Chapter Text
“C’mon, Jaune you can’t stay depressed over Weiss forever,” Yang told the moping blonde, who was trying his best to avoid looking across the cafeteria, where Weiss and Neptune sat together eating lunch.
It hurt, to be honest, he was happy that they were happy, but feelings just didn’t go away because you wanted someone else to be happier with someone other than yourself.
“I’m not sad,” Jaune lied. “I just want to be not happy.”
“That’s the same thing,” Yang points at him.
“No it’s not, ones uncontrollable and the other is intentional.”
“I will slap you, you know?” Yang said raising a hand.
“Jaune there’s plenty of fish in the seas, and Grimm too!” Nora interjected. “So, you just need to get out there and swim fast and avoid the Grimm!”
Jaune looks at Nora. “I guess?” Somewhat horrified, Jaune remembers, that 80% of the world is covered in ocean, less than 1% explored due to Grimm, how many billions of Grimm that were older than civilization lay waiting at the bottom to bring man’s age to an end?
Nora pats Jaune’s back, knocking him into the table he was sitting. “That’s the spirits, you’re a young man with plenty... of qualities, like being young, so go make some mistakes captain!”
“Thanks?”
Yang gives him a wry smile. “So, Vomit Boy? Tell me, you must have other interests other than short, flat, and loud?”
“Yang,” Jaune says offended. “Weiss is more than that, she’s so much more than that.”
“I’m her teammate, I can insult her all I like when she’s out of earshot.”
“That’s kind of mean.”
Blake leans over. “You kidding? Weiss is insulting us all right now.” Her ears twitched. The group looks over to Weiss and Neptune, who were chatting and laughing, Blake then looks to Pyrrha who just sat down. “Expect you, she likes you a little too much.” Pyrrha shrugs unsurprised
“Nevermind then,” Jaune says. “I guess, I have someone in mind, it’s just a little crush I think?” Jaune says with a blush.
Pyrrha leans in, and Nora shoots her a mad smile, while Yang gives them a thumbs up.
Yang gestures with her hand. “Goes on then, tells us about the... lucky lady?”
Jaune looks away into the crowded cafeteria. “She’s real strong and confident,” He admits.
“Yeah, that really narrows it down,” Yang says.
“She’s probably the best fighter on her team, leagues ahead of anybody else I’ve seen. But, what do I know?”
“Go on, she sounds interesting.”
Jaune breaks out a smile. “She’s so bright too, like a fire. But controlled, all directed like the wind guides her movement, she’s graceful beyond belief, I can hardly believe she’s just a huntress.”
Yang shoots Pyrrha a wink, as she starts to flush.
“But, she always looks like she’s holding back too, you know? Like she’s not good with people like she controls them, but she doesn’t know how to deal with them. I’m not like that, but I feel like I can help her understand that.”
“Didn’t realize you were a romantic, VB.” Yang smiles.
Nora pats Pyrrha on the back, whispering. ‘He’s doesn’t know it, but you just about got him.’
“So you want to tell us some more about her?”
“Like what?... and why?” Jaune asks suspiciously.
“Hey, hey, I just want to help break you out of that funk, can’t let my little sister’s friend be sad.”
Jaune gives her an unbelieving look, but shrug.
“Alright then, she’s graceful in a fight, has been unbeaten in combat class, punch's like a dump truck, she’s blonde and-”
“Wait what were those last two things?” Yang asks terrified, her face going pale as Pyrrha levels a devastating look at her.
“She’s blonde and hits like a dump truck?”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought you said, uh, how does she fight?”
“Barehanded, aggressive and fiery, like a tempest of flames.”
Yang looks at Pyrrha, and then at Jaune, then sighs. “Jaune, I’m sorry, but you’re just not my type, maybe if you-”
Jaune gives Yang a repulsed look. “What? No. Just no, ew! I’m not into you. That would just be weird Yang, don’t be weird.”
Yang’s eyes flash red. “What did you just say?” She asks threateningly.
“Sorry, Yang, but you’re not my type,” Jaune says firmly.
“Then who are you talking about!”
“Arslan Altan.” He says flatly.
Silence ripples throughout the table.
“The girl from Haven, you know right? Tanned, dressed like a monk, wrapped hands-”
“Yeah, I know her,” Pyrrha says with grit teeth and staring daggers at the said girl.
“Oh, great... You what, now that you got me thinking, I should just go ask her out, no need to beat around the bush, either she says yes or no.” Jaune gets up and walks across the cafeteria.
Yang looks at Jaune walking and then frowns. “I am totally his type, lying wimp,” Yang says with offense.
Pyrrha smiles a very fake smile, her eyes glassy, thinking. ‘I thought I was over him having crushes other girls bullshit. Guess not, back to the long game, Pyrrha. The long game.’
Nora then rubs circles in Pyrrha’s back. “Look, Yang might have messed this up for you, but-”
“Hey! I did not mess this up!”
“But, this is Jaune, he’s going to strike out and you can get him on the rebound.”
Blake lifts her head up from her book, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “She said yes.” Then went back to reading.
“Shit. Well, when he-”
Pyrrha grabs Nora by the head, her grip making Nora’s skull creak. “Shut your mouth, Small Ginger. Remember Pyrrha, long game.”
-----
Jaune went up to the table where Arslan was eating, her team around her.
‘Can’t mess this up like with Weiss, got to be direct.’
He squared his shoulder and walked up to the table. ‘The worst she can say is no, or beat my ass, but I’m used to both of those things.’
“Arslan Altan!” He said firmly, his eyes like steel looking at her as she turned to regard him. “Go out with me.” No, if, buts, or when. Direct as possible, no way to be misunderstood.
Her eyes went wide with confusion.
“Yes or no,” Jaune said calmly, his natural charisma starting to show. “Go out with me.”
Her teammates looked equally surprised.
Jaune kept himself steady, he was used to being embarrassed, the stares were nothing new, they could laugh all day, they weren’t the voices he was looking for.
Jaune kept his eyes locked on Arslan. Yes? Or no?
A subtle red crept up her dark face. Had he angered her?
He didn’t move his mouth, his time for talking was done.
Their eyes met, and she opened her mouth. “Why me?”
His mouth moved before his mind. “I want to know you and see if I can love you.” A blush then crept up his face, realizing what he sad.
Her face went red, and a whisper fell out.
“What was that? Could you say that again?”
“Yes,” She muttered not looking at him.
Jaune felt his world-wrack.
His brain went to war with himself.
Jaune's left brain screamed at his right brain, his id fought his ego, his superego suplexes both of them. His left brain began shooting fireworks, and his memories desperately searched for answers.
‘What do we do now?’ One part screamed.
‘I don’t know! I never thought we’d get this far!’ Another said.
‘What was all that bullshit, about either yes or no?!’ His ego screamed.
‘I just wanted to sound cool!’
‘Oh, shit. We got to say something, otherwise, we’re going to screw all of the up!’
“Do you want to train together?” Arslan asked uncomfortably, Jaune didn’t hear that though, he just saw her lips move.
‘Answer now!’
“Date?” Jaune asked dumbly.
“Yes... here’s my scroll.” Jaune tapped his scroll against hers, a new contact registered.
Jaune wasn’t sure what was real anymore. ‘Mission accomplish, abort, abort, do not screw this up!’
“Bye,” Jaune said robotically and walked away.
He returned to the table and dropped his head to it. “How in the Grimm, did I not mess that up?”
Ren pats Jaune’s back. “I always had faith that you would succeed. Tell the men, that If I don’t make it back tonight, she probably killed me.”
A single tear goes down his face. “Aye aye, captain.” Ren then quickly texts the Beacon’s Boys Chat.
-Jaune has succeeded, he simps no longer-
Much celebration was then had.