Yay! New story, Modern AU and a bit more expansive than my other stories, and reviews are always appreciated. Even if it is just petting my ego, it does help me write more often because I do like encouragement. But if you do review it and actually give me advice I appreciate it because I really do enjoy learning more about the craft I want to make my living out of. So thank you for everyone who reviews and all those who favorite it, you truly do help me write!
So a few things about this story: This is a modern AU so the songs I'm using are real life songs, I'll mention if they're writing original pieces. If you have any questions or suggestions go right ahead, I'll answer when I can!
Thanks for reading!
Foster Sun
Setlist:
Black Box by This Beautiful Republic
Untraveled Road by Thousand Foot Krutch
War of Change by Thousand Foot Krutch
Blake sat happily sipping on her full cup of tea. The cafeteria had just started to get really busy as lunch went into full swing and she enjoyed the time she had with her book while it lasted.
"Are you reading the same book again?" Weiss asked. Blake peered over the top of her book as the heiress sat with her sandwich across from her.
"And if I am?"
"At least buy a new copy, because that one looks like it will fall apart at any minute."
"Tell you what, you give me the money and I'll go buy the other copy."
"Sad part is that offer is tempting me." They both shared a laugh and resumed their lunches. "So how was your winter break?"
"It went well, all things considered. There was peace, quiet, new books, and lots of quiet snowy evenings."
"So you were alone again?" Weiss asked shaking her head.
"Yes," Blake said after another sip. "But though I was alone, it was still good. How about you, heiress?"
"Well my dad was the same he always is, focused on work and social events, but my older sister surprised us all."
"That's great!" Blake said. "How long has it been since you saw Winter?"
"Before the last few days it was almost two years." They enjoyed their lunch in silence for a few more moments. "By the way, did you get Ruby's text?"
"No, my phone's been off for a while, why?"
"She said she got a great gift, and that will affect us all," Weiss said as she scrolled through her phone trying to find it.
"As long as it's not another dog, I'm okay with whatever it is."
"I don't know, Ruby's never really vague about anything but she refused to tell me anything else. It's driving me up the wall."
"Perhaps that's why she's doing it?"
"Undoubtedly," she sighed. "They aren't usually this late. I wonder what's going on?"
"I'm sure it's nothing bad," Blake said as she turned the page. Blake peered over just as someone new walked up to the table.
"Um which one of you is Weiss?" he asked quietly.
"That would be me, who are you?"
"I was told to give this to you, I don't know why but here," he handed her something wrapped in a napkin. Weiss took it carefully and unwrapped a dog treat. Weiss' face steamed red and she snarled at the gift.
"Did Ruby tell you to give this to me?!" she asked angrily, Blake couldn't help but laugh a bit. "It was one time! And it was a year ago!"
"Actually I told him to give it to you Ice Queen," Yang said through her boisterous laughs as she turned the corner. "I couldn't resist it! But thanks for playing along, bro!"
Ruby came by with her meal just as Jaune and Pyrrha did too.
"What's going on?" Ruby asked, she looked down at the dog treat in Weiss' hands and couldn't help but giggle.
"Ruby I swear! And who is this?!" Weiss asked angrily, pointing back to the new man.
"This is our brother, Sun!" Ruby said happily.
Everyone at the table collectively looked over at the new man even as he moved his head down and tried to move away. But Yang stopped him in a shoulder hug and sat him down right next to Blake. He sighed and just kept looking down. He wore a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a couple buttons undone to show the beaded necklace he wore. His blue jeans were rolled up a few rolls and his red converse had seen better days. All in all he looked like he just rolled out of bed, right down to the shaggy blonde hair. Blake's eyes were immediately drawn to the long golden tail he had that curled around his waist acting as a belt. He wasn't exactly hiding his Faunus traits but they weren't plain for everyone to see either.
"I can't help but feel like we're missing some context here," Pyrrha said finally.
"He was our Christmas present, he's our new foster brother," Yang explained. Sun half-heartedly waved as he scanned over the others.
"Yep!" Ruby said happily. "He's really nice and he plays guitar!"
"So do we call you Sun Rose or Sun Xiao Long?" Jaune asked with a smirk.
"You'll actually call him Sun Wukong, cause that's his name," Yang said sternly. It caught them off guard how serious she was about him. "But c'mon Sun talk a little, these guys are cool!"
Sun just nodded and waved again.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Sun," Pyrrha said. Sun nodded again.
"That definitely explains your vague texts, Ruby," Weiss concluded.
"Well I didn't want to say anything in case it didn't work out, but it did! So I'm really happy!"
They all continued to eat, passing small talk back and forth. Yang tried to get Sun into the conversation a few times but he just sat back and listened.
"So Sun what's your next class?" Yang asked.
"Statistics, room 105C," he said.
"Cool, I think Blake has that class don't ya?"
"No but I'm right next to it, I can show you if you need," Blake offered.
"Thanks."
"Welp, then I guess I'll see ya at the truck! Have fun bro!"
Sun nodded again and grabbed his back pack before following Blake.
"So how're you settling in?" Blake asked.
"I'm getting there," he said.
"That's good, I'm glad you're with Ruby and Yang, they've been really good friends for me."
"I bet."
They walked in silence for a bit longer.
"So why do you wear your tail like that?" she asked.
"Oh, cause I used to watch Dragon Ball Z, so I started it when I was younger and-. That sounded cooler in my head," he said.
"No I get it, that's cool."
"Thanks."
"Well here's your class, have fun."
"I'll try," he said as he left.
XXX
"He's trying," Yang told her father.
"That's good, has he made any friends of his own? It's been a couple of weeks."
"Not that I've met, but he's really opened up to our friends. He even told a story today!" Ruby said happily.
"Good, that's good hear. I take it he's doing well here too?"
"Yep, he's upstairs doing homework now."
"That's good, well I need to get to work, but it's good to hear he's doing so well. You two have a good night, and be nice to your brother. I'll see you in the morning sweetie."
"Have a good night Dad!" Ruby called out. The two sat on the couch for a moment longer enjoying their shows.
"Hey, I'll get started on dinner, why don't you grab Sun and we'll eat soon."
"Okay." Ruby skipped away and down the hall towards Sun's room. "Hey, Sun? We're gonna eat soon, ya hungry?" Ruby could hear faint music coming from the other side but nothing else. "Sun?" She knocked again. "You in there?" She slowly opened the door but he wasn't in the room. "Sun?"
"What's taking so long, Rubes?"
"Sun's not in his room!" Ruby called out. "Is he out there?"
"No, I haven't seen him," Yang called back. Ruby ran to the open window and saw Sun on his bike riding towards the downtown area.
"He's on his bike!" Ruby yelled.
"Wait, what?" Yang ran in and looked just as Sun turned his bike onto the road.
"Where's he going?" Ruby asked.
"I don't know. Come on we're following him. Call Blake and Weiss, they live down there maybe they can find him."
XXX
Blake sat in her room trying not to listen to the noise of Adam's meeting; he wanted her to have plausible deniability, whatever that meant so she wasn't allowed to listen. She would have left hours ago but she had nowhere to go, and she didn't feel like wandering the city alone again. So she kept reading her book until her phone chirped off a message.
"Sun snuck out and went downtown towards you, can you see if you can find him? Yang and I tried to follow but we lost him –Red like Roses."
Blake blinked a few times before she typed out her quick response and gathered her coat and shoes. She ran out of the door quickly but he stopped her.
"Where are you going?" he asked. The malice in his voice was easy to hear.
"To check on a friend," she answered.
"Don't be out late."
She nodded and ran out, the cigar smoke in the room was overbearing. She remembered why she hated these meetings now. She ran down to her car just as Sun rode by and chained his bike up in a gas station parking lot. He unhooked his guitar case from the back of the bike and began walking towards someplace she knew well.
XXX
"I got him, he's going toward a bar by the 7-11, he went in a few minutes ago-Beauty killed the Beast."
"Wait the one by your place?-Mirror, Mirror."
"Yeah, he's here-Beauty killed the Beast."
"We're on our way-Red like Roses."
"He's at the bar down by Blake's place," Ruby said. Yang threw her truck in gear and sped down towards the bar, far faster than Ruby was comfortable with. Yang saw the beat up silver sedan and the brand-new white Mercedes that signaled their two friends.
"You're sure he's here?" Yang asked.
"I saw him walk in there, plus his bike's still here."
"What's he doing here?" Weiss asked. "This place is a dump."
"Isn't this the place Uncle Qrow hangs out at?"
"Yep," Yang answered with a smirk. "But what's he doing here, and this late at night?"
They walked to the door and tried to peek in but there was nothing.
"Can I help you?" the doorman asked, jarring them out of their focused state.
"We're with Sun; we were just running a bit late," Yang lied.
"Oh, yeah go on in," he said. The girls tried to quietly make their way in to where Sun would be. It was easy with the blaring music in the bar.
"I know it's a tragedy/That sometime people can lose their wings/Now we're crashing down/What will they see/When there's nothing left who are we?"
"Who's singing that?"
"I'll check," Ruby said as she moved forward, she peeked her head around the corner and her eyes went wide as she saw Sun standing on the stage guitar in hand shredding his way to the end of the song. The other people on the stage all seemed about the same age as him and all had an instrument.
"What's going on up there?" Weiss asked.
"Guys, Sun's in a band!" Ruby whispered happily.
"Say what?" Yang asked. Ruby took the lead and led them to a hidden part of the bar where they could watch without Sun seeing them.
"Well that went well," the front man said. He messed with a few knobs on his bass as the guitarists kept tuning. "I really like that song."
"Same, I'm all for it," the drummer chimed in with his accent. Ruby pinned it as British.
"Great then we're all agreed?" the other guitarist asked.
"Yep, so we add 'Black Box' to our list, did you guys write anything original like I asked?" Sun asked.
"I tried but there's a reason I'm back here," the drummer said.
"You've got writing talent David you just need to-."
"Oi, while I'm on the kit my name is Scarlet! If we can call him Neptune and him Sage you can call me Scarlet."
"But my middle name is actually Sage, and you complained when you had to call me Ulysses, which is my first name," the second guitarist said.
"Then what about Neptune?"
"Sadly that is actually my name, my mother was into the whole non-traditional names," he admitted playing with his bass knobs a bit more.
"Then you guys can call me Scarlet,"
"Whatever Scarlet," Neptune said with an exaggerated voice.
"Look I have to do some adjusting on my pedal board, you guys talk amongst yourselves," Sun said digging through his case.
"Hey dude, did you check out the new KI update?" Sage asked.
"Yes I did," Scarlet said happily.
"And?"
"Everyone's getting nerfs and buffs in Season 3, Maya got reworked, as did Spinal,"
"I figured that, but more importantly did Aganos get anything?"
"Oh yeah, he can get rocks faster now, he can make bats easier and the time between bats in his instinct got reduced. He's much better now."
"NO!" Sage shouted. "That'll make fighting her suck even more now."
"Fighting who?"
"This one girl on Killer ranked her name's 'Red Like Roses', she's kicked my butt every single time with Aganos and pretty badly! She consecutively destroys me."
"Ouch," Scarlet said with a laugh.
"Dude you laughed but she stuffed my Hisako and my Fulgore, and that's just wrong!"
"How?"
"She's just that good! She actually shadow countered me through three walls and I died. I had 75% health left! I'm scared for Season 3 now," Sage said.
"I swear I'm going to have to learn this game just to understand you two," Neptune said with a smirk. "Or you know you two could wait to talk about it?"
"Alright fine, we'll talk about your dating life cause that's always fun and short-lived," Scarlet said shifting his throne over toward Neptune. "So what about it Neptune? Got any special lasses in yer eye?"
"Actually yes," Neptune said happily.
"Wait what?" Sage asked. He and Scarlet went wide eyed. "Well who is she?"
"I have no idea, I just see her at school sometimes."
"Well what's she look like, I might know her," Scarlet asked. Neptune shook his head.
"It's no big deal, besides I don't even know if I'm ready yet,"
"Can we get back on task? I don't have much time this week, I rode my bike here remember?" Sun asked.
"Yeah speaking of, how's the new family? Better than the last one?" Sage asked.
"From what I heard anything would be better than the last one, but how are they?" Neptune said.
Sun took off his guitar and sat on his amp with a sigh. "They're amazing," he said with a simple smile. "Taiyang has done everything in his power to make me feel at home, and it works. Plus Ruby and Yang, there was no awkward step-brother thing it was just immediate. I was part of the family as soon as I stepped through the door. Yang actually laughs at my jokes."
"Well there's a difference between humor and giving mercy,"
"Yeah screw you too, Neptune. And Ruby is this little bundle of energy; it feels like I actually have a little sister, it's great."
"That's awesome, so you told them about us?" Scarlet asked.
"As much as I would like to, I don't really want to open that can of worms yet, so let's just do one more song before I leave."
"Alright which one?"
"I'm thinking either 'Casting Off,' or 'Untraveled road' since we know those well enough."
"I'm always down for some TFK!" Scarlet said happily.
"Well then start us off, Sun!" Neptune said.
Sun started out with a riff on his guitar as Scarlet and Sage started clapping to keep tempo.
"Hold on for a second/If words could be weapons/Then what I say can affect it/They're not just words they're a record/And I could choose to respect it/ or choose to infect it/ But once it hits the water/It's too late to be selective."
Ruby and the others watched as they kept playing through the song each of them putting everything into their playing. Blake was amazed at Sun's skill, he was breezing the song, but having fun with it.
"When we scream/Our lips don't make a sound/We march with feet on solid ground/We walk/Where no one wants to go/On this untraveled road!" They ended the song with a bang and proceeded to jump around excitedly.
"Oh that was awesome!" Scarlet shouted.
"Yeah but I guess the only question left is how did you guys like it?"
"Well you know me," Sun started as he took his guitar off. "I like any practice that goes smoothly."
"Good to know but I was asking those young ladies in the corner," Neptune corrected.
Sun looked over just as Yang stood up clapping.
"WOO! Encore!" Yang shouted with a giant smile on her face.
Sun's face paled and he grew a horrified expression. Ruby soon joined her in chanting "Encore".
"Hey look at that boys, we've got fans!" Scarlet said happily.
"What's your guys' names?" Sage asked.
"I'm Yang, that's my little sister Ruby, and these are our friends: Blake and Weiss."
"Wait, weren't those your sister's names?" Neptune asked. Sun just nodded still stuck in his horrified expression. The band suddenly got a defeated look on their face.
"Oh, bollocks," Scarlet muttered.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked.
"Sorry Sun, I didn't know who they were," Neptune said. He jerked his bass off and moved down off the stage quickly running towards the girls. "Look can we talk to you guys for a minute?"
"Sure," Yang said happily.
Soon all of them were standing on stage, the four boys were much more nervous than the girls.
"Look, Sun needs to stay here, he needs this," Neptune started. "I've been friends with Sun since we were six; I've seen what he's gone through. He needs this."
"Neptune, I can defend myself," Sun said angrily.
"Look what happened last time. I didn't hear from you for a month!"
"You fought for us mate," Scarlet said. "Let us fight for you."
"I'm not ready to give this up," Sage told him.
"Don't put yourself through this again! Let us help you," Neptune pleaded.
"Can you guys play that song again, cause that was awesome!" Ruby asked.
The four turned their heads back to the girls.
"Come again?" Scarlet asked.
"That was amazing!" Yang said. "I'm still waiting for my encore!"
The band shared a look of confusion.
"R-really?" Neptune asked.
"Yeah, you guys sounded great, especially for a high school band," Blake said.
"Why are you so nervous about us knowing about you, shouldn't bands want exposure?" Weiss asked.
"We're not really in this for fame or nothing," Scarlet said. "For us this is an escape from our every day lives. And considering what Sun gave up for us, we can't stay away."
"What happened?" Blake asked.
"That's up to him to say," Neptune said. "All we can tell you guys for sure is that Sun needs this."
"I'll tell them," Sun said.
"You don't have to, dude."
"Yeah I do, I owe them that at least."
"I already know," Yang said. Sun jerked his head up to see Yang smiling. "Our dad told us everything. Now come on, let's get the encore started!" Yang literally shoved Sun towards his guitar and took her seat on the front row. The others joined her and left the band on the stage.
"Alright what song do we do?" Neptune asked, still shocked at what had happened.
"We could do War of Change," Scarlet suggested.
"Yeah, that one's our best!" Sage agreed.
"Alright, start us off Sun," Neptune said. Sun nodded and clicked in his delay pedal while he played the rhythm.
"It's a truth in love and war/Worlds collide and hearts get broken/I wanna live like I know I'm dying/Take up my cross/Not be afraid/Is it true what they say/The words and the weapons/And if it is/Then everybody best start stepping/Cause I got change in my pocket/That'll bend your locket/I'm tired of all these rockets saying/Come with me."
The others let them play through three more songs before they started tearing down.
"So how long have you guys been doing this?" Blake asked.
"Since middle school, we've been friends since elementary school though," Neptune said. "We started really playing when we hit 8th grade."
"Impressive, you guys are very good for high school kids. You could really go big," Weiss suggested.
"That's not really the goal for us though; this for us is just an escape. I mean if we did get big I wouldn't complain but this is just for fun." Neptune slid over towards Weiss and grew a big goofy smile. "I'm Neptune by the way," he said as he stuck his hand out to Weiss. "And your name is?"
"Out of your league," she said coldly.
"Ouch, point taken, I'll be over here."
"Can we have you come do that like every week, just to help keep his ego under control?" Sage asked. They shared a laugh and continued to tear down.
"You said your name was Yang right?" Scarlet asked suddenly.
"Yeah why?" Yang asked.
"Cause the little one's been staring at me for like ten minutes and she hasn't said anything yet." They turned and Ruby was studying Scarlet and the drums.
"Rubes," Yang called out. Ruby snapped out of her daze and jerked her head around for a minute. "Ask your question."
"Oh yeah," she turned back to Scarlet excitedly. "Can you teach me drums?!" she asked.
Scarlet blinked a few times in shock. "What?"
"Well I know a few things but I really want to learn to play, but I can't when I'm in Band cause they already have a drummer but if you could teach me then I might actually get to play. And you actually know how to play, not just like me but you really play!"
"Ruby, breathe!" Yang said.
Ruby took a few deep breaths and looked back at Scarlet. "Please?"
"Well I mean I could, but I don't know the freshman class schedule," Scarlet said.
"Huh?" Ruby asked. "I'm not a freshman."
"No way," Scarlet said shaking his head. "You're a bit young to be a sophomore."
"I'm not a sophomore either."
"Dude she's a junior, she's in my AP Calc class," Neptune said.
"Shite she's like 15!"
"She got sent ahead two grades. So she skipped freshman and sophomore year," Yang explained.
"Dog's bollocks," Scarlet said. "Well yeah I'll try, but I taught myself."
"Anything you can teach me is perfect! I just need to learn!"
"Well take the kit kid; show me what you can do."
Ruby sat down and stared excitedly at the drums for a moment before grabbing Scarlet's sticks. Ruby counted off four beats with the high hat then started a breakdown that shocked everyone there, Yang included. She kept playing various beats but had to stop and get her bearings between each.
"Yeah like I said I can do a few things but I don't know how to really play, so I want to really learn," she said.
"I'll bring you some of my extra practice pads and sticks tomorrow, meet me in the lunchroom," Scarlet said in shock.
"Wait I recognized that beat, what was that from?" Sage asked.
"Oh that's from Maya's theme in Killer Instinct, I love the music in that game."
"You play KI?"
"Yeah, I play all the characters but I really like Maya and Sabrewulf but I'm excited to play as Kim Wu."
"What's your tag?"
"Red Like Roses," she said.
"You're Red Like Roses?!" Sage asked.
"Yeah why?" Ruby asked. Sage just hung his head.
"No reason." Scarlet and Neptune just laughed loudly.
"Hey Neptune, could you take my pedal board and amp again? I rode my bike here," Sun asked.
"Yeah no problem, I've got room in my car."
"Sun, I brought my truck, I can load it up," Yang said.
"Careful that amp weighs a-." Yang threw the amp on her shoulder single-handedly and walked off with it.
"You're family's weird," Sage said quietly.
"You have no idea," Sun said happily.
XXX
