Zachary's POV
"Wake up, you're wasting my time!" My eyes flashed open as I sat up quickly. It took me a moment as I blinked away the sleepiness to see Lium leaning against the doorway, smiling is smug smile. He wore a black eye from must have been our fight, still lingering. Yang was waking up slowly, and when she saw Lium standing in the doorway, she covered herself with the comforter. Even though she was wearing her pajamas, I was grateful. I growled in his direction.
"What do you want?" He grinned at my anger.
"Grandfather assigned me to escort you to your training." He said. "Your lucky I'm generous. I'm giving you 30 minutes to get ready. I'll be back here then." With that, he left, the door swinging closed behind him. I swung my feet over and stood up, heading over to my bag on the dresser in my boxers.
"You can have first shower." I said, not bothering to look at Yang. I got a small murmur in return, and a moment later, the bathroom door closed. When the shower started, I started to unpack my things. It was just enough to fill the drawer, really. I stopped when I picked up my jacket. I held it for a moment, staring at the light material. It was only a moment before I crouched down to slide it under the dresser, pushing it all the way to the back. If anyone saw that I still had that, there would be hell to pay. At that thought, I froze. Very slowly, I put my hand to my back, just on top of my tattoo. Courage, Bravery, Integrity. What was I going to do about that? Anybody that could read in the family would be able to understand what it says. They would know that it was an act of defiance. Slowly, a cold hand was put over mine.
"We'll be fine." Yang said. "We can hide this." I turned my head just enough to look at her before sighing, putting my bag on the floor. She was still wearing her towel
"Yang, you need to follow me when we go out there." I said. She nodded.
"Alright." She started to turn away, but I caught her before she could. She turned to look at me.
"I mean it. There's no telling what their "training" is going to be." I said. She put a hand on my shoulder reassuringly.
"I'll be fine, Zach. Go take your shower." I stared at her for a moment, but she pushed me towards the bathroom with a smile.
"We'll be fine. Go." I nodded, heading into the bathroom.
When Lium opened the door, Yang and I were waiting. She was wearing her usual clothes, while I was wearing a pair of black jeans with orange lacings and a black T shirt with orange sleeves. He smiled and clicked his tongue at Yang.
"Now, now. Where is the orange? Looks like we're going to have to get you fitted for clothes today." I nodded.
"Alright, alright. Let's go." Lium got out of the way as I pushed past Lium, Yang following close behind. He smiled as he led us through the halls. He pointed out different destinations to Yang as we passed them, but eventually led us to the Kitchen on the first floor. There were a few people about when we went in, mostly older family, but there were a couple adults. The kitchen was huge, but it was more of a dining room. A lot of tables, and a separate room with an actual kitchen area. Lium bounced straight over to the counter, picking up an apple out of the bowl before turning to us.
"You two have full range of the kitchen and it's stocks at any time. We have some time for breakfast, so go happy." He took a large bite of his apple as Yang and I started browsing the fridge and pantry. There was a lot to offer, and after a bit of searching, we got started on a couple pancakes. We cooked quietly, despite the gleeful conversation that took place when we had cooked in our dorm in Beacon. It seemed wrong to have a happy conversation in front of my cousin. Once we were done, the two of us brought our breakfast into the dining room, sat down, and started eating. Lium didn't join us, but instead watched us with a smile from the kitchen door, eating his second apple. The others in the room glanced at us, murmuring to each other. I couldn't hear what their saying, but I could make a guess. Zachary, the traitor. I ignored the thoughts looking up at Yang. She seemed fine, eating away at her pancakes. When she saw me staring she looked up.
"What is it?" Silence in the room. I stared for a second longer before smiling.
"You're beautiful." She smiled back before leaning forward to kiss me over the small table. I leaned forward as well, deepening the kiss before we both leaned back. If their gonna watch, might as give them a show. We smiled at each other for a moment longer before we both continued eating. It wasn't long before we were both done, and took our plates back to clean them and put them away. We met with Lium at the entrance when we were done, and we caught him just as he was throwing his second apple core away. He gave us a teethy smile.
"You ready to go?" Yang nodded.
"Yeah, lead the way." He walked out without another word, ignoring the elderly as he led us away from the kitchen, but he was stopped at the door to the dining room as a man walked up.
"Lium." His smile wavered just a moment, but reappeared in a second.
"Hello, father. How are you this morning?" The man waved his hand dismissively.
"Good, good. I just came for Master Cain. He says to skip training today. He wants you to bring them up to his see him." He pointed his head at us as he said them. Seems like not everybody was happy with Cain's decision to bring me back. Lium nodded.
"Alright, I'll get on that." Without another second, Lium's dad just left. He looked after him for a moment before cursing under his breath. He then turned back to us, his smile ever present, despite his anger seconds ago.
"Well, it looks like you're going up to Cain's office. Come on." He then strode off without another word. We walked at a brisk pace, but when we got to the stairs, he stopped.
"I don't have permission to the top floor. You two go on up." I nodded and led Yang up the stairs. We climbed from the bottom floor all the way to the top. When we crested the last step, we found ourselves in the middle of a sea of adults. This was where much of the family was when they hit 21, so it was like a party up here all the time. Yang and I were noticed immediately, and slowly, the room began to get quieter and quieter, until it was silent. All eyes were on us. I gulped once before walking straight to Cain's door on the other side of the room. Yang walked beside me, but her love for the spotlight was not in effect right now. She cringed under the sight of all the assassins, looking down at her feet as she followed me. The adults all scooted to the sides as we passed, making a large walkway for us. It actually seemed like a relief to put my hand on the knob of The Office door, quickly opening it for Yang, and then walking in myself. I closed the door quickly behind me, and turned back to the office. The room looked close to identical to the way I had seen it before, the only difference being the papers on the desk. Cain was smiling, the light still in his eyes from last night.
"I see Roland was able to find you two. Good, I wanted to speak with you." I straightened up.
"Yes, Grandfather?" He stood up and walked around his desk.
"I would like the ceremony for your marriage to be as soon as possible." I nearly took a step back in surprise. I opened my mouth to speak, but I found that my throat was dry, and I couldn't formulate words.
"W-what?" Yang said, obviously as surprised by the haste as well. Cain stood in front of his desk and leaned back on it.
"I would like the ceremony to be tomorrow. You will both be officially welcomed in the family, and then afterward, the two of you can start training and then missions." I froze with that. Mission's meant assassinations. I glanced at Yang to find her looking down, most likely still distracted by our marriage. I took a step forward.
"Grandfather, may I make a suggestion." He smiled and put his hands on my shoulders in a way he must have thought would be reassuring.
"Of course." I looked up into his grey eyes.
"You have obviously made large plans in Vale, working alongside the White Fang, and all. We should delay the wedding, wait until the time is more… desirable." Yang had sucked in a breath when I said to delay the wedding, and Cain became steely at that time as well.
"Yes, we are working alongside the White Fang, but I shouldn't imagine you didn't know that already." I shifted on my feet as Cain walked back behind his desk. He reached for one of the drawers, pulling something out. He dropped it on the desk roughly. It was the handle to the drawer I had kicked in.
"I understand that at the time we were enemies, but I don't understand this useless vandalism."
"What is he talking about?" Yang said. I glanced back at her, but before I could say anything, Cain was speaking.
"Where you not an accomplice of his as he trespassed on our land, threatened a child, and then vandalized my property in search for official documents?" There was silence in the room. I could feel Yang staring at the back of my head. I wanted to speak, but Cain was quicker once again.
"I believe that marrying the two of you today would be the most sensible idea." He said. "I believe you two should have some free time before you wed, so you have the rest of the day to yourselves. You may return to your room." I stared for a moment, wanting to curse him and run, but I couldn't. Instead, I calmly turned around and walked out with Yang. The two of us ignored all the watchful eyes as we headed back to the stairs.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I leaned against the bedpost on the footboard as Yang paced the room.
"I didn't want you to worry. It was during your mission in Mt. Glenn." She turned to me angrily.
"So what would have happened if you were hurt? If you were captured?" I grimaced under her lecturing.
"Maggie was helping me." I said quietly.
"So you trust her more than you trust me!" I looked up quickly.
"What?! No! I mean, I was just trying to protect you from coming here! That's been my goal this entire time, to keep you from here! You don't know what they can make you do, what they turn you into!" She backed up from my sudden audacity.
"Zach, you can't protect me forever." She said. "You're going to have to learn to trust me." I brought myself from the wall and stepped towards her, just to quickly kiss her. She went quiet as we kissed, and when we broke apart, we just had our foreheads pressed together.
"I trust you more than I trust myself." She smiled and kissed me back, but this time it was much deeper. It wasn't long before we were in bed, ferociously clinging to each other as we kissed with vigor.
We lied on top of the bed after spending the day relaxing in the room, kissing really. Exhausted, we were happy with just cuddling, my arm around her as I lay on my back. We had been quiet thus far, mostly just enjoying each others presence and privacy in the tense situation we were in. Suddenly, Yang spoke.
"You know, would getting married be such a bad thing?" I looked down and gave her a strange look. Of disbelief and confusion. I stared down at her questioning face, beautiful. I wondered, would it be that bad? I would get to be with Yang everyday, and would be able to say that we have a connection. We would have bonds that I couldn't have with anyone else because we would be each others. I smiled at the thoughts.
"No." I said. "It would be a great thing." She smiled up at me.
"We are getting married tomorrow, aren't we?" I nodded.
"Yeah, I guess we are." She looked into space for a moment, and I watched her, practically able to see the gears turning in her head.
"You know, you never actually asked to marry me." I smirked down at her.
"I never asked?" It seemed absurd to the situation, but in another way, it is a huge milestone. She nodded solemnly.
"Yeah, we just went along with what was happening, but you never actually asked me to marry you." I thought for a moment.
"Can you guarantee I'll get a yes?" She smiled.
"Nope." I laughed.
"Alright, then." I gently lifted her off me and got off the bed. She sat on the side as I kneeled in front of her.
"Yang Xiao Long. You are beautiful, intelligent, amazing, and- and a million other great and fantastic things I couldn't even begin to describe. You have changed my life forever, making me love you more and more with every passing day, because yes, I love you. I love you with every cell in my body and in every breath that I take, I love you. I wouldn't be able to stand living any day without you, and wouldn't ever want to. I want to give myself to you in every way I can, and with myself I provide this one question. Will you marry me?" She was smiling in bliss. Happy scrawled across her face in a million languages. She nodded at incredible speed.
"Yes, yes. I will. I can't wait for tomorrow!" I jumped up and hugged her deeply, nearly picking her up from my newfound excitement. When we had been hugging for nearly a minute, spinning in circles, we finally separated, if only barely. She spoke quietly, being only a centimeter from my face.
"I love you, too." That was when the explosions started.