Sun let his head flop backward into the headrest of the seat as the aircraft took off. He closed his eyes to block out the harsh overhead lights inside of the transport, though he opened them again almost immediately as a hand settled atop his.
"Hey," Ilia said softly as she gave his knuckles a rub. "Seriously- you okay?"
"…I'm exhausted," Sun admitted. "Exhausted, stressed out, extremely worried knowing that Blake is M.I.A., I have a headache, my back hurts, we're in a small space with former enemies, on our way to our leader who is clearly upset with us, and about to kick off a war against some sort of grimm queen. So… no. No, I'm not okay, Ilia. I don't think any of us are okay."
The overall somber mood was palpable in the air, though Cinnamon wore more of a scowl than an exhausted frown like most others that were present. With a ragged sigh, the woman reached up to brush a dreadlock back behind her ear.
"…given that both my future and Emerald's are currently up in the air, and it's quite clear that our presence is causing all of you stress… for what it's worth, I'm sorry for being such a shitty person. I was dealt a terrible hand and grew into a lifestyle of doing terrible things to survive. It's not so much an excuse as an explanation. I expect no forgiveness, nor am I asking for it. Understanding, though… that would be nice, before this goes however it may."
"Cinnamon…" Weiss began, her tone full of frustration, "…I think at some point in our lives, all of us have been shitty people. I was complacent and complicit within my father's company, and for a long time, dreamed of inheriting it and keeping the status quo going. Sun was a thief. Ilia and Corsac, terrorists. Jaune lied his way into Beacon and put several people at risk with his lack of experience."
"…you lied your way into Beacon Academy?" Cinnamon asked as she looked across the compartment at the blond. She sounded more impressed than anything, and her left eyebrow quite nearly disappeared into her hairline. "How?"
"It's… a long story," Jaune said hurriedly. "I really, really don't want to talk about it, but Weiss is right."
Jaune blinked in surprise as a hand came to lay atop his. Upon looking down, he found Corsac's fingers covering his own while the faunus spoke to the woman sitting across from them.
"…what was left unsaid, though, is also what carries the lesson to be learned- yes, we all participated in things that directly affected others and worsened their lives. However, we all did what we did for reasons we truly believed in at the time- survival, pride and the burden of expectation, the liberation of our people, opportunity, or the need to defend those we love. You threw me out of a helicopter for making an attempt on Ilia's life, did you not? That is what you told me, just before you did it. Was that a lie?"
Ilia looked up at Cinnamon expectantly, though her gaze was set firmly upon Corsac.
"It was not," Cinnamon said without hesitation. "I never wanted harm to come to her, and you were an unfortunate loose end by virtue of your continued support of Adam… which came from your need to avenge your brother. Now, it seems we're once again on the same side."
"I've put the past behind me, when it comes to Fennec and my actions within the Fang," Corsac said. "And I was only able to do so with the help of this man beside me. Perhaps I'm overstepping, but I do believe that if Daisuke was here, he would want the same for you- to find new purpose in this fight against Salem and use the opportunity to better yourself as a person. I also believe that is what Weiss was ultimately suggesting- no one here is clean, Cinnamon. Because of that shared experience, the understanding and acceptance that you seek may well be on the table."
"That's not my decision to make," Cinnamon said with a shrug.
"It's partially mine," Weiss chimed in. "And I've already made it. I didn't think we'd have this opportunity for months at the earliest, but so far as I'm concerned… I'm willing to… understand. Forgiveness? In time, as you show us who it is you want to be."
"I echo that sentiment," Corsac agreed. "Weiss and I both have something to live for. It seems you've always had one… but what you're living for may be changing."
"And that's totally normal," Sun added. "I used to just survive, instead of living. From everything I've seen and heard regarding you, I get the feeling you can relate."
"…I can," Cinnamon confirmed. "And I must say, I don't particularly enjoy the group psychoanalysis going on right now… but I can't exactly deny it, either. Still…"
"Stand with us, and we'll stand with you," Ilia offered with a shrug. "That's really it, when all is said and done. I do still care about you, as much as you pissed me off back in Argus. It's nice to hear that you really do care about me."
"I do," Cinnamon replied. "I sincerely do, believe it or not. The same goes for you, Sun. We've clashed now and then, but I've always been on your side in a roundabout way. You and Blake are what the faunus need as role models, if not outright leaders."
"…you did save my life back in Kuo Kuana," Sun reminded. "And again, tonight. If everything Yuma told us is true, you also put everything on the line to get to Mantle and protect our people. I think everyone here is on board with giving you at least a chance."
"It's one that I won't waste," Cinnamon reassured. "Shitty though you might all have been once… you're good people. Too good…"
Again, only the noises of the engine occupied the otherwise silent aircraft for almost a full minute. After such time, Emerald finally worked up the courage to speak as she shifted her bound hands behind herself.
"…guess that just leaves me."
Weiss inhaled sharply and folded her arms over her chest.
"I, for one, am waiting to hear your explanation for playing an instrumental part in bringing down my home academy and kickstarting this entire war that now has the fate of Remnant hanging in the balance."
"There isn't one," Emerald said softly. "At least… not one that justifies anything I did, or one that I would expect any of you to understand."
"Try us," Sun suggested. "I'm with Weiss, and I'm a little bit beyond pissed with you over Beacon, but… in case you haven't noticed, we have our priorities in order. If you're going to help us from here on out, you couldn't possibly make our feelings toward you worse than they are now. Give it a whirl."
Emerald looked up at the faunus, her expression hardening.
"…what if the idea of saying it out loud and cementing it as truth in my own mind is scarier to me than just letting you continue to hate me?"
"I've been there," Jaune admitted as he finally decided to speak up. He, too, was giving Emerald a nasty glare, though his resolve seemed to be quickly wavering. The boy overturned his hand and clasped his fingers around Corsac's, gripping the older man's digits for support. "And when you really, truly feel that way, deep inside… what it means is that whatever burden you're carrying is valid. It's real, and the longer you ignore it, the longer it's going to eat you away inside. That's what happened to me when Pyrrha died. I'm only still here because Sun was willing to be my sounding board, and because I have people around me that I can lean on. Don't rob yourself of the opportunity to move forward and confront your trauma, even if we're all victims of it and you have to look us in the eyes to do so."
Emerald's expression shifted from one of melancholy and defiance to something closer to panic. She was quick to shift her eyes back down to the metal paneling on the floor of the aircraft to hide what emotion she could. Her hands were sweaty, and her mouth was dry as she tried to form words. Even choking out a response took a great effort, and she shook her head while she spoke in a small voice.
"…I'm not ready," Emerald confessed. "I'm just… I'm not ready for that, and I know that saying so is the coward's way out, especially with you three sitting right here."
"Yeah," Jaune said as he looked at the top of Emerald's head. "Yeah, it is the coward's way out… but just like I used to be a shitty person, I used to be a coward, too. I get it. There are bigger issues on our plate right now than you. When you're ready, though… we'll be waiting."
"…waiting to give you a chance," Weiss clarified as she gave Jaune a sidelong look. "A chance to explain yourself, and a chance to let us help you confront whatever could have possibly motivated you to potentially doom us all."
"Yeah," Jaune said again. "And Penny will be waiting, too."
"…great," Emerald said in a sarcastic voice. "I know I deserve what I'm feeling right now, but… that doesn't make it any easier."
"None of this is easy," Ilia reminded. "Not for any of us. For now, though… we've crested the edge of Atlas, and it looks like we're landing momentarily. Time to refocus, people. Whatever the hell is about to happen… this is a turning point. We're going to have to choose a path forward."
"And whatever path we take, we've got to take it together," Sun insisted. "No more splitting up. No more divide and conquer tactics. None of us will survive on our own. Support is the only thing keeping us standing."
"…gods, you're laying it on thick," Cinnamon accused as the craft began a straight vertical descent. "Not that I don't agree with the sentiment, but this isn't a support group."
"Isn't it?" Ilia asked. "We sure as shit could've used one back in the Fang. Would've helped a lot of angry people see what they were really doing before things escalated to inexcusable levels."
"Yeah, it'd be pretty great if there were people in all places that actually cared about each other," Sun mused. "Would solve a lot of the world's problems. Would make us all a lot stronger, too. If you don't want to think of it as a support group, then think of it as a family. One you might eventually be a part of."
"That is… so much worse," Cinnamon balked as she the plane landed and she stood up. "Just… let's stop talking about this. Ilia's right- time to get our heads back in the game and out of the campfire songs you're surely planning."
"One night soon, you'll wake up to a small fire in your room and all of us standing around it in a circle," Sun teased as the others all rose from their seats. "I'll have an acoustic guitar ready to go."
"In that case, just throw me in prison now," Emerald suggested as she moved to stand near Cinnamon after exiting the plane.
"I'd love to," Yang snarked as she stood waiting on the landing pad with her arms folded across her chest. "Everyone make it back?"
"We did, yes," Weiss answered as she stepped forward to receive a tight hug from her friend. "The Aces took a separate transport, and Hope and Pax should be here soon."
"Penny and Pax," Jaune corrected as he watched the two girls break their embrace. He opened his arms as Yang turned her attention to him, and happily returned the kiss she planted upon his lips. "Nice to see you, too."
Sun looked over the pair with an amused smile as he joined the group, flicking a finger back and forth between his friends.
"So… is this a thing, now? Like an actual, official thing?"
Jaune looked to Yang for clarification, but the girl had her eyes on Corsac as he exited the ship alone.
"I'll be totally honest, I don't know what the hell it is," Yang admitted as she kept her artificial arm around Jaune's waist and gestured to the lone faunus with the other. "Come here, you."
"Hm?" the man asked, only to be scooped into a one-armed hug by the blonde.
"You're always so serious and reserved," Yang accused as she kept the pair of men in her grasp. "You need some affection, too."
"Couldn't hurt," Jaune agreed with an awkward grin. "Just roll with it. Yang means well."
"…right," Corsac agreed, not resisting the embrace. "Still… is now really the time for this? You have much to catch us up on."
"I do, and Ruby's waiting for us inside, along with Oscar," Yang agreed as she released her hold on Jaune and Corsac. "Everyone gather around, bec-"
The simultaneous vibration of every scroll but Cinnamon and Emerald's going off was loud enough to give Yang pause. Hesitant looks were exchanged as Sun slowly took his scroll out of his pocket and brought it up to read the text that had been sent to his entire squad and every member of the Ace Ops.
General Ironwood
You are all to come to my office immediately. A discussion needs to be had about next steps for Mantle, Atlas, and Amity. Whatever tasks are not yet finished, abandon them. This takes priority.
"…fuck," Ilia cursed as she looked up from her scroll to meet Sun's eyes. "I think we all knew this was coming, but I don't like the tone of that. I'm scared."
"We all are," Sun said as he placed his device back into his pants. "But we can't run from this, and not going would only make things way, way worse. Yang… do your best to explain everything you can on the way, so we're up to speed."
"Right, I'll try to remember everything Ruby and Raven told us," Yang offered. "Here goes… fucking everything."
Sun nodded as the squad began to walk, their collective eyes on the towering academy building ahead of them.
"Yeah. Here it goes…"
Author's Note:
This is the chapter for the week of 6/6- it's just going up early since it's done already, and I don't want to wait. Why should you?
Next time, on What You Stole Chapter Fucking 200…
The real, massive, 2-years-plus-in-the-making enfuckening of Mantle and Atlas begins as we roll right up to the war arc proper. This is going to be a big one and go in directions that I think will surprise a lot of people.
Chapter 200 also marks where this story will take a hard left from canon and never look back. Brace yourselves, because everything from Chapter 65 onward has been leading to this moment.
-RD