A/N: If we spent a day at Beacon Academy, then surely we can spend one day at the Workshop. But would some it be considered fluff? Also, don't worry about all those questions and speculations. I promise that it'll be coming soon…


"What do you mean we can't come along this time!?" Yang insisted.

Blake could only rub away the frustration knotting in her brow, knowing that her request was seemingly "unusual" in light of things. It should have been a simple "yes or no" response that been blown out of proportion from their worries. Strangely enough, she knew exactly how Ruby felt when the young leader was spending too much time with Sibyll and the roles were now reversed.

"All I'm asking is that you three stay behind this time. That's all," she answered. Yet she was still met with incredulous looks, the most prominent of the three coming from her own partner.

"What is so different about this time than the previous ones?" Weiss pressed.

"There's nothing different," Blake tried to defend. "But aren't you three tired of spending your free time around Sibyll when he and I train?"

Her team recoiled from her words, and she knew it was an unnecessary thing on her part. But she needed to go alone this time, and Blake knew her team would only object if they knew what she was going to partake in this evening. Amber eyes searched for acceptance from any of them: Weiss was suspicious, Yang in disbelief, and Ruby was… openly hurt that they were asked to stay behind.

"That is not the issue at hand," the heiress countered. "All we want to know is why. Is that so much to ask?"

"Yes, it is."

Weiss narrowed her eye at the raven haired girl, before finally crossing her arms and turning away.

"You want to leave us in the dark? Fine, go ahead."

Blake released another sigh as she felt Ruby's hand reach out for hers; a gentle hand afraid of being too demanding or needy, but concerned nonetheless. It was something Blake had become familiar with her leader retreating back to as the small girl, who was still young for her age, was unable to approach the "problem" at hand. She could feel that Ruby wanted to trust her, but Blake couldn't do anything do dispel sense of doubt.

"Is it another Hunter thing? Something that Sibyll doesn't want us to know about?" the young reaper asked tentatively.

"No, it's just something I have to do. I'll be back by dinnertime at best."

"Alright then…" Ruby tentatively removed her hands from Blake's and stepped back.

"Really, it's nothing to worry about," Blake tried to assure.

Gathering all of the necessities for her trip to and from the workshop, she prepared herself to set off and was met with a silent protest rather than a vocal once. Blake knew she could explain it to her team, but for them to understand why his was important would only create more problems. It was a roundabout way of solving the issue, contrary to what she wanted and needed. Yet she knew that they would have a hard time understanding and would prefer them to be miffed about not knowing than actually knowing. At least, for this time…

"I'll see you all tonight."

The door closed after her, leaving Ruby, Yang, and Weiss to their own thoughts about the matter. Collectively, they were worried that Blake was hinting at withdrawing away from them. Sibyll had been direct in addressing their still suffering team dynamic, and their teammate continued to be benched by Goodwitch during their spars. All of their efforts to reintegrate Blake by into the team were glacial at best.

What proved worse was when they saw how her cooperation with Sibyll was much better than they anticipated.

It was strange for all three girls to stand by and watch their teammate work in tandem with someone outside of the team. They winced and recoiled whenever Blake earned an injury that would have killed any normal person, and noticed how Sibyll had been quick to cover her defense in drawing the Grimm away. When she had tended to her wounds, she would retake the offensive as the young hunter retreated back onto acting as her support when needed.

All three girls were struggling to lessen the gap between them and their teammate, but found that Blake was growing gradually closer to Sibyll the more the two fought.

"You know, we could always just watch her from a distance. She doesn't have to know we're there," a voice spoke up from behind.

"Sun!?" Ruby called out as she spun around to find the faunus standing outside the windowsill.

"Do you always have to use unconventional means for your visit?" Weiss added, crossing her arms in disbelief. Sun simply shrugged as he tapped on the glass seeking entry. Yang had moved to unlock he window, careful to not knock the boy off as it swung outward and allowed him in.

"Thanks for that. Was getting kinda cold out there," he commented as he looked back toward the window.

"You don't say…"

Yang's eyes lowered her eyes to the unbuttoned shirt and exposed abs and back to steel grey eyes, arching her brow questioningly. He rolled his eyes while he leaned against a nearby bookshelf, crossing his arms as he waited for an answer. Ruby looked to both her partner and sister and already found their resolve to follow through with the plan, but were waiting on her. Blake had asked them to say behind, and she trusted them to honor her request. If it was nothing for them to worry about, then why make it seem like a secret? The young girl wanted to stay and believe in her teammate, but she knew about cats and their cruel curiosities (and the insensitivity of the proverb that would have offended Blake two-fold).

"We won't get caught?" she asked, unsure.

"Of course not! You're a sniper so I've got something just up your alley," Sun answered as he reached behind him. Pulling out a pair of binoculars, he raised them in the air to emphasize the sheer ingenuity of his plan. "We'll chalk it to practicing covert recon or something like that. Two birds with one stone."

"But what's your stake in this if you're willing to leave your partner behind again?" Weiss countered. "Don't think I've forgotten or that my ties with Neptune means I'll be lenient on you too."

"Wow, no wonder why everyone calls you 'Ice Queen'," Sun joked. "But can't I be worried about her too? She's…important."

"Important enough for you to stalk her like a man obsessed?"

Sun narrowed his eyes at the brawler whose face had taken on a smugger disposition. He had learned from Blake to pick his battles with the brawler, lest he find himself in an undesirable position beneath her ruthless teasing or wild speculations.

"We know you care Sun," Yang conceded, "but it's gotta be more than just that. A girl knows these kinds of things."

"Like you know how Ozpin refills his mug even when there's no coffee around?"

"The man's already a legend, and no one knows his semblance 'til this very day! If you can't explain how he gets his drink, then that it has be it."

"In ANY case, Yang, there's nothing more. Is it wrong that I want to check up on Blake and that Sibyll guy too?"

When he found the brawler break out into a grin, he knew he had slipped up.

"Is that a hint of jealous I'm detecting there Sun?"

Suddenly there was something more interesting about Blake's collection of books than the question being asked. Knights of Passion: Our Shadowed Hearts huh? That certainly looks new with how in tact the spine looked. Ever since that trial in the library, Sun was willing to expand his range of literature after Neptune had called him out on having bad taste. And if Blake was reading something that opposed to those ninja books she defended, it could be something he could look into as well. Not that it had to do anything with the risqué themes or that they were Blake's favorite. He was doing it completely for the story and nothing else.

"It is," the brawler remarked.

"Gah! Just… don't think about that about that smug grin. Don't even entertain the thought of how she's going to use it against you. You are not jealous, because there isn't any reason to be! You just want to know a bit about the person she's been training with. Blake doesn't say much about him and you just want to know. It's not because she's been spending a lot of time training with him," Sun's thoughts consoled.

"It's because she's been spending most of her time training with him, huh?"

"Damn it Yang!"

"Well, don't worry about," Yang said, giving him a hearty slap on the back. "If anything, he's too old for her taste and everyone knows you two have the hots for each other. All four of us will pop in for a look, make sure nothing bad is going on, and be back before Blake even knows we've followed."

"I doubt Neptune would let you go on your own after you were warned by Goodwitch and your headmaster," Weiss reminded. When the boy began to sheepishly smile, she could already feel another wave of irritation begin to form as he held out his scroll to her, already bearing a message.

"That's where you come in…sorta. Apparently, that girl you two know wanted to meet up with Scarlet and Neptune's busy with handling damage control. He trusts that you'll 'keep me in line' and I promise not to cross it or you."

Sun had even given her the best reassuring smile he could muster in that moment.

Weiss, for her part, remained hesitant and thoroughly skeptical. She had come to accept Sun as a… tolerable person when he conducted himself properly. Even then, there were some things people couldn't work out of their system and the monkey faunus' mischievous nature was one of them.

"Alright then, I suppose we can use your help in checking on Blake today."

"Good to hear!" he answer as he clapped his hands together. "Now, we just need one more thing…"


"Miss Blake!" Chisa called through the gates. "You made it!"

"It wouldn't be right of me to miss out after accepting your invitation," Blake answered as she stepped into the open yard.

Chisa wore blue denim overalls with a blank top beneath, feet adorned with brown boots, a white bandana holding her blue hair back, and small hands fitted with sturdy gardening gloves. The young girl already wore signs of initial yard work, grass stains at her knees while her cheeks were smudged with dirt marks. Blake found it odd that she out of all the people Chisa knew was invited to help with the still growing garden at the back of the workshop. The circumstance of the invitation itself was equally strange as it came by surprise and a particularly early morning.

Another training session with Sibyll finished within the Dream, and Blake looked forward to returning to the dorm for a shower when the ambush came…

She would have considered it an ambush had Chisa been more awake at the time, and more aware of how slurred her invitation came. It had taken the older girl a while to decipher through the sleep talk to understand what was being asked.

Blake wanted to decline the offer… She knew it wasn't because of the young girl, but of the implications the request would entail. She would have to find some sort of excuse to give her team, and even then she had failed to do just that. How could she explain that Chisa only invited her to spend time with herself and Sibyll for a day? And to that end, it was because Chisa was growing worried with how quiet the young hunter had been lately. Blake would have explained that some people (like herself) were quiet by nature, but the look in Chisa's eyes… were more than just concern.

Chisa was afraid.

Not of the man taking care of her, but for him.

To drive the point further home, there was that the strange look Sibyll had given her when he discovered them upon returning from the Dream. It was as if he was surprised that Blake had stayed longer than she normally would have. It became a habit of Blake to arrive as early (or late) as requested and leave just as quickly. There was still a degree of difficulty with juggling her sessions with Sibyll and the rest of her academy work, and she meant no ill will towards Sibyll himself.

Yet with how hostile a good portion of her team continued to be…

And how cautious Team JNPR were whenever they escort the two around Vale…

Blake could understand that feeling of being kept intentionally at bay, either out of fear or aversion. Perhaps they were pushing it too far, given how their previous discussion went with her team and Raven. Blake had been brought up to speed some time after, but didn't understand why Sibyll would continue to further the schism. He had given them what they asked, but did he have to do it so… Sibyll-like? She hoped that both Sibyll and her team (Yang) could bury the hatchet, and they had done just that.

If that hatchet's blade stuck out from the ground, and threatened to harm anyone not careful enough to tiptoe around the subject.

Perhaps it was just something that Chisa was worry too much about it.

Perhaps Blake could have asked to have the conversation put on hold so she could moderate.

Perhaps Weiss and Yang and JNPR could ease up on being so uneasy around him.

Perhaps Ruby could talk to him again, alone this time.

Or perhaps Blake misinterpreted that subtle look of uncomfortable wariness he had when he looked at her; like some lonely child surprised that someone stuck around when everyone else left. That reluctant look she had given Marianne when the girl had waited behind when their lessons were over. Blake knew she wasn't the healthiest of the children in their year, but she was afraid that the girl who garnered her secret affections stayed behind out of pity. She wanted to be mad at her, shout such distasteful things if it meant Marianne no longer had to feel sorry for her.

Blake shook the foreign memories from her thoughts and decided to accept Chisa's invitation.

She would spend a day with them, tending to low stress activities that Sibyll reasoned would help her "meditate" away the lingering memories. Hopefully it would ease whatever tension hung about the air at the Workshop and lessen the stress between ward and protector.

"We're just getting started, but we saved the best parts for you!" Chisa stated eagerly.

"Do you really trust me to help you arrange your flowerbeds?"

The young girl nodded her head quickly before turning to run to the back of the house.

"If you want to change so your clothes don't get dirty, you can borrow our room!" she called back and disappeared.

With bag in hand, Blake entered the workshop and towards the only bedroom. She could still hear the conversation between Chisa and Sibyll as the door close behind her, muffled exchanges eliciting a few laughs from the younger girl. Blake hadn't been in their bedroom enough time to remember anything particular, other than the clear divide between styles and tastes (or Sibyll's lack thereof). She began to undress, neatly folding her clothes as she slipped on some old jeans and a "work shirt" from an old civilian disguise; a grey button up, long sleeve shirt bearing the logo of the "Furious Dragons Association" on the back. She had rolled the sleeves up to the elbows, and began to fasten the boots of her "Hunter's attire" securely, giving herself one last look in the mirror hanging behind the door.

"It would have to do," she thought as she gave the room one last look.

Her eyes wandered from the colorful and childish side toward the more bland and empty portion of the room. It did beg the question as to why Sibyll never thought of decorating his side. There was something he surely valued or had an interest in, but there were no tell-tale signs. She caught something sticking out from underneath the pillow, and moved to pull out the object in question.

Ninjas of Love: Fates Entwined

"Huh… So he's actually reading the entire series?" Blake thought aloud as she put the book back in its place.

She didn't anticipate that he would pick up on reading the other volumes after their "trial", or that he would even continue reading books of risqué nature.

"Miss Blake! You're going to miss the best part!" Chisa's voice called out.

The older girl made her exit from the room and workshop, and found herself turning toward the back of the building to find several rows of potted plants lined up. Chisa began to rearrange them in the order she thought looked best while Sibyll continued his work clearing out any new weeds and grass.

Blake couldn't help but be surprised with how… normal his attire looked.

Like her, he had taken the liberty of wearing his boots, but they were tucked beneath dark blue jeans. A red and black flannel shirt clung to his body as moved the surrounding debris, sleeves rolled back and showing his darkly tanned and scarred arms as they set about their work. Long, ashened locks shined with sweat from the strain and exertion. When he finished clearing out the plot of land that would be the flowerbed, he swept his hair back and left notable traces of dirt on his face that seemed usual for his nature. Sibyll looked up to find Blake watching and stood, stretching his back and finding any spot suddenly more interesting than the girl herself.

"I know," he began, "I look ridiculous…"

The older girl frowned, unused to the display of Sibyll being… conscious of his appearance?

"No, not at all," Blake reassured. "You look normal, that's all."

She could still find him feeling uncomfortable under her gaze as Chisa stepped in front of Blake with a flower pot in hand; buds of roses.

"That's what I told him," the younger girl added. "Mister Jaune and Miss Nora helped him pick out his 'normal people' clothes so he won't always have to wear his 'work clothes' around."

Chisa handed over the potted plant as she took up another.

"Well, it's a good look," Blake answered. "It would certainly be a surprise for everyone else."

"Something I wish to avoid entirely…"

Blake frowned, but she heard the young hunter give a startled groan as Chisa thrusted another potted plant against his stomach.

"You can't dress like every day is the Festival of Heroes! I know you're excited that it's coming soon too, but people are going to think you're weird!"

Sibyll looked to Blake, wearing an unsure expression.

"Historically, it was meant to celebrate the hunters and soldiers leaving home in the fall to push back the Grimm Incursion. Not many returned but it was a way to honor their deaths and sacrifices by immortalizing their efforts as worldwide holiday. The kids now mostly dress up as their favorite heroes from today, but it's a whole event involving plenty of costumes and even more candy," she explained.

"Hmm… It greatly resembles All Hallow's Eve…" the young hunter noted.

"I'm going to dress up as Labrys this year," Chisa chimed in as she picked up her own flower pot.

This time, it was Blake's turn to look at Sibyll for an explanation.

"It seems that Chisa and Miss Nora are currently planning for something called a 'group cosplay' though the term escapes me. The little one has taken an interest in something called Persona, but that is as far as I am able to explain."

"I see."

"We can talk about all of that later!" Chisa stated adamantly. "We have a lot to do today and something special tonight! Come on!"

With the best she could manage, the young girl reached out and pulled Blake towards the section of land they were to work on today. The older girl spared Sibyll a look that silently asked if Chisa was usually this persistent with smaller numbers. The small grin on his face spoke of untold stories that would betray Chisa more unusual moments.


"Status report," the voice spoke through Ruby's earpiece.

She raised Crescent Rose to look through her scope, targets in sight several hundred yards away by the banks of a river. After the flower arrangement and a few menial chores, Sibyll, Chisa, and Blake had taken a few fishing rods and spent a better part of the afternoon gathering what could be dinner. The younger girl stared intently at her lure, but the bobbing and jerking of her head hinted of a dwindling resolve to stay awake. Blake was more alert, hardly moving as she made more successful catches with each and every cast of the rod. If Ruby didn't know any better, show could see the glint from her teammate's eyes as she caught a sizeable salmon and placed it with the others.

As for Sibyll…

Ruby shifted the scope to where the young hunter lay, resting in the shade, leaving his rod unattended. An arm lay across his eyes, even as the line of his lure tugged and pulled, but Sibyll remained asleep.

"They're still fishing Sun," Ruby reported. "But why are you even checking in with us? You and Yang can see them too."

"I've got the binocs and Sun's just bored," her sister answered. "I mean, I guess we were expecting something to be up, but so far it's just normal stuff."

"But it still doesn't answer why she would want to hide this from us," Weiss added from her perch beside Ruby's. "We weren't able to pick anything up from the transmitter still planted in the plush other than small conversation.

"We could always just ask Chisa," the young reaper suggested.

"And risk being found out by Blake and Sibyll? Nuh-uh," Yang assessed. "As easy as that sounds, she might accidentally let slip our intentions or, at the very least, create suspicion. We stay the course."

"When did you become the tactician?" Sun asked, but his yelp was enough of an answer for Ruby and Weiss.

The young reaper returned her attention toward the riverbank.

"We've got movement."

Blake had packed away her rod and moved to relieve Chisa of her post. Ruby watched as the older girl consoled the young one, whose line yet to catch anything, but found that Chisa was more excited by the amount Blake had caught. Ruby supposed that any victory counted in a team effort. Blake then moved to wake Sibyll, prodding him lightly with the tip of her boot. The young hunter stirred, removed his arm, and… returned to sleep?

He placed his arm over his eyes again, and Ruby saw Blake cross her arms. She didn't have to guess that her teammate was displeased at being rebuffed, and watched as she tried to wake him again more roughly. Her boot hardly reached him as a hand shot out and knocked the girl off her feet, sending her stumbling to the ground. From her perch, it looked to Ruby as if Sibyll swung his arm out wide in an effort to turn his back to Blake. Yet she saw his shoulders shaking slightly as chuckling to himself when Blake got up quickly and shouted something inaudible to the young hunter. Shame made to stomp at him, the heel of her boot striking the earth as Sibyll continued to "not-so-subtly" avoid her rampage; a nonchalant roll here, a stretch parry there.

When Blake had stumbled a third time, something about her tactic changed.

All four teens watched as Blake withdrew her concealed throwing knives, and began throwing them at Sibyll. Blades dugs into the earth and the barks of the trees as the young hunter continued to avoid, his smirk growing wider as he stepped near the riverbank.

They watched as Blake threw one knife to lead him toward the riverbank, placing the young hunter exactly where the wanted him. The moment he stopped to relish in his victory was the moment Blake had dashed forward and, without mercy, kicked him into the water.

"Remind me to never piss her off," Sun's voice commented.

Sibyll struggled to pull himself above the water, his shoulders shaking from the apparent coldness, and he looked about confused. His gaze landed on Blake who, savoring the only victory between them, grinned while Chisa looked between them nervously.

Ruby watched as their lips moved, words being exchanged between them as the young hunter nodded and helped himself up from the river bed. Doing his best to shake off excess water from his clothes, Sibyll moved to Blake with an extended hand.

A truce? Or a ruse?

Blake looked at the hand and back to Sibyll who's shoulders slumped in resignation. Head tilted to the side, he said something.

Was it something genuine or deceitful?

Reluctantly, her hand met his and they shook. Sibyll shared a few more words, his wet hand patting her shoulder lightly as if to show he was proud of the planning and maneuver. Ruby noticed how Blake began to relax, nodding and shared a few words of her own.

"At least he's being civil," Weiss commented. "It wouldn't do for him to be so petty if he were to—"

Sibyll moved in close, bending slightly to pick up Blake and hoist her over his shoulder as she kicked and shouted. He slowly made his way back to the riverbank, and Blake's struggle only became more erratic; a final bout of desperation to stopping the inevitable. He was in knee deep water when he stopped, tilting his head to speak with the girl over his shoulder. Even from her scope, Ruby recognized the same warning expression Blake wore whenever Yang had taken her teasing too far. It would be fair to assume that she was giving Sibyll the same warning.

He nodded, and promptly threw Blake into the river.

"I spoke too soon," the heiress finished.

In a similar effort to escape the cold waters, Blake sputtered and helped herself to her feet. She sent a glare toward Sibyll that sent chills down their spines, and Sun whimpered when the young hunter had bent forward to splash water at her face. She wiped away the water as best she could, her glare deepening as she charged at him; covering her face from the oncoming splashes as she grappled him. Hands gripped together as they struggled for power and dominance over the other, Sibyll using his height to his favor, and Blake straining beneath him. Yet a quick swipe of her foot, she sent him back into the water and moved a safe distance away.

"Are they really doing what I think they're doing?" Yang's voice asked.

"What else could it be?" the young reaper countered.

It was a battle of technique and water as both hunters capitalized on their strengths and the other's weakness. They only paused to look at the remaining (and dry) third party whose worry turned to laugh and to worry once more. Chisa began to back away as slowly as she could, and tried to run as Sibyll swept her off her feet. The young girl struggled and tried to escape like Blake had done, but felt herself thrown high into the air.

What could be screams mixed with fear and excitement left her mouth as she fell into Blake's arms. Together they fell into the water, the older girl bringing Chisa back up for hair as she tried to splash back in retaliation.

"Would it be remiss of me to say I'm envious?"

"Not even in the slightest Weiss."


Chisa dried her hair as best as she could, careful not to let the towel slip from her hands as she looked about up to the water tower that served as their make-shift shower.

It had been weird at first to take their showers outside when Sibyll had someone convert the tower. She didn't even think people did that anymore, with the exception of those first few days when she and Sibyll used to bathe in the river. But for someone to make a habit out of it? It was just weird. And Sibyll had trusted her to take care of bathing herself, saying something like how men and ladies were meant to take separate showers. He helped her before but it had more or less been him tending to looking after her hair and ears, and she to take care of the rest.

And whenever she was done, he would then take his own bath in private.

At least with Miss Blake, Chisa looked forward to having someone help her reach the spots she couldn't. Her eyes looked over to where the older girl stood; drying her long hair as well and making sure the towel didn't get too wet.

"Feel free to make use of the shower while I begin the preparations," Sibyll called from around the building. "I will make sure to dry your clothes by the fireside as well Miss Belladonna."

"No need, I still have fresh set," Blake answered. "And I wouldn't need to change at all if you hadn't gone and thrown me in the river."

"Speaks the young lady who promptly kicked me in?"

"You deserved it!"

"Many have claimed as such, though I find myself needing substantial proof. And who would be so cruel to kick a sleeping person? The sheer audacity of it, young miss."

Blake groaned as Sibyll continued to bait her into another bout of banter. She was soaked, in need of a hot shower and meal, and certainly not in the mood for whatever mischief the young hunter was luring her into. As if sensing her ire, Sibyll directed the conversation back on point.

"Still, it would not do for us to send you back with wet clothes. Allow us to dry them by the fireside as you and the little one relax in the bath. I should have our meals finished by then," his voiced affirmed.

Blake wished to refuse but found that Chisa had begun to remove her clothes piece by piece. Once rid of her drenched clothes, the young girl wrapped the towel around her body and looked to the older girl expectantly.

"There's…no one out there, right?"

It had been a question she asked out of necessity to silence her concerns of someone coming across the workshop. There weren't many who knew where exactly Sibyll and Chisa lived, as per the man's request, but Blake felt like she had to ask anyways.

"Unless you have told anyone else of this place, I should not expect other visitors soon. Your headmaster assured me that area here is within your academy's territory, but far enough that wanderers should never reach it."

There was still a lingering doubt at the pit of her stomach. It was an unusual way of sensing the area about her, and a valuable skill she began to pick up from her training. Perhaps she had a reason to be wary prying eyes, or perhaps she was just reluctant to disrobe so blatantly in the open.

"If you even think about peeking," she warned.

At this, she could hear Sibyll sigh.

"Chisa, can you please reassure Miss Belladonna that no such thing will occur? The sooner I dry your clothes, the sooner I can tend to everything else."

She looked to Chisa who had wrapped her towel as tightly as she could, warding off the chill of the open air.

"It's true," the young girl confirmed. "We take separate baths and everything. Even if I don't know why, but it's getting really cold right now…"

"Alright, alright…"

Blake reached up the buttons of her shirt.


"Anything going on right now Sun?" Yang asked.

She cupped her hands together, hoping that narrowing her scope would allow her to see the on goings of the workshop in the distance. They had switched off on keeping with Ruby and Weiss, leaving the other a break to break for snack or keep an eye out for Grimm that would reveal their location. Sun had volunteered to keep an eye on things as Yang finished up the last bits of her lunch, and checked in with everyone.

"Uh…" Sun's response came.

The brawler frowned. She turned to find the usually fidgety monkey faunus sitting perfectly still. Even his tail, which always betrayed or reflected his usual nature, seemed to be ramrod straight.

"Sun?"

"Nothing! Nothing's going on! Just stuff!" he quickly answered, never removing his eye from the binoculars.

"What kind of stuff?" Yang stressed.

"Just…stuff…"

Sun knew it wasn't intentional and he hoped he could express that to Yang. There were just some things that he knew you could never tear your eyes away from, even if he wanted to (or didn't want to). It was happening right before him, and, as a young healthy man, found himself simply watching in stunned amazement as Blake unbuttoned her shirt.

The way the cloth slipped slowly off her shoulders, baring creamy skin as she allowed it to fall to the ground. His breath held in anticipation as she removed her boots and undid the button and zipper of her jeans. She struggled to peel the jeans off her legs, bending forward slightly as she worked away the soaked fabric sticking to her skin, and baring the curves of her legs and supple bottom. Once free, she stood awkwardly in her black undergarments; garments that accentuated the swell of her breasts and how delectably ("Did I really just think that") long her legs were. She reached back to undo the latch of her—

"Sun? Report in!" Weiss' voice cut in. "If you can't do that, then we'll jut have to—what's wrong Ruby?"

"Uh…Um…Blake is…"

"Is she okay?"

"Well…" both Ruby and Sun answered in unison.

There was a brief moment of silence in the faunus' ear, before Weiss returned in full force.

"How much did you see Sun?"

He could almost feel how potent those words were laced with fury and incredulous disbelief. If only his partner were here to bail him out of the tight situation he found himself in. The question was enough to have Yang turn to him, the heat slowly rising as he felt her eyes on him.

"For the record, I just want to say," Sun slowly began, "that it just happened and I am not sorry."


Blake thought she heard something yelp off into the distance. Grimm dispute perhaps? Hopefully they wouldn't come by the workshop and undo her effects to remain clean. She returned to her work of massaging the shampoo into Chisa's hair, careful to not agitate the young girl's cat ears. Blake gave the "shower" another look and was surprised by how well if functioned for its simplicity. Sibyll had even gone as far as to invest in a portable water heater so that the shower itself didn't stay cold.

"Miss Blake?" Chisa called out.

"Just Blake is fine," the older girl answered as she rinsed out the shampoo. Chisa wiped away the water, shaking her head slightly as she turned on her stool. Peach colored eyes stared deeply into amber pools, hands reaching out tenderly to trace across the scars on Blake's chest. The older girl flinched at the touch, still unused to how it felt with flesh altered marks. She turned her head to the side out of a foreign sense of shame as Chisa's fingers felt curiously at the scars. Small fingertips trailing across unusually smooth skin; following the middle line from the shoulder, across her chest and stomach, and to her right hip.

"Did you get these from that night?" she nervously asked.

"Mhmm…"

"And… And is that why you don't smell like us anymore?"

Before Blake could answer, Chisa stood and ran her fingers through the older girl's hair. She combed her fingers through them, feeling her head for the ears long gone and her surprised eyes only create an ache in Blake's heart. And Chisa never asked why Blake hid her cat ears with a bow when she carried the scent of her people. Her papa had said that people hide them for reason and that it was rude to ask. But it was the scent that helped find her father after losing him in a crowd when they visited a human town. Blake smelled just like her; a scent that was familiar within kin but after that night… she smelled differently. Blake smelled exactly like Sibyll.

"I… got hurt during a fight," Blake carefully explained, "and I lost them."

"Oh… I'm sorry…"

"It's fine."

There was silence between them as the younger girl fidgeted.

"…Sibyll has them too."

A curious brow was raised as Chisa pointed to Blake's scars.

"He has… a lot of them… too…"

"I see…"

Blake wrapped the towel around the young girl. She wanted to dispel the awkward silence between them, but the words were lost on her.

"Ready to get dressed?" she asked instead.

"Not just yet," the young girl answered as she pulled on Blake's hand. "There's one more thing we have to do."

Blake had barely wrapped her own towel around her body as Chisa lead her out of the shower and toward the open space of the garden. They rounded the corner near the front of the house, and before Blake could speak out… found a claw foot tub resting over the coals of a fire. The water was clear, save for a few, curious herbs and flowers that floated upon the surface and gave off a gentle and sweet smell.

"Sibyll found it in the forest and brought it back. We don't know how it got there, but he says that soaking in hot water helps with a lot of stuff. Kind of like in the mangas," Chisa explained. She moved to the tub, allowing her towel to rest on the accompanying stool, and tried to hoist herself over to no avail.

"Maybe you should go first? And help me in?"

The older girl nodded, placing her towel alongside Chisa's, and carefully stepped in. Her legs were met with perfectly heated water, neither too hot nor lukewarm, sending chills down her back as she allowed herself to sit in the water. Blake turned and lifted the young girl into the water with her, sharing the same sense of bliss, and sighed in contentment together. Chisa rested against Blake's chest, allowing the heated water to fill the entirety of her being. Both girls rested in water, soaking in the heat in a moment of quiet of quiet clarity. Blake could feel the tensions of her muscle fade, the whispers of voices becoming silent, and the ease that came with having Chisa a bath companion.

The sun was setting, the air mostly quiet as she could hear Sibyll cooking and humming to himself. Neither knew how much time had passed, but it didn't matter. They allowed the waters to work their magic and they would share the occasional sigh of peace.

A stray thought filtered through Chisa's lips without knowing.

"Blake?"

"Hmm…"

"When did you get tattoos like Sibyll?"

"Tattoos?"

"Yeah, the ones on your back. They look like the ones he has on his arm."

"What?"

Blake craned her head to try and look at her back, but Chisa (bless her naivety) thought of something better.

"Sibyll! We need your help!"

"NO! WE DON'T!" the older girl shouted.

"Hmm… You need my assistance with what exactly?"

The young hunter appeared from around the corner, still dressed in soaked clothes, as he approached. Blake would have rebuked him had he not worn a blindfold, taking deliberately careful steps. He tilted his head toward their direction, hoping they were close enough that he didn't cause a disturbance.

"Blake has tattoos like you," Chisa stated. "Right down her back!"

The young hunter frowned.

"Is this true?" he asked.

"I wouldn't even know," Blake answered. "And what would that even mean? I don't remember any moment making a brash decision like that."

Sibyll rubbed his chin in thought, and began to roll up the sleeve of his left arm. He showed Blake the underside and sure enough she found the Caryll runes inscribed on his skin.

"I did not think that there would be others with a similar abnormality," he commented.

"Abnormality?"

"In truth, these runes should only be visible within one's mind. For them to take physical form is considered an oddity among Hunters."

"So… it's a bad thing?" Chisa asked.

"I am not sure… May I take a look young miss?"

Blake reflexively brought Chisa closer to her body, hoping the young girl and the water would be enough to cover her modesty.

"Just don't take longer than you have to," she warned.

"Of course."

Blake turned her back to him as the young hunter removed the blindfold and approached. She could feel his presence standing behind her, his eyes roaming her back in silence until she felt his hand rest on her shoulder.

"Would you kindly lean forward a bit young miss?"

She moved her back away from the tub as his fingers traced a particular pattern at the base of her neck. Fingertips traced down her back, eliciting a shiver she couldn't hold back as he paused.

"Forgive me if my hands are cold. I am almost finished."

His hands were warm and that proved to be one of the few problems Blake found. It was as if he left thin trails of fire down her back, moving in familiar patterns she knew by mind. Yet it was how her body grew warmer and warmer, as if sapping away at the heat being giving and filling some strange emptiness she had never been aware of. She closed her eyes, holding tighter onto Chisa as both hands felt the runes on her back.

Her back was set aflame with warmth and Blake let out a shuddered breath as Sibyll pulled his hands away.

"Perhaps this too is a side effect of the contract? Or the work of my blood in your veins? Hmm…"

His thoughts were reduced to murmurs, allowing Blake a moment to open her eyes and for the warm feeling to fade into the bathwater.

"Is everything okay?" Chisa asked. "Your face is really red."

"It's just the water," Blake answered quickly. "I think we've been in long enough."

"Hmm… I guess you're right. My head does feel fuzzy," the young girl agreed.

"If that is the case, then please help yourselves to the dishes prepared inside. Your clothes should be dried about now too," the young hunter addressed and moved to face the tree line. "Worry not, I will not look as you two depart. I only wish to make use of a warm bath while I can."

Sibyll kept his eyes focused forward, even under the wary scrutiny of the older girl. He heard the water tell of their departure, towels drying them off, and footsteps on the grass leading toward the workshop. He turned to find himself alone and stretched, looking forward to a nice long bath.


"How's Sun holding up Weiss?" Ruby asked as she continued to watch the workshop.

"Still unconscious, but the ice dust should heal the bruises. I've already gone and explained to Neptune about his partner peeping on our teammate. The nerve that rapscallion…"

"And Yang?"

"She's still 'cooling down' from the incident, but keep an eye on things for us. Hopefully I have enough ice dust for the both of them."

"You got it."

The line goes quiet and Ruby continues her watch.

It was strange that Blake and Chisa had taken their bath outside, let alone how great an effect it had on the two from how they looked. Ruby had never seen Blake so content from something so simple, or that she would ever relax at all. The young reaper knew that her teammate, though not as active as the rest of the team, could be worked up in her own way. It was the same way when the White Fang had continued to cause trouble earlier in the year, but there were limits to what one could do; limits that Blake tried to break on her own.

Still…

Ruby felt there was more to this outing than Blake let on.

Maybe the fact that all three of them were simply enjoying themselves for a day was the whole point? With how bizarre things had become since his arrival, maybe they needed comfort within people who understood them? Sibyll was by nature a stranger to their world, Chisa was forced to face something beyond her old home, and Blake had to deal with both being an aspiring Huntress and "Hunter". Out of their small circle of connections… maybe those three could only find try comfort with each other.

And the thought of it hurt the young reaper; not from being exclusion, but the reason for said exclusion.

She watched how Sibyll had come out to meet them when Chisa had called for his attention. Something about tattoos filtered from the transmitter, but the sound was mostly muffled by the walls of the building. Ruby saw how Sibyll was looking at something on Blake's back, exchanged a few words, and stood facing outside the gate as Blake and Chisa left to get dressed. His eyes scanned the area around the building, before looking directly at Ruby though the scope. The young reaper quickly collapsed Crescent Rose and pulled her cloak tightly around her, hoping it was enough to cover her position.

Had the light glinted off the lens and he noticed?

She remained still, before braving another look.

Sibyll stretched and yawned, looking behind him to see that the other two had left.

Ruby sighed in relief.

"He didn't notice," she thought as she resumed her watch. "It would have been really bad if he did."

Hopefully the rest of their reconnaissance would go off without any more hitches. Even now, when Sibyll was taking off his boots and shirt, Ruby made sure to keep watch while her partner dealt with Sun and Yang—

"Eep!" she accidentally yelped into her mic.

"Everything alright Ruby?" Weiss's voice crackled through.

"Yup! Almost slipped up the perch that's all," the young reaper half-lied. She had been surprised when Sibyll unbuttoned and removed his shirt that she lost balance. In her earpiece, she could hear her partner sigh deeply.

"Be more vigilant Ruby. This is still the Emerald Forest and an injury here would be bad. Make sure to keep a constant watch on them while I make sure Yang doesn't kill Sun."

"Um… I don't think—"

"You better not Xiao Long!" the heiress voice cuts in. "Killing Sun won't make him unsee what he saw…Don't…Ugh! Ruby, just keep watch! Don't miss anything."

The radio cuts back to silence, leaving Ruby to watch in shock (awe) as Sibyll continued to undress unaware of the young girl. Her breath hitches when she sees just how man scars adorn his arms and chest, the most prominent ones on his back; claw marks crossing against each other across his back. When the young hunter began to unbuckle his pants, Ruby squeezed her eyes shut in hopes of giving him enough time to disrobe and climb into the tub. If she didn't have to see anything, she wouldn't.

Opening her eyes just enough for a peek proved to be a fatal error in her judgment as they widened in surprise. Heat rose to her face as Crescent Rose trembled slightly in her hands.

"So that's what it looks like…"

After the initial shock wanes and Sibyll settled comfortably into the tub, Ruby continued her watch of the young hunter. He looked relaxed; eyes closed, resting his legs up on the edge of the tub, and allowed arms to hang off the sides. His chest rose and fell with even breaths, unbothered by any immediate danger or need to deal with the world. For the moment, Sibyll looked like he had when they spent time together in his holding cell. It was the Sibyll she remembered, but that was only just a small part of a whole.

A howl filled the air and movement below headed towards the workshop.

Ruby tried to follow it with her scope, though the Grimm had already reached the open clearing. A Beowolf runt given its small size had stopped short of the workshop gates and howled again. It stalked alongside the gate, huffing and snarling, but never crossing it despite how easy it could have been to do so. Blake rushed outside, clothed and armed. She was about to pursue the beast before the young hunter raised a hand to stop her.

Slowly, he helped himself out of the tub and made his way toward the entrance of the gate. The beast followed him, snapping its jaw in warning and keeping a fair distance away when Sibyll left the safety of the workshop. He kept his eyes on the Beowolf, leading it as far away from the building as possible.

More movement below Ruby followed. A full pack lined the bordering trees, but did not dare step into the field with its lone kin. They appeared to be agitated by the display of Sibyll and the Beowolf circling once another.

Then the beast struck, lunging at the young hunter who used the moment to sidestep the attack and climb atop the spikes on its back. It bucked, trying to knock of its rider as Sibyll made his way to the head of the Beowolf. Quick hands robbed the beast of its eyes, and the young hunter deftly returned to solid ground as it thrashed around its pain. He tossed aside the red eyes of the Beowolf, pulling a hand back to strike at the exposed back, and struck.

A glowing fist collided against the middle of the beast's back, forcing it to the ground and Sibyll struck one final time. Ruby watched as his fist dug deep into the Beowolf's back, ripping itself free and taking with it a fistful of crimson flesh. Blood sprayed across his body, a glistening contrast to his darkened skin and Sibyll stared at the surrounding pack. None dared to provide aid to the Beowolf that now whined in pain, using its front limbs to drag itself away; it's legs unresponsive to the need to escape.

Sibyll bent down, taking the creatures head into his hand, and silenced the creature with a sickening snap.

The pack ran back into the forest, dispersing into separate directions as he slowly made his way back to the workshop. Blake said nothing as he passed, though Ruby could hear Chisa's concerned voice from within the building. He reassured her that everything was fine, allowing himself back into the tub and resuming his position of relaxation. The once clear waters turn pink as he closed his eyes.

Ruby knew that was part of Sibyll too. As much as she wished against it, he was a Hunter who hunted the monsters too. He could never just be what she wanted him to; there were still things she didn't know about Sibyll that made her worry.

He was gentle and violent.

He was welcoming and detached.

He was her friend and…

No, he is her friend.

Even if her friend scared her.


"I apologize for the display early," Sibyll spoke as he stood at the workshop's door. Blake had prepared things for her departure back to Beacon, and had received a generous amount of salmon dishes to take back with her.

"Port suggested that I display some form of dominance over my territory and that it should keep them from returning for a while."

"And how often do they return?" Blake added.

"Not very often, but they were certainly due to appear. Still, I hope it has not affected your visit here or dissuades you from accepted another of the little one's invitation."

"It hasn't. It was nice to get away for a while."

"I am glad you believe so. Chisa tells me that she was worried about how you were with your team, and asked to have you over for a day."

"My team?"

"Yes…? She noticed you acting differently and thought a day of leisure would help you back onto your feet. Was she wrong?"

"Not exactly, but she invited me because she was worried about you. She told me that you were being quieter than usual and that you could use the company."

"Did she now…"

Both turned to look at the young girl curled up by the fireside, asleep on a book half finished. Sibyll and Blake shared a look before they both stepped out of the workshop to not disturb her.

"I suppose she believed we both were in need a distraction from our thoughts. Though to think she would have deceived us both? She is certainly becoming clever."

"It's probably because she only as you for company here. The lack of other children certainly would make her develop differently for someone her age."

"True. And I have considered a permanent workshop somewhere within the city, someplace more populated than here."

"And?"

"She is just as afraid of the idea as I am."

Sibyll chuckled as he escorted Blake to the gates.

"Safe travels Miss Belladonna."

"Of course. I'll come around for training at the usual time, but you don't have to send your Messengers to remind me."

The young hunter nodded and opened the gate for her departure. Blake passed through and began her trek back before he called out to her.

"Blake."

She turned to find him still standing at the gates, watching her.

"Thank you for the company," he began. "I believe that the little one is very astute in observing my unusual nature as of late. Today certainly has been refreshing and you were certainly responsible for a portion of it."

His hand rested gingerly on the wrought iron bars.

"Should you ever need some company or someone to talk to," he motioned to the workshop, "you are always welcome."

The sincerity of his words brought forth a small smile, and Blake nodded in confirmation.

"I would like that."


"Heya Blake! You're back!" Ruby called out from her bunk as the raven haired girl entered.

"Mhmm, just like I promised I would."

She set her belongings beside her bed, stretched, and reclined onto the welcoming mattress. Weiss was at her desk completing her assignments like clockwork, Ruby browsing through a Hunters Weekly weapon magazine, and Yang was…oddly quiet.

"Anything happen with you three?"

"Hmmm… Nope! We hung out with Sun though," Ruby answered.

"How did that go?"

"Let's just say that he and Yang had a disagreement, and earned several bruises as a result," the heiress stated.

"Is that why she's so quiet?"

"Not really… It's because Sage actually scolded her for stepping out of line, using a lot or words that would have filled mom's swear jar. She felt bad about the whole thing, and I guess she's trying to sleep the guilt off?" Ruby offered.

Blake sighed.

"What about you? Anything happened today when you were…at Sibyll's?"

"Plenty actually," Blake answered. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you all why I was there. Just don't blow it out of proportion okay? He even sent me back with food for you all."

"Did he?" Weiss looked to Ruby out of the corner of her eye while Blake searched through her bag.

"He considered it compensation for taking me away from you all. Hopefully it's enough to drive out any suspicions you three may have."

"I suppose it will do. Dinner is still an hour off and we could use the light snack."

"Good to hear. Hope you all like salmon sandwiches because we caught plenty today."

Blake divided the food between them, giving each girl their marked meals written in Chisa's handwriting. Ruby took up her own, unwrapping the foil to find a folded piece of paper along with her sandwich. She looked to Blake and Weiss who didn't have the same with their owns and opened up the message.

Come by for a visit next time.

It would certainly be better than watching from afar, yes?

Sibyll

"Everything alright Ruby?" Blake asked from below.

Ruby quickly stashed the note under her pillow and took a great bite from her sandwich.

"Mmph-hmmf! Komf-fwee-phly!"


A/N: Expect to see a possible Halloween chapter (or belated holiday chapters) , normal chapters, Picking Up Fair Maidens Pt. 2, and the anticipated "date" chapter. Not necessarily in that order, but there's plenty to come. Looking forward to your reviews, comments, and messages and I will do my best to answer as many of them as I can. Until next time!