Heart to Heart
Chapter 18: A new Journey
The day had finally come for everyone. They were ready to leave the city and continue on their journey to Atlas. At least that was the hope for them, they had packed up and moved out of the house and were currently at the train station. It was a large station as it was the major travel hub for the continent. It connected to all the large cities and the outlining areas of the kingdom.
It was often said that while traveling you couldn't help but either end up or pass through Mistral. It was just easier that way as the longer routes were dangerous from criminals that lived out in the wilds to the ever present danger of Grimm. It was because of those creatures that it was rare to travel alone, you traveled in groups and tended to hire at least one Huntsman or Huntress to help keep you save.
They were going by train since Argus didn't have a major civilian airport like Mistral did. That suited Jaune just fine as he was at a counter getting refreshments for everyone. Although his airsickness was better he sometimes still had issues depending on how long the travel was. He was actually looking forward to going to Argus. He hadn't seen his sister or her family in a long time. Part of him also worried because as soon as he showed up with Yang he knew his sister would be on him for all the details about his new girlfriend.
'My girlfriend,' He thought with a smile as he paid for the order. 'Still sounds strange but I kind of like it now.'
Ren was standing next to him as he was helping with getting the refreshments while they waited. They still had some time to kill after all and Yang was off making sure her bike was loaded up.
As they got their order Jaune had to pause a minute as he wanted to talk to Ren. They had a bit of walk back to where everyone was seated.
"Hey Ren, how…how does it feel now that you're with Nora?" Jaune asked.
Ren gave him a curious look as he then thought about it. "It feels strange and different and yet nothing much has changed between us. We're still the same basically only now, well…" he felt his cheeks heat up a bit remembering some of the things he had Nora did now.
He remembered their first kiss, it had been a little awkward at the start as neither of them knew what they were doing. Now though they had a pretty good idea of what to do and both of them enjoyed it. He could still picture the softness of her lips, the slight taste of sweetness on them, the scent of her hair. He could picture it all in perfect clarity and yet it still paled in comparison to the real thing. There was a warmth found in Nora that he couldn't replicate with just memory, it was something only found in the moment.
"Now it's better," Ren finished thinking about it.
Jaune smiled himself thinking of Yang, he actually felt like he was falling for the girl. She wasn't like most girls he found, most just saw the outside but the more he got to know her she more he saw about her. She was a bit more complicated than what you would think. She flirted a lot, well only for him now, she laughed, made bad puns and jokes, energetic, very physical, she was always filled with her own fire and seemed to bring with her a light to brighten up the world around her.
But there were things deeper inside, he saw the pain she tried to hide, the determination to protect those important to her even at the cost of herself. The drive to get stronger and use that strength, he saw her short tempter nature, her slight ego, all her good and bad points.
He saw the woman that she was and he liked what he saw, all the beauty, all the flaws, all of it.
"Yeah it is better." Jaune admitted nodding his head.
Ren smiled himself seeing Jaune like this he looked more at ease than he had in months. It looks like Yang was good for him in fact he had noticed that when Yang returned she had been slightly different from before. She was a bit more serious now, a little more of an edge. Everyone had noticed it but no one to his knowledge said anything. They all had changed and grown from Beacon's fall and Yang had been maimed in that attack going into a deep depression.
Yang also had been changed since she and Jaune had been hanging out more even before they became official. She had seemed to regain a bit of her old spark, that old Yang that liked to joke and have fun. Not completely, that he knew would never happen. You couldn't go back to how things were and you can't just jump back from trauma.
That was something both he and Nora knew first hand. It took them years to deal with what happened. Although he would admit, being back in the village and seeing that cursed Grimm again brought out things in him that he had thought he had buried or put behind him years ago. That fight had been something more than just revenge and putting an old ghost to rest, he felt lighter on the inside since then. Maybe part of it was it was in that fight he had realized just how much Nora meant to him.
They got back to the group with the paper trays with the drink orders. Jaune went over to Weiss as she was the first in his path.
"Here you go, your latte ma'am." He joked handing her the drink.
Weiss rolled her eyes but smirked taking it. "Thank you my good man."
Jaune had to admit his new friendship with Weiss was very nice, maybe if he had tried to be her friend at first things could have been smoother between them earlier on. Well that was the past, he had moved on from that crush and honestly he preferred her as his friend now. He gave the cocoa to Oscar.
"Thanks," He took a sip and sighed.
"Didn't know you liked that." Jaune commented.
"Well it's mostly Ozpin actually," Oscar admitted. "He gets cravings for it and I feel it too. I think he got addicted to it, which is why he drank it all the time."
"Wait he was drinking cocoa all this time?" Weiss asked turning her head as did everyone else in the group.
Oscar noticed this and felt a bit pressured with all the looks he was getting. "Uh…yeah."
"Huh, the things you learn," Nora commented scratching her head.
"And for you," Jaune gave Yang the last cup in his order as he pulled his drink out last and threw the cup holder into a bin next to them.
"What, I get served last?" Yang joked taking a sip.
"Well you know what they say right? Save the best for last?" He asked.
Yang paused before smiling, "Not bad Jaune."
"I learn from the best." He said moving a little closer to her.
Yang grinned, maybe her little lessons in helping Jaune get more confident were working. She certainly liked this new side of him that he had been showing lately. Oh he still got flustered at times and still had his adorkable moments but she liked those as well. A good balance between them was nice and she sipped her drink giving him a wink.
Jaune smiled back, "Bike's all set up?"
"Yep, she's in good hands," Yang had made sure they had stored her bike properly there was no way her baby was going to get jostled around in the train.
Jaune then noticed that three members of their group were still missing. "What about the others?"
"Qrow is off mailing a letter," Yang started to explain. "Ruby is off at a gift shop and Blake is saying goodbye to her parents."
In another part of the station, a family was doing just that as Kali was tightly squeezing her daughter as her father stood by their side.
"I'm going to miss you so much," Kali said trying to hold back tears. "We only just got together and we're leaving again."
"I know mom," Blake told her hugging her back. She would miss her parents as well and now a part of her hated that she had to leave them again so soon. "At least this time, I'm saying goodbye the right way and I will see you both again."
"You better." Kali pulled away drying her eyes taking one last longing look at her precious child.
Ghira placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, he knew that at least this time Blake was going off on a worthy mission and she wouldn't be going alone. She would have good friends to surround her which gave him a bit of reassurance. It still was painful to see her leave again but he wouldn't stand in her way, she knew that Blake would go even if they were against it.
"We'll keep our mail being forwarded to wherever we go so just send it home and it will eventually find us," He told her gently. "We want to know how you are doing and how everything is going for you and your friends."
Blake nodded her head, "I will, this time I will stay in touch."
He could only smile proudly at her as he pulled her into his large form wrapping his only child up one last time before they saw each other again. Blake closed her eyes feeling the warmth of her father and she would miss them both so much. With final goodbyes said, they left Blake alone with the only other member Ilia.
"Blake, there's just so much I wish I could say," Ilia said fighting back the tears.
Blake smiled softly at her friend. "I know but at least we're staying as friends this time."
Ilia nodded her head and quickly gave her a hug as she felt Blake hug her back. "I'm going to miss you Blake."
"I am too but let's try to keep in touch this time okay?" Blake still felt bad about how she had left Ilia in the White Fang without saying anything to her. There just hadn't been any time when she had decided to leave on that train leaving Adam and the Fang behind her. After that, she had stayed low and off the radar because she knew Adam wouldn't have taken it well, she had been proven right on that account.
Ilia nodded, "I'll be working with your parents until I figure out a place to settle down in."
"I'm glad you'll be working with them," Blake stated.
"Same here, I think this is something I need to do."
Blake was glad that Ilia had found something to help turn her life around and possibly help others along the way. Blake looked around hoping to see one other person but so far, she hadn't seen Sun all day. A part of her was worried that he wasn't coming, after everything he had said she felt that he would be here.
"Hey there, looking for someone?" A cocky voice said behind her.
She smiled as she looked to see Sun standing there hands on his hips with a smile on his face.
"You're late." Blake told him.
"Hey I just wanting to make sure everyone else said goodbyes first." He replied.
"Actually he overslept," Neptune came around behind him. "We ran all the way here."
"Dude," Sun hissed at him.
Neptune only smirked as he left to give them some space. He noticed Ilia had the same idea as he walked over to the cute Faunus girl.
"Hey there Ilia, didn't see you there. You know, because of the camouflage?" He gave his best winning smile.
"Oh no," Blake sighed face palming. "Wrong tree Neptune."
He'll figure it out," Sun told her getting closer. "Not the first time actually."
"Given how often he hits on girls I can see that," Blake sighed. "You know that's why Weiss was giving him the cold shoulder lately right?"
Sun sighed, "Yeah I really need to talk to him at some point about it. Maybe I can get through to him on the way to Vacuo."
He paused looking at her as he was really going to miss her but she needed this. She needed to reconnect with her friends and her team. She needed it more than she needed him at any rate and he needed this too. Sun knew that he had to learn to be a better leader, to be a better person if only to feel like he was a bit more worthy of her.
Sun knew that she didn't care about things like that but he kind of did, he wanted to make sure that the next time they saw each other he would be the kind of man that could stand proudly next to her.
"So here we are," Sun stated reaching up and caressing her cheek.
She closed her eyes leaning into his hand as she suddenly pulled him into a hug burying herself in him. He held her tightly, smelling her hair, feeling her arms around him for the last time in who knew how long before they saw each other again.
"I'm really going to miss you." She nearly choked the words out.
"Hey no sad partings," Sun told her pulling her back slightly and with his thumb wiped a small tear on the side of her face. "I don't want to see you sad, not now or ever. We'll meet again Blake, I believe it and so should you."
"How can you have so much faith in that?" She really did wonder how, he kept saying how not matter what they would meet again but she had seen too much to know that happy endings don't always happen. Tragedy happened all the time and it could happen again with them.
"I believe it because I want to believe it, because I have to believe it," Sun told her. "You are unlike any girl I ever met Blake, I don't have the words to tell you how…seriously I mean I've tried and I can't get it all out or seems just right."
Blake gave a small laugh as she looked up into his eyes, this would be their last moment for a long time. He wasn't even gone yet and already she felt like she missed him. That's when it hit her she would only get one more chance at this, one last moment before they had to split up.
She was taking this moment.
Blake reached up with her hands on both sides of his face and pulled him in for a kiss. Sun was surprised by her sudden action but he soon kissed her back. His hands went under her white coat as they found her hips. Blake felt his hands on her bare skin as she kissed him deeper she wanted to remember this moment every day and night they were apart.
Sun reached around as his hands found the small of her back as she moaned feeling his fingers trail along her spine.
Blake had kissed before but never felt like this, Sun really knew how with his hands lightly trailing on sensitive areas. Then she felt something else wrap around her waist, it was thin and furry but had strength to it. She suddenly realized it was his tail wrapping around her, she nibbled on his lip taking a breath before plunging back in.
Why had she waited all this time? It felt like such a waste to only experience this once. She thought about all the times since the dance she could have done this with Sun and hadn't for one reason or another.
Eventually they pulled away out of breath and flushed as Sun looked down at her reddened face.
"Wow…that was…wow." Sun gulped as he was very tempted to join her on her adventure if this meant he could get more of that. He never knew that Blake had this passionate side to her, she always seemed so controlled and maybe even a little reserved at times but that kiss. That was most likely the best kiss he had ever had.
"Yeah," Blake breathed as she rested her head against his chest. "Sorry I, I really don't know what came over me there."
"Hey you won't catch me complaining." He said as he gently ran a hand through her long dark hair. For a moment, they just stood there embraced before he had to say it. "You're going to miss your train if we continue on like this."
"I know but, let me just stay here for just a little bit longer please?" Blake wanted one moment of selfishness.
Sun wrapped her up in his arms, "Sure thing."
Back with most of the group, they were waiting for everyone to get back and relaxing as much as they could. Yang was sitting with Jaune with his arm around her shoulder as they were enjoying each other's company. Behind them on the seats, Ren and Nora had a similar ideas as Yang and Jaune as Weiss was currently double checking to make sure she hadn't missed anything. She already had but she wanted to make absolutely sure something wasn't missing.
Oscar was on the opposite end waiting patiently, he had never been to Argus before, in fact he hadn't really been anywhere until Ozpin showed up in his head. The battle at Haven had been scary but it wasn't as scary as he thought it would be. Maybe it was Ozpin's influence or maybe he was slowly getting used to it, he wasn't sure.
He wondered what else he would see on the way to Atlas.
Ruby suddenly showed up as she had zipped into view from her semblance with the most adorable smile on her face holding something behind her back.
Yang grinned as she got up and went over to her sister existed. "Well?"
"Ta-da! Ruby pulled out a bag that had the train station gift shop logo on it.
Weiss rolled her eyes, "Why of all the things to waste-"
Yang cut her off, "What did you get me?"
"You'll have to wait and see," Ruby teased.
"Hey no fair!" Yang said trying to see if she could see inside the bag.
Jaune couldn't help but smile, the scene reminded him of the many times he and his sisters would act just the same way. Weiss also looked on, she didn't want to admit it but sometimes she rather envied the relationship Ruby and Yang had. She loved her older sister Winter but her older sister was very proper and didn't like to joke around like her two teammates were doing.
"Oh I can't wait to see Argus," Nora was nearly bouncing her in seat. "The northern sea side, oh you think we'll make it for beach season?"
Ren thought about it and time at a beach would be fun, they hadn't really done something like that themselves but the idea died when he realized the weather. It was moving into winter now and the upper areas of this continent would be much too cold.
"I don't think so Nora." He told her.
"Awww," Nora deflated a little. "I was thinking of getting this cute little pink swimsuit too."
Now that brought another thought to Ren's mind thinking of his girlfriend in a pink two-piece bathing suit. He felt himself heat up at the mental image and quickly pulled out all his mental control to stop. Now was not the time and place no matter how nice it would be.
Yang grinned at the mention of swimsuits, "Oh now that would have been fun Nora. So what do you think Jaune?"
"Think about what?" He asked confused.
"Swimsuits," Yang struck a pose for him. "What do you think would look better on me? A yellow one piece or two piece? Maybe a string bikini?"
"Uh…well…I uh…" Jaune's face started to redden as the images flashed into his mind. He also thought back to that hotel room when he had seen her in just her underwear as her telling him just to think of it was being in a swimsuit.
Yang could only grin even more at the sight of him. Sure, they were together now but it was still so much fun to tease him now and again. At any rate, she made sure to make up for any teasing later when they were alone.
"Well while this is all fun I still can't believe I have to go back to Atlas given everything I went through just to leave that place," Weiss huffed. She still felt anxious about going back, she knew that her father would try anything to force her back into that manor and this time make sure she was locked up tight in her room, most likely with guards.
Even when she was at Beacon she had still considered Atlas her home, even if it had not been the most friendly and loving environment. However, after leaving she had trouble seeing Atlas as her home anymore. She only really saw it as the place she had grown up in, only a couple of people there had really been a family to her.
Ruby saw her partner's worry even under Weiss' tightly controlled features. "Don't worry Weiss, I promise you that Team RWBY will always be by your side. We won't leave you alone and you can count on us."
Weiss did smile at that, she did feel better she was going back with her friends and teammates.
"Oh you shouldn't have to worry about anything with us around," A confident male voice said.
Everyone looked to see two approaching figures. They wore clothing that looked designed for combat for quick movement and to not to weigh them down. Both had dark brown hair, the one with lighter skin tone was carrying a silver mace with spikes on it. His partner with a darker skin tone and a soul patch on his chin was carrying a rifle of some kind.
"And you two are…." Nora trailed off at them.
"Why Dee and Dudley," The same one with the club spoke up. "The Argus Limited very own huntsman. We're the ones that will be defending you all during the travels through Grimm territory."
"But for a special fee," Dudley stepped in with a smile. "We can ensure that you all get extra special attention." He winked at them.
Ruby and Yang's shoulders slumped at this blatantly and somewhat pathetic attempt to seem charming and get the girls' attention. Did they seriously not pick up that they were all huntsman and huntresses in training? Did they miss the robotic combat arm on Yang or that fact that Ruby had bullets showing on her belt?
"Yeah I think we got this covered." Yang stated.
"Oh don't be like that," Dudley grinned at her. "It takes a real man to fight off all the Grimm out there."
"Real man huh?" Yang looked around. "So where are they?"
That got a few snickers from the group but before one of them could give a retort Yang walked over to Jaune and sat down on his lap hooking her arms around his neck.
"What do you say babe? Cause the only real man I see are you and Ren, hell even Oscar. No offence little guy." Yang stated to him.
"None taken," Oscar knew what Yang was doing and besides he was only fourteen not exactly a 'man' by any means.
"Yep," Nora smiled as she followed Yang's example and did the same with Ren. "The only man for me is Ren and I've seen him take on plenty of Grimm."
Both of the hired huntsmen hadn't expected at least two of the girls to apparently already have boyfriends. Taking a look they didn't see much in Ren but Jaune was wearing heavy armor not the kind of thing a civilian just wears.
Maybe they could try their luck with the white haired beauty with the scar and the one in red?
Before they could try anything else that was when Qrow showed up with his hands in his pockets. He had seen what was going on he had seen this kind of thing before with young huntsmen. They got high off their position and tried to pick up girls with it. Of course Qrow was no stranger to that either but at least he tried to put some class into it and he knew better than to hit on girls that obviously could take care of themselves.
"Here's a tip for you guys, buzz of." He got in front of them with his usual lazy pose eying them up. They didn't look like much, hell if he had to guess they had most likely graduated this year or last year tops. "It looks like Mistral's scrapping the bottom of the barrel if they hired you two chuckleheads."
"Hey," Dee said offended. "Do you know that you're talking to-"
"A professional huntsman," Qrow pulled out his ID showing them that they were not going to pull that card with him. "Well it looks like one you 'heroes' left the staff entrance to the caboose wide open. Hate to see you guys lose your job right off the bat like this."
Both looked over to see that he was telling the truth, they were supposed to secure each entrance on the train to help prevent stowaways. Both looked at each other before Dudley tried to defend himself that he hadn't done it. Dee in an irritated manner decided to cut their losses here and walk off bringing his partner with him.
Qrow wasn't sure if they had left that open but when he saw it he had used it to help defuse the situation. Sometimes words were much more useful in moments like this than threats or violence plus it was a lot more fun this way too. It was why he liked messing with the Ice Queen so much, Winter's buttons were just so easy to push and it made his day to make miss prim and proper loser her cool.
He might have actually like the woman if she just removed that stick up her ass in his opinion. He did respect her skills but man she needed to let her hair down, or get laid, maybe both.
He turned to everyone else. "So we're all set?"
"Yep, my bike is locked and loaded." Yang stated.
"We got all our stuff that we're not carrying on the train." Ruby said next.
"We're just waiting on Blake." Weiss commented.
They didn't have to wait long as Blake found them at their platform. She had already left her parents, Ilia and Sun behind and already, she missed them. Seeing her friends waving at her did help to cheer her up a bit. Maybe Sun was right about needing to be here. Their time after the battle had helped but she still felt a bit of a gap between them all, especially with herself.
She couldn't blame them, especially not Yang. When Yang had been at her darkest moment, she had run away, again. She had run all the way back home she was tired of running away from her problems. Looking at them all now, she never wanted to lose this, this group of friends, which had become like a second family to her.
"Hey, what did I miss?" Blake asked joining them.
"Ugh," Ruby said exasperated. "We ran into these two guys that were trying to hit on us by being huntsmen."
"Really?" Blake looked around at the nods. She was glad she missed out on that at least.
'Now boarding Train Number 3 for Argus' an announcement said over the PA system.
"Well that's us," Qrow stated as everyone got their carryon luggage ready and got up to leave the benches.
"Do you want some help?" Ruby asked Weiss who has a few carryon bags, including the case for her sword.
"Please," Weiss took her weapon case and the luggage with the wheels as Ruby took the smaller bag with her free hand.
"Did you really have to pack so much?" Yang asked.
"I like to be prepared is all," Weiss told her walking on.
"Well here we go," Oscar said mainly to himself. "A new adventure."
'One of many I'm sure,' Ozpin said to him.
'I just hope I can pull my own weight,' Oscar said back. Although he had been training he was still far from anywhere on their levels. He just didn't want to be a burden to them.
'All things come with time Oscar,' Ozpin assured him. 'Remember you are not alone, you are part of a team and as you look out for them, they will look out for you. It was one of the principles I wanted to instill in my students.'
'Alright then…let's do this,' Oscar mentally prepared himself as he got onto the train.
TBC…
There's kind of an irony with this chapter as I posted it on the date I'm leaving for the UK for a week on a business trip. Can't promise any updates during that time, not even sure if I'll get time to use my laptop to write but I'll see what I can do.