AN: I apologize for this one in advance.
Fire.
Fire, destruction, and blood.
The entire city was engulfed in a white-hot-fire that was born of hell. Glass broke and shattered as the orange and red flames splashed across its smooth-clear surface. Once mighty buildings crumbled as their infrastructures withered and burned. Crimson blood clogged the storm drains like rain during a downpour.
Smoke, that was black as night billowed up from the skeletal remains of structures that were no longer standing. The dark gas filled the air like fog on a spring morning, making it impossible to see more than a few feet in any direction.
The bodies of Grimm, hunters, and civilians lined the streets and sidewalks. Half of the bodies were either riddled with bullet holes or cleaved-cleanly in half; the others were torn apart by tooth or claw. The stench of their burning and rotting flesh filled the air with a smell so putrid it was nauseating.
That wasn't the most haunting thing about the scene, no, that had to be the unearthly-wails of those who were still alive or dying. Sad cries rung out as people wept over the bodies of those they had lost. Cries that were only matched by those who moaned out in agony as they waited for the slow release of death to end their suffering.
Blake was one of those people, she knew it. She knew it with as much certainty as she knew her own name. There was no coming back from the amount of blood she had lost through the gaping wound on her chest. It was only a matter of time.
Just a…few more…feet…
She pulled her broken and dying body across the ground, grimacing as pain radiated across her form. Every fiber of her being screamed out for her to stop. To stop moving, to just lie there and die, but she couldn't. She had to keep going, had to reach her destination.
She was so close, but with the state of her body, so, so, far.
Just a…little bit more…please…
Jagged pieces of concrete from the road and the surrounding decimated buildings tore into the flesh of her palms as she continued to crawl. She paid it no mind though; it wouldn't matter in a few minutes.
Really, nothing mattered anymore, nothing except this last foot that she had to travel. She spared a glance back to where she had come from. The dissected body of an Ursa lie there. It was the same Ursa that had caused her own mortal wound.
It's only ten feet away…so why does it feel like I've gone a mile?
She coughed up blood, the coppery taste made her gag.
Oh, that's right…I'm…dying…
Turning back to her task, Blake finally managed to pull herself up along her target.
"Bl-Blake, that you?"
Blake reached out and grabbed the person's still gauntleted hand. She flinched at how cold the other person's skin was.
"It's me…Yang." She managed the words around another blood filled cough. She barely had enough energy left to squeeze the frigid hand that she held.
She shivered, she knew that the strike that Yang had suffered was perhaps, worse than her own, but for the girl who always exuded heat to be cold…it just wasn't right.
None of it was right.
Grimm weren't supposed to have Aura's.
Grimm weren't supposed to be as intelligent as those that had attacked the city.
But they did and they were, and now the city was burning. Along with all of those who had defended it.
She cursed the unfairness of it all.
"Blake?"
She looked to the sound of her dying partner, Yang had turned her head. Almost lifeless lilac eyes stared at her.
"I'm… I'm he…re…Yang." Talking was becoming difficult, time was almost up.
Yang's face split in a bloody grin. "I'm gla…"
Yang wheezed and the final spark in her eyes went out.
"No!"
Blake gasped out as she bolted up.
Cold perspiration covered her body making the yukata she wore cling to her skin. Her eyes frantically bounced around her surroundings, taking in everything they could in the dim lighting.
Instead of being met with a scene of death and destruction, as she had anticipated, she was met instead with the somewhat familiar amethyst walls of her room.
I'm…I'm in my room?
Her hand shot up to her chest, checking for the gurgling wound that had been there just a moment ago. Her fingers came into contact with smooth skin.
…it was a dream…She took a shuddering breath, a nightmare. Realizing what had happened and where she was the young Faunus calmed slightly.
I'm okay…Yang is…Yang!
She was out of her bed in an instant, a small grimace spread across her lips as her still bruised ribs protested the speedy movement. A shiver shot through her as her bare feet made contact with the cold-hardwood of the floor, shoving the small discomforts aside she made a b-line for her door. Determined to make sure Yang was okay with her own two-eyes.
Once she was out in the hall it took a second and two longer than normal strides to make it to the blonde's door. She raised her hand in a knocking motion, but just as her knuckles brushed against the smooth surface she pulled her hand back, remembering the deep-dark-circles that resided under her girlfriend's eyes.
What if she's asleep…and I wake her?
She stared at the door, conflicted.
On the one hand she had her immense desire to know that Yang was actually okay. On the other she wanted to do what she thought was best for Yang. Which, considering how tired the blonde had been when they finally returned home from the hospital earlier that evening, meant letting her sleep.
She internally screamed at herself, this is stupid! It was just a dream, nothing more. I'm fine and Yang is to…
She still couldn't bring herself to move away from the door. She knew she was being irrational. She knew that Yang was fine, her felid ears able to hear the brawler's soft snores even through the thick walls.
Still she couldn't override the part of her mind that needed to see it; to see Yang: whole, breathing, safe, and alive.
Blake looked down at the door handle; if I'm really quiet…she'll never know.
Her hand curled around the cool knob, twisting it ever so slowly as to not make any undue sound.
She held her breath as she pushed the door in, opening it just enough for her lithe form to slip through. Once she was in, Blake cautiously tip-toed her way over to the bed that ran against the far wall of the room.
Yang laid, facedown, sprawled out atop the covers. Her golden-hair cascading down her back like a small blanket. Blake stilled as the blonde shifted in her sleep, her face turning to face out toward the Faunus, lips split slightly as she breathed in and out.
A small smile played across Blake's face as she looked at the sleeping form of the girl before her. Gone were the slight traces of anger and fury that had come to show on Yang's lovely face the past few days. In their place was the relaxed look of someone who was completely and utterly lost to the world.
She looks so…peaceful.
She was glad to see Yang so enthralled in slumber. Blake had known from the second she had laid eyes on her when Yang had come to see her that sleep wasn't something Yang had afforded herself in the past couple of weeks. Rather from immense worry or the pent up rage that Yang held, Blake didn't know.
Yang's nose cutely twitched as some of her long-flaxen hair fell into her face. Blake lightly brushed the strands away, tucking them gently behind her ear. The tips of her fingers lightly caressed the skin of Yang's cheek as she pulled her hand back.
Deciding that she had lingered long enough and satisfied that Yang was- in fact okay- Blake turned, and just as quietly as she had entered left the room.
Closing the door softly behind her the Faunus allowed herself to slouch back against the hardwood. She took a deep breath as she felt some of her guilt ebb away, guilt that had come from seeing just how distraught her partner was when she awoke.
She had seen and felt the small-subtle tremors that had racked Yang's body as they embraced on her hospital bed. What she didn't know was if they were from relief or from rage. Given how Yang had acted towards her since then she was inclined to believe the former, but, she knew Yang to well to not pick up on the signs.
The small almost imperceptible tilt of her brow, the slight downturn of her lips, the stone like quality of her expressions; happy or sad. And most importantly, the tiny flecks of red that seemed to dance around her eyes like flames.
After several hugs and even more kisses, Blake came to the conclusion that she wasn't the target of Yang's fury. And with the Alpha that had caused her and Ruby's injuries dead that left only one thing, one person for Yang to be mad at.
Ozpin.
Blake felt herself bristle at the thought of their former mentor.
If he knew and didn't tell us…
She closed her eyes as she harshly exhaled through her nose. Just thinking about it made her blood boil, she had no idea how Yang with her…hotter than normal temper had kept from burning the house down.
"Blake?"
The Faunus jumped away from the door, startled by the noise of her name. She looked to the source of the voice and found Ruby standing at the top of the stairs, her scroll and several folders cradled loosely against her chest by her left arm. Her right one still protected by the bandages and sling.
"Ru-Ruby?" She stammered, like a deer caught in headlights. "What…what are you doing up?"
Ruby opened her mouth to say something but then closed it. Blake didn't miss how she clung tighter to what she was carrying.
"I…I couldn't sleep so I just went downstairs to catch up on some paperwork." Ruby offered as she met Blake's gaze, "What about you?"
Blake eyed the younger girl, barely able to make out Ruby's expression in the darkness of the hall. Ruby's face was set in a way that dared Blake to challenge what she had just been told. She wanted to, she really wanted to. She wanted to push Ruby to reveal what it was that she was clearly hiding, just as she had done to Blake back in Forever Fall.
But it was late, and despite her curiosity, she just really wanted to sleep. Ironic that I can be tired after waking up from a coma…
She shook the sarcastic thought away as she answered her young leader. "Same as you, I couldn't sleep…figured I'd check on Yang."
Two can play your game.
Ruby seemed to soften at the mention of her sister. "How is she?"
"She's sleeping like a baby." Blake laughed quietly as she added, "I don't think Weiss yelling at you would even be enough to wake her up right now."
Ruby smiled, her focus shifting away from Blake and to her sisters room. "That's good…it's good that she's finally getting some rest."
"It is," Blake agreed, nodding.
Silence reigned over them for a moment.
"Well it's late," Ruby yawned as she walked past Blake, to the room that she and Weiss shared. "I'll see you in the morning Blake, good night."
The Faunus watched as her friend disappeared into the room, leaving her alone in the darkened hallway.
"Night…"
Sleep continued to elude Blake for the rest of the night.
She couldn't get the nightmare out of her head. Every time her eyes closed she was greeted with the sight of a city on fire. And Yang…
So she laid awake, eyes staring up at her white ceiling as her bedside clock ticked away the night until its alarm finally sounded.
Sighing and resisting the urge to scream and send the clock flying through the air, Blake rose from her bed, silencing the small machine with the quick press of a button. Elbow's balanced on her knees, Blake placed her head in her hands, roughly rubbing over her tired eyes.
Today is off to a fine start…
Pushing the thought away Blake forced herself to her feet, walking over to her closet. She opened one of the panels, quickly grabbing out some clothes she laid them out.
Her clothes for the day procured she headed to her bathroom, glad that Weiss had the foresight to add private bathrooms on to all of the bedrooms in the house. After four-years of sharing a bathroom it was almost magical to have one all to herself. Now in front of the shower Blake untied the knot on her yukata, allowing the black fabric to fall to the floor. She shivered as the cool morning air assaulted her nude form.
Cutting the water on, she allowed it to warm to her preference before stepping into the small stall.
She could feel her tense and rigid muscles relax almost instantly as the warm water flowed over her body. She sighed.
That's better.
Not allowing herself to fall any further under the water's spell she quickly set about washing. The promise of a warm meal, that wasn't hospital food, and caffeine at the forefront of her mind.
She ducked her head under the stream as she washed the shampoo out of her hair, careful to keep the water out of the extra set of ears that were atop her head.
Satisfied that she was clean Blake cut the water off, grabbing a towel from the rack as she did so.
Drying off quickly, she dressed and left her room.
After a quick check-up on Yang, who was still sleeping, Blake made for the kitchen.
Stepping off the bottom stair Blake stopped, alarmed by something, Or more correctly, alarmed by the absence of something.
During their second year together as a team, Weiss had taken it upon herself to become the team's personal chef. Saying that, "No teammates of mine will be caught dead eating anything but the best!"
At first Blake had been skeptical, along with Ruby and Yang. None of them believed that Weiss Schnee; heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, knew how to cook. But, after tasting what Weiss had prepared the team for breakfast the next day, they all quickly changed their tune. It seemed that Weiss's perfectionist nature carried over into her cooking as well.
She could still remember the smug look on Weiss's face.
That was why when she reached the bottom of the stairs and noticed a distinct lack of an heavenly aroma coming from the kitchen, she paused.
Something was wrong.
Her ears twitched, just able to pick up on hushed voices coming from the dining room. Curious as to what was going on Blake quietly padded across the floor, heading toward the source of the voices.
They became clearer as she neared.
"I'm telling you, no! And that's final Ruby."
"Why though, huh? What could it hurt?"
"I don't care if it could hurt anything, which you know very well that it could, I'm not going and neither are you!"
"Dammit, Weiss!" Ruby was screaming now.
Blake froze just as she was about to turn the corner. She couldn't believe what she just heard.
Did…did Ruby just, cuss at Weiss?
"I can't sleep! I close my eyes and all I can see is it!"
So that's why she said she couldn't sleep last night. Blake's brain connected the dots. It would seem that their encounter with the Alpha had effected Ruby mentally as well as physically.
"Or worse; I see it killing me, Blake, Yang,…you!"
Blake didn't have to see Ruby to know that the girl was on the verge of tears, the evidence was in her voice.
"I want answers Weiss, I need them! And he's the only person who can give them to me."
"Ruby…"
A chair scuffed across the floor, followed by the sound of quick moving feet.
Blake wished she could force herself to move. So she could see into the room, see what was happening, but she couldn't. This was between Ruby and Weiss, and she would respect that. Besides, she had a pretty good idea what this was about.
"Ruby, I'm…I'm sorry okay?" Weiss's voice softly carried through the air. "Don't cry, alright? Please?"
"I'm sorry to…I-I just need to know, Weiss. I have to know."
Blake heard Weiss sigh heavily.
"I know, I know you do. I just…can't stand the thought of him at the moment."
"Trust me; he's not on my favorite list of people at the moment either." Ruby gave a watery laugh. "But like I said-"
"He's the only one who knows." Weiss finished her girlfriend's statement with another lighter-sigh. Silence reigned for a moment. "I'll make arrangements to have the airship come tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Deciding that she had hidden her presence long enough, Blake finally turned around the corner. Her eyes instantly locking onto her teammates, Ruby clung to Weiss as the other girl held her in an equally tight embrace.
"Blake?" Ruby noticed the Faunus a split second before Weiss.
The next time they both spoke they did it at the same time.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"How-how much did you hear?" Ruby asked as she wiped at her wet cheeks.
"Enough," She answered both questions with the word. She looked between her teammates as they hastily separated from their hug, I really need to stop being around when they get tender… She shoved the thought away. There were more important things to think about at the moment.
"So you're going to Beacon I take it?" She cut to the chase as she fixed both girls in a glare.
The red and white girls shared a look, before Weiss answered.
"We are."
Weiss gave her the answer she had been expecting, despite that she still found herself nodding.
"You're more than welcome to come with us, if you want to Blake." Ruby said as she adjusted the strap of her sling. "I'm sure you have just as many questions as I do."
Blake mulled the offer over for a moment. She knew she wanted answers just as much as Ruby did, but there was something else that she was far more concerned about…well, someone.
Her eyes glanced up at the ceiling, towards where Yang's room was directly above them. If she went, that would mean Yang going as well. And Yang and Ozpin in the same room…
She looked back to Ruby, her mind set. "I think I'll stay here-"
"No. You're not."
Blake's ears perked up along with the rest of her body as she turned to the sound of the voice that she knew so well. The voice that was currently filled with as much malice as Blake had ever heard.
Yang stood in the entryway to the dining room, arms crossed over her chest while her eyes glowed a dangerous red.
"You're going," The blonde stated mater-of-factly as she flared her nostrils. "And so am I."
Before Blake or anyone else could argue Yang turned and started to walk away. Her final words hanging in the air with the threat of promise.
"It's about time Ozpin gave us some answers."
AN: Make me feel good about myself here; I had you going for a second, didn't I?
I am sorry about how long this took to get out, especially considering that it's little more than a setup chapter. Next to chapter three, this has by far been the hardest one for me to crank out. What's worse is I feel that it shows a lot in the quality of the chapter. At the same time, I feel like it's a necessary evil in order to setup up the next chapter.
So, I apologize for the brevity and quality of this one. All I can do is promise that the next one will be much, much, better. As a matter of fact, here's a little preview…
"Give me a reason." Yang ground out as Ember Celica activated around her wrists, "Please."
Hopefully that gets you guys excited for what's to come. Anyway I've rambled longer than I wanted to. I just want to once again thank you all for your support. This story honestly wouldn't have continued if it wasn't for you guys. And once again I promise that the next chapter will be better, the story deserves it and more importantly you guys deserve it.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and as always. Have a good night!