A/N: Well, I asked for an overwhelming majority to dissuade me from following the swinging plotline and you guys provided. I mean, wow. But don't let it be said that I don't follow through on my word and I wouldn't have made it an option if I couldn't write my way around the change. So many people were asking for Coco and Velvet to be wives that I thought this would be a nice compromise but seeing so many people react that strongly must mean that I'm doing something right since you want the story to follow its current themes and moods. Coco and Velvet are out, and I'll keep my focus on the main five wives. It's not like I have to worry about the story running too short.
Chapter 19
Tag(s): N/A
Girl(s): N/A
Words: 9,925
The walk from the movie theater to Vale's shopping district was blessedly short, all tucked away in the same entertainment district that contained both tourist and local attractions. At the start of the weekend, the collection of towering malls were fit to bursting with foot traffic.
Back in Ansel, there had been a corner of the settlement reserved for general trade delivered from the cities and a much larger grocer used by almost everyone for their food. But that was nothing compared to this. Jaune was even more impressed than Pyrrha, who'd been lucky enough to travel and see other kingdoms. Unfortunately, she'd never been free to simply walk around on her own. Especially in Mistral. But that meant it could be a new experience for both of them as they set out, going store by store to see what Vale had to offer.
To the couple's joined delight, the answer was most things. Vale's unique location was good for more than its weather, encouraging trade from all three of its neighbors. Even after a brisk sweep, Jaune and Pyrrha saw advertisements ranging from Mistralian comics and animation to Atlesian gadgets and technology to Vacuan foods and spices. Pyrrha, in particular, had been drawn to that last part, gleefully sharing a skewer of beef and peppers with her husband after their initial pass through the lane of towering buildings.
Personally, Jaune had thought it was a little spicy for his taste but he would have been lying if he tried to say he hadn't enjoyed how Pyrrha's kisses had tingled afterward. And to think, all of that had been what they'd been able to spot on the ground floors. With Vale's limited space, it made sense that the shops had been stacked vertically, with four to five stores on each floor.
A map was listed on each door before you entered, showing what you could find and where. And as the couple traced their way back through for a more in-depth exploration, Jaune's interest drifted back toward the comic book shop they had passed.
His imploring stare had been adorable but unneeded. Pyrrha was perfectly happy to take a moment and explore her husband's interests. Especially when she saw a clothing shop that specialized in Mistralian fashion only three floors above. The redhead might have fled her home kingdom to escape her life of fame, but that didn't mean there weren't aspects of her culture that she missed. Except, she hadn't realized how homesick she truly was until she had the chance to surround herself with the familiar colors and patterns of her homeland.
Jaune considered it to be more than a fair trade. He doubted most girls would be willing to follow their boyfriends into that kind of store. Not after how often his sisters made fun of his own modest collection. Yet Pyrrha, bless her heart, didn't appear to mind at all as she followed Jaune deeper and deeper into the colorful rows, showing a surprising amount of patience as he gushed over the overwhelming selection.
Vale was a heavily populated city, so it made sense that they had way more books available for purchase than he'd ever been able to find at the tiny magazine kiosk back in Ansel. They had first editions, the latest arcs, and nearly everything in between.
As they went around, Jaune did his best to do his heroes justice, explaining their themes, tragic origins, and letting Pyrrha's curious gaze appreciate all the detail in the stylized panels. His personal favorite had always been a long-running serialization that focused on a detective without semblance or aura who still fought criminals and Grimm alike, relying on misdirection, honed martial arts, and his vast resources to build gadgets that helped him. To a young man struggling with his own lack of abilities, it had felt nice to see a man like him who could still make a difference in the world.
But of course, that had just been one example. There was a whole rainbow of costumed crime fighters that Jaune's wife could choose from. All with stories featuring attractive men and women whose semblances made Jaune's seem downright reasonable. And their skin-tight uniforms certainly didn't hurt.
But that was what happened when huntresses and hunters were written for the general public. Strength and speed semblances existed, but the writers and artists usually felt obligated to embellish a little…or a lot. All to keep that spark of hope alive. All so that people could read about their protectors lifting cars and throwing Ursa over the tree line and trust in their real-life iterations a little more.
Unfortunately, real hunters weren't usually so blessed. And they surely didn't have multiple semblances like some comics like to gift their protagonists. One of the more popular stories featured an alien from a far-off world already devastated by Grimm much stronger than Remnant's own. Strong enough that his people had to develop more abilities to fight back. Abilities that he then employed on their world, fighting back Remnant's weaker Grimm with impossible strength, stupid speed, and freaking laser eyes!
Flashy and impressive, sure, but a little too overpowered for Jaune's taste.
Pyrrha gave each story its due respect, usually flipping through a few of the pages before setting it aside. The closest she got to showing genuine interest had been a comic book about an ordinary human turned spider Faunus who used his new appendages and scientific know-how to protect his settlement. But that only lasted a few minutes before that too was set aside.
The artwork was well drawn and some of the hunter's costumes certainly caught her eye, male and female, but she wasn't overly interested in stories that were full of fighting and conflict. Unlike Jaune, she'd grown up with enough action in the real world that she didn't feel the need to seek it out elsewhere.
Jaune didn't begrudge her honesty, happy that she'd bothered with the few courtesy hums that he'd gotten. "How about this," he shrugged, "I'll grab a few things, and then we can see what your store has."
But Pyrrha wasn't in any rush. "We can stay if you want to look around a little more," she compromised. "I don't mind being on my own for a few minutes while you make your decisions." He'd already collected quite a pile of new comic books and wanted to at least attempt to narrow it down before approaching the register.
"I'll be quick," the blond promised. Although, his wince as he turned to regard the small mountain didn't inspire much confidence. Pyrrha walked away, preparing herself to spend a few minutes entertaining herself before they could move on.
Falling deeper and deeper into the store, her eyes traced the bookshelves full to bursting with bright colors and thin spines. If nothing else, Pyrrha could appreciate the sheer volume of volumes available. Eventually she wandered deep enough to see the traditional comic books give way to a Mistrailian section. And while familiar enough that Pyrrha recognized the thicker pages and black and white panels, it took her a moment to realize she'd never stopped to actually pick one up before. At least, not since she'd been much, much younger.
Since it looked like she had a moment, she might as well see how her Kingdom's comics were different. Walking over, volumes lined the shelves with different but similar enough art styles to recognize heroic figures emblazoned on the front. The redhead walked right past them, stopping only when a splash of color happened to catch her eye.
Curiosity peaked, Pyrrha eyed the cover, immediately noticing the lack of weapons or monsters. Instead, a simple portrait of a smiling girl stared back at her, with a variety of smaller characters posed around her. Some looked serious, but most were actually quite silly, which was already enough to earn a small smile from the young woman. Before she knew it, the redhead had already reached out to pluck the first volume from the shelf to peek inside.
Minutes flew by before she knew it. Pyrrha had no idea these kinds of comics existed! And finishing the first book in a flash, she didn't hesitate to find the next, determined to find out which boy Sakura ended up with!
The teenage girl lost herself in the simple story of school-age love, of an ordinary heroine who somehow attracted multiple gorgeous men, each vying for her attention. There wasn't a monster in sight. No fighting. No weapons. And in between the bouts of romance, fun and friendships were her only concern.
The best part was that this wasn't a standalone series. Oh no, Pyrrha was delighted to discover this was just one in a whole genre of comics that followed a similar but somehow wonderfully unique pattern. Some delved into splashes of action now and then, but it was never the focus. And somehow only served as events for the main character to get closer to her crushes, either as teammates or, in some cases, the handsome villain.
It was too much. There were too many! She couldn't stick to one series long enough before her eyes found themselves returning to the shelves, wondering what other treasures were waiting to be found. Before she knew it, her own tower of first and second volumes had been collected at her side. And that was how a guilty Jaune Arc eventually found her, wincing at how long he'd taken despite his promise.
"H-Hey, sorry about that. I was about to finish up when I saw this series Ruby had been talking about, and I just-," The blond turned the corner, stopping short at the image Pyrrha provided. He'd expected irritation or anger after he'd spent thirty minutes browsing while his poor wife stood around, likely bored out of her mind. Instead, she didn't bother glancing at him, her eyes continuing to move across a page as she chewed her thumbnail.
"Pyrrha?" he tried again, taking a step closer. Looking around, his eyes noticed her pile of books, and a grin tugged at the edge of his lips. "You, ah, find something you like there?"
Pyrrha finally looked back at him, smiling desperately. "So many!" she gasped, looking around. "Oh, the stories are wonderful. And the artwork!" she sighed, gesturing for Jaune to get closer. Her current focus was a beautifully drawn comic focusing on a young woman trying to become a fashion designer. And the page she pointed to showed off one of her initial gowns, consuming the entire page with a full-body illustration that showed off her creation.
"Wow," Jaune smiled, not quite understanding what Pyrrha was so excited about but was happy for her nonetheless. "I'm glad you found something you're interested in. Which ones do you want to take home?"
Jaune felt a line of sweat drip down his neck glancing at her tower. The usual etiquette for places like these didn't care if you stayed to read, but it also expected you to put books back where they belonged. And depending on how many his wife wanted to keep, that might take a minute.
Pyrrha fretted at the question, answering honestly. "All of them," she whimpered, knowing that wasn't possible. "Just…give me a minute, and I'll narrow it down." Which was easy to say, but as Pyrrha spread her selections out, she found herself remembering the short glimpses into each of their worlds and immediately felt taken by a sense of choice paralysis. All too familiar with her pain, Jaune could only watch her fret and simper for a minute before a better idea came to mind.
"I mean," Jaune shrugged his shoulders, "you could always get all of them." Would that be extravagant? Oh yeah. But it wasn't like they couldn't afford it. Or rather, it wasn't like Pyrrha couldn't afford it. And if she did decide to splurge on herself for once, it would make him feel a lot better about his own haul waiting for them at the checkout counter.
Pyrrha's eyes flashed at the idea, at first guilty but slowly shifting toward delight. Despite her finances, she'd never had to spend it on much. Depending on the tournament or obligation, her expenses had been covered to some degree. The only exception had been the occasional online shopping trip, and that had been more for necessities than anything else.
But why shouldn't she spend her money on herself for once? It wasn't like she hadn't earned it or worked hard. Yes, there had been a certain amount of natural talent that helped her, but it had still been her sweat and her time that she'd sacrificed. It was only fair that she got something back for all the commercials and press events. Something tangible. Something she actually wanted instead of the vague interest in seeing the numbers in her bank account tick up in a few places.
"You're right," Pyrrha agreed, stacking her new treasures back together so that she could carry them to the front. "I can get all of them, can't I?" By the time the two of them left the comic book shop, the pair were smuggling a small treasure trove of books that would have made Blake drool with envy.
And as promised, Pyrrha's clothing store was their next stop. Unfortunately, they couldn't be quite as excessive here, considering their limited space back in their dorm. With two dressers between four teammates, Jaune and Pyrrha were already a little cramped in their shared space. But not so cramped that each of them couldn't shop around a little. Not that Jaune was as interested in getting anything. Unfortunately, he'd yet to grow out of the simple mindset of comfort over style. That said, he was far more invested in what Pyrrha was considering, especially when he caught her tenuously holding up a wonderfully short skirt.
"Are you gonna get that?" he asked, all smiles and enthusiasm. The scrap of cloth wasn't so scandalous. But on his wife's hips, the deep burgundy color would have likely fallen above her knees, and any chance to see more of her wonderful legs was worth pursuing.
Pyrrha jumped, putting the skirt down immediately. But a quick look around convinced her that no one else had seen them. She still made sure to wander over toward another display of sweaters before she calmly answered. "I liked the color, but I don't think it was quite long enough." A disappointed sigh followed.
"Who says it's not long enough?" Jaune grinned, sliding a hand against the small of his wife's back. Because he would punch them in the face. "I think you'd look great."
Pyrrha's smile was tight but flattered. "Thank you," she tittered, "I suppose I'm not used to dressing quite so lightly." Her hands flashed between clothing, not bothering to look at any of the heavy tops she was pretending to ruffle through.
"I mean, it wasn't that short, was it?" Jaune raised an eyebrow. Leaning in so only she could hear, he teased, "Pretty sure your combat skirt beats that thing by a mile. Not to mention Beacon's uniform." Because whoever approved that design had to have known what they were doing.
Pyrrha's face jerked to face him, exasperation evident in her narrowed eyes. "That's," she huffed, "that's different. A longer skirt would either restrict my movement or couldn't be as durable." Her attention returned to the sweater in her hand, shoving it a little too roughly back where she'd found it. "And don't get me started on the female uniforms. There's a reason so many girls wear tights underneath." Her cheeks took on a warm hue.
Despite his fun, Jaune knew when to back off. And seeing his wife's distress, he leaned back enough to rub soothing circles against her back. "Sorry, I'll let it drop. I didn't know all of that made you so uncomfortable."
Unfortunately, instead of relief or appreciation, Pyrrha only seemed to get more frustrated by his answer. "I-. It doesn't. Or it shouldn't? I think I need time to adjust to being able to dress however I want from now on."
It was Jaune's turn to wince. "Don't tell me—another rule you had to follow because of your image?" Pyrrha huffed a dry laugh in answer.
"It's the dumbest thing. I used to jump around in a corset and thigh-high boots on a giant stage for half a day, and everyone would cheer my name. But if anyone could see my knees or too much shoulder on the walk back to the hotel afterward, my PR manager said I would never recover. Not that I wanted to draw any more attention, but I suppose the restriction was…grating."
Jaune nodded, understanding at least in part what his wife was feeling. No one liked being told what they could or couldn't do, especially teenagers. And the more he learned about his wife's life before Beacon, the more it sounded like her entire life had been made into what she wasn't allowed to do. Weighing what he thought might help her with his own interests, the young man eventually decided there was no reason the two couldn't coincide.
"You know," he hedged, taking his own cursory glance around the room before continuing. "Nothing's stopping you from wearing what you want now. Not to say that you have to start wearing short skirts and tube tops, but nothing bad is going to happen if you want to." Hmm…Pyrrha in a tube top.
One sideways glance proved that Pyrrha could already clearly read her husband's thoughts. But while her features turned wry at his goofy antics, she didn't disagree with him. Instead, her cheeks flushed slightly while she considered that what he'd said wasn't wrong.
"Besides," Jaune leaned closer when she faltered, grinning a mischievous grin, "try and think of it as getting back at them if it helps. I happen to remember another bout of rebellion against those shitty contracts that turned out pretty fun for both of us."
If Pyrrha's cheeks had been pink before, her husband's reminder quickly pushed them toward a deep scarlet. That didn't stop the smile from fighting against her pinched expression as she relived the moment. Relived the aching jaw, the soft earth underneath her knees, and the molten splashes of what had felt like thick honey clinging to her features.
She'd felt so…stained by the experience. But then, that had been the point. And although her heart rate doubled as she traced the experience step by step on the showroom floor, her shame didn't erase the excitement that marched through her limbs like a shock of electricity. Enough to make her wonder if Jaune wasn't right, and dressing so scandalously might not give her the same erotic thrill she'd enjoyed on that terrible day.
It was tempting. At least, more tempting than showing her body to people she didn't care about. But it would also make her husband happy, and Pyrrha rarely needed more motivation than that. Everyone else didn't matter. She didn't belong to them anymore. And if she got to enjoy her husband's stare, everything else would likely fade away.
"Maybe…" the redhead hedged, finally allowing the corners of her lips to curl in a coy twist, "one skirt wouldn't be such a bad idea." And the dark flash of excitement that passed through Jaune's eyes already made her decision settle that much sweeter against her small tongue.
Jaune vanished from her side like he'd never been there. Her skin immediately cooled without his heat bleeding through her thin dress. But Pyrrha was too busy giggling to care, watching him rocket over to where she'd found the first skirt with preternatural focus.
Pyrrha expected him to return with the burgundy skirt, the helpful husband that he was. Instead, he jumped to another display and then another before eventually tracing his way back to her. Except she had made the mistake of giving him an inch, all but inviting him to the whole damned mile. "What do you think?"
Reaching out, Pyrrha's eyebrows raised at the…article of clothing her husband had retrieved. "Goodness," the young woman breathed, "I didn't know we were belt shopping."
Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that bad, but it was close! Holding it out before her, Pyrrha could see that it couldn't be more than fourteen inches long, which would have been short enough on a slender woman. But considering her own proportions, Pyrrha failed to see how it would be enough to contain anything that needed to be hidden.
Jaune's hopeful gleam didn't fade. Not until Pyrrha thrust the cloth into his chest. "Put it back," she sighed.
And to his credit, the blond didn't push his luck, accepting her refusal with suspicious ease. Pyrrha watched him rush back out with the same enthusiasm as before, mirth playing across her face as she rolled her eyes at his antics. Turning back to the sweater rack, she actually looked at some of the things she'd been shuffling through and was surprised to find that she appreciated a few of the patterns on sale.
A few minutes passed before Jaune returned with a different but somehow equally short skirt for her to judge. Understanding his plan, Pyrrha's cheeks dimpled as she sent him away with another "ridiculous" on her lips.
It became a game for the two of them. Pyrrha enjoyed herself by sorting through clothes and what she thought might flatter her, and Jaune busied himself by looking for the shortest, scantiest skirts he could find. And he found a lot of them. Even returning with an actual belt at one point, much to his wife's delighted laughter.
He was ridiculous, and Pyrrha loved him for it. He'd been able to make her laugh from the moment they'd met, and it was the first thing that made him stand out to her. He made her days brighter. So she'd decided that she needed more of that, going out of her way to ensure their partnership. And ever since, a day hadn't gone by without her feeling that bubbly lightness filling her chest.
Eventually, that airy joy continued as Jaune began making more reasonable submissions. More, but still obscene enough to make his wife shiver at the thought of being out in public in such a thing. Those went into a discrete pile Pyrrha had generously labeled as the maybes, never quite committing to anything with her husband's expectant eyes twinkling at her warm face. This meant he never saw when she discreetly tucked one of the more reasonable items into her basket, burying it under the sweater she'd decided to keep like it was something she needed to hide.
Despite spending nearly an hour inside the store, those were the only things she decided to buy when it was time to approach the checkout. The sweater was longer with a loose enough neckline that she could let a shoulder peek out of one end, perfect for the coming winter season. The color also complimented the skirt enough for Pyrrha to consider wearing the combo for her and Jaune's next date.
The day was going so well. They'd only gone to two stores, and Pyrrha couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun. It was enough to forget what had kept her from going out in public for so long. But reality had a way of asserting itself when you least expected it, and celebrities were no different.
The young woman at the counter had been quite busy flicking through her scroll when the couple approached. In fact, Pyrrha had needed to clear her throat to force her purple eyes upward, which continued to the side with a dramatic roll. However, her entire demeanor changed as soon as her eyes locked on the pretty redhead lifting her basket into view. "Oh. My. God. Are you Pyrrha Nikos?"
Jaune's eyebrows rose, surprised at the unexpected familiarity. Pyrrha had talked about fans and being famous, but this was the first time he'd seen anyone recognize her besides Weiss right before initiation. The blond was ashamed to admit that his first instinct was to feel excited for his wife and for him by proxy. It was the natural human reaction to feeling important. Fortunately, that mistake only lasted for as long as it took him to turn his grin on his wife and see her response.
On the surface, it didn't look like too much had changed. They had been laughing and still having fun when they'd approached, and Pyrrha's smile was still there. But Jaune had seen the real thing often enough to recognize this fake for what it was. His wife's expression had turned plastic and manufactured. Practiced, was the best way that Jaune could describe it. And he immediately knew that he hated the sight of it.
"I am," Pyrrha stepped forward, slipping into her old roll as if she'd never left. "It's so lovely to meet you. Are you a fan?"
The cashier gasped, holding a hand to her chest. "Oh my god," she repeated. "Machos! Three years ago? You won their junior tournament, and I've been watching your fights ever since! You were incredible. Made it look so easy. Ugh, I can't believe I actually get to meet you like this." Her unrestrained glee turned physical as the young teenager hopped in place.
Pyrrha's smile didn't twitch. "Thank you for your support. It means so much to me. I'm glad you enjoyed the fight." And if the fan noticed the wooden quality of her celebrity's rehearsed response, she was too enthusiastic to let it show.
"Do you mind if I get a quick photo? Please, oh please! My little sister will lose her freaking mind when she finds out you showed up at my work." Except, she didn't wait for Pyrrha's answer before she'd already started to walk around the counter. Drawing closer, she acknowledged Jaune's existence, but only to shove her scroll into his hands before she sidled next to the taller woman. And as if that wasn't daring enough, Pyrrha's stiff expression finally reacted when the teenager wrapped her arm around her waist, throwing up her other hand in a pose toward the camera.
Jaune froze, marveling at how quickly things had devolved. Seeing Pyrrha's discomfort, he was about to step forward and tell this brat off for touching people she didn't know. But his wife's wide eyes stopped him, gesturing toward the scroll in a silent plea to hurry up and take the picture. She went so far as to bring up her own hand to mimic the fan's, even as her lips became more of a grimace than anything joyful. With no other choice, Jaune shook his head and took the picture, handing the scroll back to the cashier when she jumped forward to claim her prize.
So this was what Pyrrha had been talking about all this time. Doing his best to keep his expression blank, Jaune absorbed the moment as best as he could, reconciling that his loving but silly wife was a celebrity for the very first time. Pyrrha had done her best to explain, and he'd even had Ruby pull up one of her tournament recordings during one of their hangouts. But it had never clicked in his head that people knew Pyrrha. Heck, they loved her. They recognized her face the same way he might recognize some of his favorite movie stars.
The difference was that those people felt distant and incredible. Whereas Pyrrha was just…Pyrrha. His wife. His snoring, embarrassing but lovable bride. And people worshiped her.
The first spark of discomfort arose as he replayed the interaction. Seeing someone geek out over Pyrrha had been sightly amusing, but he hadn't enjoyed how the cashier had all but invited herself into his wife's personal space. And from the face she had been making, Pyrrha had liked it even less. She'd just been trying to buy something when she had to drop everything and pretend to be nice to a person just because they were one of the thousands of people who watched her fight.
"Thank you so much," the cashier gushed, running back around to the counter to start scanning Pyrrha's items. "It's so great meeting you. Everyone talks about how nice you are, but it's something else seeing it in person. Here, let me add my employee discount." Her fingers danced across the electronic display as Pyrrha reached out to stop her.
"That's really not necessary," Pyrrha winced, "I have no problem paying full price for my items like everyone else." But her words went ignored as a chime sounded from the register, and a much lower price was displayed on the card reader than what the redhead had red on the tags.
"I insist," the girl fawned, forcing the gesture on the huntress. And with no other choice but to accept, Pyrrha forced yet another smile and thanked her before swiping her card and receiving her receipt. Finally allowed to leave, Pyrrha didn't hesitate to start toward the exit, dragging Jaune behind her. And as he watched her march forward, he couldn't help but notice how much heavier her shoulders appeared in her lovely white dress.
Back in the hustle and bustle of the second-floor mall, the young couple were only a few steps out of the store before Pyrrha spoke up. "I'm sorry for that." Her eyes stared ahead, looking through the constant stream of people and color and seeing none of it.
The frustration in her tone was evident, and Jaune rushed to reassure her. "I'm fine! Don't worry about me. That hardly took a minute." And what a minute it had been. "But I guess it was a little strange seeing someone treat you like that."
Pyrrha nodded her head, looking tired. "If you thought that was bad, you should have seen what it was like for me back in Mistral. We wouldn't have made it through the ground floor without at least a dozen autographs."
"Sounds," Jaune winced, "overwhelming.
"Exactly," Pyrrha agreed. "Come on, we should probably start heading back to Beacon before they start showing up."
Pyrrha had already started walking toward the stairs, but it took Jaune a moment to understand what she'd said. Caught off guard, the young man had to surge two steps to catch up with her and ask, "Wait, you want to leave? I mean, we haven't had dinner yet." If she wanted to leave, they would leave. But Jaune would hate to see his surprise ruined.
Stopping to turn around, Pyrrha shot the clothing store a discerning frown before answering. "I'm sorry. I keep forgetting you're not…" she sighed. "That other girl has likely already posted that somewhere a lot of people are going to see. Where my fans are going to see. And if people know that Pyrrha Nikos is at the Vale shopping center, anyone who's remotely nearby is going to show up on the off chance that they'll see me too." The redhead's shoulders slumped as she admitted, "We have about five minutes before our date turns into a fan meet and greet."
"Oh," Jaune managed, realizing that Pyrrha was right. Seeing it once had been interesting, but going through that every five minutes would get old quickly, especially when his wife couldn't enjoy the novelty. The last thing he wanted was to go through the whole day getting followed and harassed by total strangers.
"This is my fault, Jaune," Pyrrha stepped closer, setting one of her bags down so she could touch his arm, and he could see the regret in her eyes. "Today has been wonderful. A perfect date. You did everything right. I'm the one who should have known better than to go out without a hat or at least some sunglasses." Biting her lip, the pink line almost quivered as she admitted, "I just…I wanted to look nice for you. For our date. I just wanted to feel like a normal girl. I'm sorry."
And like that, Jaune's earlier discomfort turned to outright anger. Not at his wife, never at her. But at the people who were coming to chase Pyrrha all the way back to Beacon. What right did they have to harass her? Because they were fans? Because they said they loved her? Well, they had a funny way of showing it.
Indignancy rose in the young man as he shook his head. Placing his hand over hers, he shot her a perturbed stare. "You have every right to be here as anyone else. They shouldn't get to run us out of Vale like a bad western. Let's keep trying to enjoy our date."
Pyrrha's worry deepened. "But, what will we do if they approach us again?" She really didn't want to spend the rest of the day pretending to smile and posing for more pictures.
"Ignore them!" Jaune exclaimed, "This isn't some event you invited them to. And you didn't make any promises. Just because they say they're your fans doesn't mean they're entitled to you, and you don't have to give them anything."
Pyrrha didn't say anything for a long moment, eventually parroting, "Ignore them?" like she'd never thought of something so simple. Her face immediately tensed. "But that's so…rude, isn't it?" The redhead wasn't sure if she was allowed to be rude to fans.
"Well," Jaune faltered, "yeah? But they were being rude first. You didn't ask for this. In fact, you're actively running away from it. And anyone who has a problem with you wanting to spend a day outside without getting hounded doesn't deserve your consideration. Their opinions don't matter."
His words sounded wise, but Pyrrha couldn't totally relax even as she recognized the truth behind his logic. She'd spent too much time beholden to her fans, being told how she needed to bend over backward for their comfort. Even if she wanted to start being selfish, she wasn't sure that she knew how. The teenager's lips pressed into a worried line across her face.
Thankfully, she wasn't alone. Jaune could see the conflict playing across her features and set his jaw when he realized what he was going to have to do. "Look," he ran a hand through his hair, "if you're not comfortable setting your boundaries yet, I don't mind being the bad guy."
Pyrrha's anxiety immediately gave way to reluctant hope. "Are you sure?"
Jaune shrugged his shoulders at her hesitation. "It's like what Glynda said. We shouldn't care what people think about us. They don't matter. Especially since half of them would probably want my blood if they ever found out we were actually married. Specifically the male half. So, it's not like I'm sacrificing anything. And I refuse to let a bunch of strangers get in the way between me and a romantic evening with my wife."
Pyrrha didn't answer for a long pause, choosing to simply stare at Jaune's carefree grin. Her husband might just think he was being thoughtful, but he couldn't understand that, since she'd signed her first contract, no one had ever put her over her public image before. The simple gesture left her feeling so cherished she couldn't put it into words. So, she put it into action, hoping to show Jaune as she came close to kiss him on the lips, fitting her face into the crook of his neck afterward.
"Okay," she agreed.
XxX
Continuing with their date, Jaune saw that Pyrrha had and hadn't been correct about what they could expect. Fans did start showing up not long after they left the clothing store, but not in the walking dead-esque hoard he had been expecting. Instead, they appeared one at a time or in pairs, usually brandishing some of Pyrrha's merch as they stood along the walls, scanning the crowded mall for his wife's iconic shock of red hair.
After the first time getting ambushed, Jaune actually learned how to spot them and subtly started adjusting his position between them and his wife as they walked past, keeping her hidden behind his insignificant face.
It worked more often than not. But that still left a handful that caught him off guard or got lucky. But to their credit, most of those fans took it pretty well when he turned them away or tried to explain the situation. Oh, they pouted and apologized and did all the things that would have made Pyrrha cave in a matter of seconds. But Jaune had four little sisters, and he'd long since learned how to harden his heart to even the most pitiful sulking or watery eyes. Eventually, they retreated back from wherever they came from, slinking back into the crowd like they'd never existed.
Others weren't so cordial, looking at him like he was some bug when he dared to step between them and the object of their obsession. A few went so far as to duck around him, only to get upset when he didn't let them. And when the inevitable question of who he was to stop them arose, Jaune inevitably had to break out the husband card.
So far, that had attracted several reactions. Shock was almost universal, followed by a sudden appraisal as if it was up to them to decide if he was worthy of the famous Pyrrha Nikos. And when he was inevitably found wanting, their suspicions turned toward their idle, as if Pyrrha would refute his claims and prove he was lying. Instead, she had taken to flashing her ring in their direction, forcing them to accept the unexpected news as the truth.
This strategy had the benefit of shifting the attention off of Pyrrha, but only because her fans had a juicy piece of gossip to sink their teeth into. Despite their so-called devotion, no one had any idea Pyrrha had gotten married. Suddenly, Jaune went from some faceless handler to someone worth addressing. Jaune had no problem telling tween and teens alike to get lost, which earned its own brand of grumbling. But at least it was aimed at him.
A few exceptions were made, of course. All at Pyrrha's insistence. And every single one had been children small enough to meet Jaune's knee. Hearing his wife's name in their small mouths as they charged forward had been a delightful surprise. And Pyrrha's honest smile as they approached soothed any of his complaints.
These fans, clutching their plastic shields and swords as they charged to hug his wife's leg, lacked any of the selfish insistence that soured the interaction. Instead, their adoration was pure and untainted, hinting toward some of the good that Pyrrha inspired with her career.
And while Pyrrha did still feel some of the pressure that came from their expectations, her smaller fans had always been one of the greater blessings she'd enjoyed from fan interactions. When she got to sit down and see what her effort had sown in the future generations. It had also been her biggest inspiration for starting her own family one day. No one was more surprised than her when she'd discovered her affinity for small children, but of all her natural gifts and abilities, that was the one she treasured the most.
The sole exception to these fan encounters occurred when one gentleman a little older than the married pair had approached. Dressed in a Pyrrha Nikos shirt, backpack and headband, his intentions had been obvious from the start. And yet he'd still managed to sneak up on Jaune despite his best attempt at keeping an eye out.
Regardless of that, it looked like he was going to be one of the nicer fans until Jaune jumped in the way. Suddenly, his excited smile turned belligerent as he asked who he was in the same tone as everyone else who'd gotten interrupted. Except, when they got to the part where Pyrrha flashed her emerald ring, everything about the man became unpleasant in a way Jaune hadn't been used to experiencing.
Without going into too many sticky details, the man wasn't happy about the news. He'd tried denying it after seeing Pyrrha's ring, citing that none of the forums had said anything about Pyrrha getting married. But after a few seconds of huffing and puffing, he was forced to accept the truth. And that was when things got weird.
The strange man didn't say anything after a long pause. A tantrum might have been less disturbing. Instead, his entire face shifted into the purest form of repulsion that Jaune had ever seen, pointed directly toward the woman at his back. Like her mere association with a man had tainted her beyond redemption. Backing away with a shake of his head, the grown man uttered one word, "disgusting," before walking away.
That was the closest Jaune had ever gotten to feeling somewhat worried about his wife's fanbase. And a small part of him was actually relieved when he watched that man disappear into the crowd, but not before forcefully chucking his backpack into the nearest trash can. Jaune didn't take his eyes off him until he vanished completely, out of sight and their lives.
"There's always a few like that at my meetups," Pyrrha sighed, like what they had witnessed was a normal interaction. Jaune felt goosebumps race up his arms on her behalf. "They're harmless," she smiled, or tried to. "For the most part, anyway. They can just get a little more possessive." But the grimace that finally rose to her lips proved that even she could tell that kind of behavior wasn't something she should have to tolerate.
Jaune could only shake his head. "Those are the kind of people you were worried about being rude to?" And for the first time, Pyrrha looked like she wanted to agree with him, looking somewhat guilty for making him deal with the unpleasant man.
Thankfully, not all of their day was filled with those kinds of interactions. Over the next three hours, fan interactions ended up being fairly sparse, all things considered. And in between, the two young adults managed to rediscover some of the awe and delight that had initiated their outing.
Specifically, Jaune had been thrilled when they happened across a game store, only to find out Atlus had released a new console in the time since the blond had run away to Beacon. He'd almost bought it…until he saw the price. And considering how much he'd already spent on comics, dinner, and a hotel suite, it felt like he'd burned enough of his wife's money for one day. Instead, he compromised by picking up a new video game he thought might be fun to play with Ruby later. And Pyrrha, if she ever chose to join them.
It would be a nice surprise for the smaller girl. And hopefully this would help repair some of the damage their forest adventure had wrought on their friendship. She needed time, and Jaune wanted to respect that, but it had only been a day, and he missed his friend. Hopefully, some virtual combat would help her forget what she'd seen.
Reconsidering, Jaune ran back to the display to grab a second game.
Pyrrha wasn't as enamored with all the tech and video games, far more curious about the many knickknack stores that they passed. Jaune wasn't quite sure what the draw was toward things that just…looked nice and didn't do anything. Still, Pyrrha had taken an inordinate amount of pleasure rushing around and finding cute figurines and embroidered pillows, bringing them before her husband to show off her bounty. Jaune had no choice but to keep his cluelessness to himself, doing his best to work up enough enthusiasm to share in her joy.
Other than that, they passed through a few more clothing stores, even though neither of them ended up buying anything. The closest Pyrrha had gotten was when they stumbled across a shop specializing in Vacuo fashion, featuring all kinds of thin and sheer tops and bottoms. Which made sense in the blazing desert when you wanted to stay cool. Less so in Vale on the verge of winter. In the end, the two of them walked away with Pyrrha making a mental note to come back in the spring to see if she couldn't find anything else to stoke Jaune's attention.
Everything else boiled down to window shopping. A particularly lustrous pottery store caught Pyrrha's attention as they walked past. And of course, neither of them could help stopping by the pet shop and its front window of puppies set up to draw suckers just like them to come and coo in delight. From the way Pyrrha's eyes lit up as the littermates bounced around and nipped at each other's ears, Jaune could see he should probably add a dog to their future. But they were still students, so that would have to wait a few more years, at least.
There were also a few more food stands they couldn't help but sample. It got bad enough that Jaune started to worry about his wife spoiling her appetite, but he should have known better. It didn't matter how many times they stopped for a snack. Pyrrha always had room for more. It was like feeding a bonfire, each morsel disappearing into a void as soon as it passed her lips.
Finally, the couple had killed enough time that they had around thirty minutes to visit one last store before they had to start toward dinner. The one they stumbled upon wasn't a particularly unique shop. Heck, even Ansel had one. Albeit not nearly as large or ostentatious but then Jaune had always done his best to ignore its presence whenever he'd been unlucky enough to walk by, almost exclusively due to the fact that the only time he would be in that area was if he were with his mom or sisters.
The married couple noticed the women's underwear boutique at the same time. Both teenagers stopped to stare for a moment, drawn in by the racy cuts and artful application of see-through material. Jaune was immediately reminded of Glynda's wedding night ensemble and briefly wondered if this was where she'd discovered that treasure. But when the pause lasted long enough that the flow of people started to stream around them, the blond eventually had to peek at his wife, only to see that she was already staring at him. Despite her embarrassment, it was clear that she was tempted to go inside.
"Do you…want to…," he gestured toward the shop, feeling his own cheeks react. But he was proud that he'd been bold enough to make the invitation in the first place.
Biting her lip, Pyrrha's eyes widened like he'd suggested they do hard drugs together. But the want in her gaze never wavered, struggling to power through her conditioned restrictions. Almost all of her underwear prioritized function over style, and even then, they had been bought online. It was simply safer that way and lowered the chance of anyone trying to steal a picture of her in a changing room or even just holding underwear to look at.
However, Jaune wasn't the only one who had noticed Glynda's sexy lingerie or how Jaune had looked at their teacher's underwear. Pyrrha didn't blame him. Goodness knows she'd gotten her own handful of peeks in when they'd first undressed to pose for their husband after his shower. But it had been enough to make her curious about perhaps maturing her wardrobe. She was a married woman now. It only made sense that she had the option of dressing up for her wonderful husband, especially one that went so far as to plan an entire day just for her.
Rather than answer, Pyrrha cast one last glance over her shoulder to make sure that no one was watching her before grabbing her husband's hand and pulling him toward the store's entrance. Suddenly, the two of them were surrounded by bright flashes of pastel cotton and shiny satin, none of which could be called anything substantial.
Jaune regretted his decision almost immediately, glancing around at a few of the other women currently shopping with anxious dread. He was surrounded. There was nowhere safe for him to look, forcing his attention on his feet. Heat flooded his face, feeling like he was five years old again, worried about looking like a pervert.
'Come on, Jaune,' the blond admonished himself, willing himself to relax. 'You're not some punk trying to sneak a peek at a g-string. You're a married man shopping with your wife! You belong here. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Just stick close to Pyrrha and look casual.' All of which sounded like a good plan. Except, while the young man had been busy psyching himself up, his lovely wife had dropped his hand to wander.
Jaune's heart lurched into his chest as he abandoned all rationale, desperately looking around the showroom until he spotted her. Not too far away, her attention had been drawn toward a rack featuring an array of colored panties. The shape and cut were displayed on a curvaceous mannequin above with all the varieties underneath.
Pyrrha's eyes were wide as she traced the material, taking note of how much softer they felt compared to her own. One by one, she continued down the wall until the familiar bikini style gave way to a much bolder item. Bedroom teddys.
The short dress was completely sheer except for the material that was designed to fit around a woman's breasts. And even that didn't do a very good job, plunging low enough to make the redhead wonder if it would even cover her nipples properly.
Pyrrha picked one up, despite the design flaw, marveling at the matching trim. It was long enough that it might clear her hips…if she hunched. Turning to glance at Jaune, she found his attention had also turned to the item in her hand. But where she tried to make sense of the useless thing, his face had taken on a familiar excitement that did well to speed along her own heartbeat.
A smile crept to her lips even as she hurriedly thrust the teddy back to where she had found it, worried about anyone else seeing her. Instead, she rushed to get away, fleeing toward the back of the store. A decision she would learn to regret when she recognized what was around her.
It was a mistake. Despite the artistic design of the underwear in the window, it had all been fairly modest compared to what was kept tucked away. Pyrrha quickly discovered that the store owner chose to keep their more adult merchandise closer toward the back. Exactly where Pyrrha had tried to escape. Jaune jerked at the sudden squeak of surprise from behind a wall of boy shorts and had to rush around to see what had happened.
He was stopped short, not because he found his wife, but because something interesting caught his eye. It was a mannequin, a curvy mannequin, but it was its attire that drew his eyebrows up to his hairline. All black with red accents, the scanty number included a corset and stocking combo daringly displayed. And as if that wasn't striking enough, Jaune's lips parted when he realized the matching panties were missing a very important portion of its structure. The most important, some might agree.
'I wonder if Glynda would wear that some time…?' he marveled, trying to picture his professor in such a getup. That thought got more of a reaction from him than he was comfortable with in public, and he did his best to banish the image.
Swallowing against his throat, Jaune had to tear his eyes away, accidentally finding where his wife had gotten up to. The poor redhead looked just as stunned as him, except she'd found a rack of strings the store had generously labeled as panties. Holding up a pair in front of her face, Pyrrha's eyebrows drew together like she didn't know what she was looking at.
"I'm not sure what this is supposed to cover," she whispered as her husband drew closer. Jaune nodded in agreement, and this time, it was Pyrrha's face and Pyrrha's body popping into his imagination. And while the underwear might not cover much, he found himself thrilled by the idea nevertheless, thoroughly enjoying the thought of his coy, bashful bride in something that forward.
His earlier reaction resurfaced, given away by the blush on his cheeks. When his eyes met Pyrrha's, he jumped when he saw her own flush. Her eyes were drawn and lidded with judgment, making it clear she knew exactly what he was thinking about. The panties were returned to the wrack with a huff as Pyrrha tried to hide her hesitation. She had wanted to find something a little more mature, but underwear like that was still beyond even her newly broadened horizons.
Suddenly, the redhead felt overwhelmed by all the daring attire. "M-Maybe we should just-," she stuttered, motioning toward the exit. But before either teenager could move, another woman appeared as if by magic. She was older, somewhat attractive, and with a pair of red fox ears that perfectly matched her dark red hair cut short to her jawline. She also happened to position herself between them and the door, completely focused on the younger couple.
"Is there anything I can help you two with?" she asked with a smile that was all teeth. Hearing her before he saw her, Jaune had to resist the inexplicable urge to throw his hands up like they'd been caught trespassing. And while he somehow managed to keep his wrists by his hips, the now recognized saleswoman sauntered into view, turning the brunt of her blinding grin on his beautiful wife.
Pyrrha was braver than him, which was no surprise and met the Faunus' stare with minimal flinching. "I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for," she admitted sheepishly. "We were passing by and wandered in." But if the non-committal answer bothered the employee, she was a master at hiding it.
"Well, that's no problem," the older woman cooed. If anything, her eyes had gotten even brighter at the news. "I can certainly help you with that. Here at Foxy's, we have all kinds of merchandise for women who are looking to treat themselves." Jaune jumped when her eyes slid toward him, "or their boyfriends."
The color in Pyrrha's cheeks returned at the insinuation. But she retained enough of her spine to correct the woman. "Husband, actually." It didn't matter what situation she was in. Pyrrha could never pass up the opportunity to claim Jaune as her own.
Rather than flinching at the correction, the woman's ears visibly twitched as her smile spread another inch. "Married already?" She would have been purring if her biology facilitated the sound. "My, my. Congratulations! Was this a recent development?"
"I suppose you could say so," Pyrrha acknowledged, tilting her head.
The saleswoman's curiosity became clear when she explained, "Well, that's a call for celebration if I've ever heard one! A newlywed bride like yourself deserves something special, don't you? Why doesn't the hubby take a seat in the corner while I help you browse our selection?"
Taken aback, Jaune found himself following her gesture toward a small island away from the sea of frilly underthings. A few comfortable seats had been pushed together, complemented with an end table and a modest stack of magazines. Finally, somewhere safe to look! And by the time he turned back around, the saleswoman had already wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders and was instantly guiding her away and deeper into the store.
His wife's head turned enough for her to show him a panicked stare. Jaune had taken half a step in her direction before he stopped himself. Pyrrha was a huntress, if she was that uncomfortable, she could have broken away before the woman ever touched her. Instead, the blond had to believe that she was choosing to go along with this, even if it was outside of her comfort zone. Finally, the two ladies disappeared around a rack of see-through bras, and the young man found himself with little to do but retreat toward the designated boyfriend corner and wait for his wife to return.
That took a lot longer than he had been expecting. The store was quiet enough that he could hear a few other customers come and go as they browsed. Five minutes passed, and then twenty. Just long enough for Jaune to glance at his scroll and start to worry about their reservation.
That much time also had the consequence of being seen by other shoppers. All women, all usually quite pretty and young, happening upon him like an unexpected exhibit at the zoo. Come one, come all, and see the clueless husband in his natural habitat! These encounters were blessedly infrequent and never lasted more than a second before the ladies tittered off toward another section of the shop, leaving behind a trail of giggles in their wake.
By the time Pyrrha wandered over to find him, Jaune's cheeks had settled into a permanent burnt sienna. His only solace was that her face wasn't much better.
"You're all set!" the same sale's woman announced, trailing behind the flushed Pyrrha. The only difference Jaune could see was that her excitement had been replaced by satisfaction. "Thank you so much for your patience, sir."
Jaune raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to buy anything?" Pyrrha's answer was another blush, forcing her husband to notice the much smaller bag that had gotten lost in their gotten goods, hanging off of her pinkie finger. The very, very small bag.
The saleswoman answered when she saw his wife couldn't, offering the blond a knowing grin. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by your wife's selection. You're a very lucky man." And that was Jaune's limit.
"We should probably get going if we want to make our reservation," he explained, rising up to grab Pyrrha's hand. Which was true, but Jaune was also ready to escape this place. But before the pair could make it two steps, the employee already had a card stretched toward them.
"Before you leave," the fox-eared woman grinned. Jaune took the card despite his best interests, only to find the words Pleasure Island emblazoned across the front in bold, colorful font against a black background. The information also included an address and phone number along the back. "I actually share a partnership with the store above this one. The perfect place if you two ever feel like spicing things up in the bedroom." And while Pyrrha didn't appear to understand, Jaune's features immediately blanched after realizing that this woman was trying to advertise a sex shop.
'I stand corrected,' Jaune felt a strange numbness overtake him, 'that was my limit.' And the young man refused to be pushed an inch further.
Still holding his wife's hand, the two teenagers finally succeeded in escaping the pushy saleswoman. Lugging their bags and rushing toward the bottom of the mall, all Jaune could think about was the reservation and how fast they needed to run in order to make it. That meant he didn't think to look back at his blushing wife or how careful she was to hold her skirt in place as the two of them dashed toward the nearest stairwell.
"Come back soon!"
A/N: I didn't get a chance last chapter, but I wanted to give a shout out to "cat_with_a_gas-mask" on Ao3. I asked you guys for an example of Glynda using her semblance on people and he/they were actually able to find one. Granted, it wasn't much of a scene and Glynda only manages to vaguely push Ruby out of the way of an explosion in her first fight against Cinder, but I wanted to give credit where credit is due. This won't change how I've decided to write Glynda's Semblance and it can easily be explained away since the scene only shows Ruby getting tossed a few feet, but that was a good call out.
Also, I left a small hint toward some future interactions in this chapter. Specifically, the lingerie boutique and I'm curious to see how many people caught on. Fleshing out the world and giving characters connections to aspects of their original versions has been a lot of fun and I hope some of you enjoy the nods and hints.
Next chapter is in two weeks. Jaune and Pyrrha finally get a chance to sit down and talk over a romantic dinner.