Darkest Nights: a RWBY Story

Chapter 13: Memories

Heavy spring rain lashed against the windows of the train as they rolled smoothly through the forest. It was just past noon and they had finally made it out of the center of Atlas.
Blake was sleeping, her open copy of Ninjas Of Love resting on her right knee, her head resting on Jason's shoulder as she leaned back in her seat. She had felt restless ever since they left the safe house in the early hours of the morning and had spent the majority of her time on the train so far drifting in and out of sleep on her bunk. She'd finally given up on sleeping when lunchtime rolled around, heading to the dining car instead before finally managing to fall asleep in a seat by the window.
Her half-finished cup of tea sat on the table in front of her, shaking only slightly as the train moved along.
Jason was watching his Scroll intently, studying several new hand to-hand combat routines he could practice while on the train.
He glanced out the window at the tall trees rushing past. The sky above was a cold, cloudy, slate gray color.
The door slid open and Yang entered the door compartment, sliding into a seat across the table from Jason and Blake. He could see from the towel draped across her left shoulder she had just come back from the combat training car.
Yang took a bite of her sandwich as she looked out the window before glancing at Jason.
"That training facility isn't bad."
She said, wiping some sweat from her forehead with the towel.
"I was actually able to work on some new moves which should come in handy, considering how many Grimm are likely to be waiting in Vale."
Jason nodded.
"Yeah, it's honestly not a bad facility. As I said, this train was built for the Royal Army Of Remnant. Sometimes soldiers could be on here for days at a time doing supply runs and wanted somewhere to practice. Gotta keep your skills sharp and all that."
Yang nodded as she tightened some of the plating of her robotic arm.
Blake let out a soft purr as Jason stroked her cat ears gently, eliciting a small smile from Yang.
Yang stretched, pushing the button to recline her seat slightly.
"So,"
She said, taking another bite of her sandwich looking across the table at Jason,
"I never really got the chance to ask, but how did you two meet anyway?"
Jason took a sip of his tea and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I'm assuming Blake has told you about her past?"
Yang nodded and Jason sighed, looking at the quietly sleeping faunus beside him.
"We were in the White Fang together. I'm not proud of my past, but I'm not denying it either. I joined when I was very young, around eight years old or so, back when it was about peaceful protests and making ourselves heard, not about mindless violence. I met Blake not long after I joined."
Jason paused to take another sip of his tea.
"Overtime, the White Fang Became more violent. Blake and I trained together whenever we could. Until Adam showed up."
At the sound of the name, Blake seemed to shiver in her sleep, shifting slightly.
Jason continued.
"To be honest, I think he was afraid of me. I was only twelve at the time but he saw me as a potential threat, someone who could potentially break the control he was building inside the White Fang. Not long after he took Blake as his apprentice, I became the apprentice of our leader Sienna Kahn. Adam didn't like that so he tried to keep me from spending any time with Blake. We still managed to see each other on occasion though."
Somewhere outside the window, thunder rumbled.
"Then, as you know, Blake decided to leave the White Fang. At the time, I was the best tracker in our group, tasked with finding any White Fang agent that tried to leave. When Blake left, I was put in charge of finding her. By this time I had already seen where the White Fang was headed and wanted no part of it. Instead of leading Adam to Blake, I lead the White Fang on a wild goose chase for a couple of days, giving her enough time to escape. Then made my escape as well."
He slowly ran a finger along the thin white scar that ran from just under his left eye down his jawline.
"Adam caught up with me after a day or two but I managed to get away."
Jason leaned back in his seat a little.
"Just over a year later I got a letter from Blake, saying she was at Beacon. I was headed to Vale on an assignment for the Royal Army and intended to stay for the Vital Festival but..."
His voice trailed off. Yang remembered only too well the battle of Beacon.
"By this point,"
Jason continued,
"I was working as a spy for the Royal Army Of Remnant, deep undercover in Atlas. After making sure she was alive, I sent her a letter asking her not to contact me unless it was extremely important due to the fact that any outside contact could blow my cover. Then, as you know, my undercover mission ended and I was able to meet up with your team."
Yang let out a low whistle.
"You two go back a long way huh."
Jason sighed.
"Yeah."
The compartment was quiet for a moment, the only sound coming from Blake's slow breathing and the rain against the window.
Yang finished her sandwich and stood up,
"I'm off to go take a shower. I'll see you two later."
Jason nodded and Yang closed the door, exiting out into the dining car.
Jason returned to looking at fight routines on his Scroll.
After another hour, Blake woke.
She yawned slightly and stretched in her seat.
Jason put down his Scroll and looked over at her.
"Enjoy your nap?"
Blake nodded as she sat up.
"If you want,"
Jason said, putting his Scroll away,
"I can show you the combat training car later."
Blake nodded.
"That might be a good idea. I've been feeling kind of restless since we got onboard. It would be good to work some of that energy out."
Jason picked up her copy of Ninjas Of Love, which had fallen on the floor, and handed it back to her.
Blake blushed slightly and Jason grinned.
The two looked out the window as the trees of the forest rushed by in a blur of leaves and rain.