Author's notes: Oh hai there people, Vex here with another RWBY fic for y'all.

Can I just say though, RWBY Volume 1 finale was AMAZING! (not that I need to say it if you've already seen it) I felt the same giddiness I felt when I first watched episode 1, what was it, four months ago at this point? Damn was it good. And Penny! Just... what do I say? I'm sure the moment she appeared in episode 15, anyone who has watched Dead Fantasy or played Blazblue knew exactly what was coming.

Anyway, about this story: this is basically me experimenting with writing for each character in preparation for some other ideas I've got bubbling away up here. *Taps head* It's me coming up with a definitive past for each of the characters seeing as we don't really know a lot about them (except Blake of course).

So I thought, to kick things off in right, we'd start off with Miss Yang Xiao Long. Any objections? No? Good.

So without further ado, I hope you enjoy this first of four chapters!

- Vex out!


The Stray - Chapter 1: Firestorm


It was after closing hours at Club Junior but inside a heated after party was still in full swing as the proprietor of the establishment was seeing to the final patron of the evening who refused to leave until she got what she wanted.

''You're going to pay for this Blondie.''

Yang Xiao Long was in no mood for games.

''Last chance. Tell me where she is!'' she ordered, slamming her fists together. Junior launched a volley of rockets in response. ''WRONG ANSWER!''

As she screamed it was as though fierce hellfire erupted from inside Yang. As it spread to her surroundings she seemed to transcend humanity, becoming something much more terrifying. She was a blazing sun banishing all shadows from existence. The rockets exploded around her, afraid to approach this force of nature.

''What the-''

Blink and miss. One moment Yang was stood in the centre of the dance floor, the next stood with a hand gripping Junior's neck. Regardless of the height difference between them, she lifted him high in the air, his legs kicking out in a futile act of resistance.

The enraged blonde brought the man crashing down; not done, she then tossed him back to the dance floor and leapt, slamming her knee into his abdomen. Grabbing the front of his clothes she continued her brutal assault, knocking him against the floor.

''Tell me where she is! Tell me dammit!''

''Yang! That's enough!''

Yang couldn't hear Ruby's words. Rage blinded her senses and she could think only of getting the information she wanted.

''Yang,'' Ruby uttered softly, placing her hand on her older sister's shoulder. ''That's enough. You can stop now.''

The world came back into focus all at once as the burning within her died down. The man below her was unconscious, bruised and bleeding in the aftermath of her onslaught. It was a sight she didn't want to see again, but here she was yet again...

''Sorry Sis... I got carried away again.''

''It's fine, it's not your fault.'' Ruby understood that when Yang got angry, control wasn't even a thing to her. ''Come on, let's get out of here.''

''Wait.''

Yang was met with a look of pity and sadness from the younger girl. ''Yang, he's not going to be telling us anything any time soon. Let's go,''

And yet another dead-end.

That had been a week ago, and they were no closer to finding Blake...

Rain poured from the skies as the motorbike pulled up in the Beacon dormitory parking lot. Its rider sat, hands clenched to the handles as the rain splattered against her helmet. The aqua bombardment was nothing in comparison to the turmoil raging within her head.

Some time later she dismounted and entered the building, taking one last look back at the sky. What should have been a clear night on which one could clearly see the stars, was instead a blanket of dark, foreboding clouds – the kind that just screamed thunder and lightning.

The halls were deserted – everyone most likely having returned to their rooms already. This suited her just fine.

The room was empty: Ruby presumably still out with Team JNPR and Weiss wherever she had been going for the past fortnight. It was rare for the three of them to be in here at the same time except for sleeping.

Yang pulled off her helmet and tossed it away. She reached for and pulled down the zipper of her dripping wet black and yellow biking leathers and peeled it off, letting it drop to the floor. She honestly didn't care anymore. She was mentally and physically drained. All she wanted was to have a shower and go to bed.

She shed the rest of her clothes, leaving a trail to the bathroom their now-dysfunctional team shared. How quickly everything had fallen apart.

''Well maybe we were tired of being pushed around!''

That line haunted Yang's every waking moments. It was that sudden revelation that drove Blake to run away. It was the reason she was so determined to find her. It was the only thing keeping her going.

The warmth of the shower felt alien to her skin. What should have been relaxing only helped to perpetuate her thoughts of Blake. Where was she? What was she doing? Why hadn't she come back yet? Endless questions rattled around her mind.

The most important question that played on her mind was on what Blake really meant to her. They were friends, team mates, but was there something more there? She wouldn't... she couldn't stop until she found the explanation she was looking for and-

The bathroom turned dark and a muffled boom could be heard over the running water. ''And there's the storm...'' In one sudden movement, Yang smashed her head against the tiled wall, her frustration overcoming her self-control. Why did she do that? It's not like it'd help any. In fact it only gave her a sore head and left the wall tile shattered. But logic had left her once more and control was a thing of the past for a time...

Shower time was over and Yang dried herself in the darkness, noting the small droplets of blood coming from her temple. Again, she didn't care.

The lack of light in the bedroom confirmed her suspicion that the power had been knocked out. ''Great.'' She drew the curtains to try and lighten the room if only slightly. Nothing could be seen through the mosaic of rain that splattered the window. Yang turned just as a flash of lightning flashed outside and she froze.

On the lower bunk bed beneath her own was a person sat with their legs drawn to their chest. The split-second illumination disappeared and the figure disappeared into the shadows.

''Blake...? Blake is that you?''

It was faint but Yang saw a slight movement and a pair of amber orbs appear in the darkness.

''Hello Yang.''

The blonde approached at a fraction a second. She reached out and felt a leg. Sure enough, it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her.

''Blake... where have you been?''

''Around.''

''Don't give me that! Do you know how worried I've been?''

Silence, and then the apathetic voice replied, ''Sorry.''

Yang hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. A second flash of lightning shone through the room and she placed a hand on the back of Blake's head pressing their foreheads together. 'You belong here. 'Don't you dare do that again, you hear me?'' Yang whispered.

''Okay.''

''Promise me,'' she pressed.

Blake sighed. ''I promise.''

The lights flickered back on, as though reacting to Blake's words. The pair stayed in their intimate position for a few moments before Yang pulled away. Blake's face was torn between a joyful smile and eyes from which tears cascaded. The bow on her head twitched clear as day.

''Thank you Yang. I... I was so afraid. T thought that if I came back, you and Ruby would reject me. If that happened I-''

Yang pulled her into a tight hug. ''Don't be stupid, there's no way either of us would think that way. You're our friend and we...'' the image of how they met in the Emerald Forest, how they met each other's gaze over the body of a fallen Ursa, sprang to the forefront of her mind. ''And we're partners.''

Just like that time the two girls looked each other in the eyes and smiled at each other. Blake's eyes darted up to Yang's forehead and she brushed it with a finger, showing her friend the blood.

''What did you do in there?''

Yang rubbed the back of her head, grinning sheepishly. ''Yeah, about that... we might have to call a repair guy.''

Blake rolled her eyes at the response.

It looked like things were starting to get back to normal, but the issue was nowhere near being over yet.

She knew this, but for now Yang just wanted to enjoy having her friend back.

Because she just didn't care.


Next time: Chapter 2 - In Shadows

Hope to see you there!


(A dark room. There's a table and two chairs set up against a black curtain background. A person walks in, surveying the set up.)

Vex: Hmmm. Not bad. Still not there yet though. (Leaves)