So, one giant fluffy monster of an Arkos fic wasn't enough, huh? I gotta do another one, huh? Well, fine. I suppose I can force myself to- EEEEEEEP!

Ahem. For those of you who don't know, I freaking adore all things Japan, and intend to spend a lot of time there someday (and learn Japanese, hopefully). So, when Darkkseid asked for a giant Arkos fic taking place in a ryokan, I was pumped. I actually looked up a bunch of stuff about ryokans (and might or might not have spent hours just watching random travel vlogs because I have no self-control when on Youtube), and even went to the nearest Japanese restaurant in my area to re-introduce myself to the taste of things like miso soup and sashimi. Fun fact: Plum wine is freaking delicious.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this awesome monster of a threeshot!

"Pyrrha, we got a flock of Nevermores!" Jaune shouted over the roar of the dying Beowolf under his feet. He drove Crocea Mors in one more time, causing the writhing creature to turn to shadows.

"I see them." Pyrrha turned Miló into its gun form and started shooting at the incoming Grimm. She managed to get a direct hit on one of them before the flock descended on her and her partner.

It had been fourteen days since Jaune and Pyrrha had seen anything resembling a warm bed or decent meal, and almost a week since they had gotten separated from Nora, Ren, and Team RWBY. The brackish water of Mistral's famous swamps had permanently dyed their clothing, and added a tint of murky black to their skin and hair.

As graduation exams went, things could honestly be worse.

Jaune blocked a blow from a Nevermore's talons with his shield, then swung at its head, cutting it clean off. Noticing another one circling around, he held up his shield, allowing Pyrrha to jump off of it and spear the Grimm in the neck.

"Keep them from going too far east!" he shouted. If their partially-waterlogged map was to be believed, they were being pressed slowly but surely toward the isolated valley village of Onsui. Of course, they weren't about to let the Grimm get anywhere near it.

Throughout the day, they fought. Occasionally, there would be enough of a break in the horde for them to catch an hour of sleep and eat a hurried mouthful of food. Then, they were back at it. By nightfall, they could see the entrance to the valley. The towering inactive volcano that dominated its northern side cast shadows over the starlit plains. Jaune mentally cursed himself, realizing that being pushed to the village was inevitable.

A pack of Ursai finally managed to pin them by the entrance, where they planted their feet and fought with everything they had. They were aware of some villagers rushing from their homes, carrying what weapons they could find.

An Ursa swiped at Pyrrha, who jumped to the side. Unfortunately, fatigue was starting to catch up with her, and the claws managed to hit her arm, causing her to let out a yelp of pain as she shot Miló at her enemy.

Jaune immediately was in front of her, swinging his sword like a madman, his wrist becoming a blur. Within seconds, the Ursa was no more.

To their left, a monkey Faunus was riding on the back of a large Beowolf, hitting it on the head repeatedly with what looked like a frying pan. Pyrrha shot the Grimm in the head as it drew close, prompting the Faunus to leap from its back, do a flip in midair, and land in front of her.

"Thanks!" the Faunus said, grinning as if this was nothing more than a regular occurrence. "Just had to bring the party to us, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry," Pyrrha immediately said. "We tried to keep them away, but there's only two of us, and-"

"Hey, relax. You're doing fine," the Faunus interjected. "Oh, there's an Ursa coming at you, by the way."

Pyrrha swung around in time to bash the Grimm in the face with her shield, stabbing it cleanly through the neck. "Thank you!" she called. Her voice was lost, however, in a loud whirring noise that sounded behind them.

The Faunus spun around, eyes wide. "Oh, that little bastard!"

Jaune let out a cry as he was thrown into a building. "Ugh." He shook his head. "Wait, is that an airship?" His eyes lit up. "Great! We can evacuate civilians, and-" He squinted as the air was kicked up around the town and a giant ship lifted off. A few gunshots rang out. "Wait, what?"

"The little coward's running away!" the Faunus growled, shaking her fist as the ship shot overhead and into the night. "HOPE THE NEVERMORES EAT YOU, YOU BASTARD!" She blinked. "Oh, speaking of Nevermores…"

It was midnight when the Grimm horde was finally defeated. Thanks to the fact that the valley entrance was small, and the help of the villagers, Jaune and Pyrrha were able to lower their weapons at last.

Jaune groaned loudly, slumping against a nearby signpost. "I can't feel my arms. Or my legs. Or my anything, really."

Pyrrha leaned against one of the buildings. "I'm sure Ozpin will give us a passing grade after that."

"A passing grade?!" Jaune laughed. "We'd better get A pluses, and a freaking trophy. That was insane."

"Sure was." The monkey Faunus from before approached. Up close, they could see that her tail and hair were the same gray-brown color as the Macaque monkeys native to the area. "Hate to think what would've happened without your help. I'm Saru, by the way."

"I'm Pyrrha, and this is Jaune," Pyrrha replied. "It's nice to meet you." She glanced around. "So, whose airship was that? Is there a way to contact them and bring any civilians back?"

Saru's lip curled and she shook her head. "No way to contact them, and no need. That scumbag didn't take any people with him when he ran off. I heard he was shooting at anyone who came close." She nodded toward where the ship had been. "He was a representative of the Schnee Dust Company, sent here to try and negotiate a deal to 'access' the earth Dust vein under the village." She snorted loudly. "By 'access,' they of course meant 'strip mine.' Still, he paid for the luxury suite at my place, a bunch of food, and the most expensive wine. Was gonna stay for a week." She folded her arms. "I can promise you he won't be getting a refund."

"Your place?" Jaune asked.

Saru turned toward him with a grin. "The Oum Ryokan! Only the finest ryokan in all of Mistral! Our onsens have water piped from beneath the volcano and enriched with the Dust vein I mentioned. Has healing properties because of it." She glanced at the wounds on both of them. "Hm. Once you've showered, I think you could use a decent soak."

"Right now, we'd just be happy with a Scroll that works," Pyrrha said, taking hers from her pocket. Both her and Jaune's Scrolls had been unable to handle being perpetually soaked in the swamps, and had stopped working before the two had gotten separated from their friends. "I really hope the others are okay."

Saru took a Scroll from her pocket. "Here. Use mine."

"Thank you," Pyrrha said, smiling warmly as she took the Scroll and dialed Ruby's number.

Ruby picked up almost immediately. "Hello?"

"Ruby? It's Pyrrha and Jaune."

"Oh, thank goodness!" Ruby gasped. "Guys, they're okay!" The sound of other voices came through. "Where are you?"

"In Onsui," Pyrrha explained. "We finally were able to defeat the Grimm horde in this area."

There was some talking on the other end. "Okay, Weiss says there should be someone from her father's company who can bring you back."

"He flew off when the Grimm got too close," Jaune explained. "Wouldn't take any civilians."

Weiss could be heard sighing loudly and muttering "Of course."

"Well, we're over in Hana," Ruby said. "The Grimm situation is under control over here, but all of the airships are gone. They were evacuating civilians. Hold on." The Scroll was put down and Pyrrha and Jaune waited for a few minutes. Then, Ruby's voice came back on. "Okay, looks like we can get someone out there in three days. Will you guys be okay until then?"

Jaune laughed. "We've been camping in the swamps for two weeks, Ruby. I think we can handle three days sleeping on the floor at a hostel." After saying goodbye, they hung up. Jaune looked at Saru. "So, do you know any good places to stay that won't cost much?"

Saru was scratching her chin. She looked at the two, and her eyes lit up. "Actually, I know a perfect place that won't cost you a single Lien."

"Really?" Pyrrha asked, handing her Scroll back.

"Yep." Saru grinned. "The Oum Ryokan, in the luxury suite."

Pyrrha gasped. "Oh, we couldn't ask you to-"

"Hey, it's already paid for," Saru interjected. "And that Schnee weasel isn't getting a refund, as I said. Think of it this way: Because you defended the town and allowed him to run away like a scared baby monkey, he oh-so-graciously decided to gift you with his room as a reward." She winked. "How does that sound?"

Pyrrha looked unsure, but Jaune was nodding. "I think that's some good logic."

"Did I mention that he also ordered special chocolate made from the cocoa beans that grow around here?" Saru added. "It would be a shame to let that go to waste."

The mention of Mistral chocolate was enough to sway Pyrrha. "Well, we were raised to not be wasteful…"

"That's the spirit!" Saru laughed before glancing at the Huntsmen's muck-covered forms. "Let's get you into a shower first. And some new clothes. Luckily for you, yukatas are included with the room. Follow me."

They followed Saru through the streets of Onsui. As they walked, they noticed a bunch of stalls and paper lanterns everywhere. When Pyrrha asked about them, Saru explained that the village was setting up for a festival to celebrate the unearthing of the volcanic hot springs fifty years ago. "It's a weekend affair, so the preparations will be tomorrow. Then, the next two days will be the festival. Perfect timing for you, huh?"

"A festival would be nice after these past few days," Pyrrha said, to which Jaune nodded in agreement.

The three reached a large, gorgeous building built in the traditional oriental style from when Mistral was first founded. It was in the northern part of the village, with the volcano towering over it. Its front was dominated by a gorgeous rock garden with several small shrubs, a creek that ran through the whole thing, and a few tiny bridges. Two fragrant cherry blossom trees acted as an archway leading from the streets and into the gardens.

"I'll take you around the side. There are some private showers there. Take as long as you need."

The two treated themselves to very long showers, sighing with relief as two weeks' worth of filth was finally washed away, then peeked out to see that their mud-coated clothes were gone, replaced with new underwear and clean yukatas. Pyrrha's was pale pink with a pattern of white sakura blossoms and a blue sash. She put it on with little trouble, having worn them in the past when she used to live in Mistral. She heard a few frustrated grumbles from Jaune's stall, however. "Having trouble?"

"Kinda," Jaune muttered. "How do these things even stay on?"

"Want some help?"

"…Yeah," came the embarrassed reply.

Pyrrha rolled her eyes and went over. Jaune was standing there in his new boxers, trying and failing to get his dark blue yukata to stay where it was supposed to. Pyrrha saw that he had tried just wrapping the Obi, which was what the sash was called, around himself without tying the Koshi-Hibo, or string, first.

"Here." She walked over. "You fold this part over the first layer, then you tie the string." She talked partially to instruct, partially so that she would not give in to the temptation to take a good look at the gorgeous eight-pack her partner had developed over the last four years. "Then, you do the sash like this." She tied the sash around his waist and stepped back. "There."

Jaune grinned sheepishly. "And this is why I wear hoodies."

"It just takes some getting used to," Pyrrha assured him. "Ready to see this luxury suite?"

"A bit of luxury sounds pretty nice right about now." He noticed the scratches on Pyrrha's arm peeking out from under the yukata sleeve. "How's your arm?"

Pyrrha glanced at it. "Just a scratch. My Aura was getting pretty low."

Jaune sighed. "I should've been paying more attention. That could've ended badly." In his mind, he had already pictured various scenarios that would have ended with no one getting injured and nothing being destroyed. Why hadn't he thought of them sooner?

Pyrrha sensed another one of her partner's self-deprecating spirals coming on. "Jaune, don't start beating yourself up again. What have we said about this?"

"I know it doesn't do any good," Jaune sighed. "Still…"

"Look, we did the best we could considering the circumstances," Pyrrha interjected. "And no one was badly hurt." She touched his shoulder, smiling gently up at him. "Let's just relax and enjoy having a little time off."

Jaune nodded, forcing a smile. "Okay. Sorry."

The two stepped out of the shower area, found indoor slippers waiting for them, and went through the doors leading to the welcoming area of the ryokan.

There were plenty of tables, comfy chairs, paintings, and even a bit of traditional string music playing on a boombox. Saru was standing behind the desk and perked up when they walked over.

"So, here's the thing," she said as they approached. "Your clothes and shoes basically fell apart when I tried washing them. Your armor is fine, though! There's a guy I know who's going to polish it and work out any dents while you're here. You're welcome to the yukatas in the meantime, and I'm sure I can get some regular street clothes as well."

Jaune sighed. "Ah well. The Pumpkin Pete hoodie had a good run. I can't complain."

"You really didn't have to go to so much trouble," Pyrrha said.

Saru waved her off. "Oh, please. I'm happy to do it." She picked up a small platter bearing two keys and two white, steaming ceramic cups. "Here are your keys, and some tea. Newcomers always get tea before going to their rooms."

After pocketing the keys, the two gladly sipped at the green tea. After weeks of eating cold, hard food while on the run, the warm, pleasantly-bitter brew flooded through their bodies like a balm, soothing whatever tension remained in their muscles that hadn't been erased by their long showers.

Finally, they were taken to their suite. It was large, spacious, and beautiful with tatami floors, low tables with cushions, a couple-sized futon, sliding doors with designs of steaming volcanoes and sakura blossoms, and a few watercolor paintings on the walls. A glass door led to a private outdoor onsen, or hot spring. The room looked like it had just been cleaned, and smelled of cherry blossom incense and fresh sheets.

Jaune noticed a few steaming bowls on the table, as well as a teapot, and his stomach grumbled.

Saru smiled apologetically. "Since dinnertime was a while ago, I wasn't able to prepare the whole dinner one would get. I did get some miso soup, a bit of rice and beef, and tea. There's also the chocolate and wine, which are here in the room. You'll get the full meal treatment tomorrow for both breakfast and dinner, I promise."

"This is perfect," Pyrrha assured her. "We haven't had a hot meal in days."

"You poor kids." Saru shook her head. "I'll have to be sure to spoil you good while you're here." She pointed to the glass door. "The onsen is out there. Please shower before using it. We cleaned it out for you, even though it doesn't seem like that bastard even bothered using it. He barely touched the chocolate either. I did have to get new bottles of wine, though." She rolled her eyes. "We got Dyonisian red wine from southern Mistral, and some local sweet plum wine. We also serve warm sake with dinner." She smiled at them. "Breakfast is at nine. I'll come up and knock on your door then, or would you prefer a later time?"

"Nine sounds perfect," Pyrrha replied. "Thank you so much, Saru."

Saru laughed. "No, thank you for giving me the chance to fight alongside real Huntsmen! I haven't had that much fun in ages." She bowed before leaving the room.

Jaune looked around for a moment, nodding slowly. "You know, Pyrrha," he murmured. "I think I could totally handle being rich."

"It is nice, isn't it? I haven't been to a ryokan in years." Pyrrha noticed a small divot in the wall, which held a decorative scroll, along with two large bottles and a box that probably held the famous Mistral chocolate. Tearing her gaze away, she sat down on one of the cushions. "Well, let's eat this before it gets cold, and get some sleep."

"Good plan." Jaune sat down across from her, casting a wistful glance toward the onsen. "I'm tempted to go in there, but I'd probably fall asleep."

"We'll have plenty of time in the morning," Pyrrha said as she started on her rice. The beef was high-quality Valean beef, and was seasoned with a soy-based sauce that had just a bit of spice in it.

Jaune sipped at the miso soup, which he had never had before. It was murky and tasted almost like mild chicken broth, but with an aftertaste that reminded him of soy sauce. The tofu and seaweed were soft and had absorbed the flavor of the broth. He sipped at the green tea, wondering if it would be possible to buy some packets to give to Blake and Ren.

Once the two had gotten ready for bed, they lay down on the large futon. Years of doing camping missions had removed any awkwardness when it came to sleeping together.

It hadn't removed the feelings and conflicting desires that arose during these times, but that was a different matter entirely.

As they usually would do in such a situation, they each took a side of the bed, leaving a few inches between them, pulled the blankets over themselves, and fell asleep. Over the course of the night, they scooted closer to the middle until they were nestled against each other, Pyrrha's head on Jaune's chest, Jaune's arms wrapped snugly around Pyrrha. This was also a normal occurrence.

Jaune awoke first the following morning, and was immediately aware of the sensation of his partner curled up against him. He checked to make sure she was still asleep before allowing himself to hug her closer and let out a sigh. The smell of the ryokan's cherry shampoo melded with Pyrrha's natural, slightly spicy scent, which Jaune had come to know very well over the years. He inhaled quietly, even as he hated himself for doing so.

During times like this, he wished that nighttime could last forever and he could just keep holding his beloved partner close like this, keep pretending that they were together. Keep pretending that he was anywhere near being worthy of her.

Despite four years of vigorous training, and the fact that he had achieved definite success as a student of Beacon and as a team leader, Jaune still felt inadequate most of the time. He gave orders to his team, but was always hiding how many times he second-guessed himself over each decision. He was a good fighter, but still couldn't measure up to people like Pyrrha or Yang. Even this graduation exam, which he had arguably passed with flying colors, filled him with a million anxious thoughts.

Had he really done all he could to keep the Grimm away from Onsui? Could he have changed things so that he and Pyrrha would have never been separated from the others? What if things had gone worse?

Even though he was supposed to be a fully-fledged Huntsman, he still felt very much like the awkward teen from his first year, always struggling to figure out the right course of action, always doubting each thought. That was part of the reason why he had never acted on the feelings for Pyrrha that had been steadily, agonizingly growing within him for the past three and a half years. That was why he continued to act oblivious whenever she tried to express an interest in him.

She deserved someone confident, someone who she didn't have to constantly carry through battles and other trials. Her crush on him would eventually pass, just like his crush on Weiss had. He just had to wait, and hope it wouldn't hurt too much when the inevitable finally happened.

Pyrrha stirred, breaking Jaune from his thoughts and prompting him to reluctantly withdraw his arms and scoot away. When she opened her eyes, he smiled at her. "Hey."

"Good morning," Pyrrha murmured. She had awoken to a welcome warmth around her, but it was almost entirely absent now. "What time is it?"

Jaune glanced toward the clock on the wall. "Eight-thirty. So, we'll be getting breakfast pretty soon."

"Good." Pyrrha sat up. "I can't even begin to tell you how sick I am of granola and jerky."

"I hear ya!" Jaune nodded. "That soup and rice last night tasted like a feast!"

The two got ready hastily, finding fresh clothes waiting for them in the dresser, including some casual sweat pants and shirts. They both decided to stick with the yukatas, though Pyrrha had to help Jaune with his again.

"Why do people in Mistral make clothes so complicated?" he complained.

"It's traditional. Traditional clothes are always complicated. Be thankful we're not in Atlas. Weiss told me that upper-class people there often wear corsets."

"Like, in modern times? On purpose?!" Jaune shook his head. "No wonder she wanted to come to Beacon!"

There was a knock on the door, followed by Saru entering with a cart of steaming plates. She rolled over to the low table and bowed. "I hope you two slept well."

"Very," Pyrrha replied, bowing back. "Thank you."

Jaune bowed as well, and was about to say something in greeting, but was interrupted by his stomach grumbling loudly.

Saru laughed. "Looks like I got here just in time!" She started setting dishes in front of them. There was white rice and miso soup, like the previous night. She then gave them each a plate of red wrinkled fruits she said were pickled plums. There were also small slabs of grilled salmon, a soft-boiled egg in a shallow bowl of what looked like soy sauce, and some orange slices. Everything was served, of course, with a pot of green tea.

"Wow, this looks like another dinner," Jaune commented.

"Traditionally, there are no designated breakfast foods in Mistral," Saru explained. "So dinners are very similar to breakfasts. I hope that's okay."

"It's completely okay!" Jaune assured her. "This looks amazing. Thanks!"

Saru left with the cart, telling the two to just leave the plates on the table once they were finished. "After breakfast, be sure to try the onsen! Let me know if you need anything else."

The two started eating immediately. The food tasted even better than the previous night, if possible. The salty fish, sour plums, and sweet orange slices were simply wonderful. Combined with the miso soup, rice, and bitter tea, it honestly made the meal more of an experience than a simple act of filling one's stomach.

"Why don't people in Vale pay this much attention to food?" Jaune wondered. "I mean, look at the presentation here!"

"Cultural differences," Pyrrha replied. "In Mistral, there's more emphasis on the taste of food. In Vale, there's more of a focus on getting full quickly. When you're a Huntsman, the latter is certainly more practical."

"Still." Jaune paused to finish his salmon. "I could absolutely handle being a rich person in Mistral!"

Pyrrha chuckled. "Well, maybe someday. You're already an amazing Huntsman. After graduation, making some real money should be easy."

Jaune shook his head. "Nah. You're still way ahead of me. If anyone's going to be a billionaire Huntsman, it's going to be you."

After breakfast, Jaune let Pyrrha have first dibs on the shower and onsen. Once she was clean, she stepped through the glass doors, keeping her yukata on until after she moved the privacy screen in front of the door. She trusted Jaune to not peek, of course. The screen was more so that he wouldn't feel the need to keep his gaze completely averted from that side of the room.

She let out a gasp when she finally got a good look at the suite's private onsen. The overall area was surrounded by thick walls, and had a glass roof overhead in case of rain. The pool was deep, steaming, and had smooth stones at the bottom. Water also trickled down a series of rocks, creating a tiny waterfall. A few potted bamboo plants bordered the pool. Nearby was a wood table where clothes and towels could go.

Pyrrha removed her clothes and eased herself into the warm, sulfur-scented water. As she sat down on the low bench, she became aware of a tingling sensation wherever the water touched. She looked at the scratches on her arm, which her Aura had almost completely healed. As she watched, the marks faded entirely. The earth Dust vein, she realized.

It was said that the springs in Onsui could cure almost any illness and ease the symptoms of the ones that couldn't be entirely cured. Pyrrha certainly could believe it! The water somehow soothed and invigorated her at the same time. Only the fact that Jaune was waiting his turn inside kept her from staying in the pool all day.

When she came out, she couldn't help but smile. Jaune was dozing on the futon, a peaceful expression on his face. He really deserves to rest after these past few days, Pyrrha thought as she approached. Her heart warmed as she watched him, and she resisted the urge to let out a sigh.

She wanted to lie down next to him and feel those arms wrapping around her, like how he would do when they were asleep. Except, this would be while they were awake, and completely on purpose.

It was amazing to her that her feelings for Jaune still continued to increase practically every second she was with him. After four years, it was borderline maddening. What made it worse was that she was almost positive that he felt the same way. There were times when he wasn't careful, and Pyrrha would catch him gazing at her with a tender expression. Whenever she woke up before him, she'd feel the firmness of his embrace. During the rare times when someone got up the courage to try flirting with her, she would sometimes see Jaune glaring sullenly at the person in question.

She wanted to wait for Jaune to be ready, for him to be the one to confess, but she honestly was beginning to wonder if he ever would be. What's holding you back, Jaune? she wondered. Am I somehow not being obvious enough?

Pushing her thoughts aside, she gently ruffled his recently-washed hair. "The onsen is yours. Try to resist soaking all day, though."

Jaune opened his eyes and grinned up at her. "I can't make any promises!"

After Jaune's turn in the onsen, the two alternated between relaxing on the futon and walking around the garden. Though rejuvenated, they were still mentally exhausted from two weeks of fighting Grimm. There would be plenty of time to have fun at the festival the next day, besides.

Throughout the day, Saru would check up on them, asking if there was anything they needed. At one point, she came in while they were curled up on the futon. She smiled softly and left without a word.

Pyrrha made a sufficient dent in the Mistral chocolate, which was rich and dark. The plum wine smelled like fruity candy, and hardly tasted like alcohol, except for a slight dry taste after swallowing. The Dyonisian wine was a bit stronger, and Pyrrha capped it after two glasses each.

When Saru brought the dinner cart, Jaune was stunned at just how much there was to it. Besides the soup and rice, there was sashimi (thinly-sliced raw fish), tempura (vegetables and shrimp covered in fried batter), shellfish, and dishes of thin-cut raw Valean beef. There were also small dishes of sauce, as well as two dishes of water, which Saru placed on top of two mini burners she had brought up with everything else.

"Wait for the water to boil, then put the beef in," she instructed. "Then, dip it into the vinegar sauce." She took a ceramic pitcher and carefully poured two small cups of hot sake. She poured the tea into larger cups, bowed, and left them to their meal.

Jaune immediately tried the beef, following Saru's instructions. His eyes widened as he chewed. "That actually melted in my mouth," he gasped after swallowing. "Wow!"

Pyrrha was eating the sashimi alongside the rice. She paused to take a sip of sake. It smelled like a very strong white wine, but tasted entirely different. It was almost like a mild alcohol burn without much else in the way of flavor. It went down smoothly, though.

Jaune tried the sake and grimaced. "I think I like the plum wine better."

"I agree."

After eating, they showered and used the onsen once again, this time with Jaune going in first. When Pyrrha came in from her turn, feeling both refreshed and sleepy, she saw that Jaune had already fallen asleep on the futon.

She watched him fondly for a moment before lying down next to him. She hesitated, then scooted closer so that she was snuggled against his front. Immediately, his arms came up to pull her close, though he was clearly still fast asleep.

Pyrrha closed her eyes with a sigh. What am I missing? she wondered.

It had been so natural to just spend the day with him, enjoying the atmosphere of the ryokan. She'd even go so far as to call it domestic. Wouldn't switching from this to being, as Nora would put it, "together-together" be a relatively simple matter?

Deciding, as always, to push such thoughts from her mind for the time being, Pyrrha closed her eyes, allowing herself the luxury of falling asleep in the arms of her beloved partner and friend.

In her half-asleep state, a thought occurred to her. The springs in Onsui were supposed to cure all ailments… Perhaps, they would erase whatever was keeping Jaune at a distance, whatever caused him to shy away from Pyrrha and withdraw his warm embrace when morning came.

With that hopeful idea in mind, Pyrrha was able to easily fall asleep.

It's interesting writing Jaune with more prominent confidence issues. Due to his complete nonchalance when it comes to things like wearing a dress in public and sleeping in bunny onesies, I tend to write him as someone who's quietly comfortable with who he is. However, being confident with yourself as a person and being confident in your abilities are very different things, and a lack of confidence in one can sometimes bleed into the other. I speak from experience.

If you like what you see and want to show extra support in exchange for rewards, my P/atreon is Solora Goldsun.

Peace out!