Leaving the Nest
A RWBY Fic by AndrewJTalon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and ViZ. Please support the official release.
Pyrrha thought of herself as a good person. The kind who didn't stick her nose into things without reason. The kind of person above eavesdropping or gossip.
And yet... As in so many other cases, anything to do with Jaune Arc was an exception to those rules.
She was relaxing in the JNPR dorm room, alone, just 'chilling out' a bit, when Jaune's Scroll rang.
Her green eyes locked onto it as it rang again. She looked around.
"Jaune? It's for you?" Pyrrha tried, though not as loudly as she might have. She might disturb other people.
The Scroll rang one more time. Licking her lips, Pyrrha got up, walked over, took up Jaune's scroll, and opened it up to answer.
"Jaune Arc's Scroll. This is his friend Pyrrha speaking."
On the screen was a large, strongly built man with a fine, rugged golden beard and keen gray eyes. Standing in frame was a shorter blonde woman, with clear blue-green eyes covered by square black glasses and a gentle smile.
"Oh! Is Jaune all right, Pyrrha?"The woman asked. Pyrrha nodded.
"Yes, he's just out. May I ask who is speaking?"
"We're his parents," the man rumbled, "Nick and Isabel Arc."
Pyrrha smiled politely and nodded her head.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir, ma'am. Did you need to talk to Jaune or can I pass a message along?"
Nick grunted.
"Just tell him his belongings have been shipped,"he said, "We sold everything he didn't want to keep. It's in his account."
He paused.
"Along with a return ticket."
Pyrrha blinked.
"Return ticket? For a visit?"
Isabel shook her head.
"No... For when he finally gives up and comes home."
Pyrrha's eyes widened. Her voice though was calm.
"What do you mean?"
Nick frowned deeply.
"You have to understand... Jaune was... Was a sickly boy. He was premature, and suffered many illnesses after he was born. We had to keep him home through most of it. Homeschooled him, mostly."
Isabel smiled sadly.
"We're... We're very glad he grew up strong, but... After all he's been through? We... Well... We're willing to let him pursue his dream, but..."
Nick sighed.
"He's... Better off doing something less dangerous. Where he won't get in the way, or be a burden,"he said. He looked sharply at her. "Not that he is! We don't-We haveneverthought that about him-!"
"But he had such a difficult childhood,"Isabel said, resting a hand on her husband's arm, "And... And we think he'd be much happier doing something safer. We just... We just hope he figures that out before..."
Pyrrha shook her head furiously.
"N-No! No, Jaune's doing wonderfully!" She insisted. "He had a rough start, but he tries his hardest every day! He's makingenormous progress! He's very smart, too, and thinks on his feet! He earns people's loyalty and I-I think..."
She blushed.
"I think he's doing great," she finished softly.
Isabel beamed. Nick grunted.
"That's good to hear,"Nick said, "We've always known thathe's strong in spirit. We've always known that. But his body..."He trailed off.
"Thank you for looking after our boy, Pyrrha,"Isabel said with a warm smile, "We really appreciate it. And we... We know how much it means to him but..."
"But why can't you believe he'll succeed?" Pyrrha asked, more abrasively than she had hoped.
Nick grunted again and looked to the side like Jaune did when he was guilty about something. Isabel sighed.
"If you had seen how he'd grown up... You'd understand,"she said. "Just... Tell him we love him, and about his belongings, please. Nothing else."
Pyrrha slowly nodded.
"I will."
"Thank you, Pyrrha. Goodbye."
The call ended. Pyrrha sucked in a breath. This is what she got from poking around. She turned to the door... And her jaw dropped. Jaune stood there before her, his face... Carefully blank.
"Jaune, I-I'm sorry," she said quickly, "I didn't mean... I just answered, and-"
"No. It's fine," Jaune said quietly. Pyrrha was very familiar with masks. She shaped her face to hide her emotions almost constantly. Jaune's mask was actually pretty formidable. But she knew him too well now.
"I... I'm very sorry," she repeated. Jaune shook his head and reached out to take his Scroll. He pulled it away, Pyrrha's fingers left clutching at the air before she pulled her hand back.
"I said it's fine," Jaune murmured.
He walked over and sat down on his bed, staring down at the powered down Scroll. She fidgeted. She should go, she should leave...
She summoned her courage. She walked over and sat next to him. He glanced up at her, then back at the Scroll.
"... They wanted me to tell you they love you," she said. Jaune sighed.
"Yeah... Yeah, I know that," Jaune mumbled. "I do... They just don't believe in me."
Pyrrha frowned.
"Jaune, I-"
"I spent half my childhood bedridden," Jaune stated, a hint of bitterness in his tone, "They never complained. My sisters teased me, and made fun of me when I was out and about, but the instant I got sick? I was glass. I was... Helpless. The neighbor's kids all called me the runt... Even after I got big and well enough to work on the farm. I thought... They let me handle horses and cows. They let me lift heavy things, and do dangerous chores. Surely... Surely my family doesn't think of me as some sickly little bratanymore..."
He sighed and shook his head. His shoulders drooped.
"They're just waiting for me to give up, come home," he grunted. "I guess... I guess I can't blame them. If I had a child who spent most of his life trying not to die, I wouldn't believe in him,either."
Pyrrha wrapped an arm around his shoulders without thinking, which was the only way she could have done it. Red-faced, she barely kept her composure as he looked up at her in surprise.
"You would," she said firmly, "Because you would know what it's like. You'd support them, no matter what. And be there for them... Even if they failed. Because... Because you'd be awonderfulfather, Jaune. J-Just like I know you're going to be a wonderful Huntsman!"
He stared at her, unreadable. She kept going, fighting through her awkwardness.
"They love you... And you'll show them they're wrong, and... And they'll accept you properly. One day. I-I promise."
He smiled warmly. Impulsively, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She blushed as red as her hair.
"Thank you Pyrrha... Th-That... That means everything to me."
Her smile did not leave her face for the entire week after.