The Faunus had some free time alone in the dorm while the rest of her team were in their final class. Blake sat in the corner of her bed, a book in hand. The Faunus skimmed the pages, but she couldn't seem to take in any of the words on the paper. Blake's mind wandered back to her last encounter with her partner. `Why is Yang acting like this?`Blake clutched the book tighter. `I thought she and Coco were going to end up fighting back there.` Blake felt the irritation build-up. `How can she accuse Coco of not caring, that couldn't be far from the truth, and she knows that.`
Blake sighed, placing her book on her lap, her golden eyes drawn to the window, watching a few stray students enjoying the sun. `What was she thinking anyway, breaking Cardin's nose, I know he deserves it, but she could end up getting into trouble.` Blake glared at the world outside, an image of the blonde suddenly coming into her mind's eye.
`I don't blame her for attacking, Cardin.` Blake's bow flattened. `I just want to know what is going on in her head.` The Faunus bit her lip, unsure of what to do next. `I've never felt so confused when it comes to that girl, Yang is usually easy to read, but right now, she seems like a different person.` Blake wanted to go out and find the girl on her mind, but she knew Yang needed her space right now.
The sound of the dorm room door clicking open, snapped the girl out of her thoughts, her eyes automatically went to the page of the book she had been reading. This had become one of Blake's habits when her roommates interrupted her thoughts. It allowed her to focus her mind, as the team tended to leave her alone, believing she was reading.
Blake's cat ears flinched, as heavy boots stepped inside the room, she knew who the steps belonged too, she didn't even need to look up to tell that the blonde was staring down at her. Out of the corner of her eye, Blake could see the blonde standing there, tugging at the ends of her hair, something she did when she was nervous. Blake let the silence continue, her pride telling her to wait for Yang to make the first move.
Yang bit her lip, unsure of what to say, cursing her mind for convincing her it would be so easy for her to walk back to the dorm room as if nothing had ever happened. But obviously, that wasn't true, Blake wouldn't even acknowledge her when she entered the room. The blonde took a deep breath. "I was..." she started, but Blake interrupted her.
"Aren't you meant to be in class?" The Faunus questioned her, ignoring the girl's awkward demeanor, Yang forced out a nervous laugh.
"Just needed some time to clear my head." Blake finally looked up at the girl, who was looking anywhere but to her partner. "So, I just decided to work on Bumblebee."
"Do you think another meeting with Goodwitch is worth skipping a few classes?." Blake reminded Yang of the last time she had decided to ditch class to fix her beloved bike. This ended with her going to a long meeting with Goodwitch and a call back home to Yang's father, which also didn't go too well.
"I'm trying not to think that far ahead, but now that you've brought it up, I'm kinda hoping she doesn't find out." Blake couldn't help but roll her eyes, a small smile tugging at her face.
"Well, I highly doubt that she won't figure it out. ." Yang looked down, her eyes no longer lingering at the Faunus. "What is going on, Yang? even with what you said to Coco, it was out of order."
"Blake, I'm sorry, I know I've said it before, but I just have a lot on my mind. I think..." Yang bit her lower lip. "Look, it doesn't matter, I shouldn't have said that, Coco doesn't deserve me taking my frustration out on her, I'm sorry." Yang let out a heavy sigh.
"Yang, I know things haven't been easy, but how do you expect us to help you, whenever we ask you what's wrong, you go off on someone. I just wish you trusted me enough to let me help you."
"I wish you could, but right now, it's just not that simple." Yang's voice was just above a whisper. "I swear, if I thought you could help me, I would let you." Yang gave her a sad smile. Blake let out a defeated sigh.
"I can see that there is nothing I can say that is going to change your mind. But Yang, if it starts to get out of hand, you have to let me know." Yang was hesitantly nodding her head in agreement. They stayed silent, Blake's eyes returning to her book, though she did not continue to read it. Blake turned to face Yang when the blonde took a seat next to her on the bed.
What are you reading?" Blake's eyes turned back to the book that was in her hand.
"The man with two souls." Yang made a face, searching her mind, the book sounding oddly familiar
"Weren't you reading that the first time I met you?." Blake looked at her, surprised that the blonde could remember their first encounter.
Yeah, it was, however, it is not uncommon for me to reread books I like. If I remember correctly, that was the night you awkwardly told me how you "like my bow." Blake's deadpan tone couldn't hide her amusement of the memory of their first encounter, Yang laughed at how childish she sounded that night, she laid back, so she was leaning on her elbows.
"And I can still say that I like your bow, though, I think I prefer seeing your ears more." Blake's face heated up at the compliment, she could feel Yang's eyes staring right at her back. "Did the man solve his problem?" Yang asked curiously.
"Sorry, what did you say?" Blake turned to face the girl on her bed with a questioned look.
"if I remember right, you said the man had two souls, fighting for control over his body." Yang intently stared at the book, in Blake's hand. "I was just wondering how he solved a problem like that." Blake looked down at the paper, trying to recall the ending.
"In the story, one of the souls builds a life for himself, that consists of mainly having a family and friends wanting to live a quiet life, his name was Ursula Berpdioloo. While the other soul was the complete opposite, he wanted to impact the world, believing it was his duty to do so, his name was Ozma Jones." Yang listened carefully to every word Blake spoke.
"Wait, did his family know about this? I mean, especially if his personality changes when the other soul is in control."
"Ursula's wife knew, yet she chose to stay, even when Ursula's soul was not in charge, and her husband would disappear over days, weeks, even months, on end. The story goes that his other soul, Ozma, was becoming extremely frustrated with his life. Every time they changed who was in control, meant longer for Ozma to go through with his plans of impacting the world, and by that time, circumstance would change, meaning his plans would also need to change."
"So, what happened next?" Yang was listening intently.
"Ozma had finally had enough, knowing Ursula had never spoken a word about his condition to anyone other than to his wife. He designed a plan to destroy any connection to the world that Ursula might have. So, Ozma would pick fights with everyone, cutting ties that Ursula would never be able to repair. Eventually, Ursula was left with nothing but his wife. By that time, she had begun to get shunned by her family and friends because she chose him.
"She ended up losing everything too." Yang's voice came out as a defeated whisper, Blake nodded, she couldn't understand why Yang sounded so deflated.
"Ursula soon noticed how his wife would seem to be getting emotionally distant every time he changed. He knew his situation was starting to wear her down."
"What happened next?." Blake put her hand on the page, her eyes following a particular passage.
"If all I have is memories when my soul starts to fade, all I can ask for is that I get to remember my lover'ss face. Though it breaks me, knowing it has to end this way, it would kill me if she continued to live like this." Yang looked away, it felt like a heavyweight had been put on her chest. "In the next passage, he says his final goodbye to his wife, telling her to build a new life. Because he knew even though physically, she had him with her all the time, he could never always be there spiritually.
"He chose to give up control, so his wife would have a happier life, with the people she could always share it with." Blake nodded her head, letting Yang know she was correct. "It's darkly romantic."
"That is true, but Ursula and also the reader never finds out if Ozma had the best intentions. All the story ever tells us, is that he wanted to impact the world. However, it never said in a good way."
"I guess he was putting his trust in the man, I mean, what else can you do in that situation." Yang started twirling a strand of hair, staring intensely at it. "Sure, Ursula never got his happy ending, but at least with him leaving, knowing he freed his wife of that burden of being alone would be worth it."
"He could have told people what was going on with him." Yang eyed the girl, waiting for her to continue, curious to hear what the Faunus had to say. "I don't think having blind faith in someone who has just wrecked your life equals to that being a smart idea. Plus, his wife still loses either way."
What do you mean by that, he sacrificed himself so his wife could live happier, how is she the one who loses." Yang sat up, so she was now staring into Blake's eyes.
"How can his wife be happier without him? If you truly care for someone, you're not going to stop caring as soon as they disappear. If he had told people, everybody would know why he wasn't acting himself, it would save a lot of heartaches." Yangs eyes never left Blakes face, watching for any sign that told her that Blake didn't really believe that reasoning. But the cat Faunus was speaking honestly.
"You really believe that someone can be honest about that situation to everybody they meet?" Yang shot back.
"Not everybody, but I think if you knew someone well enough, they would listen." Yang looked at the girl in disbelief, the friendly conversation was now becoming heated.
"So, if I told you that I was hearing a voice in my head, one that was trying to take my place, and hell it was due to my semblance or some crap like that, you would believe me, without question?" Blake was taking back by the statement.
"Of course I would question it, I didn't say that I would believe you without some sort of proof." Blake closed her book, scanning the girl. `Is Yang actually angry at me?` Blake thought to herself, the reaction of her partner confused the girl.
"How are you going to have facts, I mean, can it even be proven." Blake opened her mouth to say something but couldn't think of anything. "Exactly my point." Yang couldn't hide the frustration in her voice.
"Why are you getting so upset over this?" Blake questioned the blonde. "it's just a book."
"Because you, out of all people, should know, people aren't accepting." Yang pointed at the girl. "You, for example, you walk around wearing a bow, how can you say people would accept someone for hearing voices." Blake narrowed her eyes at the blonde, both having a stare-off.
"My situation is different, and you know that. why are you making this such a big deal, it's only a story, it's not even true." Blake turned her full body to face Yang. "Being part of the White Fang and being a Faunus isn't some made-up story about a weak-minded man who chose the easy way out." Blake didn't miss the hurt in Yang's eyes. Yang clenched her fist, looking down at the floor.
"Weak-minded? You have no idea what you're talking about, you don't know how draining that would be." her words were above a whisper.
"Yang, what is..." before Blake could finish her sentence, the door opened. Ruby walked in with Weiss, hot on her heels. However, they stopped as their eyes landed on the other two in the room.
"Is everything okay?" Ruby hesitantly asked, feeling the tension in the room.
"Yeah, everything is fine, Rubes. I'm just going out." Yang said as she stormed out, leaving Blake confused.
"What was that about?" Weiss asked, staring in the direction the girl left in.
"My book," Blake said more to herself than anyone else, she couldn't understand why her comment had hurt Yang so much.
Hey guys, that's the new chapter up, and I have to admit I really had fun writing this one, let me know what you think, even if you weren't fond of it. As always, I hope everyone is staying safe.