Well, I'm still alive.
Barely.
School's back in season and I'm still getting used to the early rises. So if this is not up to previous standards, then you'll have to forgive me.
Chapter 10: Perception, Pieces, and Plotting
As it turned out, taking the Nightmare Maw's fang as a trophy wasn't a good move.
Every step I took only caused the fang I had taken to dig deeper and deeper into my spine, causing major discomfort. I constantly as to shift my shoulder to adjust it. But every time, it seemed to roll back into that position, pointing into my back, threatening to rupture my skin. Clearly not learning, I continued to adjust it, and waited two minutes for it to point into my back again.
Yang was leading through the undergrowth, while Blake had her weapon drawn, checking for threats. I understood why: any Grimm could potentially come out of nowhere and easily ruin our day. Mine in particular, since I only knew about 7 species out of potentially millions. After glancing at the trees, I began to think back to what Blake had said.
You and Yang would actually make a cute couple...
But would we? She was loud, strong and brave, while I was quiet, submissive, and scared. I'd never had a girlfriend, even beyond school, whereas she had undoubtedly had her share of boyfriends, all of them most likely tough, tattooed, and macho: everything I was not. To be honest, I was Yang's complete opposite. I was lucky she was even giving me the time of day.
"Yo, Darrel!"
I looked up to see Yang waving to me. I snapped out of my daydream, and jogged up to her. She pointed to a fallen tree, with a feather resting on top of it. But not just any feather. Black, with a white tip, ragged and massive, at least double my height.
"What do you think about this? Maybe a Grimm cut the tree?" She asked. Blake ran her fingers over the feather, as if trying to determine it's origin. I looked at the tree, and saw that it had been cut clean through. Finally remembering, I turned back to Yang.
"Ruby. She was here." I spoke. Blake looked up.
"But why is this feather here? Would she have been attacked?" She asked. I shook my head.
"Doubtful. If a Grimm and her fought here, there'd be a lot more damage than just a tree that was cleanly cut. I'd say that she cut the tree down in frustration, or something." I explained. Yang nodded.
"Well, as long as she's okay, I'm fine. We should keep moving." She commanded. Blake nodded, whilst I looked at the feather. Knowing my luck, I'd probably end up fighting that creature. The Nevermore...
"Hey, Darrel! What are you waiting for? An invitation? Come on!" Yang yelled. I turned, and sprinted after the girls, praying that fate would at least be merciful.
As it turned out, she was.
We hadn't had any more issues with the Grimm, and a few minutes later, the three of us were standing on a hill high above the forest temple.
"Think this is it?" Yang asked Blake. Blake gave no response, only beginning to slide down the hill. Yang looked at me. I just shrugged, then began to run down the hill. Finally hitting the bottom, I tucked and rolled into a standing position. Yang skidded to a stop behind me. Seeing Blake examine the relics on pedestals in the overgrown and crumbling amphitheater, I decided to get a look at what was available to take back to Professor Ozpin. To my expectations...
"Chess pieces?" Blake asked to no one in particular.
"Well, think about it. There's two of every piece. Two sets of partners grab a black Bishop, they're forced to stick together for the next four years. It's logical." I explained to Blake, who was glancing at the various pieces. Yang gestured to some empty pedestals.
"Looks like we weren't the first ones here. Some pieces are missing." She pointed out that a Black Bishop had already been taken, while it's partner was still on display. Blake looked over the relics once again.
"Well, I guess we should pick one." Blake suggested, looking at the available choices. I had to admit, I was a little worried at this point. If I picked the wrong relic, then I'd be stuck with a bunch of jerks like Team CRDL, or someone I didn't know, and that was the last thing I wanted. As I kept thinking about choices, Yang reached for one for one of the golden horses, the white Knight. She waved it to Blake.
"How 'bout a cute little pony?" She asked. Blake smirked and rolled her eyes.
"Sure." She relented, a hint of amusement in her voice. I shook my head, my mouth giving a small grin of my own. I watched as they walked to the centre of the circular temple, a smile on both of their faces.
"That wasn't so hard!" Yang said happily, her fingers gripped tightly around the relic.
"Well, it's not like this place is very hard to find." Blake shrugged. I walked up to the duo, and they both turned to me.
"Yeah, but we still need to make it back to the cliffs alive." I pointed out. Yang's smile faded to a wistful glance in my direction, while Blake glanced at my hands, seeing that they were empty.
"Darrel, why haven't you picked a relic?" She asked. I sighed. The answer was plain and simple: I had no partner, no friends, no team, nothing to speak of. If I grabbed a relic, I'd be breaking a canon team up, or be forced to stick with a team that I had no knowledge of. But if I didn't take a piece, then Ozpin would kick me out, leaving me stranded forever on this planet. In the end, none of the relics suited me.
"Darrel?"
I looked up to see Yang holding out a relic for me to take. A black King. I held it in my hands, contemplating my choices. Take the king, and risk not seeing her again, or refuse, and face the consequences of not bringing a relic. As if out of nowhere, that Faunus woman's voiced niggled in the back of my skull.
Take it. You need to learn how to fight. You cannot let her hold you back.
But I'm not letting her throw everything under the bus just for me.
Do not let your feelings get the better of you. It is imperative...
Shut up!
I couldn't do it. I shoved the relic back into her hands. She blinked, surprised. I inhaled, and let my mouth flow.
"Thank you, Yang. But I'm not going to go with a random team because you want to help me out. If I'm going to do this, I at least want to have a teammate I can trust with my life. A teammate like you." I stated. Yang smiled, and threw her arms around me, crushing my lungs, and possibly chipping a couple of ribs. I hugged back, grateful for the moment. As I looked up, Blake shot me a small wink. I sighed, smiled, closed my eyes, and let my worries slip away.
"This is pointless. We cannot afford to waste time watching this foolish boy let his emotions run wild."
"Yet again you fail to realise. This boy will save us. Deliver us to victory. You cannot expect him to assist us if his heart is not in the right place."
"But his emotions are unstable, confused. He is conflicted about staying on this world, and returning to his. And the girl..."
"You think I am unaware of the blossoming romance between these two? As long as she is around, she will teach him how to fight. But after that, she serves no more purpose."
"Why should we bother with this prolonged training? Why do you insist on the boy's preparations?"
"Because, my dear, this one will be useless if we do not curb his feelings and train him."
As she let go, I heard a scraping noise arise from behind. I turned to see another pedestal rise from the centre of the temple. As it reached the height of it's twins surrounding it, a small panel opened, revealing a final relic. A pawn, white as a bone, rested in the space, enticing me to pick it up. I walked up, hand reaching out for the relic. But as my fingers were about to touch it, my ears went numb as a shrill scream punctuated the still air, sending a few leaves shaking from their trees as flocks of birds rose in a panic.
*CLUNK-CLICK*
Yang had activated Ember Celica, and turned to find the source of the scream.
"Some girl is in trouble!" She exclaimed, and was preparing to dash off to help 'her'. I chuckled, knowing that the 'girl' was actually Jaune, who had just run afoul of a Deathstalker. I started to jog up, intending to inform her of the truth, when I realized I had nearly collided with Blake who was glancing skyward. I sidestepped, and dashed to Yang's side.
"Yang, that's not a girl." I said sheepishly.
Yang turned to me, a quizzical look plastered on her face.
"It's not?"
I shook my head.
"Well, who was it?" She asked. I began to twiddle my fingers nervously.
"It's Jaune." I sighed. Yang blinked. And then, she burst into a laughing fit. Tears streamed down her eyes, and she held her side, apparently busting a gut. I just rolled my eyes, even as Jaune's screams and sobs echoed through the forest.
"PYRRHA! THIS IS NOT THE RELIC! IT'S NO-O-O-T!" Even though he was my friend, I couldn't help but find his situation somewhat amusing. Shaking my head, and trying to restrain the laughter, I glanced at Blake, who was still scrutinizing the heavens. Yang, getting up from the temple floor, tears streaked down her cheeks and holding her side, she tapped Blake on the shoulder.
"B-blake! Did-did you just hear that?! That was Jaune screaming! What a-" She never got any further, as Blake suddenly wheeled around to face us, startling me, and causing Yang to recover from her guffawing. After her cackling had subsided, she pointed up to the sky. She looked up, as did I, shielding my eyes from the harsh glare of the sky, I could see - and hear - someone approaching.
"HEADS UUUUUUUUUUUPPPPP!"
Ruby?
Yeah, this chapter is pretty short, but like I said, I'm still easing back into school, so cut me some slack.
And as for the shipping... It's there. I don't really do romantic scenes all that well, and writer's block is seriously overstaying it's nonexistant welcome, so go easy, OK?