A/N: Heyo! Blue here! Kinda left you guys on a bit of a cliff hanger with that last one, didn't I? Haha. Well I got a brand-spankin' new chapter for y'all! Might not answer all your questions, but I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all the reviews! I truly do read them all (though I haven't been able to reply as of late, apologies). Let me know what you think of this one! Enjoy the Bees!
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Chapter 6: Who Are You?
She placed her hand on the golden handle and pulled the doors open wide. Normally, entering the downtown library filled Blake with glee. Before Yang, going to libraries was one of the few things that actually got her to smile. She used to stride in with confidence and peruse the extensive collection, looking for something that peaked her interest (which something most certainly always did).
A book was the last thing on her mind this time.
This time, she was researching.
After asking the librarian, a stern looking blonde with wire frame spectacles, she moved over to the database section. Since the awkward meeting with Yang and Ruby, Blake had attempted to look into Yang's history. Her research at home hadn't turned up anything.
Which is how she found herself at the library. She sat in a very hard and uncomfortable chair and sifted through the libraries archives. She first started looking for a trace of Yang in the past ten years. Nothing. Well, that might be accurate. She only said she grew up here, she never said how long that was. So she dug deeper, going twenty years back.
Nothing.
Now that was a bit strange, but when she couldn't find any records of her in the past forty years, that's when she got scared. Did she lie about growing up in Vale? She expanded her search, looking for anyone with the name 'Yang Xiao Long' in the country (which took a good hour or two to sift through).
There were three in the past forty years, and none of them matched her age.
Her mind was a swirling storm, never ending and never relenting. She had always viewed Yang as a blessing. In the short time she knew her, she had pulled her out of the dark place she was in. She was finally happy and... living.
But what if Yang wasn't everything she seemed. What if Yang was involved with some bad people. She had to know. If she was, maybe she could convince her to go into witness protection.
Or maybe she had? Maybe that's why she didn't have any records. Was 'Yang Xiao Long' the new name they gave her? Or was it a code name? Or maybe she had done far too much with her old name that she took a different one?
Maybe she took the name from someone who had died a long time ago.
She expanded the range, searching for the past eighty years instead. Before she could view her results, she heard a familiar ring tone blare.
From shaaaaadoooows-
Blake just about jumped out of her skin at hearing her phone go off. The librarian from the front loudly cleared her throat and coldly glared at Blake. The raven-haired girl hastily left the library. Without looking at the screen, she answered it.
"Hello?" She asked, mind still preoccupied with 'Yang'... Or who ever she was.
"Hey, Blake! You ready?" The cheerful voice asked.
Shoot, it was Wednesday.
"Uuuuh, I completely forgot we had plans. I'm at the library."
"It's alright. I got my bike today, I'll pick you up. Downtown branch, right?" The laid back voice said.
"How did you know that?" Blake asked with skepticism.
"It's like, the only good one in town. Best selection."
"That's true."
"Are you alright? You seem a little off today."
"I'm fine. I just... Have been having some trouble sleeping recently." Blake responded. It wasn't a lie, she hadn't slept much in the past couple days. What Blake didn't tell her was that the blonde was the one who was causing her insomnia. "I'll see you soon?"
"I'll be the cute one on the bike." Yang sang. Blake could practically hear the wink over the phone and cursed herself for smiling. And all attempts to rid herself of it utterly failed. Even after everything she saw, even knowing that Yang may be involved in some illegal dealings, she still wanted to believe that there was good in Yang.
That she wasn't like Adam.
Ten minutes passed and Yang rode up on her bike with some killer aviators. She beamed at Blake, took off her helmet and shook her golden mane out. Blake felt her knees go weak at the sight. Dammit, why did she have to be so gorgeous?
"Hop on! We're going for a ride." Yang chirped as Blake approached the vehicle. She handed Blake her own helmet.
"Aren't you afraid of getting into an accident?"
"Oops, I guess I forgot the spare. Eh, I'll be fine. I'm more worried about you. Take the helmet." Yang asserted.
"If you insist."
Blake took the helmet and contemplated why Yang never seemed concerned about herself. One could chalk it up to a self-sacrificing personality, but there was something more. Was reckless the right word? No, that would imply that she was putting others in danger. She simply acted as if she couldn't be touched.
Or maybe she just knew that she could die at any moment, if Blake was right about her... profession.
"Blake? You gonna get on?"
"Huh? Yeah, sorry."
"It's fine." Yang told her with a warm smile. "No books today? That's surprising."
"Didn't find anything that peaked my interest."
"Wow, never thought I'd see the day."
"Where are we going?" Blake asked to shift the subject.
"Just for a little ride, maybe a walk through the park. How does that sound?"
"That... sounds nice."
Blake held the girl she knew as Yang around the waist as they road throughout the town. God, she was so warm. Being this close just felt right to Blake. They rode like that for about an hour before reaching a secluded park.
Blake wished that she was still on the bike, holding onto Yang.
"I love this park." Yang said. She seemed to breathe in her surroundings, taking everything in. "Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it just... Make you feel alive?"
"It is." Blake agreed. It was truly gorgeous. There was a curtain of willow trees that lead to a meadow of flowers of all varieties. Morning glories, tulips, daffodils. Blake watched, brimming with mirth, as Yang flopped among the flowers and rolled in the colorful field. Blake giggled at the actions of her companion, but soon found herself being dragged down with her.
"What is so funny, huh?" Yang asked in a mock serious tone. She held onto Blake as she squirmed, laughing all the while.
"Nothing, nothing."
"Nothing?" Yang asked. She flipped Blake over onto her back and began to tickle her. "Nothing, you say?"
"Stop, stoooooop." Blake whined in between laughs.
"Then tell me." Yang asked, losing herself in the laughter as well.
"Ok, OK! I give up." Said Blake. "I was just thinking about what a huge dork you are."
"Well then I guess that makes two of us." Yang retorted, ceasing her attack. And that was the moment they realized the position they were in. Yang, pinning Blake to the ground. Blake could feel every curve of her body up against hers. And more than that, she felt another heartbeat pounding hastily against her. She looked up to Yang and saw realization in her eyes too.
"Uuum..." Yang uttered, quickly getting off of her. "I'm glad you like this park."
"Y-yes, it's breathtaking. How did you find it?"
"I went here a couple times as a kid. Brings back good memories."
And there was another nugget of information from her mysterious (and possibly shady) past.
"So you grew up in Vale? Where?" Blake found herself asking.
"Why?"
"I'm just curious, You never really tell me anything about yourself."
"I talk about myself."
"No, you don't."
"I really don't feel like it right now, Blake. Why don't we just enjoy this while it lasts. Winter will be here soon, this could be the last time you see this... Until spring... Of course."
"I think I have been pretty patient, Yang. But after what happened with Ruby-"
"What do you mean what happened with Ruby?" Yang asked. Her eyes widened and she attempted to backpedal. "Th-that was the girl in your apartment, right? Ruby was her name?" The blonde visibly bristled.
"Yang, you looked a her like you knew her."
"She reminded me of someone, that's all."
"She looked like she knew you too."
"What are you implying?"
"Yang." Blake whispered, taking her hand. "I think I know what your job is. It's the reason you know Ruby and it's the reason you live like you could die at any point."
"I..."
"It's also the reason... that there is no record of 'Yang Xiao Long' in the past forty years..."
"Did you... Is that why you were at the library?" Yang asked, a bit hurt. "You looked me up?"
"I... Did. And I want to help you, Yang."
"You. You want to help me?" Yang asked in disbelief. "Never had anyone wanna help me before. That's new." She muttered the last part to herself.
"Yang, I can help. So can Ruby. She got out, and she has a happy life with Weiss now." Blake told her, squeezing her hand. "You can go into witness protection too."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Witness protection. I don't know what you're involved in, but they can help you get out of it."
"Wait." Yang said, standing up. "Wait... Wait, you think that I am... That I'm some sort of criminal?"
"I... well..."
"I'm not!" Yang shouted.
"Then how come I can't find any record of you? How do you know Ruby? Why won't you tell me anything about your life?" Blake shouted back.
"I can't tell you! I just can't!"
"Why not? I don't understand." Blake cried out. "Please let me in!"
"I think I should take you home now." She said, her voice frosted with apathy. It was the coldest she had ever heard her speak.
It hurt that she was the one who brought her to that point.
"Yang."
"We're going home."
Yang turned around and walked back through the curtain to her bike. That might not have been the best decision. But was she wrong for assuming so? Yang never told her a thing! And knowing Ruby... It all felt a bit... strange. Blake parted the curtain after her.
"I wish you would let me in." Blake softly mumbled. She knew Yang had heard her, she stopped in her tracks. "I know I may have... Overstepped my bounds. I know I may have... Been a bit forward after the movies."
"Blake."
"But... I care about you. I care about you a lot."
"I... Care about you too."
"I don't want to see you get hurt. You're just reckless, Yang. You're reckless and stubborn and..."
Wonderful. Blake thought, but dared not vocalize it.
"You shouldn't worry about me." Yang said. She turned around and Blake saw that lopsided smile. But there was a hint of sadness, a twinge of melancholy stuck in her eyes. Hurt that stung Blake to look at as much as it did Yang to feel.
"But I do." Blake told her. She moved forward to close the distance, unafraid of how bold she seemed. She needed Yang to know she could talk to her. She needed her to trust her.
She needed to be a little bold.
She took her right hand and swept away the golden locks that curled around the side of Yang's face, the ones she refused to push behind her ear (not that it would work in the first place, her hair was far too thick). Her delicate hands pressed against her cheek. Oh god, it was so warm. Yang stiffened at her gesture, but soon, she closed her eyes and pressed her cheek closer to Blake's hand. Her other hand rested on her shoulder
"I want to help." Blake whispered.
"I know."
"You've done so much for me, let me return the favor." She told Yang, chuckling at the end.
Her lilac eyes opened slightly and looked to the side.
"I haven't done much, Blake."
"Have you forgotten about the car? You know. Walking, beep beep, saving my life?" Blake said, reciting Yang's words back to her. "You're kind of my hero."
Lilac locked back onto amber. She looked as if she wanted to say more. As if there was something else burning in her mind. Something that was ready to slip out.
But it never came. Yang's mouth clamped shut and she pushed her face back into Blake's hand, hiding away the lilac once more.
"Worry about yourself Blake, not me."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just... Live, Blake." Yang said, her hand coming up to hold the one pressed against her face. Her eyes clenched tighter, as if she was savoring the contact. After a few seconds, she peeled the raven-haired girl's hand away and opened up her eyes. "Enjoy your life, Blake. We only have one, right?"
"... Right."
Perhaps that was it. Perhaps Yang just lived everyday like it was her last. Maybe she had no reason to be that way other than the fact that she was an adrenaline junkie.
But she still knew Ruby, there had to be some explanation for that. She didn't dare ask again though. Yang seemed upset as it was, she knew not to push it further. She wanted the girl with her, in whatever way she would allow her to be. She didn't want to push her away. In the past couple months, Yang had become a very important part of her life (not that she would admit that to Ruby and Weiss). So she kept her mouth shut on the bike ride home.
She hugged her goodbye, but it was loose and quick. Nothing like the hugs she had received from the blonde before.
Maybe she had made a mistake. Maybe she had made a terrible mistake.
XxXxX
She had made a mistake. She had made a terrible mistake.
Yang made her way down the road at a frantic pace, attempting to locate some sort of alley. Her hands were scratching the back of her head vigorously.
God this was not good. Blake was digging into her background? But how could she blame her after what happened with Ruby. Blake was perceptive, what else did she expect? But a criminal? Is that what Ruby was telling people who asked about her? Yang would find it humorous if Blake wasn't so close to figuring her out.
She touched her cheek and stopped her hurried pace for a moment. She could almost still feel Blake's hand there, the way it gingerly held her face. No one had ever held her face like that. She wished that she could have relished in the sensation more, knowing that what she felt was all she would ever get.
But her touch sparked electricity in her veins, more than she had felt in a long time. Blake seemed unaware of the movement of her own thumb, the way it moved in small circles on her cheek. She felt a smile form on her lips, growing stronger the more she thought of Blake and the way she held Yang's face. Heck, anything about the girl made her smile now.
If her mere touch caused electricity to run through her veins, she could only imagine what would have happened if she hadn't pushed herself off of Blake so hastily.
But she wished she hadn't pulled away when she had accidentally pinned her to the ground earlier. She wished she leaned down and-
"Yang." The voice said before she was in an alley. She slipped into the most secluded place she could find.
"Ok, so I know it seems bad-"
"She's too close, Yang."
"It's ok, she won't figure anything out. I'll set everything straight next time."
"There will be no next time."
"Excuse me?"
"The second event is close, you must let it happen then."
"What? No, I'm not done!"
"Yes, you are."
"But you said this one was preventable."
"I did, but you are not suited to help her anymore."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that she's not the only one who has gotten close." The voice said. "If you keep this up, you'll end up just like R-"
"I am not in love with her! I'm just doing my job!"
"Did you forget that we have been watching you? We've all seen how you act around her. We saw how close you were to kissing the girl."
"I... I told you, I just got a little swept up. I don't know." Yang defended. "Just let me help her more. I can still help, I swear."
"You are to leave it be. That is an order."
Yang balled her hands into fists and gritted her teeth.
"Understood." Yang answered reluctantly.
But that was nothing but a lie. Like hell she was just gonna let the second event happen. She would do anything to give the girl more time. They had told her she could prevent this one before, that's just what she was gonna to do. Orders be damned.
Blake was going to live, even if it was just for a couple more weeks.