Chapter 5

For a reason.

After her shower Blake stepped out feeling a sight better off than she had when she had. She could quite remember the last time that she had been able to shower and as she toweled herself off she had to resist the primal urge to groan out in pleasure at the feeling of being undeniably clean of all the grime and grit that had covered her only moments before.

The Raven haired girl put on the clothing that Velvet had lent her, a pair of sweatpants and a warm albeit oversized gray sweatshirt, and proceeded to wipe the condensation away from the mirror so that she could get a better look at herself. God she looked tired, exhausted even, and she sure as hell felt it. The weight of everything that had happened in recent memory hitting the young Faunus girl all at once. Only one thought made itself clear in Blake's sleep deprived mind.

Goddess….I could use a drink.

A loud clanging sound broke her from her musings and without thinking she flung the bathroom door open and ran back into the main room of the apartment.

"Miss Scarlatina?" She called out cautiously. "Is everything ok?"

"Yes!" Velvet's flustered voice answered from the kitchen area "I'm just fine. Just took a little bit of a tumble that's all, blasted cat."

Blake tilted her head in confusion and quickly walked towards the kitchen area. The sight that greeted her caused a giggle to bubble up and escape her mouth. Before her, sitting dazed among a pile of dishware a soup pan perched atop her head like some sort of a hat, was a very dazed and flustered looking Velvet Scarlatina.

The bunny eared girl's milk chocolate eyes flicked up to meet Blake's then she looked away as her face instantly went a deep crimson.

"Aheh…..Ello Blake." She muttered with a nervous chuckle. Blake for her part raised a hand to her mouth to stifle another giggle at her host's expense. Raising an eyebrow Blake stepped forward and offered a hesitant hand to the fallen girl.

Velvet

Velvet couldn't remember the last time she had felt so embarrassed. She had been working hard, preparing dinner, when something or rather someone had caused her to trip over herself and she ended up twisting around and landing hard on the ground.

Her gaze fixated on Macha, the culprit behind her fall, who sat just beyond the entrance to the kitchen cleaning her paw vigorously seemingly without a single care in the world as to the trouble she had just caused her owner.

I swear sometimes you seem like more trouble than your worth you little devil. She thought with a deep sigh before turning her attention back to the raven haired girl who stood above her, hand still outstretched. The raven haired beauties amber eyes filled with a mixture of concern and perhaps just a hint of amusement.

Velvet tried desperately to keep the embarrassed blush from her face and was unfortunately failing miserably. Velvet proceeded to give Blake her best 100 gigawatt smile as she took the offered hand and used it to bring herself to her feet, removing the soup pan from her head and chuckling as she did so.

"A fine sight Ah must look right now. With pots and pans adorning me like a suit." She said, her accent slipping into a thicker lilt as she continued to struggle with the red tint that now adorned her pale skin. Glancing up to meet Blake's amber orbs she could clearly see that the cat eared girl was making a concentrated effort not to smile in amusement. This caused Velvet to blush even harder.

"U-Um well I best be getting this mess cleaned up. Sorry if I um startled you. I'll have dinner ready in just a moment." Then turning from her companion Velvet knelt down and had begun to pick up the fallen dishware when she felt Blake's hesitant hand on her shoulder which caused her to pause and look up at the cat eared Faunus who was giving her a look that could only be described as completely adorable as she began to speak.

"C-Can I help? I mean you've done so much by letting me stay here with you it is only right that I should help you in some way Miss Scarla- I mean Velvet."

Velvet's first instinct was to refuse however one look at the wide eyed pleading look that Blake was giving her and what little resolve she had quickly crumbled away.

"S-sure Blake. Umm let me see." she stood and looked around the kitchen trying to think of something for the other girl to do. Her gaze fell upon the assorted foods that she had gathered together on her kitchen counter and an idea flitted into her mind.

"well I was thinking of making some beef stew for dinner, its wonderful for a cool winter night like this one, anyway if you would like to could you please begin cutting the vegetables and meat while I finish picking this up?"

The cat eared girl nodded and proceeded to go about the task assigned to her. Velvet watched her for a moment as Blake began her task, moving with an energy that Velvet had yet to see in this young woman and she had to admit that it was rather charming. Still at the same time nagging thoughts danced about in her mind. Doubts as to whether or not she should completely trust this stranger who she had invited into her home.

Yet, as she saw the ghost of a smile faintly touch her companion's lips she couldn't help but feel like she had done the right thing by bringing this wounded soul into her home. Something about her had called to the normally shy and reserved Velvet and something still did, seeing how happy she looked over being given such a relatively simple task made Velvet feel a warmth that spread through her entire being until it was as if she was glowing with compassion towards this Dark haired beauty.

Mama would be proud Velvet thought with a smile as she began to put away the fallen dishware feeling more at ease then she had before. Helping others was always a priority in the Scarlatina household and since she was a child her mother had done all that she could to insure that if nothing else her children would always treat others with kindness and generosity

"'A kindness given is a kindness earned"" she would always say and Velvet had done her very best to live in a way that exemplified her mother's teachings, even if the world wasn't always so kind to her in return.

Blake Belladonna I hope that in time that I can ease whatever burden that ails you.

Some time later

The pair of young women sat at the small dining room table as they ate their supper. Velvet groaned with pleasure as she took another bite of the soup. She had to admit that Blake certainly had a talent with cooking, a fact that she continually complimented the raven haired girl on who in turn would blush and mutter a weak thanks.

Speaking of Blake, she ate the soup like a woman possessed. She seemed to take every bite as though it would be her last. Blake seemed to notice Velvet staring and made a visible effort to slow down.

"I'm sorry for my rude table manners. I just cannot remember the last time I had a full meal to eat in front of me." She said with a nervous chuckle. Velvet for her part gave Blake sympathetic look as she responded in what she hoped was a understanding tone.

"It is of no trouble, I can completely understand what you mean. Just try not to eat so fast that you will cause yourself to choke. I would be incredibly upset if I never got a chance to sample you cooking again after all."

Blake blushed a deep crimson at the compliment but she smiled nonetheless as she spoke.

"I shall keep that in mind Velvet"

Velvet grinned and returned to her meal more than pleased that she had been able to coax a smile out of her shy roommate.

Blake

After dinner Blake insisted on helping Velvet clean the dishes which Velvet grudgingly agreed to let her help. After the dishes were clean and put away in their proper spots Velvet helped Blake get ready for bed by showing her how to set up the pull out bed, Blake reveled in the soft warmth of the blankets and bed, Once she was settled into bed Velvet walked to her bedroom door, stopping just short so she could turn and face her guest.

"Well Blake." Velvet said with a warm smile. "Get some sleep. I would say you look like you need a good night's rest. Thank you for all your help with dinner and cleaning up. Goodnight and welcome home." And with that the bunny eared girl disappeared into her room, quietly shutting the door

Home, Blake had forgotten what it was like to have a home. The last time she had ever felt like she truly belonged anywhere was so long ago that the memory of it had long since faded into obscurity and even now only the faintest dregs of the idea could be dragged from the recesses of her mind. Faint and distant feelings of warmth and joy were all she had left of that time.

Often the cat eared girl would try to avoid such thoughts for they usually served only to deepen her depression. Yet she always found that in the late evening, as the moonlights first beams fell over the land and all else was silent, that those thoughts would inevitably find her.

Velvet Scarlatina, I have never met someone quite like you. Blake thought idly as she breathed deep the warm air that permeated the apartment, a welcome change from the chilling frigid air that had been her companion for the last several weeks. Rolling over so that she now faced the dormant Christmas tree she continued on with her thoughts.

She took me in… without any sort of plea on my part and without the single hint of hesitation or remorse. Just what makes a person so kind and generous to strangers in need I wonder?

Velvets warm and caring smile played itself in her mind and Blake found a faint smile cross her own lips. Velvet had shown her kindness in a world that had all but beaten her to the point of breaking. Blake knew that she could never repay the kindness that Velvet had bestowed upon her. However that wasn't going to stop her from trying. And with that goal set firmly in her mind, Blake belladonna fell into a deep and wonderfully warm slumber.

Authors Note: Hey everybody! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I am so sorry it is late and a tad shorter than usual but with the holiday season it was rather difficult for me to actually find time to sit down and write. On that note I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday and that you all got the chance to relax from the stresses of life. Anyway as I said before I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please leave me a review to let me know your thoughts! Until next time take care and Blessed Be!

-Crystal