Chapter 21

The forest of red continued to pass by while the only sound the car left behind was the wind and the leaves. It had been an hour since they left the city of Vale now, soon they would be approaching the end of the Forever Fall. The journey so far had been quiet with nothing amiss. They hadn't seen any other cars pass them, and why would they? Vale had a black mark upon it as of right now thanks to Beacon. Rarely was anyone willing to go there.

Within the car Yang glowered at Neo and with her left hand she attempted to push her away for the smaller woman had started leaning against the her heavily. Before she made to move her hand however Neo had grasped her wrist tightly and pinned it down. With her only arm disabled Yang started to try and push her away using her own shoulder. It only worked somewhat as Neo would simply bounce back against her should any distance be made between the two.

"What are you two doing?" came Winter's voice. Yang looked up to see her icy blue eyes in the rear-view mirror staring back at her. To the sound of her voice Blake also glanced back suspiciously, her gold eyes narrowing at Neo who idly glanced away from her glare.

"She won't stop leaning on me" complained Yang as she tried to shove Neo with her shoulder again.

Winter only seemed to sigh and shake her head as her eyes turned back to the road while deciding to put such a squabble behind her. Though Blake did not seem as willing to ignore the matter as she spoke out, "Neo, if she wants her space give her some" she said, her voice tinted with warning.

Neopolitan simply ignored her which only seemed to annoy Blake further. "Forget it Blake, I do not want to have a one-sided argument in my car and it is hardly a pressing concern" came Winter's voice. For a moment it looked although the Faunus would protest against her but one glare from the other woman halted any ambition to do so as she turned back in her seat, folding her arms with a sour expression.

"Just- Get off me" growled Yang as she kept trying to shove the source of the problem away. No matter how hard she tried it didn't seem like she was going to succeed any time soon. Neo looked up to her with, oddly enough, one of the cutest smiles she'd seen the girl pull. With a frustrated sigh Yang turned her attention to the window on her right as she looked out from it. The sun had finally started to lower and enhanced the colour of the forest even further with hues of orange.

"So Yang, you are from Patch correct?" asked Winter as she glanced into the rear-view mirror once more.

Keeping her eyes to the window Yang nodded, "Yeah. Why?" she asked in return.

"I was wondering what it was like there after the attacks on Beacon and Vale?" came the response from Winter.

"Well... It got more popular I guess. Not that I noticed much, spent most of my time at home after my... accident" replied Yang, pausing at the thought of her missing arm.

Winter nodded to herself once as she adjusted the steering wheel, the car came upon a long curve and gracefully began traversing it. "And you Blake? What did you do after the fall of Beacon?" she asked.

"Did this just turn into that chat you always want with me?" asked Blake in response.

A smirk appeared on Winter's lips. "You are most certainly a sharp one" admitted the woman. "But yes, it is one of the many questions I had for you. Honestly most were concerning the White Fang but seeing as they are no longer an active threat... You are off the hook, as they say" she added.

"You were gonna interrogate her?" asked Yang as her lilac eyes looked over to Winter in surprise.

"Gently" nodded Winter.

"You can do gentle?" asked Yang once more.

To this Winter actually laughed, it was dignified and quiet but it was still a laugh despite the fact. "Do I seem so riddled with thorns to you Yang?" came her response.

Yang smiled at her seemingly happy response, "Nah, guess not. The whole up-tight thing doesn't help though" she answered.

"Up-tight?" came a suddenly more stern response as her eyes narrowed into the rear-view mirror towards Yang.

"Uh- I mean-" began Yang as she attempted to mend the insult. Before she could however she saw a smile appear on Winter's face, she was joking. "Pfft, okay, you got me that time" confessed Yang as she turned her attention back to the window with a grin.

Blake glanced to Winter from the corner of her eye, "What happened to your bike anyway?" she asked.

Winter adjusted the steering wheel once again. "Ah, yes. I had it shipped to Atlas before we left" she answered.

"Won't your father notice that?" continued Blake.

"If he does it is likely he will think it is being sent back for maintenance. I only ever have it done in Atlas" nodded Winter.

Yang spoke out from the rear seat of the car, "Hold on, won't he know you left the military or something?" she asked.

Winter shook her head, "No, not for a time. General Ironwood will ensure that information reaches him at a snail's pace" she answered.

"Huh... friends in high places I guess" said Yang as she once more idly tried to shove Neo away who continued to refuse to budge.

Some time later and the car had left the Forever Fall and moved upon a road that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, quite literally. It was dark and the only light came from the bright blue headlights of the car. Blake had her golden eyes focused ahead and had informed the rest that they appeared to be in wide opens plains and that the road continued on for miles, or at least for as far as she could see.

The inside of the car itself was dark now with only the interface at the front of the vehicle lighting up the faces of both Winter and Blake. In the back Yang looked even more annoyed as Neo had simply fallen asleep against her shoulder. Even now when she tried to shove her away she would somehow fall right back onto her, even when she shouldn't. This forced the blonde to ponder if she was actually asleep as she looked to the smaller woman's serene expression. The calmest Yang had seen on her yet.

"I think there's a few barns over to the right, way off our road though" spoke Blake as her eyes seemed to scan the darkness ahead.

"Nice to know there are at least some people out here. If not for the constant threat of Grimm I believe the countryside would be a lot more populated" answered Winter, her focus was a lot higher now as she drove in the dark.

Blake seemed uncertain as she continued to look out the car, "What's to say those barns aren't abandoned? We might still be alone out here" she answered.

Winter paused before glancing at the Faunus, "You are a very negative person, aren't you?" she asked.

"I- What? No" replied Blake, unsure of how to respond to such an accusation.

"She totally is" came Yang's voice from behind her.

Blake huffed and ignored Yang's words as her eyes surveyed their surroundings. "How long do we plan on going before rest?" she asked.

"How long can you stay awake?" asked Winter in response.

The Faunus raised a brow at her, "You're going to keep going until we're too tired?" she asked.

The woman nodded. "That was my intention. But if you would all rather stop for the night, we could do that too. Though setting a tent in the dark will be difficult, so unless Yang wants to sleep with Neo in the back..." she said, her voice trailing off.

Both Yang and Blake responded with "Nope" in unison, prompting a suspicious glance from Winter as her eyes seemed to drift between the two before setting back upon the road.

"Very well" confirmed Winter as the car gradually started to slow. "See anywhere we can park Blake?" she asked as her eyes strained to see through the darkness ahead.

"Some flat ground on the right coming up" replied Blake. The car slowed to a crawl as it turned right upon the road, its headlights lighting up a wide and flat space of grass. Though according to Blake this is what the entire place looked like. The car moved onto the grass and off the road. As Winter switched the engine off the headlights remained to light up the space in front of them.

"Right. Let's get to work" spoke Winter as she opened her door, a light inside the car switching on as she did so.

Yang was quick to open her own door and attempt to leave the car, though Neo's hand still clutched to her wrist, refusing to let go in her sleep. "Blake, give me a hand" said Yang as the Faunus exited the vehicle and stood besides her, eyes glaring down at the sleeping Neo. Without a need for further word Blake reached down to start prying Neo's hand from Yang's wrist. After successfully doing so and leaving the car entirely Neo was without her support and so fell forward in her seat. The sensation of dropping so suddenly seemed to wake her up as she slowly sat straight, glancing around and rubbing her eyes as if trying to find out where she was.

Winter had already opened the boot of the vehicle as Yang and Blake made their way to her. The tall woman instantly handed both of them two large rolls of fabric, the tents. She herself grabbed one as she led the two towards the front of the car. The headlights lit up the area so they could see what they were doing as they began constructing the tents. Neo left the car and approached the three as she idly watched, she still looked tired and seemed to show no intent to help.

Out of the three Yang was the last to put a tent up and decided it would be her own and Blake's, if only so that she wouldn't have to think she set one up for Neo. Looking over to the Faunus she could see she had already went and brought some bedrolls from the back of the car. She offered the blonde a wink with a smirk as she handed them over to her. Before she could move into the tent to put them down Neo had walked by the two with her own bedroll and simply entered the tent. Yang paused before looking to Blake who shrugged at her. "Uh, Neo, this one is ours" said Yang, glancing inside the tent to see Neo staring back. The smaller woman brought her hands to her jacket as she unbuttoned it.

Yang quickly pulled her head out from the tent, "We'll just... take the one you made..." she said to Blake as the Faunus stood confused before following after her.

"I shall remind you all that we move at the crack of dawn" came Winter's voice as she made her way back to the car, turning off the headlights and submerging the area in darkness.

Within their tent Blake and Yang had practically opted to share a single bedroll. The Faunus rested her head against the blonde's collarbone, one of her arms wrapped around her waist. Yang herself had her only arm around Blake's shoulders. Laying on her back she stared up to the top of the tent, she couldn't seem to fall asleep, wondering if it was because Neo was so nearby and the fact that in the past she had attempted to kill her.

"Stop thinking about her" whispered Blake as her head lifted slightly to look upon Yang.

The blonde sighed, "Yeah, should be thinking about you instead right?" she chuckled quietly.

Blake smirked softly as she propped herself up against her elbow, head leaning upon her hand. "Didn't think we'd actually end up going to Atlas..." she answered.

Yang nodded once, "Yeah... I've never been before. You?" she asked.

With a shake of her head she responded, "No. I was never part of any of the groups that went there. And most that did... they never came back" answered Blake.

"They must lock it down pretty tight up there then" said Yang as her hand idly placed itself upon the back of Blake's neck, her fingers stroking her pale skin gently.

Blake's cheeks flushed slightly as her golden eyes trailed off, "Guess we won't be on another date for some time?" she asked awkwardly.

Yang grinned, "No reason we can't call our trip to Atlas one right? Sure we might not get to walk on a beach or in a park and stuff. But at least we get to travel together, and like, share a tent and stuff" she said. Thoughts passed through her mind as she continued to look up at the image of Blake. She was difficult to see in the dark but she could make out her features as her eyes adjusted.

"So this is a date? Right now?" asked Blake as her own eyes returned to Yang. She felt Yang's fingers upon her neck stop their movements.

Yang paused as her eyes seemed to concentrate up at her. "Yeah..." she said, as if distracted.

Blake could see her girlfriend clearly with her own sight. "Yang?" she asked, wondering if something was amiss with her. She felt pressure upon the back of her neck, as if she was being pulled in. Once more Blake repeatedly herself uncertainly, "...Yang?"

"I've been... thinking lately..." came Yang's response as she pulled Blake's head closer towards her own. She couldn't see very well but she knew that the Faunus probably had bright red cheeks right about that point.

"About what...?" asked Blake, though she knew exactly what she meant. She was halted just an inch from Yang's face.

Blake didn't receive a response from Yang as she pulled her that final inch closer. Yang closed her eyes and pursed her lips as they came into contact with Blake's. She felt a sensation bubbling inside of her as her grip upon the back of her neck tightened. She could feel Blake's breath from her nose tickle at her skin. The Faunus produced a soft and quiet moan as she shifted her body slightly to rest upon Yang's, her hands coming up to cup the blonde's cheeks.

Yang could feel Blake press her body against hers as if craving contact. Being as lightly dressed as the two were she could feel her legs brush up against her own. It was nothing like she imagined it would be, kissing Blake. She thought it would be a simple action, but there was something else behind this. There was emotion, powerful emotion. As if she had been waiting for this moment since the day she met her. She wondered if those feelings were strong enough to surpass a simple crush and if Blake felt the same way about her in return.

Their lips parted from one another and she felt Blake exhale a sigh. Both of their eyes opened and lilac met with gold as they stared into one another. Though it was dark she saw Blake's smile, it was bright and full of life. "Yang..." she whispered with joy in her eyes.

Yang smiled back up at her before pulling her into another kiss to which the Faunus eagerly complied. The kiss itself was innocent with only their lips pressing together. But the meaning behind it was as strong as it could be. The two had fallen for one another. Yet to put those feelings into words would be something else entirely, to admit their love. They knew once they reach that threshold there was very little chance of going back to simply being just friends. For now however, and as often as they liked to do, they enjoyed one another's company. Unbeknownst to the small woman outside their tent who sat with her back turned to it, knees tucked in. A blank stare as she looked to the ground at her feet.