"Blake!?" Ruby calls out, Weiss following close behind. "Blaaaake!"

It's been two days since Blake ran from Team LBSR, and they just now were able to go out in Vale to look for her. Granted, she left in the middle of a school week and they couldn't go out any sooner because of classes and the school curfew, but who knows what happened to their teammate?

Honestly, Ruby expected for Ozpin to be more suspicious about Blake's two day disappearance than he actually was. Sure, they (Yang) made up an excuse for Blake's disappearance that didn't mention her ties to a terrorist organization, but 'family trouble' wasn't an excuse that could be used all the time.

But two days of cooling off hadn't brought Blake back, or healed the cracks in Team LBSR's bond. A fact that was pretty obvious since Yang wasn't with them.

Even though Yang said it was to cover more ground, she couldn't shake the feeling she was avoiding a certain member of the team, a feeling that her partner probably felt as well. Especially since Weiss was acting a lot less... shouty.

The two of them walked along Vale's streets before Ruby finally groans and turns to Weiss. "Alright. What's wrong?"

Weiss sputters at the sudden confrontation, caught off guard. "W-What?"

"You've been acting mopey ever since we went looking for Blake!"

"I do not mope-!"

"Quiet then! You've been quiet, and for the last two days you were shouting a lot and complaining about Blake and now- Ughhh, just be honest with me!" Ruby rants. "What do you really think of Blake?"

Weiss bristles. "I- Well..." She looks unsure, then steels herself. "I'm quite sure I've made it quite obvious of my feelings for Blake."

"If you really thought that Blake was going to hurt us-" Ruby says, slowly gaining more confidence about this whole confrontation thing. "-then you would have told someone about her secret!"

"Why is this important?!" Weiss says, desperately trying to steer away the topic of the conversation.

"Because the team's tearing apart!" Ruby cries. "Blake's gone and Yang's avoiding you, and you're just making it worse! Because you're acting like you want Blake to stay gone when we could have just talked!"

Weiss and Ruby stayed silent, the former shocked, and the latter trying to catch her breath.

"... I'm confused."

Ruby looks up at Weiss, who seemed almost... nervous.

"My father, he-" Weiss sighs. "He's always said that the SDC was fair to the faunus, that the White Fang were overreacting, or just seeking attention." She looks to the ground. "I... don't want to think I'm being biased, but if my father's telling the truth and Blake was lying, or the other way around, then..." Weiss sighs again. "I just don't know."

"...Well you could have lead with that."

"Oh hush you." Weiss quickly retorts, although with much less bite.

"Well... There's really only one way to know if Blake's telling the truth." Ruby smiles. "We find her. And we talk."

Weiss scoffs. "Easier said than done."

"Well, maybe. But isn't there at least a part of you that wants to believe Blake?"

A pause.

"This doesn't mean I trust her. Yet." Weiss says, relenting.

"Yeah, that's probably too much to hope for." Ruby giggles, walking ahead.

"... What's that supposed to mean?!"

On the other side of Vale, Yang had tried calling Blake's scroll for the third time, and it had been left unanswered for the third time.

It's obvious she doesn't want to be found.

Yang sighs frustratedly, closing her scroll. Well, there goes the best idea she had so far, other than just walking around Vale calling her partner's name.

Which would drive her away anyway. She's not a pet that would run back to you if her name is called.

Which left no options other than looking for a black-haired girl wearing a black bow in the crowds of people on the street. Using the more active part of her semblance, Mettle would probably be more efficient in searching for her partner...

But her semblance has the tendency to make her overzealous (or as overzealous you can be without most of your emotions) in the simplest of tasks. Also she doubted Blake would react well to Yang acting so cold.

Well, there's nothing you could do about it. If Blake's not picking up her phone and you refuse to use your semblance to be more efficient, then the best you could do is keep on looking for her. Unless you can find another pair of-

"Hey there!"

Yang spun around. Behind her, a blonde monkey faunus with an unbuttoned top stood, a yellow tail waving behind him.

"You're looking for that girl wearing a black bow, right? Need an extra pair of eyes?"

48 hours later, Penny was still by Blake's side. Or was it the other way around?

Nevertheless, after Blake had woken up back at the hotel, Penny had 'sat her down' and asked her why was she crying that night, while making sure Blake knew that she didn't have to answer her questions if they were intrusive.

Surprisingly, Blake took the offer. Although it was quite obvious that there some things that the girl was still keeping to herself, Penny was glad that she said anything at all.

Still, what she's been told just confirmed her late-night deductions and revealed very little else. Yes, it was a problem with her team, although it was just one member so far, and they had an argument that made Blake storm out of their dorm.

After that, they didn't do much that day, but the day after that (today actually!) had been much more eventful, with Blake, after some gentle prodding from Penny, finally agreed to go out to Vale with Penny to 'cool down and relax'. At least, that was what her databanks had described the term. They had even went to a nearby cafe, both ordering tea.

But still, Blake looked... sad. As if she was thinking of something upsetting. A quick check with her vitals scanner confirmed that Blake was still quite... emotional.

She also hadn't said much since she talked with Penny back in the hotel.

"Are you alright?" Penny asks, trying to make her tone seem casual.

Despite that, Blake still look startled out of a trance as Penny spoke to her, blinking twice before answering. "I'm fine Penny. Just... thinking."

Penny frowned. "About what?"

"It's nothing important." Blake says quickly.

"If it's bothering you, then it may be important, don't you think?"

Blake sighs, taking a sip of her tea. "It's just... why are you so nice to me? I barely know you."

"Oh!" Penny smiles. "Is that's what's worrying you? It's quite simple really. You looked like you needed help, and I helped you!"

Blake's lips curled, almost to a smirk but not quite there. "You know some people would try to take advantage of kindness like that."

Penny only kept up her smile. "Well, it's what a huntress does. Help people!"

Blake still looked skeptical. "...Would you still help me if I were a faunus?"

Penny blinked. "But you are a faunus Blake, are you not?"

Blake almost spat out her tea. "How did you-"

"The cat ears? Under your bow?" Penny says, pointing up to her own head. "Or... was it supposed to be a secret?"

"Well, doesn't matter now." Blake mutters, staring forlornly at her tea.

Penny suddenly gasped. "Is that why you had an argument with your teammate? Is Weiss... prejudiced?"

Blake gives a half-smirk at Penny's antics, but it quickly turns into a frown. "I... don't know. It's complicated Penny."

"Well..." Penny draws out. "Maybe you could explain? Only the information you're comfortable with sharing, of course!"

"... Yeah, sure."