Sun jogged through the cobblestone streets alongside Yang, keeping pace for the most part as she stayed slightly ahead to determine their direction. Neither of them had spoken since leaving the house, though Sun had spent the duration trying to find the words while ignoring the uncomfortable sensation around his ribs. Unfortunately for him, around ten minutes into the jog, a sharp pain shot up his side and he clutched his torso in agony as he slowed to a stop. He hissed in pain as he felt around the bandage on his side, and Yang only noticed after she was a good twenty feet ahead of him. After catching on, she turned and jogged back, only to squat in front of Sun as the boy tried to catch his breath.
"Hey, what's going on? You alright?"
"I… no, not really," Sun admitted as he grit his teeth. "This was a really, really bad idea."
"I could've told you that, but I wasn't about to turn you away when you looked so determined," Yang admonished as she offered her shoulder. Sun threw his arm over her for support, and Yang began to guide him toward a nearby bench. Slowly, she eased him down onto it before sitting beside him.
"Yeah, well," Sun began in between hisses of pain. "Needed to talk. Alone."
"Which is why… you've been silent this entire time?" Yang asked as she checked his bandages. The girl gingerly put her fingers on the tape holding the gauze wrappings in place, and slowly began to peel it back as Sun grunted.
"Probably… 'cause the only thing I can think to say is 'what the hell is wrong with you?'" Sun said with a yelp as Yang peeled back another layer of gauze. The sheet beneath was stained a light pink, and she frowned as she looked up at him.
"…this is about Blake, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's about Blake. She's convinced you hate her, now. Do you have any idea how long it took me to instill a shred of confidence in her?" Sun asked through labored breaths. "Now, I'm worried she's going to go back to how she was when I first ran after her. She's constantly in and out, doing things away from me and taking on more work, and… it's like you were the last straw."
Yang blinked as she peeled away another layer, and found a spot of a darker color. She cringed both at the sight and his words as she worked to continue uncovering the wound. "Sun, you have no idea what you're talking about. Yeah, I haven't been pleasant toward her, but it's not like she just up and disappeared. She's been back at the house every night since you guys arrived, and she's been talking to the team regularly. She just doesn't talk to me, because I more or less told her to get bent."
Sun whimpered as the final layer of gauze came off to reveal a torn section of skin along the scar forming on his torso. He sucked in a breath as he leaned back and closed his eyes. "That… I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure that isn't good. Also, could you not? Her father just died, and Adam's causing a lot of trouble for both of us. She's a little fragile, right now. Or at least, it would make sense if she was…"
Yang rolled off her top without hesitation and balled it into a collection of fabric as she sat on the bench in nothing but a bra and shorts. She quickly pressed the wad of material against Sun's side and applied pressure while making a face.
"…I'm sorry to hear that. I'll try to go easier on her, but… honestly, Sun, you don't know what I've been through. You don't know what I've had to deal with t-"
"And you don't know what she's been through," Sun interrupted as he opened his eyes and caught sight of Yang's state of undress. He quickly looked down at the ground, and shook his head. "Do you…?"
"No, because she would never open up to me," Yang replied. "I tried for almost a year to get her to talk me through what she's thinking, and she just never wanted to let me in. Do you know how frustrating that gets, especially when she up and runs away? My own mother abandoned me, Sun. I was stuck raising Ruby more or less alone while trying to grow up, myself, so if someone walks out… I don't usually give second chances. There's more to it than that, but that's the basic idea. You can't tell me that what she did was fair, even if you are in a serious relationship. She didn't even stay to make sure I was fucking alive, before she bolted."
Sun closed his eyes as he tried to figure out what to say. The pain in his side started to dull as his aura began to work at mending the wound, though he could still feel the strained muscle beneath. "I'm sorry, Yang, but… I was abandoned, too. I've never even met my parents. They dumped me off at a foster home before I could even talk, and I still don't know why. I chased after Blake to make sure she would be okay and get the help she needed, but… she ended up helping me. She gave me a family, even though I just lost a member of it. Blake shuts down entirely when she's in crisis, but when she's not? I couldn't ask for anything more than what she's given me, to make me feel loved. She'll do that for you, too, if you give her the chance."
"And I plan to… in time," Yang warned as she untangled her shirt and stretched it out. She tied the fabric around Sun's waist and over his shoulder before putting a knot in it, and standing to offer him a hand. "But you can't tell me to just magically drop my spiteful feelings because she was upset. I lost my mother, an arm, and a really close friend… and you know what? Losing that friend hurt more than the other two."
Sun grasped Yang's hand and stood as he kept his other arm around the makeshift bandage. "…you really mean that?"
"Yeah, I do. Blake and I will be fine, in time, but you can't just crusade on in and demand that I play nice right here, right now. I like you, Sun, but if that's the approach you take… things are gonna get ugly between us. I need time, and she needs to understand what she did to me," Yang said as she gathered up the bloodied gauze and threw it into a nearby trashcan.
Sun hung his head in defeat, and rubbed at the back of his neck. "That's… fair, I guess. It sucks, but it's fair. Just don't get mad at me when I play the boyfriend part, and comfort her."
Yang crossed her arms and snorted. "Sun, you and Blake may be a thing, but you're two different people. One of you pissed me off. The other didn't. If you had run out on Team RWBY, it'd be your ass that I'd be after… but you didn't."
"…I ran out on Team SSSN," Sun said sheepishly. Yang's lip twitched, and she looked less than impressed.
"…yeah. Yeah, I guess you did. That was a shitty thing to do, but I can tell you're already paying the price, considering Sage and Scarlet aren't around. Can you walk, now?" Yang asked as she repositioned herself at Sun's side, ready to catch him.
"I think so, yeah. I hope. Thanks, Yang… and I'll get you a new shirt, when I finally get around to getting one of my own," Sun joked. He set out at a slow pace toward the safe house with Yang beside him, before realization hit him. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, but I might not answer, depending on what it is," Yang offered.
"It's about Sage, actually," Sun began as they made their way up the sidewalk. "He's really pissed that I walked out on our team to go after Blake. He's actually here, and wouldn't even budge to help us out at Haven, despite knowing the stakes. I'm furious with him over it, but… I mean, I get it, too. We used to be pretty good friends, and now it's… something else. Something nasty, that's about to get worse. What would you do, in my situation?"
A silent fire burned in Yang's eyes as she listened to Sun speak, and grew in intensity over time. She inhaled sharply through her nose before breathing out harshly through her mouth as he finished.
"…first of all… he's a Class-A douchebag for leaving us all high and dry, while knowing how serious the situation at Haven was. That alone is enough to make me say cut all ties, or kick his ass, and then cut all ties. Though, on the other hand… had I been in his situation, I would've been tempted to sit out, too. I wouldn't have done it, but the temptation would be there. What's the hang up, Sun? Why are you even considering something other than throwing him away?" Yang asked as she cracked her knuckles.
Sun put his hands in his pockets as they walked, and thought silently to himself for a moment. "I guess… well, he holds a grudge like no other, and that's nothing new. He once didn't talk to me for two days because I accidentally ate his leftovers. Stuff like that. But… there were good times, too. We all had a lot of fun, and I miss that… even if he really is too far gone, now. Besides… he's a great fighter, and with all of this relic and Salem stuff, we could use all the help we can get."
"…so you know," Yang said matter-of-factly.
"I know, yeah. I'm up to speed on just about everything, and so is Blake," Sun offered.
"And you're not wrong. We could definitely use the extra muscle, and not a lot of people are going to be willing to stand up to Salem. If you could rally him, it'd be a big help… but as far as what I would do? There's gotta be more there, beneath the surface, that's causing him to react the way he did. I mean, look at me. If you didn't know me well, would you think I'd react to Blake the way I have?" Yang asked.
"Not really," Sun admitted. "Which is why I found it so weird and upsetting until we had this conversation."
"Exactly. So, go in sympathetic, and try to understand where he's coming from. Then, admit that you're a total asshole who abandoned his team to chase puss. Literally," Yang said with a smirk.
Sun made a frustrated noise, and gave Yang a glare. "It was not about that. It's still not about that!"
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. She's not giving it up?" Yang teased as Sun continued to fume. "Hey, I'm beyond entitled to giving you shit over it, considering the situation. Man up."
"I'm serious, Yang. It wasn't for sex, and it still isn't. It's deeper than that," Sun insisted.
"Do you love her, Sun?" Yang asked while making a kissy face at him.
"Yes, Yang, I do. I have for a long time, and I'm not ashamed to admit that. I don't care what other guys would say, or how they pretend it's nothing more than sex. I'm in it for our connection. Period," Sun finished. Yang's features softened as she gave him an honest smile.
"Then she's in good hands, and I'm happy for you. But in terms of Sage… that's probably how he sees it, and if you just got that flustered with me, imagine how you'll react once he starts pushing your buttons. I have a feeling his methods won't be as flirty," Yang warned as they walked up onto the lawn of the safe house.
"No, they won't be, and I'm… hey, can we… not go back inside, just yet? There's a little more to this than it seems," Sun said. "I mean, you don't have to listen to all of this, but I'd really appreciate it."
"What else is eating at you?" Yang asked as she sat down on the grass. Sun took a seat beside her, albeit more slowly as he kept a hand on his side. He took a few deep breaths before transitioning to lie on his back in the grass while staring up at the sky.
"Yang, lately, I've been… having… I dunno if they're 'attacks', or 'episodes', or… I get angry. Angry like I've never been, before."
Yang immediately became more attentive as she rotated her body to face Sun completely. "What kind of 'angry', Sun? Like, 'fuck you, world' angry, or 'I just want to scream' angry, or…"
"…how about 'I want to kill someone' angry?" Sun asked, while avoiding her eyes. "You know me fairly well, and you know how I usually am… but the first time I met Adam, I just… lost it. I went off on him in front of an entire village, and set Blake's family back a bit because I couldn't keep my cool."
"That's perfectly understandable, around the king of douchenozzles," Yang sympathized.
"Yeah, but not in that situation. It happened again each time I've encountered him, and then… then it started happening in other situations. I ended up against one of his lackeys, who hurt one of my friends, and… I don't even remember what I said to him. I feel like I might've blacked out afterward, or… I don't remember how we fought, or the sequence of events, but I do remember how I felt, looking at him. Like I wanted to just… put my hands into his stomach and pull to either side, until I tore through him. It's like he wasn't even a person," Sun finished as he clenched his fists.
Yang spoke slowly and calmly as she put her hand atop one of Sun's. "…and you're asking me because you have a feeling I've been there."
"…yeah," Sun admitted. "And… because I felt just about the same, when I was standing at Sage's door, before Neptune talked me down. And I get flares of it, now, when something is going wrong, or when pressure builds up, and it's starting to trigger more and more over smaller and smaller things, and I can't help it, and…"
"…you're scared," Yang finished.
"…I'm scared," Sun agreed. The two sat together in the grass for a while, just taking in their surroundings as Yang thought over his words.
"Is it worse around Adam, or is it just… zero to a hundred, whenever it hits?" Yang asked cautiously.
Sun interlaced his fingers and rested his hands atop his chest as he looked up at the sky, and remained silent. Minutes passed as Yang waited patiently, watching him.
"…Sun. I'm not judging you."
"Honestly, I was kinda hoping you'd just somehow forget you asked," Sun said. "It's… the second one. That's what scares me, a lot. So far, most of the times it's happened, it's been a really bad situation, but with Sage… I was out for blood, and I hadn't even seen his face, yet. If Neptune hadn't been there, I don't know what would've happened. I don't know what else is going to set me off, and I really don't want to find out."
"That's… really not healthy, Sun," Yang warned as she rubbed the back of his bandaged hand. "Yes, I get pissed sometimes. Really pissed, even, but... I can't say I've ever felt ready to kill someone. Maybe Adam, if we run into each other again, but what you're describing is really bad."
"It's psychotic," Sun offered in a small voice.
"…you said it, not me," Yang replied as she put her hands up. "Have you told Blake about this?"
"Yes," Sun said quickly. "Well… kinda. I mean… not really…?"
"She needs to know. Honestly, it could be a liability if you can't get this under c-"
"Don't even think about suggesting I stay out of this," Sun interrupted. There was an unfamiliar edge to his voice, sharp enough that Yang was taken aback. Slowly, Sun calmed as he took a deep breath. "Sorry."
"Sun, you need help," Yang said. "And I don't mean that in a mocking way, or like you need to be 'left behind' or anything like that. I mean you really do need to talk to someone who has experience with this. I might be able to do a little something to help you get it under control, but the thoughts you're having aren't normal. I've gotten a lot of my anger issues under control, b-"
"How?" Sun cut in. "What have you done? I'll do anything, if you have ideas."
Yang shifted to lie beside Sun, and folded her hands behind her head. "Well, going for runs is one, but given the bleeding right now, that's off the table. Meet me out here tonight, and we'll try something."
"That sounds… not insignificantly ominous," Sun joked.
"…meditation. It sounds lame, but trust me, it helps. It's helped a lot with not just losing my shit entirely at Blake, or Oz," Yang offered.
"Then I'll give it a shot," Sun said as he sat up. "For now, though, I'm gonna go ahead and shower, and then… maybe I'll take another shot at talking to Sage, with your ideas in mind."
"Take Neptune with you," Yang instructed. "For your sake, and Sage's."
"…yeah," Sun agreed as he stretched his arms up above his head. "Thanks, Yang. I'll meet you here tonight."
"You'd better," Yang warned jokingly as she shot him a wink.
Sun made his way back to the safe house, and stepped inside with a sigh. He began making his way down the hall toward his room when a vibration in his back pocket caught his attention. His heart leaped as he saw a message from Ilia, and he hurriedly tapped the screen to pull up the text.
Hey, big bro- I'm awake! Cinnamon and Jaune did some kind of healing voodoo and took care of some of the damage, but my arm's gonna take a while to mend. I still need to go for some testing and scans and shit, so you can't visit until later tonight. I'll keep you updated.
Sun's face broke out into a grin as he fired a text back.
I'll be there as soon as you say the word. Feel better!
Satisfied that things were looking up, Sun stuffed his scroll back into his pocket and took confident strides toward his room. He opened the door and stepped inside, only to be greeted by the sight of a completely unclothed Neptune, standing in the middle of the room.
"Dude!" Sun cried as he raised a hand to shield his eyes. "You are the worst!"
"Not my fault that you caught me while I was getting in the shower!" Neptune griped, making no effort to cover himself.
"Then lock the door, dumbass!" Sun responded as he turned away from the scene.
"…oh, yeah. I guess that's fair," Neptune mused. "How'd it go with Yang?"
"…oh my gods, get in the shower and we can talk after!" Sun said in an exasperated tone. "You know what? Actually, I'll just leave, and come back in fifteen. You're unbelievable."
Without another word, Sun turned and disappeared back into the hallway. Neptune shrugged, and made his way into the bathroom while whistling to himself.
Author's Note:
Next update on Saturday.
-RD