A/N: Okay, it's been two weeks so anyone who cared about the reveal should have read it by now. I should have added all the appropriate Glynda tags by the time this goes up so people interested in them can find this story better. That is how I'll be handling each girl as they are revealed. And a big thank you to everyone that reviewed/commented. Seeing your interaction with the story really makes my day. Enjoy date night!
Chapter five
Tag(s): Lingerie
Girl(s): Glynda
Words: 7,467
"Are you sure?" Pyrrha asked for the thousandth time, her voice pleading through Jaune's scroll. Pressed against his ear, Jaune nodded despite knowing that she couldn't see him, too anxious to stop himself.
"Go ahead and eat without me, please," Jaune did his best to keep his tone light. Looking in the mirror, he could see the guilt he was hiding plain as day. But there was no getting around it. "Like I said, I need to stop by the city, and it might take a while. I'm going to try and be back before you all get to sleep, but don't feel like you need to wait up or anything."
When Pyrrha answered, she sounded hesitant. Maybe even concerned. "I guess I just don't understand why I can't come with you if it's so important. Or why this can't wait until tomorrow after brunch? Then we'll all be in the city."
Jaune felt sweat trickle along his neck. "Because it's a surprise!" he insisted. "For…you. I just need some time to set things up." The boy in the mirror frowned with disapproval. But what other choice did he have?
"Oh!" Pyrrha sounded surprised. "That's…nice. But you don't have to do anything, you know? I'm hardly the kind of girl that's going to expect grand gestures or anything so silly."
"I know," Jaune sighed heavily. "But you deserve it. That and more. You're an amazing wife, and I want to show my appreciation." Which was all true, but that only made its use in his lies all the more painful. The young man resolved himself to actually try and set something up for his beautiful bride before the night was over. It was the least she was owed.
"Jaune…" Pyrrha's tone took on a tender softness, which only made Jaune feel like a larger pile of dung. But while he didn't enjoy lying to his wife, it was necessary. Just this once! And then, never again. "Okay, if you insist. I'll look forward to it. Try not to stay up too late. I will be waiting for you to get home." She gave no room for argument, and Jaune didn't try and press his luck. Besides, hopefully remembering he had a beautiful wife waiting for him at home would help him resist the woman he was about to go on a date with. And speaking of…
Fighting the anxious energy in his chest, Jaune glanced at his scroll and winced. Five forty-five. Exactly fifteen minutes before his dinner with his newest so-called wife. Which meant he should probably get moving.
"Um, listen," Jaune fidgeted. "I've got to get moving if I want to catch the next bullhead. But I'll see you tonight, okay?"
"Okay," Pyrrha agreed, "be safe. And Jaune…?" She hesitated, letting the silence drag before she admitted, "You're a pretty great husband yourself. I know we didn't know each other very well before we were married, but I want you to know that I've fallen in love a little more every day we've spent together."
His wife's words felt like they might crush his chest. Jaune had to cough, feeling his throat swell with emotion—mostly guilt. "You too," he admitted gruffly. His words sounded simple after her heartfelt effort, but at least they were honest. And that felt more important than anything else at the moment. He'd also fallen a little more in love with her. Every day. Maybe even enough for him to say it?
No. Not over the phone. And not until after he could look her in the eye again without feeling like the scum of Remnant.
Ending the call with the push of a button, Jaune spared his reflection one last glance, fidgeting over the nonexistent wrinkles and wondering why he cared so much. This wasn't really a date, but Glynda had asked him to dress nicely, and he didn't have it in him to ignore her request. In the end, he'd settled for his nicest pair of black pants to match an equally dark open jacket set over a white button-up. It wasn't quite a suit, but it carried the same air and fit him much better than his normally baggy clothes.
That meant he could actually see his figure for once as he turned left and right, admiring the width of his shoulders even if he didn't feel like his frame was as filled out as he would have liked. Pyrrha's training had helped with that, however, and he was feeling more confident about his appearance than ever.
Thinking about his wife forced Jaune's gaze back around his dorm, thankful that she wasn't around. Skipping dinner had the benefit of helping him dodge the rest of his team. Considering the circumstances, it would have been a lot harder to get ready without drawing some questions.
This wasn't the kind of thing you could put off forever, of course. And if Jaune had any intention of keeping two wives, he understood that trying to hide them from each other was the dumbest idea he could have come up with. That was why Jaune had spent the entire afternoon coming up with a plan.
Meeting his reflection for one last glance, Jaune nodded to himself, determination shining in his blue orbs. It was time for this guy to get a divorce.
Jaune left his dorm and started toward the teachers' building. The same one he'd left earlier that afternoon. In addition to holding all of the teacher's offices, the upper floors were available as apartments for them to stay in free of charge. Even teachers that held property in Vale tended to remain in the teacher dorms during the school year. It helped Jaune save time as he crossed Beacon's courtyard, admiring the first hints of red infecting the otherwise blue sky as the sun began its descent.
Jaune hadn't given himself enough time to delay, forcing him to hurry at a brisk pace. It wouldn't have surprised anyone that he wasn't as confident as he tried to convince himself he was. He did have a plan. But he'd only had a few hours, and there was still the mystery of his semblance to consider.
The result ended up being more guesswork than solid facts that he could rely on, making him feel like he'd marched off a cliff to enter free fall. The only exception was that there would be no pretty redhead to catch him this time. He was on his own. It was time to crash or fly.
A few hours weren't nearly enough to understand what his semblance really did to women. However, he remembered a few clues that he could work with, which he had focused on. Namely, Pyrrha's ring and how it had changed after they'd had sex. Before that, he'd done his best to talk to her, convince her that she was being controlled by his semblance to no effect. What he hadn't tried, however, was convincing her to take the ring off.
Was it foolproof? Hardly. But it was a shred of hope, a desperately scarce resource nowadays. Glynda had mentioned consummation, and Jaune had to remember how that was an important part of getting married. At least, it used to be. And if his semblance really did rely on conventional wedding rules as a kind of guide, then he should be able to reverse this so long as he didn't give into temptation.
Easier said than done.
Jaune shivered, and it had nothing to do with the slowly approaching evening chill. Yeah, keeping this from Pyrrha wasn't the only reason he needed to reverse this quickly. He wasn't dumb enough to try and convince himself that he hadn't been affected by his teacher's unexpected beauty.
One kiss and a smile had been all it took to scramble his thoughts beyond recognition. And Glynda's distraction had stayed with him for over an hour after he'd left her room. An hour that he'd spent wondering how he was going to introduce his second wife to his first, before reality reasserted itself. Thankfully, he'd eventually come back to his senses, remembering the implications of his actions.
Yes, Ms. Goodwitch was very beautiful…when she wasn't being terrifying. And there were his secrets to consider. His professor had said it herself that the only reason she'd changed her mind about exposing him was because they were married. And without that insurance, Jaune doubted she would be as inclined to help him. Especially if she ended up remembering experiencing his semblance for herself. Prison was very, very likely.
However, the longer Jaune thought about it, the more he realized he couldn't stay married to Glynda, knowing it was against her will. Pyrrha had been a gray area. At least she liked him somewhat before accidentally putting one of his rings on her finger. But Ms. Goodwitch had no interest in him until his semblance forced her to love him. And there was no way he could sleep with her with that reminder lingering in the back of his brain.
Besides, older women might be sexy as all hell, but she was clearly ready for things he couldn't think about without certain areas of his body puckering. There was no way he was prepared to be a father. Getting the ring off her finger was the best thing he could do. For everyone, consequences be damned. Just so long as he didn't let himself get distracted.
Finding Ms. Goodwitch's dorm took too much and not enough time. She'd sent the room number to his scroll sometime after his last class, so he was glad he wouldn't have to go searching. It also meant he didn't have to linger and worry about getting seen by other teachers. That might have been hard to explain. Unfortunately, this also meant that he couldn't procrastinate any longer. And with one minute to six, he forced his closed fist to knock against his combat professor's door.
The now familiar sound of heels on hardwood echoed from the other side. Jaune didn't know why he'd been expecting the same high-collared blouse and conservative pencil skirt she always wore, especially when she'd gone out of her way to ask him to dress up. Jaune only knew that he wasn't close to prepared for the vision that greeted him from inside the dorm.
"Punctual," Glynda hummed thoughtfully. "I like that in a man." Normally, those words would be enough to earn their own flush coming from an older woman. However, Jaune failed to hear her at all, far too distracted by what his teacher had worn to their dinner date.
The first thing he noticed was her hair. Normally high and pulled tight against her skull, tonight his teacher had allowed the flaxen tresses to relax and fall around her bare shoulders. Bare. As in, naked. Because her dress was utterly strapless, draped sinfully low against the surprisingly full swell of her breasts.
The black material hugged her frame, highlighting her figure from her bust to her thighs, where artful slits exposed some of the creamy skin underneath, stopping short of her hip. The blonde wasn't as pale as Pyrrha; Jaune doubted anyone could be. But the contrast between her black dress drew more attention to her exposed flesh than it already might have.
Finally, Jaune found the strength to look at his date's face. Where perfect, albeit sharp, features had been artificially softened by a light application of makeup. Jaune couldn't help but notice the blush breathing life into her cheekbones. And how thin eyeliner and dark mascara made her eyes appear like they glowed in the soft light pouring over her shoulders. But most of all, his gaze was drawn to the bright red lipstick that demanded his attention, tempting him with the memory of how they had tasted and felt pressed against his own.
Oh…he might be in trouble.
"Wow," Jaune breathed, his first mistake of the evening. Not that Glynda minded. Permitting one of her quiet smiles, she appeared pleased by his reaction. Repeating his performance, she gave him the same treatment and allowed her gaze to admire the effort he'd put into his appearance.
"Thank you," the older woman hummed. "I don't get to dress up often, and I was hoping you'd appreciate it. And I'm even more pleased to see you took my advice." Jaune could see a different edge to her gaze when her eyes lifted back to his. Hungry, like before when he'd left her office. His throat dried immediately, making his attempt to swallow his heart back into his chest an exercise in futility.
Stepping out of the way, Glynda gestured Jaune into her home, which he accepted with all the apprehension of a rabbit walking into a wolf's den. The door closed softly behind him, and he did his best to ignore the finality of the lock clicking into place.
In some ways, it was humbling to realize how much of a letch Jaune was. But that was an important flaw to recognize. It was the only thing that kept the young man from crumbling completely at Glynda's made-up image. One glance at Pyrrha's naked back had been all it took to break his resolve. He could not give his teacher the same opportunity.
"Nice place," Jaune commented, trying to make small talk. Although, as he took a moment to look around, he realized he meant it. The teachers' apartments were much larger than student dorms, with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom separate from a small living area.
Glynda had been a teacher for quite a while, and that time was reflected in her home. Paintings had been hung on the wall. Shelves were installed and filled with various knickknacks for no purpose but to compliment the colors and shapes around them. Even the furniture looked personalized to match the older woman's decorations, tying the living space into a home.
Taking a few steps deeper, Jaune froze as the dining nook came into view, revealing an intimate candlelit dinner for two. Complete with a red tablecloth and two empty wine glasses beside plates of food still steaming from where they'd been served. The smell hit him on his next breath, letting him savor the aroma of garlic, grilled beef, and potatoes.
Despite himself, Jaune was impressed by the scene. For some reason, he hadn't expected his teacher to be quite so…domestic? But it made sense. She was a grown woman. Of course she would have to be a decent cook after living alone for so many-.
Jaune's thoughts stopped short as he stepped closer to the table. It was a good-sized apartment, but still an apartment. So there was no distinction between the kitchen and the dining table. Crossing that boundary, the blond noticed the trash lid had been left open. Inside, he saw two takeaway boxes and a plastic bag with a restaurant logo left at the top of the pile.
The young man had enough time to raise an eyebrow before the trash lid snapped closed as if by magic. Jaune turned his wry expression toward Glynda to see her arm outstretched and her cheeks slightly darker than they had been at the door. That was the only indication of her semblance before his teacher continued forward at the same pace as if nothing had happened.
She brushed past him on her way toward the table, daring him to say one word. Jaune dutifully kept his lips pinched, even if it was just to suppress the smile threatening his life. For once, Jaune didn't feel intimidated by his teacher's stare. If anything, the young man was surprised to find that her reaction had been kind of cute. Adorable, almost. It looked like adults also had their weak spots that they were embarrassed by.
It was a distinctly humanizing moment that only served to help Glynda shift from just another teacher in Jaune's mind to a real and living woman with her own interests and life before Jaune had come to Beacon. Which was the exact opposite of what he should be trying to do!
"I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you that I'm not much of a cook," the older woman admitted once they were both seated and staring at each other from across the small square table. To her credit, she owned up to it as soon as she'd been caught instead of making excuses.
"Never had the time to learn or didn't care to?" Jaune asked affably. If Glynda thought he'd be critical of her shortcoming, she was reassured. The blond young man found himself genuinely curious, if only to keep the pair from falling into an awkward silence for the rest of the night.
"Both?" her eyes narrowed, unsure. "I am quite busy most days and rarely have the energy to waste before bed, but my few attempts at learning have always ended…poorly. And the less said about my single attempt at baking, the better." Her face took on the haunted shadow most people would expect from a professional huntress. The fact that it was born from a misbegotten birthday cake instead of a mission was enough to earn a real laugh from her date.
"And yourself?" Glynda inquired, "I don't suppose I can start relying on you for a home-cooked meal after work from now on?" Her tone was even, but Jaune felt the impression of a tease. Maybe he was starting to learn how to read her better?
Jaune didn't answer immediately and considered lying, wondering if he should try to dissuade thoughts like those. But he figured being honest wouldn't hurt. He needed her to trust him if he was going to get her ring off, and there shouldn't be any harm in sharing a few stories before addressing the issues.
"One of my sisters wanted to be a chef growing up," Jaune leaned back into his chair, smiling softly. "I got drafted into tasting her experiments enough that I eventually started getting pulled into helping her cook. Which isn't to say I can make anything impressive, but I've prepped enough ingredients to know how to throw together the simple things. Spaghetti, burgers," he glanced down at his plate, "steak and potatoes."
Glynda took his teasing gracefully, rolling her eyes. Reaching for her glass, she brought it to her lips before she realized it was empty. Widening briefly, her eyes looked behind her before she rose. "I forgot the wine," she sighed, retrieving a tall glass bottle from her sink. Jaune could hear the sound of ice cubes falling against each other, and when she placed it on the table, the dark green glass was slick with beads of cool water. "Would you like some?"
Jaune startled, not expecting the offer. He eyed the older woman briefly before reminding her, "I'm…underage?"
She hadn't been expecting that and paused without blinking. Jaune wondered momentarily if she'd really forgotten that he was still seventeen. Surely that had been in his profile. She bounced back quickly but didn't pull the bottle closer.
"I think we can overlook that detail for tonight," the blonde hummed, "besides, I picked this vintage specifically to pair with our meal. I want to hear what you think."
How could he say no to that? Part of him felt touched that she'd put that much thought into their meal, even if she hadn't cooked it herself. Internally shrugging, he held up his wine glass and watched the dark red color fill the crystal container. The pour ended much sooner than he'd expected, less than a quarter of what the glass could have held. But just when Jaune wondered if the portion was due to his age, he watched his date match him with her own drink. The bottle was left open between them, glittering in the candlelight flickering beside it.
Utterly clueless, Jaune decided that watching Glynda was his best guide and mirrored her bite of steak before sampling his drink. The meat was cooked well, filling his mouth with the succulent flavors of char, buttery garlic, and melted fat. The wine was next, although he paused when the smell of his drink slithered up his nose.
"Fruity," he noted, although not with any degree of critique. It stood out because he recognized it as the same faint sweetness he'd detected from his teacher during their kiss. Despite himself, he couldn't stop the memories that surfaced from the smell and felt his body react appropriately.
Throwing the glass back, he'd hoped to banish the thoughts and succeeded. An extremely sour and bitter flavor invaded his tongue, sharp with something he didn't recognize. It was…not terrible, but he was embarrassed to admit that he might have preferred juice or water. Coughing to himself, he felt Glynda's eyes on him and flushed appropriately.
"I've never drank before," Jaune admitted, embarrassed.
"It helps when you don't try to swallow it all in one gulp." Her comment might have been wry if there wasn't so much amusement reflected over her glass as she took another sip. Before he could stop her, Jaune watched her pick the bottle up and poor him another helping. "Try again," she encouraged, "but just a sip. Enough to coat your tongue."
Jaune really didn't want to. His first attempt already sat in his stomach uncomfortably. But after a moment, that discomfort started to feel a little warm, pleasantly so. He shouldn't care what Glynda thought of him. In fact, he should be doing everything he could to insult her. But Jaune still found himself doing as she bid, taking a much smaller sip after another taste of bloody steak. And this time, he was pleasantly surprised when the flavor of his wine mingled with the savory aftertaste of meat.
The tartness was still there, as was the sting of alcohol. But the thick taste of garlic and beef helped to mute the effects when it wasn't flooded by a wave. Instead, the two mixed in his mouth, complimenting each other. And when Jaune moved on to try his potatoes, the soft mash of butter and salt served to cleanse his pallet, opening it like a blank canvas to experience the two as if for the first time all over again.
Glynda must have seen the pleasure on his face. "It's delightful, isn't it?" Her voice was imperceptibly softer, glad they could share this experience.
Jaune nodded, enjoying another sip and how a little more heat spread through his stomach. He didn't notice himself relax into his seat as a fraction of his anxiety melted away. "Very. I always thought all that wine-tasting stuff was just for rich people to justify spending thousands of Lien on one bottle."
"Oh, it is." Glynda nodded. "But I don't care about the price. I enjoy sampling and collecting different flavors in my free time." She must have noticed how that sounded since she quickly added, "I don't mean to say that I often drink to excess, but I do enjoy the flavor, and it helps me relax at the end of the day."
Jaune couldn't help but smile to himself, repressing a laugh. Not well enough since Glynda appeared to notice. Eyes narrowed, she set the glass down and eyed him dangerously. "And what is so funny about that?"
"Nothing!" Jaune was quick to defend himself. "I just thought it weirdly suited you. You always felt so…mature. Of course you like wine tasting as a hobby." He hadn't meant it as an insult, so Glynda didn't take it as one.
"I'll assume that is a compliment, and thank you," she lifted her chin, projecting some of the professional aura she used on students. "However, I feel like I should remind you that no woman wants to be called 'mature' no matter how you intend it."
Jaune winced and noted the correction with a nod of his head. He didn't see any problem with a woman being older, but that didn't mean they wanted it brought up. The young man felt compelled to correct his mistake, the warmth in his stomach loosening his tongue.
"Like you need to worry about your looks," Jaune snorted, enjoying another bite and another sip. He was halfway toward a forkful of his potatoes before he noticed his date's curious tilt. She watched him, remaining purposefully quiet.
"Well," Jaune flushed, catching himself. "You know what I mean," he insisted. And still, Glynda said nothing. Sinking into his chair, Jaune accepted that she wasn't letting him get out of this easily.
Sobering, Jaune forced himself to meet his date's patient stare. "Glynda, you're absolutely beautiful. And nothing is as simple as time will change that anytime soon." When Glynda still didn't blink, offering one of her rare smiles instead, Jaune reached for his glass for a quick distraction. But when he lifted it, it was empty.
'Huh, that went quicker than I thought.' He stared at his glass, trying to remember where it had gone. Glynda answered his gesture with the bottle, topping him off before doing the same for herself.
'Great going, idiot,' he forced himself to avoid Glynda's attention, chastising himself. Enjoying each other's company and calling a woman beautiful wasn't the best way to turn them away. It was just unfortunate that he happened to enjoy her company more than he'd thought and found the conversation flowing.
He shouldn't have anything in common with his teacher. But she was…nice. Just not as nice as Pyrrha.
"Thank you," Glynda finally offered when Jaune focused on continuing his meal. He still didn't look at her, but that didn't stop the older woman from smiling at him. "I'll admit, I was a little nervous that you would be bothered by my age. But I am relieved to hear that the attraction is mutual." Still staring at his plate, Jaune didn't see her hand move across the table to grab his until her fingers' smooth, long shapes rested in his palm.
Swallowing his current mouthful, Jaune had no choice but to slowly lift his head to meet her kind expression. Oh yeah, he was terrible at this. And the more time he spent with his teacher, the harder it became to remember exactly why getting with her was such a bad idea.
"Anyway," Glynda coughed in a rare form of self-consciousness as her hand withdrew to cut another portion of meat. "I'm very happy that we could share my hobby tonight. It will probably be the last time I get to enjoy wine in a while. Perhaps another night we can talk about things you enjoy and see if they interest me."
Jaune smiled at the thought, momentarily amused at the idea of seeing this beautiful woman try and read comic books or play video games, but stopped when her words registered. She will have to stop drinking soon. Right, because…
"Because you'll be…pregnant," Jaune finished out loud, wondering if the cold dread in his heart had leaked into his voice. Right, he may have started forgetting why this was a bad idea, but Glynda had reminded him.
"That's right," the older woman nodded. "I know some doctors claim that small portions of wine won't have an effect, but I don't see a reason to risk it. Being able to enjoy the smell every now and then will have to serve me until I stop breastfeeding." Oh, how quickly the mood can change.
The heat in Jaune's stomach threatened to exit the same way it entered when he so much as imagined having children to worry about. But then, he'd been looking for an opportunity to bring this up. Now was as good a time as ever.
"Do you…mind if we talk about that at all? You getting pregnant, I mean." Jaune was hesitant to push the topic.
Glynda wasn't nearly as much and nodded amicably. "I'd assumed that was one of the topics we would discuss tonight, yes. You appeared quite flustered when I mentioned it this afternoon."
Flustered, blind panic—same thing, right? "Well," Jaune laughed without enough breath in his lungs, "I mean, I'm just wondering if you've really thought this through? Are you sure that I'm the man you want to have a child with?"
If he could convince her that he wasn't the right guy for her, maybe he could talk her into taking off the ring. But Glynda merely shook her head, appearing confused at his words. "You're my husband," she argued, "who else would I create a child with?"
"But that's what I'm talking about. I'm only seventeen," Jaune pressed, gesturing toward the wine bottle, "Like I said, I can't even legally drink. Don't you see how I might not be ready for children?" Leaning forward in his chair, he gave his teacher his most imploring stare. "You want to be a mom, and that's great. But I don't know if I'm ready to be a father yet." The terror in his soul at the mere mention was probably a good indication.
Glynda frowned into her plate. "I understand that there is a notable age difference between us. And one of the consequences is that we may be prepared for different stages in our relationship. However, I'm not in a position to wait longer than I have to for this child." she paused, fiddling with a napkin before continuing in a heavier tone. "You should know that I'm already forty and closer to my next birthday than my last. If I wait until you're ready to have children, I may lose the ability to have them."
It's a sad topic, but Glynda did an amazing job hiding her concern. Besides the small pile of torn napkins beside her plate, Jaune would almost swear she wasn't bothered at all. But this was a real fear she faced and worried about.
"That said," Glynda straightened her shoulders and met Jaune's gaze, "I am not without compromise. I understand your fears and wish to reassure you that I already plan on shouldering the majority of the rearing. At least until you finish school."
Again, Jaune felt taken aback by how much thought she'd put into it. Whenever he'd tried arguing with Pyrrha, it had felt like he was talking to a brick wall. But Glynda had clearly considered his objections and was responding to them. He had no choice but to try a different angle.
"Alright," Jaune allowed, swallowing stiffly, "but having a child is a big deal. You can understand that. Even if we are married, don't you want to know the man whose child you're carrying? Love them first?"
Glynda answered briskly. "You think I haven't tried?" She didn't give him a chance to answer, "Because I have. For the last twenty years, I've tried looking for someone special to share my life with. To fall in love with. And it has been remarkably unsuccessful."
Pausing, Jaune could see the stress in her pinched lips before she stole a mouthful of wine, swallowing much more than the splash she'd suggested. After an audible swallow, she continued, "There was one man…in my youth who I thought might want me like that. But in the end, he made his priorities clear. And they were not me. And ever since, my love life has felt like I'm simply stumbling from one bad encounter to the next."
The more she talked, the more somber she became. Her face scrunched unhappily, and her brows drew together, stressing wrinkles Jaune hadn't been able to notice before. She was still far from unattractive, but Jaune felt like he might be seeing her age for the first time. But as quickly as she'd descended, her spirits suddenly lifted as soon as she turned to meet his gaze. Just like that, her smile returned, and all the shadows retreated to where they'd been hidden.
"Until I met you, of course." It could have been a trick of the light, but Jaune almost swore her eyes sparkled as she continued, "And now I'm more in love than I can ever remember."
It should have been a sweet moment. Jaune was sure that Glynda likely saw it as one. But he had to fight his panic as he found himself assaulted by her warm expression, highlighted by the candle between them. Unbidden, his eyes dipped toward her dress and how she filled it out, feeling his resolve start to crumble.
In a moment of desperation, Jaune looked at the ring on her finger and seriously wondered if he could just rip the damn thing off. But that was unlikely. Even if he'd wanted to, Glynda was far faster and stronger than him. And she'd likely stop him before he got close.
"You don't mean that," he sighed, unexpectedly exhausted by the evening. Enjoying Glynda's company only to chastise himself repeatedly was taking its toll, and he couldn't be sure what would give in first. "You're not in love with me. You never were. It's my semblance. Remember when we talked about that? I told you about how it controlled Pyrrha, and now it's controlling you."
He shouldn't have bothered. Glynda wouldn't understand, and he'd be right back to where he started. But he was running out of options and was starting to feel desperate.
Then again, maybe he needed to say the words to remind himself. To remind him that Glynda's sweet words and her loving gaze were fake. But it was still worse than that, because the teacher was being forced to say them. Her mind twisted by his semblance into what was probably his ideal version of a woman.
Maybe that was why they were so compatible. Maybe that was why Glynda effortlessly made him so happy. And now he would have to listen to her deny it and promise that their love was true and that nothing would tear them ap-.
"I remember." Glynda cut through his thoughts, as blunt as usual. Jaune almost didn't hear her for a second—until he did. Eyes flashing open, he turned to regard the blonde's plussed expression, trying to rein control over his own.
"I'm sorry?" Jaune asked. "You remember? You…know that you're being controlled by my semblance?"
Glynda's face contorted, and he thought she was getting upset. But after a moment, he realized that it looked like she was concentrating very hard.
"It…" she strained, breathing slowly, "is not easy. And when I get distracted, it can slip away. But if I focus or you remind me, I can remember everything I'm feeling for you is because of the ring on my finger. I'm unsure why I can fight it or Ms. Nikos cannot. But if I had to guess, I can only assume my own semblance is a contributing factor. Telekinesis requires a great amount of mental strength, and my ability to concentrate is better than most as a result."
He watched her shrug her shoulders. "Then again, it could be as simple as what you told me before I was tempted to wear the ring. I didn't believe you then, but I started to a moment before it slid into place. I can't truly describe how that felt for me." Her voice was wistful, as if she'd started drifting back toward the brilliant moment. After several heartbeats, the older woman had to shake herself back to the present.
Glynda needn't have bothered. Jaune was far too busy marveling at everything she had admitted. He didn't know what to say! This whole time, he'd thought that she was completely brainwashed. That everything she'd been doing and saying was completely because of the ring on her finger. But if she had so much as a fraction of control of herself then…
"Why on Remnant are you still wearing the ring if you know what it's doing?" He sounded perplexed. "Just take it off! I-I can't promise you'll change back, but it might work. It's worth a shot, anyway." He didn't understand.
Glynda allowed him to stew in his confusion. Staring into her nearly empty glass, she rolled her wrist and watched the red bead stir in small circles. And when she eventually answered Jaune, it was with another question, "Do you know what it's like to try and fail to fall in love for twenty years?" She let that sit between them until the ensuing silence demanded she fill it. "It can be quite disappointing, let me tell you." She laughed a short exhale of breath, but no humor could be seen.
"The first few years aren't terrible." Somehow, she managed to keep the bitterness from her tone. Speaking casually, like they were back in her class and she was breaking down the mistakes of a woman two decades younger. "You still enjoy going out and getting to know new people. You have hope, and every new face feels like the possibility of something wonderful."
Her eyes narrowed as a sliver of something darker infected her gaze. "But that ends. And eventually, you run out of new restaurants to try and new activities to explore. And worst of all, you start to run out of partners that meet your standards. You have no choice but to expand your dating pool, make exceptions, and forgive what had been unacceptable."
Her shoulders slumped suddenly, as if burdened by some great weight. For lack of a better word, she looked as exhausted as Jaune had felt a few moments ago. "I can't tell you how quickly a person's standards can fall from hoping for an attractive man with a good job and clear purpose toward his future to one that is employed, does not physically repulse you and is open to having a child at some point. But then, you start to learn how that still is not enough to find that special someone. And one day, you find yourself celebrating your fortieth birthday alone with a glass of wine, grading student papers."
Jaune could see the memory replaying in her eyes as she gazed off over his shoulder. The light in her green orbs all but vanished, lacking the focus that made students wet themselves regardless of their year. It made Jaune sympathize with her. He hadn't had much luck dating before Pyrrha either, but it wasn't like he'd been trying. Being lonely for that long couldn't have been easy.
He never would have expected it from the impassive teacher. His first impression had been during orientation with the rest of the students. But as she stood above on the stage with him standing below, he could still remember the sense of strength he'd thought she'd carried. Confident. Indestructible. And he hadn't been the only one.
It was only now, after this insight, that Jaune realized how that same untouchable demeanor was what had isolated her in the first place. But she wasn't unfeeling or emotionless. She was just…direct and didn't express those emotions as loudly as most people were used to.
Jaune didn't know that he'd reached out to take her hand until her attention was back in the room and the tight line of her bright red lips had opened into a smile. Not wide, never wide, but present and shy like a landed butterfly testing its wings on the breeze. And so gods damned beautiful that he found himself considering how unfair it was that he had only gotten to kiss them once.
The moment lasted just long enough for Glynda's attention to drift toward their conjoined hands and the simple gold ring tangled within. "If I allow myself, I can understand what I feel for you isn't real. You are seventeen. A boy who cheated his way into my school and harbors a semblance that anyone would label frightening. If I had to say, you might be as far from my ideal type as I could imagine."
The insults didn't sting. They were too obvious for that. Nothing that Jaune hadn't already thought to himself every minute that they had been married. Still, that didn't mean he didn't enjoy how her finger started to stroke his.
"However, when I put on this ring, none of that mattered." she hummed a chuckle, and Jaune knew this one was genuine. "Suddenly, I was in love with you. I love you more than I can say I have ever loved anyone. More than I quite honestly imagined myself capable of.
"I know that this love isn't real," her fingers squeezed his, firm and grounding. "But it feels real. And illusion or not, at this point in my life, I can't pretend that I'll find anyone else that would let me feel a sliver of what your semblance inspires inside of me."
Jaune couldn't look away when she glanced up at him. "I trust you completely. With my body, our future, despite no evidence. I am attracted to you despite your age, so much so that I had to stop myself from pushing you down and simply taking you in my office. And I want children with you because I love you. I can already imagine holding a small bundle in my arms with your smile and my eyes, and it feels like all I want out of life. It's like…I feel complete. You complete me."
Glynda stole a steadying breath, becoming shockingly animated in her speech. Several deep breaths followed before she could keep going, once again calm and collected. "So no, I do not want to take off your ring. Even if it would reverse what's happened, the very idea of going back to my life from before feels cold, empty, and lonely. This life with you is all that I've wanted. And if not, the ring has tricked me to the extent that I do not care about what I might have wanted before this afternoon."
There was resolve in her tone. Confidence. The kind that couldn't be faked, like Jaune so often resorted to. It was incredible to watch after the vulnerability she'd exposed like an open vein. When she stood up from their now cold dinner, Jaune couldn't do anything but watch her as she stood before him like a woman who could command the world.
"Of course," Glynda loomed, "I cannot force you to accept me. Just like I can't force you to make a child with me. I am not blind; you're still clearly reluctant on at least one account. All I can do is make my argument and let you decide."
Jaune gaped at her like he didn't know what to do. Everything had changed, and he was scrambling to keep up. "Your argument?" he managed.
"It's quite compelling if I do say so myself," Glynda nodded, appearing sultry even before she reached behind her back. Jaune couldn't react fast enough before she'd let her zipper fall, and the dress pooled at her feet. Suddenly, the young man found all other concerns invalid compared to the sheer white lingerie she had been hiding underneath.
Jaune had known that Glynda had prepared for the night, but he hadn't known that she'd prepared.
The underwear itself was technically modest, at least in the cut. But the see-through fabric ruined any hope of discretion the wearer might have intended. But Glynda hadn't been attempting to be modest. She'd been planning to seduce. To show her body off and capture Jaune's interest before he could overclock his dumb brain and think himself out of the wonderful evening she'd planned.
And it had worked. Full breasts were matched by full hips on a tall figure sculpted by years in a physically intensive career. The fabric was sheer enough that Jaune could see plenty of his teacher's pale flesh underneath with tactful lace that thickened only where it mattered, guarding her secrets. It clearly hinted at the invitation that if he wanted to see the rest, he would need to take them off himself.
But that wasn't the only hidden message. Glynda had picked her colors very seriously. And while her dress had been a seductive and skimpy black, these white underthings transformed her into the picture of a newlywed bride on her wedding night, waiting to be devoured by her husband.
Suffice to say, it was everything Jaune had been trying to avoid all evening.
Glynda took some pride in her husband's reaction, permitting him a few seconds to admire her before finishing, "For your consideration. Once you make up your mind, I'll be waiting in our bed. Do not make me wait too long." And then she turned, showing Jaune that her panties were not just sheer in the front but also a thong. Giving him a near-perfect view of her mature curves and full backside as she sauntered out of the room.
A/N: Wasn't that romantic? I'm curious to hear what you think about my depiction of Glynda. I've always enjoyed the Kuudere archetype, and I think it fits her wonderfully. And making her a closeted romantic gives enough depth that I won't have to worry about her being too one-note in how she interacts with the rest of the family.
Making her aware of Jaune's semblance was also an important aspect, since she'll be able to give an inside perspective to how it affects wives and seriously help Jaune understand it a little better. It also goes to show that his power is not all might and those with a strong enough will could overpower it if they needed to. Which is not to say that would be easy! When I said Glynda's semblance helped her, I meant that. The mental training necessary to focus on individual projectiles in the numbers and size we saw in the show was no small feat and I can only imagine that there is a reason she focused her entire fighting style around her semblance, to the extent that she only uses a riding crop for a weapon. Glynda literally put all of her stats into intelligence and that is why she can resist to an extent. So other characters, while smart, will not have as easy of a time.
Once again, chapter six is already written so I'll see you guys in two weeks. If you liked what you read, I'd love to hear it. And if that's too much work, Kudos are a nice present as well. As much as you guys love seeing me update, I promise I love hearing from you more. Until next time.