Pyrrha stood awkwardly at the edge of the forest, taking a deep breath. The sun glowed at the horizon, signalling the dawn of a new day.
Weiss stood next to her, adjusting her gloves. She'd changed from the dress she'd worn the night she met her. Instead she wore a light blue poncho-style top and leggings. She looked… almost like a normal person.
Weiss met her gaze and without breaking away, she wrapped a scarf around her head. The thin fabric left only her eyes uncovered and they twinkled at her. "Ready when you are."
She nodded hastily. "Okay! Um-! Well, she's a little shy and also in hiding so… I hope you don't mind forest walks." Internally she cursed herself for stumbling over her words. While she agreed to work with the Wither, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't afraid.
Weiss tilted her head. "I'll admit forests aren't my favourite place because of, ah, past problems…" She flexed her fingers to emphasise her point. "But I'll do whatever it takes to get her back."
… Right. Pyrrha was off to a wonderful start.
Walking with Weiss was strangely pleasant, something that she hadn't expected. Her companion was quiet, following her without much question. Pyrrha felt strangle calm when with her.
The forest was beautiful in the morning glow, the sun sending sparkles off the dewdrops. She understood why she'd chosen to hide in here. If you were going to live in isolation, you might as well live somewhere as pretty as this.
Birds twittered overhead as the wildlife awoke. Weiss was quiet, seeming content to just look around.
Pyrrha knew the location that she was supposed to go to but the guarantee they'd find who they were looking for was low. She'd packed food for a day but if they needed to stay for longer, they'd be in trouble.
The grass seemed to glow a brighter green, the flowers deeper and more vibrant colours, trees lush with fruit that couldn't possibly grow in this climate grew overhead. It was beautiful, supernatural; it was the right place.
"If you don't mind me asking-" Weiss said, startling her. "-why does your contact live all the way out here? And why wouldn't you tell me her name? It's a little suspicious, after all."
Pyrrha glanced back, meeting her ice cold eyes without flinching. "Let's just say… you aren't the only one whose power is feared by all."
There was a curious glint in her eyes but Weiss merely nodded.
Pyrrha walked on.
And sitting by the river, there she was. She wore dark clothing, contrasting harshly with the lush green of her surroundings. Her hands were gloved but her scarf was down, away from her face.
Her skin was tanned and her hair dark black, tied back from her face. Black, furry ears perked up atop her head. Her eyes were a stunning amber, filled with fire and strength. But there was something calming about her too. Pyrrha didn't know what it was but she relaxed in her presence.
Weiss, however, did not.
The Wither strode forward, tugging the scarf back from her face. "Hello? Pyrrha, is this her?"
The woman sprung to her feet as if someone had electrocuted her. Her gaze snapped down on them immediately, narrowing as she snarled. Weiss wasn't intimidated. She just smiled coldly.
The woman looked at her. "Pyrrha. Why are you here? I told you, you can't come here unless it's important." Her jaw tensed. "It isn't safe."
"It is important, I swear. I think you'd like to talk with Weiss."
The two stared at each other, neither willing to back down but neither afraid of the other.
"Who is this?" Weiss asked, fingers flexing.
Pyrrha nodded and took a step forward. "This is Weiss, otherwise known as the Wither. Weiss, this is Blake Belladonna. Otherwise known as the Breath of Life."
Blake was born with her power but it didn't show itself for years. From a young age she knew she was different from ordinary children, and it wasn't the extra set of ears on her head. She could feel something inside her, something waiting and growing.
She'd always loved nature, loved being outside with the sun on her skin and the wind in her hair. She'd been ecstatic the first time her power showed itself.
Her parents had many house plants but unfortunately, one grew ill and died. She was fourteen when her mom asked her to throw it out. Imagine the surprise and awe Blake felt when she touched the diseased and dying plant, only to have it spring back to life again.
In the beginning, it was just small things like that. Dead plants, little birds fallen from their nests. Her touch saved them and gave them new life.
News of her power started spreading; first in the form of rumours, then in stories and legend. The Breath of Life, they called her, the rival to Midas' Golden Touch. Her classmates started bringing her their dying plants or pets to heal.
And she was too happy to oblige.
Her life was wonderful, so happy and full of love. That was, until she met him.
He was older than her and oh-so charming. Handsome and kind with a vision to change the world. He was glorious, like a divine angel who wanted to save everyone from the rabid hatred of humans. And he paid attention to her, her all of all people.
Her parents didn't like him, said he was too driven and vicious. But she was blind and in love and couldn't see it.
She ran away with him.
At first, their love was passionate. Never-dying and strong. He introduced her to a group of his followers, those who believed in the same ideals and methods as him. They seemed like lovely people but the deeper she went, the more anxious she became.
Their missions ended with people getting hurt, more often than not innocents that had no place in what they were doing. It was for the greater good, they said. We have to do this because no one else will. She believed them.
But not for long. Adam grew distant, so caught up in his plans that Blake worried her never break free of their web. Their methods grew darker and more twisted that she had to back out.
But no one left Adam. Not alive anyway.
He flew into a rage, yelling and screaming. He called her a coward, a traitor, such vile names from the mouth she loved. She knew her parents had been right and she needed to leave. That very night she grabbed her things and fled.
And he came after her. For months he dogged her footsteps, always behind but never far away. He started haunting her nightmares, grinning with the same smile she fell in love with. But it wasn't the same. She saw the malice and darkness that she'd been too blind to see before.
He attacked three weeks after she'd ran.
It was him and a couple of the others, armed to the teeth but they didn't use them on her. No, they used their fists and legs to beat her within an inch of her life. Something welled up inside of her, something vicious and violent yet so familiar. She grabbed Adam's arm and watched the full horror of what her gift could do.
Adam aged fifty years in the blink of an eye. One second he was strong and handsome, the next he was a frail old man. His hair whitened as his skin stretched.
She didn't let go.
And Adam aged even more. Older and older, thinner and frailer, until he collapsed into dust. Whipped away by the wind as if he'd never even existed.
She killed the other two as well, watching them age and die before her very eyes. It had never happened like this before. She'd never killed someone before. She broke down, sobbing in the cold alleyway before Pyrrha had found her.
Apparently the amount of young supernaturals that didn't know how to use their powers or lost control was high. Pyrrha and her people tried to help her but Blake's power never returned to normal. She accidentally aged her helper five years and from then on, no one wanted to be near her.
She didn't blame them but she knew that life as it had once been was no longer and option for her. Pyrrha was the only one she spoke to before she left.
And then she ran for the forest where she lived a life alone.
The fire crackled as Pyrrha cooked a fish. The sky had darkened into late evening at this point, the only light the small fire in front of them.
"It's good to see you," Blake admitted. "Though you have yet to explain why you're here."
Weiss settled on the ground next to Pyrrha, tugging the scarf down from her face. She and Blake couldn't keep their eyes off one another. If the situation hadn't been as complicated as it was, she may have teased them.
But she didn't.
Weiss tilted her head, looking curious. "The Breath of Life? I don't believe I've heard of you."
Blake's ears twitched. "Nor I, of the Wither. What is it you do again?"
The tension just seemed to grow.
"Here you go!" Pyrrha swooped down to interrupt the two of them. She shoved a fish into Blake's hands before shifting around to Weiss. Both of them went quiet.
They ate their food in silence before Blake spoke again. "I'll ask again, Pyrrha. Why did you seek me out?"
Weiss went to open her mouth but Pyrrha quieted her with a look. "Blake, we- I - need your help. Using your power."
Blake's face dropped, hands tightening on the stick. "I told you, I can't control it. I'll kill whoever you want me to help."
"Not if they're dead already."
Blake didn't say anything. Her amber gaze was fixed on her hands. "Why would I help you? Why would you be different than any other who's tried approaching me?"
"Because you and Weiss are similar." Both of them gave her weird looks. "No, seriously. You don't know each other but I do." They were both still confused so she went on to explain.
"Weiss, Weiss has the power of destruction. Anything living she touches will wither and die." As if to prove it, Weiss reached out and touched a nearby tree. It exploded into ash.
Blake's eyes widened.
"Blake is different. Blake has the power of life. Anything living she touches, heals and flourishes. Before aging and dying."
Blake stood up, walking around to them. Without breaking eye contact, she placed a bare hand in the ash. The tree reformed, glowing and gleaming in full health. It grew and grew, blossoming and flowering. It's entire lifecycle before their eyes.
Pyrrha knew that if Blake pulled away, she could leave it like that. But the faunus held her stare and the tree decayed and died. And returned to ash.
Weiss' jaw dropped.
They were the same; two sides of the same coin. Each with a power that was useful but also a curse. Forced to flee and hide from the rest of the world.
Weiss rose to her feet. Her blue eyes were steely as she extended a hand. A bare hand.
Blake gazed at it before raising her head. A smile touched her lips and she took her hand.
Pyrrha had a mini-heart attack. But nothing happened. Blake didn't explode into ash and Weiss didn't age until she died.
Their powers balanced each other out, keeping them neutral and normal. They were the only people in the world who could touch each other. The shocked look in their eyes showed that they understood this.
Weiss took Blake's other hand, her hand shaking. Blake exhaled a shuddering gasp. Pyrrha felt as though she was disturbing something.
"I'll do it." Blake's voice was quiet. "I'll help you. Just get me the body."
Ah… that was the second part to Pyrrha's plan. Weiss didn't notice, instead she burst into tears. Blake pulled in her for a hug, running soothing strokes down her back. The only hug Weiss probably ever had.
"Pyrrha." Blake addressed her, eyes wonderfully soft. "The body."
Pyrrha rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "Ah… about that-"
Blake didn't mind that it couldn't be done immediately. In fact the fact that she had to spend more time with the two of them seemed to make her happier. Happier than Pyrrha had ever seen her before.
Weiss curled closer to Blake, craving that physical contact she so lacked. And Blake held her all through the night. Even when the fire burned low and Pyrrha fell asleep, they held one another.
Because it had been so long since they'd felt another's touch.
So Blake's power is essentially healing and then aging so the object stablises. During her younger years, as seen with the plants, it's not at all noticeable because they're just plants.
However, when the thing with Adam happened, her power became unstable and started affecting anyone who touched her.
