The sound of footsteps echoed through the empty halls as Yang searched for a certain Faunus. If the blonde remembered Blake's schedule correctly, Blake would be in Professor Port's class; the same class Weiss should have been in right now.
As she made her way down the hall, Yang's breathing was heavy, sweat forming on her brow. `Man, I didn't realize walking would take this much effort.` Yang couldn't help but groan at her rash decision to leave the room in the search for her partner. `No wonder the doctors said I shouldn't be moving about. I can barely walk the length of me.` Yang stopped for a moment, pulling out her scroll to check the time; the scroll read 1015. `The class hasn't even long started. Good one, Yang.` The blonde rolled her eyes, wiping the sweat from her forehead, leaning on the wall, trying to decide whether she should go and wait for Blake back at the dorm or wait outside the class.
"Xiao Long." A male voice shouted, taking the girl out of her thoughts. Yang's eyes shot in the direction of a group of boys. Leading the group was a brown-haired boy, his nose bandaged from his previous run-in with the girl. The boy stomped over to her, anger clearly visible in his eyes as he stared down the girl. Yang cringed as she looked at the boy, remembering the damage she had done.
"What do you want, Cardin?" Yang tensed as she questioned the boy, knowing whatever he wanted here couldn't be anything good.
"I think it's time we talk about our little fallout." He growled at her; the boy's friends look at each other before they laughed.
"Actually, I don't think we need to talk about anything." The brawler tried to push past the taller boy. Before she could move any further, the boy reached out, grabbing her forearm. Yang hissed in pain. Cardin had touched a sensitive area that was covered in burns, hidden by the bandages. "Hey, watch it." She scowled him, slapping his hand off her.
"Looks like someone already did a number on you," He grinned, looking her up and down at her visible injuries, while she only glared in response. "But don't think that will get you off for what you did to me. If anything, I should have done this sooner." Yang rolled her eyes at the tough guy act the boy put on." Yang turned to walk away. However, she was stopped when one of the boys stood in front of her.
"Russell, what are you doing?" The boy only answered with a shrug. The brawler couldn't hide the confusion in her face, trying to step around the boy who only mimicked her movement. "Get out of my way." She warned him.
"Not happening, you're not going anywhere." Yang turned to the team's CRDL leader before eyeing up the rest of the team who surrounded the two. Yang clenched her fist, waiting for Cardin to attack her. But she stumbled forward when she received a rough shove to the back. Before Yang could react, Cardin delivered a punch to the gut forcing Yang to topple over. She bit back a scream as he hit her bruised ribs.
"Right, you got me back, whatever the point was you're trying to make, I get." Yang breathed out heavily. She protectively held her stomach incase Cardin took another shot. "Now, get lost."
"You're not getting off so easy, just because you can't handle a hit right now." Yang glared at him. Cardin walked around the blonde before coming to a stop right in front of her. He was staring down at her. "Now, how do you think we can resolve our problem with each other." Cardin leaned down slightly until his eyes connected with her's. "I guess I could make a suggestion." He gave her a sideways grin, reminding Yang of a certain mute. Yang clenched her fist at the memory of the girl, trying to fight back her semblance as it started to blister her skin again.
"Is there a problem here?" Yang's head turned towards the voice. The blonde could recognize that monotone voice from anywhere. Cardin straightened up, looking at the golden-eyed girl.
"Nothing that concerns you. We were just sorting out a few issues between friends." He spoke innocently, his team backing up behind him.
"I hope that was all it was. I wouldn't want to go to Goodwitch and let her know that a classmate was bullying an injured student." Blake stepped next to Yang, who pushed herself to her feet. Cardin stared down the Faunus, trying to decide his next move.
"Whatever, see you around, Xiao Long." He grudgingly stormed away from the girls, his team not far behind him.
"Are you okay?"Blake asked once she was sure the school bully was out of sight.
"Yeah, thanks," Yang said, steadying herself on her feet. "Cardin was trying to act tough, trying to gain back some of that damaged pride of his."
"Right," Blake drew out the word, observing the blonde making sure the bully hadn't injured her further. "Shouldn't you be in the dorm?"
"Yeah, well... I was looking for you." The blonde turned to look at the Faunus. "Actually, shouldn't you be in class?" Blake shrugged her shoulders.
"When Weiss didn't show up, I got slightly curious. It's not like her to skip class."
"What was that saying about a curious cat," Yang said playfully, gaining an eye roll from Blake.
"It looks like if this cat didn't get curious, you would be in a bit of trouble yourself." Yang's smile fell, picturing Cardin leaning over her, Just like Neo.
"You got me there." The blonde said in a half-whisper. Knowing that she said something wrong, Blake changed the subject.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Yang looked around, making sure no one was in earshot.
"Probably best to go somewhere private, it's...it's about what happened." Blake awkwardly nodded. If the raven-haired girl was honest, this wasn't a conversation, she was looking forward to having. Yang led the girl to the library, picking a seat at the back away from any prying eyes. The two sat down, both unsure how to start.
"So, are we going to talk, or are we just going to sit here?" Blake finally spoke up.
"Ah, yeah, right. Man, this was so much easier when I talked to Weiss." Yang let out a sigh.
"You've already talked to Weiss?" Blake raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't have much of a choice, she kind of cornered me. Though she was right, I can't continue avoiding this." Yang locked eyes with Blake.
"Trust Weiss to be the one to get straight to the point." Blake couldn't help but shake her head at her impatient friend, who had ignored what the group had agreed on. They were going to let Yang come to them when she was ready. "Look, I would be a hypocrite if I told you not to keep secrets. But it would have help if you had told us you needed help. You didn't need to tell us everything. I just wish, you would have at least let me help you weeks ago when I asked."
"I know, and I get why you're angry." Blake let out a bitter laugh. The reaction caught Yang by surprise.
"No, I don't think you do get it. You might have been going through all of this. But so have I." Blake raised her voice before looking around, making sure she didn't get anyone's attention. "Ever since that night, when we were attacked in town. It's kept me up all night because you were so angry, and I didn't know why."
"Blake, I'm sorry, I did..." Blake cut Yang off so she could continue.
You know, that's all I've been thinking about. I thought you hated me for not being able to help you with Neo." Blake noticed how Yang tensed up at the mention of the mute but continued anyway. "And I would have believed it as well, considering everything you said."
"The thing is that thing in my head. It wouldn't let me. It just kept saying things to make me doubt myself and you. and you know, I was scared to find out if any of that were true if you would hate me for what was wrong with me." Yang's eyes burned with unfallen tears.
"You know what scared me the most?" Blake asked, letting out a shaky breath. Blake bit her lip, unsure if she wanted to say the next sentence. "Even though we eventually found out what was wrong with you, deep down, I was scared that maybe you were turning against us." Blake looked away from the blonde. "Then I saw you with Neo and..." Blake jumped when Yang fist connected with the desk, drawing attention from the room.
"Stop saying her name," Yang growled. Blake was surprised to see Yang's eyes had turned red, and before she could stop her, Yang stormed out with Blake chasing her into the deserted courtyard.
"Yang, what's wrong? I thought you want to talk?" Blake finally caught up to her, grabbing her hand.
"I don't want to talk about her." Yang looked away, ashamed, and that's when Blake could see the humiliation that the mute had caused her.
"Yang, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that it bothered you that much," Blake spoke truthfully. A tear slipped from Yang's now closed eyes as she tried to calm her breathing.
"The worst thing is, she was able to take advantage of the situation so effortlessly without a second thought. And I hate myself for letting it happen." Yang rubbed her face in her hands, turning away, so her back was facing Blake.
"It's not your fault, Yang." She stepped closer to the girl hesitantly before wrapping her arms around her. "Neo took advantage of you at your weakest point. You can't blame yourself for that." She felt Yang chuckle.
"You know that's easier said than done. I just feel so sick when I think about it, so violated because, in my mind, I could have stopped Neo." The tears were now flowing down freely. It hurt the Faunus hearing her partner defeated. Blake forcefully turned Yang to look at the Faunus.
"Yang, look at me." Blake's hand traveled to Yang's cheek, cupping it, wiping some of the tears away. "Don't start thinking about what you could have done. You're not to blame. What's important is you're here. That's all that matters. And despite all of this, I'm here for you." Before Blake could react, Yang wrapped the girl up in a hug.
"Thanks, Blake," Yang whispered in between sobs. Blake returned the hug even tighter. She was allowing the girl to cry on her for as long as possible. After a while, Blake noticed the girl pull away, wiping her face clean. "Sorry, the talk didn't go to plan." Blake couldn't help but shake her head at the girl.
"Don't be sorry. We'll get through this." Blake moved Yang's bangs from her eyes, revealing the lively purple color. "We always do."
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Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know your thoughts and as always, stay safe.