Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of The Dragon and her rook. Enjoy the 2000- word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.
(Patch, Family.)
It was 4 days later, Skyler had spent that time modifying his arm, he hadn't had a chance to talk to Taiyang yet.
That wasn't his problem at the moment though, Skyler twirled Centurion Lazuli in his cybernetic arm and prepared for his duel.
"Your fully aware you're fighting a new and improved Skyler, Firefly, right?" Skyler asked, Yang, laughed and continued to flip the item they were going to be fighting for.
"I seriously can't believe they're fighting over spray paint…" Winter said, she stood beside Taiyang with a pair of AK-200s. Taiyang was silent, wondering how the fight would go and if Yang learned anything yet.
"Cute… But you're not getting your little paint unless you beat me, Azur." Yang said with a purr as Skyler cracked his knuckles and pulled his blade out.
Yang tossed the spray paint onto a tree stump and lunged at Skyler, using Ember Celia to blast her forward as she launched a shotgun enhanced punch with her right arm.
Skyler turned as she flew past him and swung at her back with an overhead swing, Yang caught the blade and kicked Skyler back.
Skyler grinned and rubbed his chest as Yang mockingly blew a kiss and then turned and fired a blast from Ember Celica at Skyler.
Skyler cut the round in half and planted his sword into the ground, the bullet slammed into a tree and exploded, Skyler, grinned.
"That all you got, Firefly?" Skyler asked as Yang grinned and rushed Skyler, he held up his arms, but the force of the blast still threw him back.
"Aw, you want me to kiss it and make it better, Sky?" Yang cooed as Skyler sighed and pointed his arm at her, with a shift and whirl, a barrel popped out, as did a magazine of missiles.
Yang blinked as a missile hit her and sent her skidding back, she dug her right arm into the ground as Skyler blew the smoke off the barrel.
"Don't count me out yet, Xiao Long," Skyler said as he seized his weapon and fired a shotgun round which Yang blocked with Ember Celica and then spun and fired a return shot which sent Skyler sliding back as he blocked the explosive round with his blade.
Yang grinned and lunged forward, aiming a side kick at Skyler who caught her foot and tossed her into the air before firing a rocket which ended up exploding and throwing her back.
Yang fired a shot and hooked a tree branch before swinging off it to slam feet first into Skyler who rolled along the ground before firing a round from the hilt which Yang blocked as Skyler rushed forward and stabbed at Yang.
Yang brought up her left arm and sparked against the gauntlet, Skyler chuckled.
"You can give up any time you want, Firefly…." Skyler teased, Yang was about to respond when she had a flash and an image.
It was Skyler fighting Adam and trying to save her, Yang gasped and fell to the ground, her arms shaking.
"YANG!" Skyler and Taiyang said as Skyler planted his sword into the ground and leaned down, Taiyang looked her in the eye as Skyler rubbed her back.
"She's having a panic attack!" Taiyang said, Skyler, nodded and kept rubbing her back.
"Yang, relax, you have to relax," Skyler said as Yang kept twitching.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Yang yelled and punched the ground; it threw both of them away and Yang's Semblance activated for a moment.
Then she passed out, Skyler was at her side in an instant and he turned to Taiyang.
"Do you have somewhere for her to rest?" Skyler asked, Taiyang nodded, and Skyler picked Yang up bridal style, taking care to hook her arm around his neck for support as he carried her.
Taiyang opened the door as Skyler carried her in, Taiyang pointed to the sofa as Skyler nodded and gently rested her on the sofa.
"Has she had an attack before now?" Skyler asked, he had never seen Yang like this, but it was clear she was going to have more soon if they couldn't deal with this.
"Not for 2 days ago," Taiyang said as he grabbed a blanket and draped it over her, Skyler held her hand and sat in front of her, and began to look her over.
"The…. She's scared about what happened at Beacon…" Skyler said, Taiyang looked at her and then at Skyler.
"About you and your arm?" Taiyang asked, Skyler, shrugged.
"Maybe, it could be several things, fear over Ruby and the others, the White Fang, all the death around her… She needs rest and medicine; I've never dealt with this before." Skyler said, Taiyang nodded and sighed. He was going to regret this but having someone to help would be better.
"Stay with her, I'm going to get her some medicine, blankets, and pajamas," Taiyang ordered, Skyler looked at Yang who looked pale.
"You don't have to ask me again. She lost an arm because I couldn't help her in time… I'm never letting her get into that position again, Mr. Xiao Long." Skyler said as the man walked away.
Skyler held her left arm and slid Ember Celia off and onto the table, he rubbed her hand with his thumb and sighed.
"This is my fault. I should have stopped her from going back to Beacon… No, I couldn't have, she would have wanted to fight, I saw the signs and we weren't ready for him…" Skyler said as he looked at his girlfriend.
It broke his heart to see her like this, he might not have spent years with her, but he knew Yang decently.
He admired her fire, she never gave up, not from what he had seen. She had an unbreakable resolve and spirit, something any soldier would be proud of. She also affected him, that he would admit.
He'd find Merlot and make him pay… For Vale, for the people in Vale, for all the soldiers and civilians lost in the battle… And for Yang and her team.
"Hang in there, Firefly… I'm not running off this time… I love you; I might be stubborn… But you've never quit on me… And I'm sure as hell not going to let you go without a fight." Skyler said. Taiyang walked back in with the items.
Both looked at the sleeping Yang with concern.
(2 hours later)
Yang woke up with a start, she looked at Skyler and noticed he was asleep, holding her left hand. She noticed her gauntlet on the table next to him.
"Sky?" Yang asked, nothing, Taiyang walked in as the girl rose and noticed she was barefoot.
"I might not like that you're dating yet… But that boy cares about you, Yang… He was there while you were asleep the entire time, making sure you were ok." Taiyang said as Yang blinked.
"What happened?" She asked, Taiyang sighed and took a seat.
"You had another panic attack during your fight with Skyler… He took you inside and we talked while you slept… You scared of something." Taiyang said, Yang sighed.
Skyler shifted as Taiyang got up, Skyler yawned.
"You both need to talk; we're going to talk about what happened in Vale soon," Taiyang said as he left the room, Skyler opened his eyes slowly.
"Rise and shine." Yang joked as Skyler blinked and rubbed his head with his other hand.
"Ugh, I feel like my spine fought a battle with a mountain… And lost…" Skyler said, cracking his neck and then looking at Yang as he stood up as well.
"Dad said I passed out…" Yang said, Skyler, nodded and looked at his girlfriend.
"Yes, you did. I brought you inside and I and Taiyang made sure your panic attack didn't kill you. You're lucky I have Atlesian medical equipment with me…" Skyler said, Yang looked away and Skyler crossed his arms.
"Your dad said you've had another panic attack 2 days ago. You've never had a panic attack, at least since I've known you, Yang. You've gotten this from Beacon I'm guessing?" Skyler asked, Yang, looked at him, her hands trembled.
Skyler took her hands in his and squeezed them assuring, looking into her lilac eyes.
"Yang, what about Beacon have you scared like this? The citizens? You helped hold off the Grimm and Merlot's soldiers long enough for almost everyone to escape. Did you worry about Ruby, Weiss, Blake? Blake, I know got away, we got reports that she escaped in the aftermath, Weiss was picked up by her father. He might be a horrible dad, but he's gotten her out of Vale. You have nothing to fear from Vale, you did the best you could." Skyler said, Yang's eyes started to glow.
"I couldn't save you, I couldn't save everyone, Sky. I saw people get killed by Grimm, I saw chaos, I saw Winter and your soldiers drag you away without a damn arm! I don't even know where my sister went!" Yang said, she nearly collapsed, and Skyler caught her.
"Yang, it's ok!" Skyler said, Yang's hair blazed, and Skyler hugged her closer so she couldn't start punching.
"HOW IS IT OK!? YOU NEARLY DIED AND IT WAS BECAUSE I RUSHED INTO A FIGHT I COULDN'T HANDLE! I WATCHED PEOPLE I WANTED TO SAVE DIE IN FRONT OF ME!" Yang roared with tears coming out of her eyes, she sobbed as Skyler hugged her.
"Yang!" Skyler yelled, nothing.
"YANG!" Skyler bellowed, Yang looked at him as he cupped her head in her hands, she grabbed his organic hand with hers.
"I'm still here, I rushed in to save you and I got hurt, it's what soldiers do. You can't save everyone either, you got almost everyone out, we couldn't save everyone either. I'm still here, I came here because of you, not anything else but you." Skyler said, Yang looked down and Skyler lifted her chin to look at her.
"I know you blame yourself for Beacon, but it isn't your fault. I know you, you're tough. You never give up; you make jokes that I laugh at no matter how corny." Skyler said, Yang started to smile, and Skyler kissed the top of her head. He'd never admit it, least not yet, but he loved her golden hair.
"I know you're not going to be able to deal with it right away… But I'm going to help you get rid of these panic attacks. Your strong, Yang, I know you, you can beat this." Skyler said, Yang nodded, and Skyler helped her up.
"Now, I'm going to get that spray paint, you want to help me paint it? I would like for my girlfriend to paint up my arm with me." Skyler said, Yang smiled, and Skyler hugged her.
"You're stuck with me, Firefly, I came here so I could hunt down a crazy scientist and I can't do that without you… Ms. Atlesian Specialist" Skyler said, Yang smiled, and Skyler looked where Taiyang went.
"You should talk to your dad before you, I'm pretty sure you both have some things to get off your chests…" Skyler said, Yang nodded, and Skyler walked outside.
"Sky?" Yang said, Skyler, turned to look at her.
"I love you," Yang said, Skyler, smiled.
"I love you too, Firefly," Skyler said as both finally said the words.
Author notes
Phew, another chapter is done! Yes, I know season 4 is a bit different. I want to point out season 4 will be building on Yang and Skyler's relationship. The next chapter will be on Saturday and will show Skyler and Yang getting closer and will take place during 'Two steps forward, two steps back until then, Lighting Wolf out!
Ps: Soon will be 2 chapters a week.