Disclaimer: Nu-uh. Not mine.
Road to the End
By: athrunzala
10: Return to Patch
"Why would she want me to stop off here? Makes no sense."
Qrow was sitting in his usual bar by the bay, nursing his drink. He had promised his younger niece that he wouldn't drink too much. But he was going to have a couple, as long as he was there. Besides, he knew the bartender, and they had a running game going before he would sit and drink: If he could beat him in a simple board game, his drinks were on the house. Of course, Qrow would always let the bartender talk him into paying at least part of the bill at the end of things, as he knew that the bar wouldn't stay afloat long without some cash flow.
"Waiting for somebody?"
"Yeah. Don't know who they are, or how they will find me. But I'm waiting for them here."
"Ruby told me you would be here, you know."
"Oh really? And just who are... you!"
Qrow's voice went from amused to annoyed in a matter of moments, as he turned to face the source of the conversation. Standing in front of him was a female Faunus, her yellow eyes standing out from her pale skin, which was a sharp contrast from her thick, raven hair, and matching black and white top and shorts, with black shoes over a pair of stockings that faded from black to purple.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"You are part of the reason she is so damn depressed! She needed you and you abandoned her!"
"I went back for a reason!"
Qrow was losing his patience with the young Faunus.
"And what, pray tell, was that, huh? You go back to apologize to those people from..."
"NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS! I told both of them that I am no longer part of the White Fang, and I will never go back."
"Then why even bother going back?"
"I... I had to get something."
"And what was that?"
"I... I'd rather give it to Yang."
The scythe-master retuned his attention to his glass, his mood set in the negative.
"Same thing here. I have to talk to her as well, but I think that your conversation is more important. She needs to hear from you."
"Why me?"
"Listen: She's in a real rut. Taiya... her dad says she doesn't eat regularly any more. And when she does, it is only small portions of what he gives her. We... we're all worried about her, with him more than the rest of us."
"Then we need to head back to her."
The Faunus reached down and picked up her bag, the contents shifting slightly as the military shoulder duffel was slung over her shoulder. As she turned, Qrow noticed a change to her back.
"That new?"
"Yeah. My old one was beyond repair in the rubble. The general helped me make this."
The older hunter rubbed his chin. "So Jimmy does still care."
"Jimmy?"
"Inside thing. We knew him long ago. Before he was... well.. you know." Qrow wiggled his arm and leg, mimicking the testing for cybernetic prosthetics.
"Ah. Let's... Let's go."
Qrow downed the last of the alcohol in his glass and reached into his pocket to grab some Lien.
"Oh no. Not today. You go to your niece. She needs you more than I need money right now."
Qrow nodded and removed his hand from his pocket, dropping a 100 Lien card on the bar, anyway.
"But I said..."
"Take it. You keep letting me come back in here. Consider it my part of the deal."
The teacher then turned and left the establishment, leaving a confused bartender to wipe out some more glasses. As he turned, he knocked an empty vessel from the counter top to the floor, where it shattered. As he looked down at the shattered glass, he uttered a single phrase.
"Oh, gee... darn."
Back in Patch, Taiyang was sitting in a chair, watching the window, alert to any movement. He didn't want to miss any instance of his older daughter wanting to talk, or even get up and walk a little. To his surprise, Qrow showed up on their doorstep, followed by a young Faunus clad in black and white.
He got up and headed to the door, opening it and heading out, his face set in anger.
"How dare you! How dare you show up here!"
"Tai..."
"No, Qrow. Don't even start with me!"
"Tai!"
The blonde fighter threw himself at Qrow, trying to get past him. Not wanting a confrontation, the scythe user stepped aside, allowing his former team mate to pass. He rocketed towards the Faunus, his fist raised.
"DAD! NO!"
The cry stopped him in his tracks. He turned, his face softening, to see his older daughter, still weak, using her left arm to hold herself up in the doorway, the stump where her right had been amputated during the Battle of Beacon hanging limply at her side, her face thinner than it had been on that day, a side effect of her not eating. She smiled weakly, and looked past him at the Faunus.
"Heya, Blake. Wanna tell me why you ran?"
"Sure. But can it be inside?"
Yang pushed off the frame, and motioned in that brief instant, before losing her balance and falling forward. As the trio rushed forward, it was Blake who arrived first, catching her former partner, preventing further injury. As she pulled her closer, she could tell the other effects of Yang's depression, her body seeming far more frail than she remembered.
"Yang..."
"Yeah... I know. You're gonna tell me I need to eat."
"Well... that... and... I have something for you. Something I found."
Yang perked up slightly at this.
"Something you found? Was it that monster's head?"
Blake smiled, seeing the fire momentarily return to the blonde brawler's eyes.
"No. But it is still something that you'd like, none-the-less. I'll give it to you inside."
Nodding in agreement, the blonde tried to stand, only to be held back by the raven-haired Faunus.
"No, Yang. I'm going to help you."
Not having the strength to fight, Yang relinquished control to Blake, who cradled her and stood, carrying the teen back into the house. Outside, Taiyang and Qrow were standing there, jaws slightly agape.
"Are they...?"
"Not a clue, Tai. But she did say she would eat. Let's go make her some food," and he faced his friend, "But no more sandwiches. I know the extent of your cooking prowess."
They then followed the younger pair into the house, closing the door.
~Several weeks later~
Yang was looking better and better, as just Blake's presence seemed to give her renewed confidence and hope. And there was the promise of what Qrow had brought her. It was more than she had ever hoped to have happen.
"So... How's Ruby?"
"Yang, she is in Atlas right now."
"Oh. Yeah. Is she..."
"Mad at you for what you said almost a year ago?"
The blonde woman nodded.
"Not that I can tell. If she is, she is hiding it marvelously. She and Weiss seem to be getting along better as well."
"So are they finally... you know."
Blake shook her head. "No clue there."
"You up for a walk?"
The blonde propped herself up, using her good arm to scoot up further before the sheets gave way and she fell back, slamming her head against the wall.
"Yang!"
"Ow... damn wall... damn useless stump..."
"Yang?"
"I'll be fine. I just..."
The blonde lifted the arm again, remembering for the first time in months that she was missing it. Immediately, her face went towards the floor.
"Blake... I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"But... Because of me..."
"No."
"But..."
"I said 'no', Yang. It isn't your fault," Blake said, looking at the floor before bringing her left hand up to raise Yang's chin, bringing them into eye contact. "Its Adam's fault. It is the White Fang's fault. This," she continued, lifting her shirt slightly, showing a scar on her abdomen, "is not your fault. I made a choice."
"But Blake..."
"No buts, Yang. And this," she said, placing a hand on Yang's stunted arm, "this is my fault. I rushed in. You did what you felt was right to protect me after Adam stabbed me. I can't fault you for that. I should thank you. You got this saving me. So I'm the one who should be sorry, not you."
"Blake... I... ufh"
The blonde was cut off as she was pulled into a hug by the Faunus. She smiled slightly, and then went wide eyed.
"Just kiss already, geeze."
"UNCLE QROW! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
While leaning on Blake, Yang reached back and grabbed her pillow, chucking it as hard as she could at her uncle, who dodged it easily. The improvised weapon flew into the hallway, where it hit the wall with a thud.
"Easy, kiddo. I was joking."
"So..."
"So, about that thing I need to tell you: It's part of the reason why we needed to make sure you were completely healthy. Can't have you being sick for it and all."
"What are you talking about?"
"It goes hand in hand with what she has."
Yang looked at her uncle and Faunus companion with confusion plastered on her face.
"Yang, please don't be upset when you see it, okay? I couldn't exactly make it perfect."
"Blake, whatever it is, let me see!"
Nodding, the Faunus reached into her bag and produced a thin box. She proceeded to place it on the bed, pushing it towards Yang.
"Go ahead."
The blonde opened it up, to reveal the missing half of her weapon, but this one looked nothing like the one she had on her left. It was twisted, crushed, and mangled, the feed line for ammunition being warped beyond usability, and the barrel fused shut at the muzzle. There was no way that the paired weapon could ever work again.
"What... happened?"
"When I ran, it was two-fold. One was to get away from Weiss' father. The other was to see if I could retrieve our things. Mine was damaged in much the same way. I'm sorry, Yang."
The blonde looked slightly depressed at this.
"It's fine. Not like I can use it anyway," she said, raising what was left of her arm.
"About that," Qrow said. "You only need to hold out until we get to Atlas."
"Why are we going to Atlas?"
"Ruby and Winter have made something that you are going to like. I'm sure of it," he said, producing a disc from his pocket.
Out in the hall, Tiayang smiled and wiped a tear away. He had gotten used to Yang being home again, and now she was going to be leaving.
"But we don't leave until you can walk."
Qrow's amendment made him smile a little. He would have some more time to spend with his daughter. He turned and entered the room.
"Looks like you are going to be here a little longer. But, let's get you back on your feet."
Outside of the window, the leaves were falling from the trees, and a solitary, black bird rapped on the window with its beak, then flew off. Looking out from the glass, Both girls could tell it had been one year since that week that things had changed. And they were determined to change things again.