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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
- 4
- 5
- 6
A/N: Wow, so it’s been a while huh? *Laughs awkwardly while seven months stars him in the face* um, anyway, sorry about that. Suffice to say, I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I decided to check about a month ago and… life and responsibilities kind of got away from me. So, sorry about that. However, I do have good news. During my little hiatus, I’ve taken the time to create a more structured schedule so this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. It might not be as quick as some of you might prefer, but this way I can at least promise that something like this will never happen again. Please look at the bottom of the chapter for more information.
I would also like to let everyone know that during my break I’ve also taken some time to go back and edit past chapters. I’ve cleaned things up A LOT so they should read quite a bit easier for anyone that wants to go back catch up after so much time. You’ll also notice that I’ve split the first chapter into two separate pages. And that’s for flow more than anything else. It didn’t need to be that long and I felt it works better as separately. Okay, I’ll let you get to your story know. But please feel free to leave a review or follow for more content if you have the time. Like I said before, updates are coming to relax and look forward to more of Jaune’s smutty adventures.
Girl(s): Weiss
Tag(s): Public arousal
Words: 9432
Chapter 5 - Alternatives
Weiss stood in front of Jaune’s dumb, hopeful expression twisting the front of her skirt. Despite her best attempts to keep the warmth from reaching her porcelain features, she could feel the warmth bloom beneath her cheeks. The self-control she had prided herself on her entire life appeared fragile in front of the boy who had broken her reality. To the point that she didn’t even feel confident in her own emotions any more, least of all the ones surrounding his impossibly blue eyes and broad shoulders. The heat grew worse.
“I…” In the middle of the classroom, minutes before the teacher was meant to arrive, she was acutely aware of the many eyes on herself and the boy she’d set out to talk to, her teammates included. However, despite practicing this conversation repeatedly before approaching the blond Huntsman, actually faced with his boyish features, she found the words failing to rise from her parted lips.
A week, that’s how long it’s taken her to work up the courage to approach him. A week of her team’s odd stares and a week of dealing with the death glares from the rest of team JNPR. So why on earth couldn’t she just say what she’d approached him to say? That, while their last date ended… unfortunately, she would like to invite him on another night out to make up for her reprehensible behavior. Presenting herself as casual as to refrain from eliciting any kind of expectations on her part, emotional or otherwise, while still displaying enough interest to keep him from giving up completely.
“That is… I-” And yet here she was, struck as dumb as any young women in the face of their crush, her pale cheeks warm with life blood and with a heartbeat that didn’t know what it wanted to do. Her entire life, she’d thought she would be above such trivialities. She was a Schnee! Taught by only the finest on how to present her words and body language. She’d faced great men her entire life, generals in the Atlesian army, even! So why was she having so much trouble with a seventeen year old boy?
Her body answered for her, sending yet another lingering pulse of pressure between her legs that very nearly had her falling to the floor.
Approaching Jaune, she’d been fine, confident even; with the same cool mask of confidence that had carried her through so many situations. But the moment she stood in his presents, that same damned tickle that had tormented her throughout their date returned. Less powerful, but just as distracting as she felt her breasts and privates warm beneath the skirt and blazer of her uniform. Biting her soft, pink lips and blinking against the sensations, her mind was emptied of everything she’d been preparing to say, as well as all the scheming she’d put forth to claim her new found feelings.
Jaune blinked up at her, his expression wide and oblivious to her current state. It was the first time he’d done anything but frown down at his lap since shuffling home from the restaurant. And it made Weiss’ heart thunder that much more because of it. He was waiting for her. Waiting for some kind of explanation or remorse for her actions. It would be so easy to explain herself! If only she could form the words. Instead, she found herself focusing on the pleasure she’d been trying to ignore.
Starting to overwhelm her slight frame, the combination of anxiety and impending humiliation ignited her sense of self-preservation. And before she could stop it, she found herself snapping at the lad she’d been hoping to apologize to.
“Stop sulking already, would you!” she barked, crossing her arms and glaring down at him even as she felt the crotch of her panties moisten with building arousal. “Honestly, there really is nothing more pathetic than a man so fixated on the past.” Doing her best to appear confident, her face remained set in the same pompous mold that the upper-class were so famously known for. “You’re depressing the entire classroom, so perk up for goodness sake!” Her bright red cheeks ruined the image a bit, but not nearly enough for Jaune to pick up on. His bright and hopeful eyes dimmed back into that of a broken heart.
It hurt to do, but this wouldn’t be the first time Weiss’ pride got in the way of communicating her emotions. Yet another lovely trait drilled into her by her dear and loving father. Faced with the consequences of her thoughtless actions, again, Weiss’ harsh expression froze. But not before she turned on her heel, a long pale ponytail whipping in her wake. She hurried back to her seat as fast as dignity would allow, all too aware of the pain she’d left in her wake.
Jaune stared after Weiss, his face a mixture of confusion and pain. Drawn together, he slowly let the furl in his brow relax to the forlorn loss it had been set in before Weiss had shown up to randomly berate him; that it had been set in ever since his “date” had ended and he’d been forced to report the awful outcome to a room full of expectant roommates. Turning back towards his desk, he could only ask himself what he’d been wondering then, what had he done wrong?
More than the heart break, even more than losing Weiss, Jaune was rife with regret at how the night had ended. Not only ruining his chance with his crush, but doing so because he’d tried to run before he even thought of walking. Before he could stop himself the events played through his brain as clearly and sharp as the day it had happened.
Starting so well, the night had continued to look promising until he’d stuck his hands under her skirt. The thrill of it had been… exhilarating, dangerously so. And there was no trying to deny that he hadn’t enjoyed manipulating the young woman’s sex. But what good was that one moment of fun if it might have cost him a life time of happiness? And what good was a memory when he would have to live with the fact that he could never have the real thing? At least, not in the way that actually mattered.
It was the same type of behavior that had gotten him into Beacon with falsified paper work. Once he got an idea in his head, it was like nothing else existed, other options or consequences. The light that been shining from the girl’s breasts immediately came to mind. There was so much he just didn’t understand yet. And if he’d just taken his time to learn more about what he could do before exerting his power on his crush than he might have actually have had a chance in swaying the ice mistress. But he’d rushed it. And now she was gone from him forever.
Sighing, for what felt like the thousandth time that week, he laid his head on the desk bemoaning his own impulsive behavior. In the privacy of his mind, he returned to the question of how to continue, or how he could fix what he’d ruined. As usual, nothing came to mind. And the young man was left to peek put from his folded arms, a longing stare cast towards the Huntress’ retreating figure.
Weiss wasn’t much better as she took her seat next to her partner. Palming her face, she shook her head in disbelief at how horribly the confrontation had gone. The fact that she was even farther from her new crush was as depressing as it was ironic.
Said partner looked at the heiress, cool silver eyes suspiciously alert as she glanced at her friend. She was twiddling her thumbs and fidgeting in her seat. Never one to handle stress calmly, her patience ran as fast her legs, and it seemed like no time at all before her voice was aimed at her forlorn friend.
“So how’d it go?” Bright and chipper, no one would think anything was wrong with the younger girl. Her bright face and smiling grin were as innocent as ever, as though she were too cute to be the dangerous Grimm slaying prodigy that she was. Except, looking closer, the light in her eyes glittered a bit too bright, and the line of her lips was just a bit too thin to seem natural. When Weiss looked up from her hands, she took one glance at the conspicuous girl before rolling her eyes.
“What do you think?” she sighed, furling her fair features into a light grimace. Seeing Ruby’s expression unchanged, Weiss had to take a long, slow breath before continuing. “Poorly, Ruby, I feel safe in saying that it went very, very poorly.” The words hurt even more to say out loud and the rich young women uttered a deep groan before returning to her repented position.
“Oh!” Ruby answered, her tone brighter than she’d intended. “I-I mean, oh.” She corrected herself, forcing her face to match the shadow surrounding her depressed friend.
Hearing of Weiss’ change in heart towards the awkward lad had been a shock for everyone in team RWBY. Yang was naturally ecstatic, her grin big enough tear her cheeks at the prospect of something so spectacular, Blake had actually looked up from her book, and Ruby, Ruby had just stared.
In the wake of Yang’s gushing and Weiss’s displeasure at being the center of attention, it was easy to miss such a subtle reaction. Especially considering how quite the younger girl could be at times. But unlike the rest, Ruby’s awkwardness had continued into the next day, carefully watching her partner with emotions she didn’t quite understand. In Weiss’ planning to explore these new feelings, those emotions had only evolved into what now itched beneath the fifteen year old’s skeleton.
The fidgeting returned and the silence that stretched between the two girls grated against Ruby’s sanity; who still struggled to understand this strange energy that seemed to spark whenever she was around her friend. For some reason whenever her fellow team leader came up, she found it impossible to sit still, more so than usual.
Weiss didn’t want to talk about this anymore. Ruby could see that Weiss didn’t want to talk about this anymore. And she knew just letting it go would be the right and polite thing to do after such a spectacular failure. But the empathy and kind heart the young girl was known for was notably absent the last few days. And her starved curiosity demanded that she speak up.
“It’ll be okay Weiss,” she started gently, although a stress in her tone tainted whatever compassion might have been there. Her silver gaze shifting away from the girl in a suspicious gesture. “I’m sure things will work out. I mean, how long has he liked you?” An awkward silence followed as she waited for the girl to answer. Face down, Weiss remained silent. “Like… forever!” the younger girl finally forced the conversation. “Even when you weren’t interested at all. I mean, you really shot him down. Like, painfully.” Ruby’s eyes went on to wince, as though her words weren’t biting enough.
Surprisingly enough, her partner’s topic did not cheer Weiss up. In fact, they seemed to make her feel even worse than before, reminding her of how cruel she’d been over the time Jaune had chased her. Were it anyone else, she would almost swear the girl was backhanded in her approach. But sweet, innocent Ruby? Weiss shook her head. She really was losing her mind.
“But now it’s fine!” That same ‘innocent’ girl went on to fill the silence, unable to help it, “you want Jaune to like you now. Because now you like him! Which is… so great, really. After just one date, even. Really must have been some night, huh?” Her prompting was followed with an awkward chuckle, even by her standards. Weiss responded by flushing a deeper red, coughing as she looked in the other direction.
“I don’t really want to talk about it,” the pale girl finally answered. It was the same answer she’d given every time she was asked about that night. Ruby nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course! Totally your business. I’m just saying how surprising it still is. I mean, whaaaat? You and Jaune? Who could’ve seen that coming? Certainly not you! I mean, I actually thought you hated him a little bit.” Weiss sank in her seat a little lower. “But now you’re in love with him!”
“I-I’m not in love with him,” she quickly retorted, as though she could get even more embarrassed. “I just think maybe I should give him a chance is all. Just another date. Maybe two?” Her panicked expression fell, missing the stress that added to the young women’s grin. “if I haven’t already blown it.”
“Still,” Ruby’s chipper tone pushed. “That’s quite the progress. And after just one date! Which is just so great. Have I said that yet? So, so great. Just makes you wonder, you know? Bout what could have happened to change your mind and all that. Knowing you, it had to have been pretty impressive.” She paused, giving the girl a blatant stare. “Really impressive.” She stared harder. "It just makes the mind race with-!” Weiss cut her off.
“Ruby,” she exclaimed, “stop! Goodness, I told Yang, and I’ll tell you the same thing, I don’t want to talk about my date.” The light in her cheeks was a bright as ever. “Let’s just say, I might have realized I like him more than I’d thought. Or, at least part of me does.” She pressed her knees together against the still damp texture of her panties. “Just leave it at that, okay?”
“Okay,” Ruby muttered, deflating, but Weiss had already pulled out her notebook, apparently hoping that facts and monstrous diagrams would distract her until she calmed down. This left the younger woman beside her to slump in her seat, suddenly drained now that Weiss’ reprimand sapped her anxious energy. Unfortunately, what was left was lethargic, glum, as well as a sadness as confusing as her earlier bout.
Why did she care so much about what happened on Weiss’ date? Why couldn’t she just stop thinking about it? She had more questions in the past week, most along this vein, while some pointed towards a more internal struggled.
For the first time in her life, she hated how introverted she tended to come off. It had always been an obstacle in her life, but never one that she felt interfered with anything that mattered. Now it felt like she was dealing with something she had no idea how to confront, or even identify for that matter. She knew it was going to be difficult coming to a school where everyone was to years older than her, but only lately had she begun to understand how large a gap those two years created.
Should she talk to Yang about it? For some reason, the idea made her stomach clench uncomfortably. It had been doing that a lot lately for some odd reason. But differently, and for different situations.
When she imagined talking to her big sister about these weird emotions, her belly felt like it did when she ate too much candy, sour and icky. And when she was around her partner, it was closer to when she ate too much, period, leaving her slow and like she never wanted to move again. And whenever Weiss started to talk Jaune… Ruby’s frown deepened, and a lone hand reached out to cup her flat belly where she could feel bubbly… tingly… blegh! Yea, that was the word, blegh. Expect before she’d started school, that particular sensation had been reserved for her beloved Crescent Rose. Which only made the situation weirder.
Taking a deep breath, an odd smell in the air caught her attention forcing her attention from herself and back towards her friend. Rising an eyebrow, she blinked at the pinched expression winding against Weiss' face. Huh, maybe she had a tummy ache of her own? If only reality could be as simple as the young girl’s imagination.
Her notes weren’t working. Weiss’ expression furled, and the heat between her thighs urged her knees together. Unbidden, her eyes flickered towards the clock ticking above the teacher’s podium. It was five minutes before class started, but she more worried about what would happen if she was stuck sitting through an entire hour of professor Port’s lecture in her current condition.
Going against everything she’d ever been taught, her flushed figure moved to stand from her seat already mapping out where she would find the nearest rest room, perfume prudently packed in her book bag. Ruby’s sullen features followed her up, worry replacing her glum, slumped shoulders.
“Again?” the brunette whispered, although not nearly quiet enough for Weiss’ taste. Glaring down, she couldn’t disguise the blush on her cheeks. Ruby’s brow drew up to match her expression. “I thought he took you someplace nice? If your stomach is still this sick, you should really call some kind of health inspector.” Weiss groaned, hating the excuse she’d offered after her teammates had inevitably noticed her frequent trips to the lady room as of late. She put it out of her mind for now.
“Its fine!” she napped, shifting and fidgeting like there were ants under her skirt. “I mean, it’s getting better. I won’t be gone long so just take any important notes for me and if Professor Port asks, tell him that I am… unwell.” Her eyes flashed. “And only than I am unwell.” Ruby nodded, oblivious to her friend’s dilemma.
She dutifully opened her own notebook to satisfy the platinum blonde’s anal tendencies. But Weiss wasn’t even looking, instead focusing on those around her as she tried to casually exit the full classroom without drawing any excessive attention to her weak knees and awkward gate.
Her proud expression was ironically classy, considering she was about to leave to rub one out in the nearest bathroom. Again. She might have been able to avoid this if she’d had time that morning before the rest of the girl’s had awoken. An equally humiliating alternative, but one that was at least convenient against the stress of her newly increased libido. Never before had she hated the fact that she shared a room with three other women. And that was saying something…
Unfortunately for Weiss, Ruby wasn’t the only one wondering about her sudden change of heart. And just a few seats away, the other half of team RWBY watched Weiss stand and start towards the door, a pair of sly grin’s matching their equally devious stares. Yang let out a snort.
“So… what do think happened?”
The two older girl’s watched their other teammates from above, only two rows higher, and yet the perfect distance to watch their resident heiress fumble and fall. It was better than any sitcom or reality TV show either had bothered entertaining. And the show just continued to unfold for their amusement. Surprisingly, it was Blake’s muted tone that had spoken up, her eyes glued to their teammate as she stumbled into the hall.
Yang could count the number of times Blake had instigated a conversation on a single hand since their ragtag group had been clumped together. But staring at her little sister and her partner, the blonde bombshell found herself just as, if not more, curious about this entire situation. Which only made the fact that she had no idea about it all, all the more frustrating.
That was the question, wasn’t it? It’s certainly been Yang’s. Watching their teammate return into the room, much later than intended, the blonde had been giddy with the amount teasing she’d prepared. That is, until she’d caught sight of Weiss’ wet hair and new change of clothes. Whatever mocking retort she’d arranged had died before it ever had the chance to leave her lips. Instead, she’d watched on in shock even as the pale girl had tried her best to pretend as though nothing about the situation was at all strange. The stunned silence hadn’t lasted for long.
The fact that she had decided to shower before returning to the dorm wasn’t lost on any of them. And yet, despite it having already been a week since the aforementioned night, her sister’s teammate hadn’t uttered a single word about what had happened during her outing. Which only just about tripled the interest of everyone around her. It didn’t help that JNPR wasn’t even talking to their team, for whatever reason. If they knew what happened that night, they weren’t talking either.
Blake sent a sidelong look at her partner. The silence lasted for another moment before Yang’s hesitant tone surfaced. “Still no idea.” She laughed, enjoying the situation nevertheless. “I mean, what could have happened to make her go from avoiding the guy like the plague, to…” and then she gestured to the scene they’d already watched unfold, shaking her head in disbelief. Blake found herself nodding in agreement.
They had been expecting a lot of things waiting for their teammate’s date to end. Anger, at being forced to go in the first place. Annoyance, at whatever trick Jaune had tried to pull to invite her out. Hell, they’d even been ready to be surprised in the off chance she’d actually fallen for the goof. But this… they hadn’t been prepared for this.
In the privacy of their dorm, Weiss’ behavior remained off ever since she’d walked into town with her blonde suiter. Hugging her pillow against her chest at night when everyone else was asleep. Seemingly random, stubborn expressions that really would have hinted at indigestion on anyone else. But most confusing of all was the gentle flush that seemed to swirl beneath her pale complexion at random intervals. Out of nowhere her mind just drifted off, only to return with conflicting emotions. And nine times out of ten, it wasn’t odd to see her make a sudden departure towards the showers or bathroom soon afterwards.
The three girls who shared a room with Weiss really had assumed she’d picked up some bug on her date after so many instances of sudden departures. But as the week continued and her “condition” remained unchanged, Blake was beginning to think of other possibilities.
Along with night vision, Faunus were known for their other abilities, depending on their genetics. A cat Faunus herself, Blake had been blessed with a slightly heightened sense of smell. One that had been picking up certain, musky scents for the last few days – no matter how hard the heiress tried to wash away her shame. Rather than ending badly, the black-haired girl was beginning to suspect the date had gone much better than anyone had expected, Weiss especially.
“You don’t think it looks a little… familiar?” Blake aired her suspicions. Without warning, Yang’s mocking grin died in an instant, and she found a sudden interest in the textbook she’d all but ignored since the start of the semester. And would continue to feint ignorance so long as her partner dared to bring up her own embarrassing situation. The inside of her arms move over the front of her mature breasts, an unconscious gesture she’d adopted ever since, well…
Blake’s eerie yellow eyes stared a moment longer before rolling them in the direction of the boy in question.
First her partner and then Weiss, something was different about the blonde boy that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Maybe a shift in demeanor or a stronger confidence that had been absent until lately? The cat eared girl could only assume that Yang was too close to the situation to see the similarity between her and the girl she mocked. Or, possibly she just didn’t want to. But Blake could see a shared conflict. Maybe not as strong in the blonde, but the fact that they were purposefully sitting as far from the young man as the class raised a number of eyebrows.
Whatever it was about Jaune Arc, it wasn’t isolated to just Yang. And Blake was beginning to become too curious for her own good as to just what it was that had changed. Retrieving her own book from her bag, Blake kept one eye on the boy still resting face against his desk and smiled. Things just kept getting more interesting.
:::::
On the opposite end of the room, Blake’s eyes weren’t the only ones stuck on the young man’s back. Just a few desks away from him, in fact, two young women watched on while he sat with seemingly no expression, the haggard weight of his face drawn towards the floor.
“Look at him, broken, so sad. Like the world is just gonna swallow him up at any second.”
Pyrrha nodded her head, eyebrows drawn up into arch of pity,
“A young man with a broken heart, oh woe is she who shatters the innocence of such pure infatuation.”
Again, Pyrrha nodded; knowing that Weiss was the one responsible for her partner's pain. Did she blame the other girl for not returning Jaune’s feelings? Of course not. But what Weiss had done, leaving her partner to be humiliated in a restaurant full of people, was unforgivable. If she had an explanation for such behavior, the red-haired Amazon couldn’t think of it. And it was only the knowledge that she would only create more problems for their blond haired leader should she try and confront the girl that kept her from outright demanding an explanation.
“To find a cure for such pain, such sorrow, oh, what can one do to relight light that once shined so brightly?”
Oh, if she only knew. Pyrrha wouldn’t stop at anything to see a smile return to his face. She’d thought time had been the answer. It’s why she’d done her best to give the boy his space instead of cradling him in her arms like she ached to do. But that had been a week ago, and he looked no better for her efforts.
“Yes, one would need bravery, strength, and feelings just as pure to awaken the flames that had been snuffed out. Only with this would you be able to push him down, pull down his pants, and make him forget any other girl even excist-!”
Pyrrha’s nodding stopped, and she paused for a moment as the words cycled through her mind. Her eyes widened with a stifled gasp, and her cheeks became inflamed as she turned towards the orange haired girl who continued to smile, innocent as can be. Towards the end, she’d lost the poetical waxing, the brass and even crude reality of her words impossible to misinterpret.
“Nora!” Pyrrha interrupted before her friend could even finish the sentence. Appearing scandalized, in her heat she fidgeted trying to cool her cherry face. “I believe I've already asked you to stop suggesting I…” she paused, flush darkening, “do that.” But said valkery simply rolled her eyes, far less sensitive.
“And I’m telling you to get over there and pounce while you can. Who knows when you’re going to get another opportunity like this?” When Pyrrha didn’t answer, looking closer to a spooked cat than confident woman, Nora sigh with pity. She’d thought, hoped, after being forced to watch Jaune get ready for a date with another girl that Pyrrha might actually manage to grow a backbone and smarten up. Jaune wasn’t going to wait for her forever, after all! But her friend had fallen right back to the passive, skittish girl she always was. Nora really did want Jaune to cheer up, but if that also included getting two of her friend’s together, well then, she was just the best teammate that ever was, wasn’t she? But neither of those things were going to happen if Pyrrha didn’t get her big butt moving and into the action.
“Look,” she tried again. “Just look at him!” And they did, taking in his broken demeanor, “He looks like somebody just kicked his missing, terminal, puppy.” She thought for a moment, “which also talks and gives him life advise!”
“But,” Pyrrha hesitated, “isn’t it wrong for me to try and take advantage of the situation? He’s emotionally pained, surely the last thing he’ll be interested in is a relationship right now.” And to that Nora just shook her head. Oh, poor naive Pyrrha.
“It’s the only way to get over an old crush.” She informed her, as though she herself had plenty of experience. “Trust me, the only time he’s going to start feeling better is when he finds somebody new. I’m just trying to make sure you’re that somebody.”
“By sleeping with him?” Pyrrha felt the need to confirm. Okay, so she wasn’t the most knowledgeable when it came to the social aspects of others. But that seemed like quite the step to take. “And quite forcefully, by your advice.” But Nora just waved her away, like her fears were completely baseless.
“I’m just kidding,” and then, almost too quick for the other girl to notice she added, “mostly.”
“I just mean you have to make your move, you know? Stake your claim? Besides, you do want him to start seeing you as a woman, right?” and Pyrrha hesitantly nodded. “Well that’ll get the job done, and then some! You’re a total babe, you’ll knock his socks off.” Caught off guard by the sudo-compliment, Pyrrha wasn’t quite sure how to respond. Settling on a disquieted groan.
“I suppose it won't hurt to at least think about it,” she conceded if only to get the other girl off the topic. Nora responded with an explosive grin, satisfied to see another job well done.
“Aww, what are teammates for? Just be careful not to wait too long.” Pyrrha accepted the warning with a certain degree of patience. Still, her friend was simply showing that she cared. In her own… special, special way.
“I’m very lucky to have a friend that knows so much about these subjects. Tell me, is this how you were able to confess your feelings for Ren?” Still grinning, the light in the ginger girl’s eyes faded, though she forced herself to maintain the rigid smile.
“Ahhhhh….” She paused. “Yep! Mhmm, totally. Worked one hundred percent, haha!” If Pyrrha could see that she was lying, she chose not to comment. “Hey, ah, how about we go back to spying on Jaune, hmm? When that did stop?” Pyrrha allowed a small smile to play on her lips. If that’s what she wanted… Although, gifted with a few moments of silence, the Amazon did find her mind lingering on their discussion.
Not the pushing him down bit, goodness no. But the thought that revealing her feelings might cheer him up did give her pause. After all, would it really be so bad? For him to know that he was wanted, cared for? She might not personally understand the sting of rejection, but surely acceptance can be the only cure?
Was it really so audacious of her to assume she could fill the hole in his heart that Weiss had left? Pyrrha had always been so cautious as to never allow her confidence to become cocky or inflated. But… yes. Yes, she thought so. Even if it took some work to turn his gaze towards herself, Pyrrha was fairly sure that she had what it took to make him happy. She just needed to the opportunity.
“I think we’ve given him enough space.” She spoke. Staring at the far off boy, her eyes had hardened to show a kind of determination. “I’ve given him a small break, but I think both of us would benefit to a return to our routine. Tomorrow morning I’ll wake him to go train, and it's my hope that it will give us a chance to work out his troubles. Together.” Nora stared at her a moment longer, before letting a joyous grin blossom in congratulations.
“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed.
A sigh passed her lips. Her team really was lucky to have her.
:::::
Another peaceful day in Beacon Academy came and went leaving the student body to tuck in for bed and prepare for the coming day. Team JNPR was the same. As emotionally distressed as Jaune appeared during the day, come night he slipped away as easily as the next teenager. Even if he awoke to a shadow of regret at the edge of his consciousness. This morning, however, was different.
Wet grass slipped under Jaune’s boots as he shuffled after his partner, slowly, exhausted. Waking up, she had greeted him already clad in full armor while dropping his own equipment onto his chest with a solid thump. Forgetting his woes for a moment, he’d obviously enquired as to what was going on. But Pyrrha's answer had been short and clipped, with a nervous energy itching at her posture. One that persisted even now as the young man stared after her pace, anxiously fidgeting with each step.
Training, she had called it. Returning to their schedule, she had explained. He’d done his best to explain that he wasn’t in the mood, but she had all but ignored him, awkwardly insistent that he dawn his sword, shield, and armor. Finally, he had been forced to give in, if only to step away from her intense gaze for even a minute.
He shouldn’t have been surprised, really. Something was bound to break at some point. His entire team was worried about him; watching him when they thought he wasn’t looking, glaring at Weiss, even though this entire mess was his own fault. He knew he should be better about putting on a brave face, but it was ironically difficult to keep his heart from his sleeve. It was a good thing no one would ever outright ask about his mischief because he already knew how quickly he would fold under even that much scrutiny.
In the days following his date with Weiss, all he could do was remember what he did wrong. How he could have picked a better restaurant. How he could have dressed better or picked better things to talk about. But deep down, even he could recognize that none of those things had been the real problem.
No, all those things were fickle compared to the glaring issue. His powers. He’d rushed in, used them without fulling understanding their effects. And now he paid the price. If he’d just trained more, and maybe practiced its effects, then he might have been able to control the night’s outcome. But now he’d lost Weiss forever. And even worse, she seemed to hate him more than ever.
The other day was a perfect example. God, she’d been so angry her entire face had been red. She couldn’t even talk to him anymore, she seemed too upset. And that was probably the worst of it all. Even if Weiss had never loved him, at least they had been friends. Or, something close enough to it. Now, though, he had lost even that. And he had no one to blame but himself.
Pyrrha led him farther and farther into the forest towards a nearby clearing they often used. Normally her mind was busy planning drills and tactics that she would try and instill in her partner. But today her mind was preoccupied with a much more pressing issue. And for the first time in a very long while, she could feel a nervous flutter in her chest which only grew worse with each step.
Today was the day. She was going to tell him how she felt. She was going to expose her feelings for the blond boy who had captured her heart without even trying. And she was going to make him forget the name, Weiss Schnee.
She glanced over her shoulder, carefully checking to see his expression. Unfortunately, her wakeup call hadn’t done his mood any good. And she was resigned to find that his frame of mind seemed even worse than usual. The air around him that was usually so bright and pure was now tainted with dark cloud constantly pouring and fighting against his shoulder. But with any luck, she would be able to cure that.
She took a deep breath, tasting the flavor of wood and leaves in the air. Up high the sky was just beginning to brighten even though the sun hadn’t yet appeared. And it would be another few hours before the rest of the student body woke up to greet the day. She and Jaune were alone. This was her best chance. Her only chance. And she had to believe that she had what it took to capture her crush's attention.
It was almost laughable in a way. Looking between the two, no one would guess Pyrrha would be the one worried about not being good enough for the other. After all, she was a champion! A Huntress, accomplished in both her career and popularity. Though, the two were closely intertwined. But really, that was the biggest issue. And one the red-haired girl would continue to struggle against for years to come.
Yes, people loved her. It wasn’t as though Jaune was her first romantic pursuit. Far from it. Many, many people have flocked to her side over the course of her life. But always in search of something that she had. Be it the money she won from her tournaments, or the connection her fame had earned, everyone she had ever met only seemed interested for the fact that they could say that that they knew her. Or, in on particularly heartbreaking instance, that they had slept with her. To people, she was a trophy in of herself. A thing to be won. To show off. And that is why Jaune was so important to her.
And yet, it was also entirely possible that it wasn’t really even about him, but instead that he was just a person who didn’t know about her. Not her fame or money or anything that made people say and do things just be near her. No, he only knew her as her and part of Pyrrha seriously had to wonder how much that really was worth? In that way, he was like her own personal test. A way to prove to herself that she was worth anything on her own. That she had value just by being Pyrhha.
That’s not to say she didn’t care for him at all. Oh no, she liked him quite a bit. It was just that initial freedom and curiosity had allowed her to open herself up to look past his awkwardness and lack of training. To see the kind-hearted boy underneath who so readily charged forward for his friend even when he had the most to lose. He was the opposite of everything she ever knew about people. A spark of light in a world of greed and hate. And if Weiss was too dumb to recognize that then, well, Pyrrha was ready to step up.
The clearing came into view, appearing untouched since the last time they’d appeared. Breaking through the foliage, the red-haired Amazon could almost feel a fraction of her stress disappear, as though this was her own world away from the world. One where there was no Weiss, no competitions. Where she could just spend her time with her partner and enjoy his company, just the two of them. Turning around, Jaune joined her a moment later looking markedly less at peace.
She frowned for what must have been the hundredth time at his long features. He always made her feel so safe and at home. Now it was her time to return the favor.
“Jaune,” she spoke, the lyrical tone of her voice just slightly off under the pressure squeezing at her chest. Holding a hand over her breastplate, she could feel her heart thumping wildly underneath. In such a way that even battle had not managed to inflict.
At his name he looked up, blinking as soon as he caught sight of the sudden intensity of her gaze. Of course, he had been expecting this. It was only a matter of time before his friends felt the need to interrupt his sulking. He still found himself unsettlingly caught off guard. When she motioned for him to move closer and to join her on a nearby fallen log, he did so, awkwardly shrinking under her attention as she searched his sad blue eyes.
“Jaune, I- I just need you to know that I understand that pain you are going through. Your feelings for Weiss, even misplaced, were true to you. And I will never understand how she could have hurt you like she did.” Pausing for breath, emotion flashed across his face, but Pyrrha rushed in before he could stop her. She’d thought so long about how she wanted to do this. On how she would tell him about her feelings. But if he stopped her, she knew she might not have the strength to pick back up.
For Jaune’s part, he didn’t quite know what to think. All of this sudden encouragement made it even more difficult to meet her eyes. She was so worried about him, horrified that he was in pain over getting rejected by Weiss. When the reality was much more complicated – and not to mention less noble. Would she still be this nice to him if she knew the truth about that night? About everything he’d done? Rather than help him, he found his mood dropping even lower, guilt in addition to the disappointment of losing Weiss forcing his head to bow and shoulders to hunch.
“I know you feel that what happened was your fault. You’re always so hard on yourself. More than anyone else. And i-it hurts me to see you in pain. There is a reason I brought you out here today. And I need you to listen to me when I say that you deserve to be happy. You are a wonderful man and I know I’m not the only one who can recognize that. You are kind and thoughtful and considerate and…” again she had to pause, the words failing to rise no matter how much she struggled. But she was Pyrrha Nikos. And nothing stood in the way of her goals. Not even herself.
“And any girl would be lucky to date you.” Finally, she allowed herself to stop, an uncharacteristically fearful light blooming in each of her green orbs. And yet still she gazed at him. Searching.
Jaune’s expression lifted, glancing towards his friend with something close to surprise. He’d always know that Pyrrha had thought well of him, but not to this degree, certainly. The last thing he wanted was to worry the people who cared about him. Lifting his head, he found his eyes turned towards his partner’s. Unsure, a tight smile pulled at the corners of his mouth, more for her benefit than anything else. And yet even that small show of appreciation for her efforts was enough to redouble Pyrrha’s wavering confidence.
“J-Jaune!” she answered his attention, her tone just a bit too high to seem casual. She flinched immediately, but Jaune didn’t seem to notice at all, smiling pleasantly. Biting down on her own features, it was painfully obvious how wide her eyes were. Like a child chasing after a piece of candy.
“I just wanted to add-,” she paused shaking her head. “I mean, I just thought you should keep in mind, that… Weiss, Weiss could have just been a poor match for you, understand? Clearly, it seems like the two of you weren’t compatible.” Her hands shook at against her breast. “But that doesn’t mean you should stop looking! Any girl would be lucky to call you there’s. I'm sure you already have plenty of young women who would be interested.”
Gazing into his eyes, Pyrrha’s own emerald pair glimmered with such intensity, silently begging him to hear her and understand what she was saying. When he remained silent she nudged him even further. “Perhaps one even closer than you would imagine?” she tried, so obvious Zwie would be able to pick up on the signals she was sending. And to her wonderfully horrified eyes, he actually seemed to consider what she was saying, staring at her so thoughtfully the world seemed to freeze.
If only.
In reality, Jaune’s thoughts weren’t anything close to what Pyrrha was no doubt imagining. What would have been obvious to anyone else urged his mind in an entirely different direction.
His first thought was how strange his partner was being. Cheering him up was one thing, but something about her words seemed… strange. Though, he couldn’t really place his finger on why. That thought was quickly consumed by another before it had the chance to expand or take root. Instead, he found his eyes widening as a wave of realization washed over him.
The answer he’d been looking for…
Could she be right? Was his mistake not that he’d ruined his chance with Weiss, but that he’d thought of her as his only option? Initially, he’d imagined himself with a number of woman as possible alternatives. But his infatuation had with his crush had narrowed his vision, and had allowed himself to forget that other women existed. And that this one set back didn’t change the reality that he still had his powers.
Yes, he cared about Wiess. And yes, he was genuinely heartbroken knowing he would never get to be with her, but just because he’d ruined one possibility, why should that stop him from pursuing others? He had made a mistake. He’d rushed in before knowing he was ready. But he should learn from that, instead of giving up completely.
The realization hit him like a slap to the face. If he just took the time and actually learned how to use his powers and their effects than maybe he could seriously get a girlfriend. There was still time. Although the question did remain, how exactly he was supposed to do that? It wasn’t like he had many opportunities to just go out and use his power without attracting too much attention. People might not figure out it was him, but he was pretty sure rumors of some kind of perverted ghost would draw the attention of the faculty pretty quickly. If he was going to do this, he needed it to be centered around one woman, and it would need to happen away from where others could catch wind of what was happening. But where on earth was he supposed to find an attractive Huntress who regularly isolated herself and who he had regular access to? Hmmm…..
And slowly, he found his gaze sliding back towards his partner who was still quietly waiting for his response despite the near panic that had taken her features.
Actually, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity for just that? Jaune knew Pyrrha, at least enough to recognize any strange behavior inflicted on his part. But even better, they trained every morning. Which meant he had the opportunity to practice on her at least once a day without anything getting in the way. And as far as being attractive went, admittedly that didn’t really matter in the long run, but it was a personal preference. And Pyrrha was about as beautiful as a girl could become.
His eyes turned from her gaze, flicking towards her exposed skin and skimpy armor for the briefest of seconds. He didn’t really need to look, but it felt like the right thing to do, considering his current train of thought. But no, he knew what she looked like. And now he might get the opportunity to see even more than ever before.
Of course, that did still leave the question, should he use his friend like that?
She worked so hard to be a good friend to him, even going so far as to drag his sorry ass out of bed just to give him a pep talk. Somehow returning the favor by feeling her up didn’t quite seem appropriate. And yet, wasn’t it that same drive to help him that should encourage him to go forward with his plan? She was the one trying to tell him that he should keep looking for a girlfriend, after all.
He knew his friend and knew that she would do anything in her power to help him if he asked. In this particular case, asking would just lead to more problems than if he simply went ahead with it. Maybe it was wrong to take advantage of that friendship, but he would do the same for her in a heartbeat – and intended to as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Hell, maybe he could even help her get a date after he found his own lady. Was she interested in anyone? He would have to try and find a way to ask.
The reality that he was going through with it transitioned with shocking ease. Although, part of him might always have intended to go that route, regardless of the reasoning he took to get there. There was a disconnect forming between his actions in that other world and this one. Almost as though he could pretend nothing he did there actually happened – or had consequences. Leaving him to wonder… just where did the end of this road go for him?
Unfortunately, he wasn’t allowed to dwell on such thoughts for long, as other matters demanded his focus. Namely… how the heck he was going to pull this off. He might need to start with a few fibs.
While all of this was going through his mind, Pyrrha waited with baited breath to see if he had picked up on any of her cues. It was strange how she could want something so badly and be afraid of it at the exact same time. But what else could love be except for a combination of all the heart’s strongest emotions? Finally, her patience was rewarded as Jaune’s contemplative frown focused on her, and he moved to rest his seat even closer than they had been. Her heart lept in her chest.
“Pyrrha,” he started in a tone that sent shivers down the redhead’s spine. She could feel the heat of his body against the cool outside air. Her eyes widened accordingly. Staring into his gaze, she waited for him to say the words she’d been waiting to hear since she had first come to recognize her feelings. She watched his lips part to speak, as though she could see them forming as he spoke. ‘Go on, just say it. I feel the same way… say it.’ But instead…
“Train me.”
Huh, no. Not that…
She blinked, all of her previous anticipation shattered as her brain attempted to reset to process the current situation. Instead of a word, all she could manage was a muted, “huh?” Jaune’s hardened features remained.
“Train me,” he repeated, oblivious to the obvious disappointment mounting his friend’s features with each moment her fantasy was peeled away. The reality of his voice was much more grim. “You were right, and I’m tired of feeling sorry for myself. Even if things didn’t work out with Weiss, that doesn’t mean I should just give up. But rather than dating, I think I need to focus on me first, you know? Get stronger, learn to be more confident.”
‘And practice my semblance,’ went unsaid. “It kind of feels like a lots been happening lately. I just need to slow down, maybe try and think about my decisions first. And I think the best way to start is to tell you something that I… I’ve been keeping a secret from everyone, something I should have told you from the start.”
With each word, Pyrrha found it harder and harder to maintain the understanding smile she had forced onto her face. Doesn’t want to date? Wants to improve himself? He wants to slow down?! It took everything she had not to simply reach out and start to shake him by his breastplate. And even worse, everything he was saying was completely reasonable!
How was she supposed to be angry with him when he was making such sound decisions? Well, she was, but she knew she shouldn’t be. He was trying to grow as a person and as a Hunter and were it any other person she would applaud them for such a mature decision. But this was Jaune. And all she could hear was that she’d waited too long. Again.
Could he still have misunderstood her intentions? Did she actually have to hold up a sign with an arrow pointing to herself with the words, “wants to date you!” written in bright, eye attracting colors? Surely not every girl had to be so blunt. So what was wrong with her? What was she doing wrong that she required such drastic maneuvers simply to expose her feelings to the boy she liked? Or perhaps, maybe it had less to do what she did, and more to do with the boy she’d fallen for.
After everything she said, for him to still remain so oblivious she felt that there really could be only two options. Either, Jaune’s known about her feelings for quite some time and simply did not understand how to explain he did not return her love… or… or the very idea of even trying to think of her in a romantic light was so impossible that it refused to even cross his mind. He didn’t see her as a woman, or even female. Just a good friend, and at times, a handy tutor to help improve his abilities.
Blinking, she realized she’d begun to tune his words out while slowly experiencing her own downward spiral of despair. Forced back towards the surface, she tried to recall what he had just said to her, marked by a nervous guilt that had her genuinely curious. A secret? She sighed and did her best to put her own feelings behind her. Her partner needed her after all… he just didn’t want her.
“I… think I discovered my semblance.”
She stopped. The pain in her chest momentarily forgotten as she looked at him and realized what he’d just said. “Your semblance?” Her tone was brighter than she had any right to feel, but that didn’t matter right now. Instead, she found herself looking at the blond in a whole new light. “Jaune… that’s, oh my, that’s wonderful!” she cheered for him, and could even feel a smile start to pull her features.
To have unlocked his personal abilities so soon… well, it was unexpected, to say the least. Normally, people had to work with their aura for years before they were able to come about that special power unique to them and them alone. There were exceptions, of course, gifted young children who activated their abilities as naturally as breathing. Young Ruby Rose came to mind, but a majority of Hunters were unable to reach that point until the late into their middle years in school. Whereas Jaune had managed it only a few months? Not for the first time, Pyrrha looked at the young man in front of her marveling at just how much potential there was to be tapped.
“Y-Yea?” he managed, not sure how to handle her sudden interest. Although, part of him couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. It was too easy to remember his own eagerness that first day, and how he’d nearly exposed himself to his entire team right then and there. It was funny to think about, how his life would have changed if his partner and other female teammate hadn’t picked that moment to return from their shower, how would things have changed? Unfortunately, the ability to reverse time wasn’t included in this package.
“I mean, I’m pretty sure? It’s a little weird.” He continued, beating around the bush. But perhaps she’d had enough of suspense. “It’s why I was hoping… I mean, you wouldn’t mind helping me train it, right?”
“Of course! Would you be comfortable showing me how it works?” she waited for him to perform. Which, well, she said she’d help him… and so, without any further ado, Jaune activated his semblance for the first time in a week, casting the world into a soundless void of isolation.
A/N: UPDATE SCHEDULE: okay, so the way things have been going is less than ideal, to put it simply. Even though I've effect dropped all of my stories except the three most popular, I'm still not updating as fast as I would have liked. Thankfully, a new development has encouraged me to set up a time table for all of my stories. Which, is as follows:
Genjutsu Gone Right: will now be updating at LEAST once a month. Depending on the length of chapters, I may be able to work in two shorter updates, but no matter what by the end of the month I am going to do my best to give you a regular update to look forward to. Hopefully this will quell the reviews crying out for me to reconsider abandoning this story (Which I have never even considered, BTW.)
Sense of Semblance and Vault 69: From now on these stories will be updated on ALTERNATING MONTHS, which means in addition to GGR updating ONCE a month, I intend to update one of these stories to go with it. Whichever story does not get updated, it will be updated the following month. Since I’ve updated Sos in October, that means the next update won’t be until December.
Next chapter – Training never felt so good – December: Taking advantage of their morning drills, Jaune Arc will take the time to explore the very limits of his powers. Observing his abilities in the middle of combat, Pyrrha won’t even notice the odd warmth slowly starting to flow through her body until it is too late. What will Jaune learn through these exercise? And more importantly, how will his partner respond to overwhelming pleasure after Jaune so easily overlooked her confession? Read the next chapter to find out. F&R
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Sense of Semblance