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Sense of Semblance	By : sandman-nobody Category: +M through R > RWBY Views: 132760 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY. I am not making any money from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
A/N: You know… I just want to point out that TECHNICALLY I am updating every other month. Just… not the month that I post. And at this rate, I’m afraid to correct the update schedule just because panic and deadlines are about the only thing that gets my ass moving.
All kidding aside, thank you everyone for being patient. This chapter was a bitch to write and I had some serious problems with it. That said, I made sure to take the time to make sure it was up to my own standards and I’m glad I did so. It is much better than what I had at the start of the month and even if it makes a few people unhappy, I would rather risk that than post a chapter I, personally, wouldn’t want to read.
It also didn’t help that I’m currently getting a costume ready for Anime Detour, an anime convention we have up here in Minnesota.
Please don’t forget to leave a comment/review if you enjoyed the chapter.

Chapter 11
Tag(s): N/A
Girl(s): N/A
Words: 11,226
The culmination of teams RWBY and JNPR sat together in an air of tense silence. Their expressions ranged from worry, fear, and sorrow, all pointed towards the sole blond-haired young man whose clammy complexion and gaunt features spelled nothing but a sense of dread. With his situation growing more dire with every passing second, Pyrrha was the first to reach out, her hand finding his own and clasping it while she prayed to give him her strength.
“Please, Jaune,” she begged, the long elegant red lines of her eyebrows drawn up into a furl. “Hang on. You’re going to make it. I know you’re going to make it. You hang in there. For all of us, please don’t give up!” Her pleading would go unanswered as Jaune’s clenched eyes and exaggerated breathing went unchanged.
“Damn it; you're stronger than this!” Yang suddenly pitched in with the same desperation. Her eyes stared with a seriousness that belied her usually carefree attitude.
Even poor Ruby was left to hover near Jaune’s left, an apparent struggle in her silver eyes as she fought between the urge to rush to his side and remain perched in her seat. It was the same sense of helplessness that everyone surrounding the sickly young man felt.
“You can do it Jaune.”
“Hang in there!”
“You can beat this, Jaune, we know you can.”
“We’re counting on you!”
“He’s not gonna make it!”
The cheers went on and on, each seeming more futile than the last. Until finally, the vibrations of the bulkhead’s engine began to settle, and the distinct rocking of air travel came to an end.
The doors opened with painstaking slowness before the metal ramp settled against the grass of Forever Fall Forest. The seven students didn’t hesitate to flee the interior compartment leaving Jaune’s hunched figure to suffer by his lonesome. They listened closely for the sounds of sickness they were sure would inevitably follow. Against all the odds, the group would find themselves proven wrong, however, as their friend stumbled after them a few minutes later, his face no less shadowed but blessedly vomit free.
“Motion sickness. Is more common. Then you think,” he panted, a sarcastic reply that lacked the emphasis to come off as biting. The assembled teenagers smirked at his obvious discomfort now that they were no longer in danger from the effect.
It wasn’t like he could blame them for their relief. Yang and Ruby knew the dangers better than anyone when it came to him and flying. So, when the two teams realized they were all stuck with him for over half an hour on one such ride, they were well within their rights to be a little worried about the consequences of his proximity.
Little did they know how close they had all come to suffering his intestinal spew.
It had only taken about five minutes into the ride before his face had taken on a greenish hue. He’d taken lengths to avoid too much food that morning for just that reason. Unfortunately, the gentle sway of the winds rocking against the large metal box of their transportation and the dizzying hum of engines still manage to tighten his gut.
There wasn’t a lot he could do in such a situation except use his semblance, a sanctuary in more than the usual way this time around. It was the first time in a while he’d used it without some ulterior motive, which was ironic considering he’d been stuffed into the ship with six beautiful women at the time. However, with his head in between his knees and a cold sweat shivering along his back and shoulders, he hadn’t been in the mood for fun at the time.
The only downside to this approach had been the simple fact that he needed to return to reality eventually; the rocking, swaying hell that it was. Thus, developing a rather unhealthy pattern that was somehow worse than the motion sickness itself — getting sick, freezing time until he was healthy, only to repeat again and again turning what should have been a short ride from their school into what felt like hours.
His line of thought quickly shifted when one young woman happened to deem it safe enough to approach him.
“Seemed a little dicey there for a second.” Yang breezed up, cautious steps taking her towards Jaune’s hunched figure. “Not gonna lie,” her smile lit up, coy and teasing. “I’d be pretty annoyed if you ended up costing me another pair of boots.” Jaune could only stare in response, the bright golden sheen of her hair and heart shaped features taking him off guard even more than the woman’s words.
Usually this type of teasing would be met with a flush and murmured grumble on his part. No doubt hilarious for the blonde in question. Little did Yang know, Jaune had heard quite the interesting secret the other day that left him partially immune to her typical prods.
But knowing that this beautiful young woman was interested in him romantically appeared to do more harm than good in the time it took for him to respond. He wasn’t the same stumbling nerd he’d been, however, and quickly rising to his full height, whatever remnants of motion sickness disappeared from his otherwise pale features allowing him to put on a calm, confident smirk of his own.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged, “maybe I could have gone with — helped you pick a pair out? My sisters always said I had excellent taste.” His smile opened then to reveal rows of even white teeth, a gesture just hesitant enough to still capture some of the awkward charm he was better known for.
It was Yang’s turn to be caught off guard, surprised enough that her lips opened without a sound, not quite sure what to say. It was pretty clear she hadn’t been expecting that kind of response if she’d been expecting one at all. Finally, an awkward laugh spilled out while her eyes broke their stare to glance away, showing an unusually bashful expression that sent Jaune’s blood racing.
He took a step towards the other blonde oblivious to the effect his proximity played on her young figure. It was far braver than he was used to acting, but her lack of outright rejection was just encouraging enough for him to press the small victory.
Yang noticed his aura right away, however, made evident by the way her eyes seemed to flash open, her pupils dilating like she’d just injected some drug. Rather than back away and run from the sudden onrush of pleasure, the boxer appeared to revel in it, suddenly reminded of why she’d been considering interest in the awkward boy in the first place.
A slightly challenging smile spread across her face.
“I got to admit. I’m pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve ever heard a guy try and brag about knowing women’s shoes.” She tapped her finger against her forearm as she put on a considering expression. “Although, I will say, you’ve got me at least a little curious.” And then, meeting his eyes. “You’re just full of surprises lately, aren’t you?”
Jaune didn’t dare look away. “I think I’ve got a few more up my sleeve you might be interested in.” This time Yang’s smile became honest, a much deeper chuckle rumbling as her blonde hair swayed with each slow shake of her head.
“Why do I believe you…?”
Jaune’s pulse picked up, and his eyes widened feeling the mood. Far more nervous than he let himself show, he hesitated only a moment before taking another step towards the girl, close enough that she had to look up to see his bold expression. Yang still didn’t back away, seeming to shiver as the sensations increased.
“Hey, so I was thinking-.”
“Hello!”
Staring into Yang’s purple gaze, Jaune watched her eyes widen at his hesitant tone, wondering if she could already see where he was going. It seemed like the right moment to ask her out on a date, anyway. Unfortunately, both of them appeared to have forgotten the fact that their friends were well within eyeshot of their obvious flirting.
The blondes suddenly jumped apart when they noticed Pyrrha and Weiss appear beside their female friend seemingly out of thin air.
“I wanted to say that I also appreciate you for refraining from any unfortunate accidents during our flight.” Weiss complimented him in her own supportive way. “Quite the impressive show of willpower.” She met his eyes, but her expression remained impassive.
“I was expecting much worse!” Pyrrha joined in leaving Jaune to stare at the two women with no small amount of confusion.
“Thank… you…?” he eventually decided, which seemed to do the two just fine.
“Hey, you guys!” Yang practically glared at the pair of young women, her teeth clenched while her smile and eyes stretched purposefully wide to match her forced cheerful tone. “Man, you two just popped out of nowhere, huh? Almost like fungus…” Neither reacted to the overtly threatening tone, all but ignoring the blonde in favor of the boy suddenly surrounded by the three of them.
“We couldn’t help overhearing your conversation,” Pyrrha hummed innocently, leaving Jaune to blink at the admission. Had they really been that close? “And wouldn’t you know it, me and Weiss were also considering a short trip into Vale sometime soon. Isn’t that funny?”
Weiss’ expression didn’t change as she shrugged non-committal. “I try not to make a habit of spending recklessly, but I could use a few new outfits, I suppose.”
“Exactly,” the redhead nodded. “You wouldn’t mind if the two of us joined you two when you went out, would you?” Suddenly faced with his partner’s kind grin, Jaune found his own faltering.
A glance towards Yang proved fruitless, however, as she appeared fixated on burning a hole through the two other girls with her eyes alone. Finally, all he could do was nod his head, whimpering internally at the thought of his date turning into yet another group activity.
“Suuure,” he sighed, head falling ever so slightly in disappointment. “The more the merrier, right?” Weiss and Pyrrha both smiled, their pleasure somehow amplified by Yang’s apparent distress. Jaune was left to scratch his head at the strange dynamic playing in front of him – his brain racing to find an explanation for their peculiar behavior.
“Students!” Ms. Goodwitch’s voice called out into the forest. Her figure emerged from the final bulkhead, eyes scanning the small groups of students that had naturally clustered around as they waited. “Please gather so I can explain the purpose of our outing. Listen carefully.” She fell silent waiting patiently for the teenagers to collect into one large group.
“Well,” Jaune chuckled awkwardly in an attempt at escaping whatever mood he’d stumbled into, “I guess we should go join everyone else?”
“Please.”
“After you.”
“Right behind you.”
The three girls acknowledged, never bothering to glance in his direction in favor of each other. Jaune simply stared at them a moment longer, before giving up and taking the first step towards their teacher – the three of them immediately following after.
Anything else that might have been said was suddenly pushed aside for later as their group melded into the majority. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of the students who were focused on their teacher, the four of them remained somewhat distracted in their personal exchanges.
Jaune, in particular, found his eyes lingering on his red-haired partner, a strange mix of anticipation, anxiety, and hope making everything more complicated than they already were. It seemed like only yesterday she’d been outright avoiding him. Which was, you know, because it had been.
Not that he wasn’t happy to see Pyrrha back to her old friendly self. It was just a little jarring to have things back the way they used to be after she’d been so adamant about avoiding him. No matter how much he tried to think about what might have happened, no clues came to mind leaving him somewhat nervous.
Part of the young man kept expecting to see Pyrrha flinch or shrink away from him like she’d done so much in the day before, but ever since he woke up that morning it was like nothing between them had changed, and they’d never slept together.
It was all he could do to push past that instinct, to try and match her friendly demeanor with his own. However, a nagging voice in the back of his head couldn’t help but notice the redhaired young woman almost came off as too friendly.
Which was ridiculous! Pyrrha, too friendly? She was just about the friendliest person he’d ever met since coming to Beacon. Maybe he was overreacting because of the two days they’d spent away from each other. Given enough time, they’d fall back into their typical rhythm. He could only imagine Pyrrha was desperate for the same outcome.
He was happy enough to let things progress as they were. He’d missed his best friend, after all, and if she was willing to move on then he wasn’t about to stop her. If anyone was kind enough to move past that kind of obstacle, he knew it could only be his partner. Although, she wasn’t the only one acting weird.
His eyes shifted over towards the back of Weiss’ much shorter and paler head.
Possibly even more strange than his partner’s sudden about-face had been Weiss’. Maybe not as overtly as Pyrrha’s gestures, she’d turned out to be just as sociable and communicative since he’d bumped into her a few hours ago — apparently having woken up on what could only be considered as the best side of the bed.
He’d nearly fallen out of his chair when the white-haired girl had moved to voluntarily sit next to him that morning at breakfast, going out of her way to strike up a conversation and hold it for the majority of their meal. The entire time she’d remained, well, polite, and not in the overly, ‘you annoy me, and this is the way rich people tell you to fuck off,’ kind of way he was used to, but in a genuine and courteous gesture usually reserved for people she actually considered worth her time.
Suffice to say, it was more than he’d ever hoped to expect from the proud young woman after their ‘date’ had ended so poorly. But now it seemed like she was trying to be friends again. Well, actually, since she was talking to him, she was even nicer than when they’d technically already been friends.
He could only assume she was more willing now that he wasn’t trying to ask her out every other day. Which was… disappointing, but still better than nothing.
His only complaint was that all of this had to happen right when he was trying to start up a relationship with Yang! Why did they both have to have a change of heart right when he needed to focus on another girl? It wasn’t like he could exactly send them away, not without risking what was an already tenuous relationship.
It was almost enough to make him laugh. Here he’d been worried that he’d somehow ruined these relationships only for it to turn around so that they were all getting along too well. To the point that he didn’t have time to get a girlfriend! It wasn’t the worst problem to have, fortunately, and, so long as he found some time to try and romance Yang eventually, he supposed he didn’t mind the distractions so much.
It was ironic that Jaune was so focused on the three women and yet utterly failed to catch the silent declarations of war being shared directly in front of him.
The air between them had become a rivalry as much as a race for who was going to be bold enough and fast enough to outmatch their competition. And this field trip was meant to serve as their arena.
Even though no words were shared, Yang’s enraged frustration, Pyrrha’s dangerous frown, and Weiss haughty flick of her hair said everything that needed to be shared as they focused on each other, faces drawn and resolute in their acknowledgment of what had become a clear battlefield for Jaune’s romantic interest.
Until one of them was picked as the winner, all of them needed to watch out for the other girls. The lack of established rules only meant their tactics could be that much more cutthroat – which apparently allowed for sabotage. A lesson Yang was keenly aware of after the two other girls had so blatantly teamed up against her. She made sure to convey that, win or lose, there would be revenge.
Of that there was no doubt.
“Let me repeat for those that may have not been listening.” Glynda’s voice rose enough that it managed to pierce the four student’s brains. Jaune and his girls could only flinch back seeing the teacher’s glare pointed in their direction, much to the rest of the group’s amusement.
“Professor Peach has been asking for a sample of the sap unique to the trees found in this forest and the faculty decided to make this a valuable learning experience for you first-year students. Rest assured, I am here to assure your safety. But Grimm are known to wander this area, so be on your toes and remember to stay vigilant. Every student is expected to retrieve one full jar of sap. We shall remain for three hours, so you have no excuse to fail this assignment. That will be all.”
The cluster of students slowly began to break off and explore the beauty that was Forever Fall forest.
Jaune allowed his problems to fade away for a moment as he did just that — his eyes sweeping across the perpetually autumnal landscape. Taking a few steps away from the group, the trees and grass were stained an eerie red that somehow contrasted the warm summer air blowing through the leaves. It had an illusionary effect giving the impression that it wouldn’t be hard at all to find one’s self lost in the haze of color.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled at the peacefulness of it all. The color might be off, but the natural feeling gave off a very similar impression of his home town. As exciting as the big city was, he’d yet to find a place as relaxing as the forested small town his family had picked as their home.
His observations were cut short as the sensation of a hand along his arm drew his attention.
“Jaune,” Pyrrha’s smiling face appeared.
Lingering for a few minutes, Jaune's eyebrow raised when her hand failed to pull back. Instead, the tall redhead continued in her excited tone, “I was hoping you wouldn’t mind helping me with my jar? I just thought your weapon might have a better chance at thrusting through this thick bark.” She giggled in a way that most guys would obviously catch onto. Jaune, unfortunately lost in his single-minded pursuit of Yang, remained oblivious.
“You think my sword would pierce better than… your spear?” he clarified, clearly confused. Pyrrha’s smile tightened ever so slightly, but she managed to nod her head without coming off as too awkward. Jaune felt a nervous sweat start under his hoodie.
Between that morning and the bulkhead ride over, it was like Pyrrha hadn’t left him alone all morning, which was unfortunate, if only in that he’d set that time aside the night before to try and get closer to Yang.
By this point in the day, he’d hoped to strike up a conversation with her at breakfast, entertain her and get her to laugh a bit, maybe talk some about his fight the other day. Just simple things that might help him convince her to take a walk with him in this romantic scenery where he’d be able to employ his real charms. And Pyrrha… kind of didn’t fit into that scene.
“Y-you know,” he hesitated ever so slightly and used those couple of seconds to take a glance around, searching for the familiar bold color of Yang’s hair. A search that went strangely without success, even though she and Weiss had been standing beside him what felt like seconds ago. But even after a quick scan, none of team RWBY could be seen, leaving him to scramble.
“A-Actually,” he stuttered, “I was already planning on, ah,” he stopped, finally glancing down at his partner feeling her hand suddenly clench around his arm.
Was… was she pouting?
Jaune blinked at the uncharacteristic expression, but there was no denying Pyrrha’s juvenile disappointment, eyebrows drawn up and pink lips slightly pursed with a frown. Compared to her composed and mature nature, Jaune almost couldn’t believe the picture for a moment, stumbling with his words.
“P-Planning on walking around with… ah-.” Her frown deepened, and her eyes became somehow more pitiful. Jaune had to swallow the sudden lump in his throat as he tried to look away, sweat starting on his temple at the effort. The not so subtle pressure on his arm couldn’t be ignored.
“W-With… you!” he suddenly broke, a laugh breaking free that was equal parts stressed and anxious. “I was already planning on walking around with you today. So, I would, of course, be more than happy to help you get some sap. Shall we?”
“My pleasure!” Pyrrha chirped, her expression shifting in an instant into a broad and familiar smile. The effect was so sudden it left the poor boy wondering if he’d just… imagined her frowning? Seriously, what the heck was going on with these girls?
‘Guess she missed hanging out even more than I thought?’ Jaune boggled, laughing awkwardly at her… enthusiasm. Although, well, if he had to say whether he hated it or not, he had to admit it was kind of cool to have someone so eager to be around him, which wasn’t exactly the most common occurrence in his life so far, believe it or not.
Jaune glanced over at his friend, a more honest smile developing as she began to lead him deeper into the forest. This was pretty nice too. Maybe Yang could wait a few more minutes so he could enjoy the forest some with his teammate? He just needed to ask her out on a date. Hell, he’d almost done just that a few minutes after landing. What was the rush? He had plenty of time… most likely… probably… right?
His eyes glanced around looking for the blonde just in case, so he knew where to find her after spending a little time with his partner. Unfortunately, he couldn’t help but notice a distinct lack of… well, everyone they’d flown with – the rest of his team included.
“Hey, Pyrrha?” Jaune started hesitantly, eyes flickering around the slowly shrinking cluster of Hunters as the two of them made their way deeper into the forest, “you haven’t seen where Yang might have wandered off to, did you?” He did his best to sound casual, but then, this was Jaune we were talking about. To her credit, the red-haired amazon managed to keep her pace with impressive ease as she merely tilted her head.
“Hmm, I don’t think so. Why do you ask?” She easily managed to accomplish the effect her crush had failed to achieve. Jaune’s answer was an awkward chuckle while his fingers reached up to scratch the back of his neck.
“Oh, no reason!” he quickly denied. And then much slower, “I guess… I was just hoping to, ah, talk to her about something before we got back to Beacon.”
“But it can totally wait until later!” He then picked up, worried about ruining his partner’s efforts to reach out to him. A worry that was quickly abated when the red-haired woman turned to smile at him, her cheeks lighting up a delightful pink as she walked close enough to stand in the effect of his aura before boldly reaching out to clasp his hand in hers.
“I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to find her later,” she promised, only to suddenly giggle and tighten her grip. “But why don’t we try and enjoy our day for now? I can’t tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to spending some time together like this.”
Before Jaune could stop to think about the comfortable warmth of her hand in his or her casual dismissal of their blonde friend, the young man found himself suddenly jerked forward as his partner broke into a playful jog dragging him along as a result. Leaving him helpless to follow, completely unaware that his crush in question was currently looking for him at the same time.
XxX
“And you think my gauntlets would be better at piercing the tree than… your rapier?” The question in Yang’s tone surpassed dubious into suspicion as she stared at a far too innocent Weiss Schnee. The girl in question continued to stare back without so much as a flinch at the blatant lie.
The two of them stood with the rest of their team already within the red foliage unique to their surroundings. Picking a tree and sticking it with something sharp should have been a simple enough matter. Except, Weiss had been unusually anal as to what exact tree would provide the best quality sap, turning down tree after tree no matter how many Yang tried to pick out.
As if marching their team into the forest and demanding they get the best tree wasn’t bizarre enough. Complaints varied from, “Goodness look at the quality of these leaves! No, no this won’t do at all,” to, “I don’t like the look of this bark. A bit too… vertical, yes. Let us try again,” all the way up till, “This tree? You must be joking. Its roots are positively filthy!”
Which was infuriating enough all on its own! However, Yang’s sanity was pushed a step even further when she realized that she seemed to be the only person on their team to recognize the madness for what it was.
“Ah, Blake, Ruby? Any of this making sense to you guys?” The blonde fished out. Only to be disappointed when she was forced to turn around after the following silence.
“Hmm?” Blake hummed, an agitated expression painted on her feline features as she bothered to glance up from her book for what was probably the second time since they’d landed.
“Oh, uh, sorry,” the cat girl offered seeing the blonde’s expression before immediately glancing back down to turn a page. “This place makes me… uncomfortable. Just let me know when its time to fill our jars so we can leave.”
Ruby wasn’t much better. Turning to her little sister, eyebrow raised, Yang wasn’t at all surprised to see her sister hadn’t even heard her, staring off into space the same way she had been since yesterday.
“Ruby!” The blonde tried again, only for the fifteen-year-old to finally snap out of whatever was wrong with her.
“Wha?!” The younger girl startled, blinking when she turned to see Yang and Weiss staring directly at her. Her face immediately flushed for reasons the other teenage girls couldn’t begin to understand.
“I-I wasn’t,” Ruby began to stammer, silver eyes widening each time they flickered between her two teammates. “I-I wasn’t thinking about-! Ah, I… I mean, he-. I-. um-. Ah!” her sudden exclamation was quickly followed by her face disappearing beneath her cloak, as the younger girl clutched the fabric around her small figure desperately. The sound of her indistinguishable mumbles continued from within a bit longer.
Yang and Weiss each raised an eyebrow at the display, but ultimately rolled their eyes in dismissal. They’d already long since given up trying to understand what the heck was going on with their youngest teammate, simply passing it off as puberty.
Well, those two were useless.
“That is correct,” the white-haired girl nodded as Yang finally turned back to face her, eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Besides, you heard Ms. Goodwitch.” Weiss continued in her proper tone. “This is a dangerous Grimm infested forest. I wouldn’t be a very thoughtful teammate if I let a dear, dear friend wander off on her own only to get hurt. It’s best if you stay with us for now. I’m sure we’ll find a tree worthy of our team soon enough.”
And the scary thing was? Weiss managed to say it all with a straight face. But that only made Yang all the more distrustful. A lot of convenient bullshit seemed to be occurring as of late with her always falling short for one reason or another.
First had been waking up to find her clock’s alarm conveniently disabled for seemingly no reason.
She’d planned the night before to put a small bit of extra effort in her appearance. Nothing too ostentatious, but she had her own weapons to employ, and she’d seen no reason why she shouldn’t be able to put on a little makeup and a bra usually reserved for her nights out when she wanted to draw more attention to her chest. As if her girls needed any help standing out, but she figured playing a little dirty was to be expected.
The way things had turned out, however, had left her with hardly enough time to shower and squeeze into a sports bra, while forcing her tangled mess of hair into a ponytail rather than the cascading golden waterfall she usually sported.
Then, even after rushing down to breakfast to find the team who’d so kindly left her to sleep in, she’d found both spots beside Jaune steadily claimed by the two women she was supposedly in competition with for said idiot’s affection. Watching both women monopolize his time the entire meal had been a real kick in the pants. But it had also given her time to plan exactly how she was going to beat Pyrrha and Weiss to the bulkhead.
A plan that was immediately ruined as soon as breakfast ended and the blonde realized she couldn’t find her scroll.
It was a quick but panic attack inducing moment that left her scrambling to find the expensive item all the way up till the departure time. Upon which she’d sullenly dragged herself towards the meeting spot only to discover Pyrrha had just happened to have picked it up and had been waiting to return it; but only after the redhead had already claimed her seat beside her partner with Weiss dutifully and smugly grinning from the other side.
Yang had gotten her revenge, of course, since the two girls had seemingly forgotten Jaune’s tendency to lose his lunch on these kinds of rides. Something… she had also forgotten. But it had been her turn to smirk as soon as Weiss recognized the boy’s green complexion for what it was, forcing the white-haired girl to nearly crawl into poor Blake’s lap in her attempts at escaping the splash zone.
All of that had been suspicious enough on its own. But hey, maybe she was just having a bad day. Maybe some cosmic karma had finally built up over seventeen years to crap on her all at once. Whatever, sure. Yang wasn’t the type to dwell on things either way and just did her best to focus on moving forward.
But now this? In addition to Weiss and Pyrrha’s little stunt after they’d all landed? Yeah, something was up.
Yang made a show of looking around. “Huh, you haven’t happened to notice Jaune and his team aren’t tagging along today, have you?” she droned in a bland tone. Weiss didn’t even pretend to have the courtesy to mirror her gesture before tilting her head quizzically.
“Interesting,” the heiress hummed, “now that you mentioned it, no. No, I haven’t.” Yang’s eyes narrowed as the other girl shrugged apathetically. “Oh well, it isn’t as though our two teams are joined at the hip. I’m sure their all off enjoying their own time to bond.”
“Right,” Yang snorted while rolling her eyes dramatically, “Hey, and I guess you haven’t so much as considered the fact that this means Pyrrha has Jaune all to herself at the moment?” This time Weiss did at least pretend to appear shocked. But even then, not very convincingly.
“You seem to be right!” she gasped, eyes wide but the rest of her features unmoved. And just like that, the effort vanished returning to a mask of innocents. “Oh well, I’m sure they will be fine for an hour or two. I mean, really, who would think of using a field trip to try and flirt?” She shook her head.
Yang sighed.
“Seriously?” the blonde asked one last time. “This is the story you’re going for?”
“I’m sure I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m going to find out what’s going on,” Yang threatened. But rather than shrink back or show fear, the blonde’s already short temper flared when the much shorter girl smiled back.
“Probably,” Weiss agreed, but didn’t seem worried much to Yang’s unease. “But until then, how about we finish that assignment?”
XxX
“We’re… kind of far, don’t you think?” Jaune paused to look around only realizing their distance after the quiet of the forest reached his ears. “and where are Ren and Nora? Aren’t we going to find them?”
Looking around the bizarre red and black landscape, there was an almost unnerving tone to the complete lack of any living presence. Glynda had explained that this was technically Grimm territory which animals tended to avoid on instinct, but he hadn’t been able to grasp what that meant until they’d separated from the other group of hunters.
Closing his eyes, the blond could almost swear he was in his semblance if not for the warm breeze against his face.
“Not all that far,” his partner denied coolly. Her hands were busy positioning their jars against the trees they’d already sliced open to allow the sap to drip free. Fortunately for her, the dark pink fluid appeared to pour at a dreadfully slow pace giving credence to their teacher’s time limit.
“And last I heard, Nora wanted to spend some quality time alone with Ren. I thought it best to give them some privacy. Besides, I think between the two of us, we’ll be able to handle any Grimm that happens to wander by.” She giggled then, clearly amused by the stark understatement. Naturally, Jaune couldn’t help but preen under the off-handed commendation.
Even though he was turned away, the young man’s face stretched with an abashed but proud grin that filled him with a sense of pride. Of course, Pyrrha had never been shy when it came to offering him praise, no matter how far she had to reach for it. But now was the first time that he felt deserving of the recognition.
Between his semblance and Pyrrha’s…. well, being her, they could probably make it a fair distance through the Grimmlands without too much trouble. A few Boarbatusk or even Ursa weren’t a threat to the two of them anymore as long as they didn’t completely let their guard down.
It was a nice feeling. A feeling that left Jaune somewhat at ease at a time he was usually used to feeling shame or discouraged. But for once, he could take solace in knowing that his partner believed what she just said. But, more importantly, he believed what she’d said.
“You know, I never got the chance to talk to you yesterday after your spar, to congratulate you. It was remarkable to watch. When it’s not being used against me, that is.” Jaune turned then, still bashful but somehow compelled to see his partners face. She was, of course, already watching him, a gentle smile on her lips as she strode over to gently lower herself beside the tree he’d been sitting against.
“Geez, your gonna make a guy blush,” Jaune offered an awkward laugh as he did just that, purposefully turning his eyes away from the way the top of her corset dipped just before she settled. “But seriously, you should know you’re the only reason I survived to make it this far. There was a reason you were the first person I decided to show off to.”
He stopped then, eyes widening a fraction as he realized he’d just mentioned the day that shall not be mentioned. But turning towards his partner, he would be relieved to find her smile just as warm, if perhaps a bit warmer than he last checked.
“Yes, well,” Pyrrha squirmed, her cheeks an adorable pink. “I didn’t do anything all that important. I just... believed in you. I could see there was something special in you just waiting to break free. Remember Jaune, no matter what anybody says, a Semblance is always a reflection of a person’s soul. Of what makes you, you. Which means you’re just as incredible.”
Staring at her hands the entire time, she finally mustered her courage to lift her gaze and meet his eyes. What she found would only ever remind her of the feelings so dearly treasured in her heart.
“H-How are you feeling?” Pyrrha suddenly blurted when he didn’t respond right away. Jaune was staring at her, eyes wide with surprise at the genuine emotion behind her words. She hated herself for changing the subject but couldn’t help it. “You look much better.” Thankfully, Jaune seemed to relax at the familiar topic and leaned back against the tree.
“Er, are you talking about the Aura exhaustion or the motion sickness?” Jaune chuckled despite himself, still more than aware of his failings. The difference now was that he could smile about them. “I’m fine, though. Had to spend second hour laying down but once I got some food and a nap, I was back to normal. Or, close enough. At least the teachers were nice. It’s probably what I get for showing off so much, I guess.”
“I’m… surprised you didn’t take it further, actually.” Pyrrha confessed. “After everything Carden’s done, I know you were so miserable for a time. I don’t think anybody would have blamed you for wanting… more than humiliation.”
She wouldn’t have, certainly. Even if she feared it. And yet, waiting to see that spark of darkness in his eyes yesterday in the arena, it had been an amazing relief when it never came. It would be so easy for Jaune to change from this power, to hate all the people who laughed at him before. But… that wasn’t him, and it never had been.
“Mmm,” Jaune considered, fidgeting a moment before confessing, “Okay, I’m not gonna lie. Basically, the first thing I did with this power was punch Carden in the face.” He didn’t look especially proud of this fact, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t the smallest of smiles at the memory.
“He-he, it felt… really good, but I was a little busy freaking out about unlocking this kind of power to waste too much time on him and his friends. I mean, it’s everything I ever wanted. It was a little overwhelming at first, actually. Almost like I wasn’t allowed to be myself anymore. That because of this power, I had to be more, that it meant more than being an average hunter.” His eyes took on a somewhat somber tone.
“Thankfully, I ended up getting some really great advice from a pretty cool person. And she made me realize, just like I don’t need to be an evil dick hurting people because I can, I don’t need to be a saint either. This is my power. And I’m probably going to use it in ways people might not agree with. But they don’t need to.”
“I’m only human. I want to look cool and show off and lots of… other things. But just as much as all of that, I can’t wait to see how much good I can do, either. How many people will I save because of this ability? People who are going to get to grow up and live their lives and have children who will do the same just because I was around to save them.”
Jaune smiled then, proud and joyful in a way that only enhanced his already passing attractiveness. “Besides, not sure if you’ve noticed but I have great role models to show me what it means to have power. All of you guys, you’re all plenty strong, but you’ve never held it over anyone. And, you especially. You’re probably stronger than all of us, but you’ve never let that define you. Which is better than I’ve managed.”
Pyrrha had to hold a hand against her chest to keep from bursting with emotion. Of course, that didn’t stop a smile from splitting her face. She was just so proud of him and amazed at how he continued to prove himself to her time and time again.
“You’ve always had your own strength,” she disagreed, “and I’ve learned more from you than I’ll ever be able to say.” And when Jaune turned to smile at her, the two of them all alone and basking in the warm mood, the red-haired woman could feel her heart swell beneath her armor.
The two fell silent after that. But a comfortable one. Their time together as partners had given them the chance to understand each other’s rhythm well enough to know the difference. And after a moment, Jaune broke their stare to gaze off into the silent woods and appreciate a connection he’d never thought he would ever be able to share with another person.
His best friend.
Meanwhile, Pyrrha remained very much focused on his features, her cheeks blushing for an entirely different reason than the already maddening sensation his presence seemed to exude whenever she dared to come near him.
She’d been careful up till this point to stay just out of that range of whatever it was that had begun to draw her body. But feeling the breeze on her skin and gazing upon his far-off expression, she couldn’t help but dare another inch in his direction. And then another. And then another until finally, she felt the familiar tingle and ghost-like sensation of fingers begin to lick along her skin.
Pyrrha breathed a deep sigh as she allowed herself to bask in the feeling.
When it came to sex, she’d never been the most ravenous of people. But that could easily be ascribed to just how she’d been introduced to that aspect of adult life. Being perfectly honest, a large part of her had felt she’d never genuinely crave the touch of a man like so many women her age seemed to enjoy. But then, she’d never thought she would be able to connect with a person like she had with Jaune either.
She’d hoped, yes, she had hoped. But even in those most desperate dreams had always been a sprinkling of doubt. Of knowing that her life would never be more than the fans who placed her upon a pedestal she could never hope to live up to, and those that only saw her as something to gain from. But Jaune had taken away all of that doubt — all the fears that she would always be alone. He’d made Beacon a home when she’d had none to return to, and that she would forever cherish.
The sensations continued to increase as she decided to scoot over one last time before boldly lowering her cheek to his much broader shoulders. And a heartbeat would pass as she had to wait and see if he was going to react. Thankfully, after stiffening his shoulders for a moment, Pyrrha felt him relax.
It should have been such an innocent gesture, but all the red-haired young woman could focus on was the sudden intensity centered between her legs. In just her leather skirt and boots, she felt especially vulnerable even when she pressed her thighs together in a desperate attempt at either encouraging the pleasure or denying it. She honestly couldn’t tell which. However, rather than pull away, she forced herself to remain. To appreciate the sensations and emotions this strange and silly boy inspired in her that no other man had ever managed.
For Jaune’s part, he had reacted to his partner’s proximity… just not in a way she could notice. After all, she’d been waiting to feel him pull away or push her back. However, his tension lied somewhere a little bit further south, and of no fault of his own.
Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to focus on the present weather or the heartwarming exchange they’d just shared, now that they’d both settled down and he could feel her surprisingly light weight settled against him, the memories of her naked body popped up of their own volition.
Her breasts, her backside, her crotch. And then, led there, Jaune’s mind inevitably drifted back to the few moments he’d lasted inside of her. He doubted he would forget the sensation of her womanly body stretched around his erection until the day he died— nothing but wet, smooth, and hot muscle sliding down his shaft before he’d had a chance to realize what she was doing.
It was almost funny. Jaune wasn’t even aware of what he was focusing on, or the effect those thoughts were having on his rapidly hardening shaft. At least, not consciously. It was only after she shifted against him and he felt the hard armor of her breastplate brush against his arm when he turned his head to look towards her. And what he saw was… startling.
The long, dark bows of her eyelashes set against warm emerald eyes. The redness of her hair, long and soft in the way it fell against his shoulder. Even her smell, a cinnamon he’d always considered comforting, had become something more, creating a heat in the pit of his chest. And finally, his eyes lowered towards her lips, parted ever so slightly to allow a strained breath to slowly shutter through.
He… wanted to kiss those lips. Which summoned yet another memory of how it had felt the first time. He’d been a little startled at the moment, what with Pyrrha tackling him out of nowhere and pinning him down. But he could still remember the soft sensation pressed against his — if a bit too rough. Then there had been her tongue…
Strands of red hair tickling the tip of his nose returned his sense and let him jerk back before Pyrrha could notice he’d been leaning towards her. Hell, Jaune hadn’t noticed he’d been leaning towards his partner. Not until he’d been about to ruin the last chance he had of fixing his friendship.
Eyes widening in silent horror about what he’d been about to do, now it was all he could focus on, suddenly realizing just how turned on he was, and how drawn he felt towards his partner. He wanted to hate himself for the weakness as much as he was surprised by it. The first time that he’s had the chance to hang out and be around his partner since their fight and the first thing he did was pop a boner? It was all kinds of awkward that he hadn’t expected.
Unfortunately, becoming aware did nothing to banish the thoughts and sexual energies assaulting his mind and body. Which left him confused.
Okay, yes, sure, he knew Pyrrha was a girl, woman, whatever. But more in the way that he’d always known his mom was a woman or his sisters. Technically they all had breasts and other womanly accessories, but he never thought about them before! Especially not in that much detail. Doing his best to ignore his bodies reaction, however, there was nothing he could do could when she was pressed up against him— soft, warm… pretty.
Not that this was the first time she’d laid her head on his shoulder like this. Pyrrha had always been a very… touchy friend, if that was a thing. Things like correcting his tie, running her hands along his shoulder or arms, just those kinds of small affectionate gestures. It had been a little weird at first, but he’d gotten used to it. He’d stopped thinking about it entirely, if he were honest, that used to his partner’s presence. So, what had changed?!
Oh… right, they’d had sex …huh.
It was at that very moment, eyes stretched wide and peaceful expression all but obliterated, that Jaune Arc realized… their relationship had changed. For him at least, and no matter how cool Pyrrha might be trying to be about what had happened, his dream of everything going back to how it had been might be harder to achieve than he’d initially planned.
That was a sobering thought and one Jaune wasn’t quite sure how to handle. He’d always heard how sex changed friendships but experiencing it for himself was another thing entirely. It made sense, he supposed. He’d seen her naked. Felt her body on his and watched himself disappear into her body. That was kind of a lot for a relationship to merely take in stride.
She was already his best friend. And now that he realized just how beautiful he found her, it opened all kinds of issues.
Oum, he was an idiot!
Liking Pyrrha had never been part of the plan. It still wasn’t! Yet, it seemed the friendship he’d thought he’d missed might have turned into something more without him realizing until she was right in front of him. Now it was all he could do to resist the draw of her figure, and to want to feel that connection again.
Whether that was just an effect of her body or if he felt an emotional connection, he wasn’t sure. But neither were an excellent start to his supposed new relationship with Yang, which was the real issue at hand.
Pyrrha was just a friend. A great friend for sure, but he couldn’t look for more than that. Especially when Yang already admitted that she liked him.
That first time, the only time, and the time his mind seemed so keen on remembering had only happened because he’d pushed Pyrrha to the breaking point with powers he was just starting to understand. It wasn’t real, and she didn’t really feel that way. Trying to force her might push them both down a path neither could come back from.
‘You’re just horny,’ Jaune mentally chastised himself, adamantly forcing his eyes to stare ahead and away from his friend’s cleavage pointed in his direction. ‘You had sex once, and now you want it again. Nothing wrong with that, just so long as you don’t let it make you do anything you’ll regret.’ Whatever these new feelings were, he just needed to set them aside until he had a real girlfriend to distract him.
A teenager’s hormones rarely responded to logic, however, and no amount of reason managed to quell the pressure throbbing in his pants.
Naturally, Jaune’s inner turmoil went completely unnoticed by the young woman all but panting against his side. She managed to keep her breath even by force of will alone, but there was nothing that could be done about the bright red complexion threatening to blend her in with the natural fauna around them. Not that Pyrrha was exactly complaining.
If anything, she felt gratified by the strange sensation even as she felt those same ghostly sensations crawl up between her legs and into her body. Her inner muscles clenched as a result, desperately trying to twist around fingers that weren’t there. All this did was make her imagine Jaune's hand in their place — a dangerous prospect if ever there was one.
What Jaune failed to understand was that women enjoyed and thought about sex just as much as men, even if they weren’t quite as open about it in front of the other gender. Pyrrha wasn’t any more immune to the memories of their trist then he.
Past the horror and mortification, it was all she could do to stop from shivering at the memory of Jaune's tool inside of her, in her hand, beneath her. Those memories were terribly sharp, in fact, to the point that she’d often dwelled on the sensations late into the night struggling to keep her hand above her blankets while the object of her affection slept on just the other side of the hall.
She was as human as any other, and the effect of her crush’s power only threatened to bring out that selfish, desperate part of her that she already feared more than anything else.
Because of course it was scary to remember how she’d lost control. To rationalize that there was a person inside of her, somewhere, who was the type that would push a boy down and just… take him like he belonged to her to be used and enjoyed as much as she pleased.
However, just as there was fear, there was also envy.
When Pyrrha had been like that, she hadn’t hesitated to show Jaune exactly how she felt… if perhaps, in not the clearest of ways. When she had been like that, she’d been the brave and immovable invincible girl she was on the battlefield. Even more, when she’d given in to her hunger, she’d been allowed to have Jaune in a way her normal self had never managed. In a way she feared her normal self would never be bold enough to have again.
Which had been fine up until this point. She’d been satisfied being his friend and his partner. However, her worst fear had finally come true, and now she had other women to worry about. Women who finally saw just how amazing Jaune was — how amazing she’d always known he was.
She didn’t have time to be passive anymore, and she didn’t have the strength to be so bold on her own, which is why she didn’t shrink back from the familiar wetness pooling between her thighs. Instead, she forced herself to remain by his side; and took comfort in the fact that this was Jaune and pulled strength from the sensations demanding that she press herself even closer until she was allowed to experience that satisfaction again.
Perhaps it was cowardly to throw herself so willingly into the flames of lust. But she was… far weaker than most gave her credit for, and she was willing to exploit any advantage she needed to gain the prize that was Jaune’s affection.
“I’m happy, you know?” there was a quiver in her tone that a more experienced man would clearly recognize. But lost in his thoughts of guilt and confusion, Jaune just tilted his head curiously, making a point to keep his expression faced forward lest he fall into temptation yet again.
Which was lucky on his part. If only because if he looked at his partner right then, sweaty, flushed, and quivering with arousal that cooked between her legs, no amount of willpower in the world would have stopped him from pressing her into the grass and taking her right then and there.
Pyrrha shivered once before collecting herself enough to continue in her deep, breathless tone.
“I’m really glad that we can… that we can still talk and be next to each other like this after…” She didn’t continue, but she didn’t have to. Jaune felt his figure stiffen realizing what she was talking about.
Pyrrha naturally felt his reaction and flinched internally. But where she might have faltered before, the dizzying effect of Jaune’s aura soothed her nerves enough to allow the red-haired woman to turn her face against his shoulder instead, breathing in the natural smell of a teenage boy.
“I was so frightened you would hate me. Terrified, actually. After the way I attacked you, I thought I’d ruined everything.” Finally, Jaune managed to turn his brain on enough to maintain a stuttering response.
Were they going to talk about it? He could have sworn it was going to be one of those things that they just walked around for years and years, always aware it existed between them but never brave enough to say or do anything about it. He’d been looking forward to that future… and now she had to go and ruin it.
“W-Wait, me, hate you?” he visibly blanched if Pyrrha could manage to lift her green eyes to look. As it stood, she pressed that much harder against his body until her fingers wrapped around the fabric around his stomach, dangerously close to the throbbing erection just a few inches below. “But I’d been afraid that you were the one who hated me… or, at least that you wanted to avoid me.” He blinked, and that was finally enough to garner a reaction.
Pyrrha’s expression jumped as she pulled back, the thin red lines of her eyebrows drawn up in utter confusion. “B-But I’m the one who pushed you down and…”
‘Yeah, but only because I used my semblance to stop time and molest you,’ went unsaid. Instead, Jaune found himself scrambling for another explanation.
“I mean,” he made a stressed expression, “I didn’t exactly put up much of a fight, did I?” If Pyrrha’s cheeks weren’t red before, she could nearly feel the tips of her toes tingle from the lack of blood flow.
No… no, he hadn’t. Although, Pyrrha hadn’t exactly given him a lot of time to fight back even if he had wanted to. She wanted to think that if she’d seen him resist or struggle that she would have been able to hold back. But at the same time, with how far she’d been gone?
“And then after you ran off all upset,” Jaune continued to ramble, “a-and I remember how strange you were acting. I should have known you weren’t feeling alright, but I still took advantage of you.” He shook his head slowly, “You were just so… I mean, I didn’t even think about trying to stop you until after you were long gone. And by then, I was sure I’d ruined everything.” And just like that, hearing the fear in his tone at such a possibility, Pyrrha understood the truth erasing the last of her worries.
All the fearful glances she’d caught from her partner hadn’t been because he was afraid of her, but because he’d been afraid he’d chased her away; and all the guilt she felt and blamed herself for, he’d been doing the same thing.
The two of them… were just too dumb to belong to anyone else. And somehow that thought brought her more joy than anything else that day. It also solidified the shaken resolve she’d been slowly building towards this moment.
“That’s why I was so glad you were talking to me again; you know?” Jaune continued, unaware of the sudden seriousness in Pyrrha’s eyes, and the fact that she’d stopped listening entirely, resolute in her decision. “I don’t want you to have to worry about me… wanting more than what we have. I treasure our friendship more than any… ah, Pyrrha?”
Jaune startled feeling Pyrrha’s body slip from his. Still nervous, the sensation of her hand on his face burned against his cheek, aching and itching all at once in a way he’d never experienced. With a firmness that belied her dainty fingers, he found his face suddenly urged to turn towards his partner and no amount of resistance on his part could stop her.
He couldn’t even notice her flushed complexion or the visible sweat twinkling in the afternoon sun. Rather, he could only blink as his own body began to heat up, different from his previous arousal but just as powerful in the way that it forced sweat to immediately start dripping down his temple.
“Jaune,” the girl whispered, confidence abound as she forced him to look at her — at the real her and the effect he had on her. She was going to kiss him. And most important of all, she wasn’t going to run. Not this time and never again. There would be no more misunderstandings between them.
“Pyrrha…?” Jaune answered back, sounding slightly dazed by the effects of everything rushing through him. The burning of her fingers against his skin seemed to increase, almost painful in the way it affected him. At the same time, he could feel his breath grow raspy, a heavy weight settling around his brain that made it hard to think, much less speak.
It was all Pyrrha needed to hear, thankfully, before allowing her head to drift towards his own, getting closer.
And closer.
And closer.
Until…
“ACHOO!”
Pyrrha naturally flinched back, and her once confident eyes snapped shut as she found her face assaulted by an onslaught of spewed saliva and mucus. She didn’t have a chance to wipe the first wave away when another exploded against her face, and then a third. But by the fourth, the red-haired girl had thankfully moved quickly enough to escape the sudden barrage of sickness.
“Pyrrha…?” Jaune moaned in that same dazed tone. Except now the girl in question was able to hear a distinct confusion in her name where she’d thought she’d heard… amazement? Awe? Arousal? Some combination of the three? But, nope! It was snot… of course it was snot.
“W-What's on your hands?” he mumbled, his tone coming off nasal and stuffy. “They’re… sticky.” To which Pyrrha immediately jerked back to see what he was talking about. However, after a brief inspection, she would find that parts of her hands had been stained in the pink sticky tree sap they’d been set out to collect. Tree sap that Jaune, apparently, was quite allergic too.
“Tree sap?” she explained in a pitiful tone, “Oh dear, I think you’re having an allergic reaction.” Jaune only furthered her point by releasing another hailstorm of sneezes. “And it would appear as though I’ve gotten it all over you. Quite a bit, in fact.” Flinching, the huntress could only stare at the number of pink stains she’d left wherever she’d touched him.
The next thing she knew, Jaune was stumbling to his feet rubbing at the pink substance on his cheek in a vain attempt at wiping the sticky fluid away. And on his back, Pyrrha’s already horrified eyes widened to see even more of the substance, apparently leaking from the bark they’d been leaning against that entire time.
“Ugh, I think we passed a stream on the way here,” Jaune stumbled a few steps blinking away the itchy sensation in his eyes. He’d have rubbed at them if his hands hadn’t gotten covered in the demonic goop, and he didn’t want to think about what would happen if the sap got inside of his body. “Let me just wash this stuff off. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“I’ll go with you!” the redhead promised, moving to stand up and follow after her partner. But of course, at that moment, her Scroll just happened to ring. Eyes widening, Pyrrha appeared to react as though the entire world was ending — reaching down to fish it from her pockets and groaning at the message inside.
“No,” Jaune answered, even though in his current condition the sound he actually made was closer to, ‘Nuh.’ “I’ll just be a second.” And this time, Pyrrha was forced to sit there and watch him stumble away, frustration the likes of which she’d never experienced threatening to tear down the very woodland around them.
XxX
The sensation of cold water bit into Jaune’s fingers as he dipped them into a small creek trickling through the red forest floor. Standing in just his pants, the loud sound of him blowing his nose filled the quiet air. A gasp quickly followed, and the relief on the young man’s face couldn’t be mistaken.
He could breathe again! And even better, he no longer felt the need to scratch his cheek off. Suffice to say, he wasn’t going anywhere near that damned sap again if he could help it. A shame that his hoodie had to pay the price.
He sent a forlorn glance towards the crumbled black fabric balled up along with his armor against a tree. He’d done his best to wash it away, but the sickly sugary smell he realized came from the sap appeared stained into the fabric. Nothing a quick wash in the laundry couldn’t solve, but Jaune wasn’t about to take any chances until he was back at Beacon. Thankfully, his t-shirt could be salvaged. Though, it might be a while before it dried.
A stiff breeze told Jaune that he’d washed enough.
Although, at the very least it had been refreshing to find out that cold river baths effectively worked the same as a cold shower. Jaune was fairly relieved to find the pressure in his pants had all but vanished letting some blood back to the brain he actually relied on. And with that clarity came equal amounts of disappointment and gratitude.
Things had been getting a little weird there at the end, and his boner hadn’t been helping his decision-making process. That might have been the worst possible way to find out he was attracted to his friend. In that way, at least, he should probably be grateful for the sap.
Was that how things were always going to be between them now? Him freaking out and wanting to have sex with her and feeling guilty whenever he accidentally enjoyed whenever she happened to touch him? Cuz that sound kind of pathetic, even by his standards.
He just needed to remember that this wasn’t permanent. He was just… pent up. Growing up in a house of eight nosey women and no lock on his door meant that he’d never exactly picked up the habit of taking care of that on his own. And walking around and groping a dozen-odd huntresses the other day certainly hadn’t helped his needs.
But maybe this could be a good thing? Maybe it could be motivation to kick his ass into gear and talk to Yang. It wasn’t like he was hesitating on purpose; life just kept getting in the way. However, nothing was stopping him now, was there? Rather than go back and repeat the awkward process of trying not to check out his partner, perhaps it might be better if he took this chance to see wherever Yang had wandered off too.
That didn’t make him a bad friend, did it? No way, Pyrrha would totally understand. Hell, she’d probably be happy for him. Yeah, this was a good plan. This was-. The sound of twigs snapping broke his line of thought.
“Oh my, what a coincidence,” a familiar voice called through the forest. “What are the chances I’d stumble upon a friendly face in my time of need?” It would take a few more steps before she broke through the underbrush to stumble upon Jaune’s little clearing. “I seem to have gotten lost. Jaune, you wouldn’t mind help-,” and that was as far as Weiss got before suddenly appearing, only to stop and freeze at the picture of Jaune’s bare-chested self casually standing at the edge of a creak and staring directly at her.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this month’s chapter. We got to see a little more of Jaune’s confident side while exploring his relationship with Pyrrha. And for any of you frustrated with my little arkos tease, I’ll just say that you won’t have to wait much longer. I promise. Pyrrha already got some dick. Time to share with the other girls.
Next Chapter: April
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Sense of Semblance