2 am
Hurt/Comfort
Jaune Arc / OC Daughter / Pyrrha Nikos
[AU] (This is NOT a Betrayal Story.)
Even the strongest person has limits. The greater the strength the deeper the fall. Pyrrha Nikos, Champion and vaunted Huntress had always struggled under the burden of her fame. Until one day it was just too much.
/==/
It was 2am when the message was recorded. Jaune's hands shook as he listened to the voices that came over the speaker of his scroll. He knew the voice, and it had been awhile since he had been in person to hear them. But that was what happens when you give up on school to take care of your child, while all your friends continue on with their dreams. They had all been drifting away from one another, as was want to happen when slowly you had less and less in common. They all did still drop him a line, and dropped by for unannounced visits when they were in Vale, but those were getting less and less frequent.
He reasoned it all away. They were pursuing their careers, and as they moved and progressed into the upper years of their time in Beacon, the demands of courses, training and missions became even more severe. He wasn't really part of that daily circle anymore. The words he heard shattered the fairy tale he had been holding onto. Him and his daughter had become her dirty little secret.
"Jaune, honey, miss you and Az so much. I'll drop by in the morning. Love you both... (muffled male voice.) No it's nothing, just checking on a sick friend... (muffled voice)... No need to apologize. It was nothing important... (muffled male voice)... Of course I'll go out and have a drink with you. Sounds like a lovely idea." She had forgotten to hang up after calling to leave him a message. Checking up on him and their daughter. Probably due to alcohol consumption. She was at their graduation party after all. It wasn't the first time he had gotten such a message. He saved them all.
He pressed the hang up button, and dropping his scroll on their bed, that she had spent almost no time in anymore. He got up and made his way into the next room. It had been two years since her birth, and she was the centre of his world now. Everything he did was for her. It had been an accident over summer break, that led to her conception. Jaune instantly did the right thing. He took responsibility. Doing everything he could to support her, and their unborn child. It was stressful, and there had been more than one argument in regards to their future together.
She was forced to take a leave of absence for the final trimester. Jaune had dropped out, moving to find work, and arrange living space. Her return to school was an event, and the media was in full force to celebrate her return, after her mysterious illness. He wasn't in attendance. He had to be at work. They tried to make a life together, and her fewer and fewer clandestine visits; he wrote off as the demands of her extra training to get back into shape and caught up with school.
Azalea Arc had be born hale and healthy, and Jaune was instantly in love with her. She had her mother's hair, and face; accented with his eyes. He brushed off that fact that her last name was only his, even though the two of them had discussed her having both their surnames names. As he stood at the door of her room, gazing at her sleeping form, the memories rolled in his mind; but instead of being fondly remembered, he began picking them apart. She had been at meetings, during her first birthday. An event all his friends had attended. Few of them were available for her second birthday. Missions taking priority, and he understood.
He still had friends, from work, and the gym he was a member of. Even as he took care of his daughter, he attempted to improve his physical conditioning. He even had started taking fighting classes. Sharpening his rudimentary skills. Between his work, his training, and most importantly his almost three year old daughter; he was busy, and distracted. It was the night after her third birthday. It had been a small affair, just her grandmothers and himself in attendance. She was supposed to be there, she promised; but she never showed. It had taken Jaune almost two hours to consul his little angel. The centre of his small world.
"Mommy?" her musical voice, breaking with sadness.
"She wanted to be here I promise, she... she just ended up getting busy." Jaune's lie hitched in his throat. He had gotten a call from her, she wouldn't be coming. He could hear the alcohol in the way she spoke.
"Mommy?" tears started to roll down her soft cheeks, and Jaune pulled her close into a warm hug. Rocking her back and forth.
"I'm so sorry, Az."
"Mommy?" her voice was so small and fragile, that Jaune had to fight back his own tears, as a rage ignited in his heart. He had enough.
Jaune stayed up after he finally got Azalea settled and asleep. Her grandmothers had retired to their hotels for the evening, leaving him alone. At 2am the call came in, and instead of it going to voicemail, he answered.
"Where the fuck are you?" Jaune growled.
"Jaune?" he knew she was drunk, he knew it when she had called earlier in the evening to give her excuse, and now it was just confirmed. Her slurred words a dead give away.
"Who the hell you think you called?" Jaune snapped. "Or did you mean to call someone else?"
"No... no... I wanted to talk to you."
"Turn on the camera Pyr. I deserve to know."
"Know what?"
"Where the fuck you are, and who the fuck is so important that you couldn't even attend your daughter's birthday party!" Jaune's hands were shaking, his anger slowly taking control. "Turn on your camera. I hear the voices."
"Jaune, I ... can't"
"Why? Hiding something? Don't want me to see what you're really been up to with all these celebrations?" Jaune hit the icon for his own camera, allowing her to see his scowling face, "You're always out, you never come home. Your mother was here. Always at a celebration, for a successful mission; or a contract meeting. So you going to be honest for once."
"Honest? You talking to me about... being honest? Mr. I faked my way..."
"Yeah, I did, and you knew about it. The whole school probably knew about it after I told you... I deserve to know what's so important that you need to be drunk and leave our daughter crying herself to sleep, because mommy didn't come like she PROMISED!"
"I... (muffled male voice followed by female voice) ... stop, enough. This ... this is important."
"Do whatever with your life Pyr. Go be a huntress, or a champion, or whatever." Jaune hung up, and turned off his scroll.
/=/
Jaune turned his scroll back on, after he had made Az and himself breakfast. There was fifteen messages, most from Pyrrha, and a couple from Yang. He let his thumb hover over the play icon. He had a feeling about what he was going to hear. Her anger, her empty promises. He set his scroll down on the kitchen counter and leaned forward with his head in his hands. In the front room, he could here the musical refrains to Az's favourite cartoon playing. He allowed himself a sad smile. He could do this. He had to do this, for her. Opening the messenger app, he began to type, but a banging on his apartment door caused him to stop.
Setting his scroll back on the kitchen counter, he moved and after making sure Az was still distracted by her show, he answered the door. Yang stood in the hall, looking haggard and annoyed. Jaune's eyes narrowed, he was not in the mood for a replay of Yang taking on the role of peacemaker.
"What do you want Yang?"
"Why didn't you return my calls." she snapped. He could still smell the alcohol on her breath.
"I had my phone off. I have a daughter to take care of. Answering fu..." Jaune caught himself before he did swear. He gave a quick look over his shoulder, to check on Az, before returning his attention to Yang. "2am drunk calls are done with, there is nothing I need to know at that time of the morning, especially from Pyr."
"What's your..."
"My problem is that she missed her own daughter's birthday, AGAIN!" Jaune was trying to control his voice, but it wasn't working. "My problem is she would rather be out all over town with god knows who, drinking her liver into submission, instead of being with her daughter!"
"Pyr loves Az. She wouldn't..."
"She does, and did. So tell me whatever lame excuse it is, that she figures will get me to forgive her this time." Jaune crossed his arms, and glared at Yang. "I have things to do, like actually get Az to daycare and go to work. So let's hear it."
"There was an accident. Cardin and her..."
"Cardin... and ... her." Jaune's eyes almost became slits, and his teeth ground together. "She and Cardin spend a lot of time together, don't they?"
"Jaune, this is not..."
"What? The time? I have a right to know, or don't I?" Jaune uncrossed his arms, and ran his hand through his hair. "Know what, I don't. It's not like we're married or even dating now. We just had a kid together, so why should I know anything."
"There was an accident!" Yang finally shouted, get his attention. "Pyrrha's in the hospital!"
"And what do you want me to do about it?"
"Go and see her! I'll watch Az. She needs..."
"No."
"No?"
"She needs to dry out, and come out with the real reasons her daughter never sees her anymore. Anyway I have work, and Az has daycare." Jaune reached towards the door, preparing to close it. "I hope she's okay, but I have more important things to do, than jump to the tune of a drunkard."
"Go see her! I'll watch Az!"
"No." Jaune replied flatly, his anger had burned to embers, allowing sorrow to start welling up. "Talk to you later, Yang."
Jaune slid to the floor, his back against the door he had just closed in his friend's face. His heart felt like it was tearing, and he fought to keep the tears from rolling down his cheeks.
"Daddy?" Az asked, in her light voice. Her crimson red hair done up in a pony tail. Her own blue eyes shimmering at the sight of her father crying.
"Come here, baby." she climbed into his lap. She laid her head against his t shirt clade chest, and reached her arms as far around him as she could reach. "Daddy loves you. Always and forever."
"Love daddy." Az responded, "Love mommy too."
"Daddy loves mommy too." he whispered as he wrapped her in a warm embrace.
He had enough. His priority was Azalea, and her well being. He would do anything for her, even if it meant hurting someone he never thought he'd ever hurt.
/=/
It was a week and a few days since her accident. Pyrrha's mother had informed Jaune about her condition; as he had no interest in seeing her even at that point of time. Even now his emotions were still running on high, and his mind played out every dark and twisted scenario it could think of. But despite that he had made a couple of decisions. Decisions that were in the best interest of his daughter. Through Yang he arranged a meet up with Pyr at a small hidden away cafe. He had no interest answering Pyrrha's calls, voicemails, or texts. She looked at him as his entrance was signalled by the little bell by the door. His dark blue eyes narrowed upon the sight of her.
She was dishevelled and haggard looking. Dark rings accented her emerald eyes, an obvious sign she hadn't been sleeping. She was wearing his Pumpkin Pete hoodie, with the hood up to shield her face. He also noticed the crutches, and the blue pressure cast that encompassed her foot, and ran to above her knee. She gave him a hopeful and apologetic smile as he took a seat across from her. He laid the manila envelope, and a small jewellery box he was carrying before him.
"Pyrrha." he greeted her flatly.
"What happened to Pyr?"
"I don't know. What did happen to her?" Jaune replied, his tone still flat, "I see someone who looks like her before me, but a person who acts like her?"
"Jaune... I'm sorry for missing Az's party. I really am."
"Really?" Jaune's eyes narrowed, " So what, or who was more important than you daughter?"
"Jaune..."
"I'm tired of the games, Pyrrha. I understood the late night visits; when they used to happen. You were doing what you could to keep Az out of the public eye; and it is appreciated." Jaune's eyes softened, "She's your... OUR daughter. She deserves her mother's attention. She loves you unconditionally, but the ways you've been acting these last couple of years, and the messages you've left me... we're your dirty little secret; or at least that is how it seems."
"You're not..."
"Then publicly come out, about her."
"I can't. She doesn't deserve..."
"No she doesn't, but she also doesn't deserve to be a side thought in her mother's life." Jaune's eyes narrowed again, "You have problems Pyrrha. Serious problems."
"Problems? Like what?"
"The drinking to name the first one." Jaune replied. "And whatever else happens when you over indulge. Do you use protection, or is Az going to have a half sibling soon?"
"How..."
"How dare I? Easy, I hear the voices in the background when you call at two in the morning. I've heard how you refer to me when someone interrupts you. You have a home to come to after your missions, and meetings. Yet you STILL book hotels to stay in."
"Jaune..."
"Maybe you don't care about me, and that's fine. We had our chance, it seems like it didn't work out. But Az deserves better treatment than I get." Jaune's hands tapped the envelope and the box.
"Jaune, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you, and Az. I promise."
"Your promises are empty and mean nothing." Jaune's voice took on a tint of anger and sadness, as he pushed the jewellery box across the table towards her. "This is for you. Something to remember us by."
"Remember you? I would never forget you or Az!" Pyrrha snapped as she took the box and opened it. Inside was a small golden heart shaped locket, with a delicate chain. Her hands shook as she opened it. On the left side was Az's baby picture, on the right her most recent photo. "It's beautiful."
"This is also for you." Jaune commented as he shoved the envelope across that table.
"What is this?"
"Legal documents. I'm suing for sole custody of Az; and child support." Jaune replied, "I know you want to keep the dirty little secret of your daughter out of the public eye, so those are a straight up agreements in regards to both. I don't want to be going to court about her either."
"Jaune?" Pyrrha's emerald eyes were wide in disbelief, with hints of betrayal, and a tinge of forming tears. "Why?"
"Az is the centre of MY world. She maybe a side concern for you, but not for me. I'm doing what is best for her." Jaune responded as he stood, "The contact information for my lawyer is there."
"Jaune... please... wait... we...we can talk."
"Time for talk is over, Pyr." She choked as he used her nickname. "I've always loved you, and always will, but I love Az more. Goodbye Pyr."
Before she could saying anything else he walked out of the cafe, and down the sidewalk.
/=/
About a week after Jaune had given Pyrrha her copy of the papers, he was in the gym, working some cardio, when a familiar ginger walked in front of him.
"What do you want Cardin? Here to rub you and Pyrrha in may face?" Jaune snarled, as he stopped the treadmill.
"Whoa, whoa, and whoa." Cardin replied, pointing his finger at the blond before him. "That shit never happened. I've got my own girl, no need to go after someone else's."
"Really? Amazingly considerate of you."
"Fuck sake's Jaune. Where's all this coming from? I know I was an ass in school, but the whole second year class knows what you did for her."
"What?"
"Everyone from our year knows, about your bundle of joy; and I can pretty much guarantee that everyone respects you for doing it."
"Then why are you here?"
"To clear the air. Yang let me know what you said the day after the accident. It's not true."
"What's not true, you being around her a lot?"
"I was around her, and all of those times it was me and my girl making sure she was safe, especially when Yang and the others weren't around." Cardin crossed his arms over his broad button up shirt covered chest. "She never did tell me where you lived, so we'd let her crash and sober up on our couch."
"And why should I believe that?"
"Believe or don't. I'll give you the number of my girl, she can confirm; but I'm just giving the truth about when I was around your girl. I have nothing against you Jaune, and Pyrrha's saved my ass more than a few times."
"You swear that nothing happened?"
"I swear, nothing happened between Pyrrha and me, and nothing happened to her when I was around." Cardin relaxed his posture slightly when he noticed Jaune had done the same. "What's with you? You were never like this in school, even when I was picking on you."
"I'm tired of her breaking promises to our daughter. Tired of her being drunk. Tired of scroll calls at 2am, that end up sounding like Az and I don't matter."
"Shit." Cardin rubbed the back of his head with his hand, "Az?"
"Azalea. That's our daughter."
"Pretty name. Who picked it?"
"We both did."
"So we good, cause I'm serious Jaune, nothing happened."
"What about the accident?"
"She called my girl asking for a ride, so I went down picked her up, and then ended up t-boned by a drunk." Cardin sighed. "Pyrrha took the worst of it, because we were hit on the passenger side."
"Shit."
"So how is Pyrrha?"
"She looked worn out when I met her last week."
"Last week? Though she be at your place healing up?"
"Nope." Jaune popped the P. "Don't know where she is, and to be honest I don't really care right now."
"What's going on Jaune? If you don't mind me asking."
"It's personal. Leave it at that."
"Fair enough. So are we good?"
"Yeah."
"If you ever want to talk, I'm told I can be a good listener."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Cardin nodded and walked off, leaving Jaune alone with his thoughts. Sighing, Jaune moved from the treadmills and straight to the heavy bags.
/=/
It had been three years since that day. The day Jaune Arc walked out of her life. Her legal team had reviewed the documents, and quickly advised her to agree to the terms. They were fair, and had clauses that allowed for amendment of the agreements at later dates, if a need to do so arose. So she signed them as she cried. Memories of times that shouldn't have happened feeding her depression. It had signalled a very dark time in her life, and she spiralled out of control. Loosing herself to drink, risky missions, and other activities.
"What are you doing to yourself!" screamed her mother as Pyrrha nursed a bad hangover on the couch of her mother's house. "Pyrrha what is going on?"
"I'm fine."
"No you're not fine! You are far from fine!" Athena Nikos was livid, embarrassed, and frustrated. "So you are going to tell me what is going on with you, and I mean now!"
"Nothing is going on!" Pyrrha shouted back.
"Really? REALLY?" Athena grabbed a bunch of printed off tabloid articles, and threw them down on the coffee table before her daughter, "He IS a married man Pyrrha! A married man!"
"His wife's a bitch."
"And what about that video of you and that girl?" Athena was about to totally lose it. "Are you intentionally trying to destroy yourself? You are better than this! You have a daughter to look out for!"
"I don't have a daughter! She's gone! He took her away!"
"And I wonder why he felt the need to do that? I wonder?"
"Fuck you!"
"No this is done. Get out of my house! You want to make yourself into a laughing stock then go, go whore yourself out like you have been. Go live in the bottom of a bottle, but you sure as fuck wont be getting anymore support from me!" Athena moved to the table, and grabbed another handful of papers throwing them into her daughter's face, "And here, these are all the contract cancellation notices."
"What the fuck. They can't..." Pyrrha grabbed a couple of the papers and tried to focus on the fine print of the scattered documents.
"They can and did!" Athena was past livid now. She loved her daughter and it tore her apart seeing her crumble from stress into addiction. But she was at her wits end at what to do. So finally much like the father of her granddaughter did, she had to just distance herself. "Out!"
/=/
Jaune and Azalea had moved to Argus not long after Pyrrha had signed the custody and support agreements. He did it for a few reasons. To get away from the memories of his failed attempt at a life with Pyrrha in Vale. To be closer to his eldest sister, her wife and Az's only current cousin; and to be able to at least give Az a chance to know her mother's side of the family with twice weekly over night stays with her grandmother.
He knew Pyr was floundering. Years of constantly being in the public eye finally cracking all her will, and forcing to succumb to the stress, in less than healthy ways. Yet he had to focus his concerns on Azalea. It was underhanded, he knew, but with tips offs from Az's grandmother he avoided ever being around the house when Pyrrha was crashing there. He isolated his daughter from the train wreck her mother had become. He wanted to reach out to her, wrap his arms around her, and make her struggles go away.
The support payments made his life taking care of his growing girl easier, and allowed him a bit more freedom to pursue his new passion. He had long given up on the huntsman myth. He saw what that life was doing to his friends, and even though he started out wanting to be a hero, after Azalea's birth he understood something more. Heroes didn't have to be warriors fighting darkness, they could be someone offering warm hugs, and soft cheek kisses. He was Azalea's hero, and that was to him the greatest achievement he could have ever accomplished.
It was in the second year after his move to Argus, that Athena made a request of him. He had always been taught to give the courtesy of listening when someone wanted to speak with you, so he did. Without hesitation agreed, to her request.
/=/
"Mommy isn't feeling very good right now. Az what would say to mommy to make her feel better?" Pyrrha choked, realizing after all this time Jaune was still looking out for her in his own way.
"Feel better soon mommy. I love you." her daughter beamed at the camera.
She watched the saved video from her intervention. It had happened just under three years ago. She could remember Yang and Blake basically throwing her back first into the overstuffed armchair, set in the centre of two sofa's in her mother's house. Seated on them with concerned expressions were her friends. She barely listened to their worries, concerns, and pleas.
It had been five years since Jaune had walked out of her life with their daughter. She freely admits it now, that she was spiralling at that time. Three years ago she had hit rock bottom. Skipping missions, drinking almost constantly, mixed with questionable relationships; some of a very violent nature; not to mention the pregnancy scares. Her sponsors cut her loose. Her licence was revoked. Everything had just collapsed in on her.
Now she was in the centre of a firing line. She ignored most of what was being said. Numbly nodding as she rolled her eyes. She remembered thinking how it was her choice. She could do what she wanted. It was her life. Then her mother played the video. The sight of her angelic looking daughter, seated in the very same chair she currently occupied. Looking up at the camera the gap from a missing tooth prominent in her warm loving smile. Long crimson trusses done up in the signature pony tail of her mother. Then came his voice. So soft and warm. It shattered her stubborn miss placed resolve. Regrets flooded her mind. Missed holidays and birthdays. Warm and loving hugs from her little gift, and the one who had made Azalea a reality.
"You okay P-money?" came Yang's soft voice from her seat beside her.
"Just missing someone." Pyrrha replied.
Even after a three month in a rehab program, she still held herself back from reaching out to Jaune. Even though her mother told her repeatedly that he wouldn't prevent her from seeing Az. She held herself back. Finding reasons to be absent during Az's twice weekly sleepovers.
"P-money?"
"It's okay, just thinking about things that shouldn't have happened."
"You can't keep doing that." Yang told her, "You need to look to the future. You have a chance here P-money. Don't fuck it up with that living in past bullshit."
Pyrrha nodded. She and Yang had just come from a rather informal meeting, with the Argus Cage Fighting Federation. It was new sport that was starting to really climb in popularity, pushed by it being straight up no weapons, no semblance fights, between ex-hunters and other individuals with unlocked aura. With a fairly liberal sprinkling of theatrics. They had been gifted cage side seats, as a thank you for entertaining the possibly of Pyrrha signing on as competitor. To be honest Pyrrha was really considering the choice. Having been blacklisted as a huntress, and the standard tourney circuit.
The chance to rebuild her reputation, and confidence was a tempting. Maybe if she signed on, she could feel worthy of seeing her daughter. Though she was a little hesitant about the showmanship angles. Though the management did make it clear, quashing her fears; that they didn't care about her past troubles. Actually making the point that her climbing the ranks in the Women's division would make for the perfect redemption story.
So there she was, seated next to Yang, who was sure was there as emotional support. Watching the fights, with some interest, and a practised eye. The gimmick of not being able to even actually use aura to boost abilities, or the use of semblances was interesting. Aura was basically there to absorb punishment, and make the fights longer and be slightly more brutal, without a large chance for serious injury.
"Title match up."
"Title match?"
"Yep. Light heavy championship. After that is the Heavyweight bout." Yang informed Pyrrha as she looked at the match card she had picked up, a slick smile on her face. Pyrrha's eyes narrowed, Yang was up to something. She was sure of it.
The lights flickered and the large video screen flashed to life, as "X gonna give it to ya [DMX]" blared over the sound system. The screen showed a slick promotional video for the fighter's gym and highlights from some his past matches. The videos were part of the sell of the sport.
"The challenger! Representing Gold's Fight Club... Weighing it at 168 pounds..." the announcer paused for effect, "NICKLE!"
Pyrrha had to nod. Nickle was a fine, and well put together young faunus man. His dog ear trait proudly displayed. He wore nothing but yellow and blue trunks, with matching finger-less padded gloves; white athletic tape around his feet and ankles. His small entourage consisting of a young woman hanging off his arm, dressed in body hugging work out clothes. The pair was lead to the ring by a rough looking deer faunus, who again proudly showed off his trait of antlers, and over his everyday clothes, a jacket with his clubs name emblazoned on the back..
The cheers, and adulation of the crowd for the fighter was unreal. The trio entered the cage, and moved to their assigned corner. The announcer prepared to make the next announcement only to be interrupted "Bad Girls [NEFFEX]" start playing over the sounds system. The crowd instantly went from adoration to hostile.
The video screen flickered and suddenly a very racy and sexualized gym promotional video started up. As a drop dead gorgeous and glamorous woman, wearing high stiletto heels, and a red and black dressed that looked painted on. She swayed her body in tune to the music before sauntering her way to the cage, and taking the mic from the ring announcer. Slowly the music died away.
"Who is that?" Pyrrha asked leaning to her right in order to address Ms. Jade Primrose, one of ACFF's talent scouts, who was assigned to Pyrrha and Yang to address any questions they had.
"Ms. Cinder Fall. Runs the Fall School of Combat Arts."
"Not very liked."
"She's a headhunter. Has a small stable of really talented fighters, including our current Light Heavy Champion. Took him out from under Gold's Gym."
"Let ME introduce the LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! Representing the Fall School of Combat Arts... weighing in at 170 pounds..." she gave a pause, allowing her lips to curl into a seductive grin. "The Golden Boy... JAUNE ARC!"
Pyrrha's heart froze. She felt Yang's hand touch her shoulder and give her a gentle squeeze; but she didn't react, instead was totally focused on the figure stepping out from behind the entryway curtain.
"Hungry [The Hustle Standard]" ripped over the sound system, as the video screen changed playing a blistering series of match endings. In the background she could hear the roar of displeasure rising through the crowd. She was completely focused on the black zip-up hoodie wearing figure. She could see he was in a pair of thigh length black and red skin tight trunks. A set of matching coloured finger-less gloves on his hands' while his feet and ankles were wrapped in black athletic tape. Around his waist a large leather belt with golden plates.
"You're a fucking traitor Arc!" someone shouted from behind her, and for a split second Pyrrha wanted to whip around and physically shut his mouth.
As he made his way towards the cage, she saw the blood red symbol of his sponsoring gym on the back of his hoodie. At the side of the cage, Jaune met up with Cinder; she removed the belt draping it over her shoulder; before she very sensually took her time to strip him of his hoodie. Free of the black cloth, he exposed his well defined body to the crowd. Pyrrha's breath caught in her throat. He looked good, the moustache and goatee giving him a mature look; but the sight of her emblem tattooed over his heart really did a number on her.
"Holy shit, VB looks good." Yang commented.
The match flew by in a blur to Pyrrha. The action fast, hard and brutal. She barely heard the comments from Yang or Jade as she just focused on Jaune. He was good, no more than just good. He was a natural, as he attacked and defended with fluid precision. She blinked and it was over. A replay on the video screen showing Jaune landing a vicious Superman Punch to Nickel's head scoring a knock out.
"Hungry" started up again, as the crowd rained abuse down at the cage. She watched as Cinder sauntered her way up to him, the garish title belt draped over her shoulder. She leaned forward and gave Jaune a peck on his cheek as the ref held his left hand in the air. Pyrrha's stomach fluttered, as she could see Jaune was happy. He looked content, and satisfied.
/=/
They were backstage, with Ms. Primrose. Continuing the tour, letting them see the activity that take place after an event. The chatter was idle, with Yang asking various questions. Pyrrha mainly kept to herself. Her mind occupied with memories of Jaune, both in the good times and bad. Yang's hand on her shoulder brought her out of her thoughts.
"You okay P-money?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Pyrrha replied. "Just thinking..."
"About VB?"
"VB? Who is that, if you don't mind me asking." Jade cut in.
"Jaune." Yang responded, "Its a nickname from when we went to school together."
"Interesting. You went to school with Golden Boy? How was he back then?"
"Goofy, dorky, but a guy with a golden heart." Yang offered, before asking, "So what is it with everyone hating on him? I mean just about everyone almost loved him when he was in school."
"Its partially because he publicly jumped from Gold to Fall as a sponsor; and his aura."
"What do you mean?" asked Pyrrha.
"He has almost double anyone else has. So he's near unbeatable in a straight up throw down. He lost a fair bit in the beginning, due to a lack of grappling skills, but as soon as he was head hunted, he got good, and has basically has been nearly undefeated since."
"Okay. So answer me this. What it with needing a gym sponsor?" Yang questioned.
"Its partly for health reasons. We vet the gyms, training methods, drug policies, and such. So if a gym sponsors a fighter then we know they are competently trained, healthy and are clean." Jade answered, "In fact we only offer contracts to gyms. We have about half a dozen right now, with a few more just starting the vetting process."
"So the gyms are the ones who choose the competitors?" inquired Pyrrha. "How do you set up matches?"
"The gyms give us a roster of their available registered fighters." Jade responded. "We then match up based on win-loss records with us, and weight classes. If you do decided to join up, it will be at the discretion of your sponsoring gym when or if you are ready to compete."
"Then why are you speaking to us? If it's all up to the gyms?" asked Pyrrha.
"We have agreements to scout possible talent, and to inquire about their interest in taking part." Jade offered, "If they are, we act as an intermediary between potential talent and the gyms."
"Seems awfully complicated." commented Yang.
"It is, but it works to everyone's benefit. The gyms make sure fighters are trained and healthy, we make sure the fighters are given fair deals, and fighters have options if there are disputes."
"What do you think P-money? Cause I'm thinking of joining."
"It's interesting. I need to..." Pyrrha stopped when she saw Cinder Fall approaching. She was in a professional looking pant suit with matching hand bag.
"Ms. Primrose, Ms. Xiao Long, and Ms. Nikos. It is a pleasure to see you. Are you interested in competing?"
"Not for me, looks fun but still have huntress duties to fulfill." Yang replied.
"Maybe." Pyrrha responded.
"Well if you do choose to join, feel free to drop by and check out my facilities." Cinder pulled a couple business cards out, and held it out to the pair of huntresses. "We would be delighted to have you join our roster. That is if you do wish to pursue this opportunity."
"Thank you." the huntresses spoke in unison.
"Well I wish you the best for the remainder of the night, and hope to see you visit my facilities in the near future."
"I think..." Pyrrha started.
"Auntie Cinder!" sounded out behind the group of four women, stopping any further conversations. "Auntie Yang?"
Pyrrha's heart jumped to her throat. He had stopped when he saw her, the precious eight year old, her little Azalea; holding his hand, held still by his firm grip.
"Daddy?" Az asked looking up at her father, not entirely sure why he was preventing her from going to see her aunties.
"Pyr?" Jaune asked.
"Jaune." Pyrrha responded.
/==/
Not sure how this one will be received, considering the last time I made Pyrrha anything but perfect one of my reviewers got fairly upset. They made good points, and weren't rude, but you could tell they were upset.
Anyway trying one of those "Nothing Bad Happened" type AUs. Yes this one still has grimm hence the need for Huntsmen and Huntresses.
I hope this one isn't too disjointed. Enjoy.