Nightmare

Jaune awoke to a creaking sound coming from the door. It was way past curfew and everyone was asleep. He glanced around the room, noting that Ren and Nora were still in their beds and then peaked down to check on Pyrrha.

Gone.

The young gladiator's bed was completely vacant, her blanket and pillows tossed to the floor, out of character for the normally calm and tidy girl.

"That's strange", he muttered.

Curious as to what could have caused his partner to get up so late in the night, he got up and quietly opened the door so as to not wake the rest of his team's beauty sleep.

He closed the door and made his way down the hallway, searching for any sign of Pyrrha that he could find.

The halls of Beacon at night seemed to be even longer than they were during the day, endless shadows stretching on seemingly for ever. Straining to see, he flicked out his scroll from his pocket and used it as a make shift flashlight.

Jaune walked along the hallways, jumping at his own shadow one or two times. He couldn't help it.

This place is pretty creepy at night.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't a little scared. But Pyrrha was missing. And that was enough motivation to brave through any sinister looking things in the dark if it meant making sure his partner was alright.

Pyrrha was probably and Jaune's first real friend and thanks to her he'd got the courage to make many more. He owed her a LOT.

She means everything to me.

"Whoa, where did that come from?" he thought. Sure he cared for her but not like together-together cared as Nora would put it. No way. That's just…no. But maybe…

He chuckled to himself.

Yeah Jaune, you and Pyrrha Nikos. Right. Do you wanna use your other two wishes now?

Jaune knew that they'd never be a pair. She was…just incredible in every way; smart, kind, funny beautiful and a badass to the core. And he was…him. The goof in distress that barely survived a fight.

He had a great friendship with her and that was fine.

Just fine.

About half an hour of strolling the halls passed and Jaune soon questioned if she was still in this area. Maybe she already went back in the dorm and I just walked around the whole school at night like an idiot.

He was about to just dismiss it as a late night walk when he heard a small whimpering sound.

"This is really strange", he thought to himself.

"That almost sounds like…" he didn't need to complete the sentence to know it sounded like his partner but it the same time it didn't. He'd never seen his normally optimistically cheery partner cry and the thought of her upset and alone in the dark was troubling to say the least.

He followed the sound and was amazed to see Pyrrha crouching down in one of the school's storerooms. Her brilliant red hair covering her face, buried behind her knees. She apparently hadn't noticed his presence so Jaune, very cautiously, whispered, "Pyrrha? It's me Jaune. Are you alright?"

Startled, Pyrrha looked up at Jaune. It truly broke Jaune's heart to see those shimmering pools illuminated by the moonlight build up in those two lovely green eyes. Her vibrant smile replaced with a half-hearted attempt to mask her clear distress. She quickly wiped away her tears and straightened herself up. She cleared her throat and spoke, her voice still evidently shaky from the earlier crying;

"Oh Jaune. I didn't know you were here. Yes I'm…I'm fine, thank you".

Jaune knew she was lying and he was having none of it. He fixed a stern but concerned look at her.

"Pyrrha please, you can tell me what's wrong".

Her ghost of a smile faded and her gaze fell away from his face. Jaune reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked up to meet that boyish smile Jaune always managed to pull. She smiled a little, comforted by his presence. She took her time to form the words together properly so that it didn't sound stupid.

"I…I had a nightmare".

She braced herself at the coming laughter of surprise at her answer.

When no laughter followed, Pyyrha looked back up a Jaune, still wearing that warm smile.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"No…yes. I don't know. It's dumb. It doesn't matter".

"If it's got you this upset Pyrrha, it matters to me", he said.

"You…don't think it's childish I had a nightmare?"

Jaune went deadpan. "Pyrrha, I just spent half an hour jumping at shadows in my jammies. Believe me, I'm not judging anyone any time soon".

She giggled at that response.

Good, she's calming down a bit.

Jaune gave her plenty of time to answer, never rushing her. When she was ready, she took a deep breath and began.

"We were in the woods, the whole team. We were hunting Grimm, a pack of Beowolves. When I turned around to face the Alpha, it already started running away…"

"I'd run away too if you were going to fight me. Smart dream Beowolf".

She laughed a little again. It didn't change her mood completely, but it was nice of him to try and make her feel better.

"Sorry", he said. "Go on".

"Of course", she nodded, "I started to give chase but it was too fast. I lost it and by the time I got back..."

Pyrrha shuddered, breathing frantic shallow breathes. Her eyes began to well up with fresh tears. Jaune pulled her into a hug and offered quiet words of reassurance.

"You were all dead! Jaune there was so much blood. You all died because I left you. Because I was too stupid to realise it was a trap".

Pyrrha clung tightly to Jaune, afraid of losing him again after her terrible dream.

"Pyrrha, it's alright. I was just a dream. Ren and Nora are asleep back in the dorm and I'm right here. With you. And that's where I'm staying, scary dream Beowolves or not".

She sniffled. "But it felt so real. Jaune if you got hurt, if any of the team got hurt because of me…"

"It won't happen".

"How can you be so sure?"

Crap. Jaune was usually the one who needed these kinds of talks. So he thought about what she'd say to him if the roles were reversed.

"Because you're our friend. And we're your friends. When one of us is in danger, we all help each other out of it always"

"But if I…"

"Always. No buts. Pyrrha, there is no one, anywhere in Remnant, that I'd rather trust when things get rough. You're the best partner and friend I could ever hope for".

And the most beautiful and amazing girl I'll ever meet.

Dammit how much he wished he could block those thoughts. Almost as much as he'd like to voice them.

The sudden tightening of his ribcage snapped him back to reality to find Pyrrha hugging him tightly. He returned the hug with relief that she was feeling better.

She pulled back to reveal her face, no longer covered in tears and her mouth had curved upwards into that wonderful, cheerful smile that he knew all so well.

"Thank you Jaune".

"Anytime Pyrrha. Come on. Let's head back to bed".

He made his way off to bed when he felt a slight pull on his right arm. Pyrrha pulled him a little closer and asked, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

The two of them blushed and chuckled awkwardly, avoiding each other's gaze.

"That didn't quite come out the way I thought it would".

"It's cool Pyrrha, you can bunk with me tonight.

"Thank you Jaune. For…well for everything".

"Anytime partner".

The two made their way back to their dorms. Pyrrha was relieved to see Ren and Nora sleeping peacefully, assuaging her fears for their safety.

Jaune lay down with Pyrrha, trying his best not feel awkward. In actuality, it was actually quite comfortable. She was so warm and pleasant to the touch.

All right Jaune calm down.

Pyrrha rested her head on his right shoulder. It would've been perfect except he got a mouthful of scarlet hair as a result. He kept quiet and brushed a few strands out of his face. It was then that he noticed that he quite enjoyed moving his hand through her hair. He subconsciously continued to gently brush out her long ponytail until he snapped back to reality and realised what he was doing and stopped.

Pyrrha stirred from her little doze.

Crap. Made it weird.

"Jaune?"

"Uh, heh heh, sorry. Just sort of happened".

She nuzzled up closed to him.

"You can keep doing it if you like. It was actually very relaxing".

"Oh. Well I mean if it helps and you don't mind. But if this is too strange you just say and I'll stop right there no more about it, so…"

"Jaune…", she cooed.

He stopped his flustered rambling to look back to her.

By God she's breath taking.

Pyrrha was the perfect picture of serenity. A far cry from the state he'd found her in to his joy. But there was another feeling behind her relaxed appearance and sleepy smile. In her eyes there was a wanting for something.

A hunger.

And Jaune felt that he knew this feeling all too well.

She moved in closer and whispered, "Hold me".

No muttering or nervous twitching followed. Jaune instantly followed her command, wrapping his arms around her well-built frame, pulling her closer to him.

Her scent was a wondrous aroma of jasmine.

Pyrrha slowly moved her head to Jaune's chest. She sighed in delight at the rhythmic beat of his heart and her body lost all tension all he continued to pet her hair.

After a while, the sighing died down and Jaune broke from the bliss he was in to see Pyrrha snoring softly. She'd finally gotten back to sleep.

"Good night Pyrrha", he whispered before falling asleep himself.

Pyrrha awoke to find Jaune still sleeping, his arms still wrapped around her waist.

She let out a small sigh of joy.

Waking up to the handsome young blonde after what started as a horrible night.

Nora and Ren were still asleep. Nothing out of the ordinary, she was always an early riser. She placed her head back on Jaune's chest and decided to enjoy the next few minutes of this beautiful moment while she could.

I wish every morning was like this.

Pyrrha lamented the fact that she and Jaune would always be "just friends". She wished that she was brave enough to tell him how she felt. But even if she did, would he even feel the same way about her? Probably not. She'd probably ruin what was perhaps her first true friendship in the process. That was something she wasn't sure she was willing to risk. Or was the risk worth it?

She thought back to their nights on the roof, their dance and the way he comforted her last night. And then she decided.

Yes. It is worth it. We're worth it.

She grinned at the comfortably sleeping Jaune and vowed to try and be together-together with Jaune.

He ended her nightmare. Now she wanted to start her dream.