Author Note: Sorry for the almost two week's delay. It's been a hectic time and Life never stops. Also seems to just love kicking me while I'm down. So yeah. But hey, have a long chapter to make up for it?
Blake didn't dare twitch. She watched the other girl closely, noting when tense muscles loosened but wasn't sure if it was all over. Even the sounds of the beaten were growing quieter as they either passed out or came to their senses enough to be weary of drawing attention to themselves. Golden amber didn't bother to double check on those sprawled around, focusing instead on the mass of yellow locks.
The stillness of the alley broke with a rapid turn of the brawler. Her eyes were a clear purple and her movements were fluid, not showing a hint of their previous pain, as she rushed towards the now anxious Faunus. Yang checked the girl's condition, eyes scanning the lithe body up and down, but paused when she noticed that the boy was missing.
"Hey, wait, where's he gone?" Yang frowned, confused. She gestured with her left hand to help demonstrate who she meant. She stared at Blake, mouth thin and brows furrowed. Her eyes gave away the concern as she looked into amber orbs.
Blake timidly stood up, sensing no outward disgust or hate director towards her usually hidden cat ears were now in the open. "He left once they were distracted…" She trailed off, sheathing her sword as she spoke. The Faunus froze when the blonde did, having realized what it was on top of her head, or lack thereof.
Yang, while Blake was answering her question, had been taking into account all the injuries she saw on the dark haired girl. There wasn't many obvious injuries. Nicks on her cheeks and arms were already healing with her aura's help and the few bruises she had were fading. It was the top of her head that had most of her attention. Instead of the bow there were two adorable cat ears.
The boxer studied them, noting the red lines that laced along the insides and backs of the features. When they twitched at the close observation, she saw the flinch of pain on the other teen's face when they moved. She internally winced in sympathy as her mind finally understood the earlier part of the fight; how the obviously experienced fighter could have been disabled momentarily. It was probably much more painful than having your hair pulled in the middle of a fight.
Blake hadn't meant to let them shift, but the intense silent scrutiny was nerve wracking. They still haven't really talked since the fight finished either, aside from two sentences. The cat teenager jolted backwards a half step when Yang's arm shot forward and grabbed her by the wrist. Before Blake could demand release or ask what was going on, she was dragged out of the alley and down the main road.
Yand's head was on a swivel as she muttered to herself. "I know someplace has to be open still."
"Yang, what-"
"I wish that other guy stuck around. He needed help too…" The blonde didn't seem to realize the other was trying to speak up and continued to think out loud. "...There should have enough for a decent kit…"
"Yang."
"Oh, good, there is something open…" Yang perked up as her eyes landed on a lit up store front. She angled for the both of them to head in the front door, still pulling the other girl by her arm.
"Yang!" Blake's desperate call finally caught the blonde boxer's attention. The Faunus pulled her arm away and was surprised when the tight grip allowed her to escape the hold. "Where are we going?" Blake tried to question once more.
They were in front of a general store that was open twenty-four hours. The storefront was mostly large windows with bars evenly spaced behind the glass. Shelving racks with product on them were just inside, proving an idea what the store sold. The door in between two sets of large glass windows also had bars and a heavy duty lock, but considering the neighborhood, it was more of a necessity than anything. A small sign in the corner of the door showed a circle with two triangles as 'ears' had a large X over the image. To reinforce the message, in neat print below it, was 'no Faunus allowed'.
Yang, still distracted, glanced over to the girl with obvious bewilderment. "Getting a first aid kit since we both know I don't have one." She tried to give a cheeky grin but the action failed as it only highlighted her black eye, the cuts along her cheeks, and a growing bruise on the left side of her chin.
A fact made more noticeable by how amber orbs widened before squinting worriedly. Blake sighed and gestured weakly to the door. "Alright. Go ahead, I'll wait over here." The raven haired girl began to walk to a thin road on the side of the store out of immediate sight. She paused when it didn't sound like the other girl had moved and glanced over her shoulder, face neutral with a single brow raised in question.
The brawler glanced between the Faunus and the door, still confused. It was on her third glance between the two that she saw the sign posted there. Her fists scrunched before she sighed, facing away from the girl.
"Geez…" Yang ran her left hand through her hair, apologetic. "Sorry. Didn't notice. Stupid racist idiot.." She glared at the frame for a second before lowering her voice. "I'll be fast. Then we'll get you patched up in a jiffy."
Hearing who the first aid kit was for, Blake turned around, ears flat despite the pinprick of pain it caused. "Wait, patch me up? What about you?"
"What about me?" Yang tried to wiggle a brow but couldn't stop the flicker of her own pain from crossing her face. She tried to pass it off with a touch of bravo however, jutting out her chin with a saucy smirk.
"Yang, you're in much worse shape than I am." Blake crossed her arms, disbelieving.
"But your ears look like they hurt." The blonde kept her voice low as she eyed the other's wounds once again, letting her worry shine through.
Blake tried to stifle a blush at the concerned words, not accustomed to such thought from outsiders. She kept her arms crossed, tightening briefly as she took inventory of the injuries she could see on the other. "And you have no aura left. I do."
"Fine. I'll make you a deal." Yang leaned closer, pointer finger upright between them. "If I get to bandage your cute ears- er, fix you up, then you can patch me up afterwards." She pointed to herself with her thumb, voice quiet, as she laid out the 'offer'. She had tried to sound laissez-faire but had tipped her hand with what she hoped to do for the teenager.
The two girls stood barely a foot apart, trying to make the other back down through sheer will in the pre-dawn hours. There was a seriousness to the single lavender orb that wasn't usually present, even up to that point, but soft amber wasn't about to give in just yet. If anything, the prolonged staring contest brought a light blush to both of their cheeks as time went on; something about staring deeply into another's gaze was unsettling and connecting at the same time.
Unable to keep up the standoff, Blake groaned softly. It wasn't particularly fair that the lilac orb was able to pull such a puppy dog expression late in their contest of wills. She could sense that she wasn't going to get any other sort of deal or offer that switched the focus on those with a stronger priority. With a gusty sigh, she dropped her stance, unclasping her arms and rolling her eyes, exasperated.
"Fine. Deal."
"Sweet! Stay right here!" Yang tried to pump her fists in celebration but realized she was starting to stiffen up again as the adrenaline in her system faded away. She ducked inside quickly without a second look back, going for speed than gloating in victory.
Blake bit her lip, eyeing the jubilant girl, before diving to hide around the corner, pressed up flat against the dark red stonework. Checking that no one was near, the Faunus pulled out her scroll and called her squad leader, Brutus. They had a meeting earlier that night and it was unlikely that any of them had gone to sleep just yet, wound up as they were prepping for the next big protest. Brutus answered on the first ring, sounding wide awake and surprised to be hearing from the girl already.
Blake didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight for the meat of the issue. "Brutus, I've sent along a Faunus who was attacked by some blue hood wearing humans."
She proceeded to report as much as she could about the lynch mob and how they managed to fend off the attackers. And specifically, who came to help them. The squad leader was startled to hear of a human helping protect Faunus and wanted further details. Not sure what the White Fang would do with that knowledge, Blake didn't answer, merely stating that she was trying to make sure their rescuer was patched up properly before going home for the night. Brutus wasn't entirely convinced. He reminded the girl she should try to find out more about this human and report back as soon as she could. The dark haired girl assured him she would and hung up, nerves strung out and twinging. She was not looking forward to that particular talk.
Yang, inside the store, tried to be as fast as possible. The store was still rather small, with only three rows, and two segments to each. They had bits of food, pathetic toys, and low end medicines. Certainly not pre-made kits as the blonde originally hoped. Going to the register, she found all the stronger health items were kept on the wall behind the staff counter. There was also alcohol products as well as cigarettes stacked there. It was a decent selection considering the size of the rest of the store. With an internal sigh, the boxer walked over and leaned on the counter with her right arm, forcing it to bend as her left hand went to her hip.
"Hey! Do you have any already made first aid kits?" Yang kept her voice light with a wide grin in place. She could feel the bored scan the cashier was giving her and stayed still.
"We don't have any all-in-one kits. We do have the components for sale." He gestured to the wall behind him. "What do you want?"
The blonde girl rubbed her chin briefly as she stood up, glancing over what was available. "Ok… Two of everything, or, uh, 3 of the wrap bandages… Or better make that six wrap sets, one arm sling, and three of everything else." She nodded decisively as her mind ran through the first aid classes she had taken before before going for broke and getting everything she could.
The clerk stared at the girl blankly. "You have the money for all that?" His voice held no real emotion even as he questioned her financial stability.
The teenager smirked and reached into her jacket for the white envelope she still had on her. Inside was plenty of Lien for the impromptu shopping trip, though she mentally winced at the potential cost. She took out the bills and fanned them on the counter, smirking in challenge to the man.
The clerk merely grunted his acceptance and started to pull the requested amounts off the shelving, ringing them up as he went. Once a decent pile had grown, he paused from plucking items down to shove them into bags, then continued with his original task. When it was done, the blonde boxer did flinch noticeably at the cost but paid all the same. The employee rolled his eyes with a half shrug and put all the bags onto the countertop between them.
With a nod of thanks, the girl used her only functioning arm reach for the three bags. They were heavy, but as she only had the left one working, barely, she had to make due. It didn't help her sense of balance however, and she almost fell when she lifted them off the counter. Wobbling, she exited the store and tried to find the other girl while she was still semi-functionally conscious.
"Yang!"
A soft shout garnered her attention back to the alley to the left of the store. Face morphing to a dopey grin, the boxer allowed momentum to help her spin around to face the dark haired Faunus.
"Heeeeey Blake." Yang's words slurred as her mind started to slow down once again.
Blake had heard the sound of the door opening and caught the unsteady wobble of the blonde. Scrunching her nose in annoyance of stubborn people, she walked up beside the taller girl, scolding loudly with her eyes.
"You are incorrigible." Blake chided as she retrieved all the bags from the worn out brawler. She spaced them out by weight on her arms and did a rough estimate based on what it felt like. A large amount considering how she had seen the girl live. Which raised an important question. "How did you even afford all this?"
"My uncle and sister…" Yang was able to stand up straight once the weight was gone. But she couldn't bring herself to look into curious golden amber eyes. "They drop off whatever Lien they can at my place." Her words grew softer, tinted with guilt. "I think my sister sends every bit of her allowance…" She was pulled from her thoughts as she saw twin cat ears moved in thought. She watched, highly amused, as further curiosity built in the Faunus. Except she wasn't sure if she was ready to explain any more than that currently.
Blake fought the desire to unravel the mystery of the brawler in front of her and settled for a calming breath. Stepping up beside the girl, Blake nodded her head, offering her shoulder in silent support. The offer wasn't accepted.
Yang smiled apologetically and shook her head no. She instead led the duo back to her apartment, focusing on keeping her own balance this time. It was a challenge but Yang wasn't about to put more weight onto the Faunus than she could help. They went slowly but it was even later at night, with hardly a soul outside.
The apartment building loomed ahead of them, their last encounter echoing in their minds. They hesitated roughly the same time. When they realized what they did, the girls chuckled nervously. They didn't make a comment about it, much too tired to worry about it at that time. The trip up the stairs was dangerous and even slower than their walk back. When they reached the top, the duo found the blonde's apartment wasn't locked. The raven haired girl raised a brow and peeked at the now bashful teen.
"Eh heh… I might have been in a rush leaving…" Yang murmured bashfully. She tried to run a hand through her hair but failed. She tried to play it off, but only managed to tip to her right briefly.
Blake noticed this and tried to get them moving faster. Once inside, the first thing of note was how broken the coffee table was. It was shattered as well as much farther from its original location. Blake only sighed at the sight and moved towards the futon, setting the bags on the floor beside it. They unpacked the supplies and took stock of what was there.
"Well, I figure, might as well get some of everything. Might be useful." Yang waved a hand jovially, racking her mind for anything odd she may have gotten. She paused at the smirk on the teenager's face.
"Snake anti-venom?" The cat teenager held up the bottle, both brows raised playfully. Her amusement rose several notches at the surprise on Yang's face at the medicine she unknowingly bought.
"Uhhhh… yeah, cause ya never know who'll bite ya…?" Yang tried to both defend her purchase and make a joke at the same time, knowing she was on shaky ground as it was. So she did what she does best, well, second best, dodge! She reached out for the needed supplies, willing nimbleness into stiff digits. "Now let's get these ears bandaged!" She looked at the red lines on the features but made no move closer, waiting for permission.
Blake had froze at the statement and stared back in open shock. She noticed the gloved hand hover questioningly and felt her breath hitch. "You really want to do that…?"
"Yep!"
"To actually touch my ears?"
"Yep!"
"... You won't try to make it worse, will you…?" An old fear leaked out at a soft whisper. Amber orbs watched the other sharply, even as both cat ears flattened at the question, trying to spot any attempt to lie. She wasn't sure if she would actually allow the touch, and found conflicting desires when it came to the wild blonde in front of her. It was barely a second of overthinking later that Blake got her enthusiastic answer.
"What? Never!" Yang dropped the wide smile and leaned close, gaze serious. "Blake, I wouldn't hurt you or anyone like that." She received a deadpan and knew immediately why.
"Blake, the reason why I'm serving time with the CCSP is because I fought Cardin Winchester and his whole team. And they were racist bastards who didn't know when to stop." Yang could tell the argument wasn't enough and added a little desperately, "and they were horrible bullies. Did I mention racist? 'Cause they were."
Blake kept her voice and face neutral, combatting a warmth that was trying to spread as the brawler excused her actions within inches the dark hair girl's face. "And what about tonight? When I first found you on the streets." Blake cut off an attempt to hedge which fight she meant.
The blonde brawler sighed and closed her eyes, trying to prevent her headache from getting worse. And to control her temper that was already warming up at the reminder. She took a seat, trying to keep a calm mindset.
"That was because I was… provoked. Some ex-classmates are still upset that I not only called out Cardin but was willing to beat his face in." She could feel her aura trying to heat up but without any energy, it was just a mild warmth. "So she tried to pick a fight… And got it." The heat fizzled out as the consequences of the fight began to filter into mind. "Beast of Beacon strikes again."
The words were bared on a breath of exhale as Yang deflated in place. The knowledge that police were called meant she was most likely going to be blamed (it was her fault if she really had to admit it) and it was DEFINITELY in violation of her CCSP work. The wild blonde could feel her spirits sinking down into dark spirals. Without realizing it, she had bent over, pulling into herself. A touch, feather light and bright, pulled her gaze from the darkness to the honey colored eyes of the girl next to her. The Faunus had taken a seat beside the boxer and was trying to be supportive.
"Yang… You have to control your temper. Fighting in self defense or defense of others is noble, but letting childish taunts bait you into a full brawl is… foolish." Blake tried to keep her words from sounding too harsh but couldn't find any other way to say it.
Seeing how the words barely made a dent in the downward spiral of the other, she cast her mind to finding some way of cheering the girl up. Recalling her early success with her boyfriend's temper, before they had stared too long into the darkness of humanity, she debated only for a moment longer before offering similar to a near stranger.
"I know it's hard to do on your own but what if I helped?" Blake trailed off as she offered, unsure if it would be accepted or if it was too forward.
Her efforts were rewarded.
Yang sat up timidly, hopeful smile growing on her face. "You mean it?" Sure, the blonde had a sister, father, and uncle more than willing to do the same, but to hear someone you knew for a short time offer, a friend offer, felt different. "You'd… be willing to hang out with me to help remind me to keep my cool?"
The raven haired teen nodded slowly. She hadn't thought about how this task would require they hung out together more often but if it was needed, and could help prevent someone else going down a dark path of hatred… "Yes. If- if you want."
A beaming grin along with a sharp nod was the responding answer. Yang would've shaken her head yes many times but the quick movement wasn't helping her growing headache. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple, trying to clear the pain.
Blake reached out, worried. "Yang, let me-"
"Nuuuoooo! You are first!" The blond firmly whined, plucking the bandages from the girl's hands and holding them against her chest. She pouted at she tried to stare down the other girl with her one good eye.
Blake sighed and dropped her hands into her lap. "Fine. You may touch and bandage my ears." She kept her eyes closed as she spoke, trying to stay relaxed even though she knew contact was imminent.
"Really? Thanks Blake, I'll be gentle, promise."
The joke, and saucy tone, caused the raven haired girl to peek one eye open and glare. Seeing the other's hand reaching out, she closed her gaze once more and waited.
Yang moved slowly, knowing she'd regret it if she did anything that hurt the other girl. Not knowing what damage was done, she decided to feel the ears first, to identify where they hurt. The black fur was silky in her hand. She started by touching only the tops of them, instinctively knowing the Faunus needed to accumulate to the sensation of her hand.
The ear she had her hand on violently twitched away but was back upright in seconds. The blonde waited a moment before brushing along the edge of the ear and did a full search for any nicks or bruising. She kept her movements gentle and slow. She found some but wanted to judge their seriousness by watching the girl's reaction.
Blake's stance loosened from an awkward tension to one of enjoyment. Barely flinching at the surprising gentle carases, she wore a blush with a tiny smile at the sensation. Her gaze had stayed shut but her hands were sprawled by her sides, unclenched and stationary.
Pleased that nothing too drastic had occurred, Yang let go, ignoring the urge to frown at having to let go of the smooth fur. She double checked everything she had before moving it close to the cat ears. She tried to keep the work fast and as painless as possible. After antibiotic ointment was on the cuts, the majority of the cat features were covered in pristine white cloth and gauze to keep it from getting dirty.
This had three unintended side effects. The first was that Yang could no longer feel the fur without feeling the bandages, sending a spike of anger in her at the knowledge that someone had dared to hurt the girl. The second was that Blake found some of her hearing became muffled by the wraps, throwing her senses off for a second as she had to adjust. It culminated in the third effect: distracted, neither girl realized how close they now sat nor that they both missed the sensation of rubbing cat ears.
Yang's arms ended up being the thing that broke the moment they were in. Being upright and stretched forward, they cried out in pain, the very bones feeling bruised from overuse and abuse. She allowed her arms to drop wearily, ignoring the sinking feeling at having to let go, and took a shuddering breath. She blinked, checking the other girl's response to her ministrations.
"Liked that huh…? They were really soft." Yang spoke sleepily with a half grin, blush spreading over her cheeks admitting how she too liked the sensation.
"I've… always liked when my ears are petted…" Blake couldn't keep her eyes on the golden haired beauty and turned to the remaining supplies. "And your hands were really warm." The last sentence was so quiet it almost went unnoticed save for the fact they were so close to one another.
"Well, I have always been hotter than most." Yang tried to remove any remaining awkwardness with a joke and teasing wink of her good eye. "Guess it's my turn now…"
Blake nodded solemnly, wearing a small grin as she shifted backwards. The teen was just as hesitant to hurt the battered brawler unintentionally and kept her hands light as she administered first aid. She started by assessing the injuries for priority. Most of the cuts were already scabbed over, most likely from before her aura ran out, and only needed to be covered to prevent further harm. Next came setting the fingers, wrists, and arms of the blonde; they needed to be splinted and given an ointment to cool off and soothe the bruises. Then she put them into a large blue sling to restrict their movement.
Yang's torso were covered by large bruises but what it difficult was that it was likely her ribs were just as bruised. They spent a second being embarrassed by the need to see the lower half of the blonde's torso at least for the medical aid. Yang tried to throw out a few puns but Blake just shut them down with a flat stare. A heavy blush countered her attempt at nonchalance.
The Faunus attempted to do a wrap to hold the ribs still. It was difficult to judge what was too tight and not enough, and she tried to use Yang's reaction to find the balance. There wasn't much more she could do aside from hoping that the ice packs were ready for use soon and getting medicine to dull the pain.
Knowing that most pills were tasteless or nasty to have without something to wash them down with, Blake fetched the beaten boxer a cup of water. She then went for the plastic bags for the best option, deciphering the scientific terms for the strongest pain killer in the bunch. Finding it, she popped open the container and spilled a few into her hand. The blonde who they were for had sprawled over most of the couch, eyes shut, and hadn't glanced over at the sounds the Faunus was making. A sign that sent a knot of worry to grow in the dark haired girl's stomach.
"Yang, take these before falling asleep please." Blake asked, holding out three pills and the cup of water.
Lilac orbs opened drowsily with a teasing smirk. "But someone's wrapped up my hands." Yang could barely lift her arms with how tightly they were strapped to her chest. "Could I get some help?" She wagged her eyebrows playfully.
Blake rolled her eyes but conceded. She dropped down to her knees and set the cup to the side. Using her free hand, she helped the blonde sit up and held out the pills. "Open up."
Yang followed the command with a playful squint. She stuck out her tongue with the appropriate childish sound effect. Her eyes shot open, however, at the feel of dry circles dropping onto the outstretched tongue. They were already trying to dry out her tongue and left a nasty taste in the few seconds they rested there. A drink was quickly brought forth, though she could see the bright scarlet cheeks of the raven haired girl through the clear liquid. She allowed the motion and gratefully gulped water. The boxer wanted to think about what had just happened but the taste of medicine wouldn't let her ignore the drink to try and tease the helping girl. Finished with her drink, she leaned back, away from the cup, with a happy grin.
Blake didn't wait for a reaction or comment and shot up from her seat to dispose of the empty glass. She could feel the burn of embarrassment at her childish response to the goofy nature of the other girl. Knowing it was too early but needing to cool down somehow, she opened the freezer and checked the ice packs. They weren't ready but the cold air helped chill the teenager. She went back to the blonde and found that a bright lavender orb followed her every movement.
"There isn't much else I can do. You need to sleep." Blake flatly stated once she was within a polite distance.
Yang nodded, exhausted, barely able to keep her eye open. "Sure… It is pretty late." Having mentioned it, the boxer grew more alert at the thought. "Wait, you're not going back out are you!?"
When Blake stared back, confused, Yang struggled to get up, causing the dark haired Faunus to rush forward. "Don't get up." She tried to scold and reached out to prevent the blonde from fully standing. "What else would I do? I need to sleep too."
Yang bit her lip, deciding to go with the first thought she came across. "S-stay? I- You could sleep on the futon and I'll-"
"You will not sleep on the floor!"
"Well, you can't because you're the guest!"
"Well, you're hurt!"
"Well, you're- why can't I keep my eyes open?!" Yang tried to put force behind her words but the medicine started to kick in with a vengeance, forcing her attempted stern look to be more sleepy and droopy instead. She couldn't even stay upright as her head felt a thousand times heavier, tilting down.
"I gave you a pain medicine that helps boost your aura levels back up at the same time." Blake didn't move, watching for any other rash decisions or movements with both hands out cautiously. "But you have to sleep for it to start taking effect."
"Great… So you can leave whenever you want and I'll be too out of it to even argue…" Yang slumped before going to stand up. She was stopped by a pair of anxious hands. "I was going to pull out the bed…"
At the answer, the resistance was gone, allowing Yang to stick a leg to hook on a bar, pulling the frame to expand out. The furniture already had a cover on it, and the two pillows it had could have been easily used for sleeping as well. The teen backed up as she expanded the furniture and now stood on the edge nervously.
"There's… There's plenty of space. If you want to stay. Just- just to sleep." Yang couldn't bring herself to look at the Faunus as she spoke. As much as she wanted to flop face first onto the bed, she could tell the strapped arms would be more of a hindrance than help, and had to roll onto her back, shuffling awkwardly towards the wall.
"Yang…" Blake sighed. She tried to think of arguments why she couldn't stay but could feel the late hour drain her energy.
There was indeed enough space on the bed for two, even if they stayed on the edges. It looked uncomfortable but Blake wasn't sure she could make it back to her place. Dropping her bag to the ground, she hopped onto the bed, feeling her tired limbs release their tension. She was about to wonder if there was a blanket when she noticed the large amount of heat coming from the other teenager.
Worried, Blake turned to face Yang and brushed away the yellow bangs. She found a single lilac orb staring back, wide and shocked. Not letting it discourage her, the Faunus felt the other's forehead, anxiously frowning.
"Yang, you're burning up." Blake whispered, gazing deeply back into lavender.
"I- I always run hot." Yang licked her lips, trying to remember how words worked. She traced the loose locks of black with her eye and wished her arms weren't strapped down. With how they framed Blake's face, Yang found herself lost in golden amber orbs. Such a bright gold… Instead of focusing on that thought, she was able to muster a half grin.
"I'm your very own personal space heater!" Yang watched the anxiety fall away from the helping girl and relaxed in turn. "If you are cold, the blanket is on the floor, by the bed." She flicked her eye to help give direction to the offering. "Or you could use your personal space heater for warmth instead. Or both." She tried to wink but found her eyelid wouldn't open up again.
Blake rolled her eyes at the joke but did relax since nothing was wrong. Amused and a touch flustered by the offer, she reached for the blanket and found it to be a fluffy yellow comforter. She put it over both of them and found that Yang's natural heat took care of the rest, filling the bed with a soothing warmth. It wasn't long before she started to fall asleep as well, subconsciously inching closer to the source of heat. She hadn't been that warm since she was a young girl living in her home country of Menagerie; it promised to be a restful sleep…
-Elsewhere, that same night-
The White Fang base was layered in sections to make it more difficult to break into. The first two floors had empty rooms along the sides that were needed to pass through to get to the next inner part, which felt more like a weapon's depot with stacks of dust and basic weapons ready for use. In the center was a staircase and large elevator that went to the floor above and the two hidden floors below. The first floor underground was more lived in rooms; medic stations, a basic kitchen, dining area that served as a connector to the other locations, and a large training room specially padded for grueling work. Below that were sleeping quarters and emergency exits that led to sewers and a drain pipe. These exits were also carefully guarded, least it become an entry point for intruders.
The base teemed with life at all hours of the day, the Faunus inside taking turns in shift to be awake and prepared for any outcome. The kitchen always made basic meals every four hours unless there was absolutely no one there. But even at midnight, there was two dozen members awake and eating. Of the four tables scattered in the open room, more sat around one table, while the rest of the tables had a smattering of people sitting about. Almost none wore their masks aside from a red haired man who sat at the head of a rectangle table. The rest of the seats were full and each person seemed hyper aware of the charismatic bull Faunus.
Adam, still wide awake for the night, basked in the praise of those around him. He ate languishly, with deliberate movements, as he eyed those around him from behind his mask. The others had their own food in front of them but they barely touched the meal as they spoke in excited whispers to one another. They were speaking about Adam and his various feats of prowess. It had been another successful night and Adam had been the star once more, taking initiative in their war on humanity. Knowing it was better to have others toot his horn, he stayed silent, pleased half smirk flickering on and off his face.
The elevator doors opened silently, and a flurry of movement spread out soon after. Guards stood further at attention while some Faunus raced ahead. Those eating turned in a wave, starting from closest to the entrance to those farther away. Even Adam's table grew curious.
The first thing to see were a set of guards, weapons ready and alert. Then came Brutus, still in his combat gear and mask, who was helping up another Dog Faunus with ears hanging low. The civilian showed signs of a heavy beating. His gaze was constantly on the move while hugging his arms around his waist tightly. Another pair of guards came afterwards, just as weary. Together, the group went for the nearby med bay and disappeared inside.
Adam allowed his usually stoic features to change to concern. He half stood up, hands on the table top. "Brutus! What happened?"
The leader of their squad didn't seem surprised at the call but didn't pause in his steps. He held up a hand pleadingly. "I will be back to answer any and all questions once we've got things settled."
Only barely pleased with getting some kind of answer, the red haired man sat back down, watching the flurry of motion caused in their wake. Another Faunus, mask in place and rifle hanging from his hip, rushed over to the charismatic bull. He leaned close, hoping to impressive with his knowledge and forth giving.
"That Faunus was just attacked by a lunch mob of humans!"
The others at the table straightened in their seats at the exclamation, gazes hardening.
Adam allowed a single fist to show his anger as it menacingly clenched shut on the table. "Any word of the humans who must pay for their actions?" His words were barely discernible from the low growl they came out as.
"Not yet. They wore some sort of blue hood on their heads." The off duty guard glanced up and stood back in deference as Brutus walked over to the table.
Brutus nodded to everyone there, standing by the 'head' of the table, before focusing on the bull Faunus. "The Faunus was attacked on his way home from an evening shift by a group of humans. They mentioned 'retaliation' before he lost track of what they were saying." The squad leader's ears flattened briefly before going upright. "Sister Blake found them on her way home and defended our Faunus brethren from these ignorant attackers."
Hearing the cat Faunus' name, Adam's spine stiffened, his mind growing hazy as he ran through her usual path home and trying to think of when it could have happened and where. His frown turned deeper as he thought. Distracted, he didn't notice the uncertainty of the older fighter, though Brutus' words did manage to sink through the building rage in Adam's mind.
"It seems… Another human joined the fight, helping defend Sister Blake and the young man they had caught unaware. We don't know who it was; Owou, the original target of the attack, said she was extremely strong and violent. And blonde." Seeing no signs of recognition on the other's faces, Brutus shrugged. "I don't know someone like that either. We don't know why this human would help so don't take any chances. Better to expect the worse than be caught by surprise."
The rest nodded and went back to their meals, subdued. Finished updating his squad, Brutus walked away, going to report to the other leaders about what had happened. Everyone settled back into place but light conversation was now a low tensed hubbub.
Adam barely heard the rest of his leader's words as fury tore through his mind. He could feel his aura reacting to his state of mind, flaring up and going on alert. His arms shook as his mouth drew back in a silent snarl. Blake works with me! Not some blonde bimbo HUMAN! Why would she ever work with a human?!
Ignoring the others at his table, the young adult reached into his black coat and pulled out his scroll. Flipping it open, he didn't see any messages or missed calls from his partner, sending another spike of anger through his center. Taking a deep breath, he rose and walked to the elevators.
"Where are you going?" One of his squadmates questioned, half standing as well. Everyone's gaze was on the fiery redhead.
"I'm going out to patrol. We should have pairs do rounds in the city to prevent something like this from ever happening again." Adam paused, right hand a tight fist while the left rested on Wilt. He looked over his right shoulder, showing his scowl and frustration. "No Faunus should be afraid to walk home."
Adam could feel the others watching him leave with reverence. Even the guards stepped aside for him. He didn't bask in the feeling as he normally did, desiring a specific admiration and knowing that he wouldn't get it until he found Blake. Adam paused only long enough to report that he was going to do a scouting patrol.
He wasted no time after that and left the base, footsteps sure and quick. Since he hadn't heard anything from Blake, he went for her apartment first, reaching for the extra key he was given when she got the place. He remembered the bashful expression she had worn when giving it to him. She had talked with the bull for a long time, debating and deciding if and where she should get a place. It was only after she promised to always allow Adam into her place and life that he allowed the plan to go through. But he made sure the girl never forgot his presence and his scent never faded from the apartment. The young man couldn't stop the smirk that grew on his face along with a thrill of pleasure at the control he had over her. The mood soured when his mind turned to present times.
It wasn't long ago that Blake would have immediately reported what happened to him after speaking with the higher ups. If he hadn't already known, having been with the girl the entire time. Guess it's time to remind her of how things are supposed to be… Adam mused as he unlocked the door and entered without knocking. So long as Blake hadn't lost her touch, she would know someone had entered and come out to greet him.
Except that no one did. There was no one in the bedroom and the air in the apartment was stale by a day, though his sense of smell wasn't as keen as some Faunus'. No books left out, no dishes in the sink, and Blake's bag wasn't by the door like it normally was. No sign of the cat girl.
The bull Faunus' gripped his sword tightly, head swiveling as he took in every detail he could. This wasn't like the Blake he knew at all. And that knowledge drew a snarl from the young adult. She was too good of a fighter to be down and out. He knew that she wouldn't have gone to the hospital, another reason why they had medicine stations in their base.
Adam pulled out his scroll once more and sent a few querying messages to the missing girl. Not waiting, he turned in place and locked the door behind him. For a moment, he was tempted to just leave the door open and unlocked, a harsh lesson. Glaring at it, he decided that it would serve as a solid lesson later, if it was needed.
He moved silently, rushing down the stairs and out the door. He went around the corner and jumped between the two buildings, hopping up to the roofs with ease. After several months of using them for missions, the top tier fighters had memorized the layout, able to travel them just as well as they could roads. No one was out at this late hour, not even those who preferred to roam the night were out. The young adult scoured the neighborhood then branched out, hoping to find where the fighting had taken place. He started with the route Blake normally took and grew more disappointed when nothing showed up.
Breaking a few shingles with a punch, Adam spread out his search, starting from one corner of the poor section to the other. He sped across the tops and almost missed the place where Blake had fought without him. It was further away from the main areas of town, on the edge of even the slums, nowhere close to any White Fang territory or Blake's residency.
The alley was decimated by the fight that had occurred. He raised a brow at the scene, almost impressed. Scorch marks were scattered around the area, though it didn't seem to reach a spot midway down the alley. Rescuer… All humans ever do is lie. I bet it was a ploy to get Faunus to trust them. He walked through the scene mentally, imagining the fight as it may have happened. Tiny spots of red in the fight area demonstrated how strong the impacts were. Trash cans were knocked over and huge chunks were torn out of the ground. But there was still no sign of the dark haired girl or her supposed 'rescuer'.
Annoyed, Adam tried to call the girl directly. When she didn't pick up, he tried two more times. Still no response. Frustrated, he almost crushed the scroll. Just as the edges started crack, he slowly loosened his grip, as his eyes unfocused. His shoulders began pump along with his breath. A single sound effect broke his rage induced concentration. The scroll in his hand showed a message, waiting to be read. He stood up, not realized that he had bent so low in the first place, and opened up the device. It was from Brutus, asking for an update as he heard the bull Faunus had left to patrol. He responded with the exact location of the fight along with a picture of the scene. Once done, he set out, mind buzzing with ideas on how to best convey his displeasure at Blake's lapse in judgement once he found her.
Author Note: Soooooooo... I really hate Adam. I see and am reminded of so many bullies, racists, and jerks I've known in my life that it ticks me off. Really does. I like how the show handled him. Writing his part was pretty hard. I didn't want to get into the head of a manipulative jerk, but hopefully I've shown it decently at least.
I've run out of the pre-made stuff. Work can vary in how busy it is, so I don't always have time to just sit and write up chapters ahead of time, so we're in that funky stage of me writing as fast as I can while editing (and adding) extra 2,000 words (sometimes just double the total amount) to the chapter. So updates may be a little meh, but don't worry. I ain't stopping just yet. : ) Thanks for reading, please leave a review (I like to know how I'm doing) and have a nice day/night!