Coming Back
Pyrrha strode confidently towards the Bullhead airship that would bear her and the rest of her team to it's latest mission. A group of settlers had decided to try their luck outside of the walls of Vale, but they had run into problems with the Grimm almost immediately. The warriors those settlers had taken with them simply weren't up to the task, and the settlement sent word to Beacon, asking for a huntsman to clear them out. Ozpin, in his infinite wisdom, decided to send students instead, as a 'training opportunity.'
Pyrrha was equal parts anxious and primed. It was her team's first solo, real-world mission. True, it wasn't anything more than a simple Grimm extermination, but that wasn't the point. This airship was going to take them on a real mission to save real people from a real threat. It was all very exciting.
Her girlfriend, however, had not taken the news quite so well.
"Pyrrha! Pyrrha!" called Ruby, running to Pyrrha at top non-semblance speed.
Pyrrha sighed. Ruby could be so annoying sometimes, but she was always equally endearing, so it all balanced out in the end. She turned to face her girlfriend and was met with an extremely worried face. The rest of her team stopped and turned as well. Ruby caught up to them
"Ruby," she said sternly, "You promised me you wouldn't make a scene."
Ruby looked at the ground, shamed, and started to fidget uncertainly. "I know, I'm really sorry. I just got a really bad feeling all of a sudden. Like I wasn't going to see you again." Ruby looked back up at Pyrrha, radiating anxiety and doubt. She reached out and took Pyrrha's hand, squeezing it.
Pyrrha was at a lost for words, so she simply said, "Ruby?" in an inquisitive voice.
"You'll come back, right?" asked Ruby urgently,
Pyrrha signaled to her team to carry on to the Bullhead.
"C'mon guys," said Jaune, "Let's give Pyrrha a minute to say good bye."
Team JNR turns back around and continued to the airship, chatting amongst themselves. Pyrrha turned her attention to the little ball of worry before her.
Pyrrha took a knee to get on the same eye-level as her scared girlfriend. She looked into Ruby's silver eyes for a moment. The sheer magnitude of worry and fear that Ruby radiated was deeply touching. She cared so much. Pyrrha had never met someone who loved so deeply and completely. I was exactly what Pyrrha had come to Beacon to find. Love, and true friendship. Ruby embodied both. She tenderly pulled Ruby into a hug. Sometimes it seems Pyrrha was as much a surrogate mom as a significant other. But, if it meant she got to feel the full magnitude of Ruby's consider love, she could deal with that.
"Of course I'm coming back," she whispered.
"You p-promise?" said Ruby quietly, her voice catching. Pyrrha felt a tear land on her bare shoulder. It was heartwrenching.
"I promise, Little One," she said, using the pet name.
"Okay, Big One. When are you c-coming back?"
"The mission is for one week," Big One answered, "You can survive that long. Be strong."
"O-Okay."
"No, Little One, you need to say it."
"I..." Little One took a deep breath to steady herself, then pulled out of the hug and looked Big One in the eye. Little One set her face into a stoic stare. "I'll be strong."
With that, Big One stood back up, turned around, and moved swiftly to the waiting airship. She climbed aboard and, as the hatch started to close, she turned around and waved at Little One.
Little One waved back. Be strong, she thought to herself, Be strong.