And here we are, chapter 9. This time, my new longest one...just getting longer each time, weird. First part does focus pretty heavily on JNPR, although it also focuses on my favorite part of Yang, Big Sister Mode. And then, I become a jerk, and do a cliffhanger, and make sure to make all you readers hate me. *flex* Ok I'd prefer you didn't hate me, but yeah, if I were in your shoes I'd probably contemplate strangulation. Fret not, I will get the next chapter up as soon as I can! :)

Disclaimer: I'm a terrible person, which is probably why its a good thing I don't own RWBY.


Team RWBY followed silently behind team JNPR, exchanging a worried glance at the sight of their friends so rattled. Watching the 'lesson' from the arena stands had been different, to say the least. When they were dealing with the impact of the fights, they had been too disturbed to really pay much attention to how it had effected the other members of their team. But this view was rather unsettling.

Jaune seemed to have taken it the best. He simply looked resigned, more than anything else, his focus mostly on his partner, who was currently nursing a sprained ankle as she used him as a crutch. Whatever Tanya's semblance had done to her had sent her into a frenzy, refusing to quit even after her aura had dropped into the red. She had kept attacking wildly, screaming incoherently, until she ended up tripping and twisting her ankle. That one moment was the most shocking for the onlookers, because Pyrrha Nikos did not trip. But now she was trudging next to Jaune, her arm tossed over his shoulder as he tried his best to support her weight, since she had steadfastly refused to go to the infirmary.

Ruby's eyes trailed away from Jaune and Pyrrha to the other two members of JNPR, even more worried for those two. Nora had been silent since her loss, refusing to speak or raise her head. She never lifted her head from the ground, barely shuffling along. The only thing seeming to keep her upright was Ren's arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Ren himself seemed the most rage filled of them all, his eyes flashing with a mad gleam and his teeth bared at anyone who came near Nora. It was such a departure from his normal character that no one really knew how to deal with it. One of his guns still rested in his free hand, and Yang kept a careful eye on where his trigger finger was sitting. At one point, Velvet came rushing down the hallway in the opposite direction, her books piled high in her arms and obstructing her vision. The rabbit-eared faunus nearly brushed up against Nora, and only Yang's swift dash forward to grab onto Ren's wrist kept him from trying to shoot Velvet, the faunus not even noticing the close call as she continued on to wherever she was off to in such a hurry.

Ren's pink eyes glared directly into Yang's lilac ones, but she did not back down. With a stern look, Yang shook her head at Ren slowly, making sure to keep eye contact. "Ren." Her quiet voice, admonishing, seemed to pierce the veil of his rage for a moment. The glare faded as Ren took a deep breath, before retracting the gun into his sleeve. Nodding to Yang, he shifted his grip on Nora's waist as Yang released his hand, looking up at the sound of their dormitory door opening to see Jaune and Pyrrha enter. Team RWBY followed JNPR into their dorm, making sure to close the door securely behind them. Ruby exchanged another glance with Weiss and Blake, unsure what to do. The lost looks in both Blake and Weiss's eyes made her realize none of them really had any idea how to help their friends, until Yang clapped her hands loudly, getting everyone's attention, save Nora who still refused to look up.

"Ruby. Go get our blankets and pillows from our room and bring them back. Blake, Weiss, would you two go to the cafeteria and pick up something for dinner? Get some drinks too. We're eating in here. Ren, where does Nora keep her pajamas?" Ren looked confused at Yang for a moment, before pointing at a messy pile of clothes by Nora's bed. Yang snatched up a t-shirt and pair of pajama pants from the pile, before gently removing Ren's arm from Nora's side and giving Nora a tiny push towards the bathroom, dumping the clothes in her arms. Yang turned around to see the remaining members of her team and JNPR looking at her, rather confused, before she sighed and placed her head in her palm, one hand on her hip. "We're staying here for the fight. We'll sleep on the floor. Ren, Jaune, you two go change into your pajamas. Don't worry, we won't look. Pyrrha, you can change after Nora, I'll help you into the bathroom. C'mon guys, get a move on."

"Won't we get in trouble being over here?" Weiss asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Yang shook her head. "Nope. I cleared it last night with Ozpin." Weiss's stance slackened for a moment, confused, as Blake stepped forward.

"But, by the time I told you, it was really late. He was still in his office?"

Yang waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, but Azure was. He has Ozpin's number, asked him to call."

Pyrrha's quiet voice rang out from the corner, without looking up from the floor as she sat on the edge of Jaune's bed. "Why?"

Yang just looked at Pyrrha blankly, clearly confused by the question. "Because. You're my friends. I'm going to be here for you. And so are the rest of us. We're all here for you." Yang was interrupted by Nora's return from the bathroom, still with her head down, dressed haphazardly in her pajamas. Yang grabbed Nora by her shoulders and gently pushed her towards Nora's bed, gesturing at Ren to get up. Nora simply lay face down on the bed, no sound from her made. "Ok, now, as I said. Ren, Jaune, change into your pajamas. Ruby, Blake, Weiss, please, go do what I asked. Pyrrha, c'mere, let's get you changed. Where do you keep yours?" Jaune picked up a tank top and shorts from a pile on the other side of Pyrrha's bed and tossed them to Yang, who went over to the amazon and helped lift her up from her bed. Walking her to the bathroom, she helped Pyrrha in and closed the door, keeping her back towards Ren and Jaune. Ruby disappeared in a flurry of rose petals, as Blake and Weiss shared a look before leaving the room.

"Yang?" Came the sound of Jaune's voice amidst the rustling noises coming from him and Ren as they dressed.

"Yeah?"

"…thank you."

"Don't thank me. This is what friend's do Jaune. We look out for each other." A knock from the bathroom door signified Pyrrha's readiness to come out, triggering Yang to ask if the boys were done. A soft affirmative from Ren had Yang opening the door, assisting Pyrrha again as she turned around to see both boys ready for bed, although Ren was looking down at Nora's bed in slight consternation at the face down Nora. Yang helped Pyrrha reach her bed, before looking over at Ren and nudging him in the side, breaking his concentration. "Ren, just lay down. Nobody's gonna judge you. It's pretty obvious you two need each other tonight. Just lay down." Yang solved his dilemma by planting her hands on his shoulders and pushing him down to sit on the bed. Ren sighed, before scooching himself backwards on the bed, sitting upright with his back against the wall, his leg just barely brushing Nora's back. Yang sighed, before reaching down and adjusting Nora so her head was resting on his lap, lighting up the normally pale face of Ren with a light blush. "It's ok to care Ren." Yang looked over to see Pyrrha laying down on her back with her arms behind her head, staring blankly up at the ceiling, with Jaune sitting much like Ren was, back to wall and legs out in front of him.

A flurry of rose petals signified the return of Ruby, loaded down with blankets and pillows, stacked so high that she couldn't see beyond them. This lack of forethought led to Ruby tripping over the doorframe, sending the pillows and blankets flying into the room, most of them landing on top of Pyrrha's motionless form. Ruby lay flat on the ground, her face planted firmly in the ground as Yang just gaped at her, before smashing her face into her palm. A tiny noise came from the mound of pillows and blankets, before erupting into a full blown laugh. The pillow covering Pyrrha's face fell off to reveal her laughing visage, completely red in the face as tears streamed down her face. She placed her hand over her eyes, her laugh echoing out into the hallway as Blake and Weiss arrived, carrying a couple platters loaded down with pancakes, cookies, and random fruits. Pausing in the doorway, Weiss just sighed as Blake giggled. Jaune looked over at the still laughing Pyrrha with a look of consternation on his face.

"Err, Pyrrha? What's so funny?"

"It…it's just…it's just so RUBY!" Pyrrha managed to choke out, hiccupping a couple times, her stomach hurting from laughing so hard. The entire room was silenced, listening to the sound of Pyrrha's nearly insane laughter, before another voice joined her. A soft, nearly inaudible giggle coming from the red-head with her head in Ren's lap. The pink-eyed boy looked down at her in shock as Nora's shoulders shook, laughter overtaking her as well. The combined laughter seemed to infect the rest of the room, sending even Weiss and Ren, the two least likely to laugh, into hysterics. None of them even knew why they were laughing anymore, just a brief moment where everything was forgotten, the pains of the day ended, and they simply enjoyed the moment of friendship and camaraderie. The laughter faded as the memories of the day caught up with team JNPR, each member seeming to shrink within themselves. The RWB of RWBY felt so out of place, still unsure what to do, but Yang would have none of it.

"Ok guys, get the pillows and blankets picked up and let's get the floor all nice and cozy for us. We're gonna watch some movies and eat junk food and anyone who cries is allowed to. I got a projector from Azure too, so we can totally watch movies all together. Jaune?" Jaune blinked at Yang, before giving a short cry as she yanked him to his feet and shoved him at Pyrrha's bed.

"Yang, what-"a hand over his mouth silenced him as the blonde brawler shook her head at him.

"Pyrrha needs someone to be around her to help her get drinks and stuff. Sit on her bed with her. You're her partner, it's your job." Pyrrha tried to interject as she sat up, starting to say she didn't need that, but Yang's other hand silenced her next. "Nope. No arguments. Do it." Pyrrha yanked Yang's hand down and frowned at her, her face lightly blushing as she glanced at Jaune to the side, opening her mouth to speak again. Yang merely pinched her cheeks, giving her the appearance for a fish for a moment, before waggling an admonishing finger at her. "You're injured, shush!" Yang shoved Jaune down to sit on the bed next to Pyrrha, his face stained as red as Pyrrha's.

"Yang?" At Blake's soft question, Yang spun around.

"'Sup kitty cat?"

"How did you get Azure to give you a projector? I didn't think students could get those? For that matter, how come he called Ozpin for you?"

Yang just shrugged and smiled widely. "Oh, we're sparring buddies now!" The room lapsed into silence, staring at Yang blankly. Yang shook her head at the confusion written on their faces. "He fights a lot like that ice cream chick on the train. So, he's been teaching me how to fight those kinds of enemies! He says I'm a good sparring opponent too, cause a lot of his normal dust techniques aren't that good against brawler's like me." Yang flexed her arms for a moment, leading to a giggle from Ruby along with sighs from Weiss and Blake. "Anyways, he said that my idea to make this easier on everyone was the best he'd heard yet. So he was all for this! He even gave me some movies to put on my scroll so we could watch together! So c'mon, everyone get in proper movie marathon position! Tomorrow is the weekend, we can stay up late!" Yang solved the argument by plopping herself down on the floor between Pyrrha and Nora's beds, yanking Blake by the arm and gesturing at the seat next to her. Setting her scroll and the projector on the small bedside table behind her, she started fiddling with it as Ruby set down the blankets and pillows between the beds.

Nora raised her head slightly from Ren's lap, repositioning herself so she could see the wall the projector was pointing to. Pyrrha sat fully up, leaning against the wall behind her much as Jaune was doing, and tossed the side of her blanket over his lap as well as she studiously avoided his gaze, keeping her eyes pointed at the wall and ignoring the red creeping up her cheeks as his leg brushed hers. Yang pulled Blake next to her and scooted closer to Nora's bed, leaving room for Ruby and Weiss to sit on the side nearer Pyrrha. It was a tight fit, keeping them all closer than Weiss or Blake was comfortable with, but neither one said a word. Yang had the situation in hand it seemed.

"Everyone good?" At nods and murmurs of assent from the other's, Yang pressed play.


Hours later, the dorm room of team JNPR was still, silent in the dead of night. Soft breaths and light snores were the only noises to pierce the veil of silence cast over the room. The only one still awake was Yang, sitting her vigil as she had done with her team. Looking down to her right, she smiled softly at the sight of Blake curled into her side, wrapped up in a cocoon of blankets, yet still cuddling closer to Yang's warmth. Yang's smile only grew wider when she noticed Weiss and Ruby, laying on their sides facing each other, barely an inch separating their hands from touching in their sleep. Ren had fallen asleep sitting up, Nora's head still in his lap. Yang winced at the sight, knowing Ren was going to have a painful crick in his neck when he woke, but she was unwilling to wake him, not with what looked like the first peaceful expression he'd had all day on his face. Nora looked a lot better than she had earlier, a small smile gracing her face once more. Jaune and Pyrrha had ended up laying down eventually, his arm underneath her, her head on his shoulder.

The sound of a barely audible sob caught Yang's attention, and she swiveled her head to try to decipher who it was. Noting it from her right, she looked over to see Pyrrha twitching slightly. Gently extricating herself from Blake's sleepy grasp, she stepped carefully over the reaper and fencer to kneel at the side of Pyrrha's bed. Poking Pyrrha in the side, she waited till the amazon had rolled over to face her. Pyrrha wiped a tear from her face and sniffled slightly, before whispering "I'm sorry." Yang put a finger over her own lips, giving the sign for silence, before jerking her head at the door. Standing up, she offered her hand to Pyrrha to help her up. Pyrrha shook her head in negation to the hand, standing up on her own, her aura having healed the minor sprain by that time. The two girls crept out the door, shutting it quietly behind them, as Yang sat down against the wall before gesturing to Pyrrha to do the same.

"So…wanna tell me what's wrong? You don't have to if you don't want, but I'm listening…"

Pyrrha sighed and sunk down next to Yang, fidgeting slightly as she clasped her hands in her lap. "I don't really know. All those things the voices told me, I keep telling myself they aren't true, but…"

"But it doesn't change what you heard, and how it makes you feel."

Pyrrha nodded. "I know you guys are my friends and you like me because I'm Pyrrha, not because I'm a champion, or a strong fighter, or because of my family…but they kept reminding me that it isn't the first time someone told me they were my friend but all they wanted was to use me for something. Kept flashing back to that time with Weiss, before the teams formed. Weiss knew who I was and she wanted me to be on her team because she wanted the strongest one here, not because she wanted ME." At Yang's look, Pyrrha quickly added "I know she doesn't think that way anymore. Weiss sees me for me now, I know that, but…just reminded me that the first thing people see is my ability, and not me. I guess…sometimes I just worry I'm going to be forced to be Pyrrha Nikos, the 'strong one' forever, and I'll never get to just be Pyrrha."

Yang placed her hand on Pyrrha's shoulder. "Pyrrha, remember…we saw you for you. Others can too. You're special, but it's not cause of your abilities. You're special because you care. Because you want to help everyone you can. Because you've given up so much for nothing in return. That's why you're special. That's the Pyrrha we see when we look at you." Pyrrha just looked up at Yang, eyes watering slightly, before engulfing her in a hug. Yang hugged her right back, without her usual bone-crushing strength, just a soft hug between friends.

"Yang?"

"Hmm?"

"How come you were still awake?"

"I knew someone would be upset. Wanted to make sure I was awake just in case."

Pyrrha pulled back, cocking her head at Yang. "You're really something else, you know that?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Pyrrha just gave Yang a contemplative look. "Since I've known you, you've been very protective of Ruby. Just like any big sister. But it's not just her. It's like…like you're everyone's big sister now. Like you try to protect all of us."

Yang shrugged. "Friends, family, no difference. All of you are my friends, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep you guys safe and happy." Yang looked at Pyrrha searchingly for a moment. "Are you sure that's all that was bothering you?" Yang noted the way Pyrrha looked away from her and clenched her first, before taking a deep breath and looking back at Yang.

"It's not everything, but…I don't want to talk about the rest right now." Yang kept her eyes locked on Pyrrha for a moment, before giving a sharp nod to the amazon.

"Alright. Just remember, I'll be here if you need me."

Pyrrha looked back up at Yang and smiled softly. "…thanks Yang. For everything." Yang's mischievous grin lit up the darkened hallway.

"For getting you and Jaune in bed together?" Pyrrha's face went bright red as she began sputtering, making Yang cover her mouth to keep quiet as she doubled over in laughter. "Oh come on Pyrrha, the only one who doesn't know is Jaune. Seriously, how is he so dense?" Pyrrha managed to control herself enough to shrug shyly.

"I don't know. I thought he got the point after the dance but…"

"But he still didn't make a move. Yeah, sounds like Vomit-Boy to me."

Pyrrha glared at Yang. "Hey! Don't call him that!"

Yang smirked. "Defending your man now?"

Pyrrha shoved Yang's shoulder good-naturedly, slowly getting used to her teasing. "If he'd get the message…"

"Well, maybe waking up in bed with him will get it across." Yang winked at Pyrrha before standing up and offering her hand. Pyrrha took it, blushing, letting Yang pull her to her feet, before the two girls headed back into the dorm of team JNPR.


Blake stole the time. She'd been cooped up all day and just needed some fresh air, along with a peaceful spot to read. The library was no use now, too many people in it. Normally, she'd climb up to the roof above her dorm (Sun wasn't the only one who could climb trees), but lately other students had been using it as a kind of lover's lane. Not something Blake wanted to see. Instead, she snuck her way onto the roof of the main building for Beacon, fairly certain no one would be there. As she carefully opened the door from the stairwell and stepped out, she took in a deep breath. Something about being up in higher places made her feel better. Probably had something to do with her Faunus instincts, but she didn't care. As she rounded the corner of the stairwell, book tucked under her arm, her hopes were dashed as she noticed a pair of legs sticking out from the other side of the stairwell. Sighing, she decided to continue and see who else had come up here. If it was someone she could stand, she'd deal with company so she could read. Walking around the corner, she came to a stop at seeing Azure sitting calmly, back to the wall, eyes closed with a small grin on his face. At the sound of her feet hitting the gravel, he peaked one eye open and noticed Blake.

"Oh, Miss Belladona. Wasn't expecting to see you here. I'm assuming you weren't looking for me?"

Blake shook her head in negation. "No, I just wanted a place to read."

Azure made a hum of assent, before gesturing to the rest of the roof slowly. "Well, I certainly wouldn't want to deprive you of that. I'm just taking a bit to enjoy the air up here, I won't be bothering you." Placing his hands back behind his head, he closed his eyes again. Blake considered what he said, and seeing as it didn't look like he was going to move, decided to sit down on the other side of him and read.

"Miss Belladona?" About a half hour had passed before Azure's voice penetrated Blake's concentration, making her look up to see him, still with his eyes closed. "If I may ask, and please forgive me, but why don't you take the bow off? It can't be comfortable for your ears."

Blake blinked, mouth hanging open slightly. "How…how did you know?"

"Well, for one, I have access to your file, which has your race listed. And two, I turned into you during our match, if you recall. I noticed the ears fairly easily at that point."

Blake flushed slightly, before the realization hit her. "Wait, you copied that too?"

"Yep. I copy everything…race, gender, etc. It took a good long time before I got used to it. Shape wasn't too bad. Gender…that was a bit strange for me. Was actually on accident, during a training session with Onyx. Boy, did that go over well. First time I turned into a Faunus though, that really threw me off. The increase in senses nearly overwhelmed me. Took me a while to get used to going back and forth between the two."

"Can you change at will, or do you need the person around?"

Azure seemed to ponder the question, eyes opening as he looked up at the sky as though trying to figure out how to word the answer. "Both? I can't copy the whole person without them around, and I can only do a full copy of the last person I touched. But I am able to adapt certain things…for example, a while ago I was able to increase my own senses a little. It's not quite Faunus level, but it's better than the average hunter's. I can change my hair and eye color at will though."

"Is that your natural color?"

Azure scoffed. "Hah, no. I'm named fairly appropriately. Hair and eyes are both very blue normally. I just like to switch it up every so often…it's like dying your hair and wearing colored contacts really, just changes the color."

Blake nodded, before looking down at her lap and sighing. "I keep the bow on for protection." Blake intended on leaving it at that, but Azure's voice spoke out.

"Oh, I understand that. I meant right now. I already know, and it's just the two of us up here right now. I only had them for a few minutes and I felt how stiff that bow makes them. Figured you'd want to let them get some fresh air too." Blake tilted her head to the side as she considered his statement, before reaching up and undoing the bow. She couldn't resist twitching her ears in the light breeze, breathing a deep sigh of relief. She looked back down at her book, but resolutely closed it and sat up straighter.

"Mr. Silva?"

His groan of frustration at first made her apprehensive, till he spoke. "Azure! Please, for the love of dust, Azure. Mr. Silva makes me feel so old!" The last few words spoken in a childish pout brought a smile to Blake's face.

"Alright. Azure. You said you'd be available to talk anytime, right?"

"I did."

"Are you available right now?"

"This does count as any time. What's up?"

Blake fidgeted for a moment, unsure how to begin, but forged ahead anyways. "Do you…did my file have anything on my past? What does it say?" Azure stilled, before replying in a very careful tone.

"It had some things. It told a story of a young girl, mistreated, who fell in with a group trying to make life for her and others like her better. A group who lost their patience with peace and embraced war, and in the end, turned down a path the young girl did not want to go down." Azure paused for a moment, before gesturing back at Blake. "Thus the young girl chose a different path, one which I personally think took great courage to do."

Blake scoffed lightly. "I wouldn't call it courage. I ran because I was afraid. I ran here without the slightest idea how to get anything I wanted done. I just ran from one problem to another. I still don't know how to fix anything wrong with this world."

"Seems to me you've already started. Isn't Miss Schnee on your side?"

Blake looked up at him, confused. "How did you know that?"

"Weiss and I have spoken at length." Before Blake could question that, Azure shook his head no. "No, I won't tell you what was said. I meant it when I said I keep confidence. Just as anything you tell me now, no one else will ever hear." Blake shut her mouth, sighing in frustration.

"Just one though."

"You have to start somewhere. And where better to start than the person who eventually will take over the SDC and decide how to treat the Faunus laborer's working for it?"

Blake fell silent for a moment. "Can I ask you something else?" At Azure's silent 'go on' gesture, Blake continued. "It's about Yang-"

"I just said-"

"No no, I'm not asking anything like that!" Azure cut off his response and listened patiently. "It's more…she's been acting differently lately. And I want to talk to her about it, but I'm not sure how to bring it up."

"Miss Xiao Long is a fairly blunt individual, Blake. I think she'd appreciate you just coming out and asking her."

"Yeah but-"

"No buts. Just talk to her. You'd be amazed at how easy it can be to just talk to your partner sometimes."

Blake sighed, before deciding she'd think his advice over later. She stood, dusting herself off. "Thank you, Azure. I'm going to head back to the dorm now…maybe I can catch Yang there."

Azure smiled at Blake. "Anytime, Blake." Blake quickly redid her bow, before heading to the stairwell.


The walk back to her dorm gave Blake plenty of time to think on what she was going to say. She'd just ask Yang to take a walk with her, and then come out and ask it. Simple, to the point, direct. Yang would appreciate it. Her mind made up, Blake marched proudly back to her dorm. As she entered the hallway leading to team RWBY's dorm, she noticed the door was open. Raising an eyebrow, since all the girls tended to shut the door as soon as they entered, she hurried over to the door before freezing in shock.

Ruby, dressed in black shorts and nothing else, her hair still dripping, was currently being pinned to the wall by Weiss. Weiss's hands were entangled with Ruby's, their fingers wrapped around each other as Ruby's arms were being held up against the wall by Weiss. Less than an inch of space separated the two girls, their faces so close every time they so much as breathed it threatened to force their lips together. Yang was standing just inside the door to the room, as frozen as Blake, staring at the two girls against the wall. Ruby's face was steadily reddening, as Weiss's already pale skin was nearly blue from shock. Ruby shrugged slightly.

"Umm…hi?"