Pyrrha stirred from her slumber as the sun's rays washed down on her face, beaming through the window like a natural alarm clock. Wisely, she turned away from the sunshine before opening her eyes. She sat up and stretched her arms over her head with an inaudible yawn. Giving her surroundings a brief glance, she noticed that Jaune was also awake, and doing his best to escape Weiss's hold without waking the girl. He painstakingly managed to escape her grasp and replaced his body with his pillow. Weiss's arms slammed down like a vice, squeezing the life out of the cushion. Beyond the slight pout on her face, she did not stir in the slightest.
Sighing quietly, he glanced over at her with his usual smile, mouthing 'Good morning!' to her with a small wave. She returned his smile with one of her own as she did the same. She turned her gaze behind her, finding Blake also still sound asleep. Noting the bow on her head, Pyrrha shook hers in bafflement: She still didn't understand how Blake could sleep with that thing on.
Usually they would awaken their teammates so that they could get ready for classes. However, it was the weekend, meaning they could afford to sleep in. That said, she and Jaune had decided to begin a morning workout routine, beginning with a jog around the campus. Weiss and Blake would wake up later and join them for their conditioning exercises, after which they would begin to spar with one another.
Stepping quietly to their closets, they silently took out their workout clothes and began to change. Pyrrha couldn't stop herself from looking as Jaune slipped out of his sweatpants, flexing his muscles in such a way as he bent over that the redhead couldn't help but shudder appreciatively. Her team leader was definitely quite fit, and in the way that she found most attractive: He was lean and chiseled, with an equal amount of attention to his entire body. It was the physique of a warrior and fighter, something she was all too happy to commend.
She just barely caught his wayward glance before he turned it down with a small blush. The redhead smiled, glad that he also found her body attractive. She supposed having a personal trainer since she was thirteen really helped sculpt her figure into one envied by even seasoned huntresses.
She wished he looked at her more.
Once they finished getting dressed and completing their usual morning rituals, they soundlessly exited their room, closing the door with a small 'click.'
"Hah, man," Jaune sighed. "Weiss was especially clingy today."
Pyrrha giggled. "Perhaps you should have stayed in bed then."
"And leave you to do this by yourself?" He said, playfully aghast. "I could never! As the team leader, what example would I give if I skimped out on training?"
She laughed even harder as he used Weiss's own words as an excuse. "Well then, I'm glad to have such a diligent team leader."
As soon as they exited the dormitory, they set out on their path. The cool morning air nipped at their skin, but it would become comforting later on in their jog. She was happy to see Jaune keeping pace with her; his long legs covered vast swathes of distances with each stride, easily matching her own.
In all honesty, she was extremely happy to have this time alone with Jaune: He was always with someone nowadays, be it from their own team or Team RRYN. This was especially the case with Weiss and Ruby, as the three of them were bonding over Jaune's new weapon upgrade whenever there was free time. Of course, there was their joint training with Yang and Nora, but it wasn't the same as being alone with just him and her.
The more time she spent with Jaune, the more she yearned for his attention. Not only was he an earnest and diligent individual, but he was just very friendly and nice to talk to. She enjoyed his silly antics and casual demeanor. It was so very refreshing and pleasant to be around him, and she came to be addicted to that feeling.
That wasn't to say that she didn't enjoy her other teammates' company either! She and Weiss had gotten on fabulously after their heart to heart, and she and Blake were on friendly terms as well. That said, Jaune was able to make her feel things that they just… simply couldn't. They couldn't make her heart flutter like he could, couldn't elicit her laughter as easily as he could, couldn't make her feel normal like he could.
She and Jaune came to a stop as they finished their lap around campus, their breathing slightly labored from the sheer distance they covered: Beacon wasn't a small institution by any means.
"Whew!" Jaune exhaled. "I think we made pretty good time, right?"
She nodded, placing her hands on her hips and cocking a smile. "We did indeed! Good job, Jaune!"
"Hey, you too, Pyr!"
'Pyr.' A warm feeling welled in her chest. The shorthand for her name was endearing to her. It was a sign of closeness and familiarity, the things she craved for.
She wanted more.
It had barely been a week since she met Jaune, but she recognized the signs as clear as day. The butterflies in her stomach whenever they spoke, the throbbing of her heart whenever he smiled at her, the constant heat in her cheeks whenever they made eye contact.
Pyrrha Nikos was falling for her team leader.
There was just one problem.
"Jaune!" A familiar voice called out.
They turned, spotting the rest of their team walking up to them in their own workout clothes. Jaune's face split into a grin as he jogged up to meet them halfway.
"Hey there, guys! You caught us just in time. We just finished our first lap."
"Wonderful." Weiss said. "We can join you for the second one, then."
"You're up early." Pyrrha remarked, her eyes trained on her partner. "I thought you said you'd meet us at the gym?"
"Well, Jaune's absence in our bed proved enough to awaken me." She sent a glare at the blond. "You were not as subtle this morning as you usually were."
He laughed sheepishly. "To be fair, you were holding on to me tighter than usual."
"I woke up when Weiss did." Blake said. "Since we were both up, we decided to join you."
"Awesome! I'm glad you could join us." Jaune turned his gaze to her with an elated expression. "Isn't this great, Pyrrha?"
"Yes. Splendid." She offered a polite smile, even if she internally raged that her time with Jaune was cut short.
The biggest obstacle for Pyrrha was Weiss Schnee, her very own partner. Not only was the heiress Jaune's childhood friend, but it seemed that she was also the blonde's admirer: No matter what anyone said, two friends cannot share a bed and spoon each other without having some sort of feelings between them!
"Pyrrha?" Jaune's voice pulled her from her thoughts. He, Weiss, and Blake were a few feet ahead of her, looking back at her with a small amount of confusion. "Is something wrong?"
Shaking her head, she said, "I was just thinking about something. Don't worry about it." she gave him a confident smile as she moved to catch up with them.
Certainly, Weiss held the advantage in the battle for Jaune's affections, but she was the Pyrrha Nikos. 'The Invincible Girl' has never lost a battle yet, and she certainly wouldn't start losing now.
{ I }
Jaune focused intensely as he began to assemble his new weapon. Ruby watched from his right with bated breath, eyes wide with anxiety and glee. After getting all the parts machined out, she had insisted that he be the one to put them all together.
"This is gonna be your weapon, Jaune!" She scolded him. "I may have helped design it, but it's important that you be the one to bring it to life!"
Jaune sighed tiredly. After his team sparring session, he and Weiss met up with Ruby in the school forge to finish up the first round of his arsenal upgrade. Their schedule was tight, so they only barely had time to shower before coming here.
"Aaannnddd, there!" He said as he pushed the last pin into place. "All done!"
Laying on the table in front of him was his new weapon, White Rose. It was a gas-operated, DA/SA hammer fired machine pistol capable of full and semi-auto; chambered in 12.7mm with a 6 inch barrel. The firearm's metallic frame was white with gold accents. Engraved on either side of the handle was a rose with the Arc's double rainbow arching just above it. Picking up the gun, he found that it fit comfortably in his hand and held a considerable weight.
"It's done!" Ruby squealed, swiping the firearm from him and cradling it to her chest. She spun in place as pure elation suffused her. "It's done, it's done, it's done!"
Jaune grinned at his friend's exuberance, laughing heartily as she raised the gun above her head, as if to show it off to the very gods above. To his side, he heard Weiss make a sound of amusement. In her hands was Crocea Mors' hilt, the blade removed so it was out of her way.
"She really does seem to be a proud mother." She commented. "Perhaps Yang was onto something?"
Looking back to Ruby and the way tears of joy spilled from her eyes, he was inclined to agree.
The gothic redhead latched onto Jaune's arm excitedly. "Jaune, come on! We need to have our baby take its first steps!"
"Our 'baby?'" He teased with a quirked brow.
"Yes, our baby!" Ruby repeated unashamedly, dragging him to the firing range nearby.
Once they were at their booth, she handed him one of the twenty-one-round, double-stacked magazines she loaded while he assembled White Rose. With him being completely clueless in how to operate firearms, she showed him how to insert the magazine and ready the pistol to fire. She had already drilled into his head all the rules of firearm safety before they had even begun to create White Rose's parts, but she repeated them just in case.
The smaller girl corrected the blonde's firing form and posture as he attempted to line up a shot on a metal target ten meters away. "Don't hold it so close to your face! Keep your arms outstretched, but not fully. Give it a little slack."
When Ruby was properly satisfied with Jaune's form, she gave him a nod and a thumbs up. Taking a deep breath, Jaune cocked the hammer back, lined up his shot, then pulled the trigger.
'BANG!'
He flinched at the loud sound, but was met with a near instantaneous 'PING' as the bullet impacted the target. Ruby applauded him enthusiastically. "You hit it! You hit it dead on! Our baby is a sharpshooter!"
Ignoring the fact that she attributed his feat of accuracy to the gun itself, he couldn't help but share her excitement. They actually made a fully-functioning firearm!
They took a few more shots to get Jaune more familiar with the feel of the gun before they had him try one-handed shooting and testing out the other firing modes.
"WOAH!" Jaune cried as the pistol jolted upwards, having tried to fire it full auto. The amount of recoil nearly sent the gun flying out of his hands.
Ruby giggled. "I told you not to try full auto without the conversion kit!"
Jaune sighed in disappointment. White Rose was technically still a work in progress, as the pistol itself was only meant to be fired semi-auto. Even burst fire was too much to handle without its accompanying accessory, which wouldn't be complete until after his duel with Cardin.
"Look on the bright side, Jaune!" Ruby placed a comforting hand on his arm. "At least you have a gun now!"
"Yeah, that is pretty cool." He admitted with a grin.
"You know what else is pretty cool?"
Playing along, Jaune asked, "What?"
Ruby pointed behind him, prompting him to turn around. He was met with Crocea Mors, fully assembled once again, pointed towards his face. There was one key difference, however.
It was on fire.
His jaw dropped in awe as Weiss lowered the blade, a smug smirk on her face. "Behold, the union of the Arc family blade and Schnee Dust. Quite impressive, don't you agree?"
Jaune could only nod dumbly as he continued to stare at the flaming blade, feeling the heat lick at his face.
Snuffing out the flames, she turned the sword around so she could show off the hilt. There, he noticed the solid knobbed pommel had been grooved, making five distinct indentations around the circumference of it. Within each groove was a Dust cartridge, similar to the ones Weiss used for her own weapon, except much smaller.
"I tried my best to augment your weapon without compromising the structural integrity and weight distribution of the hilt. The pommel is now a pseudo-Dust cylinder, which can hold five Dust cartridges of your choice that will imbue the blade with its element. You can change the Dust by rotating the pommel such that this one here," she pointed to the groove perpendicular to the blade. "Is the chambered cartridge. This will work in your greatsword mode as well."
After showing him how to fire and eject the cartridges, she sheathed the sword and handed Crocea Mors to him respectfully, then held her arms behind her back. Her smug expression hadn't faltered in the slightest as she gazed upon Jaune's awestruck mien.
Suddenly, Weiss was lifted off her feet as Jaune embraced her. "Weiss, you are amazing!" he yelled.
"I know." she said humbly. "You are quite fortunate to have a Dust expert such as myself help you."
"I'm the luckiest guy alive!" he agreed. "Now, whenever we're apart, I can look at my weapon and think of you."
Weiss flustered. "T-That's what you're focused on!? Not the fact that your weapon is now Dust capable!?"
"Well yeah," he said matter-of-factly. "The most important thing is that you made it, after all. Thank you, Weiss. I love it."
"… you dolt." She whispered. Despite her harsh words, her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she buried her face in his collarbone to hide her reddened cheeks.
"Hey!" Ruby pouted cutely. "I helped make you a gun! Where's my thanks and praise?"
"Ah, sorry Ruby." Jaune apologized, setting Weiss down and giving the younger girl a hug as well. "You helped me out just as much, so you're amazing too. Thank you."
Ruby wrapped her arms around his neck, a pleased sigh escaping her lips. "You give good hugs."
"Thanks," Jaune chuckled, his mind wandering to the countless hugs he gave his sisters. "I've had a lot of practice."
The growling of a stomach interrupted them. Smiling sheepishly, Jaune apologized, "Sorry. Only had a small breakfast."
"I suppose it is time for lunch." Weiss mused. When Jaune's stomach growled again, she sighed. "Come on, let's fill your stomach before it begins to riot."
{ II }
When Blake first met Pyrrha Nikos, she didn't think they'd have much in common. Oh sure, the redhead was polite, friendly, and—best of all— quiet. She thought that would be where their relationship ended however: teammates who existed in the same space; cordial, but little else.
So it was to her complete surprise that Pyrrha was also a fan of Ninjas of Love.
"What do you mean Homura wasn't best girl?!" Pyrrha yelled as she slammed her book in her lap, glaring at her with disbelief.
She just wished the girl didn't have such trash taste.
"I mean," Blake growled. "That just because she was Hiro's friend doesn't mean she can be a candidate for best girl!"
"She was there for Hiro since the beginning! She helped train him into a capable shinobi! She became his confidence and best friend!
"She hardly has a personality that doesn't revolve around him!"
"Yes she does!" Pyrrha argued. "She is isolated by her peers because she's the best kunoichi of their generation and they're all jealous of her! She's constantly struggling with her loneliness, so when Hiro becomes her friend-"
"She had one character arc!" Blake interrupted. "ONE! After that, she becomes a bland background character!"
The redhead affixed her with a cold stare. "Well then, who do you think is best girl?"
"Kuroneko, obviously!" Blake exclaimed matter-of-factly.
Pyrrha loudly scoffed. "Kuroneko? She's a coward and a hypocrite, not to mention an oathbreaker!"
"The person she made that oath to was no longer the man she knew!" Blake defended. "He and the entirety of her old clan were turning into bloodthirsty murderers, so she left!"
"It took her so long to notice them turn evil though!" Pyrrha pointed out. "She didn't leave until she was directly involved!"
"She needed to make sure!"
"She was being stupid!"
"YOU'RE STUPID!"
Pyrrha gasped, recoiling as if struck. Before either girl could say anything more, the door to their room opened as their partners entered. Both of them had confused expressions on their faces, having heard the argument from the corridor.
"What are you two fighting about?" Weiss asked. She spotted the books in their hands, eyes narrowing once she saw their covers. "Is that… erotica!?"
"It's called Ninjas of Love," Blake clarified defensively. "And it's art."
"Oh hey, I read that before!" Jaune said. "My sister Saphron had the entire collection back home."
"You read this filth as well!?" The heiress said in shock, receiving a shrug in return.
"Eh, I got bored."
"Well, Jaune, maybe you can help us settle this dispute." Pyrrha said.
"Yes, partner." Blake said with a self-satisfied smile. "Who do you think is best girl?"
Adopting a thinking posture, Jaune took a moment to recall the characters. "Hmm… I think they're all pretty good. Though if I have to choose, it'd probably be Mizore."
His answer caused both girls to groan in disappointment.
"Really Jaune? The childhood friend?"
"The tsundere childhood friend, at that?"
"What's wrong with that?" Jaune asked, confused.
"She's, like… so basic."
"And so pushy."
"And clingy."
"And she's never gonna win anyways!" They practically sang together, their earlier argument practically forgotten as they laughed at their inside joke.
Jaune frowned at that. "Why ever not?"
They shared a knowing look, giggling among themselves.
"Don't you know, Jaune?" Blake asked with a smirk.
"The childhood friend never wins the guy!" Pyrrha explained with a smile. "It's the most common trope in fiction!"
"If all of you are quite done discussing your… art, as Blake puts it." Weiss drew their attention to her. "Jaune and I are going to spend tomorrow afternoon in Vale browsing the local shops and sampling their cuisine. We were wondering if you would like to come along?"
"Sure." Blake said. "Sounds fun. Mind if I ask why though?"
"Weiss said it'd be a good idea to take a day off from training and relax." Jaune explained. "My duel is the day after, so it makes sense to let my body rest the day of."
Weiss's scroll buzzed as it received a message. The heiress checked the notification. "It seems Team RRYN would like to come too. Ruby just sent me the confirmation."
"Awesome!" Jaune cheered. "It'll be one big team outing!"
"I hope you all have fun." Pyrrha said meekly, hugging her knees to her chest.
"What?" Jaune's smile slowly dimmed. "You don't wanna come with?"
"I do!" She said hastily. "I definitely do. But, I just…" She seemed to wither even further, unable to meet his disappointed gaze.
"I… I don't think it'll be a good idea."
{ III }
Pyrrha Nikos was many things: studious, diligent, beautiful, talented. But she was not infallible. She, like many people, had her vices.
One of them just so happened to be seen in public.
"Pyrrha," Weiss said gently as she took a seat next to her partner. "Are you afraid that you'll be recognized?"
The redhead returned a small, silent nod.
She was afraid of the flash mobs that formed whenever she wanted to have a casual outing. She was afraid of the blinding flashes of paparazzi that would not respect her privacy. She was afraid of getting isolated in a sea of people who would turn on her if she denied them her time.
"Is… Is Pyrrha really that famous?" Jaune muttered in disbelief. "Would it really be that bad if she was recognized?"
"Jaune…" Weiss sighed. "You vastly underestimate how far fame can spread and how the public treats celebrities."
"It's like I'm not even a person to them…" Pyrrha whispered. "I'm just an object, a living landmark that has no time of its own. Everything that I am, everything that I do, belongs to the public."
"That's awful!" Jaune exclaimed. "You shouldn't have to put up with that! You're your own person, other people shouldn't have a right to your life!"
"Unfortunately, Jaune, that's the reality of celebrity status." Blake explained with a frown. "If she doesn't appease her fans, they'll make her life a living hell."
"It sounds like they're already doing that though!" He pointed to her miserable form. "Look at her! She shouldn't need to be afraid of going out!"
With a resolute stare, he called her name and forced her to look at him. "Pyrrha, you're coming out with us tomorrow."
"Jaune, I-I really should-"
The Arc scion's hands firmly grasped her shoulders, his royal blue eyes commanding her full attention. "You. Are. Coming. With. Us."
His tone brokered no room for argument. With their faces but a few inches apart. Jaune's intense gaze and authoritative aura prevented her from looking away. She could feel heat rush to her cheeks as she felt compelled to agree to his demand.
"O-Okay." She murmured, unable, no, unwilling to resist him.
"We'll take steps to hide your identity," Weiss said, placing a comforting hand on the small of her back. "We promise that you'll be able to enjoy yourself tomorrow."
"Do we even have anything to disguise her?" Blake asked. "Last I checked, Pyrrha can't fit into any of our clothes, and her own wardrobe was bare."
Fighting back the small worry of weight gain, Pyrrha knew Blake had meant just sheer size difference. Pyrrha was, for lack of a better term, utterly stacked in both height and bust. She was taller than Blake by nearly half a foot, meaning anything in Blake's wardrobe was going to look uncomfortably tight and small on her. To even consider Weiss's wardrobe was a disaster waiting to happen.
"Not mine or yours, no." Weiss confirmed, then slowly directed their attention to the tall, broad-shouldered blond that loomed over them with a clueless look on his face.
{ IV }
When Ruby told their team that Team AWBN invited them out for a day on the town, Yang was the first to say yes, followed quickly by Nora and then a reluctant Ren. They decided to go in their combat gear, since it also doubled as their casual wear. Nora and Ruby would turn some heads, since their weapons weren't as concealable as Yang's or Ren's, but that shouldn't be a problem.
They met their sister team by the bullhead docks, and were somewhat surprised by what they found.
Jaune was lacking his usual Pumpkin Pete Hoodie, having opted for a more casual version of an Atlesian military jacket. It was pure white with light gray accents and came down to his mid-thigh. The jacket was left unbuttoned, revealing a form fitting black tee that showed off the boy's lean musculature very well.
Yang couldn't help but whistle appreciatively: Jaune looked good.
Standing next to Weiss, who was dressed in her combat outfit as well, she couldn't help but notice how well their outfits complimented each other, as if they were a matched pair. Judging from Weiss's smug smirk, it seemed intentional.
It was really Pyrrha's outfit that raised some eyebrows.
The redhead was wearing Jaune's hoodie. It hung loosely on the Amazonian girl, hiding her well-built and slender frame. Her arms weren't quite long enough to leave the sleeves, her hands hidden just behind the cuffs. The hood was drawn up as well, covering up the majority of the girl's luxurious, vibrant red hair. She wore her academy bottoms, forgoing her usual armored leggings. Yang noted the light pink that dusted Pyrrha's cheeks as she smiled to herself joyously.
To the outside eye, Weiss and Jaune seemed to be a couple with their matching outfits. For those who knew the group's regular attire however, it was Pyrrha who seemed to be playing the part of Jaune's girlfriend.
"Damn, Ladykiller. Did you and P-Money tie the knot or something?" Yang asked inquisitively.
Pyrrha's face reddened even further, nearly bright enough to match her hair as she turned away in embarrassment.
Jaune shook his head with a small blush. "N-No! We're not… you know…"
Weiss stepped up to explain. "Pyrrha's just a tad nervous to be recognized and didn't have anything in her wardrobe to help conceal her, so Jaune let her borrow his hoodie for today's outing."
"Ahhhh, I see." Yang said in understanding.
"Where's your weapon, Pyrrha?" Ruby asked.
Now that her sister brought it up, the taller redhead seemed to be missing her weapon as well. Usually, huntsmen-in-training were allowed to carry their weapons on them to most public places provided they also carry their school ID. Was the girl trying that hard to go incognito?
Reaching behind her and under the hoodie, Pyrrha withdrew Miló, compact and easily concealed. "Akoúo̱ was a bit harder to conceal, so I left it behind." She explained.
"Are we playing 'Hide the Pyrrha' today?" Nora asked playfully.
"To an extent." Pyrrha replied with a smile.
"We're just going to pretend we're normal people," Blake clarified. "Well, as normal as huntsmen-in-training can be."
"Maybe we should have asked Team ANON for lessons," Ren mused. "They seem to be experts at not standing out."
Yang laughed at her teammate's snark. The team in question had a completely average showing in all respects, putting on decent performances in class but never enough to be notable. They didn't seem to be bad people by any means, but they seemed content to blend into the background.
The teams' flight to Vale occurred with little fuss, save for Weiss rubbing comforting circles into Jaune's back as he struggled with his air sickness. The moment they touched down, Weiss guided them to the city's shopping plaza. It was bustling with activity, with people of all ages traversing the shops and browsing all they had to offer.
Their excursion began with clothes shopping at Weiss's behest. The heiress led them to a prominent boutique named ADEL, which offered the latest fashion trends. Their entire inventory was certainly impressive, being made of extremely high-quality material and made with skill craftsmanship. They also offered shipping, allowing customers to send their purchased products straight to their home without having to carry it around with them.
It was also extremely expensive.
"Three hundred lien for a cardigan?" Yang grimaced. To her side, Ruby slowly put back the spring dress when she noticed a similar price tag.
The only people of their group actively browsing the store were Jaune, Weiss, and Pyrrha. The rest of them were awkwardly shuffling about trying not to accidentally damage the products which may have cost slightly less than their weapons.
"Weiss," Blake hissed as she came up to her teammate. "What are we even doing here? Half of us can't even afford the cheapest item in this store!"
"Who's to say that you'd be paying?" Weiss countered simply. "In case you've forgotten, I'm the heiress of the SDC, the most profitable company on Remnant. What's a few thousand lien to someone worth several billion?" She smiled, amused by Blake's taken aback expression. "I've brought you all out here to have fun. Don't let money be an issue."
Blake seemed hesitant to accept Weiss's generosity, but the girls of Team RRYN seemed to lunge at the opportunity.
"I mean, if Weiss-cream is paying for it…" Yang said as she pulled out the cardigan she was eyeing earlier.
"Ooh, Ren!" Nora squealed in excitement. "This top would totally make your eyes pop!"
Weiss swiftly pulled out a black and white crop top in Blake's size from the rack and practically shoved it into the girl's arms. "Go on, try it on. I think you'll look good in it."
The disguised Faunus's amber eyes flicked between Weiss and the fabric in her hands for a moment before making her way to the dressing rooms.
{ V }
Jaune watched as the girl disappeared behind the dressing room curtains, smiling before turning his attention back to Pyrrha. "What do you think, Pyr?" He asked, pulling out a white and red blazer from the display rack.
She hummed for a moment in thought before shaking her head. "Too many bright colors. Maybe if you weren't blond, it'd look better on you."
"Hmm, I thought so too." He said disappointedly before putting it back.
"How about you try this, handsome?" A voice from behind said as they tapped on his shoulder. Jaune turned around, coming face to face with a chique brunette with sunglasses and a beret. In her hands was a black long-sleeved shirt with a gold pattern on it.
"I'm sorry, have we met?" Jaune asked confusedly.
The girl dropped her sunglasses down to look at him with an appraising gaze, a knowing smirk on her face. "No, but you helped out my teammate."
From behind her, a familiar rabbit-eared Faunus popped up, smiling at him with a small wave.
Jaune's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh hey, you're that girl from last week!"
She nodded in confirmation, then bounced towards him and took his hands in hers. She looked up to him with a grateful expression. "I never got a chance to thank you for protecting me, so thank you. My name is Velvet Scarlatina."
"J-Jaune Arc." He stammered. It wasn't every day a cute bunny girl came up and held your hands, after all. "And it was no problem."
"You were the only one with enough balls to step in to stop that asshat from bullying my little bun-bun." Coco praised him with a smile. "So thank you for taking care of her when I wasn't there." She proffered a hand, which he readily took. "Coco Adel, leader of Team CFVY. My family owns this store you're shopping in, as well as several others around Remnant."
"A pleasure to meet you!" Jaune said with his usual smile. "My sisters love shopping here. Very good quality!"
"But of course!" Coco grinned graciously. "ADEL products are always the highest quality and the latest in fashion. Your family has good taste." She chuckled quietly. "And deep pockets."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "My family is well off enough, so we can afford this kind of luxury now and then."
"Oh, I don't doubt it. You're an Arc, after all." She seemed to think for a moment before snapping her fingers. "I'll tell you what: Since you protected my darling bun-bun and I like you; I'll give you and your friends a 75% discount on any items you purchase today."
"Oh, you really don't have to," Jaune began to refuse, but Coco wouldn't hear it.
"Please, I insist. We're not Schnee's, but we can definitely eat the cost without much pain. Besides, our new product is coming in later today, so everything you see here is gonna go on clearance anyways."
"T-Thank you." Jaune stuttered.
"Don't mention it." Coco waved him off. Pushing the jacket into Jaune's hands, she walked past and gestured for Velvet to follow. "Come on, Vel. I saw a dress that I think you'll look gorgeous in!"
"Coming Coco!" Velvet called after the fashionista. She approached Jaune, looking up at him with her wide chocolate-brown eyes and a cheeky smile. "It was nice seeing you again, Jaune." Going on her tiptoes, she gave the blond a kiss on the cheek. "Don't be a stranger, okay?"
With that, she hopped after her team leader. "Coco, I see that look! It better not be a bunny suit, I swear to Oum!"
Jaune raised a hand to his cheek, stunned speechless by the act. His eyes trailed off after the Faunus girl, but her visage was intercepted by Pyrrha and Weiss, who were looking at him with irate gazes and pouty expressions.
"Pyrrha? Weiss? What's the matter?" He asked obliviously.
Their group left the store quickly after that, with Weiss taking full advantage of the discount and clearing out the store in spite.
{ VI }
Teams AWBN and RRYN spent the next hour or so sampling the local Valean cuisine, eventually ending up at an ice cream shop. Jaune stepped out with a tray full of different ice cream flavors in his hands and made his way to his friends' table. Their eyes seemed to light up excitedly as he approached.
"Here you are!" Jaune said, placing the tray down and distributing the frozen treats.
"Awesome!" Nora cheered as she immediately began to dig into her ice cream.
"Thanks Jaune!" Ruby said as she too began to consume her desert with gusto.
Jaune hummed as he lifted a spoonful of his Mint Chocolate Chip into his mouth. He let out a sigh of satisfaction as the cool and refreshing flavor melted in his mouth. Turning to his right, he saw Weiss held a similar expression to his own.
"How is it, Weiss?"
Slipping the spoon out of her mouth, she smiled. "It's quite nice. I didn't think coffee-flavored ice cream could be so delectable." Scooping some up, she held it out to him. "Would you like to try?"
"Sure!" He leaned down and closed his lips around the spoon, humming in approval as the sweet taste covered his taste buds. "Yeah, that's really good. I should get one next time." He scraped up some of his own and offered it to her. "Here, try some of mine, too."
Eyes locking with his, Weiss opened her mouth and let him feed it to her. Her eyes glinted with satisfaction and something else he couldn't quite place as she took a moment to enjoy the flavor before pulling back with a pleased smirk.
"I quite liked that," she said, "I wouldn't mind having a bit more, if I'm to be honest."
Smiling, Jaune began to scoop up some more, but was interrupted with a tap on his shoulder. He turned to his left, spotting Pyrrha with her own spoon held out.
"Jaune, you simply must try this!" She said with a saccharine smile. Her eyes darted to his spoon. "Perhaps I could sample yours as well?"
"Oh, um, sure." Lifting his spoon, he held it out to her as leaned down to taste her proffered flavor. Their lips closed around each other's utensils, both letting out sounds of approval, though Pyrrha's was infinitely giddier. Her cheeks flushed as she withdrew herself, hand raised to her face as her eyes closed with delight.
"Guess you like Mint as well, huh?" Jaune said, observing her content expression.
"Yes," She whispered, seemingly still enjoying the taste. "It was delicious. Did you enjoy mine?"
The blond nodded. "Yeah, I did."
"Which one did you enjoy more, Ladykiller?" Yang asked with a mischievous grin. "Weiss's flavor or Pyrrha's flavor?"
"Hmm… I really like them both." He said after a moment. "They're different. I can't really say one is better than the other. They're both good in their own ways."
"Is that right?" She said with a wiggle of her brow. "Maybe you should give Blake's a try. Or maybe mine?"
Jaune shook his head. "I kinda just wanna eat my own ice cream now. Thanks, though."
As Jaune resumed consuming his Mint Chocolate Chip, he failed to notice how Weiss and Pyrrha shared a competitive gaze.
To the side, Blake observed her team's love triangle with slight amusement, their antics providing good entertainment while enjoying her frozen treat. The fact that Nora attempted to mimic their actions with Ren was the cherry on top.
{ VII }
After finishing their ice cream, the group made one last stop at Blake's urging.
"Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun!" A burly man with magnificent sideburns greeted them. "How may I… Ah, Miss Belladonna. Welcome back. I see you've brought friends?"
"Hey Tukson." Blake returned with a small smile. "They're just browsing today. Did you have that book I ordered?"
"Yes I do." He confirmed with a grin. "It's in the back, if you would like to follow me?"
She nodded, waving at her friends that she'll be right back before disappearing into the store's backroom.
Jaune spared her a parting glance before resuming his search in the comic books section for any issues of X-Ray and Vav which he didn't already own. Pyrrha hovered behind him, helping him look.
"I didn't think you read X-Ray and Vav." Jaune said with surprise.
"I am a girl of many tastes," she replied jokingly.
"Is that so?" he chuckled. "Hopefully I get to find out how many one day."
"Maybe you will." She giggled. Her eyes widened as something caught her eye. "Ah, here we go!" She pulled out one of the comics from the shelf. "Issue #12!"
"Nice eye!" Jaune praised, moving closer to her. "I couldn't ever find any copies by myself. Always sold out."
"Guess I'm just lucky." She mused.
"Wanna be my good luck charm, then?" He asked playfully.
Pyrrha gulped audibly as heat rushed to her face. "I… I'd not be opposed."
"Awesome!" he cheered. He gently took the comic from her hands and gestured to the counter. "I'm gonna see how much this costs. You keep looking, all right?"
As Jaune approached the counter, he could hear Blake and Tukson conversing in the back. He was surprised to know Blake was a regular at this place, but he supposed it would make sense. Spotting the bell on the counter, he moved to ring it.
{ VIII }
"The Vale branch is mobilizing soon." Tukson said. "Ever since you left the White Fang, Adam has been getting antsy. We're starting to get orders to begin operations in Vale."
Blake frowned worriedly. "Do you know what they're doing?"
"Nothing yet. We're on standby, but whatever it is, it's going to happen soon. Something big."
"Keep me updated," she told him. "Please."
Tukson gave her a cynical stare. "If I do, what will you do?"
Her gaze hardened. "I'll stop it."
"Blake…"
"You don't think I can?" she said accusingly.
He raised his hands in a placating manner. "It's not that I don't think you can: It's that I don't think you should. You know Adam's looking for you, right? If you show yourself around here, he'll find you."
Turmoil was clear on her face. "I… I can't just do nothing!"
Tukson sighed, pinching his brow. "You can't do everything, Blake. The White Fang isn't your responsibility anymore. Soon, it won't be mine either."
"My father created it!" Blake argued insistently. "As his daughter, I need to make sure they're reigned in!"
"The Old Fang died when your father stepped down." He reminded her. "This is the New Fang, led by Sienna Khan." He met her gaze with tired eyes. "You've already escaped, Blake. Please, just let it go."
There was a moment of silence between them. "… I can't." Blake whispered. "I'm sorry, but I can't." She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please, Tukson," she begged. "I'll take care of it. I promise. Just keep me informed."
The exhale that escaped the older man seemed to carry a lifetime of regret and exhaustion. "Fine. Once I find out, I'll let you know."
Blake smiled gratefully, running up to the man and wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, Tukson! Thank you for everything."
Tukson pulled away to meet Blake's amber eyes. "Just… please promise me you'll be careful. Your father did a lot for me, a lot for us. If you got hurt because of this…"
"I will, Tukson. I promise."
A ring sounded from the counter, signaling the end of their conversation. "I'll be right there!" Tukson called.
Before he walked away, he grabbed a book from the nearby shelf and pushed it into Blake's arms. She looked down at the cover. "Daimyo of Dominance by Aishiteru Daisuke." She read softly. It was the latest publication in the Ninjas of Love series, having only just released a few days prior.
"Take it." Tukson said as he paused by the door. He gave her a fatherly smile. "You'll need it for the alibi, after all."
Hugging the book to her chest, Blake gave him her brightest smile. "You're the best, Tukson."
{ IX }
"How can I help you, young man?" Tukson asked.
Jaune placed the comic book on the counter. "Hi, I was just wondering how much this would cost?"
"Ah, issue #12." Tukson remarked. "This one's been selling like hot cakes. That'll be three lien."
"Thanks!" Jaune said as he paid the man. It was then that Blake stepped out of the backroom with a book in hand. "Oh, hey Blake! You were back there for a while."
"Yeah, sorry." She apologized sheepishly. "I was browsing for more books. They keep the cultured material in the back."
"Cultured?" Jaune repeated confusedly.
"You know…" Blake's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Art?"
"Ooooh." The blond nodded in understanding. "Are you all set then?"
"Yes." She looked around the shop, noticing how empty it was. "Where are the others?"
"They're just outside. They didn't really find anything they wanted."
"Ah. I see." She waved goodbye to the store owner. "Thanks again, Tukson!"
"No problem!" He returned with a grin. "You kids stay out of trouble, you hear?"
"Yes sir!" Jaune yelled back as he and his partner exited the store.
{ X }
Teams AWBN and RRYN parted ways once they reached their dorm rooms. They all greatly enjoyed their trip to Vale, even promising to make plans to do so again soon.
Once Jaune's team entered their room and closed the door behind them, Pyrrha boldly wrapped her arms around her leader's body from behind, startling him and drawing attention from the rest of her team. She spun him around, grabbing his hands in hers as she beamed up happily at him.
"Today was wonderful, Jaune. Thank you for convincing me to come."
He returned her bright smile with one of his own. "Hey, it's no problem. Now you don't have to be so nervous the next time we go out."
"Next time we do, she'll have her own clothes to wear." Weiss remarked with a smirk.
"Heh, yeah. I bet wearing my hoodie all day was kinda embarrassing, huh?" Jaune chuckled.
Pyrrha seemed to frown at that as she wrapped her arms around herself. "No, not at all. It's rather comfortable, actually. I like it."
"I know, right?" he agreed. "Totally worth the fifty box tops."
She swayed shyly on her feet. "Would you mind if I borrowed it again from time to time?"
"Didn't you have a sponsorship deal with Pumpkin Pete?" Weiss asked cynically. "Can't you get them to give you one of your own instead of taking Jaune's?"
Pyrrha said nothing, only returning a small glare at the smaller girl.
"Girls, why all the hostility?" Jaune said as he stepped between them. "Come on, we just had a great day out. Don't sour it with a fight."
"He's right, you know." Blake said from her bed, flipping through her new book. "Take a chill pill for tonight."
Both girls hmphed in reluctant agreement. Weiss turned to Jaune with a small frown on her face. "Jaune, why don't you take the first shower tonight."
"Really!?" Jaune said excitedly. The boy was usually the last to use the shower, and the girls would hardly leave any hot water for him. "Awesome! Hot shower, here I come!"
As Jaune disappeared into the bathroom, Weiss and Pyrrha continued to stare fiercely at one another, uncaring that Blake was in the room to witness them.
"Pyrrha," Weiss began. "I know we've agreed to be friends, but you do realize you are trying to steal my property, yes?"
"Your 'property?'" Pyrrha repeated critically. "Jaune isn't your property."
"He has been mine since we were crib mates." She explained. "In case you haven't noticed, we've been sharing a bed all this time."
"And yet he hasn't once made a move on you."
Weiss's icy blue eyes stared coldly into her partner's fiery emerald irises. "Your crush on him has existed for all of a week. My love for him has existed since we were children."
"It doesn't matter that I've only known Jaune for a week. I know that my heart yearns for him no less than yours."
"Are you two being serious right now?" Blake asked incredulously.
"Stay out of it!" They told her forcefully, eyes not once leaving each other. Blake let out an exasperated sigh: She couldn't believe this was really happening.
The two partners stared at each other intensely for a moment longer, neither of their wills wavering for even a second.
"It seems we are at an impasse." Weiss said coolly. "I am not willing to give him up and you are not willing to back off."
"That is correct." Pyrrha returned heatedly.
"In that case, I would offer you a compromise." Weiss provided, earning a curious quirk of the redhead's brow.
"I'm listening."
"We both have feelings for Jaune. However, I do not wish to see us as enemies. Not only would it cause problems for the team dynamic, but I do not wish to throw away our friendship so soon after establishing it. I would hope that you share the same sentiments?"
Pyrrha nodded. "I do."
"What I propose is that we do not impede each other's attempts at breaking down the barrier that is his obliviousness. The first one to do so will of course earn the rights to be his partner. The other shall bow out gracefully. Are these terms acceptable?"
"They are."
"Shall we shake on it, then?" Weiss proffered her hand.
Pyrrha took it unflinchingly. "It's a deal."
Blake shook her head in utter bafflement at the scene before her. 'I thought this only happens in bad fanfiction.'
"Ahhh," Jaune let out a contented sigh as he exited the bathroom, having changed into his sleepwear already. He looked between Weiss and Pyrrha, then at their clasped hands. "Oh, were you two able to sort things out already?"
"Yes." Weiss said as she backed away. "Pyrrha and I have come to a civil agreement."
"You don't need to worry, Jaune." Pyrrha assured him. "It won't be a problem."
"Nice!" Jaune praised. "I'm glad our team is able to work out our problems so quickly!"
Blake sent him a pitying gaze before going back to her book. 'If only you knew…'
{ XI }
It was lights out not long after that. He had taken Weiss's side of the bed tonight, putting her closer to the wall. She had seemed confused at first, but didn't dwell on it too much.
Sleep came easily to his teammates but not the blond himself. Despite the relaxing outing earlier today, Jaune was especially tense. He warily looked over his shoulder to the far side of the room where Blake slept, her back facing him. He faced forward quickly when she shifted, scared that she'd notice him staring. He buried his face into Weiss's hair, hoping to draw some comfort from her scent. He desperately tried to force himself to relax and go to sleep, but failed.
How could he when he just found out that his partner is an ex-terrorist?
A/N: Maybe keep your voice down next time, Blake XD.
Duel is next chapter, so look forward to that.
Hope you guys enjoyed. See you next time.