Learning To Bloom (ch4)

2-DAY EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS! THANK YOU!!

If there's anything my friend, Xlth whom this was written for, has taught me, it's how to not give a crap about things that don't matter. Like some of those anon reviews! Say what you like, it won't stop me from wrapping up this birthday gift fic!

I hope those of you enjoying the story will also enjoy this wrap-up!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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														Chapter 4.

Ever since the supposed "date" Jaune had taken her on, Pyrrha knew she should have put a polite end to things with him. The only trouble is, she still isn't sure if she should or not.

She's never had romantic feelings for anyone before, to her knowledge, so she isn't sure if she should be giving him a chance or calling it off.

Love is something she would assume she would know right away, given how people talk of it, and she really doesn't think that's the kind of thing she feels for Jaune. Of course there are plenty of people who fall in love over time, but she's already been on the same team as him for six months, and even with their private training sessions together, she doesn't believe she's experienced the right emotion.

It's just a question of time. Should she give it more time to see what might develop? Or would that be considered leading him on in the long run? Either way someone gets hurt. And Pyrrha is the type of person who would rather sacrifice her own feelings over someone else's.

But no matter how earnestly she tries to reciprocate Jaune's affections, it just doesn't come naturally to her. She never feels the urge to reach for his hand or pat his head or consult him first and foremost about everything, and when he does these things to her she only ever reciprocates out of courtesy, not necessarily because she wants to.

The attention he gives her in class, during training, and back at their room all seems overwhelming to the point where she often needs to find an excuse to slip away. She does her best not to hurt his feelings while still preserving her own, but has yet to give him a direct answer.

She knows it's her own fault too, but she wishes he would give her a little more space as she tries to figure things out.

She often wonders if Weiss has similar issues with Neptune, or if they're getting along swimmingly.

But thinking about that always makes Pyrrha feel like she's getting a stomachache, and she doesn't know why.

In the weeks following the little mock battle incident, Pyrrha feels like she sees less and less of Weiss. She ventures to the garden bench at least once a day, but never chances upon the heiress there.

And it takes her a while to realize she isn't just going there for the scenery, but because she specifically wants to see Weiss.

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The next time the two girls do manage to wind up in the gardens at the same time, there's a mutual feeling of relief and anxiety in the air, wreathing through the scents of the flowers.

Weiss is sitting there gazing aimlessly at the hydrangeas when Pyrrha quietly makes her way across the little dirt path, ensuring Weiss spots her before she gives her greeting.

"Oh! Hello there, Weiss! It's nice to see you here again."

Weiss smiles, moving over to make space and inclining her head in invitation.

"It's nice to see you too, Pyrrha."

Pyrrha takes her seat beside Weiss, and in doing so it feels like a weight off her shoulders. She feels so giddy, more excited than she has in days, just to finally be able to sit next to her now. And something tells her that Weiss feels the same.

"The flowers are beautiful," Pyrrha observes. "And they smell heavenly!"

"Agreed. I like to come here to clear my thoughts."

"How so?"

"For studying," Weiss replies. "Among... other things..."

Pyrrha tenses. "Like what? If I may ask."

Weiss is silent for a moment, mulling over the offer to vent. But ultimately she turns it down.

"Nothing... How's Jaune?"

Pyrrha hadn't been expecting Weiss to bring the blonde boy up right now, so it catches her off guard to the point where Pyrrha responds honestly, without getting a chance to filter.

"Oh, he's the same as ever."

There's a hint of helplessness in her tone, the tone that gives away the impression of a mother who can't seem to shake off her needy child. She realizes too late that she's replied with brutal honesty, but to her surprise Weiss isn't shocked.

"I see. He always did like you very much. He made it clear. Even when he went around proclaiming his feelings for me in the beginning, everyone knew it wasn't genuine."

"And that must've hurt you." Pyrrha moves a bit closer, and Weiss doesn't shy away. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing you need to apologize for."

A beat of silence flutters between them like an uncertain bird. Pyrrha tries to steer the subject away from Jaune, but realizes too late the one she chooses instead might not be any better.

"How are things with Neptune?"

She wants to take the question back immediately.

At first she thinks Weiss might flinch, but to her surprise the heiress smiles.

"Same as ever."

Pyrrha smiles back, but on the inside she feels sad.

It's all so confusing. Here the two of them are smiling together, but they aren't truly happy. It's more of a mutual wound-licking, a bonding over similar injuries.

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When Neptune asks Weiss out officially, it's around the same time Jaune asks Pyrrha.

The reactions they have are more or less the same. It isn't the least bit shocking, considering neither of them had ever officially rejected the boys' advances in a surefire manner.

But being unmistakably asked out, a clear portrayal of the boys' affections and intentions, both girls end up freezing. It's like waking from a dream they'd been stumbling through for weeks, half there and half elsewhere. It's like having cold water dumped onto their heads. It wakes them up, makes them understand the severity of the situation.

For Weiss, she feels her stomach twist and knot. But from what she's heard about love, that's normal. So it must be the same thing.

Neptune is a handsome, charismatic, and distinguished boy, and her family would no doubt think highly of him and his status. Surely he is the right match for her. She feels she needs to accept.

And when she does it makes him so unspeakably happy.

She feels that seeing him so happy should make her feel the same way.

But when he swoops in without warning to steal that very first kiss from her lips, Weiss feels the world crumbling beneath her feet.

But it must be normal. Maybe if he kisses her enough she'll get used to it, or it will start to feel better. She has to believe that's the case.

For Pyrrha, it's even less of a surprise when Jaune asks her out officially. She almost feels bad for not being as excited as he is about it, but chalks it up to the fact that she saw it coming, and nothing more.

She does like him, after all. She's impressed by his personal growth, his mental strength, and his desire to improve himself. She enjoys their private training sessions together as teammates.

Perhaps if she tries things his way, on a higher level of friendship to the point of romance, she'll begin to experience new feelings, stronger passions.

She just doesn't want to upset anyone. She doesn't want to hurt him.

So she accepts with a smile, which makes him do the same.

It's the right thing to do. It has to be.

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Weiss and Pyrrha go on several dates with their respective boyfriends over the coming weeks.

The new couples are the talk of the schools, and just about everyone is at least a little envious.

Everyone except the girls involved.

The discomfort Weiss felt initially has yet to dissipate, but when people ask how she's doing she always gives them reassurance and a smile.

And as Pyrrha tries harder and harder not to hurt Jaune, she begins to feel a certain level of pain herself.

Everyone else seems to be enjoying their relationships more than they themselves are.

Weiss finds herself at the gardens more often, at least once a day to clear her thoughts and just to be away from the publicity. Neptune doesn't know she comes here, so it makes her feel safe.

Which isn't how she should be feeling, and she knows it. She shouldn't be struggling to be with him so much that she feels better when they're apart.

But she's already so deep into it now. She doesn't know how she might be able to turn back.

It hurts to think about it, this giant mess she's gotten herself into. The scents and colors of the flowers ease her mind, providing a temporary escape from all her troubles.

She leans back against the bench and gazes up at the baby blue evening sky, dappled with golden-rimmed clouds. The breeze creates a soft rustle through the plants, and birds are still chirping softly. She closes her eyes and breathes in, trying to relax.

But her mind always wanders back to Neptune, the way he parades her around and boasts about his relationship with her, the way he acts like he knows her when in reality he doesn't even know her little brother's name, the way he kisses her without asking, just because he wants to, because he can...

She wishes she could think about something else. Anything else...

. . .

Pyrrha has decided to come to the gardens this evening as well. She has daily for the past several weeks, not only because it helps her calm down and detach from reality a bit, but also too because she hopes to find a certain person there.

She hasn't seen Weiss in weeks except in-passing, and they've barely gotten to exchange so much as a few words together in that amount of time. It's always just brief smiles and little waves before Neptune and Jaune are pulling them elsewhere.

Jaune has been particularly clingy recently. Whenever Pyrrha tries to make plans with others, be it for studying or training purposes, or simply to have lunch together, Jaune is always inviting himself along. And being he shares a dorm room with her, she hasn't gotten so much as a collective hour's worth of quiet in the past week.

She's only managed to slip away this evening because Jaune had fallen asleep doing homework, and for once Pyrrha had abstained from dutifully waking him so he could finish and instead decided to slip away.

She wanted to make it a point not to bring him here, to her secret garden. Part of her feels mean for it, but the other part feels liberated. It's peaceful here, where threats of looming responsibilities fade away in favor of birdsong and the scent of lilacs.

That scent shifts now to honeysuckle as she walks along the little cobblestone path, passing the bubbling fountain decorated with small snapdragons and tulips.

She's always loved nature, the way it needs no direction or guidance, the way it feels no regret or sorrow. She might even be a little envious.

Thoughts of her predicament keep trying to worm their way into her head, and she actively tries to push them away.

But it's when she turns the corner around a bushel of summer blossoms that all those troubling thoughts melt away. The bench isn't empty this evening.

For the first time in weeks, Pyrrha feels her heart lift, and a genuine smile spreads across her lips. Her voice comes out, and it sounds better than she could remember it sounding in days.

"Weiss!"

And it's that call of her name, not in a deep, suggestive tone, but in a higher, more delighted one that rouses the heiress from her reverie. She glances up to see a familiar person, long red hair and glimmering green eyes above a beautiful smile. Weiss smiles back, and it almost makes her face sore.

"Pyrrha!"

She begins to stand up in her excitement, but Pyrrha is already striding forward to meet her at the bench, reaching out for her hands just the same as Weiss does.

It's strange. They're classmates, friends, and they see each other all the time.

But this time, it feels different. Like they've been apart for years somehow.

The relief is palpable in the air between them as Weiss coaxes Pyrrha to have a seat beside her, but still doesn't let go of her hands. Pyrrha sits as close to the heiress as possible, skirts brushing.

"It's so good to finally see you here again, Weiss! I feel it's been ages! How have you been?"

The moment of reunion joy passes quickly as the inquiry brings Weiss out of the present and back into the reality beyond. Her smile struggles to remain.

"I'm doing fine. Just fine." Her eyes fixate in her lap, on her hands in Pyrrha's, but she doesn't look up.

Pyrrha frowns, leaning in a little closer, voice softer.

"Just fine...?"

She knows without it needing to be said that it isn't an issue with Weiss' teammates or her family, but with a certain boy. She knows because it's the same for Pyrrha herself.

It feels terrible to think this is all just an act for the both of them, because wouldn't that mean they're only playing their boyfriends?

Pyrrha feels her stomach twist, and it makes her squeeze Weiss' hands harder. She treads as softly as possible on the topic.

"How is Neptune? Is everything all right?"

Weiss feels herself almost flinch at the mention of his name. It's not that he's done anything terrible to her. It's just that... he hasn't really done anything nice either. Something like that.

She straightens up a bit and meets Pyrrha's eyes again.

"Yes, everything is fine. Neptune is doing his best to keep me as his girlfriend. He's taken me out to eat and all that, taken me on group excursions with his other friends. It's all very good." She gives the bare minimum, but still the truth, before quickly turning the subject back on Pyrrha. "And what about you and Jaune? How are things?"

When Weiss mentions Pyrrha's boyfriend, Pyrrha feels a prickle of something strange. Almost as though she's been pricked by a thorn or other minor irritation.

"Oh, Jaune is doing just grand. He's always right there with me no matter what. It's almost a little stifling sometimes-"

She cuts off quickly when she realizes she's spoken ill of him. It was just a manifestation of her inner thoughts and feelings, that desire that he would leave her be for a while and let her have her own time and space. Like now. With Weiss.

"Sorry," she says, clearing her throat. "I'm just still getting used to it, I guess."

"Don't be sorry," Weiss murmurs. "I think I know what you mean. It's all a bit overwhelming for me too. I thought I'd be used to it when we're this far in, but..." She shakes her head, looks back down at their entwined hands. "Neptune is a great guy. He's very outgoing and charismatic. It's just that... sometimes I wish he could be a little more considerate of me. A little more open and willing to listen... A little more... like you..."

The instant she realizes she's said it aloud, she wishes she could take it back. Weiss doesn't know what that kind of slip of the tongue could do to her relationship with Neptune and with Pyrrha. The last thing she wants is to make her feel awkward somehow, to let Pyrrha know how she truly feels about her-

"S-Sorry!" Weiss says quickly. "I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean it that way. I just... I must be a bit tired..." She dares to steal a glance at her, somewhat terrified of what she might see in those forest-green eyes.

But what she finds are the same things she always finds there; patience, calmness, a little bit of confusion perhaps, but nothing disgusted or angry.

Weiss feels her heart pounding deep in her stomach. She can't maintain eye contact for longer than a few seconds before she's looking down again.

"Really, forget I said anything. Neptune and I are fine. Everything is fine. I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me-"

"Weiss!" Pyrrha has to admit Weiss' initial confession surprised her. But it isn't all confusion; there is delight as well. She'd been stunned into silence, and Weiss had interpreted it the wrong way. But now, seeing what it's doing to the heiress, Pyrrha has to speak up.

"Weiss, please. It's all right." Pyrrha lets go of Weiss' hands with just one of her own. Slowly, she reaches out to gently brush Weiss' cheek. "Weiss... you say you don't want anyone to get hurt, but... but you're the only one crying."

Weiss doesn't even realize it for herself until Pyrrha says it. Tears are running down her face, warm and slick, and her chest starts to tighten. Weiss shakes her head, willing it all to stop, but the tears only fall more quickly.

"No... N-No, this is..."

"Weiss..." Pyrrha places both of her hands on her friend's shoulders and turns her to face her. "You haven't hurt anyone. It's okay."

Weiss swallows, biting her lip to keep the sobs back.

"If it's okay... then why are you crying, too?"

"Eh?" Pyrrha's first tear falls right then and there, and lands on the back of Weiss' hand. When she blinks, another follows it. "No... it's okay, it-"

"No." Weiss looks up at her with a mixture of misery and conviction. "That's just it, Pyrrha. I... I don't think it is..."

Neither of them can find much to say after that. The tears swell up and take over, and the two girls can do nothing more than hold hands, shoulders brushing.

Pyrrha rests her head against Weiss' and nuzzles lightly against her temple, trying to provide some semblance of comfort. The birds continue chirping all around them, and the breeze carries the soothing scents of the flowers.

Eventually, Pyrrha manages to find her voice again, soft and raspy as it may be.

"You know... it's strange. All this time, I feel I've known it wasn't okay... but it took your saying it to make it real."

Weiss sighs, peeking up at Pyrrha past her bangs.

"I feel the same. I... I think I've always known it wasn't right... my being with Neptune, that is. But once I was in it I just... couldn't think of a way to get out. I thought it was all normal. I thought those feelings would go away eventually, but they just never did..."

"It's the same for me," Pyrrha confesses. "And I'm sorry you struggled through it as well. You didn't want to hurt him, just like I don't want to hurt Jaune. But..." She reaches up to caress Weiss' cheek, thumbing away the dried tears. "I think we've let ourselves get hurt a little too much."

Weiss nods, and in doing so leans a little more into Pyrrha's touch.

"It's like I said before... Neptune never did anything wrong, or anything bad. He just... could've done better? Differently? I'm not sure if that's the way to put it."

"I think I know what you mean. Jaune could've stood to put in a bit more effort as well, ask how I was feeling sometime... I don't want to speak ill of him. He's a dear friend. I'm just not sure he should ever have been anything more than that."

"Exactly." Weiss sighs again. "But now that we've let it get to this point... we have no choice but to hurt them anyway..."

"If they're truly our friends they'll understand. They'll heal. And so will we."

She smiles, only for Weiss. Weiss smiles back.

"You always know what to say, Pyrrha. You're always there to listen. You'll hear a problem out before jumping in headlong to try and fix it. You're thoughtful, patient, considerate... I've always loved all that about you, and then some."

This time Weiss is aware of what she's saying, and she could've stopped herself at anytime. But she didn't.

Because for the first time in her mess of relationships, she feels this is genuine and right.

Pyrrha's heart leaps in merriment, flutters like a bird set free.

"Oh, Weiss..."

She can't think of anything more to do then pull her in close, embrace her for all she's worth. Weiss reciprocates in a way Jaune never could. It was nothing against him, and Weiss' predicament was nothing against Neptune. It's simply how things are.

It's how they feel, and there's no fabricating that, only concealing.

Only now, after months of being pushed back and smothered, have their true feelings been revealed into the light.

The girls hold onto one another, tucking their faces against each other's necks, stroking their fingers gingerly through the other's hair. It's entirely different from doing the same thing with either of the boys. It's like they've been walking backward all this time, and only just realized they could turn around.

For the first time since their relationships had begun, things finally feel right. And the boys are completely out of sight and out of mind.

The tears have stopped by now, but the guilt is still lingering. Weiss eases herself back slightly from the embrace.

"We'll have to end things with them right away."

"Absolutely. Prolonging it would only be unfair to them as well as to ourselves. But as I said, they're our friends, and they'll understand. If not now, then in time."

"Yes."

"Don't feel guilty about it," Pyrrha says. Her eyes are shining with a sort of peculiar wisdom that makes her seem far beyond her years. "It's impossible to go through life without hurting others and being hurt. We've got to put ourselves first in our own lives."

"You're right. Hopefully all of us can learn and grow from this."

"I'm sure we will."

Pyrrha glances to the flowers blossoming around them. She reaches for a nearby bush crowded with little pink buds and tenderly tugs one free. She tucks the flower in behind Weiss' hair and smiles.

"Perfect."

Weiss nods.

The wind carries the aroma of the garden between them as the pink sunlight softens the sky. Quietly the two girls lean closer, until their lips bump together, a touch sweeter than the scent of every flower combined.

The kiss is brief and tentative and loving, and when they part their noses brush for a moment, foreheads pressed together as they breathe.

Then another embrace, one that lasts until the sun goes down.

Come tomorrow they'll have broken up with Neptune and Jaune as gently as possible. The boys will be confused and hurt, but ultimately they'll grin and shrug, because they've always sensed something special between Weiss and Pyrrha. Most people had.

Sometimes it just takes a misstep to bring you onto the most fitting path.

And Pyrrha and Weiss fit together like scent to a flower.

They leave the twilight gardens hand in hand, with blossoms threaded through their hair, and new songs singing in their hearts.

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A/N: Thanks for reading until the end!