"Blake?"

"You're hurt," Blake observed in worry while keeping her pinned down. "What were you thinking?"

Instead of answering, Weiss struggled out of her grip and grunted several times. "Let me go!"

With a frown, Blake hesitated. She was concerned that if she released her, she would run away. It wasn't hard to keep her from moving, but they couldn't stay like that if Blake wanted to talk to her.

"Blake, please."

Golden orbs almost drowned in azure waves. There was a swirl of fright in those pools of blue. Desperation also tinged her voice. Blake had never heard her teammate sound like that before. There was a spec of vulnerability that made her feel guilty.

It's because of me, Blake thought. She's scared, caught off guard, and hurting.

After a thin sigh, Blake released her arms and kneeled next to her. Warily, she watched Weiss as she sat up. Blake didn't want her to make any sudden movements that might cause her arms to be more pained.

Thankfully, Weiss made no indication that she would run in a feeble attempt to hide the markings. But she still tried to hide them even though Blake had gotten a good glimpse of them. With her night vision, Blake could see her arms clearly. There were black stripes and the usual whiteness was bright red.

That has to hurt. Was she trying to make them fade?

But that's not what shocked Blake the most. It was the smell. The overwhelming stench of chemicals. It assaulted her nostrils, but she didn't show it. All she could do was send her teammate a kind smile.

Hastily, Weiss tried to throw on her jacket in a last attempt to hide the stripes on her arms. When the jacket was halfway on, a hand grabbed her shoulder, but not tightly.

"Don't," Blake said sternly. "I'll tend to you."

After a defeated sigh, Weiss hesitantly slid off the jacket. She had to face reality. Blake saw everything. Everything. There was no point in trying to hide it from her now.

Not knowing what to say, Weiss tried not to show any emotion and asked. "What are you doing here?"

Ignoring the question, Blake glanced at the discarded bag on the brown grass. "Do you have bandages or medicine in that bag there?"

Still trying to process the situation, all Weiss could do was nod.

"Good."

Fortunately, plenty of gauze and healing medicines for burns were inside. Enough for a group of people, let alone one person.

This definitely isn't her first time doing this, Blake thought sadly, a frown forming. She's done this a lot.

After Blake grabbed everything, she finally met her friend's gaze. Weiss had been silent and watching her. Her mind was probably racing a million miles a minute. When Blake focused, she could hear her heart thumping wildly.

"It's alright," Blake reassured. "Hold out your arm for me."

Weiss could only watch her. She hesitated, but when she noticed her friend focused on her arm, she pulled away.

"Don't look," Weiss said feebly.

Gingerly, Blake reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. When Weiss appeared to calm down a bit, Blake held out the entirety of her arm.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Weiss. It's not shameful to be a faunus."

She's willing to do anything- even hurt herself- to keep this secret.

At this moment, Blake knew she was on thin ice. She needed her teammate to trust her. To trust that she would never tell her secret to anyone. It was safe. Locked away like she wanted it to be.

A calm breeze flowed between them. The leaves shivered, making them feel like they were in a fragile peace. The cream was gently soothed down her arm. This almost caused Weiss to shudder. The medicine was cold. With the breeze, it almost felt heavenly on her burns.

As Blake gently massaged the medicine over her skin, Weiss' gaze wandered to the top of Blake's head. Her ears were perked up and alert for any possible nearby danger. Even while helping her, she was still watching out for her.

For a moment, just a moment, Weiss didn't mind this interaction. Blake was so gentle. Her touch was so light that it almost tickled. Despite the pleasant feeling, Weiss latched onto her teammate's earlier words.

Weiss stared at her, thinking it wasn't shameful to be a faunus. Blake was right, but... "It's shameful when you're a Schnee."

"It's never shameful," Blake corrected, knowing that her teammate meant no offense. "You're perfect the way you are."

What Blake said confused Weiss. She was perfect? And she was able to say that without batting an eye or any hesitation.

She's been struggling with this her entire life. To not only be a Schnee, but also a faunus. No wonder why she wants to keep it a secret.

Blake took a moment to really feel her friend's arm. The markings were truly embedded in her skin. Despite her arm being burnt, it was soft and on its way to healing.

She had to go through hell to get to this point, Blake deduced.

Suddenly, Blake felt gentle fingers on her cheeks. Weiss wiped away the tiny droplets with deep concern.

"Blake," Weiss called in astonishment, not used to her teammate showing emotion. "Why are you crying?"

For a moment, Blake simply held her hand and took a deep breath. "I wish I could've been there for you. That's all."

That earned a small scowl as Weiss glanced away. Her voice gained some distance as if to detach herself from the situation.

"It was my choice not to tell anyone. Don't feel bad."

Blake processed her words, but couldn't help it. She began to wrap the bandages around her arm.

"You'd come back smelling like bleach sometimes," Blake revealed. "I thought maybe it was on your clothes or something. I knew something was wrong. I didn't want to believe it. And I still didn't say anything."

Now I know why she is always pulling down her sleeves.

When that arm was wrapped cleanly, Blake carefully held onto her other hand and held it out. The cold medicine caused a pleasant feeling down Weiss' spine as it was soothed onto the burns.

"You never let it show," Blake continued.

"Of course not," Weiss retorted. "It would be disastrous if people knew the truth. My own father doesn't even want to admit it."

Carefully, Blake rubbed the cream onto her elbow and slid it down. "It's no mistake, Weiss. It's what you are."

Unable to comprehend those words, Weiss stared at the withered grass. It was a perfect representation of her life. For years, she felt like she was withering away.

"You're not going to ask why I kept it from the team?" Weiss asked.

"Same reason as to why I used to, I guess?" Blake asked. "I was afraid of what they might think."

"No, that's not my reason," Weiss said sternly, thinking the sisters would accept anyone. "All it takes is one slip of the tongue and my family will fall apart more than it already has."

From the mention of her family, Blake's cat ears perked up. She never talked about her family. It sounded like it was in shambles. That was the one thing Blake couldn't relate to. Carefully, she began the process of wrapping the burned arm.

"I'm sorry about your family, I had no idea," Blake didn't know what else to say, then locked eyes with her. "You have my word I won't say anything about this."

From hearing that, Weiss visibly relaxed. It felt like a huge pressure lifted off her shoulders. "I appreciate that."

"Of course," Blake said as she continued to delicately wrap her arm. "It's your life, Weiss. I'm not going to make you tell anyone if you don't want to."

"Thank you. You have no idea how relieved that makes me."

Blake nodded in reassurance. "I'll be supportive no matter what you choose to do."

For now, it's best to keep the lie alive. No one pushed me to reveal who I am, so I won't do that to her. She needs support right now.

At last, the binding process was complete. Both of her teammate's arms were wrapped thoroughly. The medicine was soaking up the burns and healing her.

"That should do it," Blake gave her a smile. "Is there anything else you need?"

Quiet, Weiss shook her head. Blake stood and reached out to help her stand. Weiss accepted the help and stood. She put on her jacket to hide the bandages, and the two began walking back to Beacon.

Now that Blake was done tending to her, she was able to properly examine her teammate. All she had was that bag and jacket.

"Hey, did you bring your rapier?" Blake asked, worried.

Weiss looked troubled by the question and tensed. Instead of meeting her gaze, she looked up to the shattered moon.

"No," she breathed.

She went to the Emerald forest in the dead of night without a weapon, Blake concluded. The darkest corners of her mind tugged on her - telling her- it can't be. Is- is she…. suicidal?

Unable to stop herself, Blake exploded. "You idiot!" she yelled, which caused Weiss to jump in surprise. "Y-you have a death wish, don't you?"

To Weiss, Blake was merely stating facts. Anyone would be shocked to find out their friend was low-key suicidal.

Truthfully, Weiss didn't mind the thought of her own death. If she was going to go out by being mauled by a grimm, so be it. Her death was more like she would let it happen, not actively jump into danger.

To Weiss, she would probably be just another huntress-in-training that died by a grimm. Nothing suspicious or noteworthy. Just another statistic. Weiss despised the secrets she locked away from everyone. Even from her own precious teammates. So much so that she was indifferent to her own death.

That's how she's willing to sacrifice herself on the battlefield so easily, Blake concluded.

"I'm not letting you die," Blake told her, now calm as they walked side-by-side. "It's not happening. You have a team that depends on you. You're not allowed to leave us."

There's a darkness in her heart. And it's stronger than any foe she has fought by far.

Briefly, Weiss thought about lying to her. That she was reading too deeply into the situation. But she couldn't lie to her. Knowing this, Weiss clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"Fine."

The thought that there was always an escape soothed Weiss. There was always a way out. A way out of this nightmare. Now it was looking like she had to hold on. If only for Blake's sake.

"Good," Blake replied, glad they were on the same page. "Do you think you'll eventually tell Ruby and Yang that you're a faunus?"

Needing a distraction from that question, Weiss looked to the sky. The sun was beginning to rise, painting the atmosphere a shimmering swirl of red and orange.

Instead of answering, Weiss said. "We need to get back before they get up."

Content to leave the conversation there for now, Blake replied. "Right."

What kind of faunus is she?! It should be obvious but it will be officially revealed soon enough.

Lyrics from This Game: "There's a darkness in our hearts and it's stronger than any foe that we've fought by far. But as long as we believe, then I know there's no chance that we'll ever taste defeat." - darkness in Weiss' past and Blake's thoughts in it.

Lyrics from Asphyxia: "It's okay. No mistake, it's just who you are. You stay strong. But you are wondering how long you can keep the lie alive. When will you give it up?" - Blake telling her being a faunus is okay, and that she hopes Weiss will tell the rest of her teammates eventually.

Stay dandy,

~Toto