Jaune's POV

I took a deep breath, getting into my stance and trying to ignore our small audience. Shield up. Grip tight. Front foot forward. Just like Pyrrha had taught me. Steady my breathing. That's it. I had this.

Sure, this sparring match would probably end with me on the floor like always, because come on, it was Pyrrha. Still, I remained determined. Any improvement mattered, and any bruises that came from it could easily be dealt with later.

The whistle blew and I braced myself for the redhead's first attack. She launched her spear forward, to which I raised my shield. She grinned, coming closer for a different approach. I'd always hated hand to hand, but I did my best to dodge and block, swinging my sword and barely missing her.

I'd let myself get distracted. With a flick of her hand she used her magnetism to spin Milo where it had fallen to the ground earlier, knocking my feet out from under me. My back hit the dirt but I rolled before she could dig land another hit with her own shield. I rolled backwards and back onto my feet, shaking my head a little to clear it.

Pyrrha grinned, backing off and waiting. Her green eyes gleamed.

My back ached from where it had impacted the ground but I kept myself focused. No time for that. Pyrrha came at me again, this time throwing her shield, not at me but to the side, bringing it at me from the back. It connected before I could react and the wind was knocked out of me as I collapsed.

I tapped the ground, and the first thing I heard was 'I'm sorry!'

Then came Nora's loud laughter. "He actually did pretty great that time!" she grinned. "Are those some of the moves you used on those guards?"

I got to my feet with Pyrrha's help and nodded.

"Well done, Jaune," she praised. "You've definitely improved."

"I have to admit, she's right," Blake commented as she approached us, her partner a step behind her.

"That was great, Jauney boy!" she exclaimed placing a hand on my shoulder that nearly knocked me back down. "Looks like I might win that bet after all."

"That remains to be seen," the shorter woman reminded, brow raised to which Yang's smile only widened. I could only roll my eyes at the very idea that they'd been betting on my progress. Couldn't blame them, really. I hadn't thought I'd actually last this long either.

"Thanks guys, really," I answered sarcastically.

"Welp, time for us to go. Enjoy your next session," Yang added with a wink, and extra little something in her step that had been there since Blake and her had made up.

I cleared my throat at the comment and watched as my partner's cheeks tinted a light shade of pink. There weren't any secrets in Night Raid, especially when it came to...who was spending time together. I liked Pyrrha, and for whatever reason, so did she. Well, she had for the longest time apparently. I'd never been very good at recognizing that kind of thing.

I caught Pyrrha's eye and she smiled at me. "Ready to go again?" she asked.

My body was sore. I'd have to heal it later. Still, I nodded my head and prepared for what was to come.

Blake's POV

Things felt... better. True to her word, Yang tried to do better. She actually had started to take better care of herself. She slept throughout the night when we didn't have missions, and when we did she tried to block attacks rather than taking the full brunt of the hit. It felt almost like it had in the beginning, where Yang quipped to the enemy and would occasionally send a wink my way. It was obvious that Raven was always on her mind, and nothing could be done about that. However, it didn't seem to be eating her alive anymore.

It was nice to know that on lazy days like today, where I could sit in the living room with a book in hand and Yang asleep with her head in my lap.

I smiled as I played with her hair, running my hand through untamable golden locks. Her lips twitched briefly into a smile, a sign that she was waking up though in no hurry to remove herself from her position. I couldn't say I minded. I had missed this.

A gasp broke the moment and I looked over my shoulder to see the blonde's sister, eyes wide. "Wha- What are you doing?!" she exclaimed.

I frowned. "What are you-"

"Weiss!" she continued as she sped across the room just as the other woman entered. "We'll need to evacuate the building, Blake was playing with Yang's hair!"

"I knew that Faunus would kill us all!" I heard her reply dryly.

Yang opened one eye, sharing a smirk with me before snuggling closer against my stomach. I shook my head. "Dorks. All of you."

The moment was broken once again. "Alright, enough of this," Winter said as she entered the room, causing Yang to sit up almost immediately, narrowly missing hitting my chin with her head. "Ruby, Weiss, I'll need you as well."

"A mission?" my partner asked.

"Yes. A large amount of dust crates are being transported to Atlas tonight. We will intercept the cargo and take out any White Fang that get in our way."

"Who's going?" Weiss asked.

"You four, but the rest of us will not be far away, acting as backup just in case we're walking into another ambush."

I shared a look with my partner before we both got up to get our gear. I felt a sudden wave of uneasiness hit me and looked over to check on Yang as she was buttoning up her brown jacket. She seemed fine, even sent me a grin when she caught me staring. It wasn't her then. Something else, something else that I couldn't put my finger on, a feeling that continued even as I rode behind Yang on Bumblebee.

Our location was in one of the more rundown areas of the city, an old White Fang outpost that had seen less and less use as the years went on. Adam had called the building a waste. In some respects it was. Two stories plus a garage of unused potential. However, it wasn't odd that we'd use it for covert drops and pick-ups, the transfer of precious cargo where no one would expect to look for it.

Yang and I creeped inside through the window. We'd entered a long hall, full of doors that lead into empty rooms and with a couple of diverging paths for us to take. We moved forward when movement caught my eye and I turned, pausing long enough that Yang noticed.

"I'm going to check for any targets in this direction," I informed her, gesturing off to the right. "I'll let you know if I find anything."

Yang looked in the direction I'd indicated, and for the first time I noticed that she seemed to be feeling the same unease that I'd been feeling since before we left HQ. "Maybe I should go with you. Ruby and Weiss already have the other half covered."

"I'll be fine."

She shook her head, biting her lip. "I've just got this really bad feeling." She shifted, shaking her wrists a little as if to activate Ember Celica.

I grabbed her hand, running a thumb over her knuckles. "I'll be ok."

Lilac eyes still looked uncertain, even as she nodded, giving my hand one last squeeze before slipping from my grasp altogether. I ran soundlessly down the hall, checking every room for our prize before reaching the last door at the end. I took a deep breath, pulling Gambol Shroud from my back as I entered. It was as dark as the others had been, only this time the door shut behind me as the lights came to life, momentarily blinding me.

With one last steadying breath, I turned to face my nightmare.

"Adam."

Adam's POV

After all this time, all this trouble, I'd expected more of a challenge. My love had been out of my reach for too long, and I had plenty of ideas on how I'd remedy her rebellious streak. Maybe after I was done here I could deal with that blonde bitch I'd heard so much about.

Her ears were pressed flat against her head even as she seemed to steel herself, crouching into her stance, her blades at the ready. She made a move towards the opposite door only to find it locked. I took a slow step forward and she flinched back. She could try and put on a facade all she wanted but she'd always been weak at heart.

"Running away again?" I asked. "Is that what you've become, my love? A coward?"

Her jaw clenched and she took a step towards me. "I'm not running."

I unsheathed Wilt from Blush and swung my blade toward her, sparks cascading as it clashed with Gambol Shroud, pushing her back against the wall. "You will, but not before I make you suffer for your betrayal."

She grit her teeth, pushing, but I held my ground until she managed to knock me back, using her head to clip my chin. "Get off me!"

I touched my lip, feeling blood. "Oh Blake, why do you want to hurt me?" I continued. "You're all I want. Must I really go to such drastic measures to prove that?" She took a swing at me before drawing a knife that she hid in her boot and throwing it in my direction, barely missing my cheek. Using something I'd taught her against me? How arrogant. "Very well. I'll just have to make it my mission to get rid of any distractions, starting with that pretty blonde."

"You won't touch her!"

"See, that's the thing. I won't have to. You're already pretty skilled at wrecking those around you. You ruined the good thing we had going for us, you made me kill our unborn child." Our weapons clashed and I towered over her. "You just find any way you can to destroy everything you touch. Who's to say you won't do it to your rebound, to that convenience? Although I have to admit, for a rebound, she is quite a sight. Foul temper though. At least now we know you have a type."

Blake growled, sending her knee almost careening into my stomach if I hadn't stepped back. "She's nothing like you."

I laughed at the absurdity. "Now you're just in denial," I answered, thinking back to all the reports I'd read describing the woman as a fiery demon out of hell. "With a temper like hers it's only a matter of time."

Unexpectedly she grinned, still panting. "That's the thing, Adam," she answered. "She's just better than you."

I growled using the hilt of my sword to hit her temple before grabbing her left arm and twisting it behind her, punching it several times, enjoying the cracking sounds it made. Blake screamed and she struggled against my hold but I didn't stop, kicking her before finally tossing her aside, watching as she withered and whimpered in pain, holding her arm to her chest.

I sighed, looking down at my pathetic little pet, grabbing my own knife I kept strapped at my shin. "See? There you go again." I knelt on top of her, holding her good arm above her. "Now look at what you made me do."

I thought I'd carve a little reminder of who she belonged to into her skin when the door flew open with no warning. Ilia had come flying through the door, apparently having been what was used to knock it down as she got back up on her feet and the blonde followed her in. I growled, urging Ilia up just as a fiery fist came at me. The younger Faunus appeared between us and she used her whip to deter the woman, letting me know that our time was up.

Dammit.

I hated having to retreat without my prize but she was now out of my reach, angry red eyes between me and her.

Ilia was right, we were out of time.

Yang's POV

A horrible uneasy feeling had long since settled in my gut as Blake and I had separated. Carefully making my way further into the building, my mind never strayed far from Blake. Something was wrong. This place...there hadn't been a single White Fang guard yet. It was entirely too quiet.

Then I heard something. The slight crackle of electricity. I dodged to the side just as a metallic whip slung past me. I turned to retaliate, recognizing the girl that stood before me.

"You." This girl had been with Sienna that night Ruby got hurt.

The auburn haired girl didn't answer as she used her whip to strike forward once again. Still, something seemed off. Her attacks were sloppy, easily dodged, like she wasn't even trying. I couldn't imagine that Sienna or Adam would let that kind of sloppiness slide. What was the goal here?

Just as I was about to throw a punch she backed off and I growled in frustration as she started running in the opposite direction, back toward where Blake and I had split up. I followed, occasionally coming close only for her to use her mobility to dodge and keep going. That horrible feeling that had been brewing only got worse as we went.

And then a scream ripped through the air that stopped me in my tracks. A scream that could only belong to one person. My mind flashed back to the last time I heard a scream like that and I stumbled forward, a new sense of urgency overtaking me. The girl I'd been chasing stood between me and the door that the screams had come from, and that was a problem I didn't have time for. For the first time I managed to grab her before she could react and threw her hard into the door.

The door burst off its hinges and I felt a burst of heat surround me as I took in the scene that waited for me in the room. Blake lay on the floor, her arm twisted as Adam Taurus in the flesh hovered above her.

I moved forward, launching myself at him, flaming fist ready only to have the girl I'd thrown nab my wrist with her whip and divert me. It all happened so quickly, but in the next moment both White Fang members had retreated. I made a move in their direction when my whimpered name brought me back, and I looked over to see Blake trying to pull herself toward me. I was next to her in a flash, getting on my comm to let everyone know the situation.

Weiss and Ruby were the first to find us, but Blake remained in my arms as I moved the hair out of her face, whispering reassurances even though my blood was boiling.

Adam, that unbelievable bastard. I'd kill him.

Blake's POV

Yang's eyes were still the color of blood even as she tried to sooth me, hand wiping at my face. She was still warm, to the point that it was almost uncomfortable. I was vaguely aware of Weiss and Ruby talking around us.

"Shh," Yang hushed, eyes shutting tight in an effort to get them back to normal. Sure enough, when they opened they were lavender, only a hint of red bleeding into the irises. "You're safe now, Blake. I've got you."

I swallowed, the pain throbbing and stabbing through my arm making it hard not to cry out in pain, even with my face pressed into Yang's neck. The heat that surrounded her seemed to dial down a little. I could feel every breath she took, feel the vibration as she spoke to her sister and her partner. The smell of her shampoo helped calm any remaining nerves I had.

"Ruby, call Winter and ask her how close they are," Yang instructed quietly. "There's a blanket in the back of Bumblebee. Get it, please."

I peeked out and saw Weiss standing next to us as Ruby ran full speed out the door. She studied Yang, then blue eyes fell to me, looking me over with a surprising amount of actual concern. Those same eyes widened. "Yang, her arm."

No doubt Yang had already noticed. It was why she cradled me so carefully, with the utmost care. Just block it out, I thought to myself just as more footsteps came toward us. It was Ren that appeared first.

"I need you to check Blake's arm," Yang said without preamble.

It was going to hurt, and I wasn't looking forward to it. It still hurt but it was manageable, I could handle it. The moment he touched it I knew that would no longer be the case. I watched from the safety of Yang's shoulder as Ren knelt down next to us, looking up at me briefly before gingerly reaching toward my arm.

I sucked in a sharp breath, biting my lip. His pink colored eyes were filled to the brim with sympathy. His hands were just as gentle as his eyes, but that didn't stop the flare of pain each time he made contact. I hated the choked sound that forced itself out of my throat. If Yang hadn't been holding me, I would have jerked away, but she was there, muttering soft things into my ear. These words were only meant for me, comforting, soothing nothings.

"Ren?

"It's definitely broken in more than one place."

Winter stepped forward, taking a deep breath before looking over at the youngest member who had apparently already returned. "Ruby, give me the blanket. Ren, take Blake, so that - " Yang's arms tightened around me and she let out a noise that sounded like a growl, causing Winter to hesitate.

"Yang..." she began carefully.

"I'm not letting her out of my sight," my partner answered, her tone causing me to flinch.

"You're scaring her, you brute," Weiss snapped, without any of her usual bite.

I felt Yang stiffen, the very air around her cooling and her aura almost seeming to try and apologize, wrapping around me like a cocoon. I could feel the reluctance when she lifted me up with her as she stood, murmuring something in my hair before transferring me to another pair of arms, where I was wrapped in that blanket.

The warmth disappeared and I shivered, wanting it back.

Pyrrha's POV

Everything moved so quickly once we were back in at HQ, back in the infirmary. Ren was completely focused on Blake, checking for any other injuries while Jaune helped. He couldn't heal anything until Ren reset the bones but that didn't mean he couldn't do anything. The patient herself was sweaty and holding back screams. She was incredibly resilient, that much couldn't be denied.

Adam had long since fled the scene, him and the other surviving Fang members, leaving their stash of Dust behind for the taking. The coward.

Ren ordered that everyone leave the infirmary while he and Jaune did what they had to. Yang was reluctant, red-tinged lavender eyes never looking away from her partner, even as I squeezed her hand and gently pulled her back. There was no fight, even as the door shut in front of us.

Her face was devoid of emotion, the only clue that something was wrong were her eyes. Then, without a word, she turned and walked away. I looked around the hall. Our leader paced, Ruby and Weiss were looking in the direction of Yang's departure before sharing a look. All the while, Blake's muffled screams turned into whimpers before silence filled the void. Twenty minutes later, Jaune peeked his head out to let us know the worst was over but Blake would be out for a while.

I offered to find Yang, feeling relief well up inside me at the news. My first idea was to check the gym, only to make it halfway there before coming across the blonde sitting against the wall in the middle of a hallway. She was slouched over with her fists clenched in her lap.

I opened my mouth to tell her the good news, that Blake would be okay, when her shoulders began to shake and I saw her bite her lip. It gave me pause. Slowly, I took a deep breath, clearing my throat to make my presence known.

Yang stiffened, looking up before getting to her feet. "Oh, hey. Hey, Pyrrha," she began, her eyes no longer tinged in red. Instead, they almost seemed to have turned into a dull grey. I'd never seen that before. All I knew was that it broke my heart. "Is everything alright? Did something happen to-"

I hugged her. Her entire body froze, her question stopping so abruptly. I didn't let go.

Then her hands grabbed my shoulders and her face buried itself there... And then came the tears. It wasn't sobbing, but it was just as heartbreaking as I felt the tears against my skin. Everyone had a breaking point, I knew, Yang had long since passed hers.

The news that Blake was going to be okay caused her to make a sound between a laugh and cry. I could almost feel the relief coming off her in waves. So we stayed like that for a bit, I let her get it all out, let her release it all, and when she pulled away I let her. I was thankful to see some of that amethyst shine return to her eyes along with a small, grateful smile.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"You would have done the same for us," I told her, no doubt that I spoke the truth.

"Thank you."

I nodded, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "Anytime."

Blake's POV

Waking up in the infirmary had brought back memories, as did the fact that I woke dazed and with my last true memory being nothing but pain and Adam. Now though, Ren wasn't the only one working on my arm. Jaune was in and out, helping move the recovery time up. Most of the other Night Raid members visited, though I pretended to be asleep when they did. I just wasn't up to all the small talk quite yet.

Then there was the more permanent fixture of the room, my partner who hardly left my side. At least she was sleeping, even if it was slouched forward with my uninjured hand in hers.

I'd expected any progress Yang had made to be undone after this. I'd expected a lot of guilt ridden silence. Instead, she chatted calmly with Ren and Jaune, joked around with Ruby, or whoever. She seemed normal.

I guess that was what was worrying me.

I moved to sit up, hissing when I jostled my arm. Like she'd been in waiting, Yang was there, rubbing my back and pressing a kiss to my head between my ears. It was amazing how such small gestures could make me almost forget the pain, and she hadn't needed to say a word. Just having her settle down next to me was enough.

We sat there in silence. I think we were both in our own heads. I wanted to say something to her. I wanted to let her know about the mistake I'd made, how stupid I'd been. She should know how self destructive I could be too.

"I'm sorry."

Yang shifted, I assumed to look down at me. "What for?"

I bit my lip. "When we split up, I went looking for him. I saw him briefly and, I don't know what I was thinking, but I wanted to go after him. So I did. I went after him knowing I wasn't a match for him." I scoffed. "He's always been right about one thing. I bring it on myself, I asked for it-"

It took a second after my voice cracked for me to realize tears were trailing down my face, which Yang wiped away. I couldn't help myself. I could feel a too familiar panic rise in my chest. Yang pulled me closer, kissing the top of my head as she did.

"Shh. Baby, no," she tried. "No. Breathe. Deep breaths."

The term of endearment registered in the back of my mind vaguely. Huh. "It's my fault," I choked out. "I made him angry."

"Hey, look at me. Let me see those beautiful eyes." I did as asked and she smiled, holding my chin up with the hook of her finger. Her eyes were clear and soft.

"There they are. Listen to me, ok?" my partner continued, lavender pools staring right into my amber. "It's not your fault. It was never your fault. Everything he did, everything he put you through, that's all because he's a piece of shit. It's his fault. It was always his choice. He's scum and he knows it. He knows he never deserved to hold someone so beautiful, and smart, and loving." She offered me a smile at this, leaning her forehead down against mine. "He never deserved to even look at you, and he knew it, and it drove him nuts. He was nothing. He's empty. You're everything, Blake, and you always have been."

I couldn't process this feeling that welled up inside me. Under Yang's calm, steady gaze I felt like my insides were in disarray. Was this... Was this what it felt like...

Answering her, after those wonderful words, was an impossible feat. So I chose to press my face into her shoulder as Yang's hand continued to move up and down my back. Everything was warm. Her, her words, this feeling in my chest, this moment that I wanted to freeze. She started humming as I relaxed, and I let that carry me toward actual sleep.

In the end, this was just another thing Adam had been wrong about.

Raven's POV

I had no real interest in watching the bull Faunus being reprimanded by the Empress. I had no interest in watching as he gasped for air as the Seer's tentacle wrapped around his neck. In fact, I put my focus into sharpening my sword. If this fool was going to let his obsession with the former White Fang member cause such screw ups, then he deserved any punishment given. He was probably getting off a little easy seeing as he'd lost us a substantial amount of dust.

Not that this little meeting would make a difference. I'd spent a lot of time around guys like Adam. Salem was wasting her time.

The Seer released him, though another tentacle never went far, its sharp claw waiting for any further command. The redhead gulped for air, gritting his teeth once he managed to collect himself. Our leader made a point of saying that if he let his own personal motives come before her own, if any of us did, we would accomplish neither.

I sighed. My only motive was to survive. That wouldn't be a problem.

I could feel Cinder's eyes on me as we left the throne room and entered the hall, could feel them digging into the back of my head. That child and her pride. My being here had apparently wounded her ego. So petty. I fought back a smirk. Everyone knew that her anger at me was because she knew I was stronger, hated that the Empress thought I was more suited to taking care of Night Raid.

She shifted forward, standing diagonally from me now where I could just see her out of the corner of my eye. "You know, Raven," she began, that forever condescending tone already in place. "I'd heard so many stories about you. They said you were a cunning leader, that you're strong, that you're clever."

I could feel the shift in the air and my hand tightened around the hilt of my sword.

"It's a shame that they're wrong."

"Oh?"

She laughed curtly, and I turned to see that insufferable smirk on her face. "I heard that your daughter was on the battlefield the other day. You let her go without so much as a peep."

Come on, little girl.

"For such a legendary killer you're surprisingly soft."

She never saw it coming. If she did, she didn't move fast enough. Her scream of agony echoed throughout the hall as blood gushed from her left eye. Her loyal little disciple was at her side in mere seconds. The other raven haired woman instinctively tossed some flames in my direction only to miss.

I couldn't deny the satisfaction at seeing that smug look wiped off her face.

"Raven."

It was the Empress' voice, the pale woman having come out into the hall at some point. Her demonic eyes stared me down, paying Cinder no mind even as her Seer floated next to her at the ready.

"Child," she turned her attention briefly to the green haired girl. "Take Cinder to Hazel." Then those glowing eyes returned to me, not waiting for a response as the girl did as she was told. "As much as I admire your skill, I would hope you would know better than to break my subordinates."

I bowed my head in acknowledgement. "You'll have to forgive me, Your Grace. Cinder is just a bit too arrogant for my tastes."

She hummed, and it was amazing how much that one sound could make me tense. Anger was one thing, but someone like Salem was best feared when they said nothing at all. "You'll do best to remember that everyone here has their uses, and that a kingdom divided is easily toppled. Infighting will not be tolerated."

"Of course," I answered respectfully, and then turned to leave.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh! There we go. Man, sorry about that wait. Motivation has been lacking on my end.

Anyway, this story will probably be ending soon... One or two chapters left on our end so we can move on to different projects.

Please leave a review, it really makes our day.

We out! Peace!