[ What do? That's a good question. They really didn't set out any rules for this, did they? Not that it's a discussion Jaune necessarily wants to have, this feels weird enough as it is. He's left alone in the kitchen with Pyrrha, her mouth more open than her water bottle. Jaune does the math in his head and knows exactly what he needs to do.
He grabs her bottle and opens it for her before handing it back. As soon as he does it, he goes on about his business. ]
- DAY 3 -
[ Today will likely serve as a reminder to why they are doing this in the first place, because after an intense workout in the backyard, a shirtless Jaune will try to go up the stairs just as Pyrrha is also coming down. Uh.
[ Pyrrha is so busy trying to fish her house keys out of her purse, she doesn't even notice him coming up the stairs until she's walked right into him.
Walked into his... bare chest. His bare, glistening chest.
!?!
... why is this happening. Pyrrha leaps back like a scalded cat, utters out a quick and high pitched, "I'm sorry!" before quickly darting around him and practically running out of the house. ]
- DAY 4 -
[ It's a bit before midnight and Pyrrha is in the basement, curled up next to the dryer as it finishes with her laundry. Still in her work clothes, she accidentally fell asleep, with a likewise-slumbering Zwei lying on his back by her feet. ]
[ Jaune is torn between waking her up and letting her rest peacefully. It's times like these that remind him of something he's known about Pyrrha longer than anyone else, and it's that despite her "invincible girl" moniker, she is actually quite vulnerable. All he ever wants to do is keep her safe the way she has always done the same for him, because their bond clearly goes beyond superficial partnership. Sadly, he also feels like he's been her source of pain more than anyone lately. Surely, whatever she's dreaming about, it must be nicer than their current reality. Maybe the Jaune in her dreams is a stronger person, or maybe he's not in them at all.
That's a depressing thought.
Quietly, he picks up a blanket and covers Pyrrha. ...He's starting to miss her. ]
- DAY 5 -
[ In contrast to the third day, Pyrrha will probably not like what she sees today. Jaune and Weiss are discussing the new chore schedule and her insisting that he follows it more strictly this time, while he continues to nod dismissively. When Pyrrha walks into the room, Jaune is prepared to give her the "get me out of here" look, because Weiss will surely listen to whatever excuse Pyrrha comes up with to take Jaune away from here.
But no, he's sticking to the agreement. An Arc never goes back on his word, right?! In the end, Pyrrha just gets a regular look and he goes back to pretending he cares about this stupid chore schedule. Cue more Weiss fussing. ]
[ Why yes, this is far worse than the sight of half-naked Jaune. Pyrrha walks into the room and she's immediately filled with the same stricken concerns that she so often is when it comes to Jaune and Weiss - knowing that someone else, someone not her, someone slight and elegant, the utter opposite of her, is the object of Jaune's affections. Her stomach drops, much like it did when he cited a fight with Weiss as the reason for leaving the house for several days; Pyrrha can barely make herself meet his eyes.
She greets them quickly, her chirped out hellos the product of careful artifice, and quickly exits the room. She had only been cutting through on her way to elsewhere, after all.
... Except not really, but she knows full well that there's no place for her there. ]
- DAY 6 -
[ This time, it's Jaune's turn to get an exciting eyeful. Pyrrha's just stepping out of the shower in the upstairs bath. There's a towel wrapped snugly around her, held in place beneath her arms, but when you're as gigantic as her, you're going to end up showing quite a bit of leg regardless.
Hearing someone banging on the locked door, she quickly moves to turn the lock and let them in. When she does, what does she find? ]
[ When Pyrrha opens the door, the first thing Jaune does is brush past her and reach for the first aid kit to wrap some bandages around his hand. He appears to be bleeding a little from the palm of his hand, likely from a small cooking accident. It's hardly the first time he had lost his concentration during food preparation, but the idiot did exhaust all his Aura from training earlier in the day, which means there was nothing to protect him from sharp objects. Either way, it's not a serious injury compared to the hits he takes any other time!
As he finishes wrapping his hand, that's when he notices Pyrrha in the mirror and turns to look at her and maybe say something. Problem is, he doesn't really say anything and just ends up staring, half-angry at himself and flustered at what's in front of him. It's not even the agreement that leaves him speechless this time, but something entirely else. It's her.
...Uh.
Jaune just... dances awkwardly around the half-naked amazon and goes to leave through the door, but not before stopping and taking another quick glance. Yup, that's still Pyrrha.
He closes the door after him, though he lingers outside for a little longer before ultimately walking off again. How long can they keep this up? ]
- DAY 7 -
[ You know what, today he's not even going to bother avoiding her. As Pyrrha prepares to leave for work, she'll find Jaune sitting at the kitchen table. They're alone now, and he doesn't care, as he slowly, sensuously... eats his cereal.
It's not the sexiest image, a man eating froot loops with a bandage around his hand, but it's almost like he's curious to see if she'll say something. Does she even miss him as much as he misses her, he wonders?
[ Pyrrha looks a bit rushed when she darts into the kitchen. Her work clothes are still slightly damp from being pulled out of the dryer too early and she's rushing to fill up her thermos with tea before leaving. She gets a discount at Steambucks, yes, but let's be honest - if she could afford their beverages on a regular basis, she wouldn't be working at Steambucks.
She does find time for one incidental act, however. As Pyrrha slips around the table, she pauses at Jaune's elbow. With a smile, she places something on his forehead. He'll notice a square of unexciting yellow obscuring a large portion of his vision.
When he plucks it off, this is what he'll see: ]
[ Pyrrha doesn't wait to see his reaction, darting back out before she risks being late. ]
- DAY 8 -
[ One of Pyrrha's favourite places is the front porch of the house. Namely, the swinging bench on the far right side, looking out onto the residential street. Her hometown in Mistral had been so cramped, people stacked on top of people, houses small and complexes common. Verens is, by contrast, quite large and open, full of trees and mystery. Her spot would be a decent enough spot to read quietly, if she cared much for reading in general. (Turns out, Verens at large doesn't stock her favourite graphic novels!) The fresh air and birdsong are good enough.
That said, she's quite aware how well this bench could fit two, or even three. Pyrrha's conscious of decorum and her own too-long limbs, too well adjusted to having little leg room.
When Jaune comes up the front yard, covered in - well, whatever he'd be covered in after a difficult mission, she pauses for just a moment... and then slides over so he has room to sit down.
[ Jaune's covered in mostly dirt and a few splashes of monster blood - he's really starting to become the brooding warrior he thought he always wanted to be. When he sees Pyrrha make space for him, he doesn't stop and think about what to do. In fact, he already decided on it yesterday.
Jaune takes a seat beside his friend, but he doesn't say anything yet. He will eventually, if this silence keeps up, but for now he's just happy to have this small mercy granted to him.
Life without Pyrrha was already so hard; he can't keep pretending like this... ]
[ It's gotten chillier out in the past month, so Pyrrha's in the habit of taking a blanket out here when she sits. It's strewn about her knees; when Jaune sits down, she doesn't hesitate to share the blanket. giving him a wide corner to keep warm. What he does with it is his own choice.
She looks over, but has to draw in a breath, gathering her nerves before speaking. ]
[ Ah, they're doing that thing where they're both saying the same thing at the same time. ]
--sorry.
[ He shouldn't interrupt her, he missed her voice. On the other hand, maybe he should say something now? No-- no, he should let Pyrrha speak, right? Augh! What to do?!
...
Jaune tugs at his piece of the blanket and covers himself as much as he can. Weirdly enough, it makes him feel a little more secure. ]
[ Balefully, she sighs. It's hard to get this out but she's had a whole week to think about being brave, about the tangled skein of her feelings.
After everything she's put him through, he at least deserves honesty. ]
... I knew the day would come when you wouldn't need me anymore; I just didn't expect it to be so soon.
[ And she's proud, she really is! He's so much stronger now, a man she's still trying to figure out as opposed to the inept, optimistic, pushover boy she had known. But there's also what comes next, and how it'll only pull him further and further away from her. Perhaps selfishly, she's not ready to have her heart broken again, not when she's wondering, hasn't she been through enough? Trying to get through these past few months has been hard. Her own perception of what the future holds will only make it worse.
Still, isn't this pain - or any pain - worth enduring for his happiness? She promised to be his best friend. She said they were still partners. It's high time she started acting like it.
Eyes clear, she lifts her head. Her smile is watery, the product of effort. ]
Jaune, it's okay. You can be with whoever you want. -- I want to be here for you no matter where our lives lead.
[ Implicitly, she's ending the moratorium on being alone together. ]
[ Underneath the blanket, Jaune's hand finds Pyrrha's and squeezes it, even if he can't quite meet her eyes yet. Please stop talking nonsense, partner, you're killing him here. ]
Pyrrha. [ It's said quietly, but firmly. ] It was never about that...
[ Even he can't quite explain his rationale, but it's got nothing to do with wanting to be with someone else. If there's one thing he is sure of, it's that he doesn't want to be anywhere but here with her. ]
I don't know how to be what... you want me to be. Yet. [ Visibly, he looks ashamed to say that, because he knows he's hurting her. The fact that she even has to question her right to be here after coming back to life makes him feel sick. Why does he keep letting her down like this?! ]
[ He squeezes her hand and Pyrrha, despite all rational inclinations, holds back, fingers grasping for his in a way that could almost be considered desperate. It's difficult to accept what he's saying after she spent so long telling herself the opposite was true - that if he wanted to be with her, he would be; that he was still unimpressed by her; that something between them broke in a way beyond fixing. She hasn't forgotten how quickly he fled the house after fighting with Weiss. Pyrrha's tired of being torn up. There's a lot she's tired of, in fact.
She's silent for a long few moments after he finishes speaking. If she's well within her rights to demand an answer, then... ]
Jaune, what do you want?
[ It's gently asked. For what seems like the millionth time, she's telling herself, one more try and then she's done -- ]
[ That's... a broad question. Jaune takes a moment to think of the least convoluted but honest answer. ]
I... want to wake up every morning, and not be scared of losing everything again. It's messed up, I know.
[ It's why he trains himself to exhaustion every night, why he's paranoid whenever the team doesn't stick together, why he can't commit to anything else - not a job, not romance. It's not the leader's job to ever make the team worry about them either, it's at least one thing only he and Ruby understand about each other, but Pyrrha likely knows this side of him, too. ]
Truth is, I'm not doing very okay.
[ And he needs her. Does he really have to actually spell it out? ]
[ It's an answer, even if it's not what she wants to hear, and the faint notes of anguish in the back of his voice tugs at her heartstrings. If he had just said this from the beginning, a lot of time and confusion and pain could have been avoided. That fact is well mitigated by him being open with her now. He's giving her a chance to be his partner, truly and completely. Pyrrha doesn't want to let him down any more than she already has.
Sliding a few inches toward, her arms come around him, enfolding him in a clear, warm hug. There's arguably a note of intimacy in it, something indistinguishably beyond platonic in the way she buries her face against the crook of his neck. One hand rubs at his back. ]
Jaune... [ Her voice tries for the assurance of her last life, but - when he breaks, she breaks too. ]
[ He's not sure if he can, even. But Pyrrha is here, once again giving him exactly what he needs, and one day he will give her what she wants, too. What they both want. If... she's willing to be patient with his own recovery process. ]
Is it... really okay, then? Can we be, like, the new Ren and Nora now? Or-- just us. Jaune and Pyrrha.
[ What he means is being together but not together-together until he gets his shit... together! But also trusting in where they are standing with each other.
Us— [ Testing, she repeats the words. The hug becomes less taut and desperate, something considerably more languid. Impulsively, Pyrrha brushes some hair out of his face and kisses his temple.
As soon as she does, a square foot of flowers bloom in the front yard, yellow and pink petals spreading toward the sky.
Somewhat embarrassed, somewhat hiding a smile, Pyrrha averts her head. ]
... It's okay. I would have waited before, if you had only asked me.
[ Implying she didn't wait before (she totally did) -- oops! :D ]
[ Pyrrha does the thing and his heart skips a beat. It's less of an adrenaline rush this time and more of a quick jolt that takes him out of dark place, followed by an overwhelming sense of relief.
Jaune's hand comes up and he traces the spot that Pyrrha just kissed on his head. Unlike her, he doesn't hide his smile, but he also doesn't realize that he is in fact responding with one. It's moot in the end anyway, as Pyrrha is the one who's looking away this time when he faces her. ]
It goes without saying, but you don't have to do anything alone either. I mean it, I'll always have your back, even if nothing else makes sense to me.
[ Eventually, she does look back at him. The flowers have stopped spreading through the front lawn but her smile has yet to temper, mint-bright as the moment he gave her reason to. Under the blanket, their hands are still linked, while her other arm lingers around him, hesitant to let go. What would happen if she moved away from him now? Even the coolness of early evening is chased away by a sphere of warmth generated between them, as if they were entirely in their own little galaxy, sustained by a star that only exists when they're together, close, touching.
I'll always have your back...
On her next words, her tone lightens. Unlike before, it's genuine. ]
Well. [ On her second impulse in as many minutes, she burrows under his arm, gently forcing it around her. ] I'll try to make sure everything makes sense this time around.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He grabs her bottle and opens it for her before handing it back. As soon as he does it, he goes on about his business. ]
- DAY 3 -
[ Today will likely serve as a reminder to why they are doing this in the first place, because after an intense workout in the backyard, a shirtless Jaune will try to go up the stairs just as Pyrrha is also coming down. Uh.
... what do?? ]
no subject
Walked into his... bare chest. His bare, glistening chest.
!?!
... why is this happening. Pyrrha leaps back like a scalded cat, utters out a quick and high pitched, "I'm sorry!" before quickly darting around him and practically running out of the house. ]
- DAY 4 -
[ It's a bit before midnight and Pyrrha is in the basement, curled up next to the dryer as it finishes with her laundry. Still in her work clothes, she accidentally fell asleep, with a likewise-slumbering Zwei lying on his back by her feet. ]
no subject
That's a depressing thought.
Quietly, he picks up a blanket and covers Pyrrha. ...He's starting to miss her. ]
- DAY 5 -
[ In contrast to the third day, Pyrrha will probably not like what she sees today. Jaune and Weiss are discussing the new chore schedule and her insisting that he follows it more strictly this time, while he continues to nod dismissively. When Pyrrha walks into the room, Jaune is prepared to give her the "get me out of here" look, because Weiss will surely listen to whatever excuse Pyrrha comes up with to take Jaune away from here.
But no, he's sticking to the agreement. An Arc never goes back on his word, right?! In the end, Pyrrha just gets a regular look and he goes back to pretending he cares about this stupid chore schedule. Cue more Weiss fussing. ]
no subject
She greets them quickly, her chirped out hellos the product of careful artifice, and quickly exits the room. She had only been cutting through on her way to elsewhere, after all.
... Except not really, but she knows full well that there's no place for her there. ]
- DAY 6 -
[ This time, it's Jaune's turn to get an exciting eyeful. Pyrrha's just stepping out of the shower in the upstairs bath. There's a towel wrapped snugly around her, held in place beneath her arms, but when you're as gigantic as her, you're going to end up showing quite a bit of leg regardless.
Hearing someone banging on the locked door, she quickly moves to turn the lock and let them in. When she does, what does she find? ]
no subject
As he finishes wrapping his hand, that's when he notices Pyrrha in the mirror and turns to look at her and maybe say something. Problem is, he doesn't really say anything and just ends up staring, half-angry at himself and flustered at what's in front of him. It's not even the agreement that leaves him speechless this time, but something entirely else. It's her.
...Uh.
Jaune just... dances awkwardly around the half-naked amazon and goes to leave through the door, but not before stopping and taking another quick glance. Yup, that's still Pyrrha.
He closes the door after him, though he lingers outside for a little longer before ultimately walking off again. How long can they keep this up? ]
- DAY 7 -
[ You know what, today he's not even going to bother avoiding her. As Pyrrha prepares to leave for work, she'll find Jaune sitting at the kitchen table. They're alone now, and he doesn't care, as he slowly, sensuously... eats his cereal.
It's not the sexiest image, a man eating froot loops with a bandage around his hand, but it's almost like he's curious to see if she'll say something. Does she even miss him as much as he misses her, he wonders?
Chew. Chew. Chew. ]
no subject
She does find time for one incidental act, however. As Pyrrha slips around the table, she pauses at Jaune's elbow. With a smile, she places something on his forehead. He'll notice a square of unexciting yellow obscuring a large portion of his vision.
When he plucks it off, this is what he'll see: ]
[ Pyrrha doesn't wait to see his reaction, darting back out before she risks being late. ]
- DAY 8 -
[ One of Pyrrha's favourite places is the front porch of the house. Namely, the swinging bench on the far right side, looking out onto the residential street. Her hometown in Mistral had been so cramped, people stacked on top of people, houses small and complexes common. Verens is, by contrast, quite large and open, full of trees and mystery. Her spot would be a decent enough spot to read quietly, if she cared much for reading in general. (Turns out, Verens at large doesn't stock her favourite graphic novels!) The fresh air and birdsong are good enough.
That said, she's quite aware how well this bench could fit two, or even three. Pyrrha's conscious of decorum and her own too-long limbs, too well adjusted to having little leg room.
When Jaune comes up the front yard, covered in - well, whatever he'd be covered in after a difficult mission, she pauses for just a moment... and then slides over so he has room to sit down.
If he wants to. ]
no subject
Jaune takes a seat beside his friend, but he doesn't say anything yet. He will eventually, if this silence keeps up, but for now he's just happy to have this small mercy granted to him.
Life without Pyrrha was already so hard; he can't keep pretending like this... ]
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She looks over, but has to draw in a breath, gathering her nerves before speaking. ]
I don't think this is really working.
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[ Ah, they're doing that thing where they're both saying the same thing at the same time. ]
--sorry.
[ He shouldn't interrupt her, he missed her voice. On the other hand, maybe he should say something now? No-- no, he should let Pyrrha speak, right? Augh! What to do?!
...
Jaune tugs at his piece of the blanket and covers himself as much as he can. Weirdly enough, it makes him feel a little more secure. ]
no subject
After everything she's put him through, he at least deserves honesty. ]
... I knew the day would come when you wouldn't need me anymore; I just didn't expect it to be so soon.
[ And she's proud, she really is! He's so much stronger now, a man she's still trying to figure out as opposed to the inept, optimistic, pushover boy she had known. But there's also what comes next, and how it'll only pull him further and further away from her. Perhaps selfishly, she's not ready to have her heart broken again, not when she's wondering, hasn't she been through enough? Trying to get through these past few months has been hard. Her own perception of what the future holds will only make it worse.
Still, isn't this pain - or any pain - worth enduring for his happiness? She promised to be his best friend. She said they were still partners. It's high time she started acting like it.
Eyes clear, she lifts her head. Her smile is watery, the product of effort. ]
Jaune, it's okay. You can be with whoever you want. -- I want to be here for you no matter where our lives lead.
[ Implicitly, she's ending the moratorium on being alone together. ]
As long as you're happy, then I will be too.
no subject
Pyrrha. [ It's said quietly, but firmly. ] It was never about that...
[ Even he can't quite explain his rationale, but it's got nothing to do with wanting to be with someone else. If there's one thing he is sure of, it's that he doesn't want to be anywhere but here with her. ]
I don't know how to be what... you want me to be. Yet. [ Visibly, he looks ashamed to say that, because he knows he's hurting her. The fact that she even has to question her right to be here after coming back to life makes him feel sick. Why does he keep letting her down like this?! ]
It's you who doesn't need someone like me.
no subject
She's silent for a long few moments after he finishes speaking. If she's well within her rights to demand an answer, then... ]
Jaune, what do you want?
[ It's gently asked. For what seems like the millionth time, she's telling herself, one more try and then she's done -- ]
no subject
I... want to wake up every morning, and not be scared of losing everything again. It's messed up, I know.
[ It's why he trains himself to exhaustion every night, why he's paranoid whenever the team doesn't stick together, why he can't commit to anything else - not a job, not romance. It's not the leader's job to ever make the team worry about them either, it's at least one thing only he and Ruby understand about each other, but Pyrrha likely knows this side of him, too. ]
Truth is, I'm not doing very okay.
[ And he needs her. Does he really have to actually spell it out? ]
no subject
Sliding a few inches toward, her arms come around him, enfolding him in a clear, warm hug. There's arguably a note of intimacy in it, something indistinguishably beyond platonic in the way she buries her face against the crook of his neck. One hand rubs at his back. ]
Jaune... [ Her voice tries for the assurance of her last life, but - when he breaks, she breaks too. ]
You don't have to do any of this alone.
no subject
[ He's not sure if he can, even. But Pyrrha is here, once again giving him exactly what he needs, and one day he will give her what she wants, too. What they both want. If... she's willing to be patient with his own recovery process. ]
Is it... really okay, then? Can we be, like, the new Ren and Nora now? Or-- just us. Jaune and Pyrrha.
[ What he means is being together but not together-together until he gets his shit... together! But also trusting in where they are standing with each other.
Oh hell, he'll just say it: ]
There's no one else.
no subject
As soon as she does, a square foot of flowers bloom in the front yard, yellow and pink petals spreading toward the sky.
Somewhat embarrassed, somewhat hiding a smile, Pyrrha averts her head. ]
... It's okay. I would have waited before, if you had only asked me.
[ Implying she didn't wait before (she totally did) -- oops! :D ]
no subject
Jaune's hand comes up and he traces the spot that Pyrrha just kissed on his head. Unlike her, he doesn't hide his smile, but he also doesn't realize that he is in fact responding with one. It's moot in the end anyway, as Pyrrha is the one who's looking away this time when he faces her. ]
It goes without saying, but you don't have to do anything alone either. I mean it, I'll always have your back, even if nothing else makes sense to me.
[ Let's not repeat history, basically. ]
no subject
I'll always have your back...
On her next words, her tone lightens. Unlike before, it's genuine. ]
Well. [ On her second impulse in as many minutes, she burrows under his arm, gently forcing it around her. ] I'll try to make sure everything makes sense this time around.