Chapter Text
Shifting Dynamics
Over the next week, Pyrrha found herself paying closer attention to the interactions between Jaune and Team RWBY. What she discovered made her blood run cold.
It started during their joint training session on Tuesday. Yang, who had always been somewhat careless with Jaune during sparring—treating him more like a sturdy training dummy than a partner—was suddenly... different.
"Nice block!" Yang called out as Jaune successfully deflected one of her punches, her voice warm with genuine praise. "Your form's really improved."
The compliment was delivered with a bright smile that lingered longer than necessary. When Jaune grinned back, slightly out of breath but pleased, Yang's cheeks flushed pink in a way that had nothing to do with exertion. She was practically glowing as she looked at him.
Pyrrha's grip tightened on Miló. Where was this appreciation six months ago when he was struggling with basic combat techniques?
The pattern continued during their study session on Wednesday. Blake, who had previously been polite but distant with Jaune, was now actively seeking him out for conversation.
"I brought you something," Blake said, approaching their table with a small smile and placing a book beside Jaune's notes. "I thought you might enjoy this one—it has some of the themes we discussed last week."
"Really? Thanks, Blake!" Jaune's face lit up with genuine pleasure. "I was actually hoping you'd have more recommendations."
"I have plenty more where that came from," Blake replied, settling into the chair across from him with obvious satisfaction at his reaction.
Pyrrha watched the exchange with growing irritation. Blake was being... flirtatious. The subtle way she leaned forward when Jaune spoke, how her usual guarded posture completely relaxed in his presence, the pleased little smile when he showed interest in her book suggestions. It was textbook romantic interest.
And where was this when he was asking everyone for help with his studies? When he was struggling and needed encouragement?
But it was Thursday's interaction with Weiss that pushed Pyrrha's patience to its breaking point.
"Jaune," Weiss said after Professor Oobleck's lecture, approaching him with uncharacteristic nervousness. "I was wondering if you might want to study together for the upcoming exam? I could help you with Dust theory, and you seem to have a much better grasp on the historical timelines than I do."
Jaune blinked in surprise. "You... want to study with me?"
"Yes," Weiss said, and there was something almost shy in her expression that Pyrrha had never seen before. "I think we could help each other."
"That would be great," Jaune replied with enthusiasm. "I always struggle with the Dust applications."
"Wonderful. Perhaps we could meet in the library after dinner?" Weiss's smile was soft, genuine, nothing like the cool politeness she'd shown him for over a year.
As Weiss walked away with a spring in her step, Pyrrha felt something dark and possessive unfurl in her chest. The same Weiss Schnee who had rejected Jaune coldly, who had made him feel foolish for even trying, who had contributed to his current broken confidence—that Weiss was now suddenly interested?
She had her chance, Pyrrha thought, her hands clenching into fists. She had months of chances and she threw them all away. She doesn't get to waltz back in now that others have done the work of building him up.
During lunch on Friday, the pattern became impossible to ignore. Yang kept finding excuses to touch Jaune's arm when she talked to him. Blake had started bringing him books with increasingly personal inscriptions. Weiss was asking his opinion on everything from class discussions to weekend plans, hanging on his every word like it was pure gold.
All three of them were circling around Jaune like vultures, suddenly seeing his worth now that he was wounded and vulnerable. And Jaune, bless his oblivious heart, was just grateful for their attention, probably attributing their sudden interest to friendship rather than romance.
The realization hit Pyrrha like a physical blow: they were going to try to take him from her.
After over a year of patience, of supporting him through every rejection, of being there when no one else cared, of waiting for him to see her the way she saw him—now, when he was at his lowest point, when his confidence was shattered, when he needed her most—now they decided he was worth their attention?
No.
The thought was fierce, possessive, and completely unlike her usual composed demeanor. But Pyrrha found she didn't care about composure right now.
She had been there through everything. She had watched him fail and helped him improve. She had supported his hopeless crushes and comforted him through rejections. She had seen his worth from day one, had fallen for his kindness and determination and genuine heart when he was still the awkward boy who threw up on Yang's shoes.
She wasn't going to let them sweep in now and claim the credit for discovering what she'd known all along.
"Everything alright?" Ren asked quietly, having noticed the way her fork was bending slightly in her grip.
"Fine," Pyrrha said, carefully setting down her utensil and forcing her expression back to neutral calm. "Just thinking about training schedules."
But even as she deflected his concern, her mind was racing. She couldn't confess her feelings—not yet, not when Jaune might interpret it as pity. But she also couldn't just sit back and watch Team RWBY suddenly decide he was worthy of their romantic attention after dismissing him for so long.
Especially not Weiss. The heiress who had rejected him, who had made him feel small and unwanted, who had contributed to the pattern of rejections that left him convinced he wasn't worthy of love. She didn't deserve to benefit from Jaune's growth, didn't deserve to suddenly find him attractive now that others had done the hard work of helping him become confident.
She had been patient, understanding, supportive through everything. She had earned her place in his life through over a year of genuine care and friendship. She wasn't going to lose that to girls who had suddenly realized his worth only after he'd been broken down.
If it were Ruby showing interest, Pyrrha thought she could accept that. Ruby had been Jaune's friend from the very beginning, had always treated him with kindness and respect, had never made him feel small or unwanted. Ruby had earned the right to Jaune's affections through consistent friendship and genuine care.
But Yang? Blake? And especially Weiss? They were newcomers to appreciating Jaune Arc, and Pyrrha had no intention of stepping aside for them.
She might not be able to confess her feelings yet, but she could certainly make sure she remained his closest confidant, his most trusted friend, the person he turned to when he needed support. She had waited this long and built something real with him.
She would not lose to them. Not when she had loved him first, and longest, and truest.