[So, as you are about to see, this story is not the second chapter of the moves in storyline. However, I ask that you stick around till the end and read my explanation in the Author's Note following the chapter please. All shall be revealed then. Until that point, enjoy this idea I have had in my head since I wrote moves in.]
Six years after Salem's defeat
Salem. Years ago, that name was enough to bring any huntsman or huntress that knew of her to their knees in fear. So great was her power.
That was until a ragtag group made up of mostly students that were present during the fall of Beacon assembled together and managed to take her and her inner circle down.
Following their victory, that group had become legend. Any member was treated like a celebrity and they were all made official huntsman by General James Ironwood during the official debriefing.
It had been six years since that moment, and now those former students were living their lives.
Lie Ren had become the new headmaster at Beacon Academy following a conversation with Glynda Goodwitch, settling down into a more peaceful life with his now pregnant wife Nora Valkyrie.
Weiss Schnee had usurped control of the Schnee dust company from her father's clutches and was in the process of cleaning up years of black marks on her the company and - more importantly – her family name.
Blake Belladonna had become a beacon of hope for her people, currently stationed as a liaison between Menagerie and Vale.
Yang Xiao Long continued her work as a huntress. Living out of Vale and going back and forth between different areas. Knocking off the last of the remaining Grimm in the world.
Ruby Rose was made into a folk hero. She spent most of her time traveling the world and inspiring people through her work and words. Last, she mentioned to her friends, she was speaking at Atlas Academy soon.
That left only one member of their group unaccounted for… and it was a sore spot for everyone.
Following the end of their battle with Salem, Jaune Arc returned to his home. Only to find it destroyed.
That was roughly three months after their debriefing with Ironwood.
All they heard about it was from the reports Winter, Weiss' sister, forwarded to them after she received them from a squad that was deployed there following a distress call.
Jaune became like a phantom after that. Never staying in one place to long and never keeping frequent contact with anyone. Ren and Nora were the only ones who saw him more than once a year if that.
He showed up to their wedding, even going as far as to accept being Ren's best man and acting joyful throughout the festivities. Only to disappear into the night after the ceremony.
He sent each of them messages on their birthdays and thanked them when they wished him one as well. It never seemed like he was being cold… just that they could never actually pin him down.
That was until one dark night in a city outside of Atlas in the middle of winter.
Seven Months Ago
Yang Xiao Long was never the biggest fan of the cold.
Sure, she didn't mind when the weather got a bit nippy and she was able to break out one of her favorite jackets, but when things got down way below freezing she was not a happy lady.
She should have known better than to travel all the way up to Atlas on a mission during this time of year, but the job paid well, and she was never someone to turn down a request specifically made for her.
When someone made a request just for one of their group, normally it meant serious business.
However, this time it was more a publicity stunt than anything else since she was treated like royalty the entire time and finished off the small clustering of Beowolves in less than a day.
The entire town was throwing an unnecessary – but not unwelcome – celebration in her honor. Who was she to say no to free booze and food?
That was how the buxom blonde found herself sitting at the bar of a rather small restaurant, nursing what was sure to be a hangover in the morning, but refusing to turn in for the night.
"Is it true? Did you really singlehandedly punch a Goliath to death while protecting a village in Haven on your journey?"
A very excitable crowd had gathered around the girl as they all drank and conversed like old friends… or in this case, fans and an idol.
"Sure is! I had my sister run ahead and clear the way for the civilians we were helping escape the horde. Blake and Weiss were helping Nora and Ren keep the perimeter while Jaune headed up the large group and guided them away."
Thinking back on her memories was always a good time waster for the brawler. She loved reminiscing about the good times they all had before things went to shit and war broke out.
In the middle of someone else's conversation, she caught something glint with light out of the corner of her eye. A bright white metal shined as the person carrying it made their exit from the establishment.
While the light may have distracted her, that wasn't what held her attention now.
No.
Now her focus was squarely on the familiar white sheathe of a legendary weapon only one person on Remnant was allowed to carry at his side.
The thick, navy cloak that covered the mans body shook when the wind from outside hit his frame, but it held firm as he pushed onwards into the cold.
Without a second thought she moved to follow.
Pushing past her group of admirers with shouts of 'Sorry' and 'Excuse me', she pursued the unknown form.
Ignoring the slight buzz in her head and the swaying floor, she pushed the doors open and locked her attention on the casually moving cloak.
They were the only people outside at the moment. Abandoned streets lit dimly by lanterns surrounded them as she took two steps forward.
"Hey asshole!"
Her voice barely slurred as it carried down and around the street. The man stopped mid stride, but did not turn around to face her.
Seeing she had his attention, she continued.
"You have some nerve walking around with that sword. Only one person is… allowed… to… carry…"
Her somewhat drunken state seemed to fade away quicker than she had ever known it to happen before as realization started to dawn upon her.
One step turned to two, then three, until the blonde was sprinting down the street and towards her target.
At this point the cloaked figure had turned to face his accuser, his reactions hidden behind the hood. Even if he had wanted to evade what was coming, he was a little to late responding.
Yang was upon him within seconds, ignoring the small crowd that spilled out from the bar and was now watching her sprint at a complete stranger to them.
To those onlookers, it probably looked like she launched a devastating attack at the hooded man, but to the two figures on the road, they knew what was happening.
Her body collided with his, sending both of them tumbling into the snow. As their momentum came to a stop, she was straddling his waist with her legs and pinning his arms down with her own.
In the short scuffle, the strangers hood was blown off, allowing shimmering lilac orbs to stare directly into dull sapphire ones.
A small smile tugged at her lips. Tears threatening to spill as she took in his face after not seeing him since the anniversary party nearly two years ago.
"Jaune."
The name wasn't said to him. It was said so that she knew he was actually here and not leaving them again.
"Yang…"
His voice was also full of emotion. But she didn't like how he said her name.
"… you should have just let me go…"
What? Why would he say that? He had never acted this cold to any of them when they saw him before.
"Why?"
"I just need to be alone."
Bullshit.
"Bullshit."
His eyes widened ever so slightly at her crassness in calling him out, but he should have expected that from her at this point.
"I'm serious Yang. I told Nora this when she tried to get me to stay last time… you are all better off with me gone."
Oh. He was doing that protection by abandonment crap that her mother tried to pull on her. Not happening.
"We both know that is nothing but you trying to justify not being around us and feeling that we might get hurt. Jaune, we are huntsman. We could get hurt with or without you. Isn't it better if it is with you?"
Nora had told her and the others exactly what Jaune said when she confronted him last time.
The Valkyrie was sick and tired of her family being fractured again and made sure their former leader knew where she stood. Ren, while feeling the same way as his wife, stayed out of it, but his stance was also clear.
The whole group knew that his family being taken from him was the last straw. The boy almost broke when Pyrrha was killed by Cinder and if his semblance hadn't helped him save Weiss, he likely would have blamed himself for that too.
He was someone who wanted to protect everyone, no matter how impossible that was. During their fight with Salem, he had almost died defending Blake from the monster while she was down. She was sure he still had the scar along his forearm where the Queen of Grimm broke his guard and nearly cut his arm off.
She unconsciously moved one of her arms from holding his and placed it over her prosthetic. She knew all to well how that could have changed things.
She saw the conflicted emotions running through his head, the pools of blue showed so much pain and suffering trying to swallow their dork and take him from them. Like hell she was going to let that happen though.
With a new resolve burning in her gut, she managed to hoist not only herself, but also Jaune to their feet and pulled his arm so that they were linked.
"Uhm… Yang?"
She just grinned up at his confused expression and started walking towards the Inn where she had a nice warm room waiting for her.
"We have some catching up to do Vomit boy and I can't have you running away from little ole me, now can I?"
The knight really didn't have a choice in the matter as he was dragged easily down the silent and snowy road.
Within that night, Yang had forced her fellow blonde's issue to the forefront of conversation, refusing to hear anything other than him accept that he was not a blight on their lives – regardless of what he thought.
And there, as the darkness once more gave way to light, neither of them having slept yet, the Y of RWBY laid down an ultimatum.
"You have until a month before the anniversary celebration."
She must have caught him off guard, as he had to squint and make sure she wasn't just rambling.
"Excuse me."
His companion took a deep breath.
"You have until one month before the reunion. I am going to get up in several hours to you being gone like the wind again… and I am sick of it. Nora is sick of it. Hell, even Weiss is sick of it! No more!"
She reached over and grabbed him by the collar of his cloak.
"That gives you just under eight months to get your shit together and come home. Seven months from now EX-AC-TLY, I will be waiting at that stupid café Blake loves so much – yes that one – and you will sit down at our group's old table, order your damn hot chocolate and then I will tell you what we are going to do next."
"Yang I-"
Whatever the Arc heir was going to say was cut off by the grip she held on him tightening.
"If you aren't, so help me Oum I am going to call Nora and the two of us are going to hunt you down, break your legs and then drag you home before telling Ruby you didn't want to be friends anymore."
Even she couldn't imagine the look on her little sister's face if she ever told her that her closest male friend wanted nothing to do with her. And that was with his stupid hero tendencies left out of the conversation.
It appeared her message was conveyed, if the look of horror on his face was anything to go by. He regained his composure quickly, but that brief lapse in his stoic façade proved that their goofball was still in there.
"… fine. Seven months."
His response was simple, and he left without even a goodbye after that… which she was strangely okay with.
If completely leaving him alone for more than half a year was what it took to finally snap him out of this funk and make him realize home wasn't home without him, then so be it. She could suck it up for a little longer.
Especially now that she had some planning to do with a certain cat back home.
Seven Months Later – Café Pisces, Downtown Vale
"Your tea and latte ladies. Please enjoy."
A middle-aged man placed the steaming beverages down at the booth in the corner of the small café, leaving as quickly as he arrived.
Sitting at the booth, just as promised, was Yang Xiao Long, playing with her long mane of hair as her eyes darted around the café.
Across from her was a new addition to the equation.
Blake Belladonna slowly took a sip from the cup placed before her. Savoring both the strong scent and flavor of the tea that kept her coming back to this spot even years later.
The cat faunus gently set the cup down and sighed.
"You do realize it is highly unlikely he shows up."
When Yang returned from Atlas half a year ago and told her not only did she run into their wayward friend, but also that he was going to be reinserting himself fully into their lives before the yearly anniversary of Salem's defeat, she could hardly believe it.
And as the date of his supposed arrival came ever closer, she started to believe it even less.
"Have a little faith KitKat. Jaune has never broken a promise before… Arc's word and all that jazz."
True, should her partner have given that response when they were all traveling together and laughing with each other every night, she would have believed it without a doubt. Jaune was just someone you could put your trust in at the drop of a hat and never expect anything but that trust to held in high regard.
… but that was years ago. And despite how much she wanted to believe the blonde doofus was going to come stumbling through the doors of the café any minute now and apologize to someone who he almost knocked over because of his clumsiness… she just couldn't put any stock in it.
She was tired of being disappointed.
She knew to some extent what Jaune was going through. His family was taken from him while he could do nothing on top of losing Pyrhha at the beginning of Salem's assault… she was surprised he could even put up a happy front for them as long as he did. She was impressed, and all the more devastated by his departure and apparent disregard for their thoughts on his wellbeing.
"Yang… you told me about the conversation you had… he never once said he promised you he would come back to us."
The cup in Yang's hand shattered.
"He wouldn't do that to us Blake! He wouldn't!"
The brawler's eyes were red, but her hair wasn't glowing – showing that she was still mostly in control of her rage. The other patrons tried to mind their own business, but when two famous huntresses show up and one of them shatters a cup there is only so much the human mind can ignore.
"… even if he truly believed him staying away is what is best for us?"
Red turned to lilac. And lilac looked down at the table.
Another sigh from the ninja.
"… I really do want to believe in him Yang. But he told you himself, he thinks he is hurting us by being around us. I want him back just as badly as you do, but it might not be in the cards."
She finished sipping her tea and placed the cup down. Pushing herself up and out of the booth.
"I will see you at home Yang."
Just as she moved several steps, he muddled brain did not allow her the reflex time to avoid the body she rammed into.
A pair of gasps later and she was on her butt with closed eyes.
"I am so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going when I walked in!"
A deeper voice said from just in front of her, clearly on the floor too.
"No it was my fault, I should have been paying more attent-"
Her words died in her throat once her amber eyes finally opened and caught sight of her victim.
Equally wide sapphire eyes stared back at her from slightly higher up.
"Blake?"
"J-Jaune?!"
He shot to his feet and immediately offered her a hand up. Both avoiding each other's eyes until she was all the way to her feet.
She didn't bother backing away, instead using his pull as forward momentum to latch onto him. Both of her arms snaked around his waist and gave him a hard squeeze once she was close enough.
"Blake?"
His voice sounded even more confused then it did the first time as she hugged him. She pulled back and looked up to meet his eyes.
"Just had to make sure you were actually here."
"Why is that everyone's first reaction when they see me? Yang literally tackled me when she found me…"
Letting go of the blonde, she laughed while turning back to her partner. Said partner had her hand resting under her chin – supporting the large smirk on her face no doubt.
"Told you so Blakey~!"
Her sing song tone attracted the attention of Jaune, who looked past her and met the eyes of the alpha predator.
"Hey Yang."
"Phase one complete Vomit Boy. Now how about you come over here, sit down and you can order the three of us some nice drinks?"
Moments later, Jaune was seated next to Yang in the large booth, sipping on a mug of hot chocolate and trying to disappear from the intense gazes he was receiving from both of his friends and every other occupant of the establishment.
After things had settled down, the barista brought out their desired drinks and fled the scene. Not to say she wasn't watching from behind the counter like every other person in the café.
"So., You made the smart decision and came back willingly. Smart boy."
Yang reached up and patted his head lightly, giving him a lopsided grin.
"Oh… it wasn't the threat of you and Nora coming after me that forced my hand. You know how Ruby would have reacted if you told her I wasn't going to come back again…"
Both members of team RWBY shivered at his implications and Blake shot him a sympathetic look.
"Noted."
Silence once more filled the void between friends. None wanting to step on the other's toes, but obviously all of them had something to say to the other.
"You haven't really changed up your look much in the past few years Jaune."
Blake broke the silence next, motioning to his apparel with her free hand.
It was true, other than ditching his old, tattered hoodie and replacing it with a padded, undersleeve he really was wearing the same outfit from years past.
Worn blue jeans that needed to be either mended constantly or replaced soon, his signature white and gold armor that he kept in pristine condition at all times and a red sash tied around his waist above his belt. At his side, leaning against the outer part of the booth was a sheathed Crocea Mors and his rucksack.
"Didn't see much need in changing it up while I traveled. Other than my traveler's cloak in my bag I really wore this everywhere I went and it worked for me."
"You mean that is the only outfit you own?"
Yang seemed appalled at the idea and he counted his blessings that it wasn't Weiss who heard him say that instead. Yang was still better than the fashionista that was the Schnee heiress.
"Not exactly. I have another pair of jeans and a shirt in my bag with all of my gear. Other than that I got nothing on me but the clothes on my back and Crocea Mors."
Both female occupants shared a look with each other very briefly.
"So you don't have anything else?"
Blake pointed to his bag. He responded by scratching his neck.
"If memory serves, Weiss got me a storage unit somewhere in town that has some of my stuff that got recovered from Beacon when they rebuilt it. Aside from that notta."
Another shared glance.
"Do you even have any lien on you?"
Yang this time.
"Of course. I might not have gone around to any of the main cities aside from Haven once or twice, but I did still do freelance work out in the wilds. Made a decent living off that. Kept me housed when I went through towns, let me buy equipment and anything else I needed."
Yet another glance.
"And what do you plan to do now?"
Blake again.
"Probably crash at a hotel around here tonight and then look around for a decent deal on an apartment tomorrow."
Shining lilac winked at glowing amber.
"Check please! We gotta head home!"
The barista dropped the paper on the table and was gone in a flash. Jaune shot a strange look at his fellow blonde, but paid the amount – plus a little extra for the destroyed cup he saw Yang try to hide when he first sat down – and got up.
The trio ignored the looks they were still receiving from the other patrons and made their way outside. The streets were populated with it being evening already.
"I suppose I will see you two around at some point then."
He was surprised that Yang was so fast to break off their engagement, but he guessed since he was actually here and willing to at least stick around for a bit might have been enough for her.
He was mistaken however, as a tight grip found itself placed on his shirt's collar.
"Not so fast Jauney. You didn't let me tell you what Phase three was."
"Phase three?"
He felt himself being dragged behind the more physically inclined of the women around, looking to the faunus walking at a leisurely pace beside him for either answers or help.
"Yup! Phase one was getting you here. Phase two was drinks and conversation. Now I can just hear you now… 'Oh most amazing Yang, what could possibly be added onto such a brilliantly successful and clever plan?' and the answer might surprise you!"
Both brunette and lighter blonde groaned at the exuberance of their companion.
"Phase three is actually the simplest of all of them."
"Can you just tell me what it is and why I am being dragged around like your luggage?"
He caught the wicked grin she shot back at him – if just barely.
"I am so glad you put it like that Jauney boy. Because you aren't that far off from the truth."
Knowing if he waited for Yang to start making sense he might be waiting the rest of the night, the knight again turned his focus to the black themed girl beside him. He wasn't comforted by the small, sly smile that played on the normally stoic Blake's face either.
Now thoroughly perturbed, Jaune shuddered.
"As of about five minutes ago and for the foreseeable future, your ass belongs to us!"
And so, the knight felt his spine tingle as he was dragged away to the den of the dragon and her ever faithful cat…
A/N: So if you couldn't tell by the naming of this chapter, this is not the second installment of moves in. In fact, this is something that was in my head far before the concept of moves in even popped up.
If you couldn't tell by my typical writings in this fandom, Yang is one of my preferred characters to write. Not only because I like her character and backstory, but also because she shares several key characteristics with one of the protagonists in a comic I am working on.
And on the flipside of that, Blake has typically been one of my least favorite girls to write for. I never felt involved with her character and this Volume got me hyped to finally see some of what makes her tick. Alas… all we got was what in my opinion was the weakest part of the Volume and a rushed insertion of her back into Plot A.
Not to say I didn't enjoy Menagerie as a whole, it was just slow and a little of pace for me. Which is one of the main reasons I wanted to write this story and get your opinions on it.
Moves in was and still is more focused on the slice of life and humor driven aspects of RWBY, dealing with the antics of inserting an older Jaune into their home and seeing what goes on from there. This storyline is much more focused and a little more somber. It has the same basic premise – aka future characters living together – but is more of a character drama instead of slice of life. I want to try my hand at writing a compelling storyline for Blake and Yang as they try to help a much more broken Jaune come to terms with things and reintegrate back into their lives after so long.
Narrowing the focus down to three main characters and allocating the other main cast to being supporting roles makes it easier to write for each of them and make more meaningful interactions. This isn't to say Ruby and the others won't get to shine, because they will! But, I think this has more potential longterm then moves in at being a good story.
So I am leaving it up to you guys, as of now I am open to continuing both, but I might make either this or moves in into a standalone story. So, for this chapter, I want you all to comment not only with new chapter ideas, but also which one you would prefer I take to another level and why!
I also feel like I should apologize for the lateness of this chapter, but I did say college and other things (*cough* writing comic narrative outlines and playing video games *cough*) really do take up a lot of my time and seeing that I write a lot, I don't always feel like sitting down and cranking out a chapter for something that really won't benefit me outside of just being creative you know?
The next chapter (the long awaited faunus chapter) will hopefully be out sooner rather than later, but I make no concrete promises.
Until then, have an awesome day, week and life!
- CP