Too Late for Subtlety

Pyrrha walked through the halls of Beacon with a spring in her step, carefully cradling a small thermal lunchbox against her chest. A pleased smile played at her lips as she navigated around other students heading back to their dorms after the evening meal who gave her curious looks. The container felt warm in her hands, and she couldn't help but feel rather proud of herself for managing to pull this off.

Inside was Jaune's favorite dish - a hearty stew made with five different meats that he'd mentioned during their last mission when they'd been camping in the wilds. She could still picture the wistful expression as he'd described it, how his blue eyes had lit up while talking about his mother's cooking back home. The way his voice had grown soft with homesickness, how he'd smiled that genuine smile that wasn't trying to impress anyone, it gave her a few goosebumps.

Obviously, the memory had stuck with her for weeks.

Getting the ingredients had been quite the adventure. She'd spent a couple of afternoons in Vale, visiting different butcher shops and markets to find the highest quality cuts and ingredients. The vendors had been helpful once she'd explained what she was looking for, though more than one had given her knowing looks when she'd insisted on only the best. Money wasn't an issue - being a four-time Mistral Regional Tournament champion had its perks - but finding everything fresh and perfect had taken considerably longer than expected.

But Jaune deserved nothing less than perfection, especially when he gave so much of himself to everyone else without asking for anything in return.

The real challenge had come when she'd approached the cafeteria staff. Pyrrha had felt rather embarrassed asking if they could prepare something special using her own ingredients. Her formal training had taught her to be polite and respectful, but this felt almost presumptuous - asking for special treatment when she was already given so much consideration due to her status.

Thankfully, Mrs. Chen had, the head cook, even offered helpful suggestions about seasoning and cooking times, clearly approving of Pyrrha's dedication. More importantly, she'd treated Pyrrha like any other lovesick student rather than the famous champion everyone else saw first. It had been... refreshing.

And how could she not be dedicated to Jaune?

He was the only person in her life who saw her as simply Pyrrha - not the invincible girl, not the celebrity, not the four-time champion who carried the expectations of an entire kingdom on her shoulders. With him, she could laugh at his terrible jokes, stumble over her words when he complimented her, and just be herself without the weight of anything pressing down on her. 

He looked at her like she was just a person, not a symbol or an ideal to live up to.

For that alone, she loved him in ways that sometimes hurt to contain.

Although, it was frustrating at times, admittedly. The subtle hints she'd been dropping seemed to bounce right off him like her shield deflected attacks. The lingering touches during training, the way she'd find excuses to spend time alone with him, the genuine smiles she saved just for him - none of it seemed to register. But Pyrrha was patient by nature, trained to assess her opponents and strike at the perfect moment. She'd learned long ago that the best victories came to those who waited for the right opportunity.

Though perhaps, she mused as she rounded another corner, I've been too patient. Too afraid of disrupting what we have. The thought made her steps falter slightly. What if her hesitation cost her the chance entirely? What if someone else saw what she saw in Jaune before she found the courage to act?

This lunchbox was exactly the kind of patient gesture she'd grown comfortable with. A small reward for how much he'd improved in combat, a celebration of his current streak of three undefeated matches in Professor Goodwitch's class. She'd watched him grow stronger and more confident with each passing month, and the pride she felt in his progress was almost overwhelming. He was becoming the leader she'd always known he could be, the man she'd fallen for before he even knew his own worth.

But what if patience isn't enough anymore? T

He thought had been nagging at her for days now, ever since she'd overheard some of the other girls in her year talking about how "adorably humble" Jaune was, how he was "really coming into his own lately."

The lunchbox seemed to pulse with warmth against her hands as she turned the final corner toward her team dormitory. Soon she'd be able to present it to him, to see that wonderful smile light up his face when he realized she'd remembered his favorite meal. The thought alone was enough to make her steps quicken with anticipation.

‘Just be yourself,’ she reminded herself, the same advice she'd given him so many times during training.’ He cares about you. You know he does. Even if he doesn't realize how much you care about him yet.’

And her anticipation grew as she spotted familiar figures standing outside her dormitory door. Most importantly, there was Jaune with their friend Ruby.

She was about to call out their names, already lifting the lunchbox with both hands like an offering, when her voice died in her throat as she noticed something very out of place.

Ruby was standing closer to Jaune, more than usual, holding something behind her back. Pyrrha could see the younger girl's face even from this distance - cheeks flushed as red as her cape and clearly fidgeting with nervous energy. But it was Ruby's smile that made Pyrrha's stomach drop. That soft, hopeful expression was almost identical to the one Pyrrha caught glimpses of in mirrors when she thought about Jaune.

‘No... ‘Pyrrha thought, her feet suddenly feeling rooted to the spot. ‘She's just... they're just friends. Ruby's like that with everyone. She's naturally affectionate.’

But even as she tried to rationalize what she was seeing, Pyrrha's trained eye told her otherwise. The way the reaper swayed slightly on her feet, how her silver eyes kept darting between Jaune's face and the ground, the careful way she held whatever was behind her back like it was precious.

Then Ruby produced a small pink box from behind her back - heart-shaped and tied with a delicate ribbon. The kind of gift that left no room for misinterpretation.

"I, um, I made these for you," Ruby's voice carried down the hallway, clear enough for Pyrrha to hear every devastating word. "I know they're not as good as store-bought, but I remembered you mentioning you liked chocolate during our study session last week, and I thought maybe..."

‘Study session?’ The detail hit Pyrrha like a physical blow. ‘When did they have study sessions? How did I not know about this?’

Pyrrha watched in horrified fascination as Jaune's face lit up with that wonderful, genuine smile - the one she'd thought was reserved for her, their quiet training, their late-night conversations when the others were asleep. The one she'd treasured as something special between them, something that made her feel like she was the only person in his world who mattered.

"Ruby, you didn't have to do this," Jaune said, his voice carrying a warmth that made Pyrrha's chest tighten painfully as he accepted the box. "But I'm really glad you did." He opened it carefully, almost reverently, to reveal chocolate balls. "These look amazing. Did you really make all of these yourself?"

‘Please don't…’ Pyrrha's mind screamed as she watched Jaune select one of the chocolates and take a bite, his eyes closing in obvious enjoyment. ‘Please, just say thank you and-’

"These are incredible, Ruby," Her team leader thanked, which felt like another hit to her. 

But Jaune wasn't finished. He was already reaching for another piece, this time holding it out toward Ruby. "Try one with me? I bet they taste even better when you share them."

Ruby's delighted giggle echoed off the corridor walls as she leaned forward to accept the chocolate directly from his fingers, her lips brushing against his fingertips in a gesture so intimate and natural it felt like watching her entire world crumble in real time.

The lunchbox slipped from Pyrrha's suddenly numb fingers, hitting the floor with a resounding thud that seemed to echo through the hallway like a gunshot. She barely registered the sound as she stumbled backward around the corner, pressing herself against the cold stone wall with her heart hammering against her.

‘Days…’ she thought desperately, sliding down until she was sitting on the floor. Rich stew spread in an unappetizing puddle, the expensive meats she'd spent hours selecting now wasted and ruined. ‘I spent days finding the perfect ingredients, convincing Mrs. Chen to help me, planning exactly what I would say when I gave it to him.’

And Ruby had accomplished more with five minutes with a box of homemade chocolates than Pyrrha had managed in months of being patient, dripping hints and subtle gestures.

The worst part wasn't even the chocolates or how her friend looked. It was how right they looked together, how naturally he'd shared that moment without any of the awkwardness or hesitation he sometimes showed with her. 

Like it was the most obvious thing in the world, like he'd been waiting for exactly this kind of gesture from exactly this person.

Like maybe they were meant to be together, and Pyrrha had been blind to something everyone else could see.

‘Maybe they were,’ Pyrrha realized with crushing clarity, still staring at the ruins of her carefully planned gesture. ‘Maybe I've been so busy being patient, so afraid of risking our friendship, that I missed every real chance I actually had.’

She could hear their voices still, drifting around the corner - Ruby's shy laughter, Jaune's warm responses, the easy conversation that flowed between them like they'd done this a hundred times before. Each word felt like another nail in the coffin of her hopes.

But then, sitting there on the cold floor surrounded by the ruins of her perfect plan, something shifted inside her. A spark of the same fire that had driven her to championship victories, the same determination that had made her push through every impossible training session and overcome every opponent who had underestimated her.

No.

The thought came with startling clarity, cutting through her despair. ‘No, this isn't how this ends. This isn't how my story ends.’

She clenched her fists, feeling her polarity semblance respond to her emotional surge as nearby metal fixtures trembled slightly. 

For too long, she'd been content to wait in the background, to hope that Jaune would somehow magically notice her feelings without her having to risk anything. She'd been playing defense when she should have been on the offensive from the very beginning.

‘I'm Pyrrha Nikos.’ She reminded herself fiercely, pushing herself back to her feet with renewed determination coursing through her veins. ‘I don't lose. I don't give up. And I certainly don't go down without fighting.’

The conversation around the corner was winding down, Ruby's voice growing fainter as she presumably walked away. There was still time. There was still a chance. She just had to be brave enough to take it.

Taking a deep breath to center herself, Pyrrha straightened her shoulders and walked back around the corner. Ruby was indeed gone, leaving only Jaune standing by their dormitory door, still holding the pink box of chocolates as he fumbled with his keys. The sight of those chocolates in his hands sent another pang through her chest, but this time it only reinforced her resolve.

Her footsteps grew heavier with each step, her usual grace abandoned in favor of determined momentum. She was so focused on her goal, so consumed by the need to finally act, that she didn't notice she was practically stomping down the hallway until the sound made Jaune turn around.

"Oh, hey Pyrrha!" His face lit up with that warm smile that never failed to make her heart skip. "Perfect timing, I was just—" But his expression quickly shifted as he took in her new appearance. "Wait, is something wrong? You look..."

"Yes," Pyrrha said without hesitation, her voice carrying a firmness that surprised even her. "Something is very wrong."

Before Jaune could ask what she meant, Pyrrha reached past him and quickly opened the door herself, then placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him inside.

"Pyrrha, what—Whoa!"

She followed him in and immediately locked the door behind them, her heart racing as she noticed the blessed emptiness of their shared space. Nora and Ren were nowhere to be seen - probably still at dinner or off on one of their evening walks. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

For the first time in months, Pyrrha Nikos was done being patient.

"Jaune," she said, her voice trembling slightly as she turned around to face him, "I know this is sudden, but I'm tired of waiting."

His confusion was obvious, but before he could respond she stepped closer and pulled him into a kiss. Her lips pressed against his firmly, demanding and unyielding. She was done being patient and gentle, done giving him hints and hoping he'd get the message on his own.

"Mmf!" Jaune tried to say something, but she wouldn't let him. She had to show him how serious she was about this. He tasted sweet, like chocolate, which only made her kiss him more fervently.

The box of chocolates slipped from his fingers as he finally realized what was happening. He stiffened slightly, his eyes widening behind closed lids, but she ignored his hesitance. This was the only chance she was going to get, and she wasn't going to let him escape. Her hands moved to hold his face, holding him close to her as she kissed him with everything she felt.

"Mmph! Pyrrha..." he murmured, and she took the opportunity to slip her tongue past his lips. It was so warm and wet and intimate that it made her stomach clench with desire.

Jaune was frozen, seemingly unsure what to do with his hands. She felt them hover uncertainly in the air before finally resting on her hips. He seemed to be trying to match the passion of her kiss, but he was clearly overwhelmed by her unexpected display of desire.

After what felt like an eternity of tasting him and letting him taste her back, she finally released him, breaking the kiss with a soft pop as their lips separated. A thin trail of saliva still connected them, and she watched it snap in the dim light.

Jaune looked like a fish out of water, his blue eyes unfocused and his face flushed red with embarrassment. It was adorable, and it made her want to kiss him again and again until he realized that this was where they were meant to be.

But first, she needed him to understand the truth.

"Jaune," she said softly, looking up at him with a gaze that left no room for doubt. "I love you. And not just as a friend or a teammate - I mean romantically."

His mouth opened and closed wordlessly for several moments before he managed to find his voice. "I... um... I..."

She placed a finger on his lips, silencing him with a gentle smile. "You don't have to say anything right now. I just wanted to finally tell you how I feel." She paused, her expression growing more serious. "And I need you to know that I'm serious about this."

So she quickly took off her jacket and then unbuttoned her shirt, revealing her bra and stomach. Her hands moved to unclasp her bra first before reaching for her skirt, pushing it down along with her underwear. Then she stepped out of them and kicked them aside, leaving herself completely bare.

She felt a little self-conscious being so exposed, but there was no hesitation in her eyes or voice. "Jaune, I like you, and I want you. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, the choice is yours."

Her love of her life gulped as his gaze swept over her naked body, trying and failing miserable to not ogle her.

She took another step forward, closing the distance between them. Her breasts pressed against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close enough that their noses brushed together. His scent filled her senses, and she felt her heart racing faster.

"Y-yes," he stammered, his voice shaky at first but then he took a deep breath to continue. "Of course, Pyrrha. I..."

And she didn't let him finish. She couldn't stand not kissing him anymore. Her lips found his again, hungrier and more demanding than before. She needed him to know how much this meant to her. How much she wanted him.

The kiss was clumsy and awkward, but she didn't care. She needed this, needed him. And she wasn't going to hold back anymore. She pressed herself against him, her bare skin hot against his clothing.

That made her realize that he was a little too dressed for her liking.

So with just a swipe she tore all his clothes.

“You are not leaving this room.”

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-Later-

Ren walked back through the corridors at his usual measured pace, Nora bouncing enthusiastically beside him like an overly caffeinated squirrel. She was in the middle of one of her rapid-fire monologues about their dinner, gesticulating wildly as she spoke.

"And then the cook said that maple syrup comes from trees, Renny! Trees! Can you believe that? I always thought it came from factories or something magical, but no - it's tree blood! Well, not really blood because trees don't have hearts, but you know what I mean, right? Oh! Speaking of hearts, did you know that pancakes are shaped like hearts if you make them right? I should ask the cook to make heart-shaped pancakes tomorrow! For, um, no particular reason..."

Ren's lips quirked upward in the faintest smile as he listened to her stream of consciousness. He'd grown accustomed to Nora's eccentric personality over the years they'd been together, learned to find peace in the constant chatter that others found overwhelming. Her voice had become as familiar and comforting as breathing, a constant that anchored him when his own thoughts grew too dark or contemplative.

"That would be... thoughtful of you," he replied.

They were heading back earlier than usual tonight, both tired from Professor Oobleck's particularly intensive history class. Ren was looking forward to some quiet meditation time before sleep, perhaps brewing some calming tea for the team. Maybe he could convince Nora to join him.

However, when they reached their hallway, Ren noticed something unusual that made him pause mid-step. A small cluster of their female classmates had gathered near their dormitory door, all of them whispering and giggling in that particular way that suggested they were eavesdropping.

Even Nora stopped her cheerful rambling, her head tilting curiously as she took in the scene. "Ooh, what's everyone doing? Is there drama? I love drama! Well, not mean drama, but like, exciting drama where everyone ends up happy and—"

"Perhaps we should ask," Ren suggested gently, though something about the situation made him slightly uneasy, after all it was their dormitory that seemed to be the center of attention.

Nora immediately bounded ahead with her typical lack of subtlety, practically skipping toward the group. "Hey girls! What's the exciting news? Did someone finally ask someone out? Oh! Did someone get proposed to? Are we planning a wedding?"

Ren watched as the other girls quickly shushed her, then saw one of them - he thought it might be Coco - lean in to whisper something in Nora's ear. Within moments, he witnessed something he'd rarely seen in all their years together: Nora going completely still.

Her usual confident posture suddenly became fidgety, her cheeks turning an unmistakable shade of pink that was visible even from his distance. Her hands, normally in constant motion, twisted together nervously as her wide eyes darted between the door and back toward him.

She returned to his side with unusually quick steps.

She stood in front of him for a moment in silence.

"Let's go on a date, Renny!" she blurted out, her voice pitched higher than normal.

Ren blinked slowly, his usual calm momentarily disrupted by the sudden proposition "A... date?"

"Yeah, a date! Together-together this time!" Nora's hands gestured wildly as she spoke, her usual enthusiasm mixed with nervousness. "L-Like, right now! Away from here! Far, far away from here! Maybe to Vale? Or the Forever Fall? Somewhere with lots of trees and no dormitories and definitely no listening ears!"

She grabbed his arm, tugging him in the opposite direction of their room. "Come on, Renny! We can watch the sunset and talk about... about feelings and stuff! Important feelings that we should definitely discuss somewhere that isn't here! And maybe we could... talk? About us? If you want to, I mean! No pressure! But also maybe some pressure because I've been thinking a lot lately and—"

"Nora," Ren interrupted softly, stopping their hurried walk. When she turned to face him, he offered one of his rare, genuine smiles - the kind reserved only for her dear friend and also the love of his life. "I would like that very much."

Her entire face lit up like he'd just handed her a lifetime supply of pancakes. "Really? Because I was worried you might think it was weird or too sudden or—"

"I've been waiting for you to be ready," he admitted quietly, his honesty carrying the weight of years of patient devotion. "I would wait longer if you needed me to."

"Oh." Nora's voice came out smaller than usual, touched by the sincerity in his words. "Well, I'm ready now. I think. Maybe? Yes, definitely ready!"

Ren chuckled softly, a sound that always made Nora's heart do little flips. "Then shall we find somewhere quiet to talk? Away from..." he gestured toward their dormitory, where the small crowd of eavesdroppers had only grown larger.

"Yes! Let's go be romantic somewhere else while our teammates are being romantic here!" 

Wait, their teammates?

Almost in cue with his thoughts a voice echoed everywhere.

“FUCK ME HARDER, JAUNE. YOU WILL GIVE ME AS MANY CHILDREN AS YOU HAVE SISTERS!”

“Oh…”

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AN: Pyrrha the invincible girl? More like Pyrrha the Booty warrior (Have a low quality meme)

Jokes aside, Pyrrha winning this time, she just needed a little motivation. And Nora took the chance.