It was unusual for Jaune to get up early on a Sunday. Yet Pyrrha watched him through lidded eyes as he stealthily climbed out of bed. He pulled on his school uniform, and snuck out carefully and quietly. Nora's snoring and death grip on the still-sleeping Ren ensured neither of them would awake to go after him.
It wasn't until Pyrrha had pulled on some street clothes and started after him that she even questioned why she was following Jaune.
Yes, she did... Care for him. Very deeply. This though was bordering on stalking.
It isn't stalking! She argued with herself, using her prodigious skills in evasion to keep up with Jaune while he was none the wiser, He's just sneaking off early in the morning and I have no idea why!
He'd done it the last two weeks as well. She hadn't confronted him or even talked about it... Yet here she was following him
Geez... I-I really am sad, Pyrrha thought to herself. Jaune exited Beacon and headed to the main courtyard. She peered around the door at him as he approached a... A feminine figure.
She was dressed in simple white and red robes, yet it was... Familiar. She was familiar, in a way Pyrrha wasn't quite sure-
The girl turned... And Pyrrha's jaw dropped.
Arslan Atlan?!
Her self-declared rival from Sanctum was-was meeting Jaune in secret?! In robes?! What was going on?!
They smiled and laughed together at something Pyrrha couldn't make out. Jaune turned to head for the main gate, but Arslan stopped him. With a warm smile, she held up a necklace and fixed it around Jaune's neck. He blushed, but accepted it with an equally warm smile.
WHAT?! THEY'RE EXCHANGING JEWELRY?! Pyrrha thought frantically, her heart sinking. Did... Did my rival...?!
Her eyes narrowed as red hot rage burned through her veins. Arslan could never defeat Pyrrha-Polarity let her sense the iron in her blood and weapons, and allowed her to evade the lioness Faunus with ease. She was the closest thing to a challenge Pyrrha had ever faced, to be honest, and fighting her had greatly improved her skills. She could almost sense Arslan's... Respect? Maybe?
Now though... A seething contempt boiled inside Pyrrha as she glared at Arslan. Jaune getting shot down by Weiss hurt a little, but the fact the heiress seemed to have no interest in Jaune prevented Pyrrha from getting too angry with her.
Arslan though... She was smiling at Jaune. They were clearly at ease! How long had this been going on?!
They walked through Beacon's main gates, intent on the Bullhead port. Pyrrha followed.
- - -
It wasn't easy to evade Faunus hearing and smell. Pyrrha knew this. Clinging to the outside of the Bullhead may have been overkill, but it was the only way to continue her pursuit. She leaped off just before the Bullhead arrived in Vale proper, and climbed down to near the main entrance to wait. She pulled up the collars of her jacket, pushed down her baseball cap, and adjusted her sunglasses. She tried to appear utterly nonchalant as Jaune and Arslan walked out of the port, and went to a bus.
She continued her pursuit, leaping to the top of the bus and lying flat. It was a long, boring journey.
When her quarry finally got off the bus, it was outside of a small but beautiful stone church in Midtown Vale. Arslan and Jaune walked together, holding hands. Pyrrha seethed, but kept her outward cool through long practice as she leaped off the bus, landed, and followed them.
They walked into the sanctuary, happily accepting a paper bulletin from the usher up front. Pyrrha frowned and followed. It was risky getting this close, but... But...
She was in so deep, she couldn't back out now!
The two headed into the sanctuary. The stained glass windows above and ahead were gorgeous, Pyrrha could admit. Each showed scenes or people she wasn't really familiar with. A horse and a boy. A wicked looking queen all in white. A noble looking lion.
At the front of the cathedral was a stone table, but broken right in the middle.
Her eyes drifted to Arslan and Jaune. Arslan's eyes met her. The lioness Faunus's eyes widened, and then narrowed angrily. Pyrrha flushed, but managed a glare back.
Jaune looked where Arslan was looking, and then grinned. He waved.
"Hey Pyrrha! Come on over!"
Pyrrha flushed. She bowed her head, feeling incredibly foolish. She walked over to them and faced them as best she could. She glanced up to see Arslan's scowl, and Jaune's welcoming smile.
"I uh... I didn't know you were also a follower of the Broken Table," Pyrrha managed.
Jaune beamed happily.
"Oh yeah! My dad was raised by a Paladin-Monk of the Church, so I joined it when I got old enough. Arslan's a Warrior-Nun!"
He held up his necklace-The sigil on it resembled the broken table at the head of the church.
"I heard of his father, and his mighty deeds," Arslan said with a nod, "Slaying the Grimm and protecting the innocent. I wanted to know more, and upon learning he had lapsed a bit in his faith, I offered to go with him."
Jaune flushed.
"Yeah, I uh... I kind of slacked off on going to the Church after a while," he said, "But Arslan said that I shouldn't. We are protecting the light of life and all."
He smiled at her.
"You wanna join us?"
Pyrrha, deeply embarrassed, nodded slowly.
"S-Sure!"
Jaune scooted over just enough to let Pyrrha sit between him and Arslan. Jaune then grimaced.
"I need to get to the bathroom," he winced, "I'll be right back!"
He headed off quickly. Arslan smirked a little at Pyrrha.
"Something wrong, Nikos?" She asked.
Pyrrha glared at her.
"Yes," she growled, far more irritated than she intended.
Arslan blinked at her in confusion.
"What? What am I doing?"
Pyrrha flushed.
"You... You gave Jaune jewelry-!"
"He lost his mensa, I had a spare," Arslan said airily, "I'm glad to have someone to go to service with."
The non-chalance, the arrogance in her tone... She had hoped to be friends with Arslan, but duel after duel, fight after fight...
"But you... He...!" She glared. "Is-Is this your idea of-of defeating me at last?! You couldn't beat me in the ring, so you-!"
"So I what?" Arslan demanded. "What do you think I'm trying to do?!"
"Hey... Uh..."
Both girls looked over at Jaune. He coughed awkwardly.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
"J-Just fine, Jaune!" Pyrrha said quickly, plastering her fakest smile on her face. Arslan sighed in frustration, and bowed her head.
"Jaune, can you please tell Pyrrha about the Code of Rivalry by Peter the Magnificent?"
Jaune blinked quizzically.
"Oh... Um. Sure. Rivals in the Sect of Peter help each other become stronger. They see each other as equals and push one another to ever greater heights. They challenge each other and never let up. It is one of the forms of friendship Saint Reepicheep wrote about."
Pyrrha's jaw slowly dropped Memories of a hundred spars with Arslan flashed through her mind. Looks of anger, regret, and frustration from the lioness that Pyrrha had thought were signs of hatred...
She stared at Arslan. The lioness Faunus blushed, and tried to hide her face in her hood.
"I..."
"That... That is all I ever wanted, Nikos," Arslan murmured. "I'm sorry... I-I should have told you..."
Shame filled every inch of Pyrrha's body. She bowed her head, and rose.
"I-I've got to-"
She felt Jaune and Arslan's hands rest on her forearms. She looked at Arslan in confusion. The Warrior-Nun looked ahead, blushing deeply. She looked to Jaune, not quite able to meet her eyes.
"What is it?" Jaune asked.
"I..." Pyrrha sighed. "I'm... I'm sorry. I've made a huge mistake, and... And I don't know-"
Jaune then pulled her into a hug. It made Pyrrha squeak.
"Hey," Jaune chuckled, smiling at her gently, "If my faith has taught me anything? It's that... As long as you strive for forgiveness? There's nothing that can't be overcome. Especially when you have friends alongside."
Pyrrha glanced at Arslan. The lioness Faunus managed to look at her, embarrassed but... Hopeful.
"I..."
"I-I mean," Jaune said quickly, holding his hands up and waving them, "Y-You don't have to! N-Not trying to convert you! Or-Or anything! I know Argusians have very different religious rites and all, but uh... It-It would be nice."
Pyrrha flushed... Then slowly nodded.
"I... I wouldn't mind... If you don't?"
Jaune beamed, and slid back into the pew. He sat down, and scooted over to leave a space between himself and Arslan. He patted the bench. With a nervous smile, Pyrrha sat between them as the priest called the congregation to order.
"I'm sorry," Pyrrha murmured to Arslan. Arslan shook her head.
"Don't be... Besides..." She grinned with her sharp teeth, "You're not entirely wrong about my intentions with Jaune."
Pyrrha gaped at her in shock. Her rage began to build. Arslan smiled softly.
"But I am willing to fight fairly, if you are?"
Pyrrha blinked a few times. She then slowly nodded, and smiled.
"I... I would like that."
- - -
Again, not trying to preach. But Arslan being a warrior-nun of a Narnia-based take on Christianity in Remnant was too good an idea not to use.
Thanks @Sift Green !
"Mensa" is Latin for "Table" and would take the place of the crucifix in this world.
Besides, the Brother Gods are assholes. I can't be the only one who would like to see Lion-Jesus appear and kick their asses.