Destiny No More

Chapter 78

Pyrrha smiled softly as their car made its way through the streets of Vale. The Bullhead from Beacon could only take them so far and, though she doubted Jaune had made the complete arrangements, a car had been waiting for them the moment they arrived. She had teased him a little about it in an attempt to help him relax, despite how much she was looking forward to the evening, it was clear that he was nervous.

"Weiss said it would be a bad idea to try and walk to the restaurant." Jaune replied with an embarrassed chuckle. "Probably a good idea seeing your dress." He involuntarily looked down as he said that, his eyes making it to her chest before he turned away, face as red and flustered.

Pyrrha tried not to laugh, covering her face with one hand as she fought back the sound that threatened to burst forward. Jaune saw it easily enough however and, though she hadn't thought it possible, his face turned a deeper shade of red.

"It was a good idea." Pyrrha assured him. "It sounds as though Weiss knows what she's doing."

Jaune jumped on the opportunity to talk about something else. "Apparently she's had a lot of people try and date her over the years. Some went well, others not."

"Hmm," Pyrrha hummed and nodded softly. "She is a Schnee. There are certain expectations that come with that kind of publicity. I should know."

"You're famous?" Jaune asked innocently, forcing Pyrrha to wince.

"Not really." Pyrrha chuckled nervously, looking away from him and out the window once more. "I fought in a few tournaments when I was younger."

Jaune made a sound of understanding. "Like Pyrrha? Did you ever fight her?"

Pyrrha winced once more. "Thankfully, no. I don't think that's a battle I ever want." The obvious metaphor aside, it would be an unfair fight from the start. She despised cheating, and there would be no better cheat than literally knowing every move your opponent is going to make in advance.

"She thought you hated her, you know?" Jaune said. "Something about the way you acted, said it rubbed her the wrong way."

Pyrrha sighed heavily. That hadn't been an intentional thing, and she wouldn't have even noticed were it not for Coco explaining it to her. "That is my fault, I'm afraid. I've never been much of a people person."

"If you don't mind me asking, was it anything in particular?" Jaune was clearly hesitant, though the fact he had the courage to ask was reason enough for Pyrrha to answer.

She wanted to tell him the truth, as absurd as it was, but she knew that he wasn't ready for that. She also knew lying wasn't a good way to start a relationship. Though she couldn't be honest about everything, not yet at least, she could at least hint at the truth.

"I... I guess you could say I saw too much of myself in her." Pyrrha replied. "It was like looking in a mirror. I didn't know how to feel about what was looking back."

"I think Weiss was the same." Jaune added. "They hashed it out a little while back, seem to be on the way to being friends. Ruby says we have you and Coco to thank for that."

Pyrrha blushed, flicking her hand as if to wave off the gratitude. It wasn't entirely fair, especially seeing as how she was responsible for the trouble in the first place. If not due to it being her past self, then the fact that they only ever had the chance to argue because she had gone back in time in the first place. "It was nothing. I could tell Weiss was a good person under that frosty exterior. She just had to open up some."

"Well, Team RWAN thanks you all the same." Jaune smiled brightly, bringing a small smile to her own face in response. It was muted due to the reminder that came with it however.