From a quick glance one could tell Bellwood's nightlife was allot tamer then Vale, she recalled one evening Yang had dragged her and the others to one of the many clubs that dotted around the Kingdom but the scene she saw in front of her was the complete opposite the streets were rather calm at night a few groups of passing people. The bookstore Alex had suggested was run by an elderly man he was quite polite and offered a large selection of literature some she had never seen before to put it bluntly Blake was in heaven.
Darting from shelf to shelf grabbing any that caught her eye to say that Blake had enjoyed herself was a massive redundant and massive understatement by the time they left she had a rather large bag to lug around filled with many different genres of book's the whole thing reminded her of Tukson's book trade.
Sadness flashed across her face, recalling the news report of his murder she knew he had deserted the white fang and like her had gone into hiding she could only suspect the white fang were responsible for his death, it wasn't the first time even when she was among their ranks she had seen reports of deserters being taken care of by other agents and regrettable herself as well.
"Blake, you ok?" Coming out of her thoughts, she looked over to Alex concern written across his face.
"I'm fine" She responded regaining her usual stoic demeanor, she pulled out her scroll checking the time they had been about for a little over two hours and it had just started to get dark "So, where is this sushi place you suggested?" she said attempting to change the subject, she wouldn't deny she also wanted to get their sooner, she felt her stomach growl slightly mostly due to the fact their fight in the streets had left her with a bit of an apatite
"It's just up ahead" Alex responded rounding the corner the two saw their destination, the restaurant sat in between two others the sign outside reading 'Fujiyama Teppanyaki' a mountain in the background behind the lettering. she was hesitant at first when she opened the door but relaxed when a delicious aroma greeted her.
A young woman in her late teens with dark blue hair and glasses wearing a black shirt with the restaurants logo over her heart and black dress pants greeted them.
"Hello, how many do yo- Alex?" she said in surprise, the girl came up and hugged him much to Blake's surprise
"You know her?" Blake asked
"Hey Akira, it's been a while." Alex responded as the newly identified Akira released him taking a step back raising an eyebrow
"It's been six months, where have you been we thought you were dead." Akira said frantically
Alex sighed rubbing the back of his neck "Working" He responded
"Seriously, I know you have that oh so super-secret job of yours but come on man you can't just ditch your friends like that." She said crossing her arms, over her chest with a small pout
'This girl kind of reminded me of Ruby... only a little older.' Blake mentally noted
"Blake" Alex said "This is Akira she and I have known each other since we were little, her family owns the place"
"Hi" Blake said Akira smiling back at her
"So is this your girlfriend, the two of you out for a little alone time" She said jabbing Alex in the arm while wiggling her eyebrows
'Correction' Blake noted 'defiantly more like Yang ' she thought while trying to stop the blush from appearing on her cheeks
"Hey, I'm just messing with you two come on I got a great spot for you guys" she said they both nodded Akira leading them to a booth by the window "Call me if you need anything" She said leaving them two menus' before going to attend to other customers.
"She was..." Blake trailed off
"Something I know" Alex said while Blake hummed in agreement, she watched the girl go and attend to a few other customers, Blake glanced down at the menu she had been given her mouth watered slightly as her eye's scanned over the selection of aquatic cuisine.
"Blake why did you want to become a huntress?" She blinked looking up at Alex in slight confusion.
"What?" she asked
"Back at mountain Glenn" He continued in a hushed voice "Doctor Oobleck asked Ruby and I why we wanted a career as hunters after I heard what you and the others were talking about at the camp, I've kind of been curious... what inspired you" He said
Blake grew quiet thinking back to the event's only almost a week prior "I wanted to be a huntress to stop the violence between humanity and the Faunus, end the corruption ...but now that I think back on it Doctor Oobleck raised a valid point, how am I going to do any of that I'm just one person, once I graduate from beacon how can I undo so many years of hatred after causing so much of it." Blake said as she stared down at her hands
"Because you're not alone in this anymore, no matter what comes next you don't have to face it alone you have your team, your friend's" Alex said reaching across and taking her hand" you've got me and no matter what we'll all stand by you to the end."
Blake stare at him a genuine smile appearing on her face as her own hand curled around his in a gentle embrace "Thank you."
"Ahem" The moment between the two ended, as Akira stopped at their table, she leaned down towards them putting on a fake smile "Don't look but I think you two have some company." her eye's signaling out across the street, leaning back in his seat Alex grabbed one of the menus for cover glancing out the window he saw a strange sight "They showed up a little while after you guys got here"
/
Ruby stood at the edge of an alley a pair of glasses and fake handlebar mustache on her face a large blue cap on her head the front bent down trying to hid her appearance more while a pair of binoculars hung from around her neck, a few feet away yang stood leaning against the wall wearing a large trench coat and matching hat sporting her signature aviators, Weiss stood at a pay phone her white fedora bent down hiding her face from view a few feet away Koan sat at a bus stop a newspaper lifted up in front of him eye wholes cut out the front many passersby looked at the four weirdly although none of them seemed to care why they were trying and failing at being hidden.
"This is red fox to white swan, targets are in sight " Ruby said into her scroll as she lowered her binoculars
"Ruby" Weiss said into her scroll "we shouldn't be here, this is a complete invasion of their privacy"
"Then why are you here Ice queen?" Yang said sporting a smirk
"To make sure you dolts don't get caught." The heiress snapped back at the blond brawler.
"Chill Weiss cream "Ruby and Weiss groaned due to the terrible pun while Koan chuckled " besides they don't even know we followed them. So, you guys have any idea what their talking about they've been chatting with that waitress for a while "Yang said with a slight frown the little moment Blake and Alex had shared a few moments before was in her opinion adorable, and that waitress just had to come a ruin it.
"Can the two of you just stop and focus on the mission" Ruby whisper yelled as she turned her gaze back to the restaurant
Weiss sighed "Fine" there was no use in arguing besides she'd be lying to herself if she said she wasn't at all interested about their friends so called date.
/
"So, you know the 'super spy's' out their" Akira asked while keeping up the appearance she was taking their order
"Yes" Alex and Blake responded
"I have a feeling Yang put them up to this" Blake said shaking her head at her partners antics
"Probably" Alex responded
"Let me guess friends of yours" Akira asked with a playful smirk towards Blake "I guess the girls were interested in their friend's date, although who's the other blond?" she said eyeing Koan for a moment before shrugging.
"A friend from 'work' " Alex said Akira looked at the two before snickering slightly
"Neither of you told them about your little night out huh?" she said with a knowing smirk "I'm surprised they didn't show up sooner."
'Yep this girl is definitely more like yang' Blake though as she rolled her eyes, although she did have a point they had snuck out during the chaos it was surprising the other had caught up with them so quickly tonight had been nice and it would seem like a waist having to end it so quickly.
"You know" Akira began breaking Blake's train of thought, her hand rested on her chin "It just so happens that I left the back door into the alleyway open I should really go shut it before something happens."
Blake and Alex shared a glance
"Hmm maybe after my brake" Akira mused walking off
"Shall we" Alex said
"Sure" Blake responded as the two rose from their seats.
/
"Umm guy's" Ruby said getting the others attention who in turn glanced up from their scrolls "their gone"
"What!?" Yang said quickly grabbing Ruby's binoculars "How they were their like two seconds ago where'd they go" she groaned
"It's probably for the best" Weiss said being the voice of reason "besides it's starting to get late What do you think they would do if they found out we had been following them all night"
"Fine, you got a point Ice queen" Yang groaned begrudgingly, despite their little escapade ending so quickly she was going to talk to her partner later She. Wanted. Details.
Weiss growled a vain bulging on her forehead "Will you stop calling me that!"
/
"You know this honestly isn't how I pictured our evening" Alex said as the two exited the back alley and back onto the main street
"Having to avoid our friends who've been stalking us most of the night" Blake said causing Alex to chuckle
"Yeah, sorry about how things have gone so far" Alex said
"It's ok, I'm having fun." Blake reassured him
Suddenly a firetruck flew past them followed closely behind by an ambulance speeding up the road their sirens blaring Blake and Alex's followed the direction of the emergency crews spotting a faint orange glow in the distance "Is that..." Blake said in slight horror, the two glanced to one another sharing a nod before rushing off towards the blaze.
The two hunters in training arrived at the scene a crowd of onlookers had already gathered being kept back by a small group of Bellwood's finest while the fire department attempted to combat the blaze, off to the side a black-haired woman viciously tried to get through the crowd being held back by one of the officers
"Please you have to let me go my daughters in there!" The woman cried tears in her eyes.
"Ma'am you can't go in there" the officer said as he struggled to keep the frantic woman from rushing into the blaze. Suddenly a high pitch scream erupted from one of the houses upper windows
"Mommy!" a shrill voice cried just audible above the flames
"Jane!" The woman screams as she struggled even further, suddenly the emergency worker rushed back from the building as a burst of flames erupted from the bottom floor windows spraying shards of glass and rubble into the street below. It was now or ever Alex rushed forward using a parked car to leap over the crowd
"Light speed! Rescue! "A blinding light consumed his body as he landed onto of one of the fire trucks in front of the crowd His ranger suit was primarily Red with a red and white shield design over his chest his Elbow length gloves and boots were white with gold bands around them his helmet shared a similar design with a black shield visor
The emergency crews looked at him in shock "The Omni Ranger!" One called out
"Clear the area" Red light speed ranger called back before turning towards the blaze, Red light speed ranger leapt up through one of the upper windows rolling as he landed standing back up in the hallway the fire had ripped through the building damaging major structural supports he didn't have much time to find the girl and get out.
"Alex!" Blake called out coming through the broken window, her black scarf wrapped around her face shielding her nose from the smoke
"Blake" Alex said in alarm as the building shook slightly growing more unstable by the minute
"Helping you" She said
"Blake, you need to get out of here it's too dangerous" he said Blake shook her head grabbing his hand
"No, like you told me you don't have to do this alone anymore" she said Alex grew quiet for moment, the building rumbled as part of the ceiling above caved in the two dived out of the rubble's path as it took out the stares to the bottom floor "There's no turning back now."
"m-Mommy!" a weak voice called out from the floor above the two jumped up to the third floor the thick smoke obscuring their view all except for the amber glow from the fire blocking them from the door way at the end of the hall "p-Please...someone?" the girl called.
Blake reached for Gambol Shroud about to put to use the ice dust that Weiss gave her "Hold on, save what dust you have left I got this" Red light speed ranger drew his thermite blaster, adjusting a dial on the end her raised the weapon firing out flame retardant foam extinguishing the flames. The two rushed forward kicking open the bedroom door there in the center of the room lay a seven-year-old girl with short black hair in footy pajamas barely conscious Red-light speed ranger scooped her up in his arms.
"You're gonna be alright" He said the girl glanced up at him before resting her head on his shoulder. The two made their way back to the second floor, suddenly the whole building began to shake, large jagged cracks spread across the floor underneath Red lightspeed ranger
"Blake!" Red Light speed ranger yelled as he tossed the little girl as the floor gave out under him Blake grabbed the girl hugging her to her chest as she fell back against the wall apiece of jagged metal catching onto some fabric.
"Alex!" Blake yelled in alarm
"I'm fine theirs another way out down here get the girl out of here" Alex called down from bellow, Blake turned back to the window leaping down back into the street, the little girl in her arms began to cough violently a group of paramedics rushing over and taking the girl from her arms. Although she couldn't help but notice the stares from some of the emergency workers and the crowd staring up at the top of her head.
Blake's eyes widened as she felt the cool night air touch the newly exposed ears on top of her head, her Faunus heritage on display for all to see, her heightened sense of hearing picked up murmurs from the crowd
"Are those cat ears?"
"What the hell is she?"
"Do you think she's one of those aliens"
Blake froze on the spot, so many things rang through her mind at that moment the scorn the hatred she'd been subjected to ever since she was a child for her Faunus heritage, her eye's flickered to an approaching figure, the mother of the child she had saved stood only a few feet away from her, her hazel eyes glanced to Blake's cat ears before meeting her own as she began to walk towards her.
Blake took a step back the option of running flashed through her mind "Wait..." The woman said reaching out to Blake whose amber eye's scanned her in slight fear, tentatively the woman took a few steps closer careful not to startle the cat Faunus, suddenly the mother wrapped her arms around Blake's neck pulling the Faunus close "Thank you... thank you for saving my little girl "She said trying to hold back a sob
Blake let out a breath, her fears vanishing from her minds the woman retract her arms tears still in her eyes one's filled with gratitude not scorn or hatred glancing over her shoulder Blake spotted Alex in the alley way across the street smiling at her, Blake looked back to the woman "You don't need to thank me" she said stepping back as she drew gambol shroud using the ribbon on the end of her weapon to grapple up to the rooftops she glanced back down into the crowd for a moment back at the mother who climbed into the ambulance with her daughter before hopping down into the alley way.
"Well that went well" Alex said from on top of a dumpster, Blake sighed in relief "In all honesty for a minute their I thought you were going to bolt off into the night" He didn't want to put her team through another incident like that again he held out a small black cap with B.P.D printed across the top to her "I know it isn't like your bow but it should be enough to cover your ears."
Blake was quiet she stared down to the head wear before shaking her head "No, it's fine" Blake said pulling down her scarf
"Are you sure?" He said Blake only nodded
"I'm done running and trying to hide who I really am." Blake said Alex smiled dropping the hat onto the ground, grimacing slightly he reached up to his shoulder he retracted his hand stained red with his own blood "Your hurt" Blake said coming closer she examined the large gash on his upper back just under the right shoulder blade most likely caused when the floor caved in. "We need to get you to a doctor you're going to need stitches." she said
"I can't they don't know 'who' I am, if they ask about what happened I can't exactly tell them what happened" Alex said
"Right" Blake responded it made sense his title as the Omni ranger warranted him some attention from both sides of the law. "We still need to clean and stitch this or it could get infected"
"I know a place." Alex responded
/
It was late in the night by the time the two arrived at their had left the more crowded part of Bellwood some time ago and were now somewhere in the residential area Blake wasn't exactly sure where they were going but Alex seemed to know what he was doing, and she trusted him.
Blake glanced to his back his jacket had darkened slightly on the right side "How far are we away?" She asked
"It's just around the corner" He responded
Turning the corner, they came upon a large apartment building, reaching into his jacket pocket Alex removed a small set of keys he stared at them for a moment before proceeding forward, the ride up the elevator was silent Alex clutched the key's in his hand.
"Are you alright" Blake asked
"It's been a while since I've been here, brings back a couple of memories" he said with a sad smile, exiting the elevator the two continued down the hall until Alex stopped at a door pushing the key into the lock he unlocked the door before heading inside he flicked on the lights turning back to Blake who stood in the doorway.
"Do you want to come in?" Alex asked
Blake followed him in shutting the door behind her amber eye's scanning around the room, the apartment was rather spacious the main living room was decorated rather nicely the wall had been painted a light cream the furniture was light brown a counter sat at the edge of the living room leading into the kitchen family photos decorated the wall's in the living room Blake eyes stopped directly on one in particular
It appeared to be a younger Alex in between two others a man who bore a striking resemblance to Alex with dark brown hair and deep hazel eyes beside a woman her hand around Alex shoulder her blond hair and stunning green eyes "Are these...your parents"
"Yeah" Alex responded as he pulled a med kit from one of the cabinets along with a bottle of rubbing alcohol to act as disinfectant
Blake's eyes didn't move from the family photo as she committed it to memory, she looked back to Alex who set the medical items down on the counter. Making her way over Blake opened the med kit, and retrieved the necessary needle, thread and cotton balls. Alex sat down removing his jacket and shirt as Blake got to work applying the Alcohol to the cotton balls and began cleaning the wound "What were they like?"
"They were great we had our differences at time some arguments here and their but that's just how family's work I remember one time when I was younger I ended up in a fight, some punk decided to pick on some kid half his size I stepped in and he ended up with a broken nose and I got suspend for a few weeks in all honesty I thought they would be pissed but turns out they were proud of me for what I did standing up for the kid don't get me wrong they were pretty angry about the suspension I can still remember how my mother reacted she was scary when she was angry." Alex said chuckling slightly at the memory a small smile found it 'self onto Blake's face
"What about you?" Alex asked Blake was silent as she continued her work and started applying the stitches after a few moments she took a breath and then spoke
"I haven't spoken to my parents in years" She said Alex looked back at her
"What?" he said
"The last time I saw my parents we didn't exactly leave on good terms I doubt they'd want to see me anyway" Blake said
"What happened..." Alex said as Blake finished up cutting the thread and setting the needle aside, she took a seat next to him "Do you remember when I told you about my involvement in the white fang."
"Yeah you said you were practically born into it" Alex responded
"I wasn't joking" Blake began" my Farther...was the previous leader of the white fang, around five year ago he and my mother stepped down from their positions and left, I didn't understand why at the time I was so angry and I let it get the better of me I thought they had given up that they were just going to abandon everything we had worked for...I called them cowards after that I don't know if I can still face them" She stared down at her shaking hand as the memory's played through her mind Alex reach over placing his hand on her shoulder
"Blake their your parent and no matter what they'll always love you. "Alex said he reached across taking her hands in his own " I've never met your parents, but I know that they'll understand why you did what you did and why you said what you said they could never hate you for following your beliefs and fighting for something you thought was right."
Blake stared into his eye's, leaning close Alex following suit neither broke each other's gaze, before they knew it their lips hesitantly made contact with one another gently pressing into each other slowly Blake's arms moved up his own linking around his neck While Alex's came to rest at her waist pulling Blake closer only furthering to deepen the kiss as their eyes slowly closed accepting the newly found solace in each other's arms, as they shared this momeant of passion.
'To be continued'