Red Roses, White Scales

Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets.

Paul Tournier

Chapter 15

Secrets and Feelings

Since Mikhail's …internal conflict a week has already passed. His training bared fruits, yet didn't neglect his social bonds. His relationship with his new friends and teammates became stronger.

And now he was currently sitting in a café, were people could sit and read. The café had a large collection of books, but the customers were also allowed to bring their own lecture.

What was rather strange, was his companion, Blake.

Mikhail was surprised, that the female Faunus invited him.

While he knew, that Blake was a quiet and serene person, who liked her peace and solitude, he was yet delighted to spent time with her. He could, talk and discuss about books and their stories and their hidden meanings, with her. Both sneaked out, giving their friends wrong information.

And now, both Faunus and Pseudo-Faunus were sitting across each other, each with a book in each hands and a cup of tea before them.

Mikhail noticed several glance coming from Blake now and then. He just waited and before he could take another sip from his tea, the former dragon could hear the young girl sighing and closing her book.

"Mikhail?"

The mentioned boy, closed his book, too since it was, in his eyes, rude to read when somebody talks or wants to talk with you "Yes?"

She sighed again and took a long breath "There is….something I need to tell you…."

Mikhail blinked, seeing his teammate and friend looking serious and yet unsettled.

"Okay."

"I….was a member of the White Fang…."

Mikhail blinked again, and just smiled "I understand." He wasn't really surprised, even when he didn't had all his memories, he wasn't really a person, who reacts without a second or another thought. He could become angry, but after some moments, his anger ceased and he was calm and the old, goofy and soft person. Why being angry, when he lives only for max 90 years or less….

"You….understand?" Blake was frowning, not expecting such an answer and reaction.

"Yes and one question why did you leave?"

Blake's eyes widened and looked down, while grabbing her elbow "I….left because I couldn't approve of what they are doing. Assassination, stealing large containers of Dust and sabotaging friendly protests…..I…I just couldn't endure it anymore." She sighed in frustration….

Mikhail nodded "I understand…." He could really understand. Even he was sad, that the White Fang became nothing more than warmongers and terrorist…..he had lost many acquaintances and friends because of them, Humans and Faunus as well. He mourned for the loss of a good group and people…..and today, he would do everything to stop them.

"I was pretty much raised by the White Fang, trained by them and believed in them for years….but now we no….they are right now not better than the Vanguards of Humanity …." Blake clenched her fists, until her knuckles became white. "My best friends became warmongers, my mentor, once a kind and soft man was swallowed by his own hatred and wrath and became a monster….and even I made many mistakes…." She sighed "And I even …..Turned a blind eye to their actions, talked and assured myself, that our cause is the best for everyone." Her breath became heavier…. "I will regret that for the rest of my life even though I never killed someone, I felt so horrible, every time it happened…"

He didn't want to say '"Then when did you?….You know."

"Shortly when I….left them, I went through the test for Beacon….but Ozpin already suspected or knew about me and my," She took a deep breath "severed ties with the White Fang. He tried to reason with me, yet….I just wanted to so be seen who I am….not what I am….

Mikhail nodded, his smile vanished and he was thinking about what she just said. He wasn't better …..he did also many horrible…..things…in his past life and even in this….

"I…I want to become a huntress so that I can help people and show them that we Faunus are not the monsters and the murderer, they think." Blake closed her eyes, her shoulders became tense and she clenched her fists and teeth. Now she was waiting for Mikhail's reaction. Will he be angry, or will he be disgusted? 'What am I thinking? I don't even deserve salvation or his forgiveness.'

"Okay." He just said simply.

Blake's eyes widened again and she looked at Mikhail who just smiled at her.

"O…kay…?"

"Blake," He sighed and put his hand on hers "It takes courage to admit his mistakes and errors, but even more so, to repent for them and to try to make things right.

Blake just stared at Mikhail "But I am a…bad person….I lied to you, to the others and have secrets…."

"No," He cut her off "Before me isn't a bad person. Rather I see a person, who was insulted, beaten and oppressed her entire life and is yet wonderful and benign. I see a person, who tried to change everything in a peaceful way and never hates others, because she was segregated for being different. I see a person who his caring and kind, even though her entire life was nothing but pain. I see a person who never gave up and tried and still tries to help people regardless of them being Humans or Faunus. And I am proud to know and having such person, you Blake, as a friend, teammate and comrade." He took her hand, raised it and engulfed it with his own "Besides, we all have our secrets."

Blake was speechless. She never knew that Mikhail held her in such high regards.

The Faunus suddenly felt a tear coming out from her eye and she sniffed, while wiping it "Thank you Mikhail….thank you."

"Blake, you can trust me. I would never judge you for being different or what past and history you have….okay?"

She nodded and felt relieved….Blake felt also somehow strange….Why is her chest so warm and why was her heart beating so fast when she looked at Mikhail. She glanced again at her team leader and blushed when he smiled at her.

"By the way," Mikhail snipped with is fingers, because he remembered something "Here! I think that would make you happy and lighten your mood." He put a book out and handed it over to Blake.

"What is that?" Blake took it and she was surprised. In her hands was a limited edition of Black Song, White Scales. She looked happy, scratch that she was thrilled. The book came out some time ago, but it was already a hit and bestseller, that buying or ordering it, was almost impossible and now here in her hands, was a limited edition!

"Look in the inside." He pointed at the book.

Blake shrugged and opened it, only to gasp and looked with disbelief in her eyes "For Blake. Thank you for being a loyal reader and fan. I wish you good luck for becoming a huntress. Your friend, Michael Peyt." Blake's mouth was wide open, her eyes as well "A limited exemplar from Peyt's latest book with a dedication for me!?" Peyt was known for not giving many autographs and even dedications…this book is probably thousands of Liens worth.

He nodded "Promise me that you will never tell this….but I am a really….good friend of Michael." Somehow he felt bad, the girls poured her heart's content out and he was shamelessly lying to her….

She gasped again "You know Michael Peyt!?" She almost shouted, gaining curious looks from the other customers. She blushed and lowered her tone a bit "You know him?"

"Yes, but he….is someone who likes his privacy so please don't tell anybody from this."

She nodded vigorously; somehow she looked like a child who had the present in her hand, which she wanted for a long time.

Mikhail raised a brow and was surprised, when Blake suddenly stood up, walked towards him and… hugged him.

"Thank you…. Mikhail."

"It…is alright…." Mikhail blushed lightly. He was used to hug his sisters, which were beautiful girls, and also Pyrrha. But Blake was someone new….it also didn't help when he noticed, how good Blake's hair smelled 'Like lemons.' And how lean and soft her body was…..and her firm chest….

"I need to read this!" He chuckled, but shortly Mikhail blushed again, when the Faunus sat beside him, really close.

Mikhail lips formed a smile. Blake was really beautiful 'She is even more beautiful when she smiles…..' Then his scroll ranged and he took it out "Ah…." He laughed a bit when he saw the message on the screen.

"Who is that?"

"Pyrrha, she wants to ask if I could hang out with her and maybe a little bit training.

The Faunus mood suddenly dropped, even more so, when she saw how happy Mikhail reacted. She asked the question, which lingered and bothered her since weeks "Mikhail?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have feelings for Pyrrha?"

"Do…. I WHAT!?" He almost dropped his scroll, but could it catch it before hit the ground.

"Do you like Pyrrha….or rather are you in love with her?"

"I…how did it end that you are asking me something like that?"

"…I am just curious….you know I am a Cat-Faunus….." Blake wanted to groan….how could she ask something like that out of the blue…..Curiosity could kill the cat…

"I…I don't know….I….maybe…." He blushed and somehow Blake found it rather cute, that such an individual like Mikhail went red like a normal teenager….but she was also irritated when she heard, that he had possible feelings for the red-haired girl.

"You know, we saw how you look at her sometimes….you both have also some weird moments …"

"Do we….?."

Blake quirked an eyebrow at her leader's behavior, he didn't even noticed them?

"Riiiiight…sometimes we have….."

"And?"

"I don't know. She is my second best friend….and the first girl beside my family that accepted me like I am. Also she is strong, kind and really beautiful." He shivered and tried to calm himself, when Pyrrha's trained and toned body came to his mind…damn his Semblance….

"Do you…?"

"Heh?"

"I mean, yes she is really kind, strong and beautiful .But do you both share the same hobbies? Can you talk about them, does she like the same food as you and have you the same taste, like colors and clothes." Blake somehow managed to point, every mutuality and similarity out, she and Mikhail had…..

Both of them liked to read books and discuss about them. They loved fish. The color of their clothes are the same, both teens wore mostly white and black, and these were also their favorite colors, well for Mikhail mostly white, since his name was more going to it. But also red and yellow were his favorite, as well. Also Blake had black hair; the same as his mother…..and Mikhail loved her bow…..the cat-ears are also a big plus.

'Wait what. Why am I saying?' What is just wrong with Blake? Is she…competing?

"You…think so?" Mikhail slumped down and hammered his head on the table….

Blake smiled and went with her fingers through his hair "Think about it…'Wow for a boy he has really silky and soft hair.' She knew that was rather bold, but Blake was a really romantic person. But now she was sure….she had feelings for Mikhail.

"I think we should go back to Beacon!" Mikhail jerked his upper body up and cracked his shoulders and neck.

"Why?"

"Eh hello, my sisters?"

"They are fine."

"What about Nora, Pyrrha and Weiss?"

"Mmmh….okay we should go…"

Here another chapter, hope you enjoy it.

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