Pearls on a String
Volume 1
Chapter 12: Consequences
En Route to Beacon Academy
Early Saturday Evening
Evie stared out the side window from her seat on the airbus, her eyes feeling like sandpaper. She wished she'd been able to sleep even for a small amount on their long trip from Vacuo, but her mind had other plans for her, tying her up into frustrated knots.
Why is this bothering me so much? I should be happy for Beryl, she's a sister to me, and she's happy… all the others are happy… everybody's happy but me, Dust damn it all! Why is that? Why can't I just let this go?
The Cat Faunus heard a clearing of a throat from further down and closed her eyes wearily. Beryl had been trying for most of the trip to engage her somehow, along with the rest of her team, but the best she could do was to offer monosyllabic answers. Her thoughts were far too scattered and chaotic to engage in any sort of meaningful conversation.
"So, I was thinking," her blue-haired teammate began hesitantly. "What do you guys think of turning our beds into bunk beds?"
"That's an awesome idea!" Pip immediately jumped in excitedly. "It'd give us so much more room!"
"I did enjoy our sleeping arrangement at Vacuo," Lustre commented calmly. She'd been the only one from her team that hadn't pressed Evie after the first few minutes, perhaps picking up on her inner turmoil.
Maybe I should ask her what's wrong with me, 'cause I'm not getting anywhere on my own here.
"Sooo, what do you think, Evie?" Beryl asked quietly.
The raven-haired girl didn't turn around, but nodded slightly in agreement. "Sure, sounds good."
She noted the sighs from both Beryl and Pip, the former being more disappointed than anything while her blonde partner was evidently becoming more exasperated with her reticence.
"So, how would we go about it?" Lustre interjected before Pip could try and pressure Evie into more unwelcome conversation. The blonde could always manage to dispel her foul moods whenever they overtook her in the past, dragging her into the light when she tried to slink sullenly back into the shadows again, but this time she really didn't want the attention. She just wanted answers.
Answers that didn't seem to be forthcoming, much to her chagrin.
"Well," Beryl began slowly. "We'd need to raise the upper beds a bit, I don't think they're really designed to be that way… Oh! Hey, didn't we read in that one book of yours, Lustre, that Ruby and her team had bunks while at Beacon?"
"That is true, they did," Lustre agreed. "I believe they used rather unconventional and perhaps unstable means, however. Such as books and ropes."
"Oh. Well, we could try using books…"
Lustre snorted softly. "You shall not be using any of my books."
"But…"
"No, dear. Try something else."
"Hrm," the blue-haired girl muttered. "Well, what if… No, that wouldn't… Hey, I got it! We'd need permission, though, since I don't see how we could manage it without making holes…"
"Wait, what?" Pip interjected. "I mean, I'm all for this idea, but if we're gonna be breaking school property…"
"No, not breaking… Okay, so if we got four wood blocks per bunk, same width as the bed posts but, I dunno, maybe half a foot in length? And then we'd need to attach them to the beds themselves, so maybe a long rod, steel or wood or something, through the block…"
"Oh, gotcha, and then just make small holes for the rods in the bed posts!" Pip laughed excitedly. "Yeah, that's brilliant, Beryl! Don't you think so, Evie?"
The Faunus girl sighed. "Yeah, sounds like a plan."
"Evie…"
"No, not right now, Pip. Please." She closed her tired eyes and tried to push as much sincere pleading into her voice as she could.
Her partner sighed softly once more. "Okay, Evie. You know we're all here for you, right? Anytime you wanna talk."
She simply nodded wordlessly and dragged her eyes open once more, sightlessly gazing out the window again.
Why am I so upset?
Beacon Academy
They finally set down at the landing platform on the edge of Beacon. Just as the landing pads touched, Pip's scroll buzzed.
Her other teammates began to gather their bags together while she read the incoming message with a furrowed brow.
"What's up, Pip?" Beryl asked concernedly.
"Well… It's Headmaster Ozpin, he wants to see us all right away. We can leave our bags in the lobby, he said he'd have them sent to our room."
"That sounds slightly ominous," Lustre murmured. "Are we in trouble, perhaps?"
The blonde looked around at the accusing stares from her other three teammates. "What? It wasn't me this time, I swear!"
Both Beryl and Lustre chuckled slightly, but Evie merely nodded. She couldn't seem to bring herself to care overmuch about what Ozpin wanted to see them about, her brain felt as dull and lifeless as her body at this point.
I need sleep… Perhaps that's all that's wrong with me at this point, simple exhaustion. If I get a good night's sleep then things will look better in the morning, we can all get back to normal again, put the whole trip behind us…
She trailed behind the others as they trudged towards the main tower, still bustling with activity as it was right after dinner. The Cat Faunus couldn't bring herself to eat anything on the flight, either, not even with an offering of tilapia, a light and flaky fish that she normally enjoyed.
The team of huntresses-in-training left their bags in a pile against the wall of the lobby before heading over towards the waiting room that housed the elevator leading up to the Headmaster's office. Pip pressed the button, and the doors opened immediately to allow the four of them to file inside.
"Do you suppose we should have changed?" Lustre whispered, looking down at their usual combat attire.
"Nah, you know Oz, he's not a stickler for those kinda things," Pip replied nonchalantly.
Beryl snickered softly. "Oz, huh?"
"Um, I mean, Professor Ozpin. Not that I'm, like, worried that he has surveillance in the elevators or anything," Pip muttered.
"Which I could totally see him doing," Beryl snarked.
Lustre and Beryl had another laugh at Pip's expense as she stared at the floor, blushing. Evie just shook her head, the barest hint of a smile on her lips. It was gone as soon as it formed, though, leaving her feeling emotionally numb once more.
The doors opened into the familiar office of the Headmaster, clockwork gears slowly turning overhead in the ceiling. The gray-haired man himself sat behind his desk, sipping from the ever-present mug of what they always presumed to be coffee, though speculation was rampant among the students as to what it actually contained. Guesses ranged from the mundane, such as hot chocolate with little marshmallows, to the outrageous but somehow fitting, such as the tears of students who failed their examinations.
"Welcome back to Beacon, ladies. Please, take a seat." Ozpin indicated a row of four chairs arrayed in front of his desk. The team solemnly obliged and sat down attentively.
"First, allow me to congratulate you on your performance at the Vytal Festival this year," he began warmly. "Professor Lazuli gave me a report on your exceptional success, and I watched as well. I must say, your accomplishments reflected quite positively upon our school as well as yourselves as a team."
"Thank you, sir," Pip replied politely with a wide smile.
"Now, then, I shall move onto the main business at hand. Miss Cerise and Miss Beryl, your fight against the enhanced Grimm that you found out in the countryside of Vacuo."
Pip and Beryl shared a wide-eyed glance. "Um, yes, sir," the blonde stated hesitantly. "We were under the impression from Headmaster Zaff that it was merely an aberration."
Ozpin nodded amicably. "That may be so, but I happen to believe otherwise. Especially considering the number of students and hunters who disappeared after you slew the monster in question."
Beryl herself nodded eagerly. "That's what we thought, too! I mean, if there are more of those things out there, then we should be hunting them down! Er, sir." The blue-haired girl sat back once more, looking somewhat abashed at her exuberance.
"I feel the same way, Miss Beryl," Ozpin assured her with a gentle smile. "Now, I've read over your report, as well as that from the team that investigated the remains. There was something odd found at the scene, and I was wondering if either of you might have noticed it previously." He tapped a few keys, and a three-dimensional image began to rotate above his desk. It looked to be a somewhat melted lump of metal, twisted about upon itself. "Does this look familiar?"
Both Pip and Beryl shook their heads slowly. "Um, no sir," the blonde voiced. "Was it found where that thing was?"
"Yes… We are still calling it a Nevermore, as it had much of the same features save for those odd, pulsing red veins as you described them. Not to mention the fire-breathing aspect."
"Yeah, let's not forget that," Beryl muttered.
"So, no memory of seeing something like this, either on that rooftop or on the Nevermore itself?" he probed.
"I'm sorry, sir, but no. We were a little occupied with not dying and all, but I think I would have remembered something like that," Pip stated firmly.
Beryl nodded as well. "I got close enough to see down it's beak, and I didn't see anything like that either. Sir."
"Hmm. Pity." Ozpin tapped a key once more and the display disappeared. "Well, then. Anything else you might be able to add?"
He sighed at the negative expressions both girls returned. "Well, if you do happen to recall any other detail not previously mentioned, please do not hesitate to contact me. Otherwise, you are all dismissed. You've earned a good night's sleep in your own beds."
"Thank you, sir," Pip replied as she rose up. "Oh! Before I forget… Would there be a problem if we were to, um, modify our dorm room furniture somewhat?"
Ozpin raised an eyebrow curiously, and the blonde hastened to explain what they had in mind to convert their beds into ones that resembled their sleeping arrangements back at Shade Academy.
"I don't see a problem with that, so long as you do so carefully and try not to actually destroy the beds," he replied, a small smile on his face.
"Thank you, sir!" Beryl replied happily.
The four of them turned and headed towards the elevator once more after taking their leave of the Headmaster.
"Oh, and Miss Cerise?"
Pip stopped and turned back again. "Sir?"
"While I do not mind the use of the nickname 'Oz', I would still prefer to be addressed as Professor or Headmaster to my face. Or just Sir, that works as well. At least until you graduate." He smiled pleasantly at her. "Have a good evening."
"Yessir!" Pip squeaked, her face flushed with embarrassment, before she turned and fled into the elevator to join her team.
"Busted," Beryl whispered.
"Shut it," Pip growled half-heartedly.
While Evie was happy to note that Professor Ozpin was taking their encounter seriously, now that the meeting had ended she was once more left to her own thoughts. Standing in close proximity to her teammates made her feel as if she were crawling out of her skin.
Just get back to the dorm room, get some sleep… That's all I need, just a good night's sleep…
Their bags were indeed waiting for them in their room, much to the pleasure of Beryl who hadn't been looking forward to dragging her gear up the stairs. Perhaps an hour or so later saw the four of them in their night outfits and prepared for bed. Both Lustre and Evie were on their beds reading from novels, though in the Faunus' case she wasn't really paying attention to hers, merely waiting for the lights to go out so that she might try sleeping.
"Okay, out with it."
Evie looked up, startled, to see Pip flopped at the foot of the bed with a look of concern in her coral eyes and her crimson nightshirt bunched up at her thighs.
"I don't-" she began.
"Save it," the blonde returned firmly. "You've been staring at the same page since you sat down. Something is eating at you, and we want to know what it is so we can help you."
"We're a team, Evie," Beryl said softly from her own bed where she sat in her blue sleep pants and white baggy shirt. She was tugging at the hem of the latter nervously. "I'd like to think we were still more than that… but you're shutting us out."
"We are a family," Lustre interjected. She'd put her book down and stared at Evie with her light blue eyes the color of pale azure diamonds. She shifted her position and adjusted her white kimono sleepwear while doing so. "What bothers you bothers us. So, please, do not allow this to fester any longer."
Evie looked down at her hands, intertwined in her lap. "I… I can't," she whispered despondently.
"Why not?" Pip pressed.
"Because I don't understand it myself," the Cat Faunus replied, her voice barely audible. Beryl shifted from her bed over to Lustre's so that she might still hear her. "Because… Because it has to do with… one of you guys…"
"One of us?" Pip asked in surprise. "Did one of us say something to upset you?"
"No… No, it's not…" Evie sighed and clenched her hands together tightly. "It's… Beryl."
"Me?" Beryl squeaked in surprise. "What did I do?"
"You and Sunny," the Cat Faunus explained further, closing her eyes while letting out an exasperated sigh.
"You're… upset that Beryl and Sunny hooked up?" Pip asked quietly, disbelief lacing her words.
Evie just nodded, her eyes still closed.
"But why?" Beryl murmured. Evie winced at the hurt in her friend's voice.
"I don't know," Evie grumbled, her eyes snapping open as she got up from her bed. She began to pace in her black camisole shirt and sleep shorts, her tail swishing furiously behind her. "I don't get why it bothers me this much! Maybe… Maybe because I'm saving myself, and I feel like… like it should have more meaning than that!"
"You've never said anything like that to me," Pip reminded her gently, though her brow was furrowed in confusion.
"I know, and that makes it even more confusing!" Evie muttered. She made the mistake at glancing over at Lustre's bed, and her heart almost broke at the tears that were forming in Beryl's light bronze eyes. "Beryl…"
"I had a really good time last night," Beryl stated hotly. "Yes, it was just sex, that's all it was. But I was hoping… I really, really thought that my team, my family, would all be happy for me!"
"And… and I want to be!" Evie replied with just as much heat, her voice raised. "I just… I can't!"
"Then, why?" Beryl demanded, angry tears finally running in lines down her cheeks. "Why are you so upset with me about this?"
"It's not you, it's…" Evie ran a frustrated hand through her hair and pulled it out of her ponytail. "I just… It should…"
It should have been me!
The Cat Faunus froze while holding Beryl's gaze as all of the blood rushed from her face. Wait, what? What was that?
But the flood gate had been released and she could no longer deny to herself what she had been feeling all this time. The painful, all-consuming jealousy of what Beryl and Sunny had together.
I'm… jealous? Because… Oh, Oum preserve me, I'm in love with Beryl?!
"Evie?" Lustre murmured worriedly. "Are you well?"
Breathing rapidly, Evie's stare switched between her teammates, all of whom wore the same look of concern, Pip having come around the other beds to stand in the middle of the room. Beryl's tears had stopped and she reached a hand out towards her.
The skittish Cat Faunus took a quick step back, her gaze becoming wild as she sought an escape from their stares, from this room. She glanced out the window at the courtyard outside, just enough light left in the day to allow her to see, and pushed her aura into her semblance, blinking away.
She hit the ground in a stumble, but quickly regained her footing and raced away, her traitorous thoughts pursuing her far more effectively than her teammates ever could.
No… no, no, no, this can't be right… How can I… and her…? How long…?
She felt the tears stream down her face, unhindered, as she sought refuge in the falling darkness out by the gardens. Eventually she came to a rest behind a concealing bush and crouched in her bare feet, arms wrapped around her knees and rocking back and forth gently.
How can I be in love with Beryl? I mean, yes she's a warm, caring person… always protective of all of us, no matter what and no matter who threatens us… She's opened up to us so much since we first met her, letting us see the kind, funny, and sweet person inside… And…
She stopped rocking and blinked her eyes incredulously as a pair of warm, light bronze eyes materialized in her mind's eye and she truly thought about what Beryl meant to her.
Oh my Oum… I'm in love with her…
That set her off into a whole new round of rocking, the pace picking up as her thoughts spiralled out of control.
But she has Sunny now… And... and there's no possible way she could feel that way about me… Dust damn it, this could ruin us as a team if it gets out! We're all so close, how would they handle things if they find out how I feel and that she doesn't reciprocate?
I'd… I'll lose them…
Sniffling miserably, Evie wiped her eyes with the back of her arm and came to realize she was shivering slightly.
Brilliant plan, Evelyn, run out into the night in just your skimpy pj's. I'll be lucky if there aren't pictures of me by morning, who knows who saw me… I need to get indoors, but… No, no I can't go back into the dorm, I can't face them all just yet, there will be more questions, and I can't…
The Cat Faunus stood up from her crouch carefully, extending her enhanced senses out to search for anyone nearby. Satisfied that she was in the clear for the time being, she crept out and considered her choices before settling on the library as it would be closing soon on a Saturday night.
She stood just outside the pool of light cast by the overhead lighting near the library entrance. Once she was satisfied there were no last-minute patrons either entering or exiting, and that she couldn't see any of the staff nearby, she activated her semblance and sent herself into the library itself, just inside the windows.
Crouched once more, her furry ears flickered as she sought out where the occupants of the building were currently. Wasting no more time, Evie raced off and towards her favorite nook that was tucked out of the way, where she might remain unobserved.
If I hear anyone coming, I can just jump up to the top of the shelf. But they should have already gone through and checked for any patrons remaining. I should be okay.
Eventually she heard the library staff leave, turning off the interior lights and locking up. The Cat Faunus sighed, curling up into a tight ball with her tail wrapped around herself.
What am I gonna do? she moaned to herself. What can I do?
She was trembling again, but this time not from the cold. Her tears fell once more as she contemplated the loss of what she'd built up there at Beacon, at the little family unit she'd made with three of the closest friends she'd ever had in her life.
Finally, exhausted from the emotional ordeal and lack of sleep, she drifted off into a restless slumber, her dreams plagued with loneliness and despair.
Beacon Library
Midnight
Evie woke suddenly, startled by the sound of glass breaking. She was up and running towards the source of the disturbance before she was fully awake, her training taking over.
She skidded to a halt next to a rack of books, staring at the red nightshirt-clad figure standing amid the broken glass from the window.
"Pip?" she whispered incredulously.
"There you are!" the blonde girl exclaimed quietly. "Gods, I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Pip… you broke the window!"
"Um, yeah I did… see, the library was closed, and-"
"Pip, you broke into the library!"
"Yes, I did!" Pip hissed back angrily. "Because I've been looking for you all night, and I decided to break into here before I bashed in the door of the classroom building! That was next on my list of felonies for the night!"
"But…" Evie shook her head in astonishment. "What did you even break the window with?"
Pip looked down at the floor sheepishly, toeing a large rock with her bare foot.
"And you're barefoot!" Evie sputtered. "Standing in glass barefoot? What is wrong with you?"
"My aura can handle some stupid glass!" Pip retorted, her voice rising furiously. "And there's nothing wrong with me, what the fuck is wrong with you? Why did you run off?"
"Because… Because I needed to be alone!" Evie yelled back. The two of them crouched suddenly as they heard raised voices approaching.
"Dust… we gotta go!" Pip whispered harshly, grabbing Evie's hand and hauling her out of the library.
Evie pulled back but kept hold of her partner. "Wait… just, hold on." She pushed a decent chunk into her semblance and teleported the two of them across the courtyard and into the shadows. The Faunus girl stumbled slightly from the sudden aura drain, but righted herself and began to head further into the night. "Okay, so… So you found me, now just… go, okay? I'm fine."
Pip continued after her as she strode away. "No, I'm not going anywhere without you."
They rounded the corner of the classroom building before Evie whirled, her eyes glittering dangerously. "Why? Why can't you just leave me alone, huh? I just… I just need to be away from all of you right now!" She turned once again, intent on making good on her desire.
Pip grabbed the raven-haired Faunus by her upper arms, turning her back around. Evie was startled by both the rage in her partner's bloodshot eyes as well as the tears that filled them.
"You don't get to decide that!" the blonde roared angrily. "You can't just run off like that and leave me, us, wondering where you are!" She'd started to tremble and the rage was gone like it'd never been there, replaced by despondent fear as the tears finally escaped down her cheeks. "You're my family, all of you are! You can't… You…"
Evie gasped as Pip pulled her into tight, desperate hug. "Please don't leave me, Evie," the lanky girl sobbed. "Please, please don't… you're all I have…"
The Faunus closed her eyes, her own guilty tears soaking into Pip's nightshirt. She had no idea that under her partner's cheerful, brash exterior lay such insecurity. "Pip…" she whispered. "I promise you, I will never leave you, okay? I'm… I'm sorry I worried you, I just… I had to think for awhile, but I would never, ever leave you… You're my family too, okay?"
"Okay," Pip sniffed, her voice muffled in the Faunus' hair.
They stood like that for some time, just holding each other and giving the comfort that only the very best of friends, close enough to be sisters, can give.
"Now, are you gonna tell me why you ran?" Pip eventually murmured without releasing her hold.
Evie froze, her grip tightening around Pip's waist. "No… Pip, no, I can't…"
"Yes, you can. Please, babe, talk to me. What was it you were going to say? What scared you so badly? Was it Beryl?"
"Yes… I mean, no, it wasn't her that… Well, yes in a way…"
Pip sighed as she reached a hand up to stroke her partners hair, lingering between her Faunus ears to scratch lightly. "You're babbling," she commented.
"Pip… Oh, gods, please don't hate me…"
"Didn't we already go through this?" the blonde laughed gently. "There's nothing you can do to make me hate you. Just say it."
Evie screwed her eyes shut, the tears threatening to spill once more. "It should have been me," she finally moaned disconsolately.
"It… wait, what?"
"I should have been her first, just as she should have been mine," Evie sobbed, unable to hold back. "I'm in love with her, Dust damn it, I think I have been for awhile and just… just never realized it until tonight. Oh, Oum, what am I gonna do, Pip? I can't just… And she already… And you guys…"
"Okay, just stop." Pip leaned back and held her hand over Evie's mouth. The Cat Faunus just nodded miserably, mumbling an apology behind her fingers.
The blonde took another step back and pinched the bridge of her nose with her other hand, the corners of her lips curling into a rueful grin. "I can't do this again," she sighed, much to Evie's confusion.
Finally seeming to make up her mind, Pip nodded and moved her hands to place both of them on her partner's shoulders. "Evie, do you trust me?"
"Yes, absolutely," she declared without hesitation. "With my life."
"Enough to do exactly as I say?"
Evie nodded again, though her brow was furrowed. "What are you-"
Pip moved a hand to place it back over her lips. "Okay. I need you to not say another word and come with me. When we reach our destination, you will follow my orders precisely. Got it?"
The Faunus nodded slowly, still perplexed as to what was going on. But then Pip had her by the hand and was sprinting back across the campus, the Cat Faunus in tow.
She opened her mouth to complain at the pace but remembered that she was told to be silent.
Before long they arrived at their dorm, and Pip dragged her upstairs and back to their room. Evie's eyes widened, and when her team leader looked back at her, she shook her head frantically.
Pip cheerfully ignored her silent protests and thrust her through the opened door, where Beryl and Lustre sat atop the bed that they'd been on previously. Both looked up in confusion.
"Pip, what are you…?" Beryl began, but the blonde held up a hand.
"Okay, I need everyone to be silent, please. Lustre, over on my bed. Beryl, you stay there."
Curious looks were shared between the two of them but they complied. Meanwhile, Pip was dragging the terrified Faunus over to stand in front of Beryl.
"Right. So, spill," Pip ordered.
"What?" Evie squeaked.
"You heard me. Tell her."
"No, Pip… Please, don't make me-"
"Evie!" the blonde barked, turning her so that she was forced to look into her coral eyes. "You said you trusted me, right?"
Evie nodded, her vision becoming blurry from the renewed tears.
"Then tell her," Pip murmured with a warm, encouraging smile. "Please."
Evie turned back towards Beryl, trembling uncontrollably. The blue-haired girl looked at Pip, who was moving back to sit beside Lustre, and then towards the Faunus girl in front of her with concern.
"What's wrong?" Beryl asked softly.
The Faunus almost melted on the spot at the caring look in her light bronze eyes. Okay, may as well get this over with, it's only the end of my life here…
She sank to her knees, slightly to the side of her petite teammate, and stared down at the floor. Her Faunus ears were flattened against her head and her tail was tucked protectively around her waist. She clenched her hands together nervously, holding them in between her knees to stop their shaking.
"Beryl… I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry about… about everything I said…"
The blue-haired girl moved slightly, her hand extended, but Evie shook her head violently without looking up.
"No, please… let me finish, okay? So... " She took a deep breath and screwed her eyes shut. "I'm in love with you," she finally whispered.
There was a deep, shocked silence from the girl in front of her, while Lustre's gasp was cut off, likely by Pip's hand as she seemed to have a habit of doing so.
"You… what?" Beryl eventually breathed.
Evie nodded miserably. "I didn't realize it until tonight, but… Oum, Beryl, I'm so sorry, all those times I saw you and Sunny together, I was so jealous, and I didn't even know… know that…" She hiccuped as she tried to control her rapid breaths. "I know you have Sunny now, and I'm… I'm happy for you, or at least I really want to be, but… Oh, Beryl, I wish it had b- been me…"
She broke off into sobs, unable to continue. Her head bowed, hanging her tangled curtain of hair in front of her face, blocking it off. That's it, then, now she'll hate me and never want to-
Her thoughts blanked as she felt a pair of small but strong arms encircle her shoulders, pulling her into a hug.
"B- Beryl? What…?"
"You are such an idiot," the blue-haired girl choked out. "All this time you had feelings for me, but it took me and Sunny getting together for you to realize it?"
"Um… Y- Yeah, that's pretty much the extent of it…" Evie replied sheepishly. "Why aren't you, um, angry at me?"
"How could I be," Beryl whispered, "when I've loved you for over a year now?"
"Loved…? You mean…?"
"Yes, you beautiful, gorgeous idiot," Beryl giggled, though her voice sounded raw and scratchy. "I'm in love with you as well."
Evie pulled back, her eyes wide and searching as she locked gazes with Beryl. The other girl's eyes were filled with tears of her own, but she wore a wide, happy smile on her face.
She still didn't understand. "But… But Sunny…?"
"I told you," Beryl murmured. "It was just sex. You've always had my heart, kitty cat."
Evie blinked her sapphire blue eyes uncertainly. With a roll of her own eyes, Beryl leaned over from her crouch next to the Faunus and sealed her lips over hers.
Oh… well, I suppose that settles it, then...
Those were her last coherent thoughts as she melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms and tail around the diminutive girl and poured all of her love and heart into the action.
A/N: Yay, and there was much rejoicing! So this was a long time building up towards, but I hope I did it justice. Next chapter will pick up the morning after when the girls actually sit down and talk things through, as well as feature another RWBY cameo. Any guesses as to who it might be?
Many hugs for reading, favoriting, following, and reviewing! Martin Hooper1, hope you're happy with the Evie x Beryl result! As far as our mysterious man in the shadows, we shall have to see what he has planned…
Stay shiny!