''And the winner is Pyrrha Nikos!''
The whole stadium erupted in cheers, ninety thousand people were screaming her name here and millions more around the world. She had won… again. Not that it was an easy win, or that she was ungrateful, but after a certain number of victories, the thrill had worn off.
Her opponent was strong, maybe one of the strongest, but she disliked classifying them. It felt like she looked down on them, like a scientist cataloguing lesser beings, it just felt wrong, and she avoided it altogether. But this fight was certainly a tough one, she had to make an effort to remember the last time she hadn't been one hundred per cent sure of the outcome of a match.
Her opponent was a girl named Penny Polendina from Atlas Academy. She didn't know her, one thing she knew about her was that she was Ruby's friend. She was a bit… strange. Pyrrha knew it was rude to call her strange, but she was truly a strange girl.
She had won by ring out. Thanks to her semblance Pyrrha had felt metal in her opponent's body, perhaps prosthetic from an injury, which might explain Penny's behaviour. Her last blow may have been combined with her semblance. She first felt it in the latter part of their fight, she rarely used her semblance, and she had a self-imposed rule that she wouldn't use it in tournaments, but she had one weakness which often overrode this rule.
Her over-competitiveness.
Ever since she was a little girl, Pyrrha loved to win. She blamed this on her parents, who had always taken her out for ice cream to celebrate her victories. The ice cream had made her addicted to winning. Totally logical, right?
And now her competitiveness might have leaked out from tournament fights into her everyday life. She thrived to be the best student, the most well-behaved, and most importantly she wanted to earn victory in every fight.
For years everything went mostly well, she won against every opponent, but in recent months her world had changed. She found something that worth all her medals and cups back home, something that she really wanted to have, something that she couldn't win through a fight or her knowledge. She failed for the first time since she was little which was quite a frustration for her.
But what could it be so enchanting and elusive that Pyrrha Nikos was unable to get?
Ooh, this was simple and complicated at the same time. She failed to get…
''Pyrrha!''
Him.
''Pyrrha, you did it!'' cheered Jaune as he ran up to her in the arena. He picked her up and twirled her around laughing. As unexpected it was, she wished that it could last longer but tens of thousands of people were watching them.
''Jaune!'' She laughed with him. ''Put me down! I'm all sweaty.'' But she wished him not to listen. She had imaged this scenario a few times. She won, and he came and spun her around, everything is checked out so far. Now only the ending remained: he slowly stops, looks deeply into her eyes with his sparkling azure-blue pair then slowly moves closer to her and claims her lips.
Recalling this fantasy made her blush, especially how close the final step was. If it ever happened this moment would belong only the two of them, and not in front of thousands.
He slowly stopped and put her down gently. She was still blushing, but she could easily say that it was because of the fight. He was looking with a wide smile. His eyes were only on her. Oh, how many times she had wished for this.
''Hehe, sorry.'' He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile. ''I'm just really happy. You won.''
''Of course, she did, Fearless Leader. No one can stand against our Crimson Avenger!'' boasted Nora behind him.
''Crimson Avenger?'' asked Pyrrha.
''Yes! You avenged us.'' stated Nora like a fact.
''Nora, Pyrrha didn't have to avenge us. We didn't lose, the finals are 1 versus 1.''
''But Renny of course she had to, otherwise she wouldn't be our Crimson Avenger.'' Nora's reasoning put a smile on her face. She first made up a nickname and then fabricated a story for it. Plus, it sounded way better than the Invincible Girl, she would talk with her manager about this.
''Ladies and gentlemen, this year's Vital Festival Tournament winner is team JNPR!'' After the declaration, their faces were put on the giant monitors in the stadium.
''That's us!'' She pointed at a monitor. ''Let's do a group hug! Your queen commands it.'' said the ginger-haired girl then she pulled her and Ren into a hug, it didn't need a second for their leader to join them.
Ever since she had won her first regional fight in Mistral, her childhood friends slowly disappeared, and others tried to replace them, but those persons were never genuine. They just wanted to get close to a famous person.
That's why she had chosen to come to Beacon, and this might have been one of her grandest decisions yet. Team JNPR was the best thing that could have happened to her. For the first time in a long time had true, genuine friends. Ren and Nora were like siblings that she had never had, close confidants and she could count on them anytime even when one of them had a strange addiction to a certain flat cake, while the other was a bit too serious about group dancing. But she liked them this way.
And there was Jaune. Her team leader. Her partner. Her… crush. Pyrrha had never felt like this before, she never had a time or the opportunity to get close to someone. But Beacon changed this on the very first day. He was so different from others, in a good way of course. He didn't know who she was, he didn't know her name or her accomplishments, and he didn't want to get close to her because of her fame or anything like that. He didn't see the Pyrrha Nikos - The Invincible Girl, he saw just Pyrrha, he saw her and not her title. He called her hot stuff at their first meeting which might have been a bit too flirtatious for some but for a seventeen-year-old girl was a big confidence boost.
She wished that he would have flirted more with her, but he was occupied by someone else. Jaune's attempts to get a date with Weiss were painful to watch, mainly because it was not her who he was trying to ask.
She sometimes – on restless nights, liked to imagine that it was her at the end of his woo attempts, that all those flowers, all those movie tickets, and that serenade was for her, for her favour and attention. But then the morning came and Jaune was once again babbling about a date to Weiss who always shot him down after a few words. That girl would never see him as Pyrrha did. Weiss was too cold and uptight for that.
She had tried to give him some sign that she was interested, but he had missed all of them. Maybe those magazine articles were not as reliable as she hoped. Or maybe she was not his type or maybe she was too tall?
''Ladies and gentlemen, the Vytal Festival Tournament's award ceremony will start at seven o'clock, until then please enjoy what Amity Colosseum can offer''
The four of them fell apart, she already missed Jaune's touch on her.
''Well, what about we get some drink? I saw a good place where we can get some tasty-looking shake.'' offered Jaune.
''That's sounds grand.'' said Pyrrha.
''Do they sell pancake flavoured?''
Maybe she should get a different hairstyle, or get a dog, she thought. These usually worked in movies.
Ugh, she was getting desperate. The festival was a good time to tell Jaune how she felt, but it was so complicated. She was terrified she was going to mess up and ruin everything. She couldn't afford that. She would lose one of her closest friends and then Ren and Nora would have to choose between them and then everything would be so awkward. She could see in front of her how she would end up like a local crazy cat lady with dozens of cats, she already had a few names for them: Smokey, Mr. Mittens, Felix, Oreo, Ser Purrito, Whis-
''Hello, Miss Nikos.''
''Ah!'' she yelped and turned around, ''Professor Ozpin, sorry, I didn't notice you.'' In an almost empty terrace? Good job, Pyrrha.
''Yes, I can see that. I hope I didn't disturb anything of importance.'' he said with a coffee mug in his hand.
''N-No, I was just thinking about uhm…'' names, ''Cats!''
''Hmm, I see.'' he said with a hint of concern in his eyes.
Oh, gods she was acting like a lunatic. The headmaster must have thought she was short of a marble.
''I just wished to congratulate on your victory. You made Beacon very proud today.''
She took a second to collect herself. ''Thank you, headmaster, but it was a team effort.''
''Yes, it was. Speaking of which, where is your team? They left you alone?'' he asked.
''Nora dragged Ren away to get something and Jaune went to get ice cream for us.''
''Hmm, I suppose it was him that I saw surrounded by at the ice cream stand.''
''Surrounded?''
''It appears your team's victory gained a lot of people's attention who wish to get to know him better. After all, he is JNPR's team leader.'' He took a sip from the mug. ''Mainly young ladies.''
''W-What? Are you sure?'' she asked.
''As far as I saw, yes.''
Oh no, oh no, nonono. This was bad, no. It was closer to catastrophic. All those girls – no – all those hussies tried to just use him because he was the winning team's leader and her partner. Had to be those Vacuan girls. They would just lead him on until they got what they wanted. They would break his heart. He didn't deserve that. If she got her hands on them, then –
''I guess your quest to gain his attention doesn't go well.'' said Ozpin idly.
''W-What? You know?'' she asked disbelieved.
''It is not very subtly thing.'' he took a sip again, ''There might be a betting pool as well.''
''A betting poll?!'' she exclaimed.
''Oh yes. The faculty members do this sometimes. Professor Port bet that you two get together at the dance, Doctor Oobleck bet on your graduation and Professor Goodwich for the end of the next year.'' he explained with a hint of excitement.
Even their teacher noticed it except Jaune. Ugh, it was ridiculous, all of it! She buried her face into her hand. ''This so embarrassing.'' she groaned.
Ozpin allowed a little smile on his face. ''Don't be, Miss Nikos. I've seen this happen countless times.''
She lifted her head. ''Really?''
''Really. Yours isn't even the worst case that ever happened.'' he said nonchalantly, ''It happened six years ago; they're partner just like you and Mr. Arc, but they just noticed each other in their last year.''
''And why their situation was worse?''
''Because both of them liked the other but neither of them noticed it, so they tried to court each other. It was amusing for a while but after three months, not so much'' Yeah, it sounded worse.
''But I think you face the situation from the wrong angel.''
''How?''
''Miss. Schnee's rejections might have lowered Mr. Arc's confidence to a point where he can't imagine that you might like him more than just a friend even when he sees your signs.''
''Then what should I do?''
''Be more direct. Ask him out.''
''It's… not that simple.'' So many things could go wrong.
''You are a professional fighter, right Miss Nikos?'' he asked out of the blue.
''Yes?'' She had no idea why this was important now.
''Then look at this this way. What are you doing when your opponent makes a mistake?''
''I strike.''
''Yes, and now you are the one who is making that mistake. You wait for him to make the first move, but you fail to notice that others may take notice of him, and they won't wait patiently as you do. They will strike.''
The professor was right. She was making a mistake by waiting. She had to get him before it was too late.
But how?
''Attention, please! The award ceremony will start in ten minutes, please take your seats in time. Thank you.''
''Thank you for the advice, Professor, but now I have to find my team.''
''Don't mention it, Miss Nikos.''
She left in a hurry, thinking how she could tell him her feelings.
As Pyrrha left, the headmaster heard familiar footsteps behind him.
''Where did Miss Nikos leave in a such hurry?'' asked his deputy.
''She left to find her team for the ceremony. You might have noticed she likes to be punctual.''
She hummed. ''I believe I saw Mr. Arc at the ice cream stand with Team RWBY. Miss Xiao-Long tried to convince him to buy them ice cream.''
''I told Miss Nikos the same.'' he told Glynda with a little smile behind his mug.
'' – but this festival is more than a simple tournament. It is a symbol of our –'' Pyrrha was not paying attention to the councillor's speech. She tuned it out as her mind was busy creating dozens of scenarios where she revealed her love to Jaune.
Her favourite so far was during their rooftop training. After training, she would ask him to show some dance moves as payment for the training, something slow and romantic. And then under the moonlight, she would tell him how she felt about him.
And who knows how the night would end, it would be divine. Down girl, down! You're in public, she told herself mentally.
She looked around from the podium. The arena was in its default appearance. In the middle, there was a podium, big enough for every representative of the four great kingdoms, the academies' headmasters and her team to have a seat where they could see the whole ceremony and every participant in front of the podium. Most of them patiently listened to the councilman's speech, but she could see a few students who visibly didn't care and wished to be elsewhere, mainly teams from Vacuo and Mistral.
As she watched the seated crowd, she noticed a blonde girl who was watching in her direction. Pyrrha didn't remember hers or her team's name, but she knew that she was from Shade Academy. She focused on the blonde girl, and she noticed that she was not looking at her but someone on her left side, Jaune.
The Vacuoan Huntress held a gaze that she was similar to Pyrrha. She had seen it many times from those who wanted something from her, but there was another thing in the blonde girl's eyes. A look that she had seen before in the mirror when she was thinking of Jaune. Desire. And it was focused on Jaune.
Was she one of those girls who Professor Ozpin was talking about earlier? Vacuans had a certain reputation that Pyrrha had heard about. They could make people fall for them fast through their charisma, but they could get bored fast with their partners.
And now, one of them set her attention on Pyrrha's partner. Pyrrha didn't know what the girl's plan was, but she knew the blonde girl would strike fast directly, possibly after the ceremony. Pyrrha had to make a pre-emptive move.
But how?
She hadn't been able to confess her feelings to Jaune even on that training video that she had made for him, and she had a lot of chances to do it. And now she had an hour at max to stake her claim. It had to be clear to everyone that Jaune belonged to Pyrrha.
What was she going to say? Pyrrha had a problem expressing her feelings to him, her bravery had always evaporated before the topic could have come up. But she had no more time to think about this because the speech reached its end.
''- and now let's focus on those who have shown us what the current generation of huntsmen and huntresses are capable of and that our future safety is in skilled hands. Ladies and gentlemen, the winners of the Vytal Festival Tournament: Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos and Lie Ren of Beacon Academy.'' said the councilman and started to clap. Immediately the whole stadium followed him in a more enthusiastic manner, the crowd cheering was almost deafening. Confetti fell from the sky as Pyrrha, and her team walked over to receive the Vytal Cup.
Their hair and clothes were covered in coloured paper by the time they reached the cup. Nora grabbed the goblet from the scaffolding and raised it high with a wide grin. The rest of them wore only big smiles but they were no less happy as their hammer wielder friend.
Pyrrha turned her attention to Jaune who laughed slightly at Nora's antics with the cup, then he turned towards her. She loved his smiles because they were happy, and they always reached his eyes, whereas hers sometimes didn't. Among the shiny rain of confetti, his deep blue eyes connected with hers. It felt like that only two of them existed in the whole world. She was focused on him, and he was focused on her. Pyrrha couldn't hear the cheering or the hated sounds of the cameras. His eyes were on her and only on her, and it felt fantastic. Pyrrha could almost swear that his gaze now was almost the same as it had been when he was in pursuit of Weiss.
Could it be possible?
Her heart wildly beat in her chest from the possibility. Her face heated up. This was her moment, but no word came into her mind. She was not confident that she even knew the right words, she was a fighter. Then she realised, then acted.
With her right hand, she grabbed his hoodie's collar and pulled him closer so that with her left hand she could grab the back of his head.
She was a fighter. And when a fighter sees an opening, she strikes.
Her lips clashed against his partner's. Jaune stiffened in surprise, but only for a moment. Then, he melted into the kiss, his hands finding their way to her waist, holding her. She felt a shiver run down her spine, her entire being lighting up with warmth as the anxiety that she had felt disappeared. It felt better than in any of her fantasies.
She was the first to pull back due to her lack of air, still holding onto him. Jaune's eyes were wide, filled with awe, and then he beamed at her with a beautiful smile that caused her heart to miss a beat. The roar of the crowd returned, but it remained distant and unimportant. All that mattered was this.
''I… Uhh… I've wanted to do that for a while, but I never found the courage.'' she admitted shyly.
"Really?" Jaune asked softly, almost disbelieving.
She nodded. "Yes, I… I've liked you for a long time, Jaune." She looks down, her cheeks still flushed.
He brought up his hand under her chin to lift her head. ''So that means we have to make up for what we missed.'' He pulled her close, kissing her again. This kiss was slower, more deliberate as if he was savouring every second. She felt herself melt into the moment, every doubt and worry slipping away.
She had dozens of medals, cups and many other mementoes about her victories, but none of them mattered like this one.
And now the whole world could see that Pyrrha Nikos claimed Jaune Arc as her prize
''It appears that Miss Nikos has made her move.'' said Ozpin.
''Quite a bold one at that.'' replied Glynda as they watched the two teens.
''You owe me fifty Lien.'' he stated.
She sighed. ''Yes, I do. But don't forget Bart and Peter.''
''Oh, I won't. I really want that special blend of coffee from Vacuo and with all the Lien I won, it won't cost me a single penny.''
She rolled her eyes and turned his attention back to her students. ''I wonder what pushed Miss Nikos over the edge.''
''Who knows Glynda, who knows?'' said Ozpin with a tone that was too familiar to her. She turned sharply at him with a suspicious look in her eyes.
''What did you do?'' she asked but sounded more like a demand.
''I just mentioned to Miss Nikos that Mr. Arc was very popular at the ice cream stand with the ladies.''
''That was Team RWBY.'' she said, ''You cheated!''
''I didn't. I just told her what I saw.''
''You lied!''
''I implied. You know how impatient I become when I am on my last box of coffee. And now I'm implying to you that I wish to order my coffee tomorrow, so don't forget my prize.''
''Oh, you dirty mother–''
So what do you think? I listened to Dream Come True aka the thirsty Pyrrha song during writing that might have influenced the story. It was interesting writing this since I'm a major Knightfall fan with an ongoing fic, but Arkos is in my top 5 and I saw a fan art that inspired me. I wonder what other bets are still on.