A/N

While yes last chapter was more of a light hearted chapter it still was slowly progressing the plot. Shino is starting to develop feelings for Yang while Yang is slowly becoming head over heels for our eccentric-ish or Stoic protag.

Though as always Reviews are welcome.

Also 90 followers? Holy shit. Imma say it again I'm surprised people read this… I mean. I wrote on this app expecting my book to get little to no reads. Sorry about the long pauses between updates.. I've been very busy.

This chapter was rather short. Chapter 13 will be the regular size. Looking forward to writing that out. The crew will be in Atlas after all!

LL14, out. Onto chapter 12!

—-

I woke up far before the others. The sun was barely up. It casted a low level natural light through the far window slightly adjacent to the lightly colored couch. With a sleeping Yang, Ruby and a notably squished Blake upon it.

A blush dusted my cheeks as my eyes roved over Yang. Last night briefly showed its mug to me. In memory of course.

I looked around and everyone was around.. Except Qrow.

It seemed he had already decided to go check up on my pilfered bullhead. That was going to be my plan. But I noticed the blanket that was covering Blake, Yang, Ruby and I slipped off when I got up. So like any reasonable human-Cat Girl thing I was.

I recovered them, well after making sure the relic of knowledge was still firmly hooked to Ruby's side. Not that I cared if the nearly Useless relic kissed the hardwood. I just did it out of kindness to Jin.

That's if she sat in the relic like a genie would.

If not I just wasted about thirty seconds of my life re-adjusting the fancy christmas ornament.

My fingers roved up to Blakes head out of boredom and sheer curiosity. I quietly and gently touched the points of her ears with my finger tips. One of them flicked and the other stayed up.

Her expression morphed into brief annoyance that faded to a rest. 'Sensitive to touch..neat' I pulled my gloved hand back and slowly back peddled. I then turned on my heel and skipped over Weiss.

I then snatched my weapon from the wall. I for go turning on the light. As it is… My eyes found a digital clock.

5:29

I rubbed the sleep gunk from my left eye and shortly after I used my sleeve for the right one. 'Where is Qrow though?'

I had a guess but there's a possibility that the old man isn't at the bullhead. I poked my cyan mop out of the door as I opened it.

The steady crunching of boots on freshly fallen snow indicated Cordo still had guys out patrolling. I pulled the door close so only a sliver was there between the door jam and the door itself.

I just watched. Seconds later Cordo's men strutted by. And when I say "Strutted" I mean strutted. They walked like someone from those fashion runways or like a peacock flaunting itself.

I snickered and fully shut the door. I tugged United free from its sheath.

I gave my weapon a look over; its lack of maintenance made me fear for my safety. It still had blood in its exposed gears and panel lines. Even the hilt had a fair bit of grime. I took a finger and picked some of the dry blood free.

I pulled the finger back from the gears and took a whiff.

It was Cinders. Now Cinder's blood smelt foul. Kind've like a grim. But not so. All I know is it smelf far worse than faunus.

I was there on the ground after my airstrike and that blood didn't smell-Tainted.

'I wonder why that is?'

I inspected my weapon once more. It was in good condition. For well having blood in its mechanical bits and for sitting for a yearish.

My mind is still fuzzy when trying to remember my time spent at Salems. All I knew was I wasn't the only earthen person on remnant.

Living or dead. I shot one of those Migs down. Killed my best friend… Two where in Salem's castle rotting 'good riddance'

That meant there were two. Hostile Russian fighter jets on remnant somewhere.

My stomach rumbled uneasily.

I took United apart for maintenance as a means to distract myself from the new burst of hate and anxiety. Those Russians wouldn't survive our next meeting. In the air or not.

Neither were Salem's minions. 'I hope'

The fall of Atlas 'literally' WiIll be prevented. With that affirming declaration even if I've declared it already, provided a newer stronger resolve.

—-

Many hours later The others where aroused. If Weiss's cursing and Yang's laughter was any indication. The brawler Walked into the kitchen where I was.

United was in several pieces on the towel covered countertop. Most were cleaned, others were set off. Those were the main inner working bits. Small gears as small as a finger tip.

My face warmed up as Yang neared. I bowed my head slightly and scrubbed a bit harder at the piece in my ungloved hands.

I saw Yang coming to use my shoulder as an armrest. I used my semblance to pop out of existence and I used my aura and dashed to the counter on Yang's other side.

I flashed into the visible land. I coyly leaned on the counter. "Yang sweet heart, didn't Qrow or Tai tell you, using your teammates and friends as rest stops wasn't cool?" My voice was lidden with sarcasm and a special fondness reserved just for her.

Yang cracked a cheeky smirk. "Qrow once told Ruby and I, He once used my Dad as a shield"

Sounded just like Qrow. "What was our resident old fart running from?"

"A pie"

I snorted and set the part next to the others.

"You win this one blondie"

Yang pulled at one of her metal fingers. "I always do blueberri"

I turned back to United. "If I remember correctly, I'm winning"

Yang rested her forearms on the counter and started fiddling with United's blade.

She seemed to space out for some time. I just let her fiddle with the part as I began to rebuild my trusty death machine.

Minutes of comfortable silence passed until I realized Yang had my remaining part. I reached out to the part only to have her fist close in on it. "Yang I-" I was interrupted. "What are we Shino?"

I paused. "I-I truly don't know, what are we Yang?" Yang grasped the part between two of her fingers and shifted her eyes to look at me.

"Wanna find out?"

Lilac met cyan. 'Yes'

"I don't know what this is man, but we have something here.. I want to find out what it is." I looked back down to the incomplete United.

"I just don't want to lose you if we do find out what this is." Yang set the part in my hand and intertwined her finger in mine.

"You won't" At this point we were pressed up against each other. I turned my head and my eyes met hers. I set my forehead on her shoulder. I fully accepted what we were at this point.

"After we get to Atlas" I mumbled. A weight rested on my head. "When we do" Came Yang's response.

She gave my hand a squeeze and let go and took a few steps away. I looked up and made eye contact. I smiled a genuine smile and Yang sent me a wink. Which made my heart flutter just so.

I pulled the part up and set it in its correct space.

WIth a click my weapon shifted and Its handle extended. The cross guard folded against the shaft the pommole flipped outward and became a spike.

The sword itself pulled apart like some form of transformer. Gears whirred and the blade shifted to make a 90 degree angle then it curved and locked into place. My scythe was wiry looking thing. It was purely speed based and a bit lighter than Qrow's.

Or Ruby's. Who I believe has the heaviest weapon in the show. With it being an anti material sniper rifle-scythe combo.

I twirled United in a bid to show off to Yang who was watching silently. I was careful not to nick anything in the kitchen.

I stopped my twirling and struck a textbook attempt at a superhero pose. Yang whistled. "Lookin' good~"

I winked at her and pressed the mecha shift button and my scythe turned into a sword. I flipped United and sheathed it.

I heard clapping. So I looked behind me. Ruby was there, so was Jaune. Ruby was the perpetrator. The Rose stopped furiously clapping. Jaune looked at me warily.

"Another scythe~" He moaned. Ruby elbowed the blonde man causing him to keel over. "Be nice" She whispered.

I chuckled. Yang walked around me and put Jaune in a headlock of sorts. "C'mon Vomit boy~"

Yang was going to give him a mechanized noogie, courtesy of her arm. "Hey, lets not kill the poor soul"

I pulled Jaune free while he hopped away from Yang with an unamused huff.

Several minutes later everyone was awake and conversing or in Nora's case terrorizing Ren. Weiss and Blake were having a debate.

"Dogs are just gross," Blake groused. "How can you not like the fluffy wuffy critters?" Weiss exclaimed.

"I just don't" The cat girl groaned. As I walked by. I decided to add my two cents. I leaned down to Blakes ear level as the Ravenette watched me.

"Woof" I barked. My smirk was enormous.

I got little reaction from either of them. My tail swayed lazy at my heels as I backed away. "Alright, alright wasn't funny"

—-

Qrow paced into the house like hell itself was on his heels.

"Kids, we need to go now" Maria huffed. I didn't question Qrow and threw on the rest of my gear in under ten seconds. "What happened?" Jaune asked.

"Turns out Atlas figured out where our bullhead thief resides." Qrow marched around and gave me a odd look. That I just shrugged an answer to.. The others followed shortly after. I paused for a split second. 'Where is Saffron and whats-her-face?'

Qrow nodded his head towards the door. "Hurry up, Ice Queen, Vomit boy"

"Hey!" Weiss glared. Jaune slumped in defeat as he pulled his skechers knockoffs on.

"Seriously. We have to go" Qrow chimed. Maria Rested her cane on her shoulder. "Huntsman in my day where a lot more… Ah! In tune" The elder woman made her way out. "See ya there!"

I shrugged for the upteenth time. "I'm getting my jet." As I was paddening my way to the exit I made sure to openly oogle at Yang.

It had no effect as Yang gave me a salacious smile. Mission Failed.

"See ya, in the air" I gave a coy wave.

The snowy morning of Argus blasted me in the face.

I nearly slipped on a fresh patch of ice, fortunately I regained control of my slide just in time.

"Ha, fuck you snow!" The adrenaline that coursed through my veins was enough to gather a giddy grin on my face. Even as a random passerby cursed at me.

I ran, hard and fast til I was near Argus's high walls. Aura danced under my skin and coiled in my legs. Reinforcing the muscle and strengthening it.

Then I released all the built up strength to send myself over the brick wall.

The ground cracked as I was launched a solid fifty-something feet above the thirty-six foot wall.

The plummet sent my hair whipping, a weightless feeling clinched my stomach. The fall ended as fast as it began. With a poof! I landed in the mounds of cold powder. Unfortunately I sank to the waist.

I regretted wearing a crop top thingamajig. I waded through the snow with a scowl.

—-

Turns out the four foot deep bank of snow led all the way to the A10. It started to thin out near the tree line.

At one point I had to swim through it. Like actually having to paddle through it.

I walked towards the snow blanketed A10. I brushed myself off. I pulled United out and tinked her off a tree to free the snow and water gathered on her.

The A10 was covered in ice and that wet snow. The type of snow you'll find in early spring. I hopped up on the jet's left wing and tip-toed onto the fuselage.

I carefully brushed the goopy snow off the instruments and the canopy. I pulled on the latch and thankfully the canopy lifted. I thanked whatever holy spirit that cursed me.

It wasn't frozen shut. More moisture and snow slid off the sides as I opened the cockpit area. My breath misted as I hopped into the familiar chair. With haste I lowered the canopy with my right hand while my left started the war bird.

My sixth sense flared. Fast as lightning I jumped out of the cockpit. A black and red sword clashed with the reinforced canopy causing the blade to beyblade back to its owner.

I tugged United free and held her in a reverse grip. "Adam" I growled. My tone was low and warning.

"Filth" The faunus replied.

I openly mocked him with a snort of dismissal. "The only filth here is you, terrorist" Adam growled and dropped into a Iado stance. I heard the crunching of snow. "ADAM!" Blake and Yang stumbled through the trees right behind him.

Yang looked worse for wear her eyes glowed a furious red. Blake was holding her broken weapon in one hand.

I took this lasp in Adams focus to pull my .45 like a classic cowboy. Bang! Bang!. Two rounds barked free, one smashed into the faunus's aura the other smashed clean through it and his shoulder. "ArgH" His anguished cry sent tingles up my spine.

"SHINO!" Both girls screamed. Adam was on his knees an avalanche of red flowing from his shoulder. I pulled the slide back on my firearm. A dark haze enveloped my mind as I slowly leveled the .45 on the panting Adams skull.

His scared gaze met mine, that's all it took for me to hesitate. My arm was yanked to the side and down the action making me squeeze the trigger. The singular round impacted the snowy ground near Adam's knees. I watched as a crying Blake pistol whipped him not two seconds later.

I drug my gaze from Adam's unconscious form to Yang who was holding my wrist. My hand was shaking even in her grasp.

Yang's haunted gaze burned into my soul. "Chino, are you okay?" I nodded mutely and Yang tugged my gun free of my cold fingers.

"He, wha?" I shook my head. "What are you two doing here?"

The ground rumbled. Snow fell from the pine trees covering the clearing in a fresh blanket of snow.

I heard the echo's of gunfire and a certain women on a microphone. Even in my efforts, the plot continues.

"No time!" Blake barked. Yang nodded. "Canya use this thing to cripple big bad robo?" Yang gestured to the A10.

I nodded. I pointed at The unconscious dumbass I almost murdered. "Watch the terrorist" Blake frowned. Yang patted my shoulder. "Go getum" I hopped up to the A10 and climbed into the cockpit. Yang tossed me my gun.

Her lilac eyes met mine, a hidden message in them. "Talk later"

I spoke. Yang leaned forward and spoke just loud enough so that I didn't strain to hear her. "You better"

With those parting words. I closed the canopy. I turned on the jet in a few quick seconds. With a rumble the turbines churned over and started. The A10's whine filled the semi silent clearing causing Blake to cover her ears and Yang to grin and throw up a fist.

Within minutes I was airborne.

—-

I banked and began taking altitude as fast as I could. The G's pushing me further into the seat of the A10. after several long seconds or minutes of altitude gaining I leveled out over the ocean and searched for Cordovin's mech.

It didn't take long for my eyes to keenly pick out the gray mass near a cliffside. The colors clashed which made it easier for me to zero in on target. I refused to begin my runs on the lumbering mass of metal because the clan was all over the mech.

Qrow and Ren where on the mech just like in the show. I could barely make out their actions at the distance I was from them but I think they took notice of me and retreated. Ruby's form used Cresent Rose and fired a round which lit up like a flare.

The cheeky girl just gave me a strike area using a cleverly built dust round, of what I assume is a healthy amount of burn dust and water. When the group spread clear I twisted the A10 violently.

I felt the Airframe tremble. The sharp turn exerted a large amount of force on the large plane.

The engines screamed as I plummeted. Hundreds of feet passed within seconds. I opened the airbrake to its full capacity. And the A10 lurched.

Then I fired.

The A10's trademark brrrrt filled the skies. Bear bottle sized rounds carved Cordo's mech like a halloween pumpkin.

The cannon arm ceased to function. It flopped useless against the chassis of the mech. I pulled up and banked left out to sea. Ruby, Yang and the crew's bullhead lifted off. From what I could see the bullhead was battered and burnt just like in the show.

Even from my altitude I could hear the Grim alerts activating. I watched in mild horror as the leviathan emerged from the ocean. Tonnes and tonnes of water poured off its heavily armored back.

The many multitude of griffons circling it was enough to put me on edge.

"This day gets BETTER AND BETTER!"

The hard light barriers activated. I watched Ruby's bull head circle the lecithin at a safe distance. The foolish decision Ruby made in the show came to friction as Weiss summoned an oversized bee to carry Ruby.

'Lets put a stop to that'

I full throttled the A10. the sudden increase in fuel made the aircraft splutter before it blasted off.

I engaged the JDAM's just so I had them at the ready. The A10 closed the distance rather quickly. THe right wing tip passed Ruby. I got close enough that the thrust from the engines blasted the silver eyed girl back into the safety of the bullhead.

The VTOL warbled for a brief second as I screamed passed. My nose lined up with the leviathan.

I unleashed hell. The A10 did a scary amount of damage to the armor. I pulled the A10's nose upwards raking the pure hell from the leviathans back to its head.

I got eyes, jaw plating and heavily damaged the armor on its backside. I pulled the yoke back more and the A10 went vertical as the beast swiped at open air with a furious howl.

I then dropped it a treat. Unfortunately my aim needs training. THe JDAM missed and istead blew up the ocean surface near the monster.

'Poor fish'

I did a fancy twil to level myself out.

"SHi-" I pulled the trigger on the yoke and a rather bold griffin was turned to a black holy mass that promptly started plummeting to the ocean below.

I gained enough distance from the aggravated aircraft carrier sized grimm to line up with it again. The A10 rumbled as I sent short bursts.

I aimed for the head this time. It lost large amounts of armor and flesh as I continued my barrage. Finally I hit something vital enough to send it crashing into the ocean bed with a painful roar.

JUst then I spotted Cordo's mech marching along to join the fight. The cannon arm was no longer present; it seems it fell off or Codovin removed it herself.

She pounced on the oversized lizard. The transformers esque arm turned drill dug through the crippled grim's flesh like a hot knife through butter.

I circled the showdown nice and low. Perfectly showing Cordovin the predator that is the A10.

My eyes watched Ruby's bullhead carefully. As they were just hoving there. 'Maybe the conversation in canon is taking place?' I paused and shook my head. "Of course it is dumbass, what else are they doing, playing poker?"

I transitioned from watching the bullhead to see Cordovin pull her mech up and over the fresh corpse.

Like an overly pompous bastion she stood there. Thankfully I noticed Ruby's bullhead pull away out of the corner of my eye.

I turned to follow. I lingered just long enough to see Argus's skyline one last time.

With a sigh I started preparing myself for the agonizingly slow flight back.

Bullhead's were slow.