Broken Blondes

Chapter 3: Gears of Accord

Sunlight trickled in through the window, spilling light into the house on the cliff. The sun pierced the last shadows enshrining the slumbering occupants before the house began to stir.

It was early morning, the dawn was just cresting, drastic shadows making those wishing to sleep in curse the day. Others, namely one orange haired sugarfiend rose in promise of pancakes to start the day.

The covers of one particular blonde were comically pulled up and over their face to hide from the day. The girl attached to those golden locks didn't want to move a muscle, not after the previous night's disaster. The lack of sleep left her feeling heavy, as if she was weighed down by thousand pound weights. It wasn't her favorite way to start the day, but it was becoming all too normal.

Last night flooded back to her. She'd been unable to talk to the cat, which in hindsight, she didn't feel TOO bad about. The problem really rose when she thought of what she'd faced with her sister and Weiss only a few days ago, and how they'd been fighting a losing battle without their full team. Blake had shown up so late to the fight, it was if destiny itself wanted to make her seem useful.

It was an uncomfortable reality she needed to face, taking no pleasure in the prospect of working with someone who couldn't seem to demonstrate commitment when it counted. This obstacle was one that seemed insurmountable when the opportunity presented itself.

She couldn't imagine what it might be like to be like that. She felt too guilty about letting her little sister go off without her. She'd have to sort it out eventually. No matter how reluctant she might be.

With that, Yang groaned and threw the covers off herself, smoothly sliding from the bed to her feet. Her bed clothes were tossed to the wayside as she became aware of her surroundings.

She meandered to the shower. She needed a little 'me' time to truly greet the day she decided.

It was surprisingly lavish, despite the lack of room. The minimalist aesthetic was a nice touch that made it feel roomier than it might have otherwise felt. She decided to take full advantage of the early morning and relax.

The water pouring over her allowed her to cleanse herself of her personal doubts, melting away in the heat saturating every pore of her being, chasing away the morose nature of her thoughts.

The heat drew her smile from where it had retreated the night before, her mood lifting as comforting warmth flowed through her. No longer would she tolerate being robbed of heat. She enjoyed the sensation of feeling more alive for the moment.

The flames at the edges of her vision faded to background white noise as she allowed herself to relax. The heat brought with it a sense of strength, and eventually, the optimism she'd thought had long since abandoned her that night at Beacon.

She took care to wash her hair, not knowing what the day would hold, whether she would get a chance to do so again anytime soon. She treated it with love befitting her gorgeous golden strands, running her hands through it, any knots coming free from her efforts.

She admired its length for a moment, drawing a certain catharsis from running her hand through the soft strands, muted as it was given the missing hand. She was in such a state of pure sensation that it hardly mattered in that single moment that she would never truly be who she was before, and in fact lifted her spirits that she could continue to grow and learn to love herself in a way she'd not thought possible before. Maybe there was hope for today.

She emerged from the shower, clothed and ready to face the day, infinitely more invigorated. She allowed herself to revel in the feeling for a moment, before locking her mechanical arm into position. She felt a sense of alien-ness as she got used to moving the arm that was not her arm for a minute, before she settled into the feeling.

She glanced warily to the lantern, resting in the same place as the night before, its glow harder to notice in the bright morning light. She looked over its various symbols and vents allowing the ethereal incandescence to pass through it, casting a unique, almost living shadow. The thought of something being alive was decidedly unsettling.

Resolving to leave it until she absolutely had to move it, she opened her door... to see her Uncle Qrow standing tall and imposing in her doorway, about to knock.

His five-o-clock shadow, despite having been shaved, was sloppily done, evidence of having stayed up the night before. If she had to guess, it had to do with the attack on Haven and the headmaster's betrayal. In a sense, he looked haggard. Well… MORE haggard than usual, anyway.

Something that genuinely surprised her was the repugnant odor of cheap booze was surprisingly less unbearable than usual, as if he had only started drinking in the last hour, and not very much.

For anyone else, it would have been odd that they were drinking this early, but for her uncle, the fact that the stink of alcohol wasn't much heavier was what made this stand out to her. She'd actually become accustomed to getting him home from the bar some nights. She'd learnt about restraint through him rather than her own mischief because he couldn't. It honestly felt like babysitting sometimes.

She raised an eyebrow questioningly, which Qrow ignored, content not to address the unasked question. "Good… you're up… We're having a meeting this morning about what to do with the Relic. I was just coming to take it off your hands."

Yang looked at him, not sure it was something she quite trusted him with. While she wouldn't have minded something that had caused her such immediate distress being taken off her shoulders, she was skeptical for someone like her uncle or Ozpin being the one taking it from her. Her poor excuse for a mother had at least taught her that much.

All the years she had known him, and he had kept so much from her. She didn't like to distrust them, really, she would have loved to relinquish it and be rid of it. The issue was their secrets had become too relevant to her and her team, putting them in dangerous situations because they didn't know enough to deal with the situation realistically.

She might even understand handing off the lantern to him, if her uncle's semblance hadn't been brought to light. Now that she thought about it, that might explain why she and Ruby could never beat him in any video game, no matter what they did… or why he tended to be so distant, despite training Ruby to use her Scythe.

He'd seemed distraught after seeing her sister struggle for a few years while he was a teacher at Signal. Yang might have also contributed to his willingness with her demands. As it was, she was silently grateful that she had received more hands-on training with her dad.

She smiled to herself for a second, thinking how her dad had always seemed to keep his cool during training, now that she thought about it…. She couldn't explain how she had developed her power temper semblance, thinking it made the most sense from her mom, but that had been dashed when he'd bothered to explain it, and when she remembered seeing part of it first-hand.

"I think that's something our team should discuss first; your semblance seems like a bit of problem with a transport mission doesn't it? Someone else should carry something THAT important."

Qrow looked down at her, as if annoyed she bothered to make a good point. "well… that's kinda the point of the meeting…. we wouldn't mind having you along… Ruby's familiarity with Ironwood would be a bonus."

Oh.

That raised an eyebrow. She'd not been informed of her sister's friendly relationship with Atlas's Headmaster. "Fine, let me talk with the rest of my team…"

Qrow nodded mutedly, and let her pass, muttering something about being too sober for this. She looks over her shoulder as she walks away, catching a glance of him taking a swig from his flask.

Yang shook her head as she knocks on Weiss' door. It swung inward noiselessly. Ruby was already sitting on the bedside table of the room with Weiss herself sitting on the side of the bed.

The room was tidy, as expected of the Ice Queen. Unlike her own room, everything was pristine, and seemed arranged in an order. Something about the fact that everything seemed to have its place elegantly designed to balance it.

Little of Weiss' equipment from Beacon had been brought with her, so it was mostly absent. In spite of this, there was an air of regality in its presentation that spoke of her disciplined upbringing. It seemed even rebelling against her parents didn't seem to change that at a habitual level.

Yang looked to her sister, who despite her position of Team RWBY's leader, was often the most childish of all of them. She was wearing the "Battle Skirt" she'd been wearing every day since they had been reunited.

Ruby looked at Yang, her silver eyes reflecting an emotion that Yang had hoped never to see on her sister again. Quiet, morose introspection. It seemed to be all she'd been witness to lately. It was incredibly unnerving. She had been holding strong for so long without her big sister, now that she was here, Ruby was an open book. Her sister's feelings had been laid out on her sleeve.

It made Yang's big sister instincts weep to protect her.

Reflexively, she went to envelop her sister in a hug, before offering her arm to Weiss. She couldn't help but think of the white haired girl as extended family now; no matter how things started between them.

She might have teased the Ice Queen at Beacon for her cold and at times even heartless behavior, but it was crystal clear that her time both at Beacon as well as back with her father had had a drastic effect on her attitude. Yang could probably take some of the credit for getting her to loosen up a bit and be more friendly.

Their past squabbles were all behind them now, as the reality of Anima's situation set in. If only it could be said for all members of her team. There was still something uneasy about the whole arrangement. It was probably written on her face that she didn't know how to feel about the woman with no spine on their team. In fact, both Weiss and Ruby had done their utmost to dissuade her frustrations… to no avail.

Once they broke out of their group embrace, Yang looked to Ruby for a moment, her expression hard and determined. It was fitting for the blonde bruiser. "Rubes, Drunkle Qrow wants to take the relic to Atlas".

Ruby nods, "That's what Ozpin said to him right? They need to bring it there?"

"Right" Yang confirmed.

Ruby cracked a grin, "When do we leave?"

She'd heard all she needed to make her decision. She knew she'd be going one way or another, Ruby just confirmed it. "Well, why do we need to go back? I don't want to go right back to my prison cell…" Weiss interjected.

Yang and Ruby looked at Weiss… in that moment realizing that her father would likely take advantage of her return to bring her back to the same empty building she had just escaped… again. They hadn't even considered it when they thought of Atlas.

Weiss, seeing their eyes on her, conflicted feelings plain to see blurted out, "I… I mean… for the good of Remnant, as Huntresses, it must….it …it is our duty to protect something as special as this... but it doesn't mean I like the idea of going right back to Atlas..."

Yang visibly relaxed at this, her motherly side taking over, compassion evident in her eyes. "You don't have to come if you don't want to. Nobody would blame you. I know I certainly wouldn't."

Weiss looks up at Yang, tears in her eyes, refusing to fall. The blonde continues. "You've been through enough as it is…. It's incredible you were still willing to fight after everything that happened…"

Weiss smiled at that, nodding her head. "You may have a point, but I've also just re-united with my team, and I can't leave them behind NOW. What do I look like? Blake?!"

The room goes silent for a moment, Ruby was petrified, glaring at her teammate, as if she'd been betrayed on some secret accord. Weiss realized her mistake, and went to correct herself, "I! I Mean! I don't want to lose you guys again..."

The blonde can't help but crack a smile. She couldn't help herself. She had to. "It's Ice to have you back Queenie."

The mood effectively dead, Weiss rolls her eyes, "You were soooo close to being sincere. Now I need to come, if just to shelter your sister from your awful puns."

Yang can't help but laugh at this. "You're too cold Weiss. I'd thought you'd have warmed up to me by now."

Weiss visibly winces. "I'm going to regret this aren't I?"

Yang broke into a megawatt grin, and Weiss can't help but wonder just how much Yang's optimism had rubbed off on Ruby. She put her hand on Yang's shoulder before looking her in the eyes. "We started this together, and it's only right that we end it as one."

Yang's smile shifts from self-amusement to genuine gratefulness. She looks at Ruby, who rolled her eyes, squeaking chipperly, "Well, I already said I'm going Yang, you know I had your back, you don't even have to ask. It's what sisters do" Yang glances down for a second, before Ruby looks at Weiss, "and besties like Weiss!"

Weiss seemed to struggle with her inner self at this childish remark, her eye twitching as she fought for control, before reaffirming again. "Right!"

"Helloooo ladies! what's going on?"

The girls turned their heads to the door, the moment ruined. Blake stood in the doorway awkwardly, this time flanked by someone who they'd only seen leave her side for his own bedroom.

Sun Wukong.

He was an ally that had traveled with Blake on her way here to Mistral. She seemed more comfortable with him now than with them, a change Yang was more than aware of.

Blake and Sun's expressions were appropriately night and day of each other. Blake was clearly very tense and self-conscious being back in front of her past team, after running out on them again. Sun, almost in comical contrast to his gloomy compatriot was smiling brightly enough to rival Yang's own megawatt grin from minutes earlier.

The impact of their presence was immediate. Yang's demeanor noticeably soured, though not as much as it had when it had only been Blake.

Ruby and Weiss were more welcoming, with Ruby waving to Blake and Sun energetically, happy to see them again. Weiss was back to a regal composure, though more relaxed. "Sun, have you heard from Neptune lately?" She inquired tentatively.

Sun's expression changed from excited, to sheepish, before scratching his head, much as Jaune might have at Beacon if he were asked any question. It was strange to see the normally silver-tongued monkey faunus in the hot-seat for once.

He hadn't seen them in several months at this point. "Well… if I had to guess… honestly? I think Neptune and the gang are probably headed too Vacuo at this point. Back to the homelands basically. It's been a while since we visited."

Weiss took this in, while attempting not to let her disappointment show, especially given her having to deal with her father in Atlas weighing on her mind.

Yang by contrast, was much more direct and to the point, "We're heading for Atlas, Ozpin wants to move the relic."

Blake seemed concerned by this, though she wasn't completely clear what a relic WAS, given her extended adventures with the new reformed Faunus Freedom Alliance hadn't given her much time to catch up yet.

In that time, they had never encountered one, outside of the lamp Yang had produced from the vault of the Spring Maiden two nights previous.

Her parents and her people had retreated to the city outskirts. She had her concerns about leaving them behind and wanted to at least let them know where she was going before she left, a lesson left over from when she had realized how much it hurt to see them again.

She looked at Yang, who appeared like she wanted to be anywhere but in this room. It was galaxies different from the vibe she and Sun had intruded on. "I want to come too, I've been gone too long."

Yang looked to Blake, as if realizing she had spoken. Her partner seemed to be looking anywhere but at her. It figured.

Yang's eyes had little warmth to them, not to the point of shifting from their normal lilac to a blood red. "If you come with us, you're WITH us, one hundred percent, no more running… We don't need a coward."

Her words were hard, unapologetic, as if fighting back a scream. The room had become noticeably warmer for all involved.

Blake looked evenly at her, finally holding her gaze. The cat-eared girl was clearly on the edge of a sharp retort. Just as Yang was about to cut her off, Blake seemed to change her mind and nodded solemnly.

Yang had good reason to be upset. She remembered when Blake had been about to run off to find some orange haired hooligan on no sleep, how impulsive she could be. More importantly, she remembered the story she'd told the girl about Raven, her real mom. The one she'd wished she'd never learned about. The runner.

Yang nodded, "Guess I'll tell the old qrow what we've decided then."

"Waaaaaitttt, Yaaaaaang, I'm the leader, I should be the one announcing it!"

"Feel free to join me"

"Yeah!"

Yang was just glad to escape from the tension of Weiss' bedroom... Also her sister kinda had a point.

The living room was cozy, with two couches facing each other, another to the far wall, the dinner table behind that, and a low table between the couches. Jaune and Ren were in the middle of a game of chess on opposing couches.

Seeing Jaune and his team sitting at the table, they have a brief greeting before turning to Qrow and Ozpin in separate chairs. Oz… or was it Oscar? looked mostly at ease, while Qrow was clearly in a minor drunken stupor, having fixed his sobriety problem.

As they approached, Qrow's eyes become sharp and aware. Before they stop, he calls to them, "So?... What's the game plan?... Yang?... Ruby?".

They looked at each other, nodding wordlessly, never really needing to speak to know the other's thoughts. It wasn't just the discussion from earlier, it was how well they knew each other.

An air of expectation permeated the room. Ruby spoke, the passion evident in her voice, "We are coming with you and the Relic to Atlas. No way are we letting this go now. We've already defended two schools' relics. Might as well go for the whole collection."

Jaune perked up, he jumped to his feet and, voice just barely cracking from nerves, "I'm going too!"

The air of tension immediately broken, Ozcar merely shaking his head, while Qrow chuckles to himself. Oz looked at the boy with what could only be pity. "I'd advise against such things Mr. Arc… after all, we've all been through a lot, no need to put yourself in any unnecessary danger."

Jaune seemed annoyed he was being so easily dismissed, before Oz continued. " I think it would be best if you stayed here, or went back to see your family. I'm sure your sisters are missing you."

These words took all the air out of Jaune for a moment, before he glares at Qrow, his expression now set in determination, standing straight again. His voice carried an edge of anger. "You don't seem opposed to team RWBY going."

Oscar's brow furrowed at this, as if not expecting such resistance. It didn't help that the kid had a point. "Mr. Arc, team RWBY has proven themselves on more than one occasion, and if we didn't agree, we would have taken the relic by force."

Jaune glares at Oz, for it was Oz talking, the man who had been responsible in part for his teammate's demise. "Honestly, I can't go back to my family, and I would hate myself if I didn't at least try to see the thing that Pyrrha gave her life for to the end. I have a responsibility for that much at the very least."

Jaune had decided, clear to everyone that this was something he wasn't willing to bend on. His normally nasally and shaky voice was clear and unwavering, bordering on aggressive. It was a welcome change from his typical stuttering, if Yang could say anything of it.

Just as it seemed that Ozcar was looking to retort, Nora spoke up, "If our fearless leader thinks it's something he's gotta do, then we HAAAFTA stand by him no matter what, isn't that right Renny?!"

Without looking if her partner agreed or not, she continued, "he's always got our support to back him up. YEEEEAHHH!"

Nora made several gestures in attempt to solidify her points, to which Oscar only laughed, a voice that was clearly only his, instead of the strange simultaneous echo of Ozpin and Oscar that they had become used to. "I'd never say no to having you guys by my side. I think it's great. Oz says we probably shouldn't expect things to be easy though."

Qrow broke in, "It's cold in Atlas, and if you aren't used to it, you might not do too well. You'll all need new clothes to deal with the temperature."

He glanced at Yang and Ruby, blithely pointing out Ruby's battle skirt. Ruby coloured, "It's a COMBAT SKIRT Okaaaaay?!"

Yang can't help but laugh at her immediate defensiveness. "Careful Rubes! Don't want Jaune seeing too much, right?"

Her sister glared daggers at her, while Yang just cackles evilly, seeing her sister blush. Ruby grumbles out, "It's comfortable, cute… and I can move quickly in it"

Yang grabbed her sister in a noogie, before relenting "I know sis, don't worry. Your big sister is here to protect you from lechers like him anyway."

She can't help but grin. Jaune however, was indignant at this, and got up from where he'd settled from his impassioned speech to protest, "Excuse ME! I have standards you know!"

Yang looked Jaune up and down, evaluating. Taking in his Pumpkin Pete hoodie on full display, debating in her mind whether to take him seriously, "Does that mean Ruby isn't good enough for you?!"

He paled… there was no way to answer that without getting punched. He wisely chose to remain silent.

She stuck out her tongue before looking back to Oscar. "Guess that means a SHHHOOOOPPPING TRIIIIP!"

Jaune rolled his eyes, while Ruby got a far-off look in her own, probably thinking of all the ways she could modify Crescent Rose to work in the icy conditions of Atlas.

With their accord set in stone, Yang headed off to inform the rest of their team… and Sun.

Jaune, having made his intentions clear, can't help a self-satisfied smirk grace his features - somehow more suited to him than it would have even a few short months ago. It's quick to slip however, as Jaune's self-consciousness creeped back to him, and he settled back into his seat opposite Ren to finish their game of Chess.

Ruby, coming down from her weapon-dream induced stupor, walked towards Jaune at the table; and casually asks to start a game with Jaune next.

Jaune can't resist, "Careful about your combat skirt"

Ruby just rolled her eyes. "Pfft, right..."

Ren, seeing this as a good opportunity to have the two leaders test their tactical prowess, tells them he'd abdicate the game, and goes to meditate. Nora, of course, dutifully follows to almost certainly disrupt his focus.

Jaune looked across to Ruby skeptically before he resets the chess board with a practiced fluidity. Ruby, who clearly wanted to discuss something with him has a strange look in her eyes. "Jaune… I just wanna make clear, what Yang said before…. She's just bugging us."

He scratched the back of his neck, attempting in vain to cover his embarrassment over the entire affair. "Honestly, I'm just surprised she thinks I'm dumb enough to make a move like that. I've known you as a little sister for too long"

Ruby bursts out laughing at this. Jaune eyed her quizzically, before she reassured him she wasn't interested in him that way. "I've got Crescent Rose to think of after all…. How would my baby feel?!"

This time it was Jaune who couldn't help but laugh at her obsession, though it made sense to him. She could always depend on her weapon, she had made it to be perfectly in tune with her style of combat, adding to her insane mobility. They were more one than any person could probably hope to live up to.

He wondered if he might have had the same connection with his weapon if, rather than being an heirloom, he'd built something for his own tastes and style. He looked to where his sword and sheath lay, smiling. He was probably a sucker for the classics though. He was sure Ruby would have agreed.

Jaune moved his pawn forward, before finally asking the obvious question, "So, what did you want to know about 'the strategist' now that I have my weapon back?"

Ruby looked at him in confusion for a moment, before the realization hit her, and her eyes narrowed. "Weeeelll, I just wanted to say I really appreciate your team's support since Beacon… and even before then. Any time me and my team needed a friend, you've been more than willing to step up. Specifically, when it came to getting here, with no other real plans… It was something I definitely should have consulted the 'strategist' about beforehand."

She looked away from him when she said this, as if her frustration with her own brash behavior could be adequately expressed in that one simple motion.

Jaune decided it best not to press. "Annnyway, You've noticed the tension between Blake and Yang right? That might make it difficult to work together…"

Ruby's face goes slack, pouting momentarily, finally settling into a more hopeful expression, and Jaune realized he had just asked the wrong question. "weeellll actually, that was kiiiinda what I wanted to talk to you about…"

He merely raises an eyebrow in question, before scratching the back of his neck self-consciously. "What do you mean? Don't you know them better? They ARE your teammates after all…"

Ruby nods timidly, before her expression hardens in determination, "I know that Jaune, Weiss and I have already talked to Yang about this. It didn't go well... we're going to try and explain things to Blake when we get the chance."

Jaune's confusion at his relevance only multiplied at this, but he let her continue. "anyway, if things end up getting a little out of hand between them, I'd just appreciate it if you wouldn't mind keeping them from ripping each other apart, we could use all the help we can get."

Jaune shrugs nonchalantly before replying sardonically "Seems easy enough… just keep two of the strongest women I know from being at each other's throats… meanwhile, I'm the weakest among either team…"

His tone loses its air of hopelessness, beaten out by concern, "how are you doing by the way? The last few weeks have been hectic compared to the trek across Mistral"

Ruby nods, choosing to ignore his earlier sarcasm. "Thanks again for coming with me… here that is…"

Ruby looks at Jaune, trying to discern his expression, which Jaune returns with a lighthearted smile. "I don't know how much help I've been, but I'm glad we could watch out for each other in the end. So long as you keep a positive mindset, I think we can keep going, we'll have team RWBY's back anytime you need it."

Jaune's voice was strong and determined now, before putting his hand on Ruby's shoulder, a reminder of his confidence in her leadership. His support not unlike she had provided him when he had started out.

With that, he proceeded to move his Queen into position to put Ruby into Checkmate. Seeing this, Ruby's nose crinkled in a thoroughly irritated gesture, given his pep talk immediate beforehand. "Jaune… There's no way that was fair."

Jaune just shrugged, "Guess that's why I'm the strategist."

She got up to go to Weiss' room again and discuss their plan to reach Atlas. Jaune himself got up then, before heading out the balcony, sword and shield in hand and smirk playing across his lips. "I've got my hands full now…" he muttered under his breath.

Yang watched this from the hallway, the way Jaune handled the situation, his dedication to help Ruby and their team. Then, her issues with Blake rose to the topic of conversation.

I haven't helped the situation… maybe I should talk to her about this... Gotta make Ruby proud of her big sister after all…

That in mind, she set off towards her room, content to start things out on the right foot with her former partner this time, her head held high. To the brightest horizon!

End of Chapter 3

SKR: Sooo, something that's become increasingly apparent in my particular writing style that I need to watch is that I write some.. in-tense stuff. What I mean to say is my writing is very stage director-y, which JJD has really been helping me fight against and catch, keeping me from being a confusing mess, or at times a little TOO bleak for the intended vibe… Don't worry that comes later.

JJD: It caught me off guard the first time I read through haha. I was starting to wonder if we were going to be casting people next (I'm pulling for Tom Holland as Jaune!). As for the bleak part...you guys all look like strong swimmers, I'm sure you can keep your heads above water

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A/N:

Here's the first "sort of" indicator of where the story is going for now, Next chapter is a minor sneak peek of Jaune's new semblance, get ready for it.