A/N: Holy schnapples am I really updating this? The answer is yes, as you can tell. Hate to disappoint but this and the next/final chapter are not going to be as humorous as the rest of this fic, but I kind of intended that since the start. I'm hoping to have the final chapter up before the end of the month and then I can finally wash my hands of this shit and never worry about writing Cardin again. Probably.

Yang's impatient foot tapping was slowly driving Cardin nuts. He tried to focus on the screen but that incessant noise just kept getting into his ear. When Yang's annoyed tones finally spoke up, it was almost a relief. "And why not, exactly?"

Cardin grumbled, leaning back in the beanbag chair. Dropping the controller, he turned to face Yang. "Listen, I definitely would go but I kind of like not getting killed by a bunch of Faunus supremacists."

Yang glared at him, her lilac eyes gaining a crimson tint. "Listen, smartass, this isn't a White Fang meeting. It's a peaceful demonstration."

"Yeah," came the sarcastic reply as Cardin returned to his game, gritting his teeth as he bounced around in the chair. "I'm sure these peaceful demonstrators will welcome me with open arms so they can shove their claws in my back."

Yang's intense gaze was burning the back of Cardin's neck. "Don't be so difficult. Blake's going to be speaking on behalf of young Faunus in the city and it's going to be on TV. The least you could do is support your friend."

Cardin seethed at Yang's statement. Ruby must've gotten her naivety from her older sister, he concluded. Either that or she really didn't understand what the word 'friend' meant because it was certainly not to be used to describe him and Blake. The day Blake stopped pissing Cardin off would be the day he died and he was sure the reverse was true. Her holier-than-thou attitude made being a good person far more difficult than it had to be. No matter what he did, it just wasn't good enough.

There was that occasion when he had held the door open for Blake and her book club. The glares he had gotten for such a kind and innocuous thing was astonishing. He had even showered the ladies with compliments and their glares only worsened. Apparently being helpful and making small talk was considered 'offensive', Blake had said. Well, she described the actions differently but it was the same idea.

Then there was that mission when Team RWBY and Team CRDL got paired up to investigate some rumours that a town just outside of the Vale City borders was under a Grimm attack. Sure enough, the rumours were true and the eight first-years had to push back the tide of black fur and white masks. Things went bad quite quickly and the group had to think fast to save what little they could.

Cardin had suggested that they detonate the explosives they had found along the north edge of the town. Unfortunately, it would result in some casualties but the people who had the resources could rebuild the outer rim again. Blake loudly objected, saying something about how there were more Faunus lives at risk there and how that's what Cardin had wanted. He wasn't sure how it was his fault that they chose to live so close to the wilderness but they had to be prepared for the inevitable.

Cardin realized in hindsight it really shouldn't have surprised him when his idea was outvoted as the course of action. Since the incident with the Ursa back in Forever Falls, nothing ever worked in his favour anymore. It was like the world didn't want him to be a better person. It was infuriating.

The final result of the mission was Team RWBY fought the Grimm head on while Team CRDL was left with the duty of evacuating those closest to the risk. It was embarrassing that his team didn't even get one kill while Team RWBY got all the glory. As usual. Not only that but he had a scare when one of the little dog-eared Faunus bit him. Little runt could've gotten him infected with Dust knows what disease.

"Blake is not my friend," Cardin said. "Not from a lack of me trying but I think she'd prefer if I wasn't there."

"Well, you're my friend, right?"

Cardin froze, refusing to face Yang. Yang was his friend, one of his only friends. She had stood up for him time and time again, even to Blake. She trained with him, laughed with him, hung out with him. Cardin realized calling her a friend was a disservice. She was, without a doubt, his best friend.

"Y-Yeah, I guess," he grumbled.

"Then you could help me with flyer duties, at least." Yang tossed one his way. "It's before the rally, anyways."

As the flyer landed on his lap, Cardin turned to watch Yang leave the room. "Sure, but you owe me."

As Yang stood in the frame, she turned back to look at Cardin. "If you show up to the actual rally? Then we'll talk about me owing you anything."

As she left, Cardin finally left his game and looked at the flyer. To his surprise, Blake's face wasn't on the cover, glaring at him. In fact, the only place Blake's name showed up was easily missed. What a saint, thought Cardin to himself, rolling his eyes. But in the end, he told Yang he'd help and there was no way he was going to let her down. She had done so much for him that it was really him that owed her. Not that he'd ever say that; she'd probably use the favour for an hour long sparring match and there was no way he'd survive that torture.

"He's not going to show," muttered Blake, a small wave of relief washing over her. She knew Yang only meant well but inviting Cardin was not a good idea. He was crude and had a history of treating Faunus poorly. He would do far more harm than good at this rally, even if all he was doing was handing out flyers.

"He will," replied Yang, tying up her long blonde hair into a cascading ponytail. The rally wouldn't be for another four hours, which gave them time to spread further word about the event. Yang really hoped Cardin would show because of the same reasons Blake didn't; Yang believed that Cardin's history was in the past. He would be an example that even people who bullied and mistreated Faunus could see the error in their ways. "He's a good guy…"

"What about the mission last month?" asked Blake. "He was willing to just let all those people die."

"He didn't want to, he was just being realistic. You don't know him as well as I do—"

"Thank Dust for that…" Blake muttered under her breath.

"—but he really had a tough time making that call. If the rumours had been entirely accurate, there was no way we would've been able to hold off all the Grimm."

Blake sighed. She really didn't want to have this argument again. She knew Cardin was still the same asshole, just with a new can of paint. But Yang was ever the optimist. While part of her just wanted to let the argument die, she really was afraid what might happen to Yang if Cardin ever hurt her. As tough as Yang was, she really needed every friend she had. Unless that friend happened to be a heartless scumbag.

As the two finally reached the center of the park, they found their set-up completely intact. The desk at the front was set-up with the speakers and the hundred or so chairs for the speech were all there. The pile of signs for those who wished to wield one but did not have the time or means to make their own were available next to the desk. However, one thing, or rather, a few piles of one thing was missing.

"Where are the flyers?"

"I put them on the desk ten minutes ago," muttered Yang, looking to see if maybe the wind had blown them away. Blake knew that wasn't possible as there was not even a breeze on this day. She knew what had happened.

"Cardin stole them."

"What, to hand them out?" Yang chuckled. "No way; I told him we'd be handing them out in about half an hour. Besides, we had way too many for him to grab up."

"No, Yang," Blake was doing her utmost to suppress her anger. She knew Cardin was a piece of shit but this was a new low. She had worked so hard on getting this protest ready. She filed the permission to have the park for her allotted time. She had spoken with news anchors so that there would be coverage of the event. She had spent hours designing the flyers, signs, and memorizing her speech. And that bastard had—

"Can I interest you two young ladies in attending an informative rally this afternoon? Unfortunately, these are my last two flyers but feel free to invite any friends."

Yang and Blake spun around to find Cardin standing there, a smug grin plastered across his face as he held two flyers out for them. Yang smiled back but Blake only scowled as she ripped the brochures from his grip. "Where are the rest?"

"What do you mean?" asked Cardin, his smugness replaced with confusion.

"We had 250 flyers, Cardin," snarled Blake. "Where are the rest? Did you throw them in the trash?"

"What? No! I recruited some other people to help hand out the notices."

"Who?"

"My team."

Blake shook her head. Of course, he would put off the work on others. Others even less trustworthy than him. "So they are in the trash."

A look of annoyance flashed on Cardin's face. "Listen here, Blake. I know my team aren't exactly saints but they listen to me. Besides, anything you're going to threaten me with, I've told them they can expect far worse if they ruin this."

"No one's threatening anyone here," said Yang, stepping between the two. "What are you doing here this early anyway, Cardin?"

Cardin sighed and took a step back, running a hand through his orange-brown hair. "I thought about it and realized that if I'm going to be helping a friend, I'd be better off not half-assing it."

"You're no friend of mine," said Blake, still standing against Yang's outstretched arm.

"Yeah, no shit," replied Cardin. "But Yang asked me to help out and she is my friend." Cardin took another deep breath, before turning to Yang. "Now what else do you need me to do?"

Yang looked back at Blake, who finally took a step back. "Well, we have some spare time so you can help me get the refreshments while Yang checks up on your team, to make sure they are actually doing what you said they are."

"Fine with me," replied Cardin. "Lead the way."

Yang watched as Cardin and Blake left, the two finally deciding silence was better than squabbling. She watched as her two best friends walked off, their distaste for each other practically radiating off of them.

She took a momentary seat to fan herself with the spare flyers Cardin had given them. Even in her shorts and light t-shirt, this weather was killing her. Maybe it was due to the fact she naturally was hotter than most that a heated summer's day with no breeze really drained her. Seeing those two lose their cool at each other certainly wasn't doing her any favours, though.

As she got up to go look for the remaining members of Team CRDL, she just hoped she didn't have to clean up Cardin's corpse by the end of the day. She did appreciate having him as a friend. That and Blake would likely make a pretty nasty mess.

Cardin hated the heat and he figured that maybe that was one of maybe two things he had in common with Blake, judging by the sweat that was beginning to bead along her furrowed brow. Each of them carried two large cases of water as they made their way down the street to the park. Aside from the occasional grunt, not a single word was spoken between the two of them. Cardin was happy with that as he had enough accusations about his character out of her today.

"Why do you think Yang likes you as a friend?"

Of course this would happen as I enjoy the silence… Cardin attempted to shrug, despite the load he was carrying. "I'm sure you'll give me a wonderful answer if I let you."

Blake's laugh was harsh and faked. "Well it isn't your sense of humour if that is the best comeback you can come up with. But I don't know myself. I certainly can't see any reason."

Cardin did his best to keep his growl in check. Cardin felt the same towards Blake. Aside from what even he had to admit was bewitching good looks, he found Blake was far too concerned with herself and her goals. She never seemed to really consider Yang's feelings. The only reason Cardin had gotten a chance to connect with Yang was because Blake had turned tail and ran off, abandoning her girlfriend. Even if Cardin hadn't clashed with her over their histories, he wouldn't have any particular reason to like Blake.

When Cardin didn't say any of this, Blake decided to continue. "You don't have a single friendly quality in your body. You are selfish and arrogant beyond belief."

"Well that explains why we aren't friends," replied Cardin. "People with those qualities rarely get along."

"Excuse me?!"

Cardin had enough. He had seen what Blake had done to Yang once and he would not watch his friend suffer through it again. "You want to know why Yang and I are friends?! Because I was there for her and you weren't. Simple as that. She needed you and you fucking left her. It hurt her, Blake. It hurt her a lot. You hurt her!"

Blake immediately recoiled as if Cardin had slapped her across the face. And, for the first time, Cardin saw an emotion other than disgust in Blake's deep gold eyes: regret. He scoffed at that display. Far too late for that now.

"I will not leave her again." The wounded look was replaced by the usual distaste and hatred. "So she doesn't need you anymore."

Cardin knew those words all too well and, regardless of how sincere Blake sounded, he knew better than to believe them. "That isn't your decision to make because I really don't care what you think. You aren't going to like me so I'm done trying to get you to." I could save her from a burning building and she'd somehow turn that on me.

"Good," snapped Blake. "Because I will not forgive you for what you've done to my friends, even if they will."

"Likewise," was Cardin's similarly short reply.

As the two glared at each other, they failed to notice Yang running up to them, the rest of Team CRDL in tow. "Hey, are you two just gonna stand around or are you actually bringing the water over?"

The two mumbled before following Yang back to the protest site.

Yang and Cardin sat down in the front row of the packed park's seats. Blake would be giving her speech momentarily and the place had filled up nicely. Cardin had been hoping against hope that Blake would give any sort of thanks for the effort but it was a vain hope. Yang had, saying that she was sure Blake meant it, but Cardin had a feeling that was less than true.

"Aren't you excited?" asked Yang, a wide smile on her face. "We get to part of something that will make the lives of other people better!"

"Yeah…" muttered Cardin, clearly nowhere near as enthused as the bubbly blonde. "I mean, it is great that this is being done but…"

"But nothing." Yang turned Cardin's face to face hers. "Look, I know you and Blake don't get along. But you are both really important to me."

Don't tell me to be nice to her, please.

"Can you promise you'll at least try to work things out? For me?"

Cardin felt a heavy pit in his stomach. The last thing he wanted to do was promise something to Yang he knew he would not be able to keep. But if the other choice was losing Yang, there was no choice.

"Yeah, I'll try. But she has to as well."

"Yeah, of course," replied Yang, starting to laugh. "Honestly, you two make me look like the rational one amongst a bunch of stubborn jackasses."

Cardin only rolled his eyes in response. As Blake stepped out, microphone in hand, Cardin watched Yang instead. The blonde was enraptured with the self-appointed Faunus spokesperson. Cardin sat back and listened to Blake's words and demands, fighting for something she cared about. Cardin could do that too. He would do that too.