Chapter 9

Darker Nights

Ruby's intense growls and the sound of her video game fills the cabin. Weiss is sitting below Ruby's bunk reading a book. I'm stretched out on my back on the other side of the room, using Blake's lap as a pillow while I flip through a magazine. Her arm is draped across my chest as gentle fingers glide through my hair.

A poke at my cheek draws my eyes up from the magazine. I meet Blake's golden eyes with a raised brow. She wiggles her fingers in a short greeting, a gentle smile on her face. The sight sets butterflies off in my stomach. A warm smile pulls at my lips. "Hey you." The words are almost a whisper.

"Hey back." Her soft giggle melts my heart. She caresses my cheek, drawing her thumb along my cheek. "Are you excited to see Atlas? The legendary floating city, I've been told it's quite the sight."

My bite lightly at my lip in thought. Atlas has been in some pretty hot water recently. After Beacon where their robots were hacked to start fighting alongside the Grimm, the rest of the Kingdoms were on tense terms with them. Not to mention the embargo and closed borders. "I mean, yeah I guess. If we can even get in, with the borders closed. Besides, who wants to see a super cool floating city, when I have you right here?"

Blake rolls her eyes with an exaggerated sigh, but the light blush on her cheeks betrays her act.

"Ugh... Get a room." Weiss's voice carries across the room, along with a pillow in Blake's face. The pillow falls on me and I toss it back. "You don't have to rub it in you know. Some of us are still single."

Ruby's head peaks over the edge of her bunk. She looks down at Weiss. "If you're bothered, why didn't you go after Neptune? He was at the train station."

Weiss shrugs looking up at the younger girl. "We did spend some time together, but we didn't really connect like that you know? I don't want to be with just anybody. I want to be with someone that I know and love already."

Ruby is hanging half way off the bunk now. She's staring hard at Weiss. "I bet you like someone already." Weiss goes wide eyed. "I knew it!"

"Okay, hold on. Ruby lets just give the poor girl room to breathe." I chuckle. "Look at her, her face is as red as your hood."

Weiss shoots me a grateful look. "Look, I just realized since the date with Neptune, that I'm not really, attracted to people physically, exactly? Does that make sense?" Weiss smooths her skirt, avoiding Ruby's stare. "It's about the who they are as a person and the bond we already share." There's a moment of silence in the room. "Guys, I had a lot of time to think back in Atlas."

Ruby leans in closer and Weiss stoically ignores her. "Is it Jaune?"

"Ew, no." Savage, but fair.

"Is it Ren?"

"Also, no." Nora would kill her.

"Hmm... Is it Nora?"

"What? No." Also savage, and still fair.

"Are you crushing on Blake?"

Weiss lets out a laugh. "Ruby, no." I look up at Blake, she meets my glance, humor written on her face.

Ruby gasps. "Is it Yang?"

Weiss rolls her eyes and pushes Ruby away. "Alright, you're out of questions. Next topic please." Ruby drops from the bunk and continues staring at Weiss through slit eyes.

"Alright." Ruby's enthusiastic voice comes from the other side of the room, "It's time for an official team exercise. Who wants to play video games?!"

I chuckle and sit up with a stretch. "I mean if you want me to kick your butt, yeah sure. Let me grab my Scroll."

Before I can stand, Blake is on her feet. "I can get it for you."

I watch her walk over to the storage closet and pull my bag from the top shelf. She brings it back over with a smile.

"You didn't have to do that." I say as I take the offered bag. I narrow my eyes at her. She rolls her eyes.

"It's no problem." The faunus replies as I dig out my scroll from a side pocket. "My legs were falling asleep anyway."

She sits back down at my side and leans into me. I link my arm around hers and slide open my Scroll. Her head rests on my shoulder and I can feel the fur of her cat ears against my cheek.

"How touching." Qrow's voice comes from the entrance. He's standing in the doorway with a cocktail glass, an orange slice stuck on the lip. His other hand is on his hip and a smile on his face as he looks around the room.

"Oh," Ruby starts in surprise. "Hey Uncle Qrow. You wanna play too?" She flashes her Scroll as she makes the offer. She's found her way back onto the top bunk.

"Kick your butts? Sure."

Weiss offers him a seat at the opposite end of her bed. He flops down, careful with his drink, and kicks out crossed legs.

"Hold on. This isn't fair." I cross my arms. "I didn't agree to getting beat down by my own Uncle."

Weiss gets an interested look. "Wait, you actually play their games? I thought you were just humoring."

"Pfft... Their games? Listen here kid, who do you think taught them to play?"

Ruby and Qrow start a match and shortly after Ruby starts growling and muttering fiercely. Weiss is leaned over, watching Qrow's scroll with interest. A warm pair of lips press against my jaw, sending a shiver down my spine.

Blake giggles as my face flushes with a light warmth. I look over at her and her golden eyes sparkle with mirth. "I'll get you back someday soon. Just you wait." I narrow my eyes and struggle to hold back the grin threatening my face.

"Oh no. Whatever shall I do?" Her deadpan delivery has my shoulders shake with a small laugh. Ruby's loud groan interrupts the moment.

"Why are you so good?" She's deflated like a balloon on the bed.

"What do you think I have to do while off on secret missions?" Qrow asks with a laugh. "Gotta stay entertained while out in the field." He looks at the door. "Not like I have company while I'm out."

I spot Dad step in and lean against the doorway. He takes in the room with a small smile. "Don't be like that Qrow. You know you don't want me out there, making you like bad."

"Oh really?" Qrow growls with a smirk. "Is that what you'd be doing? I was more worried that I'd have to drag you back. Packing on the pounds there Tai."

As Dad starts to reply, the train car shakes violently, throwing Qrow on to the floor. Dad stumbles forward into the room with a yelp of surprise.

"Crap!" Dad exclaims as he regains his balance.

"What was that?!" I exclaim as the team flies to their feet. Screams sound off from the other passengers.

"Exactly what it sounds like." Weiss deadpans helping Qrow to his feet.

Blake is grimacing. "Just my luck."

"It's not yours..." Qrow states as he looks out the window. "Grab your weapons!"

The Sphinx spits a fireball in its death throes. With a sickening realization, I watch the arc as it blasts towards the front train car. An explosion hits the track and launches the train off of its tracks and down the cliff towards the forest below. Unable to escape, the whole team follows it down. Everything turns cold and white.

Dazed, I push myself up from the snow. The sound of Uncle Qrow's voice reaches my ears. "Is everyone okay?"

I help Ruby to her feet and as the team sounds off. I look around for a head count. Dad is helping Oscar up from the ground. Qrow is brushing snow off. Weiss and Blake look fine as well.

"Still alive!" Comes a shout from the wrecked train car in front of us. We all watch as small old woman walks out of the train. Her face has a pair of high tech looking googles covering them.

"That was a close one." She adds with a smirk. There's a silence across the group.

Ruby is the first to action, "Alright guys. Scavenge up what you can find! Let's get prepared to move out. Stay close."

I spot my motorbike partially buried in the snow. Dad had brought it along with him while I went to Menagerie. I'm just glad he did. It'll hopefully be useful in getting us out of here. As I struggle to pull the bike from the snow, I feel frustration bubbling in my chest.

"Great, this is just great." I state through grit teeth. "We're stranded. We lost a third of our party. And we have gained a defenseless old lady." Bumblebee breaks free of the snow as I finish speaking. Unprepared for the sudden momentum, I slip and fall backwards into the snow.

"My name is Maria Calavera, and I am not defenseless," The old woman's voice is indignant as I climb back to my feet, "I'm just a little hard of hearing, and blind without my eyes." She taps at the tech on her face. "That are in desperate need of repair. Okay, I'm starting to see your point."

I walk forward towards Qrow who raises a calming hand. "Yang, knock it off will ya? If we lose our cool now we'll just be inviting even more Grimm."

"He's got a point." Dad adds but Blake steps up next to me.

"Does that even matter? Apparently we've been attracting Grimm since we left Haven." It's nice to have someone share in my frustration.

"Oh and how could I forget about that?" I glare towards Oscar. "What happened to no more lies and half-truths?"

Oscar stops escorting Maria and turns to face the group. "Yeah, I think it's time we got an explanation."

As he finishes speaking, his eyes flash with light and a jolt hits his body. "I did not lie to you." Ozpin states as he gathers himself. The body swap must be disorienting.

Weiss steps up between me and Blake with a matter of fact tone, "Well you certainly didn't tell us everything about the relic."

Ozpin makes a calming gesture. "Please, now is not the time."

"No, we're past that. I wanna know why you're still not telling us everything." I demand and catch sight of Ruby beside me.

Ozpin sighs and stands straight. "It is true that the Grimm are attracted to the relics. It's faint, but undeniable. I believe it has to do with their origin, but I'm not entirely sure. Regardless, I feared that making you all aware would only add anxiety and negativity. It seemed like the safer option."

"You know," Weiss starts. "I'm getting real tired of other people deciding what's best for me."

"Is that why you chose to lie to everyone about Lionheart too?" I question, thinking back to the headmaster that turned coat. Ozpin had let the story be that he was a hero who died in the assault. In truth he was a traitor and a coward.

"Yes, as a matter of fact," Ozpin fires back, "I believed the Kingdom of Mistral deserved better than the truth. And I believed Leonardo deserved to be remembered for his lifetime of service, not the unfortunate missteps he made in his final years."

"Missteps?!" I'm appalled.

"What professor Lionheart did was reprehensible. I am not here to argue differently, but does one lapse in judgment truly negate all of his good? Do we not all have regrets? You may have met professor Lionheart, but you never met the man he was before Salem found him."

"Look, we're supposed to be in this together. You can trust us." Blake places a hand on my shoulder as I speak. "We're not gonna turn our backs on you."

"Do you really think Leo was the first?" Ozpin shouts. "That he didn't say those exact same words to me? I'm sorry, but you have to understand that my behaviors are backed by experience. I'm not saying that I have reason to think you will betray me. I'm saying that I have reasons for the things that I do. The secrets I keep. The reason I-" He cuts off, eyes widening in panic. "Where's the relic?"

"Right here." Ruby says, pulling the lamp off of her belt. "It got scattered in the crash."

"Please." Ozpin holds out his hand. "Hand it over."

There's a long pause and Ruby looks away from the old headmaster.

"So all those times you talked about having faith in humanity, that was just for everyone else?"

Ozpin lets out a sigh and looks at the ground, "That's not what I meant to suggest. Miss Rose, the relic is a powerful item and I simply feel as though it is my burden to bear." I clench a fist, he's deflecting.

"But you said it couldn't do anything right now." Ruby replies.

"Why does it matter who carries it?" Blake adds.

Ozpin starts towards Ruby with an outstretched arm. "I need you to listen to m-"

He freezes in place and there's a faint sound emanating off of him. Qrow steps forward with concern, "Oz?"

"Hurry," The voice from the frozen boy sounds strained. "He's trying to stop you."

"Stop her from what," I ask stepping between the boy and Ruby.

"He's afraid you'll find out what he's hiding!" The boy falls to his knees, "Her name is Jinn. Say her name- to summon her."

"Her name?" Ruby's voice is quiet behind me. There's a moments pause. "Jinn?"

Time seems to stop. Snowflakes are frozen in midair, the wind is no longer blowing.

"What?" Qrow sounds as shocked as I feel. I turn to face Ruby and she lets the lamp go. A brilliant light shines from it and it floats away a few feet. In a plume of blue smoke, a giant blue woman with gold chains hanging from her wrists appears. I recognize her as the likeness of the statue back at Haven.

"I am Jinn," Her voice carries across the stunned silence, "A being created by the God of Light to aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. I've been graced with the ability to answer three questions every one hundred years. You're in luck, as I am still able to answer-

"That's enough!" Ozpin shouts and the group turns back to face him.

"- two questions this era." The woman finishes. "It's a pleasure to see you again old man."

Cold fury fills my veins. How dare he.

"Ruby, please... don't." I feel my fingers fold into a tight fist at Ozpin's words. Dad is by Qrow when he takes a step forward.

"Hey-" He's cut off when he finds himself facing three very pissed huntress's with weapons at the ready.

"Do whatever you think is right kiddo," Qrow says softly, hands in the air.

Dad watches us with an unreadable expression. He lays a hand on Qrow's shoulder and pulls him back a step.

There's a moment of stillness as we all stare each other down.

"Jinn?" The snow crunches beneath her feet as Ruby turns towards the woman, "What is Ozpin hiding from us?"

"Noooo!" Ozpin dashes past us towards Ruby.

Suddenly, everything disappears. I'm left alone surrounded by an empty white void.

The roar of the blizzard around us is almost deafening. I can't even see Bumblebee parked a few feet from the porch we'd walked onto. I can feel my aura getting dangerously weak as I'm buffeted by icy particles.

"I still don't get it," Ruby's voice struggles to carry in the wind, "The empty towns I've passed through were all damaged, or unfinished. But this place looks... fine."

Weiss is leaned against a pillar, shivering from the cold. "Maybe everyone left in a hurry. Before things took a turn?"

Qrow grunts as he tests the door handle, it's locked. "Stay on guard."

We gather up weapons at the ready. Qrow kicks in the door and our group rushes in, prepared for a fight. We form a semi circle around the entry and listen for movement. After a few seconds of silence, Maria marches in shouting.

"Close the door already! It's cold enough in here as it is."

With a shrug, I push the door closed. Blake and Oscar push a table in front of it as a barricade.

"I saw a chimney from outside." Blake says as they finish moving the table. "Maybe we could get a fire going?"

"Please." Weiss agrees. "I'll look for some blankets."

"Yang go with her." Qrow orders as he steps out of the hallway. You got it boss.

I follow the heiress up the staircase in the entry as the team disperses through the house. We test a door to find it unlocked. I ready my fists and nod to Weiss. She twists the handle and pushes open the door. We burst into the room. Its empty, except for two gaunt corpses in the bed. Weiss screams and falls backwards knocking me to the floor with her.

There's a rush of movement as the others come upstairs to help. The footsteps fall silent in the doorway behind me. I'm too stunned to move until Dad speaks up.

"Why don't you guys head back downstairs to the fire. I'll find some blankets."

I climb to my feet with the help of Blake and Ruby lifts Weiss. We head back downstairs and Oscar has gotten a fire going. Maria is perched on a chair near the back of the room. I take a seat on a couch across from the fireplace. Weiss sits directly in front of the fire pit. Blake takes a seat on my left. Ruby and Oscar stand near the entrance.

"You kids sit here and warm up," Qrow orders, "I'm going to check the other houses."

Blake shivers and lifts my arm, pulling it around her shoulders. I pull her close and lean my head against hers. There's a heavy silence that settles on the room. Dad appears and looks around the room. He's got a blanket that he drapes over Weiss. She looks up at him and he pats her shoulder.

"It'll be alright Weiss." He says softly. He walks over between Oscar and Ruby.

"How are you kids holding up?" Dad asks, offering Oscar a blanket. He accepts after a moments hesitation.

"I'll be alright," Ruby replies with a reassuring smile.

"Yeah... me, too." Oscar doesn't sound as confident.

Blake draws my attention with a tap on my leg. I look over. She meets my eyes with a searching gaze. Worry is written across her face. I offer a half-hearted smile. She cups my cheek with a cold hand. My smile brightness, along with the warmth in my stomach. I capture her hands between mine and use light friction to ease the icy chill in her hands. I blow warm air against her fingers before placing a light kiss on her finger tips.

A high-pitched noise from Ruby catches my attention. She's grinning at us. "You guys are so cute!"

The words set fire to my face and a warm blush takes over Blake's face as well. Any response is cut off as the front door is opened and shut. Qrow walks into the room.

We all watch him and with a sigh he speaks, "It's the same in every house."

"What?" The word comes out with my shock.

"Bodies. Every bed in every home." Qrow steps through the room and kneels in front of the fireplace, "It's like the whole estate just went to bed and never woke up."

"Then we're not staying here, right?" The fear in Weiss's voice is undisguised.

Qrow doesn't look at her, "We don't have a choice. Storm outside's only getting worse. We'd freeze to death before we made it anywhere."

Maria rises from her chair, walking to a book shelf beside the fire pit. "Welp, might as well get comfortable."

"Yeah, fat chance," I cross my arms. This place is awful. Thoughts of the bodies upstairs flash behind my eyes.

"Okay, then." Ruby steps forward. "Lets do something. If this place wasn't abandoned, there might be supplies we could use."

"Hey, yeah," Oscar sounds more optimistic, "There might even be a car."

Qrow rises from the fire place, "I'll do another sweep of the grounds."

Dad nods towards him. "I'll join you. No one needs to be going anywhere alone right now. That goes for all of you."

As the pair exit, Blake stands up. "Yang and I can search the other buildings for vehicles."

"Right," Ruby teases, "I want her back by ten Blake."

I want to be grumpy, but the light laughter around the room puts a smile on my face. I tussle Ruby's hair as we head towards the front door. Ruby follows us to push the barricade back in place after we leave.

"I saw a shed out this way when we came in" Blake informs me leading the way through the heavy blizzard. We make it to the large shed and I open the door with some effort. We head inside and she helps me push the door closed.

I stay leaned against the door. A well of emotions that I've been repressing threatens to break free in the privacy of the shed. Blake places a gentle hand on my shoulder blade.

"Yang, are you alright?" Her voice is soft. We both know I'm not. I turn to face her and a wave of exhaustion hits me. I let out a sigh.

"Yeah, I mean... No, I'm not, but I can deal with it when we get to Atlas." I pull the faunus close and press my forehead lightly against hers. "I'm just tired."

"Yeah, me too."

We split apart and wander down the rows of shelves that line the room. I spot a decent sized flat-bed trailer. I walk up to examine in it and glance out the window just behind the trailer. I see Adam standing out in the snow. He draws his sword.

With a gasp I stumble backwards, images of the Fall of Beacon play behind my eyes. The screams and death surround me once more.

"What is it?" I become aware of Blake, having rushed my side. My eyes focus out the window again, but there's nothing outside. Just the falling snow of the blizzard.

"I... I was just seeing things. I'm sorry." I look down at my left arm, it's trembling from the panic in my chest. Blake lays a hand on my trembling arm.

"I still get flashes from that night..." My voice is distant as I look back out the window. "Do you think Adam's still out there?"

Blake brushes a few stray hairs from my face. I turn my head and meet her gaze with lavender eyes. She cups my cheek. Her cool, gentle touch draws forth a heat from my heart that banishes the fear in my stomach.

"I don't know," Her answer comes in a soft voice, "If he went back to the White Fang, there would have been serious consequences. But, he never really liked people telling him what to do. Adam's strong, but his real power comes from control." A distant look appears in her eyes. "He used to get in my head, make me feel small. But now I see that he just wanted to pull me down to his size."

I examine my prosthetic as I absorb her words. Blake clasps my mechanical hand and draws my gaze in with glinting yellow eyes, "I'm not leaving. And if we ever see him again, I'll be there. We'll take him down together."

Her comforting words find purchase in my heart, and I pull her into a tight embrace.

"You know Blake. Despite everything, I feel like it's going to be okay, as long as you're at my side." I pull back and place a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. She smiles through the warm blush lighting her face.

As I let the other woman out of the embrace, she takes my hand. Her cold hand reminds me that there's currently a snow storm just outside. The poorly kept shed is not insulated, and our breath pushes steam through the air. I start toward the door leading Blake behind me.

"Where are we going?" Blake asks as we approach the door.

"Huh? Oh, we can hook that flatbed up to Bumblebee in the morning. It should carry everyone." I inform the faunus. "Now, we can go back in and get warmed up."

We exit the shed and slog through the tearing winds, back to the house. The whole team eventually gathers around the fire. A blanket of silence lies across the house as we eat. Ruby and Weiss had managed to find some canned food that was still good. Time ticks by and the light of the sun disappears along with the worst of the storm. The storm fades to a light snow fall that breezes past the window. Weiss, Blake and I are grouped next to the fire pit. Maria is reading in the chair she claimed. Oscar is pacing by the large bookshelf behind her. Dad and Qrow are in the entry hall with Ruby. I can hear light conversation coming through the doorway.

"Weiss, how are you holding up," I ask across leaning forward to look around Blake at the heiress. Dark thoughts about the true futility of our quest are pressing down on me. I'd prefer the distraction of conversation.

The white haired huntress offers a weak shrug and draws her blanket tighter. "I'm a little worried, but I'll be okay. I just feel drained."

"Same here." Blake adds. "I really don't like this place."

My head bobs slightly in agreement. "That's an understatement."

I catch Oscar watching our conversation. I feel anger, but stamp it down. It's not his fault, it's Ozpin's. Oscar is just another victim caught up in this awful war.

"How about you Oscar." I question the farm boy. "How are you holding up with everything?"

He scratches the back of his neck and looks thoughtful. "I... I don't know. I'm just trying my best to take it all in stride. One step at a time." He puts on a smile. "Thank you for asking though."

"Come here young man, I've got a story for you," Maria's voice is a demand.

I turn my gaze back to the fire and listen to the conversation.

"It's a diary?" Oscar sounds confused.

"Indeed. It belonged to the head of this household, Bartleby. Apparently, he and several other families founded this little settlement to try and live on their own. It sounds like it worked, at least for a spell." She pauses thoughtfully.

"Grimm?" Oscar asks, sending my thoughts towards the bodies in the bed upstairs.

"Just one of many hardships. Slowed down their farming, made everything harder... It's a shame, really," A touch of sadness enters her voice, "He seemed like quite the ambitious fellow, always thinking of new schemes to over come the odds."

I hear footsteps in the door way.

Ruby's voice fills the room, "Qrow said we should get some sleep. We're gonna head out tomorrow."

"Thank goodness." Blake huffs.

Maria wanders over to a rocking chair with a small lamp at it's side. She grumbles something about kids. Oscar hands out blankets from the stock that had been found earlier. Blake shares a blanket with me. Ruby, Oscar, and Weiss spread out around the rest of the room. Dad and Qrow stay in the hall. Silence takes over the building, except for the rustle of turning pages and the crackling fire.

Blake is a short distance away, facing towards me. I can feel a light hand rest on my hip. I offer a drowsy smile before fading into a deep slumber.

I awaken with a soft gasp of fear. Nightmares about the Fall of Beacon had filled my dreams. The fire is ash and embers. Moonlight shines through the tattered curtains. Everyone is asleep still, except Blake is missing. I sit up panicked, but soft voices in the hallway give me pause.

"-better, but that first month was the worst." Dad's voice is low. "She's so strong and I'm proud of her but... this is the kind of thing that doesn't just go away."

"Do you think she'll ever be completely okay." Blake's voice eases the tension in my shoulder.

I hug my knees to my chest and listen closely to the conversation.

"I mean... it's hard to say. She may not show us her struggles, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. I worry about her. She's been forced to be strong since she was just a girl. When Summer went missing... I shut down. Yang had to be there for Ruby in all of the ways I wasn't. Then, to add to it all, she finds out that she had her own mother that disappeared after she was born." There's a soft sigh from the other room. "Now, there's all of this. Yang carries such a heavy burden on her shoulders. Life has done its best to tear her down, and I think it's just pure stubbornness that keeps pushing her forward. She shares that with her mother."

"Right, her mother... Raven. Yang and I talked about her a little bit," Blake has a thoughtful tone, "What can you tell me about her? I know she was at Haven and that she was supposedly helping Salem's forces. You said she just ran?"

There's a long silence that stretches for what seems like minutes.

"Blake, if you don't mind. I'd like to ask you a question... Why Yang?"

"What do you mean?"

"You used to be White Fang. Yang is a human. You were partners at Beacon sure, but the way you look at her... Why?"

A long silence fills the house and I draw the blanket tighter around my form. I stare at the smoldering embers in the fire pit.

"Yang has always accepted me. When she discovered that I hid being a faunus, that I was part of the White Fang, she just accepted me. Whenever I questioned myself, she believed in me. When I ran after the Fall of Beacon, she forgave me. I was able to watch her be there for Ruby and Weiss at Beacon. She never stops being a pillar for everyone around her. She gives everything she has to support the people she loves."

"I have run away my entire life. Anytime things get hard, I run from them. Yang though, she's different. She's the epitome of strength. Like you said, she carries weight of everyone's burdens on her shoulders. Eventually, the weight may become too much. So, I decided that I'm going to be there when it does. And I'm going to be there long after."

There's another stretch of silence.

"I see... Blake why don't you go to back to bed. We'll find some more time to talk later." Dad's tone didn't leave room for argument.

The sound of movement and quiet footsteps fill the air. I look away from the dying fire to see Blake enter the room. Her golden eyes are wide as her gaze falls on me. I just offer a small smile and pat the empty space next to me lightly. Blake sits down next to me. We wrap ourselves in the blanket and lean against each other. Our fingers twine together and we drift back off to sleep in comfortable silence.