Disclaimer: A-rav and I unfortunately do not own RWBY. If we did Reiss and Bumblebee would be canon already.
Hi, this is LazyKatze, A-rav's buddy. If you haven't heard about this collaboration we've been working on together from A-rav's A/Ns, then I hope you're excited to read it now that you've found it, haha!
So pretty much this is a fanfic idea that A-rav and I both started discussing, and while we've plotted out the gist of how we want the story story to go with each other, we haven't talked about what exactly we're going to write each chapter. All of the odd chapters will be written by me, LazyKatzes, and the even chapters will be written by A-rav! Hopefully it doesn't get too crazy, and you guys all enjoy it! Also, reviews are greatly appreciated and we love to read them!
"Hey, Ren, gimme a cold one!" Yang called out, her head leaning against her hand. She swung her foot back and forth aimlessly, her other resting on the bar attached to her seat. Yang was hanging out in her favorite bar, which was the only bar she really went to, Storm Flower. It was owned by a close friend of her's from high school, having been passed down to him by his father. The building was small and out of the way, but among the scattered tables and bar stools sat a large number of regulars.
"Yang, I don't think you should be drinking with finals as close as they are," the bartender and owner, Ren, said as he walked over to stand across from Yang. His shaggy bangs caressed his face, and the hair on the back of his head was pulled into a low ponytail. A thin strip of pink snaked through his hair, an act of rebellion from his high school years that he'd grown fond of and had decided to keep.
Yang rolled her eyes, a smirk resting on her face. "Ren, how long have you known me? I'm joking of course. Weiss would kill me if I even drank of drop of anything but water or milk. And speaking of which, could I have a water, please?"
"Sure, but I'll have to charge you," he replied, disappearing into the kitchen to retrieve a water bottle, before seamlessly returning to the bar. "Every time you come here you don't buy anything. Before you know it I'm going to be bankrupt."
"Water's free, Ren, and at best I liven the place up a bit. Isn't that right boys?" Yang turned her head towards the group of drunken men in the far corner, raising her fist with a shout. The cheered back at her, and Yang returned to facing Ren, a smug grin on her face.
"I'm sure that has nothing to do with the fact that you're a well-known MMA fighter," Ren said. He placed the water in front of Yang, not even bothering to pour it out of its bottle. She snatched it, and Ren watched her drink nearly half the bottle before he continued. "So, speaking of you being an MMA fighter, how have you been doing in the competition?"
Yang chuckled. Her MMA fights were popular on television, and usually the results to her fights were put on the local news. It was just like Ren to not watch the television and be clueless. "Just made top ten of course," Yang said, "I had a fight yesterday, and it was a crazy one. The chick was a bear faunus, and boy, did she pack a punch. I still won though, and that's why I'm here celebrating!"
"And Weiss let you?"
Yang chuckled, brushing a hand through her ponytail, a nest of blonde held together by an elastic which looked ready to snap from the sheer volume of hair. "Um, no. It took forever to ditch her. Seriously, Weiss needs to lighten up sometimes. She always thinks that if I were to go to a bar I'd drink, but did it ever occur to her that maybe I'm visiting a high school friend? No, of course not. I understand she cares, being my manager and all, but come on. I'm not going to do something that stupid."
Ren nodded and congratulated Yang for her win, smiling at her antics. It was rare that she ever lost, but he still congratulated her nonetheless. One of the best in her weight class, Yang was a professional MMA fighter. The people of Vale were deeply loyal to their sports, and having a fighter from their own city fueled their passionate support immensely. Now she was on the television more than ever as the finals of the Vale Regional Fighting Championship drew near.
The Vale Regional Fighting Championship was one of the biggest MMA tournaments around, and MMA fighters came from all over the world to attempt to make it to the top. After months of preparation, Yang had finally begun to rise in the ranks, becoming one of the ten fighters remaining after her winning match the day prior. It had been tough fight, each of the two woman not wanting to let the other get too close. In the end Yang had emerged victorious, of course, and was placed in the final ten. Not that placing in the top ten really mattered to her. To Yang it was all about the fight, the aching in her body when she won, the sweat on her brow as she pushed herself, or when she felt herself land a blow. Nothing beat the feeling of talking things out with punches and kicks.
"Did you have practice today?" Ren asked, gesturing towards Yang's less than modest attire. She sat on the bar stool, still swinging her legs back and forth in a bright yellow sports bra and cargo shorts, which were loosely pulled over a pair of dandelion spandex shorts.
"Yeah, Weiss has been making practices shorter than usual, and scheduled practice for me from six to eight, and then again from twelve to two," she groaned, "I did the early morning practice, but when the second session came around I was like, 'screw it', so I ditched it. I just won yesterday, so I deserve a break for one day."
"I thought you liked practice?"
"Oh, I do. But, the practices after competition days are always just lifting or running. Waaaay too boring," Yang explained.
"Ah." Ren turned and saw another patron had entered the building and seated himself at the bar. Telling Yang he'd be right back, Ren walked over and fulfilled the man's request. It only took a few moments, but as Ren was occupied Yang continued to look around.
The establishment had barely changed when Ren had taken over ownership. The bar still had a homey feel to it, with wooden furniture and dimly lit lighting. Despite the sun being high in the sky the bar was still dark, and Yang liked it that way. It certainly kept it cool during the intense summer heat. Across the bar, the men whose work started late into the night and ended midday situated themselves in the corner, watching the television Ren had had someone install not too long ago. The men weren't too loud, save for their cheers and jests towards whatever it was they were watching.
Yang heard footsteps across from her, and looked back to see that Ren had returned. He hadn't said anything yet, so Yang took the opportunity. "So how have you been? Been treating Nora well?" Yang asked, looking at Ren's stoic face. He was never one to show much emotion, but his girlfriend, Nora, was the exact opposite of him. It was as if she was trying to make up for his lack of emotion by being as boisterous and excitable as possible.
"It's been going well between us, as always."
"That's good to hear. You two—" A buzzing interrupted Yang. She looked down, and saw her cellphone, which rested on the bar, lit up and vibrating. With one glance at who was calling Yang grimaced. "You've gotta be goddamn kidding me, she already noticed!?" Despite not wanting to, Yang picked up the phone and answered it. If she didn't Weiss would be even angrier the second call around. "Hellooo, princess!"
"Where are you?" the sharp voice snapped.
"At Storm Flower," Yang replied honestly.
There was silence. "I'm going to kill you if I don't have an aneurysm first." Another pause. Then there was a deep exhale. "Is your bike there?"
"Nope, I walked."
"I'll be there in five," Weiss spoke from the other end, "Don't. Move."
The line went dead before Yang could say anything else. She smirked, looking over towards Ren. "Welp, looks like the princess has found me out. Bummer, I was enjoying our conversation."
"The same goes for me," Ren replied honestly.
Yang lept off of the bar stool she was seated on. "I better go wait outside so I don't leave her waiting. Have a good one, Ren. It was nice seeing you!" She gave a wave, heading over to the front door of the bar.
"Nice seeing you, too. Feel free to visit more often, I'm sure Nora would love to see you."
Yang smiled, agreeing. She pushed open the door, blinking at the bright sunlight and warm temperature. Inside it was cool and air conditioned, but the outside was like a furnace. When Weiss finally arrived five minutes later just as she said Yang felt as if two hours had passed and beads of sweat were snaking their way down her neck.
Weiss pulled up to the curb, and through the slightly tinted windows Yang could see her fingers impatiently tap against the steering wheel while she walked towards the passenger seat door. The car was nothing extravagant, but it was certainly sleek and stylish enough for Weiss Schnee. The snow white color of the car perfectly matched Weiss's hair, and the darkened windows mirrored her own hidden and icy demeanor. At least that was how it seemed during most people's first impressions of Weiss, but after knowing her for three years and having her as her manager for two, Yang had seen sides to her no one would ever believe.
The handle hot from the sun, Yang pulled the door open and jumped inside. The air conditioned interior was almost chilly, but it was sweet relief from the heat outside. Yang let out a deep sigh of contentment as she held up her wild, curly locks of yellow hair and fanned her neck. "Phew, it's really hot out! The heat usually doesn't bother me, but wow!"
"Yang, you know I work really hard to set up and plan your training sessions and schedules, yes?" Weiss asked, her hands on the steering wheel but her foot not on the gas.
"Yeah, I do."
"And you understand how disrespectful it is to ditch them, right?"
"Well, in my defense I won my match yesterday and needed a day off," Yang reasoned.
"Yang, it isn't time to be taking breaks!" Weiss exclaimed loudly, slamming her hands down onto the steering wheel in frustration and triggering the horn. Startled by the sudden loud noise, Weiss flinched, but quickly regained her composure. "With the finals coming up in only a few weeks you'll need as much training as you can get if you want to win! I spend hours planning out your training schedule to a tee, but you blatantly ignore them and go off to a bar! Drinking alcohol? Really? Did you know drinking alcohol can cancel out two weeks of practice? And two weeks of practice you cannot lose, I must say."
"Hey, hey, who said I was drinking?" Yang replied, "It just so happens that I was visiting a high school friend who owns the place, and I drank only water."
"Oh," Weiss began, "But that doesn't change the fact that skipped practice to go."
Yang sighed, knowing what she had to do. "Okay Weiss, if it makes you happier I will do a workout this afternoon to make up for the one I skipped."
With a grin like she had won a tough battle, Weiss nodded. "Good. I'll have it set up immediately."
Yang rolled her eyes at Weiss's happiness at her 'victory'. While Weiss was most likely used to Yang's skipping out on practice and having to reschedule it, she always made a big deal about it. Weiss always claimed it was bad for her image as a manager if she couldn't keep Yang in line, but Yang knew that deep, deep, deep inside Weiss did it because she cared. Probably.
Placing her key into the ignition and turning it, Weiss started her car. She drove out of the parking lot without a word, only turning her head towards Yang briefly, her lopsided ponytail turning with her and swinging around almost daintily. Everything about Weiss Schnee was dainty, from her slender figure to her perfectly calculated moves. A stark contrast from her boisterous, blond haired coworker.
"Would you like me to drop you off at your apartment?"
"Huh?" Yang bumbled, "Oh, actually, I needed to pick up Ruby from school. 'Sides, my bike is at their house. Do you mind swinging by Beacon to pick her up? She should be getting out around now."
"I don't see why not."
Ruby was Yang's little sister, seven years younger at the age of 16 and a sophomore at the local high school, Beacon High. The two were as close as sisters could be, and despite not living with each other since Yang moved to her own apartment the two girls spent a lot of time together. And, with their Uncle Qrow being busy with his work as a politician Yang was left with the duty to pick Ruby up, so afterwards the two would usually spend time together.
The school came into sight faster than Yang thought it would, and by the masses of students streaming out of the doors Yang could only assume she was right about their release time. She sent a text to Ruby, telling her she was with Weiss and where they were parked. Yang spotted Ruby soon after, bounding over with her backpack bouncing around and her short, red tinged black hair springing every which way. She pulled the back seat door open and clambered inside. She was breathing heavily, but she greeted Weiss and Yang nonetheless.
"Hello… Yang…" she panted, "And… hello Weiss."
"Hiya Ruby!" Yang replied, trying to stifle a chuckle. "How was school today?"
Ruby put a hand up for Yang to wait a moment. She sat there, breathing heavily for long enough time for Weiss to start her car and maneuver her way out of the jammed high school parking lot. Weiss always brought Ruby home for Yang if she had practice, so she knew where the redhead lived. When Ruby finally caught her breath she looked up and Yang and spoke, "It was pretty good, I guess. I'm pretty sure I failed my history test, though. Mr. Oobleck put stuff on it that wasn't even in the books!" Ruby explained as she swung her arms around. "Plus having a test at the end of the year is just a waste of time. Like anyone would actually study for it."
"Maybe he said the info out loud, or maybe he expected you to know it," Yang reckoned.
"That's true…" Ruby mumbled, having not considered that as a possibility. She ruffled a hand through her hair, easing out the small tangles.
"So, why'd you run to the car, Ruby? Was there some important reason for that?" With each word Yang nodded her head towards an oblivious Weiss Schnee.
"N-no!" Ruby cried, "Yang, stop it!"
"I'm not doing anything," Yang grinned, turning around and relaxing in her seat.
There was silence for a moment, before Ruby spoke again. "So, Weiss, did you do something to your hair?"
Weiss didn't even so much as glance in the rear view mirror. "No."
"Oh… well, um, it still looks nice!"
Yang grinned, and while she was tempted to embarrass Ruby more, she chose to instead turn her head towards the window and hide her smile. It was cute, Ruby's crush on Weiss. The girl's shameless attempts at 'flirting' were even cuter, and Yang would tease her mercilessly about it when they were alone. Weiss clearly wasn't interested in Ruby's advances as well, because not only was Weiss 21, but she was married to her job. Figuratively, of course.
Lucky for Ruby, Yang saved her from the awkward silence by stimulating another conversation about school. Before long the three girls arrived at Ruby's house, and Yang stepped out of the car alongside her. The heat was just as terrible as when Yang had left the bar, and she couldn't wait to hop on her motorcycle and feel the wind in her hair. As she walked around Weiss's car and towards the front door, Weiss's window rolled down and the white haired girl stuck her head out.
"Yang, practice is going to be around five to six. I'll text you the exact time and place when I get it all set up with the trainer, and if you skip this one…" Weiss let the silence do the threatening, and when Yang assured her that she wouldn't be skipping and Ruby shouted her goodbyes, she drove off.
"So, Rubes, is Uncle Qrow working today?" Yang asked.
"He's not at the office, but I'm pretty sure he has tons of paperwork to do, so he'll be stuck in his study for a few hours at least," Ruby answered, "Are you staying over?"
"I wish I could, but I gotta head home and start getting ready for practice. By the time I get everything packed it'll be time to go. Tell Qrow I said hi!"
"Oh, okay. Have fun. I'll see ya later," Ruby said, giving Yang a quick hug. She slipped through the doorway and Yang stood alone in the heat.
Yang's motorcycle was unfortunately parked right in the sun, and the black seating and metal heated up to burning temperatures. She pulled it into the shade, waiting for it to cool to a bearable point, and when it did about five minutes later, she hopped on. Weiss called her motorcycle 'the two wheeled death-trap', and Yang did agree she had a point, but that didn't stop her from riding it wherever she needed to go. Nothing beat the wind blowing against her body as she rode. Well, aside from MMA, that is.
She put her helmet on, always practicing proper motorcycle safety. The risk of brain injury from falling while not wearing one was too high, and Yang liked the way her brain was at the moment, thank you very much. She sped off from the driveway, immediately finding her way to the main road. Her own apartment was quite a ways from Ruby's house, and she chose it mostly due to its closeness to the MMA gym and where the finals of the MMA competition were being held.
As the city of Vale sped by around her and the buildings became closer and closer together, Yang knew she was nearing her home. Ruby lived right on the outskirts of the city, as their Uncle Qrow enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere much more than the busier center of the city, which was around where Yang lived. Despite the center of the city being much busier and commercialized, only two buildings could really be considered skyscrapers. Alongside them peppering the grounds were many office buildings, apartments, and stores, with fancy window displays and neon signs. No two stores were alike, some with brightly colored signs and logos and some with faded old bricks. The people walking on the sidewalks were just as diverse, humans and Faunus alike. Most people walked around in shorts and t-shirts, but there were a few crazy people who were wearing pants, long sleeves, or even both!
Yang shuddered at the idea. She kept on driving, going with the flow of the traffic. When she stopped at a stoplight she heard a few whistles, and turned her head to see a some men waving at her. With a quick glance down, Yang remembered that she was wearing her sports bra and loose cargo shorts. She grinned, not being bothered by her own showiness, but she still ignored the men's pathetic cat calls. When the light turned green she drove off and turned down an empty street, finally arriving home.
The apartment building was only three stories tall, and compared to the others around it, it was relatively small. Old, worn bricks built up the sides, their reddish hue long since faded to a dusty maroon. Creeping ivy gripped a green claw on the building, no one wanting to go through the trouble to remove the plants when they would only be back again with a vengeance. A cobbled path just big enough for a car made its way from the street to beside the building. When Yang pulled her bike into the driveway she drove through the narrow space between the building and her landlord's car to park it in the shade against the building. Keys in hand, Yang pranced up to the front door and went to put her key in the lock, only to have it open before she could.
"Oh, hello Yang." Yang's landlord, Glynda Goodwitch, stood in the doorway. "I was just about to head out."
"Hiya Glynda! I guess I'll see ya later," Yang replied, walking past Glynda and through the doorway.
Glynda was a nice woman, but only if you followed the rules she set in place for the apartment building. Already in her half a year living in the apartment Yang had seen her evict two and a half tenants. The half was Glynda scaring the man so badly that he moved out without a moment's notice. She certainly didn't look like a scary person, in Yang's opinion, as like Yang, Glynda had blond curls of hair, albeit lighter and less voluminous, and usually hada good-natured smile on her face, but usually only when she was hanging around in the yard and caring for her precious garden.
Stomping up the three flights of stairs to the door to her apartment, which was the only one on the top floor, Yang practically kicked her door open. It was dark inside, the thick shade still pulled over her window from when she attempted to block out the sun that very morning. Not bothering to even pull up the shade, Yang shut her door and ran over to the air conditioner. Her room was like a sauna, and she didn't care how much more she'd have to pay for running the AC as long as she was comfortable. After all, Yang only need to keep it on for a few minutes before it cooled to a comfortable temperature in the room.
Once the AC was on, Yang looked around the main room. It cleaner than it had been in a while, most of her workout clothes actually landing in the laundry basket this week. Usually when Yang got home from a particularly exhausting workout she'd just strip down and toss her clothes wherever they desired to land before she rushed off to shower and sleep. This week, however, she had had easier workouts, and actually managed to place the clothes in her laundry basket.
The apartment itself was rather generic. There was a small bedroom with an even smaller bathroom attached. There was no bathtub, only a stand up shower. The main area where Yang currently stood wasn't too large either, but it was comfortable. She had a love seat along with a average-sized television across from it. There was also a small kitchen, which housed a fridge, a microwave, an oven, a sink, and a blender. Yang used the blender to make her protein shakes. Yang wasn't a big fan of the flavor she recently purchased, and probably wasn't going to buy it again any time soon.
Yang grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and looked at the time. It was almost five o'clock, and Weiss had sent a text sometime during her ride home saying the practice was at six. With time to kill, Yang went to her bedroom door, having not remembered closing it that morning, but pulling it open nonetheless. It was dark inside, and she reached over to flick the light switch on. When the light filled the room, Yang screamed.
"What the fuck!" was what left her mouth as she fell backwards onto her bottom. Inside her room, standing perfectly still, was a person. They were dressed in all black with only their golden eyes visible, making them stand out tremendously. The intruder's eyes narrowed, and Yang just sat there confused. "What are you doing in my apartment?"
The person didn't respond and stepped forward towards Yang. It wasn't until they began to raise their arm did Yang notice their gleaming, curved knife