A/N:

Welcome back my fellow comrades! As you may have noticed, my uploading schedule is slowly moving forward, let's keep it that way.

For those that expected the one shot, it will be written next (for some reason I wanted to write this chapter first, I don't know why).

The final votes are in:

Tiny Yang / Blake: 4 votes.

Tiny Weiss / Ruby: 3 votes.

Tiny Yang and Ruby / Weiss and Blake (Bumblebee and White Rose): 1 vote.

Winner: Bumblebee! Hooray!

As for this chapter, I'm not really sure what to think of it. I'm afraid I have made it a bit too mellow. I'll see what you guys think I suppose.

Oh, before I forget! A wonderful reader by the name of Rusk has given me this awesome piece of fan art (the cover image)! Go check them out on Deviantart (CrispyRusk), they're awesome!


May contain side effects

Chapter 13:

Homecoming

"Hello? Anybody there?"

"Look at you, calling for help like a damsel in distress."

"Who said that?"

"I did."

"Show yourself!"

"Scared of the unknown, are you?"

"N-no, of course not!"

"It seems you're not only a coward but also a liar. I see your hands trembling, the cold sweat dripping from your forehead. You're not even a blurred reflection of who you once were."

"W-Who are you?"

"You already know who I am."

"I-"

"Don't act dumb with me! You knew who I was from the moment you noticed my presence. I can hear it in your voice. You're right to be petrified, I crush insects like you every day! But that's not why I am here. No, I'm here because you've become weak."

"No, you're wrong. I've made friends that will protect me."

"These friends of yours have poisoned you with their kindness. I will eradicate it out of your veins, no matter how hard I will have to punish you. Now kneel."

"W-what? No!"

"KNEEL, WORTHLESS ANIMAL!"


The evening was cold. Eerie wind swished through the highest tips of the trees. The sun was setting, and thick grey clouds were blocking any view of the moon. The students of Beacon hurried inside the warmth of the school. The few that did stay outside wore thick jackets and scarfs around their neck. The amount of students was so scarce that even the long pathway from the school to the docks was devoid of life.

All of a sudden the peaceful silence was broken by the roaring of an engine; an airship was flying towards the school. The noise was silenced as it docked at one of the piers reserved for public transport. With a hiss the doors slid open and a figure stepped out of the ship. The girl shook her long blonde manes out of their messy state before making her way towards the school.

The grass was crunched under her boots as she trod over one of Beacon's lawns. Normally someone would scold for her walking so carelessly on the grass instead of using the massive paths. Now there wasn't a single soul to be seen and thus no one to scold her for misbehaving.

Not that she really cared about breaking the so called rules, she was a huntress-in-training, damn it! She should be able to stand wherever the hell she wanted!

She jumped slightly as the massive engines of the airship started once again and it began to roar towards the city of Vale. She shook her head to regain her composure and walked towards the big doors that gave entrance to Beacon's hall. In front of the massive wooden doors there was a fountain with the statue of a hunter and a huntress triumphing over a Beowolf. The girl didn't know why but she felt a strange attraction towards the statue. It represented what they were training for: becoming a full-fledged hunter. And yet the statue was making her uncomfortable, there was something wrong with the image but she couldn't put her finger on it.

A shiver ran down her spine.

She wasn't sure whether it was the cold finally getting to her, which was highly unlikely, or whether it was because she noticed the person sitting on one of the benches around the fountain.

"Weiss."

The alabaster haired girl looked up and nodded short and curtly. "Yang. You're back."

The monotone voice of her teammate caught her off guard. She had expected for Weiss to be seething with anger or quivering with fear, but not this. She spoke with a tone Yang couldn't remember being this calm in a very long time. The serenity of the girl in her white coat made even Yang feel peaceful.

Whatever sentence she had planned to use had been caught in her throat. Instead she stood speechless. Eventually she was able to form a meaningful sentence. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you inside like the rest?"

"I could ask you the same question." Yang could swear that she could see a small smirk fleeting over Weiss' face. "You know I'm not the most social person. I was tired of the racket the others were making so I decided to search for a quieter place, like this lovely bench. Join me?"

Yang was reluctant at first but she decided there was no harm in sitting down next to the girl. "Aren't you cold?"

Weiss looked at her incredulously. "And I thought you were the one always making jokes about me being the ice queen. The cold doesn't bother me nearly as much as it does others. As far as I know, we are the only two on Beacon who can withstand extreme temperatures."

Yang hummed in agreement and both girls looked in the distance. "Weiss, I have known you long enough, you're not just sitting here because the view is nice. There is a different reason, isn't there?"

"Maybe."

"You knew I was coming back today, didn't you?"

Weiss turned to look her over with her icy blue eyes. "I had a feeling you were going to show up, yes. After all I know how you can't stay away from your sister for long."

Guilt began to fill Yang as she thought about the way she had left Ruby. "How is she?"

"She has been taking care of Blake ever since you left. The two of them have been learning the notes I kept for them because they are unable to go to class." Weiss sighed. "Truth to be told I have been keeping my distance from the others more than I usually do, so I don't really know what is going on between them. All I can say is that your sister looks incredibly tired and that Blake is beating herself up for letting you leave."

"I really fucked up this time, didn't I?" Yang buried her head in her hands, she felt disgusted with herself. She had abandoned the others when they had needed her.

A cold sensation ran over her neck as Weiss grabbed her slightly. "I'm sure we all desired some time to ourselves. Don't beat yourself up, I'm sure Ruby and Blake will be ecstatic to see you. Now, why don't you go inside and make up with them? You will either make their night or get a rant from your sister."

As soon as Yang began to enjoy the sensation of Weiss comforting her, Weiss pulled back. A silence fell over them, giving Yang time to think. During the time she had left she had come to the decision that she had acted without thinking. She didn't just want to make up with Ruby and Blake, but with Weiss as well. She felt guilty for handling the girl so brutishly and for screaming in her face. While Yang was still very wary of the heiress, she realized she had overreacted.

The words that she had studied the day before finally came back to her. "Weiss, I want to say that I am sor-"

"Yang." Weiss interrupted her confession. "I know you have planned this whole apology beforehand, but I ask you to save your breath."

Her words hurt Yang, but before she could retort Weiss continued. "I don't ask you to stop because I don't believe that you legitimately want to apologize nor because I don't want to forgive you, but because you don't have to. You were right all along. I am more at fault for Blake's condition than anyone else at Beacon. I wish I could tell you why I gave her Dust that night or why I listened to my father in the first place. But I want you to also understand that it's very difficult for me."

"But why? Why can't you just tell us? You do know that this is extremely serious, right?" Yang felt some of her anger boil to surface once again.

"Don't you think that I know that Blake is in danger!?" Yang almost jumped as Weiss suddenly lashed out. Storms of rage and despair were raging in the ice blue eyes. It seemed Weiss was carrying more weight on her shoulders than Yang had imagined. "Do you not believe that I care for my teammates, for my friends!?"

Weiss' outburst was followed by silence. A single tear rolled down her pale cheeks.

Yang, all her previous anger forgotten, reached forward and wiped the tear away. The heiress froze at the contact at first but then slowly leaned into her warm hand. "I didn't mean it like that, Weiss. I know that you care about us, even if you don't always show it."

"Thank you, Yang, I shouldn't have shouted like that. I find it difficult because I don't know the exact reason. Maybe it's because my mind is rejecting it or maybe it's because I'm afraid, I don't know. I'm confused, Yang, I don't know why." Weiss began to hyperventilate. It was apparent that the girl's mind was a mess. Yang gently pinched her cheek, which made Weiss look Yang straight in the eyes. She took a deep breath to regain her composure. "Just give me some time to clear my head and I will tell you everything, I promise."

"I understand Weiss, you are stressed. Take your time, we will wait till you're ready. But please, don't separate yourself from the rest, it's not healthy for your brain. Besides, I want to see you as a friend, Weiss, I really do."

When they had first met, Yang had thought of her teammate as a complete brat. Later she had begun to notice how wrong she had been. Now, she didn't know what to think of Weiss, on the one hand she wanted nothing more than comfort and befriend the girl. But on the other hand, she wanted to protect her partner and bring her back to normal as fast as possible. She was torn between her protectiveness over Blake and her wish to help the white-haired girl. It was then that she realized there had to be a way to solve both problems at once, but she was still missing key pieces of the puzzle. One thing she knew for sure, she couldn't do this alone, she needed the help of everybody who was aware of Blake's condition. Ruby was top of mind, she might even require the help of Professor Ozpin and Goodwitch.

"I do too, Yang. Even though I'm not a particular fan of your brutish behavior and your atrocious puns, I admit that I've grown fond of you." A small smile broke through her ice. "But I think I have postponed your reunion with the rest long enough. They are probably waiting impatiently for you in our dorm."

As soon as Yang let go of her cheek the magic between them vanished. Yang stood up and made the motion to follow her, but Weiss shook her head. "You go ahead, I'll come in a bit. I promise."

Yang gave her warm smile before walking towards the massive wooden doors. She didn't miss how Weiss gingerly touched the place where Yang had cupped her cheek.

Almost jumping up the sets of stairs, Yang made her way towards their dorm. Her mind was so distracted that she almost crashed face first into the headmaster himself. "Woops, sorry professor."

Expecting a reproach by Professor Ozpin, she was incredibly surprised to hear him chuckle. "Miss Xiao Long, you know better than to go running through the corridors. You wouldn't want to get detention from Professor Goodwitch, now would you?"

"No sir, sorry for running into you." Yang laughed nervously.

"Good, then I expect you to learn all the classes you missed otherwise I may have to call Professor Goodwitch anyway. Now go, I'm sure you want to see your teammates as soon as possible." Yang nodded and continued her way , but Ozpin called after her: "Oh, and Yang?"

"Yes?" Yang was afraid for a second she was going to get punished after all.

"Good to have you back." Ozpin finished with a smile.

"Likewise, sir." She laughed, their headmaster truly was the best teacher on Remnant.

Before she knew it, she stood before the door of their dorm.

Not wanting to disturb her teammates at an inappropriate time - Not that she could imagine what an inappropriate time would be for Blake and Ruby - she knocked three times on the wood. Her mind went into the gutter just a little too fast. It seemed the alcohol from the previous nights wasn't completely out of her system yet. She groaned, the last thing she needed was her mind giving her indecent images of her partner and her sister.

Wait, had somebody actually answered her knocks on the door? She had been so distracted that she hadn't paid attention to a possible response. Should she open the door anyway? What other choice did she really have?

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and opened the door. The scene surprised her: Ruby was standing in the middle of the room hugging the tiny form of Blake. The sight of her sister and her partner made her heart flutter. It was only now that she realized just how much she had missed them. The two of them seemed to be so distracted by each other that they hadn't even noticed the door opening and had nor the source of their distress standing in the doorway.

Yang coughed loudly. "Am I, uh, interrupting something?"

Her sister spun around like a deer in the headlights. The surprise on her face made Yang wish she had a camera on her. "YANG!"

Ruby put Blake down on top of some table before tackling the unsuspecting Yang to the ground.

Yang chuckled. "Easy there sis, I still have a hangover from yesterday."

All of a sudden her sister punched her hard in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"That's for leaving us without a word, you big, dumb oaf!" She exclaimed while beating the snot out of her sister. Her strikes were weak compared to what Yang was used to receiving; the blonde had trouble holding in her laughter.

"Isn't that Weiss' line?" She managed to squeak between her breaths and giggles.

Ruby ignored her and continued: "You're lucky I was here to take care of Blake while you were gone! Otherwise it had been Weiss' task and you know how she is when she has to skip class! And I told you not to drink so much alcohol!"

The flurry of punches stopped and her expression softened. "On a serious note, how are you? You had us worried sis, what if something had happened to you?"

When Yang regained her breath she looked right into the silver eyes. "I needed some time to calm down, Ruby, you of all people should understand that. I took a trip to Patch and visited mom. While I was there I went to some of the bars I used to go to, and no I didn't get into fight. Even though I should have given that one guy a punch for eyeing me up like that." Although she muttered the last part, she swore Ruby had heard her.

"I believe you, Yang, my mind was jumping to the worst conclusion. I thought you had disappeared just like… like her." Ruby's voice cracked; a thousand alarm bells began to ring inside Yang's head. She leaned up and trapped her sister in the biggest hug she could muster.

"Ruby, I'm so, so sorry. I was overflowing with so much rage that I was afraid I would hurt one of you. You know that is the last thing I want, right? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I brought you pain."

She was proud of her sister: a few years ago she would burst into tears whenever someone mentioned her mother. Not that Yang thought that crying was childish, of course.

"You wouldn't leave without a good reason, I know that. My mind, just - forget it. We're a team now, Yang, you aren't allowed to seclude yourself anymore. You don't have to face your problems alone. There once was a time when I needed your protection because I was too young, but that's in the past. I'm extremely grateful that you helped to shape me into what I am today and I want to repay you in some way. So let me take care of you for once, actually, let us take care of you for once. Whenever something is bothering you, big or small, you come to one of us, can you promise me that?"

Her sister was right. Since the death of her mother, Yang had taken over the role of taking care of Ruby. She had buried her own sadness and despair to help her sister forget hers. But all these years of trying to appear strong in front of others were weighing down on her. She had felt that all of her problems were entitled to herself, that she had to face them alone.

But she no longer needed to face them alone. Blake, Weiss and even Ruby were prepared to help her whenever she needed it. More importantly she had to accept the fact that Ruby was growing up and wasn't reliant on her big sister anymore.

"I will Ruby, I promise."

Her sister let her stern look linger for a few more seconds before it changed into her radiant smile. "Great! Oh – wait - you stay here!"

Confused, Yang sat up to see where Ruby had run off to. But before she knew it her sister stood in front of her again. "I want you to close your eyes and hold up your hands."

"O-Okay." Reluctantly, she shut her eyes and waited. She almost jumped as she felt something small drop in her hands.

"Alright, now open them."

Her heart almost stopped beating as she looked straight into a pair of amber eyes, more brilliant than the stars in the sky. Her hands were shaking as she choked out: "B-Blake?"

She noticed Blake was on the verge of tearing up herself. "Hello Yang."

Hearing her angelic voice again pushed her over the edge. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, but she didn't care; she was reunited with her best friend. It had only been three days, but now those three days felt like an eternity.

"I missed you, Yang. It was so quiet and cold without you."

"I'm sorry Blake." She was glad to see that her partner, although a bit disheveled, looked okay.

"It's okay, I understand why you wanted to be alone for a while. I have an apology to make myself. I shouldn't have said what I said. In the past I've always taken care of myself. But I realize that I can't do that anymore, not just physically. Call me spoiled, but I've grown quite fond of the company of others. I need you, Yang, I really do. Will you forgive me?" A few tiny droplets of water dripped onto Yang's hand.

"I already have Blakey. Ruby is right, I shouldn't isolate myself. I promised that I would always protect you; kind of difficult when I'm on the other side of the kingdom." She let a hearty laugh escape her lips. "We can't let Beacon lose their best tag team, now can't we? Just and me, Blakey; together we can take the world by force. So what do you say? Partners?"

Her little friend wiped away the last of her tears. "Absolutely."


A/N:

So, what is too mellow like I feared?

I'm done with the emotional stuff for a while, so expect some more antics and adventures in the upcoming chapters!

Onto reviews:

To meislovely:

Well spotted (although it was maybe a bit too obvious)!

To uberparagon:

Maybe not as fast as you (or I) had hoped, but here it is nonetheless! I'm always happy to see you pop up in the reviews!

To SilverCivic:

Glad to hear it, that was precisely what I was aiming for! To be honest, this chapter may be a little rushed, I'm not completely sure.

To dracohalo117:

Weiss will play a big part in the future, so I try to keep her shrouded in mystery for now.

To DarkMoonRaveWolf:

Great idea! I might just write that anyway if I'm able to find the time.

To ACH Taco:

AH! I know! I'm changing it while I'm reviewing my older chapters, but I haven't found the time yet to finish those. To be clear she is three inches tall.

To Emma:

Sorry to make you sad ;). There will be cute kitty moments, I PROMISE!

To Guest:

While I haven't much experience with writing team JNPR, that certainly isn't a bad idea. I'll keep it in mind.

To Iron-ninja:

I'M TRYING!

FireBreathingHamster:

Hope no more, here I am to deliver!

That was a lot of reviews! Thank you so much for those and for reaching almost 80 favorites and almost 120 followers!

Like always, If there is anything you would like to see, just ask! (no promises though)

Please review, follow and favorite and maybe Weiss will be nice to you too!

DragonSlayer out!


Ruby: I'm confused, why is Yang feeling all mushy inside for Blake?

Yang: Ruby! I told you not to read it!

Blake: And I have no idea where he gets that idea from.

Yang: Me neither! The fact that Blake and I would be together is, uh, preposterous.

Blake: What she said. I'm one hundred percent straight!

Ruby: But Blake, didn't you once tell me that-"

*Blake covers Ruby's mouth*

*Yang and Blake turn red*

Me: What?

*Suddenly Nora interrupts by smashing a hole in the wall*

Nora:Are you writing a story? You're writing a story without us?! I'm hurt! Sad! Maybe a little hungry? That last one is not your fault though.

Me: Oh no.