Chapter 12

"You don't seem very upset about it" came Blake's voice, she sat across from Yang at the same diner she had once visited with Winter. The two were at a table besides the balcony that looked down at the street. In front of Blake was a simple plate with a sandwich cut in two halves, the filling was quite clearly tuna and a number of bites had already been taken from it. Yang on the other hand had ordered a hamburger that she had barely touched for now. Her lilac eyes glanced up to Blake at her question.

"What's to be upset about? It was his own fault for butting into my business again" answered Yang before looking back to the street below. For a change there seemed to be a few people around today, walking the pavements or driving down the road. The diner itself had more customers as a result.

Blake offered Yang a sceptical expression, "He tried to help" she answered.

With a sigh Yang waved her hand at Blake, "Yeah yeah. I know... but still, he should mind his own business" she replied before slouching forward and leaning her head in her hand as her elbow rested upon the table.

The Faunus took a bite from her sandwich, taking the time to chew and swallow before continuing the conversation. The way she ate was refined, Yang had come to expect nothing less for Blake was always neat and tidy in most things she did. "How long is he there for?" she asked.

"Winter did what she could but... a few weeks. At least it gets him out of my hair for a while, one less thing to worry about right?" asked Yang before sitting up straight again in order to free her arm and pick up her hamburger so that she could take a bite.

Blake watched Yang, her golden gaze seemed to judge her. "He's still your father" she replied.

Unlike Blake Yang did not wait to finish her food as she spoke. "I know but he was getting in the way. It's not like I don't care, I just don't think it's a bad thing. Not... fully at least" she finished, swallowing her food and leaning back against her chair as her eyes remained on the Faunus in front of her.

The raven-haired woman sighed quietly to herself before she opted to shift the topic. "What about Neo?" she asked.

"What about her?" replied Yang casually, she seemed far less tense, now that the worst had passed at least.

Blake appeared unsure for a moment as she tapped her fingers against the table, she looked down to the streets. "Did you... see her face when she grabbed you?" asked Blake, her words growing softer as if she didn't want to voice herself loudly. But there was also hesitation.

Yang thought back as she looked up to the sunny sky as she placed her hamburger back on the plate, she had barely even gotten a good look at Neo this morning during the encounter. "No, but let me guess, she was grinning like an idiot?" asked Yang as her eyes landed back upon her friend.

The Faunus tilted her head as Yang was partly correct. "At... first". To this Yang raised a brow suspiciously. "When your father fired at you she looked... alarmed, and not in the surprised way, it was like she was protecting something. And after she blocked the bullets with her umbrella she gave him this glare like she was trying to kill him with her eyes there and then" finished Blake, looking straight on towards Yang for her reaction.

"You think she was trying to protect me?" asked Yang, she smirked in a way that looked although she was about to laugh at the idea.

"I'm not saying that. It was just... strange. I thought for sure she was going to use you as a shield. And what about your father? He said he never got hit right? Is he really that good?" continued Blake, leaning forward slightly in her chair as she got deeper into the conversation.

Yang paused for a brief few seconds that were enough to show she was certainly confused by the whole scenario. "He uh... He's not that much better than me. We used to spar a lot. Him not getting hit at all is..." she brought her hand to her head as she scratched it while her thoughts wandered. Though it was true she had never seen her father at his full potential, she had only ever trained with him.

"Strange? Unusual?" asked Blake.

With a heavy sigh Yang rested her hand back upon the table, "She's probably just trying to mess with my head" she answered as she ate another bite from her meal.

Blake considered the answer before nodding once, "I guess..." she agreed, though she certainly seemed to look although she had her doubts.

"Oh yeah" Yang spoke, her tone a lot more as it should be. Blake's bow ever so slightly flicked in her direction before she paid her full attention to the woman. "Why didn't you pick up when I called you?" asked Yang.

Blake blinked, she didn't seem to have an immediate answer as she awkwardly starting tapping her fingers against the table once more. "I... uhh..." she began, unable to find the words she was looking for. Yang simply stared on at her patiently. Blake bit her lip and tried to avoid her stare. "I just... I was worried you'd yell at me" she replied.

Yang chuckled, "Really? That's the reason? Didn't you want to talk to me?" she asked as she began rocking back and forth on her chair haphazardly.

"Of- Of course I did!" spoke Blake in a slightly raised voice, as if she had to be sure to let Yang know she wanted to interact with her. She hadn't realised she had stood up from her chair slightly and as she glanced around she awkwardly sat back down with the faintest of blushes upon her cheeks. "I was just worried, you know? I didn't know what I'd even say, what could I say?" she answered, her voice quietening down as she immediately decided to shut herself up by taking another bite of her sandwich.

With a wide grin Yang leaned forward once more, the sound of the front legs of her chair slamming forward as they were safely placed back upon the ground. "So you were shy? That's so you Blakey" she responded in a teasing tone.

The blush on the Faunus only deepened as she continued to try and avoid the lilac gaze of her friend as she swallowed her food. "Sh- Shut up" she muttered, though it was clear she never meant it in a hostile fashion.

"Hey, speaking of calling people though. Did you try Weiss?" asked Yang, legitimately curious.

Blake appeared to be steadily recovering as she responded, "Uh... Yeah. I did actually. You just get redirected to some receptionist that runs you in circles. I couldn't get through to her" answered the Faunus.

Yang held a disappointed expression as she listened. "Guess her dad is a real jerk..." she replied.

"What about Ruby? Have you tried her?" asked Blake as she peered to Yang, the blush having left her cheeks.

"She never picks up" answered Yang in a slightly downcast tone of voice. "Don't even know where she is. My uncle said he was going to look out for her though" she answered, raising her own spirits somewhat with the reminder of Qrow.

Blake frowned at Yang and reached out her hand to touch upon hers, "I'm sure she's safe" she answered with one of her usual soft smiles that Yang never seemed to grow tired of seeing. The blonde smiled in return and nodded.

"Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks Blake" answered Yang as she took her friend's hand into her own. As before the Faunus tensed slightly at the return of the comforting gesture, yet once more Yang either ignored it or was simply oblivious to it. The latter seemed more likely.

"Don't mention it" she replied as she smiled awkwardly, yet despite that her hand never released Yang's. A silent pause passed over the two. Eventually, and in a subtly crestfallen manner, Blake retracted her hand. Once again her friend failed to notice that anything was amiss.

After taking another bite from her hamburger Yang pointed a finger at the Faunus. "Did you know Winter has a bike?" she asked.

Blake leaned her head against her hand as she glanced down to the street, her attention seemed distant, either that or she simply didn't care about topics regarding Winter. "Oh, does she?" she asked.

Yang swallowed her bite. "Yeah, it's a pretty nice ride. Fancy Atlas stuff. It's really quiet too, which was weird at first I guess" continued the blonde woman, clearly more interested in the topic than Blake was.

"Guessing her father bought it for her?" replied Blake, her words carrying some slight venom to them now.

"Well, dunno but I'm sure Winter has a lot of her own money. I mean she's a specialist in the Atlesian military, she has to be doing well for herself right?" asked Yang. Blake only offered an agreeing hum in response. It was finally blatant enough for Yang to notice as she asked "Hey, everything okay? Is the tuna bad?" she asked.

"Does she impress you?" asked Blake as she ignored the latter question, her golden eyes searching Yang.

With a brief pause of confusion the blonde woman replied, "I guess. I mean, she's really cool when you think about it. And I didn't mean to make that a pun, it just came out" she answered. Blake offered a single nod to her before turning her attention back to the street. Yang made a puzzled expression but before she could speak her scroll vibrated as it so often liked to do when she was busy. She turned her attention to the device as she opened it, the caller was unknown. Bringing it to her ear she greeted whoever was on the other side. "You've got Yang, who's this?" she asked.

"What is that? Some kind of disability?" came Junior's voice from the other end.

Yang scoffed as she heard his voice, "Hey Junior, how's prison life?" she asked. Blake glanced up to her as she spoke, almost as if her attention had been caught.

Junior's voice seemed calm, "Oh just fine. Had the grand tour, made some new friends, met another Xiao Long. How are you doing Blondie?" he asked, but Yang had fallen silent as he mentioned her father. "Well I guess that answers my question. It's your old man isn't it?" continued the voice.

"If you-" began Yang as her voice grew more threatening, but Junior's voice cut her off.

"I ain't laying a finger on him Blondie, relax. I just wanted to talk business now that I got some time to make calls" came the response.

Yang continued to speak into her scroll as Blake kept her focus pinned on her, she appeared to be listening intently and it was unsure wherever she could hear Junior's voice from the other end. "You wanna make business calls from prison? Isn't that a little risky?" asked Yang.

"What do you think I am? Some kind of amateur? Don't answer that" snapped Junior. "No, I got a scroll imported. But lets get down to brass tacks eh?" he replied. Yang remained silent, allowing him to continue. "Right, I'm guessing you should have seen this one coming but I've got a score to settle with a psycho sundae. Not only are our interests in seeing her dead mutual but I could sweeten the deal with more info on your Faunus girl. How's that-" he continued before being cut off by Yang.

"I found Blake" stated Yang bluntly.

"What?" came Junior's response.

Blake leaned forward so that her voice would be heard, "She's right, I'm here" she answered as she spoke into the scroll.

The voice of Junior was absent for a moment. "Well thanks for ruining my bait Belladonna" he answered in an annoyed tone.

Yang raised a brow at the way he referred to Blake. "You'd have just given her the same information you give the White Fang anyway" replied the Faunus before moving back towards her chair.

"I feel like I missed something" commented Yang as she looked back to her scroll.

"Your beauty in black didn't tell you? Ask her about our deal later. For now we're talking about ours" spoke Junior once more.

Yang frowned slightly in her confusion. "Right... so what if I say okay?" she asked.

"You get the address of the ice-cream parlour and we both sleep better at night after you clean it up. It's that simple" responded Junior.

Yang looked over to Blake briefly, she only seemed to be watching. "What makes you think she hasn't moved?" asked Yang.

A snicker came from the scroll. "I wasn't joking when I said she built an obsession over you. It got to the point she was dragging me down. She won't move because she wants to give you as much of a chance as she can to find her. She wants you to go to her" answered the man.

"Then it's a trap?" asked Yang.

"You'd think it right? But see, I doubt she really expects you to go to her apartment. She probably thinks you're too afraid of her for that. She'll be vulnerable. She leaves the chance open so she can hope, get it?" continued Junior.

Yang nodded slowly, despite knowing Junior couldn't see her do so. "The more you talk about this the more it annoys me" she replied, her brow furrowing.

"Then do something about it" stated Junior. Another brief pause before he continued, his voice suddenly having shifted tone. "But... I'm only saying this because there's a real chance it'll go south... You be careful around her, got it?" he spoke. It was odd to her ears to hear any form of concern from him.

"I'll be fine" replied Yang as if stating it as fact.

"No, you don't get it. Neo is... She's not right. Something about her is just off... like how you can tell milk is out of date before even opening it. It's just that... feeling that something is wrong, yeah? She's broken, Blondie, and there's no telling what twisted things she has planned for you if she gets the chance. I'd rather you kept breathing instead of her" finished Junior.

With a drawn sigh Yang replied, "Okay, I get it. I'll be careful. What's her address?" she asked in request.

"I'll text it, I think someone is walking by. Catch you around Blondie, I'll say hi to papa bear for you" chuckled the man. Before Yang could respond he had hung up on her. Her lilac eyes steadily drifted over to Blake who was still observing her, she also seemed to be waiting for the question she knew was about to pop up.

"I'll explain" nodded Blake as she held up her hand, not even waiting for Yang to ask. The latter nodded once and listened. "I knew Junior was an information broker from Neptune, from that time you took him to visit him at the club. I guessed the White Fang would go to him because of what he is so I met up with him before they managed to. We set up the deal to exchange information about me for dust. Only the information was always going to be short-handed. Just enough for the White Fang to find clues we'd leave behind for them to believe they were right on my trail. Junior kept getting dust and I got to stay out of the White Fang's way while knowing where they were and where they were going all the time. If I didn't make the deal he probably would've found out where I was and told them exactly where to find me in return for as much dust as he could ask for. Plus... having an information broker on your side was useful to know what was going on in the city. It was a mutually beneficial deal and it kept me alive and made him richer by the day. And honestly, he held up his side of the bargain" finished Blake with a soft sigh, biting into the last piece of her sandwich.

"So he did know where you were..." muttered Yang to herself as she recalled re-visiting Junior when she arrived in Vale.

"I... kind of didn't want you knowing where I was either so..." admitted Blake in shame.

Yang smiled reassuringly at the Faunus, "Don't sweat it. I know you had your reasons" she replied as her scroll vibrated, the address from Junior having being sent to her as she glanced at it.

Blake looked to the scroll with intrigue. "Suppose he didn't have one for Adam too?" she asked.

"Sorry Blake, Winter said not even she can get anything out of the White Fang they arrested at the warehouse today. At least, not yet." answered Yang apologetically.

"It's fine. It's going to be a lot tougher to find him now that Junior is behind bars anyway. Without him I don't know where the rest of the White Fang are operating" replied Blake as she pushed back her chair, standing up to her feet.

Yang pocketed her scroll before taking a final bite of her hamburger and standing up. "So... Straight to Neo? Should we like... call Winter first maybe?" asked Yang, she looked unsure.

"The two of us should be enough" replied Blake, though once more her voice dipped at the mention of Winter as her gaze flicked to the ground. "Lead on?" she asked. Yang nodded in response as the two would begin on their way to what was believed to be Neo's apartment.