Heart to Heart
Chapter 15: Taking a Chance
Jaune was fully geared in the dojo as he swung his sword a few times to loosen up a little. He was wondering how many more days they would have to train before they left on the next leg of their trip. So he wanted to get in a bit more training when they could. He felt as if he had been learning many things and felt a bit more refined than when he started out.
Sure, he still felt he wasn't on the same level as some of the others but he was much stronger than when he first started out at Beacon. He heard the door open as he saw Weiss enter the room.
"No Blake today?" Jaune asked her.
"She said she had something personal to take care of," Weiss explained as she pulled her sword out and got in front of him. She got into a basic stance for her as Jaune did the same only with his own style that he learned from Pyrrha.
"Let's see how much you've learned," Weiss stated as Jaune nodded his head and she was suddenly leapt forward.
Jaune knew that she was faster than he was so he had prepared for her quick strike. Using his shield he tried to deflect her blade and counter but she moved away easily. He always did think when she fought it was almost as if she was dancing at times. The grace of her movements was not hard for him to be impressed by as she moved around the dojo with what looked like a natural grace and precession.
Weiss was only using her sword skills against Jaune, while she could use her glyphs and her newly unlocked ability to summon she wanted to use more martial skills. During her fight, she had lost focused and nearly died because of it and so she wanted to train her body to react. Jaune's sword skills while not at her own level was impressive he was holding his own after so little time being properly trained.
Jaune never tried to let Weiss out from his vision, she wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of any openings he had, he learned that the hard way early on in their training together.
As they continued on Weiss would help to point out any holes or flaws in his technique as she tried to find a new way to get around him. A few times she would strike him, his aura taking the hit as he then tried to close that hole in his guard. Weiss had been training enough with Jaune to know that once he did seem to learn faster than an average person. Sure he still got hit sometimes but she could see him slowly improve.
For Jaune these spars were helpful for him, with Weiss he learned how to fight a left handed person. It was odd at first because when a right handed person fought a right handed they generally were in the same position. With a lefty, depending on the style and body position trying to hit her torso she would force him to cut inwards which was more difficult then slashing outward as he had to change his grip with his wrist up instead of down. And Weiss took every advantage of that as well in their training.
With Blake while she was right hand dominant, she did duel wield at times with her sheath forcing Jaune to keep in mind of two attacks that could come at any moment instead of just one. He had to learn to use his sword and shield to a better degree with Blake.
Both of them with their helpful hints and training he felt his sword style was coming along.
"Hey I hope you didn't tire him out so soon," Yang's voice called out as both stopped to see the blonde in her workout clothing leaning on the door.
"Has it been an hour already?" Weiss asked as she had lost time. She felt the sweat on her body and the aching in her limbs and was wondering how long they had been going at it.
"Yep, time to switch."
"I'll take a break if you don't mind," Jaune put away his sword as he started to slip out of his armor.
"I'll take a shower," Weiss nodded to him as she walked to the exit. She passed Yang and gave the girl a small smile with a nod. Yang gave a small one back as she started a stretching routine as Jaune got some water and rested up a little.
After some time for Jaune to cool down as limber up Yang started their work out slow as to not push him too much. She started with just the pads as they worked on his form and punching combos as they had in the past. She would call something out and he would do it, as the dojo rang with her voice followed by the 'whack' sound of his fist hitting the pads.
Yang smiled as he had really improved in their time together, sure he was nowhere near her level but she felt confident that his skills at least would be better now if he ever lost his weapon in a fight. Maybe after this she should start with kicks and then maybe some grappling. She mentally grinned at that last one the idea of them wrestling on the ground together in very intimate poses was a bit appealing to her at that moment.
Unfortunately, her daydreaming caused her to become distracted and didn't see the fist until it was too late as it impacted into her face.
"Ow!" Yang's hand went to her face as a slight golden glow came over her face for a second.
"Yang!" Jaune panicked seeing her take the hit.
She waved him off as she rubbed the spot a bit. "No worries my aura took the hit."
"I am so sorry." He felt horrible, sure it was training, but hitting a girl in the face just felt so wrong to him. Sure he could fight a woman in battle but hitting one in the face, it left a sour taste in his mouth.
"Don't be it was my fault for spacing out." Yang told him taking off the pads. "Okay how about we take a break then."
"Are you okay?" Jaune asked as they got some water over by a bench. "You don't usually 'space out' when training."
Yang smirked at that, "Yeah you're right. Well the thing is something's come up and I can't get it out of my mind."
"Oh? Anything I can help with?" He honestly asked her.
She had to admit his need to help others was endearing. She smirked as she put her water bottle down and walked up to him. "Well the thing is there's this guy I can't get out of my mind and I'm thinking of asking him out."
"What, really? Who?"
Yang grinned as she had a feeling that he wouldn't know, it wasn't as if she had given any major signals but she figured with him, the direct approach was best. She walked towards him as she slides her hands on his chest and placed them on his shoulders.
Jaune tensed up in surprise as he looked down as her eyes bore into his own. She couldn't mean him right? This was Yang he was thinking about but the way her hands were, the way she was looking at him.
"Y-Yang are, are you just teasing me again?" He gulped.
"Not this time," Yang told him.
"Why? I mean, well this is kind of sudden." He told her.
"Tell me about it," She smirked, "But I think it's been growing since that night we had that talk. At first, I just wanted us to be better friends but as we hung out and after, well after last night. I suddenly realized that morning that you meant more than just a friend to me."
"So…you're in love with me?"
Yang burst out laughing, "Don't get too far ahead there Vomit Boy. No, I'm not in love with you, I think that's something that takes a lot more time but I do like you. I think we've both grown and matured since we first met. I like the kind of guy you've become and I want to see if there's anything we would be together."
Jaune wasn't sure what to say, he wanted to say something but he felt like something was holding him back from saying anything. Part of him couldn't believe this was happening to him, that Yang of all people said that she liked him. He never saw this coming and he was left feeling conflicted inside.
"I…I'm at a loss here Yang," Jaune said confused. "I mean I don't know what to think."
Yang looked disappointed but in honesty, she had thought about this. Jaune had lost someone very important to him and she wasn't even sure he had completely come to terms with it all. She didn't want to push him into something he might not be ready for but she had to at least let him know there was an option. She wouldn't wait and she wanted to deal with this issue head on instead of leaving it alone.
Still, she was a bit disappointed.
"Well you don't have to answer Jaune," she pulled away from him. "I just wanted to let you know what's going. I didn't want to blindside you with it but if you need time to think it over then that's okay too. Just…"
She paused as she started to leave the room. "Just when you make up your mind, just let me know."
He wanted to call out to her but the words wouldn't leave his mouth, he just stood there like a dumb statue, as his body was unable to move. He wanted to tell her something anything but he had no words. He just stood there watching her leave and feeling confused and alone.
As Yang exited the room, she noticed that Ruby and Weiss were outside, Weiss had obviously cleaned up as both were waiting with eager looks on their face. Yang had on a sad smile and shook her head.
"Whaaaa?" Ruby's shoulders slumped as Weiss looked both disappointed and a bit worried at Yang.
"He needed to think about it," Yang told them but kept on going, she didn't want to talk about it and just went up the stairs to their room. She just wanted to get clean and, well she didn't know after that. She just didn't know.
-Blake-
Blake knew what she wanted to do she just needed to find Sun and finally say what was on her mind. A part of her worried that this wouldn't work out, that something would happen like it always did. For a moment, she was starting to think that her love life was cursed since the last person she was with turned out to not be the man she thought he had been. Maybe he had been once and had changed and she had just been too blinded by her feelings to notice, she didn't know.
All she knew was that that part of her life was and maybe she was ready to try and open up a new one, like opening up a new chapter in a book.
She found all of team SSSN with Ilia sitting outside the house just talking, from the sounds of it they were sharing stories most likely they were trying to get to know Ilia better and also make her feel more at ease. Blake knew that her friend was still a little unsure being around everyone but she was slowly starting to open up which was good for her.
Blake walked into view as Sun was the first to notice and smiled and waved at her. For some reason just seeing him smile at her like that made her feel a bit warmer in her chest. She gave a small smile back as she joined them.
"What's up?" She asked.
"They were telling me about the Vytal tournament matches they had," Ilia commented. "I missed it as I, well I had other things going on." She fell a bit silent at that, as it was most likely White Fang business she had been on at that time.
"Hey don't sweat it," Neptune told her with a wave. "We've all done thing we regret."
"Some more than others," Sage nodded his head towards Sun.
"Hey I regret nothing in my life," He grinned crossing his arms.
Blake smirked at that as she walked up to Sun, "Can I borrow you for a second?"
"Yeah sure," Sun jumped down from perching himself on a railing. "Hey, don't you guys dare tell her about that you know what story."
"The what?" Ilia blinked.
Sun made a zipping motion with his lips at his team as Blake led him away. She gave him a sideways look. "Do I want to know what story that is?"
"Nope." Sun shook his head. "Anyways what did you want to talk about?"
"I…I wanted to talk about us," Blake took a breath. "I've been thinking a lot lately and well, I've been thinking about you a lot."
"Thinking good things or bad things?" Sun asked her.
"Good things," She told him with a small smile looking down. It was strange she felt like she was confessing a schoolgirl crush on a boy in school, at least how she imagined it would feel. The only thing she had close to this was a scene from one of her romance novels she liked to read.
Sun smiled warmly at her as he gently touched her shoulders making her look up at him. "Yeah I kind of got you have a lot going on so I didn't want to push anything but you most likely know how I feel. I'm not exactly the most subtle person on the planet."
Blake gave a small chuckle. "Yeah but I needed to sort some stuff out. My last relationship I got burned pretty bad."
"Guy's a total dick too." Sun said.
"Anyways I wanted to try and give this a chance, that is, if you still want to." Blake asked shyly unsure of his answer.
Sun pulled her into a hug, which she at first was startled by the action but soon, found herself slowly finding herself embracing it. She never knew that Sun felt so warm until now feeling his body pressed up against hers like this.
"Of course I want to, I knew from the first moment I saw you that there was something special about you Blake," Sun told her softly. "The more I got to know you, the more I wanted to get closer to you. You just kind of drew me in like no other girl has ever done. Doesn't hurt that you're beautiful and a kickass fighter too."
She smirked at the last part. "So I'm not 'above average' then?"
Sun winced as he pulled back. "I'm sorry I was panicking, you're dad is pretty intimidating you know."
"Still you know I'm not above average," she gave a small glare at him.
"Noted," he nodded and then smiled. "So does this mean I can take you out on an actual date now?"
"I suppose so." She gave a small smile in return.
"Cool I want to get in as much time with you as possible before we leave for Vacuo." He grinned.
Blake paused, as she looked confused. "Sun, we're going to Argus."
Now it was Sun's turn to give her a look before he smacked his head. "Damn it I forgot. I was going to tell you today."
"Tell me what?" Blake's stomach suddenly dropped.
"Well looking at your team I started to realize something." Sun sighed scratching the back of his neck. "I suck as a team leader. I keep ditching them and going off on my own. Hell just look at our tournament match, only me and Neptune passed and that was only because we got lucky with the environment."
"We need to be better, I need to be better," he finished.
"But you can do that with us." Blake nearly begged him she couldn't believe this was happening. All the worry and all the build up and this was how it ended?
"Yeah but with everything we learned the other two academies are going to be next and we have no way of knowing if it will be Atlas or Shade." Sun explained to her. "If you guys are going to Atlas then we can go to Vacuo and start getting things ready there. Plus our team can train and get better because I know we'll need to be better for what's coming."
Blake looked down sad as her ears flattened.
"Hey," Sun gently lifted her chin up to look at him. "I know the timing sucks but it's not like we'll never see each other again. You guys go to Atlas and do what you have to do there, then you come to Vacuo and we'll see each other again."
"But…but I just figured out my feelings and you're leaving." Blake felt like her heart was breaking all over again.
Sun caressed her cheek. "I know and it sucks but I'm not what you need now. You need your team, you need your friends, that's where you need to be for now."
"But what if I need you?" Blake told him. "You've been there for me twice now when I needed someone, when I was at my lowest points in my life. First when I had that fight with Weiss and then after Beacon."
"And I'll always be there when you actually need me Blake," Sun smiled at her. "You may want me around but you don't actually need me, not like you need your team at least."
"I have no idea how long it will be," Blake told him honestly. For all she knew this whole thing could take a month or a year or more.
"Well then I'll wait for you."
"Wait for me?"
"Yep," he nodded. "I'll wait and you know why? Because I think you're worth waiting for Blake. We may be apart now but I know we'll see each other again no matter how many times we get pulled apart I'll wait, if your lost then I'll find you, if you really need me I'll be there and that's a promise."
"Man I hope that didn't sound too cheesy," he chuckled after a moment of silence.
Blake just pulled him to her burying her face in his chest, "No. It was just right."
-That Night-
Jaune couldn't sleep, all he could do was toss and turn as Yang kept running through his thoughts. The whole day had been tense, when he saw Yang at dinner she hadn't spoke to him, she tried to play it off like everything was okay but he could see that she wasn't happy. She wasn't sad or depressed, maybe she was just disappointed, he could see the others that seemed to be in the know looking at her with concern and it was all eating Jaune up inside.
Why? Why couldn't he have given her an answer?
He didn't know.
Ren's question on if he liked Yang kept ringing in his head. He decided to get up and slip out of the room. He needed some air, maybe a midnight snack or something, anything to get his mind to slow down a bit. Carefully he slipped out of the room trying not to wake Nora and Ren. He paused looking at them both sleeping next to each other's bed like back in school. He envied them, they both knew what they wanted and had it.
Walking down the hallway he mentally cursed each and every creak the floor made, it wasn't actually loud but to him it sounded like wood snapping. He really didn't want to wake anyone else up with his problems as he made it to the first floor.
He found a lamp in the dark, turned it on, and sat down on the couch. What was he going to do?
How did he feel about Yang? That was the problem sure he thought of her as a friend in fact they were becoming closer friends but was he really ready to take it somewhere further? He tried that with Weiss, which failed horribly, and then Pyrrha, he had never noticed her feelings until it was too late.
So what was he going to do with Yang? Jaune looked at the ceiling as the entire day his mind had been in turmoil about this trying to figure out how he exactly felt about her. There was also something else he noticed throughout the day and that was he felt scared.
Scared because he wasn't only not sure how he felt but scared that he might like her back. He still had nightmares of his partner dying with him unable to do anything. Maybe he was scared of opening up again only to lose someone else. Maybe he was scared of screwing things up. He just wished he could figure things out.
Yang also couldn't sleep that night, sure Jaune hadn't technically rejected her but he hadn't accepted it either. The whole thing felt unfinished to her, she wished it would just happen one way or another and just get it over with. Maybe she had been right and he hadn't gotten over Pyrrha enough to think about dating. Maybe she just wasn't the type of girl he wanted? Now that question only led to more questions such as what about her didn't he like or what about her wasn't good enough.
These stupid questions kept plaguing her mind until she sat up quickly. She hadn't taken her arm off yet and she needed to get some kind of sleep but her mind was too twisted up to relax. She thought that maybe hitting something would help tire her out at least as she made her way to door.
She was careful not to wake the others but as soon as she was in the hall, she noticed a light on downstairs. Someone must have left a light on, as she didn't hear anyone moving down there. She walked down the hall and down the stairs as she looked at the light source and now she wished she had stayed in bed.
There sitting on the couch was Jaune, she was hoping she could just go back up and not have him notice her but he looked up and their eyes met.
'Damn, so much for that idea,' She mentally sighed.
"Oh Yang, did I wake you?"
"No couldn't sleep."
"Oh," He was silent a moment as he knew the reason for it. "Same here."
Yang did sigh now this couldn't go on, they were friends and the both of them being odd around each other wouldn't help in the long run. She walked over to him and sat down as she figured she might as well get this over with.
"Sorry I put all this on you Jaune," Yang sighed. "Look if this is all too much we can just stay as friends. I don't want things to get weird between us."
Jaune was silent a moment, "I'm the one that should be saying sorry to you, I'm too much of a coward to give you an answer."
"Hey I've seen you fight and you're no coward."
"I think I am," Jaune sighed looking at his hands in his lap. "I think I'm just scared of getting close to someone again, the last person I did, she died Yang. You know I still get nightmares about it and I think I'm just scared to try again."
Yang reached out and placed a hand on his. "You know I'm kind of scared too."
He looked at her in surprise but she went on. "I've never actually had a boyfriend before, sure there were dates but nothing worked out. I think I was just into the wrong type of guy who I never really looked past their looks and in the end they never looked past mine."
She gave a bit of a humorless laugh. "Is that ironic or hypocritical? Me going only after looks but getting mad when they do the same to me?"
"Yang," He said tenderly. "I don't think that of you, you're a wonderful person."
Now she gave a small genuine smile. "I know and I know that's how you look at me, I think that's what started this. You see me for more than just a pretty face, you actually see me."
She looked at him with expressive eyes, "I see you too Jaune. I've seen how hard you try and push yourself to help everyone, how much it hurts inside and yet you still go on. You're stronger here than anyone else I've ever known."
Yang reached out with her metal hand to touch his chest over his heart.
"I…I don't feel strong," Jaune whispered out still staring into those eyes.
"I know, we don't always feel strong Jaune," Yang told him. "You know what my dad told me when I first started training? He would say 'strength isn't the same as power, real strength is when you get knocked down and you pick yourself back up to try again even if you know you'll fail again'."
"I kind of like that," he said.
"Yeah I really didn't fully get it until recently," Yang nodded her head. Recent events while she had been recovering had led her to start thinking on her life and seeing things she never would have before. She had grown from her injury, sure she was still not over it, but she was starting to feel like a better person after going through it.
Jaune looked into her lilac colored eyes he felt drawn by them and for the first time in the entire day, he felt calm.
"So, you really like me then?" Jaune asked.
"Yep," She said playfully. "What about me?"
Jaune paused really thinking about it. "I'll be honest, you're very beautiful Yang and I think you're great and…well…I think I do like you. Lately things between us have been pretty great, I'm just worried I'll screw things up between us or of something bad happening."
"Then how about this." She started, as she got serious. "We make a pack here like we did that first night we had that talk before we started getting to know each other better. No matter what happens between us, we'll always be friends. I don't want to lose that either Jaune but I'm not afraid to try something to see, well to see if something more can happen."
Jaune swallowed thinking that he was really going through with this, he was really going to try. He nodded his head. "Yeah, no matter what we'll be still be friends."
They sat there smiling at each other for a moment in the silence of the room.
"So…I guess we're dating now?" Jaune asked.
"Yep," Yang grinned as she pushed him onto his back as she quickly straddled him.
"Y-Yang!?" Jaune wasn't sure what she was planning as she was on top of him.
"A few things you should know if you're going to date me," Yang told him getting very close to his face her hands caressing the sides of his face. "I'm a very affectionate person so expect lots of displays of public affection."
"G-got it," He nodded as he wasn't sure what to do here. She was pressing up against him that he could feel her body against his own, especially her chest as it rubbed into his own.
She smirked almost reading his mind. "Hands on my hips or back but nowhere else for now. At least not until we get a few more dates in." She winked at him.
Jaune placed his hands on her shapely hips as his bare hands felt the warmth of her flesh, Yang for her part felt the roughness of his hands from all his training with a sword and shield and she kind of liked that feeling of his strong hands on her.
"Now as for the last thing we need," Yang leans down and captures his lips with her own.
Jaune quickly returns it, he couldn't help but compare it with the only other kiss he's received in his life. Where Pyrrha's kiss had been gentle and loving, Yang's was passionate as she pressed into him. Both were different but in both cases, he could feel the emotion behind them. He ran a hand along her spine as she moaned into his mouth.
Yang broke it as she stared into his blue eyes and licked her lips. "Not bad Lover Boy."
"Not bad?" Jaune asked, as he knew he didn't have much experience so he was a bit worried he was going to disappoint her.
She noticed the slight worry in his eyes and smiled, "No worries, we just need a bit more practice."
With that, she leaned down and kissed him again as Jaune kissed back with a bit more passion. Yang ran her flesh hand down to his chest rubbing it as she poked her tongue into Jaune's lips. He got the hint and opened his mouth as both of them moaned as their tongues danced against each other.
After a time both of them took a break, both breathing heavily and slightly flushed.
"Now that's better," Yang grinned at him and Jaune smiled back up at her. She stretched out as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I think this is going to work out well."
"I hope so," Jaune softly said as one hand was on the small of her back making small circles which Yang was finding out she liked. She then felt his hand starting to run through her hair, normally she wouldn't let anyone touch it but Jaune's touch was surprisingly gentle as he slowly combed it with his fingers. It was actually kind of relaxing to her.
She sighed in contentment. "You know you're the only one I'll let touch my hair like this, so you better be careful about it."
"I will," He stated as he had gotten to know she prided herself on her hair, which he had to admit, was very nice.
After some time Jaune knew that, they couldn't stay there forever, even though it did feel nice. "We should probably get to bed."
"Just a bit longer," Yang sighed snuggling up against him. "You're surprisingly comfortable."
Jaune didn't really want to move either so maybe just five more minutes would do it. Five minutes turned to ten and then after that both of them lost track of time as both of them slowly fell asleep in each other's arms with the only light of the lamp covering them in its faint glow in the night.
TBC…