Hands Down – Dashboard Confessional

Present Day

"Blake?" Iliya's sleepy voice carried out lightly.

"I'm just going to go write for a bit, go back to sleep." Blake leans over gingerly to plant a gentle kiss on her girlfriend's head.

"Mmm…" A content smile made it's way to the sleeping Faunus' face, "Alright…" Without another word, she fell back into a slumber.

Golden eyes that practically glowed in the dawn light looked over her girlfriend – Iliya had been everything Blake needed when things started to fall apart with Adam. She was loyal, steadfast, and caring through the whole ordeal – it was no wonder that the chameleon Faunus had made her way to her heart.

That's why it was a no brainer when Iliya asked for something more from Blake, something she was more than happy to oblige.

All that was left is their piece of happily ever after.

Those were the thoughts that raced through Blake's head while she made way to her office. She gently closed the door behind her and a soft click echoed through out the room. Her laptop was neatly closed on top of her desk and a few notes that she scrawled out for her latest work were stacked in a messy pile.

She sat down at the desk with her legs tucked underneath her; the sight of that corny bee and that silly pun caught her eye once more.

Blake opened up her laptop, a word document already open to the very first story that she was trying to get published through her company.

But she couldn't get to work, instead she leaned back in her chair and stared up at the ceiling.

She decided that it was too quiet and that maybe some music would help get her going – writing was as therapeutic to her as much as it was a headache. Deft hands swiped across the track pad and the mouse navigated to the music icon. Scrolling through a couple stations before settling on a rock genre.

The writer turned up the volume a bit, but not so loud that it could be heard outside of the room.

Breathe in for luck, breathe in so deep

The Faunus had an intent gaze that flitted over the screen of her laptop, she managed to type out a few paragraphs and was in the process of going back to ensure that it melded in well with the rest of the story.

The premise included a Princess that had outgrown life inside the castle and had grown a rebellious streak as she came of age. Ultimately, she decides to run away from the castle in order to explore life on the outside.

Currently the Princess' travel has brought her upon a humble foot soldier that lived in a village not so far from the castle. The young man had begun showing the Princess the basics of what life is like outside the castle, but he was still unaware of whom this strange woman's true identity is.

And the Princess was discovering a peculiar attraction to the foot soldier.

Blake stopped right about there, unsure of how to start describing the beginning attraction between the Princess and the foot soldier. Should it be subtle and drawn out? Enough so that it isn't so obvious to the reader? Or should it be obvious to the reader and then go down the route of frustrating the reader for how oblivious or naïve the two characters are with the new development?

And then how should she roll that in with the Princess' true reason for running away? Blake dropped vague hints that alluded to the Princess' engagement to a neighboring kingdom's Prince, but had yet to out right reveal it.

She closed her eyes tightly and rubbed at her temples.

These hearts they race, from self-control.

Blake decided to take a break from writing, she glanced at the clock and saw that it was only 6 in the morning, which was evident by the beginning daylight's ray shining through her office window.

Amber eyes looked over the contents of her desk, a few pictures of her closest friends from college brought a smile to her face. Ruby (who had skipped ahead two grades) was the epitome of innocence when she first met her, by the time they graduated the small red head had grown a few more inches and her character and personality matured far beyond her years. Weiss' cool exterior melted away to someone who was still stern but caring for her closest friend, something Blake attributed to her dating Ruby for a better part of her college years.

And then Yang, the sunny blond with a big smile.

Oum, she loved watching the two of them grow… together.

My hopes are so high, that your kiss might kill me. So won't you kill me, so I die happy.

It was still there, buried at the bottom of the closet in her office.

Iliya didn't pay much attention to it, the woman probably thought it was just another box of materials that Blake used while writing.

It was partially true.

Yang had purchased the small wooden chest for Blake as a birthday present, the young gymnast used to write so many stories on the back of scratch papers, in notebooks, on old pieces of homework… but the young writer to be didn't have the heart to throw it all away.

So the bouncy boxer remedied the situation by buying her that wooden chest, somewhere for Blake to keep all her old hand written stories.

As well as any other precious memories.

The words are hushed lets not get busted; Just lay entwined here, undiscovered.

There was so many of them – precious memories, just laying inside that chest

Pictures, poems, short stories, and even old napkins that were etched with words, which immortalized the moment, they were written.

And then a few letters.

Hands down this is the best date I can ever remember. Always remember.

Her hands stayed steady despite the weight it carried.

The envelope which she had opened countless times and the messy handwriting that could undoubtedly belong to one person.

How long had it been since the last time she's read this letter? Since she has even touched this letter?

Blake sat on the floor with the small chest still opened in front of her, nimble fingers opening the envelope and then clutching the thick stack of paper inside.

To the lovely Blake Belladonna,

Happy Anniversary.

And I love you, more than you'll ever know.

I wasn't too sure what to get you for our first Anniversary, I wasn't sure what to do because all my ideas that I came up with just didn't seem right. Like it wasn't enough to convey how deeply I love the fact that we've been together for a whole year now. Before you, I never really saw myself being together with anyone for so long, but then you came along and made my heart do things I never thought possible.

When we first kissed, I saw the future flash in front of my eyes – and it all had to do with you.

It still gave her butterflies.

And you stood at the door with your hands on my waist. And you kissed me like you meant it.

Blake clenched her jaw.

She finished reading the letter for a third time that morning.

The butterflies in her stomach still haven't faded away.

But despite how giddy she felt on the inside, Blake began to choke up. The silent sobs drowned out by the riff of the guitar. Her gaze resting on a picture that sat on her desk of her and Iliya while they took a trip together down to Menagerie.

"Dammit, Yang." Blake's voice strained out into the morning light, "Just… damn it all."

And I knew that you meant it, that you meant it.

A/N

AKALoveless: I'm here for you broski, I think we all can appreciate a good hurt every now and then! Really dig your taste in music ;)

steelbone532: I hope you think that the rest of this story is just as good then.

GrnDrgnzrd: Enjoyed your newest story too, I hope you continue writing that one.

To everyone else, thank you for your support of this story - I get just as happy seeing more people following this story as I do whenever I get reviews.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

Cheers,

DevilRed