HEY GUYS I'M BACK. Exams were killing me, but I finally have time now to do what I want, so yeah. As an apology, because I'm only sort of sorry, I wrote an extra long chapter for ya'll. Anyways, picking up where we left off previously, this chapter is going to be a very important chapter in defining Jaye and Indigo's past, AND their growth as things pass, so stay tuned, this'll be fun!

Chapter 22

Jaye groaned, a bright red flashing against his eyelids. He turned to both sides, making a sound of frustration as the red glow didn't fade. He blinked, flinching away as the source of the glow, a little beam of sunlight, fell across his now raw eyes. He turned away from the offending beam, attempting to roll over onto his side. Something soft was weighing down on him, stopping him from doing so, and he looked down to see a mop of auburn hair lying directly beneath his chin.

Indigo shifted, stirring slightly, and squirmed on his chest, snuggling into him. Jaye sighed, staring up at the ceiling, and grumbled as the beam continued to peek through the curtains and into his eyes. Pointing his finger at the gap, he fired a small blast of ice, freezing the little panel of glass, diffracting the light and relieving him of his suffering. He dropped his head back down, onto the pillow, letting his hand fall onto Indigo's back. He ran his hand up and down, feeling her soft, supple skin beneath his fingers, and a flutter ran through his chest. He stared up at the ceiling, a pained look spreading across his face as he quietly lay there, letting her sleep. He balled his hand into a fist, dropping his forearm across his eyes, and gently pushed Indigo off to the side. She moaned sleepily, curling up on the pillow, and Jaye slipped out of the covers.

He walked into the bathroom, running the tap, and sloshed water over his face, staring into the mirror. He stood there, unmoving, the tap still running, as he stared at himself. Only now did he realize that he'd been crying, his eyes slightly puffed, and he glanced back through the door at the sleeping woman, still curled up on the bed. The fluttering came back, and he grit his teeth, grip tightening on the edges of the sink. He grasped at his chest, searching desperately for his resolve, and shut off the tap.

He walked out to the hall, patting down his hair, and pulled the fridge open. He yanked out a carton of apple juice, pouring himself a cup and raising it to his lips, before realizing that there was noise coming from behind him. He realized they hadn't turned off the TV before…that, and he groaned in frustration. H flinched as a cartoon explosion went off behind him, and frowned.

'It…should have stopped when the movie finished…right?' He thought, whirling around. A cartoon was playing on the screen, with a masked man comically punching a criminal, and Jaye raised an eyebrow when he noticed a figure sitting on the couch. The figure was silhouetted against the light of the balcony, so he couldn't quite make him out.

He tensed in anticipation of an attack, but his face went deadpan when he noticed the silhouette had a pair of pointed fox ears. Kamina barely glanced at him, throwing popcorn into his mouth, and Jaye slapped a hand to his face.

'Morning.' Kamina called, chewing noisily, and Jaye glared at the fox boy.

'How'd you get in.' He spat, and Kamina jerked his thumb wordlessly at the open balcony doors.

'Had fun last night?' The fox boy asked, and Jaye shook his head, finishing off his cup and reaching for the carton again.

'Yeah. It was great.' He answered shortly, pouring another glass. 'Why are you here exactly?'

Kamina put the popcorn down on the table, getting to his feet and stretching. He flicked his ears back and forth, grinning at the glaring boy.

'No reason. What's the time now?' He replied, and Jaye glared at him even harder.

'There's a goddamn clock for a reason.' He told the grinning faunus, and Kamina rolled his eyes, turning obligingly to the clock ticking on the wall.

'Then it is time for me to go.' He told Jaye, and with a burst of laughter, flashed out the balcony doors, leaving nothing but an orange wisp behind. Jaye stared at the gap in the curtains wordlessly, the messy sofa, and popcorn still on the table hovering in the corner of his view. He contemplated going out to kill that cocky-ass shit bag, then decided against it in favor of his own comfort. He stood quietly, watching the window, sipping on his apple juice.

Back In Beacon

Ruby propped her head up on her hands, leaning on the table. She sighed to herself, glaring at the floor, and started as Weiss slapped her hands down on the table. Ruby Yang and Weiss were currently in Beacon's ballroom, setting up for the dance the next day. Ruby stared at the two squares Weiss had placed in front of her, and looked quizzically at the heiress.

'I need you to pick a tablecloth.' Weiss declared, pushing the two squares towards the dark-haired girl. Ruby looked at them, confused.

'Aren't they both the same?' She asked, honestly befuddled, and Weiss made a sound of annoyance.

'I don't even know why I asked!' She exclaimed, stalking off haughtily. Ruby stared after the girl, utterly confused, and dropped her head down onto the table as Yang dropped a massive speaker down behind her, causing the small girl to bounce comically upwards from the impact.

'So, have you picked out a dress yet?' Yang asked, dusting off her hands as she approached the dejected girl. Ruby turned her head slightly on her hands, facing the blonde.

'What's the point? Who cares about the dance if Blake and Jaye aren't going?' She muttered, staring blankly at the tabletop. Yang smirked at the girl.

'Oh, don't worry. She's going.' Yang declared, placing her hands on her hips. Ruby looked up at her, narrowing her eyes, clearly noticing the use of the word 'she' rather than 'they'.

'You seem awfully chipper, even after what happened with Jaye.' She pointed out, and Yang stiffened slightly, still smirking. Ruby returned her gaze to the tabletop, and Yang glanced away nervously.

'He hasn't been back for two days. Where do you think he is?' She asked, running a finger in circles on the tabletop. Yang's face went dark, and she crossed her arms.

'Hell if I know.' She muttered, glaring across the room. Ruby gazed at the blonde sadly, and Yang refused to meet her gaze. 'Weiss! I thought we agreed, no doilies!'

'If I don't get doilies, you don't get fog machines.' The heiress declared, jamming a finger into Yang's face. Ruby turned back to the tabletop, sighing, ignoring the two girls as they continued to argue. She glanced up as the doors opened.

'Your dance is gonna have fog machines?' Neptune asked, walking through the doors with Sun just behind him. Weiss approached the blue-haired boy, her delight gleefully undisguised.

'We were thinking about it.' She replied, wiggling nervously in front of him. Neptune flashed her a smile.

'That's pretty cool.' He said, grinning widely at her. Weiss stared back at him, and Ruby rolled her eyes at the obvious sexual tension between the two.

'You ladies all excited for dress up?' Sun cut in, and Weiss shot him a look of disgust and annoyance at being interrupted. Ruby snorted with laughter.

'Pfft, yeah right.' She said, dejected, and Yang grinned triumphantly.

'Laugh all you want. I'll be turning heads tomorrow night.' The blonde declared, and Ruby rolled her eyes.

'Yeah, but no point if the head you want to turn isn't there.' She muttered under her breath, turning away from the group.

Jaye grunted, reeling back as a kick connected with his stomach. He slipped the blades that flashed towards his neck, countering back with his swords. Indigo slapped his blades aside, smiling widely at him as she barraged him with strikes. Jaye spun out of reach, loosing a few waves of lightning at her. Indigo rolled out of the way of one, deflecting the others with her swords.

'That semblance of yours is a real pain in the ass you know that.' Jaye called, spinning his swords in hand. Indigo laughed, shaking hair out of her face.

'Good to know. You should probably start taking this seriously then.' She smiled at the raven-haired boy, and he rolled his eyes. Jaye raised his blades, eying the girl.

'Your Perfect Vision's improved you know. It's even more over-powered than before.' He called, and Indigo winked at him.

'I know. I try. I can even see aura levels and paths now! Means I'll know if you're using your semblance, and HOW you're using it before it even leaves your body. Plus, no more time limit.' She told him cheerily, sticking her tongue out at the boy. Jaye groaned in frustration.

'Oh great. As if it wasn't already annoying enough. Guess that means I'll just have to move faster than you can dodge.' He said, and without warning, flashed a wave of lightning towards her. Indigo slashed through it easily, but her grin faded as the ground below her glowed, and she backflipped out of the ice pillar. She spun in midair, dodging the ice shard that shot up from the ground behind her, and rolled to the side as she saw a blue aura shooting towards her. Jaye smashed through the pillar, his sword stabbing into the ground where she was, and Indigo back-flipped well out of his reach.

'Still being cautious despite all that. No wonder you don't lose.' He sighed, pulling his sword out of the ground. Indigo smiled at him, twirling her blades carelessly between her fingers.

'Not being careful when fighting YOU is a death wish. If not for my semblance, I'd have already lost.' She said, rolling her eyes. 'Your semblance is pretty over-powered too you know. I've got to keep watching my feet and my back.'

Jaye smirked at her, and Indigo charged him, slipping the waves of lightning he fired to slow her approach. He stepped in as she swung, cutting into the arc with his swords and forcing her to change the direction of her blades to match his. They clashed with a sharp ring, blades wedged against each other's, and Jaye threw a roundhouse kick into Indigo's stomach. She grunted from the blow, reeling slightly, and he spun into a spinning hook-kick, knocking her blades aside and striking with his sword. Indigo leaned back, dodging the slash precariously close, and Jaye utilized the momentum to execute a spinning back-kick as a follow up. His foot collided with her stomach again, and she went flying backwards off her feet. She flipped in mid-air, recovering, and landed, her boots skidding over the pavement. Jaye dropped his foot to the ground, smiling, and Indigo shook her head.

'It's been so long, and you still haven't lost your edge.' She mused, sheathing her blades, starting back towards the apartment. Jaye grinned at her, slinging his swords across his back, falling into step next to her.

'It helps when assassins come after you all the time. Keeps you on your toes.' He joked, and she punched him in the arm. Indigo's face turned serious.

'So? What are you going to do about Miss Hot and Bothered by everything?' She asked, and Jaye shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets.

'I honestly have no bloody clue. I know I've got to fix things, but I don't think that fight was my fault in the first place, so apologizing isn't going to change her attitude.' He pondered, shaking his head. Indigo dropped her gaze from his face, staring at the ground.

'I guess I'll have to think it over a bit more.' Jaye finished, glancing over at the sullen girl. 'Indigo, you okay?'

She smiled at him, silently. As she did, he caught a glimpse of her eyes, a little sparkle as they caught the sun. Even as he watched, the sparkle rolled down her cheeks.

'Indigo you–' He trailed off, and she started, touching her face.

'Huh? Why am I–' She said, but her voice caught in her throat, and she rubbed her forearm across her eyes, turning away from Jaye as she did. Jaye reached out to her a little helplessly, his voice barely audible.

'Indigo I–' He began, but she cut him off with a hand.

'It's fine. We talked about this, remember? I just–need a little time.' She said, covering her mouth. She dropped her hand to her side, taking a deep breath.

'Even so, I can't help but resent her a little you know.' She whispered, and Jaye reached a hand out to her, but Indigo stepped out of his reach.

'No–! No. Don't. It's not your fault, it's just the hand we've been dealt. Just…just give me some time.' She turned away, walking towards the road, and Jaye stared after her quietly. He balled his hands into fists, throwing his head back and staring at the sky. He swore under his breath, flinching slightly as the sun peeked out over a cloud and cast a ray of light into his eyes.

He shut them, avoiding the glare, but the light left a red glow under his eyelids that he couldn't shut out. He turned away from the infernal ball of burning gas, but the warmth of the sunlight seeped through his clothes and onto his back. He shook his head, feeling the warmth wash over him, and he sighed in defeat. How it had come to this, he had no idea. But he'd made his decision.

It was time to make good on it.

Beacon

'Okay! And that's a wrap. Everything's all in place for the dance, AND I gave Blake a talking to, so she'll be at the dance for sure!' Yang declared, grinning widely at the two girls. Ruby rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

'Not who I was referring to.' She muttered under her breath, and Weiss flipped her hair nonchalantly.

'I'm honestly having some serious doubts about whether or not she'll actually show up.' She admitted, and Yang laughed.

'Don't worry. I gave her the good ol' Yang Xiao Long talking to. She'll be there. Trust me.' Yang declared, jabbing her thumb into her chest. Weiss glanced at Ruby, the two clearly not convinced, and Yang rolled her eyes, making a sound of annoyance.

'Sounds like you guys are having fun.' The girls perked up as a voice sounded from around the corner. They watched as a familiar purple cloaked figure stepped quietly out from behind the wall, pulling her hood back. The girls' eyes lit up when they saw her face.

'Indigo!' Ruby squealed, throwing her arms into the air. The purple haired woman smiled at them, approaching quietly. Weiss and Yang watched her approach, a confused look plastered across their faces.

'You're…Jaye's friend, right?' Weiss asked, waving a finger at the woman, and Indigo smiled.

'If you look at it that way.' She answered shortly, turning her gaze to the blonde. Yang locked eyes with her, and set her jaw in a straight line. Indigo smiled sadly at the girl.

'Hello Yang.' She greeted, and Yang raised an eyebrow.

'Um…hello?' She replied, crossing her arms. 'Is there something you need?'

Indigo cocked her head to the side, still looking at the blonde girl. Yang squirmed a little, unsettled by her gaze.

'If you don't need anything, then I'm going to leave okay? I'm kind of busy right now.' She said, and Indigo's smile faded.

'Defend yourself.' She told the blonde, and Yang turned to face her.

'Excuse me?' She asked, and Indigo glared at her.

'I said defend yourself. It wouldn't feel right otherwise.' She said, and her cloak flashed open. Yang's eyes widened as Indigo's blades flashed towards her head, and she ducked in panic. She fired back with Ember Celica, but Indigo slashed them out of the way with her blades. She spun on the spot, kicking Yang in the stomach, sending her reeling backwards. Indigo raised her blades, stepping in, and Yang caved under the flurry of attacks. She panicked, flipping backwards out of the way, and fired blasts from a distance. Indigo deflected them easily, dashing in, and knocked Yang's hands away.

'Indigo! What are you doing!' Ruby yelled, and Weiss pulled out her scroll. 'Why are you attacking Yang!'

'Stay out of this!' Indigo yelled at the girls, and Ruby froze in shock. 'This is between me and her.'

Indigo returned her attention to Yang, who was now charging her. She deflected the blonde's blows easily, countering back with blinding speed. Yang felt fear rise in her chest as she fought, it was as if Indigo knew every move she was going to make even before she made it. Indigo barraged her with strikes, and Yang panicked even further, stumbling backwards. Seizing the opportunity, Indigo swept the blonde off her feet, stabbing her katana into the ground next to Yang's head. Yang glared up at her fearfully but defiantly, and Indigo stared right back.

Yang flinched as something dropped onto her face, and she stared at Indigo, barely registering what it was. She felt another drop hit her face, and her eyes widened as she realized that Indigo was crying. She watched, stunned, as Indigo glared at her through tear-filled eyes, and she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came to mind. Indigo took her foot off Yang's chest, and the blonde sat up.

'Why you?' She choked out, and Yang looked up at her in bewilderment. Indigo clenched her teeth, and for the first time, Yang realized that she was hurt and angry. The beautiful woman, the strong woman that she'd felt so threatened by, was broken and suffering, and Yang had no idea how to respond. Indigo turned away angrily, sheathing her blades. She turned back towards the path out of Beacon, and left, wordlessly. Yang shook herself out of her stupor and pulled herself to her feet, yelling after the crying woman.

'What was that about?!' Indigo stopped in her tracks, not turning around.

'I just wanted to hit you, that's all. Sorry, but I needed to do it.' She said shortly, and Yang clenched her teeth.

'What for?!' She yelled, and Indigo whirled to face her.

'Because he chose you!' She yelled, and Yang flinched back at her words, stunned. Indigo pressed a palm into her eyes, trying in vain to stem the tears that ran down her face.

'What is it about you?! What?! Tell me! What is it that that draws him to you?! What?!' She screamed violently, tears running freely down her face. She glared at the blonde, lip trembling, and Yang cowered slightly under her gaze. Indigo glared at the blonde, letting her hands fall to her sides.

'He chose you. Maybe it's because of how things are, because of what I still am, but either way he chose you. I hope you understand what that means.' She spat, turning back down the road. Yang stared after the crying woman, finally registering the words she'd said. She stood, quietly, staring at her back, until Indigo disappeared out of the gates.

Back At The Apartment

Indigo fumbled with her keys, hands trembling, as she struggled to slip it into the lock. She finally managed it, turning it quickly, and slipped inside. Slamming the door shut, she dropped her head onto it in frustration. She'd finally stopped the tears not long before reaching, and she rapped her head gently against the wood. She pushed herself off the door, turning to face the apartment. It had been impeccably restored, as if no one else had ever been there. She walked into the bedroom, taking in the reality that lay before her. Jaye's bag was gone from the corner, his clothes vanished from the wardrobe, and the pillow she'd taken out for him had been returned to the drawer.

She walked into the bathroom, staring at the shower room. Nothing was left, not a hint of the man she loved so dearly was left in the apartment. It was finally, truly hers and hers alone. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she glared at the pristine sink, the neat bedroom, and the now half empty wardrobe that almost seemed to laugh at her misery as the sound of her breath reverberated in its hollow bosom.

She walked back out to the hall, and out of the corner of her eye, caught a glint of metal. She rushed over to it, picking it off the floor. The light gleamed dully off the small silver key, lying in the arch of the doorway, and she reasoned that he must have locked the door, then slid the key in through the gap. She clutched the small silver object to her chest, the metal cold to the touch, and nearly laughed aloud as the world denied her even the small comfort of a warm key.

She felt them before she realized it was happening, as the small drops of warm liquid fell unabashed onto her fists. As if that were the trigger she needed, she fell to her knees, dropping her head to the marble and spilling the tears she'd been holding back for so long. She screamed into the face reflected there, and flinched, as if seeing someone else in there. But as soon as she blinked, all that was left was her own face, staring back at her. Now she was finally ready to admit what she'd been denying for so long, what she'd tried so hard to delude herself into believing since the moment he'd said goodbye almost a year ago.

She was well and truly alone.

End of chapter biatches. Anyways, I hope this chapter has let you really see into the emotions of the characters, and let you see that Indigo isn't quite as perfect as she seems to be. I really wanted to try writing something like this, having a seemingly perfect and strong character reveal their flaws, their insecurities, and desires, and how they don't always get what they want, so let me know how you felt it came across and how I can improve. Yes, this chapter is to illustrate to you how shitty Indigo's life is right now, and how hard of a decision this was for Jaye. TO THE NEXT CHAPTER!