The Wings of a Valkyrie: Male Reader x Pyrrha Nikos (Part II)

Chapter XVI: Destiny

"You don't have to do this." (F/N) said. "They can find someone else."

It was dark outside. The sun had set several hours ago but (F/N) and Pyrrha were both still wide awake. She had just been introduced to a danger she could not comprehend, and here she was, being asked to fight an enemy she knew nothing about. To become humanity's defender at the risk of losing who she was.

They gave her time to decide, and explained that ultimately, the decision rest with her. That the choice whether or not to take this risk was hers. But did she really have a choice? Didn't she have a duty as a huntress to protect the innocent? No matter what the cost.

(F/N) felt differently. He had been against it from the beginning and outraged after discovering what Ozpin was asking her to do. It was too dangerous. Now they were alone in their room. Pyrrha sat on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling off the edge as she stared at her hands folded in her lap. In front of her (F/N) paced back and forth, wringing his hands and rubbing the back of his neck. He was talking to her, but she couldn't really hear him, his voice just another drop in an ocean of thoughts.

"There has to be some other way. A way that doesn't involve putting you in..."

"(F/N)," Pyrrha interrupted, "do you believe in destiny?"

He came to a stop. "Destiny?" He repeated.

She nodded, still staring at her lap. "When I think of destiny, I don't think of it as some predetermined fate you can't escape, but rather, some sort of final goal. Something you've worked towards your entire life."

"I don't understand." He said. "What does destiny have to do with this?"

"Well, it's just that, I've always thought I was destined to become a huntress. To protect the world. Any now I'm being offered the chance to do just that, but in a way I never expected."

"But at the cost of who you are? What's the point of destiny if your destiny is to lose yourself? It's not even yours at that point."

"But, as a huntress... isn't it my responsibility to protect people?"

"Yes, yes you have a responsibility to protect people, but you can't do that without protecting yourself. And what they're asking; they don't even know what'll happen to you. They're not asking you to protect people. They're asking you to sacrifice yourself."

"But I'd be sacrificing myself to save the people I love." She said, staring him in the eyes. "I thought you of all people would understand that."

"I do understand." He said desperately, dropping to his knees in front of her and taking her hands in his. "But I also understand them. They want to use you, the same way they used me. They want to turn you into a weapon for them to use in their war. But this... this isn't your fight."

Pyrrha bit on her lip thoughtfully. "Maybe it is." She suggested quietly.

(F/N) growled in frustration as he got back to his feet. "No. It's not." He said firmly, his back to her. "You're a good person Pyrrha, but they never should have asked this of you. Saving the world isn't your responsibility."

"But..."

"Enough!"

His voice was raised, and his fists clenched as he said it. She recoiled slightly, as if the sharp edge to his voice had cut her. She watched timidly as he made his way for the door.

"Where are you going?"

He paused, his hand still on the doorknob. "I need to have a word with Professor Ozpin." He said darkly. "I don't care what he says. I'm not letting him take you from me."