A/N: I don't have much to say about this one. Let me know what you think is gonna happen in the reviews. Enjoy the bees.
Disclaimer: As always, I don't own RWBY
XxXxX
Chapter 11
Yang kept thinking about Nightshade. She thought about what she had gone through. She knew that it was upsetting enough that Ruby was kidnapped, but she didn't even want to fathom what it would be like if she were killed right before her eyes. She shuddered, trying to block out that mental image. And now, all the careless things she said came rushing back to her. All the times she accused her of leaving the city when they needed her. All the times she made fun of her 'tragic back story', when it actually had the right to be named as such.
And it made sense, why she felt the need to push everyone away. She was scared. Scared that if anyone got close, they would face the same fate as her family. That she would suffer even more. She wished she could dispel those fears for her, but the very man that instilled them was back and ready to take more from her. That girl, the one she fell for. She was in danger. She wanted to ask her who the lucky girl was... Uuuuh, she meant the girl. Just girl.
Strange new feelings aside, she wanted to know who the girl was so that they could protect her. So that they could keep an eye on her and make sure Raging Bull didn't pull anything. He, hopefully, didn't know about her. But they couldn't be too sure.
Tonight, at ten, they would meet up again. They would go through with whatever plan Nightshade had. They would go to the base and get Ruby back. Simple, right?
Yang knew it wasn't. If she was honest with herself, she was scared. Not for her own safety. She was afraid that something might happen or that something had happened to Ruby. She didn't know what she would do if that was the case. She told Nightshade that she couldn't go berserk in there, but she might not be able to help herself. On top of that, she was nervous about Nightshade. After hearing that story, facing Raging Bull again is going to be so challenging for her. If they were lucky, and had the drop on them, they might be able to avoid him altogether. But, as things were now, that seemed less and less likely.
But there was one reason she might have concerns for her own safety and that reason was currently placing a gallon of one percent milk in a plastic bag for an old lady. Blake smiled at the woman as she handed back her change and wished her well. She seemed a lot happier today. Part of her was so happy that she seemed to have found something that made her a little brighter than usual. The other, more selfish side of her was jealous that it wasn't because of her. She sighed.
She's happier than I'll ever make her. Yang thought.
If Yang went to the base tonight, she didn't know if she would see Blake again. She wanted to... tie things up, even if it was just her being paranoid. She normally wasn't this negative about things, but then again, she never faced anyone like Raging Bull before.
So after their shifts, Yang tried to approach Blake. But before she could, Blake beat her to the punch.
"Hey, Yang." She said with a small smile.
"H-hey. I was just gonna... Um... What's up?"
"I wanted to talk with you a bit." Blake told her, motioning for them to leave the store.
"Is everything ok?"
"I... I just wanted to talk about things."
That didn't answer my question. Yang thought. She had a bad feeling.
They left the store and started walking in the direction of the Schnee mansion out of habit. Like they used to.
"So... things... you wanted to talk about them?"
"I wanted to apologize for what I said before. I wanted to let you know that I... That I enjoyed our walks. That I enjoy talking with you, Yang."
"I... You..."
"Sorry, I just wanted to let you know. It was important to me."
"... Thanks..." Yang didn't know what else to say. A whole new slew of emotions coursed through her body. One such emotion was glee. Blake actually enjoyed being with her after all. She might even have a shot with her. She felt like dancing and shouting to the world. It was an amazing feeling.
The next emotion was confusion. Why? Why did she feel the need to tell her this. There were so many times she could have told her this. Why now? Why when Yang and Nightshade were about to go on a dangerous mission? She couldn't have known about that. Could she have?
"What did you want to talk about?"
"I... I wanted to..." What had she wanted to say? She wanted to say the things that Blake already beat her to the punch for. But she was saying it because she was worried that she might not make it back. "Wait, why are you saying this?"
Blake looked away from Yang.
"I wanted you to know. Just in case."
"In case of what?"
"Yang I-"
"No! In case of what?"
"Well... He's back... And he hates me..."
"Blake, nothing is going to happen to you."
"You don't know that. You don't know what might happen after..." Her voice trailed off.
"After?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does, Blake! What's wrong?" Yang asked, panic infiltrating her voice.
"I can't tell you. But it will be ok. Take care of yourself, Yang. Take care of your family."
"Blake."
"I have to go. There are things I need to get done."
"Blake! Wai-" Yang called out. But before she could finish, Blake had pulled her into an embrace. She clung tight. Yang cautiously reciprocated at first, but lost herself in the dark-haired girl's embrace. Blake smelled like lemongrass and vanilla, just as her lips had tasted. The aroma was so soothing she wanted to remain in her embrace for as long as she could. She had yearned for this for so long. It was oddly familiar though. Maybe it was because she had been comforting another dark-haired beauty.
Blake then pulled away and smiled. There were tears evident in her eyes.
"Goodbye, Yang." She said. Blake then turned and left.
Yang watched.
I never got to tell her. Yang thought. I never got to tell her how I felt.
Yang told herself that she would have another chance. But the way Blake was talking, she was worried about what the girl would do.
XxXxX
"We're going to see Professor Oobleck?" Yellow Dragon asked as she followed her associate along the back alleys.
"Dr. Oobleck." Nightshade corrected. "He has helped me out in the past and told me I was welcome to ask for assistance anytime I needed it. He's probably not expecting me to take him up on that offer now, but I'm sure he'll be more than willing to help."
"And how exactly can he help us?"
"We need an escape plan, and from what he was working on the last time I saw him, I have a feeling he knows something that will help."
As they neared the apartment complex, Yellow Dragon grabbed Nightshade's wrist. When Blake looked back, she saw the bright hero wore a sad smile.
"Hey, thank you for all your help." She told her. "I really couldn't have done any of this without you."
"I... You're welcome. I probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere without you either though."
"Nightshade."
"Yes?"
"I was thinking, and... You don't have to go to the complex. I can handle getting in and getting her out of there. You can get out after we talk to the doc."
"What?" Nightshade asked incredulously. How could she say that? "No! We do this together. I am seeing this till the end. No matter what might happen to me."
"You see it though, right? He has set this whole thing up to see you. And after you, he'll probably go after Blake Belladonna." YD explained. "If you just leave it to me, you won't have to worry. You can go back to your normal life again."
A normal life? Blake wasn't even sure what that meant anymore. She was touched that Yellow Dragon was finally understanding of her wishes, but that was when they first started the mission. And things had changed. She had changed. What was her normal life, anyways? Bagging groceries and pining after a girl she would never allow herself to have? Only experiencing love through the dry pages of a book? Going through the same routine, day after day? All of a sudden, with the recent events fresh in her mind, it seemed rather dull. This past week may have been an emotional hell for her, but it was the most exhilarating time she has had in a while. She doesn't know the last time she has laughed that hard, or had a conversation that long, or had someone hold her that tenderly. And that was when Blake realized what she would miss in her pursuit of a normal life.
Yellow Dragon.
The girl had wormed her way into her heart. She really did grow on people. Not like moss, though. She was more like slinking into a comforter on a cold winter night. At first, it was cold and you didn't think that it would actually help you feel any warmer. But then it brings out your own heat and wraps you in warmth. Yellow Dragon brought out the best in Blake. The parts she thought died a long time ago. And if she just led a 'normal life', she would never be able to see her again. She didn't know who she was outside of the mask, so she couldn't exactly ask her to hang out.
Maybe if Blake asked her, YD would tell-
No. She has been so adamant about not revealing identities, she can't just all of a sudden ask her. Besides, if she asked her, she would feel obligated to reveal hers as well. And that was not smart. But she still did wonder, just who was underneath those goofy goggles? Who was the girl who had been through so much and still smiled despite it all?
"The only way we do this, Dragon, is together." Finally she said. She stared in to her eyes with determination. Even if I don't make it out in the end. She thought.
XxXxX
"My word! Nightshade! I have not seen you in ages." The doc exclaimed as he opened his apartment door. "Please! Please! Come on in." He ushered with a wave of his hand.
"Oh my, Yellow Dragon too? Hello, my dear. My name is Dr. Bartholomew Oobleck." He extended his hand out to the other hero.
"Nice to meet you Dr. Oobleck." She greeted in return and took his hand.
"Now, while it is nice to see you two, it is rather late." He said, closing the door to his apartment once both heroes were inside.
"I apologize, Dr. Oobleck. But it's kind of important. We need your help." Nightshade kindly requested.
"Ah, another case?"
"Yes, the kidnapping case. Ruby Rose?"
"Oh, have you had any breakthroughs?"
Nightshade looked over to Yellow Dragon and then back to Oobleck.
"We have discovered where they are keeping her."
"You have? Well that is brilliant!" He exclaimed, but then his face dropped marginally. "Or not? Something tells me that you wouldn't be here if it were simple, am I wrong?"
"They know that we are coming. They gave us the directions themselves." Yellow Dragon supplied. "It's a set up and we need an escape plan. Nightshade here said that you might know a way to get us out of there?"
It was as if a light bulb had just gone off in his head. The doc raced further into his apartment and began rifling through a bunch of junk. Yang wanted to go see what he was working on, but Nightshade simply held out a hand, wearing a humorous smile. Gosh she was cute when she smiled.
With nothing else to do but wait for the doc to finish what ever he was working on, Yang took a look around the man's apartment. She thought that her room back at the mansion was messy, but this took the cake. Metal bits and doodads everywhere. The counter space (that was supposed to be used for cooking) was over flowing with beakers and test tubes, filled with various colored liquids. Yang then felt something hitting her feet. A tiny little modified roomba attempted to get through. She lifted her foot and the machine went on it's way.
"Aha!" He exclaimed. He came out of the other room holding two flat cylinders.
"What are those?" YD asked.
"These, are teleportation pads!"
Yang was pretty sure her jaw dropped at that moment. It sounded so far-fetched. So futuristic. So science fiction. Science fact, now? Heh! Good one, Yang.
She looked over to her partner and saw that she was only mildly surprised, mostly amused. Probably from Yellow Dragon's reaction to the contraption.
"How does it work, Doctor?" Nightshade asked.
"Well I modified it for your needs. It is a one way trip. You will put one end where you want to go, travel to the place where they are keeping her, and use it to bring you back to safety."
"What if someone tries to follow us?" YD asked.
"Impossible. It is one way for a reason. I have set it so after you travel through it, it will blow up."
"BLOW UP?" Exclaimed both heroes.
"A small explosion! Nothing big, just enough to make sure they can't follow and my tech won't be stolen."
"Alright, that makes sense, I guess." Dragon responded.
"Now, I do need to get some sleep tonight. I have to get up at five for work." He scooted them out. "And I expect to hear about you two in the news tomorrow."
"Um, probably just me, doc. Nightshade... can't do the super hero stuff anymore." Yang said.
"Ah, a shame. You are one of the best. Well, I wish you both the best of luck anyways."
And with that, he shut the door. Yang's eyes then locked on the one next to the doctor's. Blake's door. She thought about what she said earlier. It was a bit concerning. She wanted to make sure she was still ok. Without even thinking, she made her way over to her door.
"What are you doing?" Nightshade asked. She sounded a bit panicky, but paid that no mind.
"Oh, sorry. I wanted to check in on Blake Belladonna. See if she was alright."
"I'm sure she's fine, Dragon. We have work to do."
"This won't take long." Yang said as she knocked on her door. When she received now answer, fear surged through her body. Why wasn't she answering?
"Yellow Dragon, She's probably asleep."
"Yeah, I hope." She spared the door one last worried look and turned to follow Nightshade.
And with that, they left the apartment. Onto their next destination. Schnee manor.
XxXxX
"That went... a lot smoother than expected." Blake commented. They had just put the teleportation device in the location of their choice. Which happened to be the gym of Schnee manor, the only place that did not have security cameras, besides the bedrooms and bathrooms (And neither destination seemed to ideal for their needs). When she asked Weiss why there were no cameras in that room, she said that it was at the request of Yang. Weird request, but she supposed it felt even stranger to have camera's watching you in your own home. She probably needed one place that she didn't feel like she was being watched.
"Well, yeah. We are bringing back her girlfriend, I'm sure she would be more than happy to help us in any way she could."
"Yeah, That makes sense." Nightshade said. "Are you ready for this? This won't be easy."
"Baby, I was born ready." She winked.
"Really? Now? You choose to be a ham now?"
"Oink oink?" Yellow Dragon said. "Hey, I use humor to cope with fear."
"You're scared?"
"Well, yeah. I'm scared that we won't be able to save her... or that something might happen to you."
"Don't... don't worry about me, Dragon." She gave a small smile. "And we'll definitely get her out of there." She put a hand on her shoulder and the bright hero clasped her hand over top of Nightshade's.
They stared at each other for a couple seconds. Amber locked with crimson. And then, without needing to say another word, they went off into dangers unknown. Off to rescue Ruby.
