Chapter 24: Reconciliation
Five Days Later, White Fang Camp, 23rd May 17 BBY, 14:00 pm…
Kanan couldn't take it any more.
It'd been nearly a month since Yang had stopped talking to him, and in that time; she'd resisted every effort he'd made to reconcile.
Even overtures made on his behalf by mutual friends had been rejected.
Kanan was honestly starting to lose hope that he would ever reconcile with Yang, and that their relationship was well and truly over.
A knock on the pole at the entrance to his tent drew his attention, and Kanan called out: "Come in."
It wasn't long before the familiar form of Ilia entered the room, eyeing Kanan sympathetically.
"You okay?" Ilia asked gently, walking over to Kanan and wrapping her arm around him.
"Not really." Kanan responded. "It's been nearly a month since me and Yang broke up, and despite my best efforts…" Kanan sighed sadly. "I'm beginning to think-"
"Don't." Ilia said firmly. "Losing hope is going to be what ends your relationship with Yang for good. And I'm not about to let one of my best friends ruin one of the best things to ever happen to him because he lost hope that it'd turn out alright. You need to fight for it, Kanan! Fight for yourself and Yang!"
"Hard to fight if she doesn't even agree to talk to me." Kanan responded.
"Then give her a reason to talk." Ilia said. "You're all about apologising and wanting to continue dating her; but you've not addressed what she might be thinking and feeling about all this."
"What do you mean?" Kanan asked.
"Yang ditched you because she thought you'd betrayed Nathan's trust, right?" Ilia pointed out. "Then… explain to her what was said before she walked in.
Kanan frowned. "So… you want me to tell her she was an idiot and that she walked in at the wrong time?" Kanan asked. "Not exactly the best way to win a girl back."
Ilia groaned. "Kanan… just get up, find Yang and talk to her. Be honest. It's always guaranteed to get results."
Kanan nodded and wordlessly headed off. He had a girlfriend to find.
At the same time, Beacon Academy…
"Been a while since me and you hung out alone together." Yang said as she sat down with Nathan.
"Yup." Nathan responded, cracking open an energy drink and handing it to Yang before taking one himself. "But given I had other priorities, some things had to take a backseat."
Yang nodded. "I get it. Anyway… so word's getting around that you and Jason are slowly getting back to how you were before That Argument."
"Pretty much." Nathan said. "I guess… I guess it was gonna happen sooner rather than later. Jason genuinely is sorry about all that happened, and… with the way things are looking; he's sorely needed."
Yang shrugged. "Well; you aren't wrong there. Plus; he's a pretty cool guy once you get to know him. I can see why you two became friends to begin with."
Nathan smiled. "There's… another reason why I wanted to hang out with you."
"What?" Yang asked, cocking her head to one side.
Nathan sat back, before saying: "It's… it's been some time since I last saw you and Kanan together."
Yang sighed. "Yeah. Because he sold you out to his mom. I walked in on him saying he was glad she knew about you, and all that. I'm not gonna date someone so ready to tell the world something you've only trusted all of us with."
Nathan nodded. "Understandable. But… the thing is… Kanan's mom already knew the truth about me."
Yang spat out her drink. "What?!" She spluttered.
"She heard about me from Ghira… with my permission, obviously. Kanan knew, so… it was only fair she got clued in on things, too." Nathan elaborated. "Though to be fair; with the Empire on our doorstep, I no longer care who knows the truth about me anymore. Cardin could find out, and I couldn't care less." Meeting Yang's gaze, Nathan said: "I tried to tell you earlier, but… you weren't listening to anyone about Kanan, so… I'm sorry you-"
"It's okay." Yang said. "You're not the only one that needs to apologise."
Nathan met Yang's eyes, finding tears welling up inside them. "Yang…" Nathan said gently, pulling Yang into a warm hug as she started crying.
"I'm such an idiot!" Yang sobbed. "I'm so dumb… Me and Kanan were doing so well; and I had to mess it all up because I let my temper get the better of me!"
"Hey… hey… it's okay." Nathan said gently to Yang, stroking her hair. "You did what you thought was right."
"But at what cost?" Yang asked.
"Then talk to Kanan." Nathan suggested. "Apologise for reacting the way you did, and just… just see how things go. If it all goes well… me and Blake are going out for dinner with Jason and Winter later on… I'm sure we'd enjoy having you and Kanan there, too."
Yang sighed. "You're… you're right. I'll go talk to him after I'm finished hanging out with you." Smiling, Yang added: "Has been too long since we hung out, after all."
"Took the words right out my mouth, Yang." Nathan replied as he pulled Yang close. "So, any fresh ammo to roast Ruby and Weiss with?"
"Thought you'd never ask…" Yang responded with a grin. "And I just realised I can tell Winter this too if me and Kanan join you all."
"Yang, you evil woman." Nathan muttered as Yang giggled.
Atlesian Military Camp outside Beacon Academy, 15:30 pm…
"Present… Arms!" Winter called out firmly, offering no room for encouragement or argument.
The soldiers all brandished their rifles within moments, standing ready for further orders.
"Shoulder arms!" Winter commanded, at which the soldiers neatly set their weapons on their shoulders, arms firmly at their sides.
Jason watched from his seat nearby, sipping a drink as Winter drilled her soldiers. This was a daily occurrence for them, as Winter needed to keep her soldiers ready and waiting for orders whenever she needed them, as well as ensuring no sloppiness during grand reviews or important ceremonies.
He couldn't lie; he was definitely surprised at first at just how quickly Winter's voice changed from the gentle, loving voice he was useful to the harsh, commanding voice that now left her lips whenever she was issuing orders. It was a clear sign in his mind that Winter was very good at her job and took it very seriously.
A small part of Jason hoped to one day have Winter use that voice on him; but it was again, a small part of him.
He was driven from thought when he saw Winter walking towards him, smiling.
"Well; that's that part of the day sorted." Winter remarked gently, sitting with Jason.
"Yup." Jason said happily. "Still get surprised at how quickly your voice changes like that. It's kinda scary sometimes."
Winter chuckled. "Then you had best pray you do not find yourself in a position where I need to use it."
"Maybe." Jason responded. "But I wouldn't mind hearing you use it on me one day…" Lowering his hand from around Winter's back to squeeze her ass.
Winter gasped, and gave Jason a sultry look. "Play your cards right mister… and it may be one evening." She replied, straddling Jason in his chair as she kissed him.
Jason's hands refused to leave Winter's butt as he squeezed it again, harder this time.
Winter broke the kiss, her breath hot on Jason's face. "Let us… take this to our quarters." She said.
"Only if I get to carry you bridal style." Jason responded.
Winter giggled as Jason then picked her up bridal style and carried her off to their quarters.
Beacon Academy Grounds…
"Okay…" Kanan said as he exited Team RWBY's dorm, having called on his girlfriend's teammates to try and locate her.
Blake had told him she'd been hanging out with Nathan; though they hadn't specified where.
Kanan had a vague idea of Yang's favourite places to hang out at Beacon, but had nothing concrete, due to Yang spending most of her time with Kanan at the White Fang camp, sometimes sleeping there.
Kanan hoped she'd be willing to join him tonight.
Leaving the dormitories, Kanan eventually found his way to the main courtyard of Beacon Academy, looking around. Part of him wondered whether he really should be looking for Nathan's favourite hangout spots, as those were spots he was more familiar with, having spent significant time with Nathan at said spots over the past month or so.
Kanan pondered which spot Nathan would be at, and by extension, Yang:
There was the library, which Kanan ruled out immediately. Nathan only really entered the library if he wanted to quietly read, either by himself or with Blake. There was no chance he'd go there to hang out with Yang.
The next option was Beacon Academy Cliffs, which Kanan knew Nathan used for a variety of reasons: Its privacy, its suitability for whatever Nathan needed it to be, and the views it afforded of the forest below.
Other than that, the only other option would be the roof of the dormitories, which would mean going back the way Kanan had just come to the courtyard.
Now the dilemma was choosing which one to check out first, since-
"Hey."
Kanan spun around to see none other than Yang stood there, eyeing him with that signature smile on her face. "Yang…" He said, relief coursing through his body in that instant.
"Looking for me?" Yang asked with a soft smile.
Kanan nodded. "Yeah… I was." He replied. He'd almost forgotten how beautiful Yang looked.
Yang was dressed casually, wearing a nice yellow tank top under a brown denim jacket and black skinny jeans. Her golden blonde hair was tied back into a ponytail, allowing her gorgeous lilac eyes to sparkle.
The two stared at one another before they both launched into an apology at the same time:
"Look Yang, I'm so-"
"Kanan, I'm so-"
Both stopped, before trying again:
"Yang, I want to say I'm…"
I'm so sorry, Kanan, I-"
Again, they paused, before Kanan said: "Sorry, you first."
"No, you talked before me, you go first." Yang countered.
"Ladies first." Kanan said.
"Men just before." Yang fired back.
Kanan opened his mouth to say something, before shaking his head. "Screw this." He muttered, stepping forward and reaching out to Yang.
Yang followed suit, wrapping her arms around Kanan's neck as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling one another closer as their lips met.
For what felt like forever, everything finally fell back into place for Kanan as he and Yang kissed, their rough patch forgotten as they finally came together once again.
Upon their lips parting, they once more found themselves staring at each other as Yang said:
"Kanan; I… I'm so sorry for what happened last month. I was an idiot. I should have let you say something, and I want us to-"
"Yang… I think that kiss was apology enough." Kanan replied gently. "Besides… I'm just glad to finally have you in my arms again."
Yang smiled warmly before saying: "So… Nate and Blake are going out to dinner tonight with Winter and Jason… wanna join them? Nate extended the invite."
Kanan had to admit, the idea was tempting. "As nice as that sounds… I feel like we deserve our own alone time after a month apart."
Yang's smile widened. "I like the way you think, Kanan Belladonna-Khan. So… how about we see where today takes us from here on out?"
Later that evening, Hook's Fish and Seafood Bar 'n' Grill, 18:00 pm…
"Here they are!"
Nathan looked and grinned as he saw Jason stood with Winter, beckoning Nathan and Blake over to them. Taking Blake's hand, Nathan walked over, bumping fists with Jason and shaking hands with Winter. "Looking good, you two. Winter especially."
Winter smiled. She was dressed in a nice pale blue sweater, a dark blue skirt that reached her knees, and nice-looking white boots. "Thank you, Nathan. You're looking rather nice yourself."
Nathan shrugged. He was wearing his atypical ensemble of a leather jacket, red T-Shirt, jeans and sneakers. "Yet I always feel underdressed whenever Blake's looking like this." He remarked, gesturing to Blake:
Blake was wearing a purple top that hugged her figure under a white leather jacket, black skinny jeans and high-heeled boots.
"Join the club, Nathan." Jason replied. He was wearing a sleeveless white vest tucked into black jeans under a nice grey flannel shirt.
After pleasantries had been exchanged, both couples sat down as a waitress joined them.
"Hello there, welcome to Hook's Fish and Seafood Bar 'n' Grill. I'm Stacy and I'll be taking care of you today." The waitress said cheerfully. "What drinks can I get you?"
"I'll get the Monster Ultra Mega size, please." Nathan answered.
"I'll have a tea, please." Blake requested.
"Diet Coke, please." Winter asked.
"I'll go for a Fanta." Jason responded.
"Alrighty, I'll get them sorted and be back to take your food orders." Stacy replied as she turned and headed off, leaving the four alone.
"So… you and Blake come here often?" Jason asked.
"Definitely." Nathan replied. "We spent our second date here and loved it so much we've become regulars whenever we want to go out and eat."
"The fish pie is to die for." Blake remarked.
"Guess we should test that theory then." Winter said, nudging Jason.
"Nah, I'm looking at this fish taco and liking what I'm seeing." Jason responded.
"Well, I am having the fish pie." Winter responded. "If I feel like allowing you, you may have a taste of it."
"Typical Jason." Nathan muttered. "Always going for the spicy shit."
"Not my fault you can't stand the heat." Jason countered.
"Then why are you dating an Ice Queen whilst I'm dating this bombshell?" Nathan fired back.
Jason burst out laughing whilst Winter smiled pleasantly and Blake giggled, pecking Nathan on the cheek.
"Okay, big man. You order the same thing as me. Let's see if your taste buds survive!" Jason challenged.
"If they do; You have to send a nude pic to Professor Goodwitch." Nathan responded.
"And if they don't, you gotta send nudes of your own to every girl on your contacts list." Jason fired back.
"You're on!" Nathan said as Winter and Blake eyed one another.
"Men." Winter remarked.
"Boys." Blake replied as both women shared a laugh.
Stacy soon joined them with their drinks, settling things down once again as the evening continued for the two couples.
Elsewhere in Vale, the Arcade…
"Oh-ho, yes!" Kanan shouted, pumping his fist as the high score revealed him at the top over Yang.
"Beginner's luck." Yang scoffed.
"Ah, excuses, excuses." Kanan countered as he retrieved the tickets from the machine and looked around. "See any other games we could try?"
"There's that boxing machine over there." Yang replied, eyeing Kanan. "Loser pays for dinner?"
Kanan shrugged and together they headed the machine in question. "Ladies first." Kanan said, gesturing to Yang.
"Men just before, Kanan…" Yang teased.
Kanan rolled his eyes before putting the apropos amount of money into the machine and rearing back, delivering a punch that would send most men flying back several feet.
The punch wound up setting a fresh record, much to the surprise of Kanan.
"Well; looks like I got the early lead." Kanan teased.
"In your dreams." Yang countered before doing the same as Kanan before nearly sending the bag through the top of the machine with the hardest punch she dared muster.
The punch surged past Kanan's record, and set an impossibly high record that would likely never be topped.
"Well; good thing the place I plan on going to is pretty cheap." Yang commented with a smile.
"What, like your taste in jewellery?" Kanan joked.
Yang lightly punched Kanan's arm as they headed out of the arcade.
Back at Hook's…
"You did not!" Winter spluttered amidst laughter from Blake and Nathan.
"I sure did." Jason replied. "Ahsoka was more than down for it, too. So with permission from her master, we snuck into where Nathan was fast asleep, propped up against the leg of one of the AT-TEs. Ahsoka stripped to just a pair of panties, and got on top of Nathan, grinding him and asking if he wanted 'boom-boom' in a really thick accent."
"Which had the desired effect of scaring me into waking me up." Nathan added. "And gave me my first glimpse of a naked woman. So… bonus points for that."
"Even though there's only one girl you get to see naked now." Blake responded flirtatiously.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Nathan countered, kissing Blake on the cheek. "But yeah… after that day; I resolved to never fall asleep unless in bed ever again. And it's all thanks to this derelict of a human being!"
"Oof… that kinda hurts, you know." Jason remarked.
"Good." Nathan fired back. "Winter; consider this a warning. This asshole may prank you when you least expect it."
"You were a prankster too, Nathan!" Jason countered. "Remember how you snuck into the women's washrooms and stole Master Unduli and Secura's clothes so that they had to search the entire temple in just their underwear?"
Winter nearly spat out her drink and looked at Nathan with a shocked look. "You did what?!" She asked.
"Hey; at least I was responsible for many a boy's first erection." Nathan replied. "So I kinda did the Jedi Order a favour by actually making sex-ed part of the youngling's learning. Then at least we could prevent younglings getting kicked out because they wound up pregnant as a result of sexual encounters with other younglings."
"A rather unorthodox manner of accomplishing it, but I imagine it did its job." Winter stated. "I should hope you do not plan on pranking anyone else in similar fashion, though."
"And there goes my plans to prank Weiss in similar fashion." Nathan remarked gloomily, making everyone at the table laugh.
"You have an unhealthy obsession with making my sister's life difficult, don't you?" Winter remarked.
"Hey; someone needs to keep Weiss humble. And it might as well be me." Nathan said, shrugging.
"In which case… proceed with your plan." Winter said, drawing out even more laughs.
Maple's Diner, 19:00 pm…
"Yang! Ain't seen you here in a long time!" Maple called out from the counter. "Want your usual?"
"Please." Yang responded as she sat down, followed suit by Kanan.
"How have we not come here before if you enjoy it here so much?" Kanan asked.
Yang simply held up her right arm, and Kanan understood, nodding to indicate as such. He was well aware of Yang's self-consciousness regarding her metal prosthetic arm.
"Of course. Sorry." Kanan apologised.
"Hey…" Yang said, making Kanan's eyes rest on her. "We've not been together in a month. It's okay to forget some things in that time."
"Not if they're that important." Kanan responded. "Things like that need to be remembered. Elsewise… I… I feel like I'm failing as a boyfriend. As your boyfriend. And that's a feeling I hate having to experience."
"You're not failing, though." Yang assured Kanan. "If anything, I failed you this past month. By jumping to conclusions and not letting you explain yourself, I risked screwing up the four amazing months we enjoyed before that. And that's a feeling I never want to experience again."
Kanan sighed and met Yang's contrite gaze. "Then I suggest we spend today making sure it doesn't happen again."
Yang smiled. "Careful, Kanan… I might think you plan on taking liberties with me if you talk like that to me."
"Liberties, eh? Well pardon me for wanting to make up for lost time." Kanan replied, taking Yang's hand in his, squeezing it softly.
"No need to rush into it." Yang responded softly, smiling warmly at Kanan.
"This isn't rushing." Kanan responded, brushing his thumb over Yang's knuckles.
Before long, Maple joined the couple, notepad in hand.
"Okay; what can I get you two? Well; mostly Mr Big and Handsome here, since I know what Yang wants."
"For a drink; I'll get the chocolate milkshake, and for food I'll go for a double quarter pounder with cheese and a side of fries."
"That's exactly Yang's order." Maple said. "Well; makes my job a lot easier." At that, he stood up and walked off to behind the counter.
Kanan chuckled. "Well; now all that's left to do is wait." He said. "The worst part about eating out."
"Yup. So… what's the latest within the White Fang?" Yang asked.
Kanan shrugged. "There's a lot to get through. Sure you won't be bored?"
"Not when it's you telling me." Yang replied playfully.
At Hook's…
"Okay… that is some spicy stuff." Jason murmured.
"Not my fault you chose the spiciest shit to stuff in that taco." Nathan said as he chowed down. "Guess you're sending that nude to Goodwitch."
"Bastard… you chose milder spice." Jason accused.
"Only said I had to eat and take the heat." Nathan countered. "Not how spicy I had to have it." Shrugging, Nathan added: "Next time you place a bet; try to be more precise. You'll improve your chances way faster."
Jason could only respond with a vulgar gesture, one that earned him a slap on the arm by Winter.
"There are children within this establishment!" The Atlesian Specialist chided.
The Jedi Knight shrugged. "They're going to do it eventually. Might as well."
Winter rolled her eyes.
"Keep that up, and Winter might not want to have kids with you." Nathan joked.
Jason and Winter immediately looked away from each other, blushing madly.
Nathan and Blake chuckled. "Guess we stumbled on a subject even they've not covered yet." Nathan said; looking at Blake.
"And you have?" Jason asked.
"Well… we have been dating longer than you and Winter have." Blake responded. "And Nathan has admitted that in future he'd like a family."
"Damn…" Jason remarked. "You're really considering that?"
"Not for a while, though." Nathan responded. "Me and Blake wanna wait until we're financially secure and graduated from Beacon before we start popping out babies."
"Not a bad idea. Pretty mature for a guy your age." Jason remarked.
"What can I say? I've grown as a person since coming here." Nathan responded. "For better or for worse."
"It's up for interpretation." Jason said, before noticing Winter smiling at them both. "What?"
"Apologies. But from the way you two are acting… it's hard not to see you two and wonder if you've reconciled." Winter said.
"Not entirely." Nathan responded. "But I'd like to think we're closer than we were."
"Definitely." Jason agreed. "It's getting there."
Nathan nodded, thoughts turning to another reconciliation he hoped was happening.
Hours later, Beacon Courtyard…
It was nearly midnight by the time Kanan and Yang arrived back at Beacon.
Their hands were intertwined, holding one another tightly, their eyes solely on one another.
"We needed today." Yang said gently as they reached the statue in the middle of the courtyard. "Just to enjoy being together again. Rebuild things."
"You think we managed to?" Kanan asked.
Yang smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around Kanan's neck. "I think we both know the answer to that question."
Wrapping his arms around Yang's waist, Kanan pulled the brawler of Team RWBY close. "I love you, Yang."
"Love you too, Kanan." Yang responded. "Just promise me… promise me that if I screw up again; if something like what happened last month happens a-"
"It won't, Yang." Kanan said firmly. "Because mistakes happen. And as long as we learn from them; we'll be just fine."
"Yeah… you're right." Yang replied, before pulling Kanan close.
Kanan reciprocated, and before long, Kanan and Yang's lips had met.
One brief eternity later, and Kanan's lips parted from Yang's. "My place or yours?"
"It's been too long since I've slept in your bed." Yang said. "Carry me there."
"It'd be my pleasure!" Kanan declared, hoisting Yang up into his arms bridal style and rushing off with Yang.
Yang laughed out loud and kissed Kanan again. Her heart was beating for Kanan harder than it ever had before, which in Yang's mind meant her love for Kanan had only grown stronger. And that could never be a bad thing.
Thought I'd provide you all with some much-required fluff after some heavy chapters.
Yang and Kanan have reconciled, and Jason and Nathan look to be well on the way towards that goal as well. Figured I wouldn't drag it out for too long.
Anyway, enough rambling; time to answer some reviews!
keybladelight: You'll have to wait and see if Nathan and Jason face the Baron together. As for Nathan meeting the Rebel Alliance, haven't thought that far ahead... yet.
Spiderdeku25: Thank you for understanding. It's not that I don't appreciate the sentiment; it's just I try to keep as private as I can on here.
All that said; thank you all so much for reading. If you enjoyed the chapter; you all know what to do.
I shall see you all tomorrow for Chapter 25, which sees things really start to kick off with the Empire.
T-Rock14