopped, looked up at the far taller woman standing in front of him, and felt himself gulp slightly, especially considering how he would…'wait, her arm is to down!'
Izuku went ahead and moved in for a hug, wrapping an arm around Pyrrha's shoulder and giving it a squeeze as he did so from the side, attempting to avoid a situation like the one he had faced with Yang in the tunnels. Pyrrha's head shot up, and she looked at him straight in the eye.
"Don't worry about being The Invincible Girl or not. I like Pyrrha Nikos much better anyway."
Pyrrha nearly stumbled, a quick choking sound coming out of her throat from the sudden contact. Pyrrha took a moment to regain her composure. After some time, having recovered from nearly choking on the air, Pyrrha finally offered Izuku her own smile. It was soft, almost barely there really...but genuine, as she let her arm slip around him as well.
'OHGOODNESSAGIRLISHUGGINGMEWHATAMIGOINGTOD-'
"Thank you...Izuku... I couldn't have asked for a better partner." Izuku nearly choked on the air himself, as he regained his internal composure. For a second, he refocused his eyes on her, and she gave him a small smirk, "Honestly, I mean it."
He let out a light chuckle as he looked up at Pyrrha, the embarrassment of hugging 'another' girl causing his face to turn red, but doing his best smile warmly at the same time.
"I think that's supposed to be my line... but thanks Pyrrha." After an awkward moment or two the two eventually broke off, Pyrrha sighing as she took her circlet and placed it back on her head as the two continued to walk. She gave him a look that he didn't quite understand, before returning her view forward. Izuku looked back at the shop one last time, and added, "I think I'll go ahead and go to the other store on my own time, figure out something I'd like to put together then. We should probably head back so we can get our homework done."
"Yeah, I think so too." They both walked together as they headed back to the airbus and Izuku was glad his partner did not seem upset anymore. They just continued to talk about little idle things, though he just enjoyed the good mood that was around the moment.
a/n: A bit of a delay on this one; I received a message from one of the two editors that he'd need some extra time to make their pass on it due to some exams they were taking for Summer Classes and so I decided I'd go ahead and give a bit of an impromptu delay between updates in order to help give more of a cushion. Updates will resume their usual once every five day from here, barring future small mistakes or lateness.