"I still can't believe they both slept on the bottom beds."
Blake's voice was full of disbelief as Yang and her made their way from Shade towards where Raven had set up camp with her tribe, Yang just shrugged evidently unworried about the preceding events the two had walked into when they made their way to their new dorms in Shade.
… The night before:
Yang and Blake made their way to their new dorm hand in hand as Yang reached out for the door handle while Blake scanned her scroll on the electronic lock. As the two made their way inside the sight that they saw before them was unexpected, after spending some time trying to find Ruby and Weiss the two had admitted defeat and made their way towards their new dorm for some well-earned rest. During their search they hadn't thought to check the dorm, which was obviously an oversight, Ruby was sat on one of the bottom beds as Weiss was laid alongside Ruby but her head resting on a pillow next to Ruby's lap as her leader redid the braid in Weiss' hair, the two had somehow procured a bowel and Ruby was picking bits of desert sand out from her braid as she worked.
"Sup sis." Ruby spoke without moving her head, keeping her attention on Weiss' braid as her partner was playing on Ruby's scroll practicing some game. Blake and Yang took in the scene before them as they realized two of the beds had been suspended above the other two reminding them of the beds they had at Beacon.
"Weiss trusts you with her hair?" Yang responded surprised.
"Not completely, after her bath I'm only fixing her braid, she vetoed all my suggestions."
"That's because your suggestions were all variations of your own." Weiss added matter-of-factly.
"I'm surprised you know how to braid hair Ruby, I never let you braid mine."
"Well redoing one is easier than from scratch, besides Weiss was struggling and I wanted to help."
"Don't think that means you get the top bunk." Weiss spoke again earning a horrified expression from Ruby.
"I agreed to a truce while you practised."
"Because it is unfair to choose something you're well-versed in besides my plans for tomorrow include a score meter. If we call a truce till tomorrow we can do something that's somewhat fairer."
Ruby crossed her arms as she dropped the braid, not enjoying the idea of even one night in the bottom bunk.
"But how would we determine it tonight?"
"Rock-paper-scissors?" Offered Blake but Ruby shook her head.
"Weiss cheats."
"I do not!"
"You always win, you must be using time dilation or something."
Weiss dropped the scroll onto the bed as she rolled onto her side and turned her head to Ruby.
"You know that's not how my glyphs work you just always choose scissors."
"Yea because it's the closest move to Crescent Rose besides, reverse psychology means I should win."
The two stared at each other, Weiss unwilling to accept Ruby's accusation or logic of how reverse psychology works meanwhile Ruby was determined to prove somehow Weiss' apparent unfair advantage, as the seconds threatened to drag on Yang spoke to break the silent war in front of her.
"You know, just for tonight, you can just both sleep on the bottom bunks, I'm happy to share with Blake."
Blake turned to Yang with a smirk.
"Offering to bed me so soon, bold move."
Yang blushed heavily hiding her face in her free hand.
"You can't be serious not with my sister in the room."
"What she's our leader after all."
Blake and Yang joined Weiss in looking towards Ruby who surprised them all by not reacting to the implications that they had suggested, instead she kept staring at Weiss before uncrossing her arms, apparently the idea of sleeping in a bottom bunk greater than the implications that had just been spoken.
"Fine but just for tonight now roll back here I wasn't finished."
…Present day:
Yang responded as she finished her shrug.
"Weiss hates losing and Ruby hates bottom bunks, sometimes you gotta remember they're both younger sisters. So big sister logic means Ruby only has to suffer one night and Weiss gets to reduce her chances of losing."
Blake grabbed Yang's hand pulling her into a hug as she spun them on the spot.
"So it really was only a plan to sleep with me."
Blake had recently discovered how much fun it was making Yang blush which was made even more delightful by how easy it was and as she predicted Yang attempted to turn her head away from Blake failing to hide the red that was spreading across her cheeks.
"Woman I swear-"
Yang was cut off by a hand gently taking hold of her cheek and turning it back towards Blake who had a guilty smile.
"Consider it revenge for the puns last night."
"That's not fair."
"All's fair in love and war."
"You're just trying to distract me."
Blake gave Yang a soft smile which Yang reciprocated as the Faunus followed up with a small nod confirming Yang's suspicions.
"Is it working?" Blake asked quietly to which Yang pulled her into a grateful hug.
"I appreciate it but we can't put off Raven forever."
Footsteps rung out behind them signalling that the two were no longer alone, a gruff voice confirmed Yang's assumption on who it was.
"Geez, when Ruby said you two were glued to each other I thought she was exaggerating."
Blake chuckled as she attempted to hide her head in Yang's shoulder at being discovered but Yang turned her own head towards the voice.
"Thinking you had died sort of makes you want to savour every moment."
Yang had meant her words to be light-hearted but the guilty expression that appeared on her uncle's face showed they had the opposite impact.
"You're not to blame, you know that right?"
Yang's words tore Blake from her shoulder as she looked over to Qrow, her eyes flicking between the blonde and him, Qrow let out a heavy sigh as ruffled his hair with his right hand clearly thinking of the right words but he realized that Yang was confident in her point.
"Blame or blameless is irrelevant. We could have all done things differently and that's what haunts us. Besides you're all here now, if that's the last miracle we get then I'm happy. Now come on, I said I'd meet you at Ravens camp but we might as well go together."
The two nodded and started to walk beside him as Qrow showed them the way through the winding streets of Vacuo, Yang had heard that Vacuo was the smallest of the major cities but it more than made up for it by densely packed streets and minimal signage giving it a more confusing layout that seemed to give it a bigger feeling. Qrow however was evidently more comfortable within the city as he didn't even need to look down any of the paths he didn't take and he easily walked through the bustling crowds. It took Yang a moment to realize something but a small tug from Blake and her partners question that she asked softly seemed to confirm that feeling.
"Is it just more me or are a lot of people looking at us?"
"I get that feeling to."
Yang turned her attention back to Qrow.
"Umm Uncle Qrow, is there something wrong?"
Qrow brought the two to a stop as he turned to them with a confused expression before a realization dawned on him.
"Of course, you guys don't know…" He paused as he thought over what to do. "It would be cruel to make Raven wait any longer so I promise to show you guys after but I guarantee you're going to love it."
The smile on Qrow's face threw Yang for a moment as it went against what she knew of her usually morbid uncle but she couldn't help to frown at the mystery.
"Is it bad?" She asked earning a small shove of the shoulder by Qrow.
"Come on, if I say you're gonna love it you don't trust me?"
"Well, I remember when you'd said I love pigtails, I looked like someone off a cereal box."
Blake joined in on Qrow who laughed at the memory as she imagined Yang in pigtails.
"Omg, you shoulder definitely revisit that look, who knows you might have grown into them."
"You don't grow into pigtails; you grow out of them." Yang responded sternly to Blake's suggestion but before the two could continue Qrow spoke.
"As much as I'd love to share the pictures I have, come on, your mother is wating."
"You have pictures?" They asked in unison though their tones differed greatly, Blake's with excitement and Yang's full of horror.
"Those photos better never see the light of day-old man."
Yang tried to sound threatening but the desperation in her voice undercut her words.
"Call me old again and they may accidently end up pinned all over the doors at Shade."
"You wouldn't?"
Qrow turned to his niece with a smirk.
"Try me. Now come on, if we're early enough they'll still be having breakfast."
Yang nodded as the three started to walk again she could still feel the fleeting looks and glances from people but whenever she tried to meet them they would look away embarrassed but after Qrow's words they felt less overbearing.
"You still didn't say why everyone is staring."
Qrow sighed heavily before shaking the thoughts from his head.
"When the leader of your team sends a message to the world let's just say that makes your team a bit more notorious, especially when that team includes the daughter of the chieftain of Menagerie and the former Schnee heiress…" Qrow paused for a moment as he kept walking and Yang could see his expression darken slightly before being covered with a smile that Yang couldn't tell if it was hiding something, his voice became upbeat as if overcompensating. "And when that team helps to build a portal that saves people from both Mantle and Atlas, well that earns a lot of notice."
Yang thought over the change of expression of her uncle but before she could ask Blake interceded, her voice remorseful causing Yang to squeeze her hand tightly.
"We weren't the only ones and not all were as lucky as us."
Qrow kept walking and turned his head upward to the sky taking a deep breath.
"No but they won't be forgotten and we carry the mantle for them, the torch of hope shines brighter because of them and because of you guys."
The three fell into a comfortable silence unwilling to tread over wounds that still felt fresh, Yang quickly found herself lost in trying to keep track of the path they were taking and resigned herself to following her uncle as she held onto Blake's hand as her anchor.
…
Eventually the trio made their way out from the bustling streets of Vacuo into what Yang saw as the remains of presumably the tents and makeshift huts set up after the initial arrival from Mantle and Atlas on the outskirts of the city, some stragglers remained and as if built into the defences of Vale jutted out a recently erected wall, it curved in a semi-circle creating a carve out of claimed land with a gateway and Yang recognised the Branwen tribe symbol stamped on the side.
"Why are they so far out?" Yang asked without thinking, giving voice to the thoughts as they.
"The tribes always been a bit antisocial, kindare comes with the territory. Besides it suited them and it made the people feel safe while helping to keep them from feeling unsettled if they were in the city proper. Surprisingly people still can't let go of some prejudices, not that I can really blame them but I'll be honest the tribes been a big help, they definitely made it easier at keeping away the Grimm."
Qrow stopped walking as he finished talking, standing just out of sight and range of the guards hearing, he turned to Yang and Blake.
"Your mother has always relied on her semblance to keep those she cares about safe. At the end of the day she may have a terrible way of showing it but she does care. Seeing Ruby's message and the fall of Atlas well even she understood the stakes. When she showed up at Shade she surprised all of us and she didn't believe you were gone, her semblance would've meant she sensed it. When she found out she tried to open a portal, it didn't work and she took it hard."
"It's hard to imagine Raven like that." Yang admitted, Qrow nodded in understanding as he responded.
"For better or worse she sort of threw herself and the tribe at the Grimm, made it easier at least for them to be accepted and having another maiden is a plus, if you needed a supply run they were the first to step up."
Yang took in her uncle's words before turning to Blake who looked back at her softly squeezing Yang's hand that she held offering her partner her support, Yang turned back to Qrow with renewed confidence, stepping out with Blake into the vision of the guard she waved her free hand drawing his attention as Qrow walked up behind them. Yang recognised the tribesman from her first run in with them and his wide-eyed reaction showed her he clearly remembered Yang. Letting a self-satisfying smirk spread Yang looked up at him.
"Remember me? Is mum home?"
The man nodded and promptly opened the gates unwilling to refuse the daughter of Raven entry. Qrow moved to step in front of the two as they all waited for the gates to slowly part but Yang raised her free arm signalling him to stay behind them.
"I think she'd appreciate seeing me first."
The strength in Yang's voice led to Qrow respecting her words and he remained a few steps to the side of the two, waiting until the gates were finally wide enough to enable the trio entry into the camp. Stepping through the group saw a mixture of hastily build tents and semi-permanent buildings, they had properly constructed foundations but retained the tent cloth walls and roofing. Heading towards the centre of the camp they slowly attracted the attention of more and more members of the tribe and though Yang didn't recognise all of them they all either recognised her or presumably Qrow and took up a trail behind them gathering into a crowd as if expecting a spectacle.
Coming to a clearing in the centre stood the at the front of the biggest tent was a large round table, Raven had her back to the trio as she was pointing towards a corner of the table, Yang could make out the small pieces of Grimm atop some paper presumably acting as a map that aimed to keep track of the Grimm's locations, Raven's voice was quick to travel towards them as her eyes remained downcast to the table.
"If we keep to the West we should be able to avoid at least the worst of those Death Stalkers but any further and we risk taking too long."
As Raven finished Yang, Blake and Qrow came to a stop close behind her and the person stood opposite Raven at the other end of the table looked up to their leader to respond but their eyes widened when they saw Yang standing behind her. As if annoyed by the lack of a response Raven looked up and saw the expression that rested atop the member of the tribe.
Turning around Raven pulled Omen free from its scabbard on instinct expecting the worst and evidently surprised at her daughter standing in front of her as Raven's eyes widened, a thud rang out as she realized she had dropped her weapon not even noticing how her grip had loosened. Yang struggled to find the right words to say opening her mouth but failing to form a sentence, Raven's actions spoke for themselves though as with a speed that seemed to match Ruby's semblance Yang blinked and before she could open her eyes she felt arms wrap around her pulling her forward forcing her to let go of the Blake's hand.
Opening her eyes she looked down; Raven held her daughter tightly and Yang brought her arms up pulling Raven close as she realized that was the first time she could recall Raven hugging her and she sought to preserve the moment between them herself.
"Never do that again."
Raven whispered her demand softly into Yang's shoulder earning a small smile from the blonde who let out a little laugh.
"In my defence, it wasn't part of the plan."
Raven shook her head slightly against Yang's shoulder.
"Don't care."
"What are you even doing here?" Yang asked without thinking as her curiosity got the better of her, she felt Raven stiffen slightly at the question and Yang became worried she may have ruined the moment, Raven let out a heavy sigh before answering.
"…She sounds just like her mother."
Yang smiled sadly as she understood, shaking her own head slightly.
"If I knew all it would take was a global message I'd have hacked VNN years ago."
"You talk better with your fists." Raven turned her head to the crowd that had gathered. "What! Move along you all have jobs to do!" The raised voice knocked them out of their stupor and the crowd quickly dispersed, Raven turned to the table she had just come from. "You know your orders, now I have guests to attend to." Raven unwillingly ended the embrace she had with Yang before gesturing to the large tent in the centre of camp. "Come on, I'll put on some tea." Raven finally acknowledged the other two as she looked back to Blake and Qrow, Raven's eyes flicked between the two and Yang was suddenly unsure what was going to happen but Raven smiled at Blake. "Me and your parents got off on the wrong foot, I'd like meet my daughter's partner properly." As Raven spoke she offered out her hand to Blake who gratefully accepted but the idea of a peaceful introduction was quickly dispelled as she found herself pulled into an awkward hug as Raven whispered into Blake's ear. "Don't think I didn't see the hands."
"I- uh, don't know what you mean."
The stuttering in her voice caused Raven to laugh.
"My dear I wasn't born yesterday and Yang may think I have no right involving myself but a Branwen does what they want."
"I think it would be best to do this with Yang as a part of the conversation?"
Raven pulled her from the hug and freed her hand resting her own on Blake's shoulders as she surveyed the girl up and down.
"A diplomat, I think I'm gonna like you, I can see already why Yang does."
Taking that as a sign of approval Blake smiled as Yang pulled her partner to one side saving her from her mother.
Yang spoke sternly towards Raven. "Could you please not intimidate my girlfriend."
Raven raised an eyebrow at her daughter enjoying pulling her strings before turning to her brother.
"So, you brought them back and didn't tell me what you were planning?"
Qrow shook his head while raising his hands in defeat. "Nope this was all them."
Stepping up in front Raven directed them inside.
"Come on, tell me everything."
Blake and Yang shared a guilty expression as Yang added a small admission.
"Well, not everything some isn't ours to share but we'll tell you everything we can."