RWBY: Ebbing Darkness - Blake x MaleReader x Yang

Part 13

You could squint your eyes, lift your cheeks, then flash teeth, but no matter how much effort she put into it, Summer couldn't force a smile.
  She could only assume that Y/N was looking for a fight. At first and second glance she knew he was the sharpest mind in the room. He made sure he was.
  There were tiny cracks to his exterior not many could pick up. He was faunus, that much she knew. So it begged the question: What kind?
  There weren't many species that rose to the top of her head with such aggressive behavior. Not to mention prideful and ferocious.
  He was arrogant, strong, and almost unreasonable. He didn't walk in expecting a fight, but once one presented itself, he wanted it. He wanted to prove his strength, flaunt it about, and wave it over someone's head.
  "What are you guys doing? A mission??" Ruby asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.
  "Mm, I just wanna tag along." She cast a small glance to Yang, earning an awkward smile. "See what's what."
  It pained her to lie to them. She wanted to tell them, but doing so would unravel everything. She would have to tell them about magic, Maidens, and the threat looming over them.
  Maybe. She thought. Or hopefully I'm wrong.
  Y/N's intentions were good, and some would even say honorable. She hoped she was right.
  "You too?" Yang asked Raven. There was a clear sign to her voice. She wanted her to stay, even for just a few measly hours.
  "I—" Raven stammered; feeling the same, she nodded. "I'll be back soon."
  It was all dizzying to Summer. To see Raven so content as she hugged Yang almost made her sick with anger. Then a sour ball in her stomach returned when she heard Y/N's whispers beside her.
  "I know. I will." He hummed. His words were soft as he spoke to Blake. Gentleness wasn't what Summer had expected, and it made her situation even worse.
  "Two days." Blake told him. Demanding, even.
  "Two days." He repeated, crossing his heart.
  In the corner of her eyes she could see Yang's eyes wander. She looked over the hushed exchange with a pang deep in her eyes. However, as fast as it appeared, it vanished and was replaced with her usually bubbly confidence.
  "Don't die out there." She told him half heartedly. Their embrace was quick but noticeably tighter. And again, Blake watched over them with resentment.
  Summer stifled a sigh; finding her chest to be aching with stress and a heavy heart.
  It was all too much to take in.

She recognized The Deep South the moment she set foot in it. The trees, air, and sky was ingrained into memory. The only thing missing was The Lion.
Feeling the stares of dozens, she scanned her surroundings, meeting the gaze of each and every person there.
There were dozens of men and women. Nameless faces looking her up and down, searching for a hairline crack of vulnerability. She hadn't been to one, but Summer imagined this is what it was like to go to prison.
"So?" A young woman approached. "How'd it go??"
"As planned." Y/N grunted and took a seat on a chopped log.
"That was planned?" Raven asked. Summer noticed how restrained she was. Not even she had such a tone with Yang. It was more coal to a fire, feeding broiling anger.
"One of many." Y/N took a deep, relaxing breath and set his sword over his lap. A man approached, one noticeably older. They held a hushed exchange before Y/N handed him the colossal blade, presumably to clean or tend to it.
"And where does this lead us now?" Raven asked. She was eager to know. However, Summer was the only one to know; to feel, that she was testing him.
"Atlas." He replied, thumbing the release to his helmet and removing it. "We need supplies. Equipment. Money."
While they discussed the intricacies of their plan, Summer stared, wide-eyed and in disbelief.
She scanned every feature to his face. His silver hair, clouded eyes, and numerous scars. He had the build of a man, but his face said otherwise. Somehow, if he stood next to Taiyang, Y/N would seem younger.
His face held youth, his eyes exuded strength, and the scars told a story of experience. Once again, it felt wrong to see.
"And you? Summer?" He asked, looking her way.
"Me?" She felt her body was consumed by a prickly sensation. The many eyes on her were curious and eager.
"Pay attention." He told her sharply as if she were the child and he the adult.
"Right." She swallowed and nodded, feeling a deep sense of authority.
He drew on the ground with a stick, outlining an outpost on the outer reaches of Atlas. Far enough to have a window of opportunity, but isolated enough for them to think they were safe.
They used the weather as insurance. To them, it was insane to attack during the winter. Summer wanted to say that it was, yet Y/N's word was cemented.
"W-who are these people?" She stammered. By now she was almost regretting offering her help.
"Mercenaries." Y/N grunted in disgust. "What they're guarding doesn't matter. I need you to take care of it with Raven. I'll provide a distraction across the way with an adjacent unit."
"Mercenaries." Summer murmured.
"And you?" Raven asked. "What will you do?"
"I'll take Vernal with me." He hummed. At the mention of her new name, the young woman stepped forward with a sour stare.
"Why?" Raven asked. There was a withering statement to her word. She was almost breathless as she asked, confirming the sense of affection Y/N felt from her.
"Your Semblance." He affirmed and her intensity died down to acceptance. "She'll be safe with me."
He scanned the crowd, looking over each member of the tribe until his gaze landed over one individual, the woman with gnarled bones and fire in her eyes.
"Tesino." He called out to the cook. She raised her head and approached, curious but also mildly frightened. "I want you to lead everyone else through the outpost."
He drew three lines in the dirt. One was him and Vernal fifty or so yards away. The second was Summer and Raven just over a ridge a quarter mile away. And the last was Tesino.
"We'll give you... thirty minutes to gather everything you can carry and leave. By then, Raven will link up with Vernal and we'll rendezvous here."
"How... long have you been planning this?" Raven asked the question on everyone's mind.
  "It's been at the back of my mind for a few now."
  They wanted to ask questions, they needed clarifications and reassurances, however no one truly had the courage to somewhat doubt his idea.