Mercury kicked the ground, the puffs of dirt covering his boots. He watched as Yang and her friend disappeared around the corner. Her long blond hair bouncing with every step. It took a moment for him to realize what exactly he agreed too. So now he was staying on this crummy little island for another day. And he was being thrown into a fight he didn't really care about. Perfect.
Granted it kind of was his fault. He was well on his way to Vale when he noticed the pack of Beowulf's trudging through the water. At first he didn't put much thought into it. But then he thought about what they were heading to, or really who. Next thing he knew he was on a round trip back to Patch. There was no thought process involved, it was just a reaction. Like ducking when someone was aiming for your face. Just a reaction. Mercury tried not to laugh at himself. If he didn't know any better, he'd say he was falling for this girl. He shook his head and tried to get the idea out of his mind. There wasn't a moment in his life where he could remember feeling anything remotely like love. Even being friends with someone didn't feel normal. It was probably just sympathy; after all they did have a pretty big tragedy in common. Mercury flipped up his color against the cold breeze and kept walking.
Now he had time to kill and nothing better to do but wander. Night was just about to fall and already there was a chill in the air. Winter was right around the corner. Mercury headed back to the forest where he'd made his camp days ago. It was near the shore which meant it'd be even chillier, but at least he'd have a good view of everything. He'd be the first to know when those Grimm came walking up on the shore.
Part of him hoped that they would all drown in the crossing. Maybe some of the bigger ones would sink to the bottom of the ocean and they only be dealing with the weak ones. Then again, having a supply of monsters to practice on was kind of appealing. Mercury was feeling restless after only a few days of sitting around. He needed to let off some steam.
Mercury was taking his time now, strolling through the field where he first ran into Yang. Now that he was seeing it without Ursa everywhere, it was actually kind of a nice place. Long flowing grass, swaying in the breeze. A couple of wild flowers dotted here and there. The stars above were just beginning to shine in the sky. Mercury looked up and wondered just how long he'd be chasing a ghost. That's all Ruby Rose seemed to be. There hadn't been even a whisper of the girl since the tower fell. Now he was seriously wondering about his life choices.
The peaceful silence was broken by the sound a branch cracking. Mercury turned quickly, ready to fight. What he saw instead was a mass of blond hair stumbling out of the tree line. Yang stopped suddenly when she saw him and quickly turned around, hiding her face.
"What are you doing here?" she mumbled.
Mercury crossed his arms. "Y'know this island is pretty small. It's not that big a deal to run into someone." He prepared a slew of things to say that would annoy her, but when she turned back around they all vanished. Even though her face was dry, she had obviously been crying not too long ago. Her eyes were still red and poufy and her jacket sleeve had tiny splotches on it. Mercury's stomach dropped. He turned away, not wanting to stare. That look was far too familiar.
Yang sat down on the grass, stretching out her legs. They stayed like that for a while and Mercury figured he wasn't needed. He took a few steps back and tried to escape.
"Can I ask you a question?" Yang suddenly asked. Her voice sounded a little hesitant, like she was second guessing herself. Mercury considered running, not wanting to be interrogated. Against his better judgement, he nodded for her to continue.
"Does it ever get any easier?" Yang's voice was dry, almost emotionless even though she was so clearly on the edge. Mercury glanced at her. He sat down next to her, weary to keep his distance. She still was an enemy after all.
"That is a very good question." He mumbled. Mercury looked down at his legs, thinking back to a time when he didn't have them. Back when he was kid and nothing seemed possible. The memories made his head hurt.
"But you were able to replace what you lost. Doesn't that help?"
"Just because it looks and works the same doesn't mean it'll fix everything. There's still a scar. There will always be a scar." Mercury leaned back on his elbows, trying not to think too much on his own words. It was advice he desperately need when he was young, but no one was around to give it. Maybe he was telling himself just as much as he was telling her.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did it happen?" Yang scooted around until she was facing him, sitting cross-legged like it was story time. Mercury glanced at her from the corner of his eye, trying to figure out her angle. No one knew what happened to him. Not even Emerald or Cinder. There was a strict rule among the three of them to not pry deeper into their past then need be. It was a necessity in their world. He studied Yang for a few seconds until he came to an odd revelation. She was genuinely curious about his past. There was no hint of mischief or malice behind her eyes like he was so used too. Still, he wasn't going to tell her everything.
"It's a long story, but basically my dad was an asshole and one nasty drunk." Those words held no emotional connection for him anymore. It was just the facts.
"He- he did that to you?" Yang lilac eyes had gone wide.
"Yeah let's not go into that. After all, I barely know you." He winked at her causing her to sigh. They stared up at the stars in silence for a little while, letting the night settle in around them. Mercury kind of wished she'd get mad again and tell him to get lost. Then he'd have an excuse to leave. He'd never told anyone that thing about his dad and now just letting it hang in the air, it made him uncomfortable. There was nothing he liked least then someone knowing too much about him. Especially the enemy. Yang finally filled the silence.
"My mom took off right after I was born."
"Huh?" Mercury sat up.
"My mom. Right after I was born, she left me with my dad and never came back." She was staring at the ground, lost in the memory.
"That- sucks." The word didn't live up to the feeling.
"Right? I mean what kind of person does that to their kid? The only time she's ever talked to me wasn't even to my face. She got in touch with my uncle Qrow and let him pass on the message."
"And that was?"
"'I helped you once, but don't think I'll do it again.'"
"Yikes. Mother of the year over here." Mercury was getting a little tired of the talking, but Yang didn't seem to want to stop. She pushed herself up from the ground and started pacing.
"All I ever wanted was to know more about my mother. As soon as I found out about her, it was all I could think about. But now? Her only daughter gets her arm sliced off by some masked manic and she doesn't even care! I mean look at me! Why doesn't she care?!" Yang's eyes were practically glowing red at this point. The wind had stopped and the air around her felt warmer. Any second now she was going to explode. Mercury took this as his cue to leave.
"Alright I'm gonna go now." He hopped up and brushed the dirt off his pants. Yang spun around, nearly whipping him in the face with her hair.
"What?"
"Look you're obviously having some sort of mental breakdown right now and I am just don't want to deal with that. Catch you later." He shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking.
"You can't just leave, you promised-"
"Calm down, you hot head. I'm not leaving leaving. I'm just getting away from you right now."
Yang hurried to catch up with him. "You can't just walk away!"
"Really? Watch this." He picked up speed.
"Ugh you are the worst!" Yang stomped the ground. Any second now there would be literal fire. "Haven't you ever been this mad before?"
Mercury didn't put much thought into his next few words. "The last time I was as mad as you, my dad ended up dead. Hmph, not that anyone's complaining."
He expected some sort of retaliation. More yelling, a punch anything but silence. But that was all he got. Mercury stopped and turned, waiting for the firecracker to explode again. When he finally looked up at Yang, it was like taking a hit right to the gut.
"You… you killed your dad?" her voice was filled with so much distrust it was practically visible. She was standing a fair way away from him, but still looked uncomfortable. He had said too much.
Mercury crossed his arms and tried to look as nonchalant as he could. "Does it matter? The world is better off any way."
"Even if that is true, that's a pretty horrible thing to admit to. Not to mention seriously twisted thing to keep a secret."
"Who said it's a secret? Emerald and Cinder were there." Now he was just trying to get her to leave. This whole night was a mistake. Talking to her was a mistake. Everything was a mistake. Yang's brow furrowed.
"Stop trying to freak me out! I already know you're a no good little shit, now I just get add murderer to the list." Her words hit as hard as her fists. "I don't know what I was thinking. I almost trusted you. Guess I have been out of it lately." Yang looked down at her hand for a moment, a distant look on her face. She clenched her fist and glared at him, her eyes on the verge of red. "Don't ditch us when the Grimm come. If you do, the next thing I'll break is your face."
And with that, Yang spun around and walked back to the trees. Mercury's eyes latched onto her bright blond hair until she disappeared from sight. He stayed long after she left, going over every detail of their conversation. For a moment there, everything seemed normal. Like they were just two kids hanging out under the stars. But the world they lived in was much more complicated than that, and he had a helped make it that way. Mercury cursed at himself for letting his anger get away from him. He stalked off to the cliff side where he'd make camp and watch for the Grimm to attack.
Mercury climbed up into a nearby tree, the whole cliff visible from his perch. He leaned back on the branch and zipped up his collar. It was going to be the coldest night yet. The soft rustle of leave were like a sweet lullaby, making his eyes droop. Mercury jumped at his scroll went off in his pocket. He flinched at the bright light, taking a few moments for his eyes to adjust.
It was a message from Emerald.
Red isn't here. The Schnee girl has no clue where she is :( Meet up in Vale?
Mercury read the message a few times before he remembered what he was doing here in the first place. His fight with Yang had consumed him, and for a while he forgot what his job was. He decided hours ago that staying here was a waste of time, and yet here he was. Helping a girl who hated his guts. Mercury closed his scroll and shoved it back in his pocket. There was no reason for him to stay. No reward for helping Yang and Sun. Even with all those facts staring him in the face, Mercury got as cozy as he could and watched the sea until he fell asleep. He had made a promise to the girl with golden hair, and he didn't want to break it.
