Chapter Nine: Business and Pleasure
"I'm still upset that you wouldn't agree to ride Bumblebee with me," Yang said as she literally dragged her feet across the pavement, always remaining at least five feet behind Blake no matter how many times she stopped to wait for Yang to catch up. She had been complaining ever since they had landed at the Vale Transit Station, when she had first suggested to her extant partner that instead of walking through the vast city, they ride through it in style. And at an unsafe speed. An exceptionally unsafe speed, if Blake had to hazard a guess. Yang did not strike the kunoichi as someone who was prone to taking things slow.
"And I still don't want to be caught on that deathtrap," Blake said in response, her voice not betraying her increasing lack of patience. She's like a little child, she thought. She's either trying to get me to notice her or her jokes, or she's complaining about something trivial. Walking has only ever benefitted people; it's never hurt them. "Motorcycles result in thousands of deaths each year across the four kingdoms. I'm not going to be one of them." Also, who names their motorcycle? Blake reached over her shoulder and lightly brushed the hilt of Gambol Shroud. I mean, naming your weapon is normal, but a bike? That's too small a thing. Naming methods of transportation begins and ends with ships, not motorcycles…
"How many deaths are caused by boredom each year from having to walk five miles? Huh? You ever think about that, Blake? Besides, I know what I'm doing. I haven't had an accident yet." Yang seemed proud of that fact, if her wide grin and the way she fluffed up her shirt were any indication.
"Yet being the key word there, Yang," Blake said. She decided to change the subject. "We're almost there. I recognize that park." She pointed towards the park in question, a small plot of natural green hidden among the concrete jungle that was the capital and namesake of the kingdom of Vale. My parents used to take me here as a child, before…before it all happened. She balled her hands into fists as the unpleasant memories began to fill her head. No, I won't give in, she thought. I don't want to think about that right now.
"Still, we could've been there ages ago, instead of only 'almost there' now," Yang said, before lapsing into silence for a few minutes. It was the first such instance since they had split with Ruby and Weiss, and Blake was momentarily hopeful that the silence would be an enduring one. It's not that I dislike her company in particular, Blake thought. I just don't like anyone's company. I can only count on myself.
Those hopes for silence were dashed, however, when Yang spoke up. "Who's the Faunus?" she asked, pointing to the centerpiece of the small park. "I mean, whoever he was, he must've been someone of great stature. Uh huh, get it?" She elbowed Blake in the side gently, trying to get her taciturn companion to smile.
"Your sister was right back on that rooftop when we first met. You're execrable." I feel like the judge from Atlas here. I'm not even giving her points for trying. She's putting more effort into making this work than I am.
Is that such a bad thing, though?
"Oh, you know you love it," the blonde bruiser said with a laugh, her feelings and pride uninjured. "Well, maybe you don't yet, but you will. I'm like fine wine: I get better with age. Before the day is done, you'll be making them as well."
"Do you know how many die each year from exposure to bad puns?" Blake asked rhetorically, before sighing and answering Yang's original question. "That's a statue of Fawn, the leader of the Faunus garrison at the Battle of Fort Castle. He was the one who won the Faunus the war, guaranteeing them the right to live in whatever kingdom they want, as free citizens. Of course, it's been years since then, and the Faunus still have problems with society."
Yang was nodding as the memory of old school lessons came back to her slowly. "Oh right, I've heard of that battle. It's a shame that there are so many humans out there who don't look at the Faunus as equals. Then, and now. We're all the same." She stopped talking as a Faunus walked by, and she caught herself staring at the antlers. "Mostly the same," she added.
Blake was quiet, not offering an immediate response. Mostly. That was a thought that she had found herself conflicted over for years now. We're so similar in so many ways, but are we truly the same? We don't look quite the same, we don't act quite the same. As much as we try…as much as I try…at the end of the day we're not, well, human. Even among ourselves, we're not equal. Some can hide what they are, some can't. Maybe we are something else. She tightened her jaw. But that doesn't mean that we should be looked down on as animals, or treated as slaves.
"Still," Yang continued, ignorant of the identity crisis Blake was dealing with, "as cool and useful as the night vision may be, I wouldn't want to be one of them. It must be hard being a Faunus, always being looked down at or treated poorly. There was this real nice girl back at Signal who was a year or two older than me, and she was a Faunus, a rabbit, and there were always bullies around who would pull on her ears for a laugh." She spat at the ground. "Despicable. I wanted so badly to beat them up over it, to do something, anything, to stop it, to help her…"
You don't know the half of it, Yang, Blake thought. "But you didn't," Blake said, sensing the regret in her voice.
"Yeah. But I didn't."
"Let's just keep moving," Blake said. "We're almost to the store."
It's about time, Yang thought, glad that they had finally- finally- reached their destination. What's so frightening about a motorcycle anyway? I've been on one for years and never even had a scare, let alone an actual accident. In this case, Blake's loss was also her own. My feet are killing me.
They stood outside their destination, looking at the new and used bookstore, the gold lettering on the windows standing out among the other comparatively bland storefronts. "So, I guess we just go in?" Yang asked. Blake shrugged, so Yang walked up to the door and opened it, a soft chime announcing their presence.
"Tuckson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun," the bored clerk said in greeting from behind the counter as Blake and Yang entered the bookstore, Yang whistling appreciatively at the selection. The bells tied to the door chimed for the second time as the door swung shut behind the ladies.
"So, uh, what do we do now?" Yang whispered to Blake as they stood at the entrance, aware of the many eyes the other shoppers were fixing on them. Yeah, we didn't think this through very well. "We don't exactly fit in…" Maybe there are times being a Faunus would be an advantage, Yang thought. It'd certainly help me feel less out of place here.
From what Yang could see, not every other patron was a Faunus, just nearly every other one. It made sense, in a way. Faunus were probably unhappy when they were isolated, as anyone would be, so it made sense they would congregate in the same communities. Businesses would of course sprout up to service their needs, and people would shop at whatever store was the closest to their own home. So, really, it's strange that there are humans here at all.
Blake appeared to be unnerved by the stares directed at her, but she didn't let them stop her from walking forward as confidently as she could manage before turning down an aisle, seemingly at random. Yang quickly followed, not wanting to be left alone. She joined Blake in perusing the books, feeling relieved as the others all directed their attention back to themselves. Everyone, that is, except the clerk, who finally began to pay attention to them.
"Can I help you find anything, ladies?" he asked, his voice raspy. He coughed and took a drink of water from a glass placed near the register on the check-out counter, then cleared his throat. "Excuse me, that's better," he said, his voice now clear. "I always get a cold this time of year. Can I help you find anything?"
"No, thank you," Blake said, returning the book she had in her hand to its place on the shelf. Yang looked at the title. Animal Farm, huh? That seems to be a weird choice for a Faunus bookshop. You'd think that'd dredge up some hard feelings. She was tempted to take it out and read the back, but Blake had moved on, so she followed her instead. "We're just browsing at the moment, thank you," Blake finished saying to the clerk.
"Well, if you need any recommendations or help finding anything, just ask. If you don't see it, we'll be glad to order it for you. But there isn't much that we don't have." That was apparently a point of pride for the bookstore, having the largest selection in Vale. That could explain the humans here, even if they don't live in this district. If they're guaranteed to get the selection that nowhere else offers, it'd make it worth the trip.
Yang didn't share their interest in books, or in reading. She had done well in school, to a point at least. She had been serious about the topics that interested her, or had seemed to be usable in the real world. Mechanical engineering, to build and maintain her gauntlets and Bumblebee; physical education to keep her body in prime fighting shape; basic anatomy and medical first aid in the case of an accident. Reading and comprehension, art history- any history, really- and ethics were of far less concern when she had wanted to become a huntress. Why read about other people going off on grand adventures when you can go on one of your own, she wondered. She tapped Blake on the shoulder, and the dark-haired girl turned around to look at her.
"Yes?" she asked, annoyed that she had been interrupted from…whatever it was she was doing. Browsing an endless supply of books, I guess, Yang decided. Sorry, sister, but that's not what we're here for.
"I still don't know what we're doing here. Normally I just go in swinging," she said, demonstrating by throwing a few quick jabs in front of her, "so this just walking around aimlessly looking at paper isn't really my wheelhouse. You read me? So, uh, like I said, what's the play?" She was happy to see the faint tinge of a smile play across Blake's face. You're worried about dying from exposure to bad puns? Lady, I don't play a weak hand. You'll love them before too long, mark my words, she thought.
"We're already playing," Blake said quietly. "Didn't you notice all the Faunus hanging out here? This is a meeting ground for the White Fang. All we need to do is browse long enough for them to forget about us and go back to whatever conversation they were having before we came in. We listen, we learn, we leave. That's all there is to it." She raised her hand and put the book she grasped back on the shelf, taking off the next one in line and looking at it thoughtfully.
Yang looked around, glaring at any who were brave enough to be blatant about their interest in the pair. "Yeah, they're really going to forget about us. How are we going to hear anything from way over here, anyway? Shouldn't we try to move closer to where they are?" She tried her best to whisper, and she was fairly successful, but being quiet was not one of her strengths. One of the other shoppers shushed her like a librarian.
"Give it time. In a minute, I'll bother the clerk and have him direct us towards a series of books over there. That way, we can approach without being too obvious about why we're approaching."
"Can't we just beat 'em up a bit?"
Blake looked around. "There are twenty of them in here. You think you can take all twenty and 'beat 'em up,' as you say?"
Yang clicked her tongue. "You got it, sister."
"You're terrible," was Blake's only response. Despite that, she indulged Yang and hurried up her timetable by walking nearer the clerk. "Excuse me, sir, but maybe you can help me. My companion over there owns a motorcycle and is interested in learning more about proper engine maintenance. Do you have any books related to anything along those lines?"
"Yes, we do. There's a whole section on do-it-yourself projects right over there, one aisle down from those two deer Faunus." He pointed at the two he was referring too, and then asked if there was anything else they needed help with. Blake assured him there wasn't, but that she would let him know as soon as the situation changed.
"C'mon, Yang, this way," Blake said, angling in the direction of the Faunus and the book section the clerk had pointed out. True to her assessment, the Faunus barely noticed them and began to return to their own conversations.
"What did I say?" Blake whispered, flashing a grin at Yang.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I still say we beat 'em up. Hey, you wanna' hear a joke?"
Blake smiled, and Yang prepared herself to begin. Telling a joke properly is all about the execution, the presentation, and she needed to be in the proper state of mind to do it justice. "No," Blake said simply, turning back to the bookshelf and taking one off, handing it to Yang. "Read this and be quiet."
Yang looked at the book and nodded, happy that it was one she might actually have been interested in if they weren't on a secret spy mission for a mysterious headmaster who told grand tales about ancient societies locked in an everlasting war for world domination, one of which her sister, in fact her whole family, had been part of for generations…yeah, maybe reading the book is a good idea, she thought. My actual life is about ten steps crazier than it was when I went out last night.
From a few feet away, Yang could just make out the conversation between the two Faunus. "What did he say when you saw him?" the female asked.
"Have you heard that he's back in town?" Sienna asked.
Her companion, Dusty, merely nodded.
"Well, have you seen him yet?" she asked, trying again to coax a response out of him. How long is he going to stay angry? It was just a meaningless joke. Learn to laugh at yourself.
Again, he merely nodded. Argh! I swear, he can be so childish sometimes! She decided to give it one more try. Three strikes and I'm out, she thought, angry at her best friend for being so petty. The silent treatment is better than him being vindictive, I suppose, but not by much. That's like saying a flood is better than a hurricane. "Dusty, c'mon. I've apologized a hundred times already for yesterday. Just talk to me, please. What did he say when you saw him?"
Dusty sucked in a deep breath. Here it comes, Sienna thought. He's going to explode again, just like he did last night. So much for friends forgiving and forgetting, huh? Instead of the expected tirade, however, he calmly answered her question. "He said it was almost time for us to strike, but we needed to take more precautions than normal. He's worried about fragments within the White Fang that might not like the direction the organization is heading; he's worried about informants with the police; he's worried about just about everything under the sun. I wouldn't be surprised if he brings the Grimm down on us with the attitude he's had the last few days."
Sienna hugged her arms around herself for comfort. Oh, it's no wonder Dusty has been on edge for the last week. "Why didn't you tell me this? I thought we were in this together? Haven't I always been right by your side?" Sienna asked.
"Don't you think I wanted to?" he whispered. "Sienna, I have been chomping at the bit all week, ever since he first showed up at the safe house, strolling right in as if he didn't have a care in the world, telling us that he had a plan for the future. What was I supposed to do at that point? How was I supposed to leave now that he was shouting about traitors?" Dusty looked around worriedly, fearful of anyone overhearing them despite the hushed tones they were using. "He's watching everyone, Sienna, all the time. He's probably watching us now."
"What do you want me to do? I'll do anything, Dusty. I won't let Adam hurt you."
Dusty grabbed her hands and held them tightly. "He's not the only one we have to worry about, Sienna. He brought a friend with him this time. An enforcer…I don't know, Sienna. I just don't know!" He let go of her hands and grabbed his head. "I need you to tell me what to do. You've always been the one I can count on."
An enforcer? Why would he need someone like that? I need to think. She wrapped Dusty in a hug and whispered into his ear. "When's your next guard shift? You're normally alone for those, right?" He didn't answer, but she felt him nod. "Tomorrow, when you start your shift, wait a half hour. Then, when you know that you're not being watched, you leave. Meet me at the transit station. I'll pack some luggage for you and bring all of our money. We'll run away together, get out of here before anything worse happens. Do you understand?"
"Yes," he said softly.
"Good. Now come on. We should leave. You need to get back soon, before they miss you." As they made their way to the exit, she caught the eye of the Faunus that was hiding her heritage and her human friend. The Faunus blushed and looked away quickly. I hope she didn't overhear what we were talking about, Sienna thought.
"So, did you hear the same thing that I did?" Yang asked Blake, leaning over the woman's shoulder to try and read the book she had held open in her hand.
"I don't know," Blake said, snapping the book shut and turning around to face Yang. "How do I know what you heard? I'm pretty sure we got what we need, though. One of them mentioned attracting the Grimm, so we can assume that their base must be somewhere near the outskirts of the city, otherwise they wouldn't have to worry about that possibility. And they'll apparently be missing their sentry sometime tomorrow evening."
"He mentioned a guy named Adam, too. He must be one of the ringleaders for this circus." She saw Blake grimace at the mention of the name, and decided that maybe it was a poor choice of words on her part. "Let me rephrase that: Adam must be one of the ones in charge with the White Fang right now, but he's apparently worried about a faction within their group that doesn't share the same goals, and he's planning something major. Does that just about cover it?"
"Yes," Blake said. "I wonder who his enforcer is…We should go."
"What about your book?" Yang asked. "Aren't you going to buy it?"
Blake shook her head. "No. We're here for business, not pleasure. We need to focus on the mission."
"If you say so, sister, but I think you should go buy this book now." Seeing Blake's confused look, she elaborated further. "Buying the book makes everyone hear forget about us. Instead of two young women coming in and hanging out for a few minutes before leaving, we're just another two satisfied customers. No one will think twice about us. Trust me, it'll work out just fine."
"I guess so," Blake said hesitantly. She clutched the book and made her way to the counter. "I don't suppose you're the one to pay for it?"
"Continue not supposing that, sister. I'll wait for you outside."
"Do you think Ruby and Weiss had any luck on their end?" Yang asked. She tilted to the side to keep her balance on the curb of the sidewalk, then jumped over a bundle of newspapers left out to be picked up by garbage collectors.
"Probably. They both seem like capable young women. You must be proud of your sister," Blake said, avoiding the trash more conventionally.
"Proud? I…I guess so, yeah." She continued to balance on the curb, her arm occasionally brushing one of the many cars parked along the street.
"You don't seem very sure of yourself with that answer," Blake said. To herself, she thought she seems like she's trying to convince herself, not me.
"Yeah…I'm not. Truth is, I feel like I hardly know her. I haven't seen her in a few years now." There was clear regret in the woman's voice, and it showed in her balance. One of her feet slipped and she twisted her ankle, crying out more in shock at the fall than from the pain of it.
"Why not?" Blake asked, extending her hand to help Yang to her feet. "You seem like you two really care for each other."
"It's, uh, it's a long story." Yang rubbed the back of her neck as she spoke, avoiding looking at Blake. "I wasn't a very good older sister, and I was going through some things. I didn't want to drag her down with me, so I left her with our uncle. I thought she'd be better off there than with me."
"It sounds like you were trying to do the right thing at least," Blake said. I'm not the best at emotions, but maybe it's my turn to try and make this thing work. If I can say something to make her feel better, than I should. She took Yang's hand and held it gently, stopping the blonde from walking away.
"I was being selfish," Yang said, still avoiding looking Blake in the eye. "I wanted to help myself, and so I told myself a lie to make it easier. Have you ever done that?"
"Yes, I have," Blake said, quietly. "It's easier to run." But no one can run forever without tiring out. "Why are you with me, then, instead of making up lost time with her?"
Yang let out a laugh. "That's a good question, Blakey. I'm just…not ready to face her, not really. It'll take some time to prepare myself." She pulled her hand away and started to continue walking. "C'mon, Blake, we've got a long way to go still. You coming or not?"
Blake didn't move to follow. I thought I heard something, she thought, her eyes darting from side to side, looking out into the city around them. I thought I heard some sort of whine. Her eyes caught a flash of metal and she lunged forward, colliding with Yang and driving her to the ground. The shadow clone Blake had left in her place dissolved in a puff of smoke as something tore through it, the physical contact dispelling the illusion.
"What the hell was that for?" Yang shouted, angry. Her eyes lit up.
Blake covered her mouth with one of her hands, the other drawing the sword attached to her back. "Quiet," she hissed. She removed her hand and pointed to the wall of the building to the side of them, where a small hole had suddenly appeared. "Someone's shooting at us," she explained.
There were several more whooshes as more darts flew over their heads and smashed into the wall, a dozen more holes appearing in mere seconds.
"Blake Belladonna," came a voice from down the street. "I'm here to bring you back. Why do you always insist on running?"
Blake recognized the voice immediately. Raye. "We need to run, now," she said, pulling on Yang's arm and dragging her down the nearest alley.
"Blake, who was that guy? Why are we running? Shouldn't we stand and fight?"
"Trust me, Yang, we don't want to stand around. Duck!" She moved her own head down just in time to avoid another round of flechettes. "Please, Yang, just trust me. It's easier to run."
"We're not going to be able to win this fight," Blake said, breathing heavily from exertion. She leaned against the building wall and looked at Yang. "We haven't lost him yet, and that's a problem."
"We can't win when we can't even get close to him, and his armor will shrug off anything we throw at him from range." They had been running for fifteen minutes, under nearly constant fire from their attacker's flechette launcher. "Do you have any ideas?"
Blake peered out from the cover they were currently behind. "I have a few…but they're all risky."
"I'm willing to hear them," Yang said, jumping up and firing off a few rounds from her gauntlets. She didn't stay standing to see if they connected, dropping back down behind the flower box that was currently protecting them. "Anything is better than this."
Blake pulled her head back in before Raye could hit her with one of his darts. "He hunts using electricity. If we can draw him somewhere with a lot of power, and turn it all on, he won't be able to keep tracking us. The electricity will mess with his vision; he'll end up walking around in circles."
"He hunts using electricity? That's shocking," Yang said. "Any of these buildings will probably work just fine, right? They're all wired. We just run through them flipping the switches, leave out the back and don't stop until we get to Beacon."
"Yang, now is not the time for jokes," Blake said, "but basically, yes. Any building will work. Do you see any that catch your eye?"
"That one," Yang said, pointing at random. "At the count of three, make a break for it and I'll cover you." Getting a nod from Blake, she began the countdown. "One...two…three!" Yang jumped and fired several rounds from each wrist before rolling to the left as several darts flew through the air she had just been occupying. Another flurry of darts flew towards Blake, moving effortlessly through another shadow clone she had thrown up behind her. Ahead of Yang and to the left, about twenty feet away, their attacker was standing in the open, not afraid of retaliation. The blasts from Ember Celica impacted the ground around him, throwing up chucks of concrete and asphalt.
The man walked forward, through the dust and debris, his rifle solidly pressed against his shoulder. The darts, despite their speed, provided little recoil, allowing the man to fire repeatedly without any penalty to his accuracy. Already he was recovering from his temporarily impaired vision as the dust dissipated, his gun tracking towards the fleeing Blake. "Not on my watch," Yang growled, sending another several rounds towards the attacker. The blasts hit him straight in the chest, staggering him and giving Yang and Blake the chance to run towards the building without fear of being shot.
"I'll break left, you break right," Blake said as they came to the door and pushed through it. "Every light switch, every computer, every coffeepot. We need as much power going through this building as possible, understood?"
Yang shouted her agreement and made for the offices to the right, reaching into every door and flipping the switches as quickly as she could. All this running is tiring me out, she thought, gasping for breath. She was faintly aware of their attacker entering the building behind them. Is he going to chase after me, or Blake? Yang asked herself. No, I can't waste time wondering. I have a job to do. She continued to run, coming to the end of the hallway and turning left, hitting every power switch she came too. Behind her came the noises of various devices as they powered on: computers, copiers, projectors; microwaves. There should be a rear fire exit somewhere around here, she thought. She saw the bright neon sign and headed towards it at a full sprint, arriving just seconds after Blake.
"Do you think it'll work?" Yang asked as they barreled through the door, slamming it shut behind them.
"It should. It'll buy us enough time, at least, if it doesn't stop him entirely. It's only a matter of time before he finds the exit himself. We need to make the most of it while we can."
"It was a pretty bright idea if it works," Yang said, ignoring the pointed groan from Blake. "C'mon, Ruby and Weiss are waiting for us, and we still have a long way to go. Are you still happy that we didn't take the motorcycle?"
"Blake, who was that guy? How did you know him? What did he mean when he said that he was going to 'take you back?'" Yang asked.
"I don't want to talk about it right now," Blake said. She can't know the truth; she can't know what I am, what I was.
"What are we going to tell Ruby and Weiss? They're going to want to know what happened, too," Yang continued, not letting up for a second.
"I said, I don't want to talk about it," Blake said again. "Weren't you the one just saying that you weren't ready to face everything, all this, yet? I've been chasing after the White Fang for months now. They're dangerous, and he's one of them. This isn't the first time that he's chased after me, and it won't be the last. It just means that we need to work faster. Are you satisfied?"
There were a few moments of silence as they continued walking, coming to the bottom of the first flight of stairs and leaned over the balcony railing, looking at the people crowding the station below. "You see them?" Yang asked, looking over the crowd for Weiss and her sister.
Blake found them first. "There they are," she said, pointing to a bench against the far wall, the area around them mostly clear of other commuters. "Look at them. They seem…happy." The two girls were sitting shoulder to shoulder, looking excitedly at a scroll clutched in Ruby's hand.
"They seem to be getting along better than they were earlier, that's for sure. We should go meet them." Neither moved from their spot leaning over the railing. "Blake, do you believe any of what Professor Ozpin told us? Do you believe any of these stories about assassins and Templars?"
Blake looked her straight in the eye? "Yang, I don't know."
A/N: I'm very sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. I originally had intended to take Christmas morning off only, and post this the week after, but then one thing led to another and then another, and now we're in the middle of January and I still hadn't done anything. I'm not overly thrilled with this chapter, and I might edit it again in the future, to try and get it up to my expectations, but I felt that the most important thing here was posting it and at least getting myself back in the thinking and writing process. I'm only expecting another three chapters to this story, so hopefully it'll be done around the first weekend in February. As of now, at least, that's my plan.
Thank you all for reading, and please leave a review.