"Hey, Kariotic," One might say. "How are you writing and updating so quickly nowadays?

Honestly, the fuck else am I supposed to do right now? I'm waiting for my job to reopen, the world is mid-revolution, I'm especially susceptible to the pandemic illness, and my mental health is slowly deteriorating. Writing is the most fun I'm having besides video games.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter! Leave a comment if you feel so inclined. See y'all next time 3

"This sucks," Ruby pouted. The gang had decided to take a rest in a small plaza in front of a fancy looking building. A quick glance at the device Kay had gifted her showed that it was now 7:30 in the evening, and the sky was already pitch black. That is, except for the multitude of advertisements and monitors that blasted lights in their faces as they walked through the city. "So many opportunities and we never found the right gift for Kay!"

"He even gave us something super cool on the day we were supposed to give something back to him!" Nora added sadly, leaning on Ren. The ninja simply patted her head and gave Nora her new giant teddy bear. "Thank you, Renny."

"Why was the souvenir store a bad idea again?" Jaune asked.

"Because he lives here, Jaune." Weiss answered. "Why would he need something from the state he lives in?"

"I guess I can see how that makes sense," Jaune slumped in his seat, defeated.

"I technically spent the most time with him in his office," Blake spoke up. "I don't even know that much about him."

"Roman," Winter's voice caused the redhead to look up from his phone. "Where did Kay go anyway?"

"Right up here," Roman answered, pointing up at the hotel.

"Why?" Winter asked, her gaze suddenly intense. The rest of the group listened intently, waiting for the answer. The third chaperone could feel a bead of sweat race down the side of his head. If he lied, would Winter be able to tell? Otherwise, would telling them the truth violate his friendship with Kay?

"Personal reasons," Roman said, looking straight into Winter's eyes. She sighed as she turned to look up at the hotel room. "He was going to make this stop in the city regardless of you guys being here."

"What does that mean?" Yang asked. "Does he always come down here?"

Roman sighed. He had already said too much with that last one. He took one last look upwards in the general direction of Kay. He took a deep breath and started to speak.

. . . . .

"Karis," A cold, passive tone. Dark brown eyes that glared with a steel determination. A black dress uniform with several medal pins over her left breast. His younger sister looked up to him with a cruel aloofness.

"Maya," Kay nodded a greeting in return. He held two envelopes in his hands.

"Another year, another visit, then?" Maya asked. "I suppose we can be polite."

"I would like that," Kay said. "How have you been?"

"I recently returned from my overseas deployment." Maya answered. "I've only this week for R&R."

"That's good," Kay nodded again. The distance between the two adults made this rather awkward. "I'm glad to see you home safe."

"How is teaching going for you?" Maya's neutral expression remained the same. She seemed to ignore the sentiment of his last statement. "I know that classes are done for the semester."

"They went well, no one failed." Kay said.

"Was that because you were too lenient?" Maya cut in harshly.

"No," Kay's eyes narrowed, annoyed. "I like to think I taught them well enough."

"I see," Maya said dismissively. "And are you still chasing your silly dream?"

"Writing isn't silly," Kay retorted. "It's earned me good money and some peace of mind."

"Trivial, then." Maya snarked. "If not silly, then trivial."

"How was following orders and marching to someone else's horn like a dead drone?" Kay snarked back.

"I am more than proud of what I do," she snapped. "You could have been so much more if you let your silly sickness go."

"Silly?" Kay felt himself ball his fists.

"Yes, silly." Maya repeated. "Sorry, trivial. Mother would actually talk to you if you simply listened to her. Everything wrong is in your mind."

"Again, you assume to understand something you don't," Kay growled.

"And let's not even get started with your ex," Maya laughed. "Good riddance, I say."

"What?"

"For her, I mean." Maya clarified haughtily. "She could do so much better, and so she did."

"You little shit!" Kay all be yelled.

"I see you're upset Karis," Maya simply smiled victoriously. "Unless you have some way to prove me wrong, I see no reason for me to think any different than we did for the last eight years."

Kay went silent. Not because he had nothing to say, rather he didn't want to explode at his own little sister. Regardless of what she said to his face, he would never do anything rash to her. And she knew that. He simply seethed as Maya smugly took in the moment.

"Hm?" A sudden alert chimed through the hotel room and Maya retrieved her smartphone. A look of confusion before looking up to her visitor. "Karis?"

"What." Not a question, just a response.

"This person does not look like she works for the hotel." Maya muttered. "Do you know who this woman is?"

"What?" Kay asked, then understood when Maya flipped her phone to show him. Kay watched the live feed view of the hallway directly outside of her hotel room, where an unhappy-looking Winter stood. The Specialist raised her fist to knock.

"Excuse me," her voice rang through the wooden barrier with clear authority. "I'm searching for Karis Gray and have been told he has been in this room. Please open the door so we may retrieve him."

"Retrieve?" Maya repeated, looking up to Kay once more. "What have you done?"

"Nothing illegal."

"Nonsense," Maya retorted quickly. "I'm letting her in."

How the hell is this gonna play out? Kay thought, watching Maya walk over and unlock the door to her room. She was deftly moved aside as Winter stepped in and regarded him first, scanning his body as though to check for wounds.

"Is everything alright, Winter?" Kay asked.

"I'm sorry, you're in my apartment," Maya stepped in between them. "I am Captain Maya Gray of the United States Army, and I demand you identify yourself." Winter glanced at her, then a shrugging Kay, then back to Maya before retrieving something from her pocket.

"I am Lieutenant Colonel Winter Schnee, right hand to the General of an undercover work force." Winter displayed her identification for Maya to see. The younger woman mouthed out the words: Atlesian Forces. "Our company is under a need-to-know basis, and would not be recognized by the US Army. Mr. Gray, are you alright?"

"I am fine, Ms. Schnee." Kay answered. He did his best to hide the satisfaction in seeing Maya look to him with astonishment.

"W-what has Karis been doing for your… forces?" Maya asked.

"Kay has been tasked with hosting and mentoring some youth delegates from overseas," Winter began. Kay mentally laughed; it wasn't a total lie. He wasn't teaching them much other than about their world. "I am the officer assigned to join the delegates and was the one responsible for selecting him."

"May I ask why?" Maya asked. "He is my brother."

"You say that, yet he has barely mentioned you in casual conversation." Winter noted aloud. "Plus, I gathered you were arguing earlier. My conclusion is that you regularly contest each other about his choices to leave the Army and take up writing and teaching."

"That is…" Maya hesitated. Kay wondered what she was going to say. Inaccurate? Lie? "Rather blunt, but yes. We do not agree."

"Then, allow me to tell you why I personally selected Kay." The use of his nickname seemed to make Maya flinch in surprise as Winter turned to face her. "Regardless of his history, I have seen great moral strength in his practice. As a teacher and mentor, he goes beyond the call of duty and provides in-depth assistance and understanding to each of his students. He is not afraid to step out of line in the face of an armed enemy, despite being a civilian. His mental illness aside, Kay has shown greater value to the nation, nay the world, as an individual than almost all of the officers I serve alongside."

"I-I see," Maya shrunk under the Specialist's freezing glare.

"Orders for a soldier may be important," Winter continued. "But unless you are willing to question them and find the greater meaning for your position's purpose, you are simply a drone, an empty shell that you let everyone else mold. Kay has shown that strength, determination, and invaluable amicability despite the pain dealt by his illness, the world, and even his own family."

Maya's eyes were staring at the ground, soundly defeated by Winter's words. Kay would have felt better if the earlier scenario was an outlier, but no. The last six years he would make an effort to reconnect with his sister, but she would always take that time to talk him down and mock him. This moment felt necessary. He looked to Winter as she finished her speech.

"I cannot express how grateful to Kay myself and the others in this group have been as he's hosted us," she said, maintaining a professionally even tone. "And after getting to know him, I can tell you one thing."

Maya looked up to her to listen. Her cold walls had been thoroughly shattered.

"You're lucky he's still alive to come back and even find the kindness to try to visit you." Winter then turned to Kay. "They've waited downstairs long enough. We must be going."

Kay simply tossed the two cards he held in his hands onto a nearby table. One read "Maya," while the other read "Mother." He walked around the statue of the told-off Maya and followed Winter out of the hotel room, closing the door behind him. It wasn't until they made it to the elevator did Winter let out a breath.

"Thanks for that," Kay said, letting out a deep breath of his own. "I don't know what I would have said if I was there alone. I might've just stormed out angry and let her win as always."

"Why?" Winter asked. "Why do you care about what she thinks so much?"

"She…" Kay thought for a second. Why did he keep coming back here every year if it did nothing but hurt him. "She's my little sister. We were very close when we were young. It wasn't until I was out of the Army did she and my mother essentially join together and demonize me and my choices. I thought there was still a way to reconnect, but she always just pushes back."

"Then stop," Winter said simply. "How many times have you done this?"

"Six times," Kay answered truthfully. "And not a drop of progress gained."

"Not all battles can be won, nor all sacrifices halted." Winter said. "Ironwood taught me that after my first mission. Perhaps the time has come for you to let her go. It's clearly an unhealthy habit."

"How do you mean?"

"Unclench your fists."

"What?"

"Look down, Kay."

Kay looked down and raised his hands. As she said, they were still in tightly clenched fists. He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and slowly relaxed his hands. As if on cue, the elevator doors opened to reveal the lobby.

"Feel better?"

Brown eyes met blue, a moment of understanding.

"Yeah, thanks."

. . . . .

"How did you like the city?" Kay asked, his eyes stared firmly ahead on the road. On the drive back, his car held Winter and JNR once more while Roman drove RWBY and Ozcar. The three teens were knocked out in the back seat. Nora had to put her teddy bear in the trunk, so Ren was designated cuddle buddy for this nap. Winter looked straight ahead as well.

"It was very lively," Winter answered. "A beautifully decorated place. The food was good as well."

"Mhmm," Kay had brought them to a Chipotle. He and Ren made sure Nora didn't go overboard with her order. They were lucky enough to have happened upon a rather quiet part of Midtown during dinnertime. "Thanks again, by the way."

"For what?" Winter asked. She knew, of course. He just needed to say it himself.

"For helping me with Maya." Kay said. "And for helping my realize that it was time to let go."

"Does your therapist know you visit her?"

"They also made it a point for me to stop doing so," Kay answered. "So thanks for at least making my last visit a thorough one."

"I'm glad to have helped you." Winter said with a smile. "Think of it as my thanks for helping us for this long."

"It's been two weeks," Kay pointed out.

"Two months in our time," Winter clarified. "It would bring our loved ones relief to know we were in the care of someone like you."

"I appreciate the sentiment." Kay nodded. Another thought came up. "Could you tell me something?"

"Sure, Kay."

"Why were the kids so determined to see so many stores?" Winter's soft laughter at his question was quite a soothing sound. "The souvenir stores all have the same things, but they seemed to ignore that fact."

"They were looking for a gift," Winter answered. "On the ride here, Roman told them how this time of year was celebrated with gift things to one another. They simply wanted to show their thanks for your care."

"Ah, gotcha." Kay nodded, looking in the rearview mirror. Roman was still behind them. He could just make out his friend talking to Oscar in the front seat. "They don't need to do that."

"Now why is that?" Winter asked, turning to him.

"I'm just doing what any decent person would." Kay shrugged. "You can thank me when you're happily on your way home."

An awkward silence followed. Was he looking forward to them leaving so quickly? What did he mean by that?

"Do… you not like us being here, Kay?" Winter asked. "Are we a burden?"

"W-what?" Kay asked, incredulous. "No, no, no. I mean, I like to believe a sign that I did a good job is when you're all healthy and happy when the time comes for you to return home. Just knowing you'll be able to return to your loved ones safely and without further issue will be thanks enough."

"I don't know what I expected," Winter shook her head. "You'd probably refuse any monetary prize from Ironwood."

"Lien doesn't work here," Kay reminded.

"It's the principle thought that mattered," Winter countered. Kay chuckled. "I'm sure they'll show their thanks in some way or another soon."

Another awkward silence filled the car. Nora murmured something in her sleep. A motorcycle sped by and illegally wove in between cars around them.

"Hey Winter," Kay broke the momentary silence.

"Yes?"

"Did you mean what you said to Maya?"

"I meant every word I said in that room," Winter answered. "Every word."

. . . . .

"Kay!" Ruby called out to Kay as he exited his bathroom. All of RWBY, JNR, Oscar, and Winter stood in the middle of the living room. The excitement in their eyes betrayed their exhaustion from walking all over the city. "We wanna give you something!"

"Oh, did you guys actually find a gift for me?" Ruby flinched at the question. "Don't worry, Winter told me on the ride back!"

"Sister!" Weiss complained, but Winter simply shrugged.

"He was concerned about your intensity of searching every store," the Specialist explained calmly. "It would have been rude to string him along."

"Anyways," Ruby brought the focus back to the moment at hand. "Sure, we didn't find the perfect gift for you in the city. But, Roman gave us a great idea while you and Winter went up that tower!"

"Happy Holiday!" Nora exploded forward with a rather large card as the group cheered the greeting.

"A greeting card?" Kay closely examined the card. It was simply a piece of folded oaktag covered in designs covered in marker. A closer look revealed that it was actually the individual emblems of the members of Team RWBY and JNR! A crudely drawn red rose and yellow heart were above two very well drawn designs of a black fire and blue snowflake. Next to it was the other three students' emblems, starting with Ren's pink lotus flower, Nora's hammer and lightning bolt in black and pink, then Jaune's simple yellow arcs. As crude and simple as the drawings were, the fact that they made the effort counted. Opening the card, Kay was greeted with various little messages from each of the visitors. Even Ozpin and Winter decided to add in a few kind words.

"Ahem," Weiss cleared her throat purposefully, as Kay had been rather silent as he looked through the messages. He looked up to them and broke up in a wide grin.

"Thank you so much guys," Kay said warmly. "I can't properly tell you guys how much this means to me."

"It's the least we can do to show our thanks," Weiss dipped into a slight curtsy.

"As their former headmaster, I had to join in as well." Ozpin said. "Not only have you generously housed and fed us, you found ways to keep us active. You've even come to our defense in times of danger." Kay recalled the moment where Winter instigated the defense of the fast food restaurant, but decided not to speak up. "I wish to personally thank you for your continued support in our peculiar predicament."

Winter stayed silent as she listened to Ozpin's speech. All of a sudden, each of the youths burst forward to point out their message in the card. Kay simply allowed them to crowd him and excitedly read their words aloud to him simultaneously. Ozpin simply stood back and took a sip of some tea. The Specialist walked over to the kitchen and retrieved two mugs. Kay did promise they would talk that night. After everything that happened today, she was still looking forward to it.

Her blue met his brown again. He smiled and sent her a subtle nod.

It would seem he was as well.