A/N: So I was convinced to fold my March MonCon entry into this new Tales from the Anthill series. If you're new to my XCOM AU, don't worry: this one-shot is almost entirely about Pyrrha and Jaune enjoying themselves in Greece, with only a few references to XCOM: RWBY Within. All you really need to know is that the alien invasion is over (thanks in no small part to the contributions of Teams RWBY and JNPR) and the two student teams now have the opportunity to travel around the earth doing touristy things while the researchers at XCOM find a way to get them back to Remnant.

On a different note, if you've never heard of the 'Sirtaki' dance, or you've never heard of 'Zorba the Greek,' take a moment to search for the latter on Youtube and find a 3-minute black and white video of two guys dancing on the beach. When it becomes relevant in the chapter, it might be a good idea to spend a minute or two watching the clip so you have an easier time visualizing what's going on.

Enjoy!

HORF!

Jaune calmly sat on the bed in his cabin, feeling the boat gently sway while he continued to read the tourist's guide to the Greek Isles. According to the ship's captain, their next stop would be the island of Mykonos. A popular little stop with a quaint town, friendly locals, and famous windmills that take advantage of the region's the breezy climate.

BLERG!

While he definitely enjoyed the visit to Santorini, Jaune felt that it was a little too... commercialized. It made sense, though: the fact that everyone back at XCOM told him, "You have to visit Santorini," told Jaune all he needed to know. Everyone knows about it, so everyone visits. And because everyone visits, Santorini caters heavily to the tourists. Not that he had anything against that, but Jaune wanted to experience something that felt a little more... authentic.

GUKHGH!

"Is everything alright in there?" Jaune called out while he browsed through the pages of his little book.

"Everything is -BLORF- just peachy, Jaune." He heard his partner weakly answer from the cabin's bathroom, "Thanks for asking."

Jaune let out a quiet sigh, "Anything I can do to help? I dunno... hold your hair or something?"

"Absolutely -BLECH- not!"

"Okay, okay!" Jaune said in a defensive tone, "I'll just sit here and read some more."

"You... you do that."

Jaune would be lying if he didn't admit that the irony of the situation amused him. After putting up with all the teasing from RWBY and JNPR about his airsickness, who could've imagined that his partner suffered from a weak stomach while sailing the high seas? Still, he felt bad for Pyrrha. Unlike the rest of their friends, she never joked about his tenuous relationship with the Bullhead. So, just as she would always do her best to ease his discomfort during air rides, Jaune wanted to return the favor while they toured the Aegean Sea.

The first half of their trip, the bit where they traveled across the Greek mainland, had been wonderful. They spent hours up on the Acropolis, gazing in wonder at the architectural tributes to the Greek gods. The mountain monasteries of Meteora provided a breathtaking view of the Kalambaka province, and were impressive in and of themselves. Finally, The journey over Mount Parnassus, culminating in the visit to the ancient ruins of Delphi, was probably Jaune's favorite part of Greece they'd been to thus far. Not only was the mountain itself one of the largest on the mainland, but the cultural and spiritual significance of Delphi was not lost on him. Even if he didn't necessarily have a personal connection to the Greek theologies of old, the area still felt alive with a certain... potency. Jaune didn't know how to describe it, but Pyrrha also noted that the air around Delphi hummed with a feeling of power.

Pyrrha's emergence from the bathroom brought Jaune's thoughts back to the present, her red face making a valiant effort to match the scarlet color of her (currently unkempt) hair. Though whether the color in her cheeks was brought on by embarrassment or the physical exertion of her stomach forcibly evacuating its contents, Jaune didn't know. And as he liked to think of himself as a gentleman, he wasn't about to ask. Instead, he decided to lead off with a much safer question.

"Feeling better?"

Pyrrha cast a sideways glance at her partner as she flopped down next to him on the bed, "Physically? For now. Emotionally? Humiliated beyond comprehension."

So that answers the unasked question. Jaune thought. He took Pyrrha's hand and gave it a light squeeze while he flashed her a smile, "Humiliated? I can't imagine why."

Pyrrha shot him a glare before returning her gaze to the ceiling, "This was supposed to be a lovely cruise. Everyone's been telling us we needed to visit Greece after the war, and everyone's also been telling us to make sure we tour the islands. So after all that build up and anticipation, I find out that I suffer from seasickness and have spent more time than I'd care to admit staring into a toilet bowl."

"Ah yes... praying to the Porcelain God." Jaune commented sagely, "I know the position all too well." He wrapped an arm around Pyrrha's shoulders and smiled once more at his partner, "Look at it this way, Pyr. You've seen me tossing my cookies on more than one occasion since we've known each other. Now that I can say the same about you, it's like we've reached an entirely new level in our relationship. We now have a deeper connection with each other."

His partner rolled her eyes, but didn't respond. A red flag shot up in Jaune's brain. Embarrassed about the vomiting or no, Pyrrha always laughed at his dumb jokes, especially if they were specifically meant to cheer her up. Jaune had a sneaking suspicion he knew the cause, yet he also knew better than to pry. While she tried her best to be humble whenever possible, it's hard to suppress one's pride when you're as accomplished as Pyrrha Nikos. Pressing her on what was wrong, especially in the wake of her mortifying seasickness episode, wouldn't be helpful at all.

"Well listen, the ship's due to arrive at the next stop in about twenty minutes. Why don't we clean up and get ready to take the little boat taxi to the island when we drop anchor?"

"Why does it have to be those little boats..." Pyrrha groaned, burying her face into a pillow, "I've never seen a piece of wood pitch and roll as much as those death traps do."

Her partner gave Pyrrha a sympathetic pat before moving off towards the bathroom to clean himself up.

Jaune's first impression of Mykonos was that the guide book had no idea what the word 'breezy' meant. Sure, the wind felt reasonable as he and Pyrrha meandered along the pathways of the island's main town. But the moment they left the safety of the quaint houses, churches, and shops to visit the island's famous windmills? Gale-force winds suddenly assaulted the two hunters and hounded after them without mercy. He should've guessed there was a reason the islanders built those damn mills. What would be the point if the air did little more than ruffle his hair?

More than anything, Jaune felt guilty for not thinking to warn Pyrrha about the wind. He assumed that it wouldn't be a big deal, and so Jaune didn't think to say anything when his partner decided to wear the red summer dress he bought for her back in Athens. In fact, the only thought crossing his mind at the time was how incredibly good she looked. The material was light and soft, perfect for a young woman touring a region of the world that generally enjoyed hot weather for the majority of the year. It was a simple design, using elastic material to hold itself against Pyrrha's chest while a piece of fabric wrapped around the neck to and came together in a knot above her sternum. A slit opened up the left side of the dress up to Pyrrha's knee, allowing it to flutter in the breeze as the two of them walked among the shops.

Of course, it also offered very little by way of protection against the winds, and the gooseflesh spreading across his partner's skin did not escape Jaune's notice.

"Well this is certainly... something." Pyrrha said with a laugh as the two of them trekked onwards toward the windmills up the hill. She had one arm over her face to protect he eyes from airborne dust and sand while the other was pressed down on the dress to keep it from flaring up in the wind.

"Y-yeah." Jaune agreed, panicking for a split-second when a particularly strong gust almost knocked him off balance and sent him tumbling back down the hill, "Tell you what: why don't we just settle for touching the windmills and then enjoying their majesty from a distance?"

"Agreed. C'mon, we're almost there!"

With a few more steps, Jaune and Pyrrha finally reached the nearest windmill and planted their palms against its exterior. Once they decided their mission was 'accomplished,' the couple raced back down the hill and came to a breathless halt upon reaching the safety of the town.

Once Jaune had the chance to properly regulate his breathing, he felt a familiar gurgle in his stomach, "Hey... you feeling hungry at all?"

"A little." Pyrrha admitted, "Do you have anything in mind?"

Jaune nodded down the street towards a small cafe, a portly old man beaming at them while sitting on a stool out front, "He looks pretty friendly. How about we head inside, warm up a bit, and enjoy some local hospitality?"

Finding no reason to object, Pyrrha agreed before following Jaune towards the cafe's proprietor, whose smile grew even wider at the prospect of guests.

"Kalispera! Good afternoon!" He greeted.

"Good afternoon." Pyrrha returned with a pleasant nod.

The old man beamed, "Americans?"

"... More or less." Jaune answered after sharing a private smirk with his partner.

"Good! Good!" The old man stepped aside and waved them inside, "Welcome! Please, have seat wherever you like!"

The couple selected a table by one of the open cafe windows that offered a nice view of the square outside. The buildings and trees surrounding the cafe offered protection enough from the windy weather, and so Pyrrha and Jaune had the opportunity to sit comfortably and people watch without their hair getting blown every which way. The old man returned and set down a pair of menus in front of his guests.

"My name is Demitrios Georgacakis. Please, take your time." With a slight bow, he retreated to his stool at the front, though Jaune noticed with some amusement that the man's attention remained primarily on his current customers rather than keeping an eye out for new ones.

"So, you planning on ordering something big or something light?" Jaune asked.

"Probably light." Pyrrha answered with a sigh, "We do have to get back to the boat at some point, and I'd rather keep my... ah... episodes down to a minimum."

"Boat doesn't leave until tomorrow morning. We could probably find someplace to sleep in this town if you'd rather-"

"Yes."

"Aaaaaand that settles that." The young huntsman chuckled, "I'll let the hotel manager on the boat know when we're done here."

Pyrrha smiled, relief etched across her face, "In that case, I don't see anything wrong with eating something a bit more... substantial."

"So... lamb, then?"

"Lamb." Pyrrha agreed, "Though this kremmydopita does sound... exotic."

"It's local specialty." Demitrios said, suddenly appearing behind Jaune, "Light pie that uses phyllo for crust, and filled with onion, feta, and kefalotyri." He nudged Jaune and smiled, "Your friend has excellent taste."

Once Demitrios finished taking their order and shuffled off to the kitchen, the two hunters fell into a comfortable silence. Outside the window, locals and tourists in brightly-colored attire walked along the streets as little birds waddled around and pecked at invisible scraps on the pavement. Music lazily floated down from the audio system in the cafe, and the smell of Greek cuisine wafted in from the back room. Jaune closed his eyes, breathed in deeply, and spent a moment to take stock of his present situation.

Here he was, on a remote island where nobody knew his name except for the gorgeous young woman sitting across from him. They had just finished surviving a brutal and bloody war, somehow coming out of the ordeal closer as partners than Jaune could have ever imagined. He'd spent the last two weeks travelling around a wondrous country full of history and fables with his friend, partner, and (as Penny would aptly put it) mate. And now here she sat, beauty incarnate, gazing idly out the window at the passersby while the two of them waited for a meal that was, for all intents and purposes, a little slice of Pyrrha's Mistrali home. And he could look forward to this perfect bliss for the next few months at least.

And yet, he couldn't help but notice that Pyrrha looked... down. To the untrained eye, she looked as happy as any tourist travelling to the beautiful Cyclades, but Jaune knew his partner better than anyone. Beneath her facade, the one she learned to cultivate after years in the limelight, he sensed a sort fatigue in his partner. Something was eating away at her, and Jaune knew that it would continue to do so unless he thought of a way to help. Fortunately, he had an idea of what was causing her discomfort. Unfortunately, he really wasn't looking forward to the prospect of bringing it up with his partner. With a deep breath, he reached out and touched Pyrrha's hand with his own. When she looked at him curiously, Jaune steeled himself and asked the question on the tip of his tongue.

"Pyrrha, do you..." He hesitated when the young woman turned to face him questioningly, knowing that the moment he finished his sentence, he wouldn't be able to take it back, "Do you believe in destiny?"

When Pyrrha visibly stiffened and her eyes shot wide, Jaune knew that he'd found the source of her troubles.

"How... do you know about that?" She asked, slowly drawing out each word.

Jaune flashed a melancholy smile, "You talk in your sleep, Pyr. I don't know what it means, exactly, but I know that it's been eating at you for the past week."

Pyrrha broke eye contact and glanced down at the table, "It's been longer than a week." She admitted.

Careful now, Jaune. Don't press your luck.

"We don't have to talk about it." He added, "Dust knows I'm the last person who deserves to tell people they should open up about personal problems. But I want you to know... I'm here."

Pyrrha looked back up at him, and while her eyes still held a sense of wariness, she smiled, "Thank you, Jaune. Hearing you say that means a lot to me."

Demitrios returned a few minutes later with a steaming onion pie, setting it down between the two hunters and grinning with anticipation, "Enjoy, my friends. You will not be disappointed."

Jaune watched as Pyrrha carefully cut the pie in half and handed him his share before sampling her own. Where her eyes wore a downcast expression only seconds ago, they lit up the moment the Greek pastry passed her lips.

"Delicious!" She squeaked before stabbing another forkful and shoving it into her mouth. Jaune didn't think it was possible for the proprietor's smile to grow wider, yet Demitrios proved him wrong when he heard Pyrrha singing his praise.

"It's recipe taught to me by my own grandmother." He whispered conspiratorially, glancing around to make sure nobody else could hear, "When I was about your age, actually. Nobody made better kremmydopita than yia yia Georgacakis."

Jaune nodded in agreement, "I'll bet. This tastes amazing."

"The arnaki will be out shortly." Demitrios added before excusing himself to the kitchen once more.

Between bites of his own, Jaune couldn't help but smile as he saw Pyrrha savor the flavors of the onion pie. Her eyes glistened, and Jaune could only guess what kind of memories of home cooking this meal brought back for his partner. The look on Pyrrha's face when she rolled a bite of the pastry around in her mouth was one of pure, innocent bliss. In this singular moment, nothing else mattered to Pyrrha. No nightmares, no memories of war, no thoughts of being 'the girl on the pedastal'... all her attention was focused on the little slice of heaven dancing across her tongue.

By the time the two of them finished off the pie (with Jaune donating half of his share to Pyrrha after he noticed her eyeing it hungrily), Demitrios appeared once more with the freshly-cooked lamb in one hand and a bottle of clear liquid in the other. He placed the food between Jaune and Pyrrha before setting down the bottle and drawing up a seat. He produced three shot glasses and began to measure out a small portion of the unfamiliar liquid into each. Jaune guessed that it was some sort of spirit, but the only clear alcohol that he could think of was vodka, and wasn't that more of a Russian thing?

"Forgive my intrusion." Demetrios apologized as he set a glass in front of his two guests, "But I would like to wish good health to you both. It isn't every day that such beautiful young love comes to my cafe."

He smiled as watched the couple's cheeks flush red, "I see the way you look at one another. I see love in the young man's eyes, respect and adoration for the perfect woman sitting across from him. And I see the joyful companionship shine forth from the lady, content to be with the man sharing his evening with her. Now that the nasty business with the war is over, it is time for us to remember the soul of who we truly are as people."

He raised his glass and waited for Pyrrha and Jaune to do the same before toasting, "To life, to love, and to you. Yamas!"

The two hunters echoed Demitrios's exclamation before clinking glasses, and all three of them knocked back their drinks. Jaune's eyes grew wide as he felt the alcohol burn on its way down his throat, leaving behind a distinct flavor of licorice as it continued to burn its way into his stomach. The proprietor let out a hearty chuckle when he saw Jaune's reaction, and he began to pour out another round of shots before commenting, "Never tried ouzo? Best drink anywhere in the world, I assure you. Come, eat up while I tell you about the stories of Mykonos, my home."

And so the three of them sat, Jaune and Pyrrha enjoying the flavors of their meal while Demitrios's train of thought flitted from topic to topic about his beloved island. The lamb was just as good as the kremmydopita (if Pyrrha's reaction was any indication), and Jaune enjoyed listening to Demitrios speak. While he slowly started to tune out what the old man was actually saying, Jaune couldn't help but remain enraptured by the way he said it. Pride flowed out of Demetrios like a fountain, and he spoke every word as if each story was an epic worthy of the greatest bards and minstrels in the world. The passion in his voice as he waxed poetry of his island, as well as his nation, spoke volumes to Jaune of how proud the Greeks really were when it came to their corner of the world.

The two hunters had long finished their food, yet both were perfectly happy to let Demitrios continue spinning his tales. Jaune watched as the old man's recounting of Greece's history held Pyrrha's complete attention, and Jaune himself was just content to be a part of the cafe's little fellowship. The old man continued to pour drinks for the trio as he sang the triumphs of his motherland, halting his stories every few minutes so that they could knock back another shot. And while Jaune's vision began to grow slightly blurry, he found himself to be warming up to the flavor of ouzo.

"Give me a word, any word, and I show you how the root is Gree-" Demitrios cut himself off and his ears perked up at the sound of the song that had begun to play in the cafe. He looked from Pyrrha to Jaune before a grin spread itself once more across his face.

"This song! You must let me show you how to dance to this song."

Jaune turned his head up to face the ceiling, as if that would help him hear the notes that drifted through the speakers, "I... recognize this. Heard it a few times during our travels across the mainland."

"It is the Sirtaki." Demitrios answered, "It isn't the oldest of Greek traditions, but it will put the fire of life into your bones, I assure you. Come!"

The couple got up, unwilling to refuse the request of the jovial old man (and perhaps egged on by the alcohol coursing through their veins). Demitrios quickly arranged his students so that Pyrrha and Jaune were standing next to each other at arm's length, with Pyrrha on the right. He grabbed their arms and set them so that they were fully extended with Pyrrha's left hand was gripping Jaune's right shoulder and Jaune mirroring the position. Jaune noticed (with some amusement) that Demitrios took up his position next to Pyrrha instead of Jaune, but chose to say nothing.

"Now... feel the music, and follow my lead."

Demitrios started with a slow sidestep to the right, and the two teenagers followed suit.

As he continued, to move, the old man called out the steps, "Left... right... aaaaaaand dip!" Demitrios lurched forward, hopping to his lead foot with surprising agility while Jaune and Pyrrha stumbled after him. They watched him swing his back leg forward into a kick before using it to step back and repeat.

"Kick... kick... sidestep." The trio continued at a slow pace. When Demitrios hesitated with the next step and instead began to slowly lean forward, Pyrrha and Jaune guessed that another hop was next and managed to jump in time with their mentor, earning them a laugh and a smile.

"Very good! Careful now. It's time to go faster!"

Indeed, the music's tempo picked up, putting to the test Jaune and Pyrrha's newfound knowledge of the dance steps. Demitrios hesitated less now, trusting his friends to keep up as the song progressed. His faith did not go unrewarded, and Demitrios's impressed laughter continued to echo throughout the cafe.

The room started to spin a little faster for Jaune as his ouzo-induced inebriation clashed with his ability focus on the dance. He offered a silent thanks to his sisters and their insistence that he learn how to dance when his willpower and training beat out his tipsy state, allowing Jaune to remain upright. After only a minute or two, the steps felt like second-nature. Between the lively music, Demitrios's cries of Opa! and Pyrrha's melodic laughter, Jaune wished the song could last forever. Sadly, the tempo of the Sirtaki began to wind down, and the dancers were reminded that all good things must come to a close.

Demitrios fell back into a chair, laughing and applauding while Jaune and Pyrrha traded grins.

"I have not laughed so much in a very long time." Demitrios said, grabbing a napkin off the table to gently mop his brow, "My daughter, Artemis..." He paused for a moment, as if trying to correct a mistake, "Diana... she found the love of her life in America, and the two of them happily live on the other side of the world." Jaune noticed a hint of melancholy in the old man's smile as he thought about his child, "I hold no grudge, of course. My daughter's happiness is my happiness. She comes to visit when she has the time, even bringing along my first grandson on her latest visit! But I miss the laughter and energy she brought to my home. These days, most of the people who come to eat with me are either too old, too busy, or too boring. There is no spark within their eyes."

His smile grew wide again, and he glanced from Pyrrha to Jaune, "But you... it is clear to me that you have Greek blood running through your veins, and the joy of life in your hearts. Thank you for indulging an old man and letting him feel young again." He reached for the bottle of ouzo and shook it enticingly before asking, "One more round, my friends?"

After a story like that, how could Jaune possibly say no?

The late evening found Jaune and Pyrrha stretched out on the sandy shoreline. The former was laid out across a towel, his arms resting comfortably under his head while the latter used her partner's stomach as a makeshift pillow. With the gentle sound of the waves lapping up against the shoreline, the two hunters turned their gaze up towards the heavens. Jaune pulled out one arm from behind his head and pointed to a patch in the sky, "Hey, I think I see you up there."

Pyrrha glanced at her partner, eyebrow raised, "Me?"

"Yeah, you. Look." He pointed again, and Pyrrha tried to follow where Jaune was indicating as he continued to speak, "Poised for combat, sword and shield at the ready, about to take on the bull charging in from the right."

"You have me mistaken for Orion, Jaune." Pyrrha commented with a laugh, "And I believe he's wielding a club and lion's head rather than a sword and shield, if memory serves."

Jaune shrugged, "An amazing Grecian warrior, deserving of immortalization amongst the stars? I dunno, Pyr, that sounds a lot like you."

He winced when Pyrrha reached over and punched him in the arm, "Do I need to repeat what I said to you when we talked on the balcony during the dance at Beacon?"

"Yeah, yeah... you don't like being the Girl on the Pedestal." Jaune commented, sticking his tongue out at Pyrrha, "Whether you like it or not, though, you mean the world to me. Not only did you literally save my life during initiation, but you've molded me into the warrior I am today. Maybe I never knew you when you were winning tournaments or getting your face plastered on cereal boxes, but I have seen you train tirelessly to help your partner and the way fight with unmatched ferocity to protect your friends. That's the hero I know, and it's the one that will forever be the brightest constellation in my sky."

Pyrrha hoped that the cover of darkness masked the heat she felt rising to her cheeks. For such an adorable goofball, her partner certainly had a way with words when it mattered, "You molded yourself, Jaune. I just... gave you a small push in the right direction."

"When you first started to train me, I could barely hold my sword the right way." Jaune countered, "You spent hours upon hours with me on that roof, teaching me everything you know about stance, positioning, and movement. Every morning, you'd get me up early enough for us to watch the sun crest the horizon during our daily run before breakfast. You've been there for each and every step I've taken on my path to becoming a huntsman worthy of my family name." Pyrrha looked at her partner and saw the sincerity of his words shining through his eyes as he continued, "I understand that you don't want me to sell myself short, but that's not going to stop me from recognizing your efforts during my journey, either."

"Our journey." Pyrrha corrected softly, "While it's true that I've done a lot to help you in the time that we've known each other, the same can just as easily be said about your efforts to help me."

Jaune looked down at Pyrrha and opened his mouth to deliver a retort, but his words became caught in his throat. He closed his mouth, opened it again, looked up at the sky, and back down at Pyrrha. The two locked eyes while a smile spread across the redhead's face as she saw the realization hit her partner. Jaune closed his eyes and dropped his head back onto the towel.

"I guess I have, haven't I?" He asked. When Pyrrha gave an affirmative hum, he added, "I think the only time I've ever come close to experiencing loneliness like yours is when I agreed to help Vahlen with the Aura research. I know it was self-inflicted isolation, but spending each day keeping that secret from the rest of you, it felt like I was building up an invisible barrier between us, brick by brick. Going through the day, pretending to be happy even though I knew what kind of... unpleasantness waited for me at night. I've never felt lonelier in my life." He looked down at Pyrrha's hands laced together over her stomach and moved to rest his on top of them, "I'm glad you don't feel alone anymore."

Though he didn't realize it (and certainly didn't mean it), Jaune's words sent the wheels in Pyrrha's head into overdrive. As he continued to gaze at the stars, his partner struggled with reconciling Jaune's comment and the secret she'd been keeping from him. Or rather, the one she thought she'd been keeping from him, if his earlier words in the cafe were any indication. She didn't know how long the dream would continue to plague her, but if she really did talk in her sleep... she knew Jaune, and she knew that he'd keep worrying about her until she did something about it. He didn't deserve that. After all they'd been through together, and especially after all the grief she gave him for the Aura Incident, he definitely didn't deserve that.

Pyrrha sighed, then began to speak in a voice barely loud enough to hear over the tide, "In my dream, I'm fighting a woman at the top of Ozpin's tower. I don't know who she is, I don't know why we're fighting, and I don't know where everyone else is, but it's just the two of us."

Jaune propped himself up on his elbows so that he could get a better look at his partner while she continued her story, "I've faced off against many amazing and talented individuals over the course of my career as a tournament fighter, but nobody has ever come close to matching the combat strength of this woman from my dream. In terms of technical skill, she's nothing special. I'm able to outmaneuver her on multiple occasions, scoring a hit here and there. But the raw power she possesses..." She sighed and shook her head, "We fight like rabid wolves, each of us seems to know that only one person is walking away from this alive. I use every tactic, every trick, every shred of training I know to defeat this woman..." She closed her eyes, "But it's not enough. She drains me of my Aura, cripples me with a shot to the heel, and I'm left on my knees, helpless and completely at her mercy."

With a sinking feeling, Jaune knew what was coming next, but didn't say anything, "As she nocks another arrow and draws back on the bowstring, I look up at her, and I ask-"

"Do you believe in Destiny." Jaune supplied quietly.

Pyrrha nodded, "I've never heard so much cruelty and malice put into a single word, but the way she said 'Yes'... it sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. She fires the arrow, and I can feel it pierce my chest and burn me from the inside out. I didn't even know that dreams can inflict actual pain, but... it felt so real."

"I know."

"You know?" She asked, looking at Jaune for the first time since she began, "What do you mean?"

"You... don't just talk in your sleep, Pyrrha." He sighed, "The first time I found out about this, you woke me up by hitting my arm while thrashing wildly in bed. I guess that's the part where you're battling this mysterious woman. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is when you cry out in pain before you wake up." Jaune answered.

Pyrrha stared at Jaune in wide-eyed horror, "No..."

"Yes." Jaune confirmed, "I tried to wrap my arms around you the first time, to... y'know... to comfort you or something. But you bolted for the bathroom and started one of your episodes. That's probably why you never knew that the dream woke me up: you always assumed it was your mad dash for the toilet that roused me." The two lay there in silence for a while, each trying to process what the other had said. Pyrrha marshaled her thoughts and spoke first.

"It just felt so real, Jaune." She repeated miserably, "And I felt so alone. Emotions in dreams can be difficult to interpret, but I always have this sense that I'm doing the right thing when I'm staring down this woman who holds my life in her hands. Like my Destiny was to spend my whole life working towards a singular goal, and my fight with her was the culmination of that path, regardless of whether I live or die when it's all over. I'm never able to remember her face when I wake up, but I have this sense that fighting her... dying by her hand... it's important. And yet, despite all of that-" Pyrrha paused, her voice caught in her throat, before she managed to finish her thought in a voice far smaller than the one Jaune was used to, "... I don't want to die alone."

"You won't." Jaune answered, confidence behind every word, "I don't know why you have this dream. I don't know if it holds any sort of special significance. Hell, I don't even know what I could do to help make the dream go away. But I do know one thing." He looked down at his partner, and her breath hitched for a moment at the steely determination set in his eyes, "The Pyrrha I know would never fight alone. Maybe that girl on the pedestal from six months ago would have, believing that fighting without backup was the best way to avoid even more bloodshed, to avoid getting her friends hurt, but not this one. The six months we spent at XCOM taught me one very important lesson: we work together so that we don't die apart.

"I don't know how well you fared against your Ethereal in the alien base assault," Jaune continued, "But mine almost killed me. It assaulted my mind with such overwhelming force, I couldn't imagine how anyone had the strength to stand up and push forward in the face of their power. I collapsed behind a wall and thought, 'This is it. This is where I die. All that training, all that confidence... insignificant compared to this monster's mental vortex.' "

His face, twisted into a scowl as he relived the memory, softened as he reached the next part of his story, "But then I felt a fire in my side, and I saw MacAuley crouching next to me with a stim pack jammed between my ribs. The two of us pushed forward, together, and we killed the damn thing. When it was all over, my only thought was that I would've been dead if it wasn't for Mac. The timid Engineer who never once believed his efforts on the battlefield could ever hold a candle to the likes of Ruby, Zhang, you, or even me. He, of all people, saved my life, and it helped me realize that anyone can make a difference when they're part of a team."

Jaune sat up, faced Pyrrha, and pulled her hands into his, "So I know for a fact you won't die alone, Pyrrha. Because no matter what else happens, no matter who else we might work with or stand against, you and I are a team. I'll always be at your side, ready to face whatever odds life decides to throw our way. Because I believe in Destiny too." The two of them locked eyes, and Jaune leaned forward until their foreheads gently connected, "And my Destiny is to always be with you."

As their lips touched, a single tear rolled down Pyrrha's cheek. Once more, Jaune was proving to her that she made the right choice when she pinned him to a tree and claimed him as her partner during initiation. She loved this man, and as they embraced each other under the starlit sky, she knew that nothing would ever change that.