Chapter 34

'Why'd she do it? Why'd she attack me?!'

The words rung in Jaye's ears at a fever-pitch, eerily haunting, as his gaze fell onto the surrounded blonde. His mouth slid open, and he drew in breaths in short, rapid bursts. He rose from his seat mutely, his hands finding the rail before him, and he grasped it tightly between his fingers. He barely noticed as ice formed around his digits, cracking beneath his skin and turning the metal so cold it creaked in his grasp. He leaned over the edge, staring down at the girl as the automated defense droids leveled their weapons at her. His first thoughts were to get her out of there, but he halted himself.

'All that'll do is put more suspicion on her. I can't help her, not this way.' He grit his teeth, gripping the railing tighter. He glanced up at the screen, glaring at the recording that incriminated her hand confused him all at once. Yang stood, proudly on the monitors, her victory in hand, before cocking her arm back and firing a shell straight through the leg of the silver-haired boy.

Mercury's leg.

'But why did she do it? Why?' He screamed, his lips never opening, as he continued to watch mutely from the sidelines as Yang searched desperately for help, for a way out of this desperate situation. He dropped his forehead to the railing, unable to look at her anymore. He couldn't fathom what was happening, yet the reality of it sunk into his mind like a cold, serrated knife.

'She'd already won!'

'You guys believe me, right?' Jaye didn't look up, keeping his eyes rooted to his kneecaps. He stiffened slightly as she asked again, her voice small and weak, so different from the voice he was used to hearing. General Ironwood had just left, after informing Yang that she had been disqualified from the tournament. Jaye sat, quietly, in his chair by the desks, his fingers interlaced as they spoke. The two younger girls chorused their assent vehemently, but Blake and Jaye stayed silent. Yang glanced across them, her eyes widening in a desperate plea.

'…Jaye? Blake?' She whispered, and the bow-headed girl glanced away.

'I want to believe you.' She said, finally, and Weiss nearly exploded with indignation.

'What's that supposed to mean?!' She spat, and Blake shook her head. Yang stopped, frozen, tears welling up in her eyes as she watched the dark-haired girl.

'Blake…?' She choked, her voice pitifully small, and Jaye flinched at it like a slap to the face. He raised his eyes to her tear-streaked face, watching her wordlessly, as Blake continued to remain lipped.

'How can you say something like that?' Weiss exploded. 'Yang would never lie to us!'

'Let her speak.' All heads turned as Jaye spoke, his low voice cutting across the room. He took a deep breath, eyes fixated on Yang, He tilted his head slightly, catching her eyes, and recoiled as she met his gaze. She watched him grimly, pleading desperately for some support in her world of confusion, and he felt his heart nearly shatter as her eyes begged him for comfort. Blake sighed, hugging her knees to her chest.

'I had someone very dear to me change.' She breathed, and suddenly her eyes went far away, staring out at something no one else could see. 'It wasn't in an instant, it was gradual.' She shook her head, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. 'Little choices that began to pile up. He told me not to worry.'

'At first, they were accidents...then it was self-defense. Before long, I even began to think he was right.' Blake paused, touching her fingers to the black ribbon nestled in her hair. She felt her ears beneath them, and took a breath, locking her eyes with Yang.

'This is all just... very... familiar.' She said. 'But you're not him. And you've never done anything like this before. So...' She let her hands fall to her sides. 'I want to trust you, I WILL trust you. But first, I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me he attacked you.' She set a steely gaze on the blond-haired girl. 'I need you to promise me that you regret having to do what you did.'

Yang sniffed heavily, rubbing her eyes. 'I saw him attack me. So, I attacked back.'

'Okay. Thank you.' Blake smiled, raising her eyes to the forlorn girl. Yang returned it, getting to her feet.

'I think I'm gonna rest up.' She said, pulling her gauntlets off, and Blake rose with her.

'We'll get out of your hair.'

'I know you're still there.' Yang said, clambering onto her bed. Jaye stepped quietly out of the corner, where he'd somehow managed to blend in with the little shadow that remained there during the day.

'Thought you could use some company.' He said, shoving his hands into his pockets. Yang watched him quietly, pulling her knees to her chest.

'Yeah. I could.'

'You're fighting in the mini-event right?'

'I was. But I don't really feel like it anymore.' Jaye murmured, pulling Yang closer to him. They sat, entwined on his bed, sinking into the pillow beneath them, wrapped in the blanket and leaning against the dashboard. Jaye had Yang bundled up between his knees, the girl lying against him, and Yang pressed herself into his chest, squeezing him tight. They continued with strained conversation, talking about pointless things. Yang took a shaky breath, gripping the hem of her shirt.

'Do you think I really was hallucinating?' She whispered, clutching desperately to him. 'Did I really do that and not know?'

Jaye stared quietly at the wall, rubbing soothing circles into her back. He pressed his lips to her head, running his fingers through her hair.

'I don't believe that.' He murmured, dropping his head onto the headboard. 'Something happened. I don't know what it was, but something happened. There's no way you somehow just hallucinated that; not when we've fought for our lives before. I doubt a tournament match could possibly compare to fighting assassins.'

'But what else could have happened?!' She sat up abruptly, bringing herself level with the dark-haired boy, nearly hitting him in the chin. 'I can't think of any other reason!' Her lips trembled. 'I'm just afraid that deep down, I enjoyed doing it.'

'I just told you.' Jaye ran a hand down her cheek. 'I don't believe that.'

The blonde shook her head, setting her mass of hair waving in curls around her frame.

'But I'm afraid.' She whispered, placing her hands on his chest. 'I can't find an answer.'

'I can't either.' Jaye set his jaw in a line, fixing his gaze to hers. 'But the girl I know would never do something like that.'

Yang's mouth parted slightly, tears brimming in her eyes, and Jaye brushed them away gently. She kissed him, hesitantly, just barely brushing him, and Jaye could feel her fear and insecurity radiating as she pulled away. It was so intense it was palpable, and it clutched at his heart like an iron vice. He grasped her face, placing his hands on her cheeks, and returned her lips to his. She sank into him like putty, crumpling as the tension in her body hit its peak, and released herself to him. He felt her tears pouring out, and he hugged her tightly to himself, his lips never leaving hers, and Yang choked as she continued to cry.

Still she remained, clutching desperately to the boy she loved as her lips met his over and over again. She was desperate for help, for assurance, to somehow relieve herself of the bursting pain in her chest, and Jaye cursed his powerlessness. He just held her, letting her rest, and prayed that time would bring her peace, that he would somehow find an answer for all this. He simply held her.

And prayed.

Chapter 34 end.