Hello again! Here is the new chapter as promised. I personally loved writing this chapter the most so far. It is heavily Yang centered, and has a lot of humanism in it. I wanted to show that our perception of characters depends on the perspective we are given. With my third-person writing style that depicts the story from the experience of one character in the scene, I want to show that the details we glean from that perspective give us much more moment to moment information that if we weren't privy to their thoughts. As we are when we watch the show from an outside perspective. Hope you all enjoy! I mixed my passions for several topics into this chapter and can't wait for your reviews!
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Jaune could say he wasn't a jealous guy. He didn't ever walk by people on the street who were more successful or handsome than him, just to hate them out of a raw wish to be where or who they were. But seeing Beacon for the first time… It had him staring at a couple students milling around with squinted eyes. The worst part is he knew he had no right to feel that way. He would only have ever gotten in by lying and cheating. Whereas everyone here had earned their place with time and dedication. So as Professor Goodwitch led him through the courtyard, past the grand statue in the square, and to the doors of the tower, Jaune stayed silent. He didn't want to impede her break any more than he had already.
The structures and buildings of Beacon had style and personality. Unlike the drab minimalist architecture that most of Vale proper was made up of. Large overhangs, beautiful decor, and impressive designs that spoke of talent and many days spent to make it a spectacle. Jaune couldn't help himself but to stare with mouth agape. He marveled at things he didn't understand, as per usual he supposes. He didn't know the history of this place, he didn't know the stories the students did. But a part of him yearned for that knowledge. He liked learning. Sure, he was like anyone else and got bored sometimes, but the overall experience of knowing what you didn't before was a rush for him.
Before he could muster up the courage to ask about the Tower's function, Goodwitch opened the staff entrance and led him inside with a stern look. Effectively telling him without speaking to 'wait'. The staff that normally would mill about within the base of the tower, had most likely all gone home to spend time with their families. A single janitor roamed with his cart of equipment, mopping floors and cleaning the horizontal surfaces. Jaune followed silently as his escort stood in front of a central elevator and used her scroll to wirelessly access the controls. The doors opened and they both entered, with eyes forward and holding to stiff postures.
"Be honest. Be direct. He already knows what happened. I told him this morning when you explained everything to me. I expect you to cooperate. For all of our sake." Glynda spoke with even aggression.
Jaune bet that wasn't towards him, but towards the situation itself. He was just a kid, she must feel very uncomfortable with him knowing what he did now. Especially seeing as she had probably been a full time Huntress when she was brought in to all of this. The doors opened after their elevator box climbed many floors to rest at the top. Jaune was greeted with the sight of a large office, with many bay windows flanking the central desk. The desk itself was semicircular with a glass top, and mechanical looking legs. Ozpin himself sat behind it in an ornamental chair with a high back, made up of segments of metal interlinked with cogs. In fact, the entire ceiling had moving cogs, the inner workings of the clock tower moving and clunking above their heads. Jaune's gaze fell back to Ozpin, the man's silhouette framed by the clock design in the window behind him.
"Might as well take a seat Mr. Arc. I am sure we have much to talk about." The Headmaster said, his hand gesturing to a single chair sat in front of the desk.
"Y-yes. I guess we do, Headmaster." Jaune replied, letting his weight settle into the chair, his hands resting in his lap.
Goodwitch stepped across and stood beside Ozpin's chair, her arms crossed, and expression serious.
"I understand Raven Branwen 'borrowed' you from her brother last night. And Glynda has informed me that you have been given a story. Normally I wouldn't worry over such things. But I am not so confident to not guess that she would provide some sort of…Proof. Am I incorrect?" Ozpin led off, his fingers rising to intertwine in front of his chest, his elbows resting on the arm rests of his chair.
"She uh… She showed me the Magic, Sir. And I-i… I was told what, who, you are." Jaune wavered his words.
"I see." Ozpin spoke evenly and with a calmness Jaune knew was born of endless life. "Then perhaps it is time you understood the reason my nature stays secret." Ozpin started, his form rising from his chair and walking towards the window.
Jaune nervously stood and followed suit, coming to stop a step away from Ozpin's left flank. He watched the ancient entity before him gaze over Beacon, and Vale in the distance. The air between them felt awkward but at ease.
"Look out and tell me what you see, Mr. Arc." Ozpin suggested, his fist gesturing towards Vale with the top of his cane.
"I see Vale. I see civilization, security." Jaune answered, hoping he was on the right trail of thought.
"Astute observations. And while true, they are also only lies." Ozpin began. "You see, Mr. Arc, the truth is that all there is before us is fragility. Easily brought on by despair, tragedy, and selfishness. It is true, as I am sure you have deducted, that I am old. I am older than those mountains, older than the trees and even the dirt that Vale is built upon. I have seen societies like this one collapse and fade into ash and dust more times than you could count. Do you know what I have learned after all this time?"
"I couldn't possibly guess. I'm only human, and you're… What are you exactly?" Jaune countered with his own question.
"I am just a man. Cursed to roam Remnant for all time. That is until Salem is destroyed." Ozpin answered, a small smile playing on his lips. "With all my experience, all my lifetimes of information, I learned a valuable lesson. That I am only as strong as the people of the current time. My mind is a sharp one, but my reach and my power is controlled by my heart. A heart that wishes only to protect humanity. To provide security to this generation, so that we may all beat back oblivion and continue to live. Do you understand where I'm leading this conversation?"
"I think. You're saying the war with Salem continues because if you were to go full on, out of the shadows, there wouldn't be anyone to stop her from killing us all if you lose." Jaune answered.
"Indeed young man. I had suspected your natural talent at reading others, mixed with the teachings of Qrow and Taiyang, would make you more observant than typical individuals your age. Now, ask yourself this. Why would I hide everything I do, and everything I am, from the people of Remnant?" Ozpin asked, his body turning to face Jaune.
Jaune took a few moments to think it all through, and come up with an answer that he felt was most likely the truth.
"Because you've done it before. And it didn't work." Jaune said with confidence. "I'm right aren't I?"
"You are." Ozpin nodded along with his words.
The wizard walked back to his desk and placed his cane's hilt into a slot of his desk. With twist, a mechanical contraption gave way to a secret compartment to open from within the slim frame. Ozpin extricated a single scroll of paper from within the slot. His aged hands gently laid the scroll onto the desk, before unraveling the document before Jaune.
"Many times I raised armies. But so too did Salem. We warred on battlefields, ranging from a couple hundred combatants against her Grimm and lieutenants, to thousands. Every time, we failed to destroy her. She always got away, in one way or another. Countless generations were slaughtered over thousands of attempts. Each time she only learned, and came back stronger." Ozpin explained as Jaune examined the scroll.
It was an ancient document. Depicting silhouettes of men, faunus, and machines fighting against Grimm and their Queen. A freakish woman, with white skin, black veins spreading across her form, and red eyes. The image showed her raining magic down on the armies of man, supporting her monstrous monster underlings.
"Eventually we struck an unwritten and unspoken agreement. That we would continue our battle, keeping to the edge. Manipulating our way into advantages against one another. It started when I helped humanity discover Aura, and materials needed to advance. We established the kingdoms, and the academies. After the last war Salem and I fought." Ozpin explained further.
"The Great War. It wasn't over territory and individualism was it? It was you leading one side and her the other." Jaune asked. "The other reasons we learned are all the propaganda that came after."
"Very good Mr. Arc. Very good."
"So what do we do? How do we win a war that has never been won?" Jaune asked, his gaze locking with Ozpin's.
"We keep her goal out of reach. And we wait for the opportunity to strike. That is how Mr. Arc." Ozpin replied.
"What's her goal?"
"There are items of grand magical power left behind from ages long past. Four of them, we call them Relics. Salem intends to gather all of them in order to wipe humanity from the face of Remnant forever."
Jaune felt himself shudder with the thought of that. His mind struggled with the idea of magic artifacts, immortal wizards and witches, and wars fought for reasons long forgotten by the rest of their species. But his determination won out in the end, and his mouth moved again.
"The Relics, what are they?"
"There is one for each of humanity's core traits. The Relic of Knowledge, The Relic of Destruction, The Relic of Creation, and finally… The Relic of Choice." Ozpin explained, putting his scroll away and retrieving his cane before sitting down.
"Ok. What do they do?"
"That is for me to know, young man. Not every secret needs to be aired out on your first day. I'm sure you understand."
Jaune shrugged, but eventually nodded along. He already felt like he was almost drowning with the secret realities of the world he thought he knew. He always thought the conspiracy theories he heard online or around his village were nonsense and unrealistic. But the truth he was now aware of put them all to shame. Might as well allow Ozpin to tell him more when he was ready.
"Well, how do we keep her from getting them?" Jaune asked.
"I have secured all four in secure locations that are heavily protected. And the keys are all either constantly on the move, or protected by my trusted allies. At the moment our objective is simple. Find, route out, and eliminate her agents and lieutenants. With all her pieces off the board she will be left open and vulnerable. That is where Qrow, and other agents and friends of mine come in."
"And me." Jaune clarified.
"That is purely up to you. I am not going to force you into this war if you do not wish it. I only ask that, should you refuse, that you never speak of what you know. To anyone." Ozpin said, his eyes glinting. "So what will it be Mr. Arc? Are you willing to fight for Humanity against Salem and her forces? Or will you resign yourself to living as a face in the crowd?"
A long moment passed. Glynda stared at Jaune. Her eyes slightly wide, and her lower lip twitching. Jaune couldn't imagine how she must be feeling about this. To anyone else this must look like Jaune was being drafted into a destiny with a likely horrendous end. But Jaune couldn't stop his hands from clenching. Nor could he stop his heart from beating wildly as he prepared his answer. He was going to be a hero, or die trying.
"I'm in. I can't walk away. This is bigger than me. So if not me then who?" Jaune answered, determination and strength lacing each word.
"Then from this day forward, welcome to the team, Agent Rook." Ozpin said with a wide smile and bright eyes.
Oh shit. Jaune was officially a spy and member of a secret society... When did life get so complicated?
…..
Yang was admittedly a little peeved at how today was going. First, her and her team left Beacon for Patch, and Weiss and Blake argued for most of the thirty minute flight home. Ruby tried and failed to make them get along, and Yang only succeeded when she started distracting the both of them with stories about her Dad and Uncle after they got off the bullhead. Eventually they all calmed and even had a laugh when Ruby came out of left field with a hilarious statement.
"Honestly Uncle Qrow and Dad act more like a bickering married couple than most parents I've seen. When my class first met Uncle Qrow and Dad at Signal, they all asked me what having gay Dads was like!" Ruby giggled loudly and slapped her knee with one hand.
Yang laughed with a snort before adding to the hilarity.
"The first boy who ever asked me out asked if we could get permission from my Dads, plural, if we could see a movie."
"That's sweet." Blake began. "Even if wildly off the mark."
"At least they all liked and accepted what they thought your parents were. I can attest personally that not everyone gets to laugh off misconceptions about their parentage." Weiss added, smiling for Ruby.
"Yeah. But honestly it's not like they aren't actually really close. I read about Queer Platonic relationships during Societal Studies. They kinda fit all the main points." Yang said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Queer Platonic?" Blake asked, her eyebrow rising.
"Yeah. It's… Well it's like when two people of the same gender pretty much do everything a normal relationship consists of. Just without the physical attraction and stuff. Like they share things only they know about each other, seek comfort from each other, trust each other more than anyone, seek each other's opinions for life decisions. Spend quality time. The works I guess. Like being S.O's but without the snogging and hand holding." Yang explained.
"Huh. Guess I've just never thought about stuff like that." Blake admitted.
"With all the cheesy romance and smut you read I doubt it. Your world view of closeness probably always revolves around unsaid lust and admiration." Yang teased, putting dramatic flair on the last four words.
"Blake's obsession with filth aside, the big point is having both Uncle Qrow and Dad in our lives is pretty much like having two dads." Ruby chirped, to the playful annoyance of Blake.
"Even if one likes bourbon a little too much." Yang added under her breath.
"They sound nice. I can't wait to meet them." Weiss spoke, her three bags making the poor girl walk the forest path clumsily in her heels.
"Well we are almost there! I wonder if Zwei is out." Ruby said with glee as she bounced with every step.
Yang stayed in step with her partner as they eventually reached the clearing where her childhood home sits. The large lawn in front of it was… A little in disrepair. Gouges in the grass could be seen filled with puddles of morning dew that were slightly frozen over from the weather. Her and Ruby's old training dummy was sat to the side, covered in fresh marks and wear and tear. She guessed that was all from Jaune. On the porch sat several containers filled with various training implements and supplies. Right beside the trees that lined the opposite end of the clearing from the house, sat several targets made of old school steel or paper. They had a wild spread of holes in them from gunfire.
"It looks like they've been really busy teaching Jaune to fight. I wonder if he chose a sniper rifle!" Ruby gasped with a smile as she caressed Crescent Rose.
"Well I guess let's go find out." Yang suggested, turning Ruby back towards the house with one hand.
Entering their sight from the living room, Qrow and Tai could be seen standing on the porch. Her dad waved with a chuckle as the four girls approached the house.
"Hey girls! Welcome to la casa Xiao Long! Hope the flight went well." Tai chimed, a wide and welcoming smile on his face.
"It went fine. No problemo." Yang replied.
"Team RWBY is invincible to the measly dangers of completely safe air travel!" Ruby said, dropping into an exaggerated ninja fighting pose.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Xiao Long." Blake greeted simply.
"Blake, right? Yang told me all about you two. Weiss I'm guessing?" Tai replied, shaking Blake's hand before extending it towards Weiss.
"Weiss Schnee, I'm happy to make your acquaintance. Ruby and Yang have said nothing but good things." Weiss replied, gently shaking Tai's hand.
A snort and a small chuckle brought all their attentions to Yang's Uncle, who stepped up to lean on the porch railing.
"All good things huh? You're as prim and posh as your sister." Qrow said through a smirk.
"(Uncle)Qrow!" Yang, Ruby and Tai groaned all at once.
"What? Can't poke fun at Winter's mini-me?" Qrow laughed, putting his hands up in mock surrender.
"I'll have you know that Winter and I are actually very different. Thank you." Weiss said defensively, crossing her arms and leaning on one leg.
"Yeah yeah. Sorry for the call out and whatever. I work with your sister when I make trips north. The chick gets on more than my nerves." Qrow apologized as he sauntered back into the house.
"Well, anyway. How about we get all you girls into the house? I'll help you dig out the old bunk beds from the attic so everyone has a sack to lay on." Tai offered, taking a bag from both Weiss and Blake in one arm, before doing the same for his daughters using the other arm.
"Thanks Dad. When is dinner? Jaune inside?" Yang asked as she followed her dad and held the door for her three teammates.
"Oh! Yeah, Jaune is actually on his way back from Vale. He uh… Had to handle something personal for the day. But he should be back for dinner. Which is at seven, or have you forgotten how things are done at home?" Tai answered with a question of his own.
"Oh come on old man! How could I forget? With you so 'near' eh?" Yang asked with a silly smile as she gave her Dad a side-hug.
A choir of groans erupted from her team and Uncle as they made their displeasure with her pun clear. Qrow even going so far as to take a throw pillow from the sofa he was on, chucking it at Yang's head. She and her Dad laughed heartily as they ducked the soft projectile. Her Dad nudged her on and they all climbed the stairs. They got to the top and walked around the banister, passing the bathroom and into Yang and Ruby's room. The room was just as empty as she had left it. Besides the fresher bedding that sat on her bed, folded but not fitted to the mattress.
"Gave him my bed, did ya?" Yang asked, not upset.
"Yeah, Qrow likes the pull-out downstairs, better on his back and all. So I let Jaune crash in here. Don't worry, while you girls are here he will stay on the inflatable in my room. His stuff is already moved in there." Tai said, setting the four bags down on the floor between the two beds.
"Thanks Dad. Need help getting the bunk beds down? We put them all the way in the back over the kitchen." Ruby asked her father.
"No no, you girls go ahead and get settled in, I'll put the free-loader downstairs to work with me. About time he did something around here other than mock my cargo shorts." Tai laughed and shook his head before stepping out into the hallway.
"Qrow!" Yang heard her Dad shout down the stairs.
"What?" Her Uncle's response came back.
"Get up here and help me get the bunk beds down from the attic would ya?" Tai requested.
"Fine! But I'm grabbing The Count while we're up there!" Qrow shouted as his footsteps could be heard hitting the bottom stairs.
"Oh no. Not The Count!" Ruby giggled.
"Do I dare ask?" Blake spoke as she pulled her books and extra clothes from her bag, setting them on Ruby's bed.
"Don't spoil it!" Yang shouted as she smothered her sister with her hands when she saw Ruby about to explain. "Don't you dare take this from me!"
"I like your room…" Weiss spoke quietly.
The tone in the room suddenly felt shifted as Yang and her remaining teammates turned to look at Weiss. She was standing still, one hand on the windowsill that faced the front clearing. Her body was turned back towards them all. A gentle and innocent smile adorned her pale face.
"It's… Warm. In a welcoming way." Weiss continued.
"Yeah. When Mom and Dad had it built, they wanted it to look like home as much as it felt." Yang explained, coming to stand next to Weiss. "Wanna see my favorite place in the world?"
"I would like that." Weiss said with a wider smile.
Yang turned to the side of the room and opened the window that led out on top of the storage shed. She took her boots off, and gestured for Weiss to do the same before climbing out the window and standing on the asphalt tiling of the roof. Yang extended a hand for Weiss, helping the smaller girl out next to her. They squatted down and sat with their knees pulled to their chests. Yang took a deep breath, treasuring the natural odors of the forest. The hint of pine trees staining every intake of air Yang took.
"I always liked the way the light came through the trees here. In the morning the sun comes up right there." Yang explained, her finger pointing towards a small gap in the treetops.
"I wish I had a house like this growing up." Weiss stated, her fingers pulling at her skirt fabric.
"Don't you live in a mega mansion?" Yang asked.
"I did. But it felt less like a home, and more like…" Weiss started, her face scrunching with a fair amount of sorrow.
"Just a place." Yang finished for her. "Just a place you had to stay."
"I suppose."
The moment dragged out long, but not in an uncomfortable way. It was a comfortable silence. They sat in the cool autumn air for over an hour, enjoying the quiet. Yang was internally shouting in glee. This was the first time that she and Weiss had gotten to just bond between each other. Over things that had nothing to do with what others were up to at the moment. As the evening glow began to set across the land, signaling the time to be about five, Yang nudged Weiss with her shoulder and nodded towards the house. Her teammate gave her a kind and thankful close-lipped smile, before getting to her feet and following Yang back through the window.
Once they were back inside, Yang noticed that her and Ruby's beds were pushed off to the side, lining the wall. Their bedside dressers were placed as a buffer between them, and a single set of bunk beds had been placed in the center of the back wall. In the space that was previously the gap between Ruby and Yang's beds. Yang's desk had been pushed closer to the front window, with Ruby's work-table/desk put in place against the front wall, to the side of the door to the hallway. There was still a comfortable amount of space though.
"Ruby went to help your dad with preparing dinner. Your Uncle went to town to grab ingredients and pick up Jaune like forty minutes ago." Blake said from the top bunk, her slender legs hanging over the edge, a book firmly held in front of her face.
Yang noticed Blake was wearing loose jeans, and a white shirt-hoodie with a punk band logo on the sleeves.
"I didn't know you liked Punk music." Yang said.
"I dabble." Her partner replied.
"Well I'm more of an E.D.M girl." Yang stated, opening one of her bags and grabbing out some casual clothes. She chose to don a simple long sleeve shirt that was a pale orange, and soft flannel-print pajama bottoms.
"Yang, you busted up a dance club right before you came to Beacon… I think we know you like dance music." Weiss said with a roll of her eyes.
"Ah whatevs. At least I don't like classical and opera." Yang fired back.
"There is nothing wrong with the originals. I stand by that." Weiss defended, slipping into her own casual attire.
Yang almost giggled at Weiss' choice. It was a red woven turtleneck, above a set of winter leggings. For good measure the Ice-Queen drew out a gray sweater and tied it around her waist using the sleeves.
"I get cold easily." Weiss sniped.
"Well I'm going down. Dinner is around an hour and a half from now. Thought I'd be present when Uncle Qrow and Jaune return." Yang threw out, moving towards the door.
As she opened the door and was about to move forward, she heard two sets of feet glide up behind her. Turning back she saw Blake, nose still tucked into her book, standing behind her. Weiss was right behind her. They both raised their eyebrows as Yang gave them both a questioning look.
"What? I wanna meet the Fed." Blake reasoned. Weiss simply nodded and gave a thumbs up, showing she agreed with Blake.
"Guys. Jaune isn't a Fed. Come on." Yang laughed as she led them down the stairs to the living room.
Well. Shit.
"Hello Team RWBY. Nice to see you again so soon." Headmaster Ozpin greeted from his position on the sofa facing the front door.
Jaune was sitting next to him, wearing the full outfit she had seen in the photos. His hair was slicked back, and the slightest of stubble could be seen on his upper lip and chin. Qrow was sitting on the sofa opposite the duo with Tai beside him. Both of them looked daunting and annoyed at best.
"Headmaster Ozpin? What are you doing here?" Weiss beat Yang to the punch with her question.
"I am simply taking the time to visit two of my most memorable students. Though Taiyang and Qrow knew me as the History Professor back then. I had heard they had taken on an Apprentice. So my curious nature propelled me here." Ozpin responded as the three girls came down and stood around the couches.
"Okay… Wait, you were a History teacher?" Yang asked, surprised.
"I have a doctorate in both History and Archeology. I have been teaching at Beacon for much longer than you probably guessed." Ozpin said with a chuckle.
"So technically you're Dr. Ozpin." Blake observed, finally shutting her book and letting it dangle from her hand at her side.
"Indeed, but I am not so anal about titles. No offense meant to the absent Dr. Oobleck. And In my opinion, my greatest title is and always has been Huntsman." Ozpin said, standing and extending his hand to Tai, Qrow, and finally Jaune to shake.
"I am most happy that you all have found a fine use of your time. It warms this old heart of mine to see such fine Huntsmen training the next generation." Ozpin said to the room, before turning to Jaune. "And you young man, I see great things in your future. Same as the Huntresses in training you are currently among. I look forward to watching your career."
"Thank you Sir, I will do my best to live up to your expectations." Jaune spoke respectfully as he nodded to the Headmaster.
"Well, I'm afraid the 'hustle' never stops, as your generation would say. I must take my leave. I wish you all a wonderful break. And I will see you all in one week for second semester classes. Farewell." Ozpin finishes, as he steps for the front door and makes his exit.
The silence that permeated through the room was enough to drown in. Everyone's gazes darted to everyone else's, with mixed emotions and expressions. Finally Ruby entered in from the back door, entering into the kitchen and then the living room.
"Well, what did I miss?" Ruby asked, reading the room.
"Headmaster Ozpin just left. He said all he needed, and had important business to attend to. How'd the wood-cutting go?" Qrow explained with a roll of his eyes.
"Good! We have enough for a couple fires for the week. Oh hey Jaune!" Ruby exclaimed as she walked up to high-five the boy.
"Oh yeah, everyone this is Jaune. Jaune, this is everyone." Yang said, not giving much explanation to who everyone was.
"Uh… Hi?" Jaune said towards Weiss and Blake.
"Not a Fed huh?" Blake whispered in Yang's ear before speaking loudly. "I'm Blake Belladonna."
"Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you Ms. Mysterious." The blonde responded, reaching up and gliding his hand through his hair.
Yang nearly rolled her eyes at the textbook grin Jaune flashed to Blake. He had clearly been spending too much time with her Uncle. And probably getting plenty of horrible advice. The way Blake nodded to him, and cocked her head, told Yang it might have worked a little more than she thought.
"And you are?" Jaune asked, leaning to the side to look straight at Weiss.
"Weiss Schnee. It's a pleasure." Weiss responded, walking forward and extending her hand to Jaune.
"Oh! That's wild, I loved your single with John Bayer!" Jaune said, his smile widening and his hand eagerly shaking Weiss' own.
"Wait wait wait! Weiss honey, you sang with John Bayer?" Taiyang asked with excitement, shaking his hands like a fangirl.
"Here we go again." Qrow muttered as he stood and made for the kitchen.
Yang laughed as the room exploded with three separate conversations. Weiss blushed in embarrassment as Jaune and Tai showered her with compliments and questions about her music career stint. Ruby and Blake started talking about Blake's current novel as they both sat on a sofa. Yang herself made her way to the kitchen to make sure her uncle wasn't licking more appliances to mess with her Dad.
"You know one of these days poor Chopper Boy is gonna get slapped over the bad advice you give him." Yang snarked as she slid up to the counter where her Uncle was preparing a margarita.
"Have no idea what you're talking about. My advice is rock solid. But sure, let's pretend your dark haired friend in there didn't double take when he dropped the nick-name. I like living in false ignorance." Qrow fired back with a devious smirk, his fingers manipulating the blender settings.
"Yeah whatever. At least he doesn't look half bad with the makeover you gave him. Could spot your style choices from a mile away." Yang drawled.
"Hey now, there is nothing wrong with some class to go with your professional persona. Not all of us can pull off the big hair and leather jackets. Trust me I tried." Qrow chuckled.
Yang slightly remembers the pictures from her Uncle's Beacon days. The sleeveless jean jackets, rock band t-shirts, and skinny jeans to match his spiky hair. The Count in its case draped over his back by the strap.
"I don't know old fella, I think the other alt gals and guys must have loved the style back then." Yang sarcastically assured.
"Pfft, we all thought it was awesome. It was the teachers that hated it so much that they put an embargo on hairspray." Qrow laughed for real as he wandered the memories stored in his mind.
That there. The way her Uncle's slouched posture straightened, and his face lit up for a couple seconds. Or the way his death-grip on the counter relaxed. That was why Yang came into the kitchen. She wanted to see her Uncle for a minute. Not the shell he put up. The uncaring, abrasive, sarcastic front. But her real, true Uncle. The man who used to play guitar, and hold her in the air to make pretend that she was flying as he jogged around the house. The man who underneath all the years of age and pain, could laugh about his teen years. Or jive with her over silly shows and even sillier love-life troubles. The man who liked finger painting with her and Ruby when they were kids.
"There he is." Yang said so softly her Uncle didn't hear.
"Bah, the damn thing wont work. Guess I'm having it on the rocks instead of on the slope." Qrow muttered as he gave up trying to make the blender function.
"Yeah. Guess so." Yang agreed, bending her neck to see the cord dangling behind the machine, unplugged from the wall socket. "Probably just busted."
"Anyway, how was your first semester in Beacon kiddo? Oz said you four are the second highest scoring team in year one."
"Ah, you know. Ups and downs. We score well in all the exams. Blake crushes at History and Theoretical Math. Weiss is the top student in Grimm Studies and Health and Medicine. And I'm the second in our year in Combat class." Yang proudly explained as she joined her Uncle for a seat at the kitchen table.
"And Ruby?" Qrow asked, catching her on her lack of mentioning her sister.
"Ruby is… Well I guess Ruby is doing just fine. She is in the upper levels of most of our classes. But she doesn't hit the top ten in anything besides Combat class. Weiss and her study together constantly, but I guess the two years she missed out on in Signal are dragging her back a little." Yang relented.
"I mean, that is about what I expected. No one expects her to be perfect with less schooling than all of you. Passing every class and being a good leader are really all that are being asked or expected of her."
Yang set her arms on the table and sighed.
"I guess you're right. I just wanted to be able to really brag about her, shower people with pride for her accomplishments. You get it right?"
"I don't." Qrow shrugged. "My sister took every opportunity to shred me in front of anyone and everyone when we were your age. Everything was a competition for the two of us. So when it comes to that I don't get it."
Yang felt herself deflate a little before her Uncle brought it back.
"But… I have always looked at you girls in that light. I love telling the few people whose opinions I care about all about you both. How strong and smart you both are. How you both make me and your Dad extremely proud. And how I can't wait to see what you grow to be. I just hope I don't get clipped for being too old and slow before I catch some of the light coming off you when your time comes." Her Uncle said, smiling at her with love and pride. "So if that's what you mean, then yeah. I can understand the feeling."
Yang felt her heart swell a bit with her Uncle's assuring words. Her Dad would always be her father and role-model. But her Uncle, he was her rock.
"Thanks Uncle Qrow." Yang said, fighting back a tear or two.
"Hey lazy bird." Tai's voice said from the archway that separated the kitchen and living room.
"What?" Qrow asked, turning his head to the interrupting blonde.
"Jaune wants to know if he can crack out The Count. I think he wants to do a thing with Weiss." Tai explained.
"Oh, yeah. Sure. Just let me make sure he…" Qrow said with hurried words as Tai cut him off.
"Jaune says he's been playing since he was a little boy. He isn't gonna break your precious guitar. Just come watch if you're worried." Tai assured Qrow.
Yang had to see this. She shot to her feet and followed her Father figures into the living room. Ruby had cleared the coffee table between the sofas and upon it now sat an old and worn guitar case. Many stickers promoting various old alternative rock bands and even a couple metal groups littered the front of the deep gray case. Jaune sat on the edge of the sofa opposite Yang's approach. Weiss sat next to him with her legs together, and hands resting on her lap, fingers intertwined. Blake had taken the one and only recliner, her legs curled up beneath her as she read her book, or at least pretended to, seeing as her eyes kept glancing over the top edge to watch the scene in front of her. Ruby and Tai sat down on the free sofa, leaving enough room for Qrow to get a place to crash down, margarita in hand. Yang herself walked up and sat on the rug, placing herself with her back to the side of the sofa closest to her Dad.
Jaune's fingers worked the latches and then pushed the lid of the case up until it sat in place vertically. A gentle sound of reverberation was heard as he pulled The Count from the velvet lined interior of the case. With one hand Jaune closed the case after grabbing a pick to play with. The 'legendary' guitar that belonged to her Uncle looked exactly as she remembered it. It was an electric six string with locking tuners and a floating bridge. The body of the guitar was a standard Ler Paul shape, with a gray base layer of paint. But an impressive design of red paint grew out from the center of the body, in a sunburst pattern.
Qrow was shushed several times by Tai as he attempted to instruct Jaune on how to handle the instrument. But Jaune simply smiled and tuned it by ear before taking a couple experimental plucks at the strings. When he was satisfied, Ruby hooked up the amplifier to the wall socket and Jaune plugged the cord into the base of the guitar. He then leaned over and whispered to Weiss. Who giggled and nodded her head. Jaune then began to play. The beautiful, and almost emotional notes ringing out with a clear blues tone. Then Weiss began to sing, Jaune's own voice mixing in at times during the song.
"It's not a silly little moment. It's not the storm before the calm.
This is the deep and dying breath of, this love that we've been working on.
Can't seem to hold you like I want to, so I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody's gonna come and save you, we pulled too many false alarms.
We're going down.
And you can see it too.
We're going down.
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear, we're slow-dancing in a burning room…" They sang.
Jaune played an entrancing, if a little rough interlude of blues notes before they began again.
"I was the one you always dreamed of, you were the one I tried to dare you say it's nothing to me? Baby, you're the only light I ever saw.
I'll make the most of all the sadness, you'll be a bitch because you can. You try to hit me just to hurt me, so you leave me feeling dirty 'cause you can't understand.
We're going down.
And you can see it too.
We're going down.
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room."
Jaune played a quick but impressive solo after the second verse, using the 'whammy' bar to make the guitar make a sound almost like whining throughout. To the whistle of Tai and a single whoop from Blake of all people.
"Go cry about it, why don't you?
Go cry about it, why don't you?
Go cry about it, why don't you?
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room…Burning room…Burning room.
Don't you think we oughta know by now?
Don't you think we should have learned somehow?
Don't you think we oughta know by now?
Don't you think we should have learned somehow?
Don't you think we oughta know by now?
Don't you think we should have learned somehow?" Jaune and Weiss sang, switching who was singing for each line.
Jaune's final solo was accompanied by Tai drumming a beat on the coffee table. Everyone began clapping for the two musicians as the last notes were plucked and the sound eventually petered out. Yang put her fingers to her mouth and let out a loud whistle before joining the rest of them in clapping and cheering. Eventually, when the applause died down, Tai spoke.
"That was incredible! I had no idea you could play so well man! And Weiss, what a voice! Like an angel!" Yang's father gushed as he reached over Ruby with one hand to shake Qrow's shoulder to bleed out his excitement.
"I agree! That was amazing… How have we never heard you sing before Weiss?" Ruby exclaimed as she hopped up from the sofa to zip to Weiss' side and hug her partner.
"I was just focused on school. We don't exactly have a lot of time to do things like this. So I guess it just never came up." Weiss explained, evidently very glad they all liked it.
"I didn't even know that old axe could play the blues. Hell of a show kids." Qrow added in a calm, but impressed voice.
"Thanks guys. I was actually afraid to play that first attempt after months of not touching a guitar. Had to improvise a couple times when I forgot notes." Jaune said with a nervous chuckle.
"Believe me, we didn't notice." Yang said, reaching across the coffee table to fist-bump her Dad's apprentice.
"I am so looking forward to the Vytal Festival Dance later this semester! Oh my gosh, what if we could twist Headmaster Ozpin's arm and get you and Jaune into the set list?" Ruby squealed to Weiss.
"I'll think about it." Weiss laughed as Jaune began putting the guitar back into its case.
"Tell you what Chopper Boy, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were a pretty cool guy. You have the guitar stuff down pat." Yang complimented with a playful tilt to her voice.
"He's more than meets the eye. That's for sure." Blake added from her chair.
"It's just a hobby. I didn't have a lot of choices of them where I grew up. But our highschool had a stocked music room. So I spent a lot of time there alone, or with the teacher after class hours learning some things. Guitar, a tiny bit of piano, some drums. The singing took the longest. Have no natural talent for it, so we spent years getting me where I am now." Jaune explained, sheepishly scratching the back of his head.
"Well it worked out. I'm impressed. Seriously man, you have talent." Tai said.
A few more conversations filled the time before Dinner was ready to be pulled from the oven. They all sat around the table and ate while telling stories about Beacon, or Jaune's training. Laughter and happiness was thick in the air while they all ate their casserole and scalloped potatoes. Eventually they all piled their cleaned dishes on the drying rack before saying their goodnight wishes. Jaune was led away up the stairs by Tai to get him set up in the older man's room. Yang could just barely see her father lean in to whisper in Jaune's ear something that had Jaune panicking and whispering back with wide eyes. But it looked innocent enough so she didn't pay it any serious thought.
Her Uncle slammed one more margarita before he began to reveal the pull-out bed from the sofa and settle down for the night. Yang rolled her eyes at his antics before following her team up the stairs to her childhood bedroom. They all began their nightly business before they crawled into their respective beds. Yang volunteered to take one of the bunk beds, to give Weiss the more comfortable bed she typically slept in. Weiss accepted and they all settled in for sleep.
As the final light was turned out, a single question was asked.
"Is it just me or is Jaune…" Blake started.
"Hot?" Weiss cut in.
The eep she let out as the three other girls laughed over her embarrassment was telling. Yang could almost see Weiss burying her face into her pillow in the darkness.
"I was going to say he was interesting, but I can sort of see your angle." Blake said through chuckles at Weiss' expense. "Got a thing for guitarists Weiss?"
More quiet laughter came from the team. Before Weiss fumbled over her words.
"I-I simply meant he has a… Suave quality to him. Not to mention he dresses better than any male our age that we know. Is it so bad I see that?" Weiss defended herself. Her light tone and clipped pauses told Yang that the poor girl was smiling and trying not to embarrass herself further.
"You mean he dresses with class. Like you." Yang sniped.
"Yeah, I did notice Uncle Qrow and Dad did him up in those new duds. They make Jaune look older. The hairstyle too." Ruby said, yawning between sentences.
"Anyway we should get some sleep. All this boy talk is gonna bore me to death otherwise. What are we, fourteen?" Yang drawled. "No offense Rubes."
"Hey! I'm fifteen! I drink my milk."
Yang let the quiet of the night take her into a deep sleep. The final thoughts she had during consciousness being the memory of Jaune and Weiss singing.
Sleep came easy for team RWBY.