Author's Notes: Last present chapter for a while. I had this stuck in my head though, so I went ahead and put it here.
Also, arcane laws and faeish bullshit are a bitch to work around.
Eclipse
Chapter 45
Waiting
The Present….
That night, they ended up sleeping in shifts, setting up a proper watch rotation and everything. Ruby had immediately volunteered to take the first watch. Considering how amped her little sister had been when the three of them had come back from their 'adventure', Yang hadn't been very surprised by this. Whatever she'd gotten up to on her little adventure with Raven, had her more hyped than Yang had seen in weeks. Since before they'd found Summer's notes and their entire world had flipped upside down. However, what had been perhaps even more bizarre was how shook Blake had been upon returning.
Now, most people wouldn't be able to tell that Blake was wigged out just by looking at her; Blake was generally really good at playing it cool, even if she was anxious or upset. Ya know, acting totally unimpressed with mundane, mortal affairs. (Unless, say, the White Fang were involved and then it was a different story). But Yang had learned most of Blake's tells for when she was stressed out and trying to hide it; and whatever she'd seen had to have been pretty weird and left a big impression.
However, instead of interrogating her partner about what she'd seen, Yang had simply offered Blake her company instead; she'd laid her own sleeping bag out next to Blake's and waited to see if she would talk to her further about what they'd seen. Blake found quiet, physical comradery more relaxing than other forms of comfort or verbal affirmations, so long as she was in the right mood for it; and had accepted this offer with silent appreciation, subtly scooting closer to Yang whenever she thought she wasn't looking. Yang had made sure to act very distracted by everything else that was going on.
Meanwhile, Weiss had attempted to have further conversations with Ruby about what had happened; but was ultimately intercepted by Qrow once again, who insisted they all 'lay the fuck down and get to sleep', so they would have enough energy in the morning to do their jobs. Weiss, who was still very much irritated with Qrow, had still prioritized the good of the mission and accepted this instruction with as much grace as she was able. (It wasn't a lot, she was still pretty pressed over him threatening to fail her earlier).
Ever the keeper of the peace, Ruby had quietly promised to tell Weiss more later, before disappearing to go on patrol around the complex, while Raven and Qrow had quietly argued some more in a corner; Yang hadn't managed to catch most of what they'd been discussing, but it seemed their point of contention had been about the two of them.
In the end, Yang had passed right out next to Blake, lulled into a dead sleep by the soft sound of her breathing; and hadn't woken again until her shift, when Weiss had, with surprising gentleness, shaken her awake. The heiress had smiled at her, passed down what she needed to know about the watch (honestly so much more than she needed, but hey, it's Weiss, and she was just trying to look out for her) and Yang had taken up patrolling the apartment complex with Raven. Her mom had swapped out with Qrow, having apparently grabbed a three hour power nap and gotten right back up again. Yang was beginning to doubt that Raven ever really slept.
It was currently early morning, the last watch shift before the mission really started. Yang had mostly stayed on the same floor that her team and Qrow were on, despite wanting to explore much further. There was just something about abandoned buildings that made you want to nose around them; but Raven had requested Yang stay close to them while she left to check the wards again. Yang had accepted this, mostly because it had been framed as a mostly polite request and not an order; and also because it made sense.
She'd paused from her roving of the hallways next to the apartment where her team and uncle slept, listening to her surroundings. Raven had sealed the grate up earlier with something, so they didn't have to worry about more Unseelie trying to play peekaboo with the occupants while they slept; and so far, Yang hadn't seen any of those little weirdos running around in the empty halls. Neither had she noticed any mimics, not that she likely would have.
Apparently though, she'd spoken too soon, because a skittering started up down the hallway. Yang raised an eyebrow, glancing down the dark hall towards whatever was causing that noise, like nails dragging along wallpaper. Finally, she spun the chambers in her gauntlet. Loudly.
The skittering stopped. Then, after several long minutes, the noises started up again. This time, in the room across from their apartment.
Yang gave the wall a dry stare, aware that something or someone was trying to fuck with her. She wasn't afraid of it being anything supernatural; spooky bug dudes were fragile once you nabbed them correctly, and Raven had left a small pouch of ash and salt with her, with the instruction to 'apply liberally' to anything supernal. However, she doubted it was a mimic, since they were sneaky and didn't want you to notice them.
The brawler considered the merits of just kicking the wall down, and scaring the jimmies out of whatever was trying to play games with her. It would be pretty hilarious if she just punched her arm through the wall, grabbed the Unseelie or whatever it was and shook it like a ragdoll. She knew she wasn't technically supposed to mess with them, but they were the ones who kept starting shit; and she had been extremely bored and extremely unsupervised for the last hour and a half.
Yang smiled a little, rocking on her heels.
"Wow, it suuure is creepy, whatever is making that noise," she said aloud, putting on her 'blonde girl in a horror movie' impression as she walked casually towards the wall. "I hope no Grimm are trying to sneak up on me!"
There was a pause in the scratching. Then it started up again, closer, trying to be even more ominous.
Uh huh, yea. You're not the only ones that get bored, ding dongs.
Yang paced slowly, down the hall, before coming back, swaggering lazily. Unconcerned. A scritching right next to where her ear was; and quick as lightning, Yang punched her hand out, Semblance channeling kinetic force. Her hand punched through the thin, cheaply made wall like wet cardboard, and she wrapped her blazing fingers around something large that started immediately squirming.
"Gotcha," she smirked, and pulled.
With an outraged screech, she yanked something dark, bony and winged through the crappy complex wall - an Unseelie, with bulging red eyes and angry little needle teeth. It's face was pale bone, but disturbingly childlike and elfin. It hissed and scrabbled at her arm, barely able to even put a scratch on her aura, claws or no claws.
"W-waiting!" it shrieked, slapping at her. "Grrr-"
Yang gave the small Grimm an odd stare. Ruby and, most uncharacteristically, Weiss, had insisted the Unseelie could understand them and talk. Weiss had had a near existential crisis over it, in fact, and that wasn't exactly something Yang could dismiss easily. She'd been freaking out that the Unseelie could not just mimic what people said, but actually speak intelligently; and Uncle Qrow had claimed Unseelie were also smarter than the average Grimm.
She shook it a little and it squealed indignantly.
"What did we learn?" she asked it, sing-songing a little.
The Unseelie hissed, and kept trying to kick her, hitting nothing but blazing Semblance that scalded it. It huffed, growling.
"Nnnng - wait, grrrr," the Unseelie babbled, unable to break free. Then, a furious barrage of tiny little slaps. "Grrrrr - Let! Me! Go !"
Yang's expression went from cocky to outright shock in a snap, gaping as she stared at the angry little Grimm.
"Holy shit," she whispered, dumbstruck. "They weren't kidding! You guys really can talk!"
"Nnn, put - down!" the Grimm demanded as it wiggled furiously, still trying to kick and claw her.
"Yang!"
Yang winced a little, before quickly recovering, plastering an innocent grin across her face. The Unseelie, meanwhile, went limp as a noodle, stowing its teeth and claws like it hadn't just been trying to carve her face off.
Raven had stopped a few feet away, still wearing the annoying helm. She folded her arms and cocked her head, glaring at the pair of them.
"What's up?" Yang beamed, trying unsuccessfully to hide the Unseelie behind her back. It let out a strangled hiss.
There was a brief pause, as her mother took in the scene before speaking.
"Please put him down," Raven requested dryly, somehow finding the perfect balance between patience and impatience.
Yang glanced at the Unseelie, thinking of how Raven had handed a toy to one earlier and seemed to have some kind of weird command over them.
"He?" she repeated, glancing at her.
"Yes."
Yang pulled the Unseelie back around.
"What, does he have a name too or something?" she scoffed.
Raven gave her a flat stare.
"Yes."
A ripple of unease.
Who does shit like this?
"You named this thing?"
The Unseelie gibbered in outrage. Raven remained completely unconcerned with how bizarre that might seem to say, normal people, and waved a hand.
"No, he named himself. Now put him down. Please."
Yang looked at the monster in her grip. He glared back at her defiantly.
"Um, mom? This is a fucking Grimm," Yang shook the bobble head lightly. He growled in frustration. "These eat people ! Like literally EAT people!"
"Nuh, you do," the little gremlin countered, trying to gnaw on her gauntlet.
"Like hell I do - mom, what the fuck is this?!" Yang asked again, her voice going up in pitch.
Raven sighed, before coming closer, holding her hand out insistently. Her eyes conveyed some amount of patience, still, but she also wasn't compromising. Yang was uncertain if she'd actually try to take the Grimm from her.
Yang hesitated, wrestling with her own personal feelings and values, before slowly handing the dumb Grimm over. The Unseelie growled and chittered, leaping to Raven's arm before darting down to hide behind her, glaring sulkily up at the brawler.
Yang realized her skin had broken out into goosebumps. To be honest, this whole scenario had her pretty creeped out. And that's hard! It's hard to give her the heebie jeebies! But this entire situation was just wrong to her on a gut level.
Hunters don't treat Grimm like this. Normal people - no. No, Kingdom people , don't treat Grimm like this. And mom and Qrow are from a different culture. This might be their normal, I don't know. But it's really making me uncomfortable.
She inhaled slowly, steepling her fingers together as she studied the weirdness in front of her, before pointing at the Grimm.
"What, is he like your pet monkey or something?" Yang asked after a moment.
"Waiting," the Grimm groused, still peaking out from behind Raven's legs.
The older woman continued to appraise her, picking her next words with obvious care.
"I really don't think that this is a conversation that you're….emotionally prepared to have yet," Raven admitted, watching her reaction carefully. Yang bristled up instinctively. "However, if you really want to know? I can tell you. But I'm concerned by your reaction right now, that it will upset you a great deal. And right now might not be the best time for you to process this."
"Gee, I wonder why I'd be upset?" Yang shrugged, looking around the hallway, intentionally ignoring that last part. "Why would you having a pet, man eating monster upset me? Wow, I have no idea why that'd be unnerving in any way!"
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Ok smartass-"
"Is it the principle of the matter? I dunno! How exactly did you train him, mom?" Yang asked, her voice rising, waving at the growling little monster. "Do you just throw him the scraps after a good fight with some bad guys or something? Whatever spare arms and legs you got lying around? Here little guy, have some fingers, they're like fucking chicken nuggets!"
Raven glared through the slits of the helm, before exchanging looks with the little Grimm. The little Grimm that was emotionally intelligent to exchange a look like that and could flipping talk and-
Yang inhaled firmly, trying to cool off.
What if she's right? What if I'm not 'emotionally prepared' enough for this conversation right now and maybe we should wait?
Yang paused, trying to assess herself. She was confused, disturbed, wary and maybe more than a little pissed off that she was feeling this way. Especially considering she rarely if ever got uncomfortable, anxious, or uncertain about anything with any regularity. Frankly, the most fear that Yang dealt with on the regular? Was the fear of making other people afraid of her .
However, she'd experienced these various emotions and anxieties almost back to back ever since coming out here. Ever since finding Summer's notes, really. It sucked, and she could admit that maybe she really was out of her element for the moment.
Still, just because she was out of her comfort zone didn't mean she couldn't handle it. If she was mature enough to become a Huntress, then she was mature enough to learn about the mystical bullshit natures of Grimm or whatever. In fact, shouldn't she know more about that? Wasn't that her job? To know more about Grimm?
Also, weren't they about to go clear out a crap ton of Grimm out as part of their mission? What was the difference between a bunch of slobbering Beowolves and that little dude? They'd kept going on about magic earlier, so maybe it was like, some kind of spell Raven had him under? Like a witch's familiar from those fairy tale books Ruby loved to read so much.
"Have you," Yang started carefully, peering at the Unseelie. He blew a quiet raspberry at her when Raven wasn't looking. "Put him under a spell or something like that?"
Raven's helm tilted, inscrutable.
"Technically. But not in the way you're thinking," she nodded towards the bracelet on Yang's wrist. "It's more like that. A ward to keep certain things from...affecting him."
Yang perked up at that, squinting as she deciphered her mom's cryptic bullshit. It was something she was honestly getting better at.
"Sooo there are magical forces that are affecting the Grimm, is what you're actually saying?" Yang raised an eyebrow. Going off the brief ripple of tension in her mom's frame, she realized she'd hit the mark and kept going.
"Is that the difference between this little dude, and the Grimm we're here to clear out?" Yang asked, peeking around at the Unseelie. "He's cool because of your spell or whatever?"
And if that's the case, why don't we just whammy all the Grimm with wards so they aren't bloodthirsty monsters?
Raven sighed, clearly growing more uncomfortable with this line of questioning; but, to her slight credit, she did try to answer her.
"There's a lot more to it than that. But it's close," Raven acquiesced, glancing down the hall briefly. "Unseelie operate on a higher level of awareness than most other Grimm types. It's easier for non aetheri to reach them."
Yang frowned at what Raven wasn't saying aloud.
Non Aetheri can use their magic to affect Unseelie. But it's harder for them to affect other Grimm, because other Grimm….are less aware? NON Aetheri. Meaning….
"Waaa-ok, hang on," Yang splayed her fingers thoughtfully, staring at the Unseelie. He blinked. "Ruby is an aetheri? Yea?"
"Yes."
Yang tapped her chin, continuing to do the math.
It's hard for non aetheri to affect most Grimm, therefore-
"Ruby can affect Grimm behavior," Yang proclaimed, clapping her palms together with a spark. "Can't she?"
Raven's eyes widened a fraction. Yang beamed, feeling cheeky.
"She can, can't she?"
Her mom sighed in frustration.
"Hey, that's actually pretty cool! What can she do?"
"Yang, look," Raven started, sounding tense. "Ruby is...extremely advanced for an aetheri her age. And I don't want to go giving her any more ideas until I can get someone to train her properly."
Yang folded her arms in disapproval.
"What, so like you're not gonna tell her?"
"Sweetheart, I am, but she is doing stuff right out of the gate that I have never fucking seen anyone do before," Raven exhaled, her body language agitated. "Let alone an uninitiated sixteen year old."
Yang hesitated for a moment and Raven continued.
"Things that took Summer years, literal years, to master? Ruby is just -" she snapped her fingers rapidly "-like that, no problem. I took her hunting mimics to wet her feet? And she purged half the population in the goddamn region. She was building shit, creating super-structures between different spiritual planes to funnel more of them to her - that kind of thing shouldn't be possible. "
"Hey, yea, I dunno what any of that means yet?" Yang cocked an eyebrow.
"It means she needs the best teachers I can find," Raven said urgently. "Because at this rate? Every magic user on Remnant we aren't allied with is going to end up gunning for your sister, or trying to recruit her for their own agenda."
Yang felt a pit open in her stomach.
"Wait...what, why?"
Raven cocked her head.
"Because the things Ruby can do will scare them, and when they find out about her? They will try to eliminate her as a threat."
Yang glanced towards the door where her family slept, the sensation of cold water weighing her stomach. She thought about a grave on a hillside.
"So, again - please give me time to get her a trustworthy instructor," Raven asked seriously. "Before giving her ideas like that. Because that in particular will draw all the wrong types of attention her way."
"Ok, but have you actually told her any of that?" Yang parried, scowling. "Because otherwise you're just doing the same bullshit you've been doing!"
"Yes, I've told her most of that, Yang, but I'm asking you to not put any fun new ideas in her head," Raven's voice actually raised a notch, her motions growing agitated. "That she might try out on impulse before actually understanding the real danger of it!"
"Then TELL HER the dangers of it!" Yang yelled, tossing her hands up, her Semblance skittering over her skin and aura. The Unseelie ducked behind Raven again. "If withholding information is endangering her, then tell her! Like, I don't get you! That doesn't make sense!"
Raven inhaled slowly, clearly trying to reign her own temper in. It was a full thirty seconds before she started talking again, while Yang simmered and glared at her.
"When it comes to arcane knowledge," Raven started, her tone having cooled down. "There are some things that, when you become aware of them ? They become aware of you . The more you learn about them , the more they learn about you . I don't want them - these other dangerous factors - to become aware of either of you yet. You're both already orbiting too close to this stuff as it is. But I literally cannot tell you certain things without bringing direct attention to you, and putting you in harm's way."
Yang gave her a skeptical sneer.
"Wow, that explanation sounds pretty stinkin convenient," Yang snarked.
"Not when you have a pack of teenage lemmings trying to throw themselves off every cliff you point out like it's a fucking competion it isn't, no!" Raven exclaimed in frustration, rolling her shoulders back. " Fucking hell! Now! Now I get it!"
"You get why you shouldn't withhold things from us?" Yang snorted sarcastically.
"No! I get that it is nothing but an absolute fucking miracle that your grandmother didn't strangle me and your uncle!" Raven grit irritably.
Yang smirked a little despite herself.
"Wait….really?" Yang squinted conspiratorially. "Did you guys set the bed on fire a couple of times?"
"Yes. Always. All the time, it was like a team bonding exercise - how fast can we get into the most unnecessary trouble?" Raven admitted, shaking her head. "If I were her would have murdered every single one of us."
"Awww, poor Ni-ni," Yang hummed a little flippantly, before snickering at the look her mom gave her. "What? That's just what we call dad's mom. We can call her something else, though! What would she like?"
Raven stared at her, inscrutable.
"You….can call your grandma 'Cici'. As for your grandmother , well-"
Yang's eyes widened in delight, and for a brief moment she set aside their ongoing argument, pressing her palms to her cheeks.
"Wait," her eyes sparkled. Raven gave her a concerned look. "Wait. Do we have little old lesbian meemaws? Please tell me that's true! Ohmygod, that's adorable!"
"Uh, Yang-"
"Do they wear little matching dapper sweaters?! And live in a witchy cottage in a forest and grow herbs?!" Yang bounced a little. "And have a bunch of rescued wildlife? Which one's into woodworking, and which one makes kickass quinoa?"
"What- Where are you getting this imagery from?" Raven asked in confusion.
"All lesbian meemaws have to abide by a certain aesthetic code, it's the law, I don't the make the rules - when do I get to meet them?" Yang demanded.
Raven stared at her in bewilderment, before clearing her throat finally and shaking it off.
"You can meet Ciara soon enough, however, your grandmother is...no longer with us."
Yang blinked, her face falling.
"Oh. Um. Sorry, I..."
Raven reached out after a moment and rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently.
"She would have been really excited to meet you, too."
Yang hesitated before smiling a little.
"Ha, I wouldn't have driven her a bit crazy?" she asked, feeling strangely sheepish.
"Mmm, I didn't say that," Raven drawled wryly. "But I know she would have enjoyed teaching you things."
"Liiiike….woodworking?" Yang prompted hopefully.
"More like the art of warfare and how to most effectively destroy your enemies," Raven droned. "Cici's always been the artsy, herbal one."
"Mmmk yea, ok. That checks out," Yang nodded slowly. "Things are adding up now."
Her mom squinted suspiciously at her as Yang beamed.
"Anyways," Raven drawled, glancing down at the Unseelie. "Waiting?"
Unseelie peeked around carefully.
"Take this," Raven handed the Grimm something shiny. "Go play the others - and please stop trying to pull pranks on them? You're going to get discorporated at this rate."
'Waiting' chittered something, gingerly nabbed the object in Raven's hand, before dashing off into the darkness. Yang stared after him uneasily.
"So," Raven turned back to her. "I know that this is all...weird. And frustrating. And it seems like I am playing unnecessary games with you all-"
"Yes," Yang nodded firmly. "Yes it does."
"But I am doing the best I can, Yang, to be as forthcoming as I can. Without putting you both in danger that you aren't prepared to deal with yet," Raven promised. "When I withhold specific information related to magic and the forces of the world we live in, from you and your sister? I am doing it to prevent these other...entities...from becoming aware of you both and trying to harm you."
Yang gave her a skeptical stare, but it softened a little after a moment. She still wasn't sure she was buying all this, but Raven did sound sincere at least. Raven believed what she was saying, but Yang wasn't sure if it was really true or not.
How does that even work?
"It's not to be a bitch. It's not out of spite, it's not because I don't trust you both. It's because of the way this stuff works on a fundamental level," Raven insisted, touching her shoulder again briefly. "It's because the rules are fucking obnoxious, and I am trying to not sabotage us all."
"Ok, say that is true," Yang tilted her head a little. "But how are you supposed to prepare us against these magical 'enemies' or whatever, when you won't tell us what's dangerous or not? Like, I'm trying to understand! I really, really am! But I don't get how knowing about one thing is ok, but knowing about another thing is somehow dangerous? What are the rules? Why are there rules? Who is making the dumb rules?"
Raven tensed up again, and Yang realized she was dancing close to an invisible cliff again. After a moment, Raven relaxed, or made it look like she had.
"Like you make it sound like we're playing invisible 5d chess and if we know all the rules or what we're even playing, we lose," Yang sighed after a moment. "And that's crazy-"
"Sweetheart? That is exactly what we're doing," Raven agreed quietly. Yang blinked, surprised she'd agreed with her. "We're pieces in someone else's bullshit game, and we don't get to make the rules or even play on our own terms. But I'm trying - I am going to change that. I just need more time. Can you give me that?"
Yang mulled things over for a moment, before nodding.
"Yea, I guess. But I still think there's gotta be a better way."
"Ok. Well, thank you for trying to understand," Raven sighed, before turning towards the apartment. "Let's get some breakfast. Today's going to be long, I can feel it."
Yang huffed in amusement.
"What, are your bones a creakin, meemaw?" she teased.
"I better the fuck not be a Dust damned meemaw yet," Raven glared back at her.
Yang snickered at her mock outrage.
"Yea, I'm totally gonna adopt like twenty kids and then make you babysit all of them at once. Sorry not sorry."
"Tch, is that it? I do that already," Raven scoffed, opening the door. "Wake up, starshines, it's morning!"
Groaning and a variety of other mumblings met their ears.
"Yes, I know, how awful - get the hell up," Raven nudged Qrow with her shoe. He flipped her off.
"You're so mean," Yang chuckled.
"Mean? Trust me, I'm being nice. Get up," Raven repeated, nudging her brother again. "Or I'll make the coffee."
"Euugh, fuck, no," Qrow moaned, pushing himself up. "Ngh - disgusting - devil woman."
"Coffee?" Weiss sat up, squinting hopefully. She looked all tousled and sleepy, a look which was profoundly adorable in Yang's opinion.
Qrow grunted in affirmation, standing up and cracking eighty old man joints all at once. Shaking himself, he moved towards the little kitchen set up to start boiling water for his little portable coffee press.
Ruby and Blake stirred around the same time, though Blake slipped from sleepy to alert almost instantly and was up and about minutes before Ruby had rolled out of her sleeping bag. Apparently, all that expended energy from the day before had caught up with her, and she was squinting in pain, holding her head.
"Nnn. Owww. Whyyyy?" Ruby whined, rubbing her head. Raven had already brought something over to her, something that looked like headache medicine.
"You got a little carried away yesterday," Raven pressed the medicine and bottle of water into her hand. "Take that and eat something, and you'll feel better."
"Oof, my noggin," Ruby mumbled. "Feels like a cracked egg."
"Uh huh, yea. I told you to take some last night," Raven nodded, though her tone wasn't unsympathetic.
Yang fought the urge to snicker a little. Convincing Ruby to take medicine or vitamins, no matter what it was, was always hard. The amount of times she'd had to fight with her just to take something for a cold was ridiculous.
"Mmmm I regret nothing," Ruby declared, still squinting blearily. However, surprisingly enough, she did take the medicine. It must have been a pretty crappy headache.
Yang settled in with helping Qrow make breakfast and coffee for the others, while Raven and the rest packed the rest of their gear and prepared for the day. Yang put on a good show of being in high spirits, joking and teasing the others even more than usual. However, despite her best efforts, she couldn't completely shake the gnawing pit in her stomach, as she thought about all the things they'd talked about .Especially the Unseelie's far too sharp little eyes; and the knowledge that people might start hunting her little sister for reasons that Yang couldn't fully comprehend yet.