Sorry it's been so long, kinda took a little mental health break. As lovely as writing is, it can be hella stressful.

So this isn't a very important chapter, more filler really but also for a little bit of character relationships. Building on them. So enjoy :)

Getting out of the mountain wasn't the easiest task. While they were now technically allowed to free, the queen wanted them out before revealing to her court about the agreement they'd made. If Weiss was gone, they'd have to accept Winter as the replacement.

But this meant that leaving through the normal entrances was a no-go.

Luckily Qrow had his own little exit installed secretly into his room. They just had to make it across the mountain unseen and then trek down to the human civilisation.

Which was far easier said than done. It may have been night but in the fae world that meant nothing. Time wasn't a common concept that they obeyed and they were everywhere. Dancing, singing, playing, working.

As she went, seeing these people in their normal lives, she knew that killing them would be wrong. They were so… human but so not. They weren't the primal monsters they'd been portrayed as in fairy tales. No. Maybe they were ateful towards her but that was understandable. But they were people just like the humans and faunus.

After a lot of ducking and dodging their way across the mazes of corridors they finally arrived at Qrow's room. Unseen. It was a miracle. It was larger than the room Weiss had stayed in but also seemed to be built two people.

But the bed at the end of the room hadn't seemed to be used in a while from the layer of dust coating the mossy blanket. The only sign that someone had been there was the vase beside the bed containing a single red rose.

Ruby let out a shaky exhale and Weiss looked at her guardian fae. She hadn't been the only one looking at the bed on the other side of the room. Ruby's expression was sad, wistful almost. Nostalgic.

But she turned away before Weiss could ask her what was wrong.

"'ere," Qrow rasped, nudging at a vine curtain at the back of the room. "This is your escape, youngsters. Straight down that dear hill and you'll be at your house. Yang, you know where you're going."

The blonde nodded confidently and Blake arched an eyebrow. Yang just tossed her a wink.

The two of them certainly seemed to be getting on. From the brief time they'd met both had been whispering back at forth, conversing. Thought it seemed to be nonsense and just something to get the nerves off, it was still odd. They'd connected in a way she didn't understand.

"Thanks, Uncle Qrow," Yang grinned and passed through the curtain.

They all expressed their thanks as they left, Weiss especially and exited out into the night. It was the middle of the night, the glowing moon their only light source. She could hardly see a pace in front of her.

Down the mountain they descended slowly. To her left she heard muffled swearing as Yang apparently tripped. There was a laugh from beside her and then a whispered but playful argument broke out between the faunus and Yang. Weiss felt as though something was missing. Ruby.

Ruby held her hand all the way down but she was a quiet as a mouse. Not a word, not a look, just steady beside her. As they stepped out into Yang's garden Weiss turned to her. The faerie smiled briefly.

"Welcome to Xiao Long Residencies," Yang beamed. "Ready to cater to your every need for the night."

It had already been decided that they'd stay the night at Yang's. With the army on the ready for war, trying to enter the city at night wasn't an option. Especially with the two fae at their arms.

They entered quietly with Yang dipping into tell her dad not to worry. He waved them off and greeted them all before going back to sleep. He didn't seem to notice that Ruby and Blake were fae or he just didn't care.

Out on the corridor, two rooms faced each other. Each held a double bed in which they were to sleep.

"It still makes no sense why I can't sleep on the floor," Blake shrugged. "I'm used to it okay?"

"Oh I guess you're just too inno-sense to understand," Yang teased. "We're sharing beds… if you know what I mean, kitty." She tossed Blake a wink.

"Excuse me? I-! I am not! I… You-... Weiss please let me sleep with you, you seem to be the most sane out of all of us."

"Oh what a cat-astrophe!" Yang groaned. "Why must you tail me off like this?"

"... are you making cat puns…?"

"Sorry if you're feline bad because of this. Don't worry it's ancient hiss-tory."

Blake looked irritated but there was this slight curve of a smile on her lips. The faunus was trying desperately to hide it and instead glared at Yang. The blonde just grinned back.

"Oh you are insufferable!" Blake scowled before elbowing her in the ribs. "Am I going to have to put up with you forever?"

As Yang started to retort back, Ruby's hand caught Weiss' wrist and her guardian fae pulled her into the room that wasn't Yang's. Just before the door shut she heard Yang laugh and make a "purr-fect" joke.

At this point Weiss was worried about Ruby. Not once had she spoken since they'd left Kali and Winter. And that sad expression was still there.

Weiss wasn't the best with the whole "feelings" thing but she'd try anyway. Taking a step forward, she caught the fae's eye.

"Ruby… are you okay?"

Ruby pressed her back to the door, silver eyes closing. Her chest rose and fell for a few seconds before she looked back at Weiss. "I'm sorry Weiss… I'm just… over my head right now…"

Weiss leaned forward and took her hands. "That's okay, I understand. I'm very confused right now. Just know.. we're in this together."

Ruby smiled at her, that sweet smile that Weiss had come to recognise as genuine. "I… I just… This is all my fault isn't it? If I hadn't… taken you… none of this would be happening. Your father wouldn't be declaring war. I… was just trying to help..."

Weiss touched her face, stilling the obviously upset girl. "Ssh… it's okay. It was only a matter of time before something happened. Before my father did something that resulted in.. dangerous consequence... But this way… we have a chance to stop it, okay? I can stop him."

"I know... but Weiss… I'm sorry."

Weiss leaned up and kissed her. It had been the first time they'd kissed since the dancing when she'd first arrived and her guardian fae was more than a bit surprised. But she responded without hesitation. Soft lips caught in her own, tasting sweet in her mouth. Weiss ran a hand down her cheek.

The fire, the same feeling of excitement from the dancing, this kiss held it all again. Bursting free in Weiss' chest like a firework. Weiss didn't know what they were to each, didn't know what the kiss signified, but she knew they had a connection. And it meant something.

Ruby broke away, silver eyes gleaming in the dark. For a while they just stared into one another's eyes, Weiss' heart thrumming loudly in her chest.

Yang and Blake's voices had vanished so they were left in silence. Just looking at each other.

"Weiss…"

Weiss smiled. 'Look, things are complicated right now but don't worry. No one blames you and nor should they. We'll get through this together."

Ruby kissed her again, this time stronger than before. More passionate but with a meaning behind it. It conveyed her message pretty well. Acceptance of her words.

The night was still young but tomorrow they'd have a lot to do. After changing out of her dress and into the over sized t-shirt, Weiss crawled into the bed next to Ruby.

Without speaking the two of them curled up together. Ruby at her back, warm and soft, her mossy arms encircling her. It felt so natural to lie like this. For the first time in years Weiss didn't feel alone as she drifted off to sleep.

Ruby's breath stirred against her neck, a reassurance that she'd be there when they woke up. She was tired, everything that had happened was mindblowing and she needed rest.

Weiss placed her hands over Ruby's and smiled when they curled around hers as well. For the first time in forever.. Maybe she wasn't so alone.

So Yang was attractive.

And Blake was unnerved. Though she conversed and joked with her like a friend, there was this little fluttering in her chest. It was stupid, it was awful and meant nothing. But every time that blonde got that crazy smile or that excited look in her eyes, Blake couldn't stop her stomach from turning backflips.

They'd only just met, she reminded herself. There was nothing behind this.

But when Yang stripped over her shirt to change her clothes Blake swore she almost had a heart attack. The way her muscles moved, her strong shoulders twisting before the swell of her biceps. Oh she could kill with a body like that.

So it was a physical attraction, her mind murmured to her heart. Nothing more than that. Nothing else.

But that didn't seem to be the case. Because when Yang sent a wink in her direction her nerves exploded. It didn't make her feel hot or bothered or anything along the line of physical pleasure. No It made her endless happy.

Blake managed to keep her face neutral and just sighed. She'd no clue what she was doing now or what she was supposed to do. Humans were and never will be her strong point.

From worlds that were both neither human, they just confused her. Seeming arrogant and unintelligent she assumed they were just a waste of time. But after meeting Weiss and Winter and Yang, she knew they were different.

Deadly, strong and intelligent. Each powerful in their own way. Heck Winter had pretty much shut her mother up. And she'd been right to do so. Humans were such strange creatures.

Blake turned around and stripped out of her own clothes. Her cheeks were burning but she slid the t-shirt Yang had given her on. Her sharp nose caught the blonde's scent clinging to it. And it was such a lovely scent.

"Hey Blake-" the human called from across the room. "-look sorry if the puns were.. insulting or inappropriate, it's just... little Rubes was looking so down I thought maybe I could make her feel better."

Blake stayed with her back to Yang, tail slowly bobbing up and down. "No, it's okay. While most were generic cat puns, I'll admit it was a little funny."

"Excuse you, my puns are all the best paws-sible."

Blake let out a chuckle and pressed a hand to her mouth. She didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she'd made her laugh. But from the sound she made it seemed Yang already knew.

"Say Yang-" she began, just remembering something that had confused her. "-how do you know Ruby?"

Yang was sitting on the bed in an orange tank top that was devastatingly tight to her figure. The human awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. "Aye… that's something we need to address, huh?"

Blake walked over to the bed, her tail curling around her bare legs. She spotted Yang's eyes following it before reaching her face.

"You met my dad and he's human as ever but, well... my mother wasn't."

"Excuse me?"

"My mother was fae, Qrow's sister to be precise. She left when I was young and hadn't been seen since. Uncle Qrow spent a lot of time with dad. And... I'm assuming you know Ruby's connection to Qrow?"

Blake nodded. Summer Rose had been Ruby's mother and her father… Ruby said she'd never known him. But after her mother's death Qrow had taken her in and treated her like his own child.

"Yeah well I spent a lot of time with Ruby growing up. I've been in the mountain several times before. She's like a sister to me."

"She's never mentioned you before." It slipped out before Blake could stop it. She hadn't to say it like that. But it was true. Blake had known Ruby for most of her life and not once did she ever know of this human.

Or half human it seemed.

Yang laughed. "I'd say not. It had to be kept a secret because if the qu-... your mother found out it wouldn't be good for us."

Fair enough. Still. She'd consider Ruby her best friend and to know there was this whole section of her life that she hid from her. It selfishly stung.

"What about you? What's your deal? You're a faunus… but not?"

"Half. Half faunus and half fae. Like you I guess."

Yang tilted her head. The human was obviously quite interested but seemed to be waiting for her to say something. Blake shook her head. Maybe another day but right now she was exhausted. She hadn't slept all last night.

Yang seemed to catch onto this. "Cool, we can talk tomorrow or whatever. Let's rest up, 'kay?"

Blake slipped under the covers. The covers smelt like Yang, the whole bed did. Blake closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. What was this feeling that made her heart spin? What did this human have that just made her so nervous?

She could feel Yang's presence at her back, warm and soft but not touching. Blake flattened her ears as the lights when off. She didn't understand what she felt.

But whatever. It was stupid, it was just some impulse feelings that got dragged up because Yang was pretty. It was sure to pass easy.

At least that was what she hoped. Because if these tiny feeling really meant something in way the faes' did, she was screwed.

What I really need is a friend who will yell at me until I update regularly.

Anyway, have a nice day ^-^