Last Huntress - Chapter 16

-If The Heavens Ever Did Speak-

Blake watched as Ruby took a long draught of water from one of the bottles they had taken to storing in their makeshift gym. The wolf-girl was clad in a shirt that bared her midriff, and a pair of form-fitting pants with the left leg shorter than the right. The clothing had been obtained with the help of the hotel's staff who were surprisingly discreet when given a set of instructions over a phone call, delivered to the door with no questions asked and no communication past a knock.

As she watched, Ruby's hands raised up into the air, and the younger Faunus stretched out with a quiet groan. Blake was afforded a full view of the intricate tattoo that travelled down the left side of the wolf-girl's body, the twisted thorns blossoming into roses on a taut stomach and the calf of her friend's leg. She hadn't inquired about the crimson flowers since the first time, but a lingering question remained on her mind each time her eyes wandered over the inked skin.

Who were all the rest of the roses for? There were dozens of the blossoms that she had first seen when she had stripped the wolf-girl down to address Ruby's injuries, from shoulder to calf. Only a handful had been explained.

Of course this also showed her a clear the wound that still lay stitched on the wolf-girl's side. Despite Aura reserves that grew daily, it was slow to knit together and scar up, taking a week or so longer than the rest of the injuries Ruby had sustained. Even her cheek, which had been raked by the claws of a Beowolf, was now home to three long pink lines that travelled from eye to jaw, healing from open wounds that required a bandage to what could have been old scars in a matter of days.

Two argent eyes slid over to regard her, with one dark eyebrow raising up to signal that she had been staring overlong. Glancing away and hoping that she could pass off the burning sensation in her cheeks as simply being flustered from the pace of today's training, Blake resumed towelling off her sweat before tossing the cloth aside. "Ready to continue?"

"Whenever you are." There was a tone to Ruby's voice, a small playful thing that toyed on the edges of her hearing as she moved closer to the wolf-girl and raised her fists up. They had started sparring a week ago, and their efforts were showing remarkable progress now that the other Faunus wasn't in bed all day.

She had been quickly reminded that Ruby was still a prodigy when it came to combat, picking up on her own fighting style and incorporating elements of it in the first couple of sessions. More importantly, the younger woman had known exactly which parts would play to her strengths. As Blake struck out with an open palm, her attack met a wrist and was batted aside with minimal effort. The counter attack, a fist that slipped under her guard, came much faster than she had thought possible for the recovering wolf-girl.

She only just managed to deflect it, and then came a series of strikes that drove her back across the room. Despite the frenzied way she had to move to dodge or parry the punches, Blake let out an excited laugh at the way the wolf-girl was moving. Long strides and twists that would not have been possible even yesterday, but without a hint of slowing down. Slipping under a forearm and pushed off the nearby wall to avoid an incoming knee, she didn't even entertain the thought of being concerned, as Ruby was showing that she was bouncing back in a huge way.

Eventually, the wolf-girl relented the assault. The chest covered by black and red clothing rose and fell with some effort, but the younger woman wore a victorious grin at having so clearly directed the pace of the fight for a few moments. It was a clear indication of their progress. Blake gave a nod of her head before lunging forward with a swift kick. The block slammed down on her shin, forcing her to adjust and snap her foot in from the side. Instead of backing away, the wolf-girl stepped into the attack and wrapped an arm about the overextended limb.

The world tilted backwards from Blake's perspective as she was lifted and thrown down onto the carpet, Ruby landing atop her. With her thigh pressed against her chest and a elbow weighing down on her free arm, she was effectively trapped by the other Faunus. Letting out a groan before she reopened her eyes, she was treated to a sight of a smug grin on the wolf-girl's face. "Pinned. Very sloppy of you."

Blake was very aware how close Ruby was to her, the warmth of the slender body pressing down upon her's setting all of her nerves on alert as she let out a soft chuckle. "What can I say?" She let a playful light fill her amber eyes as she rested her pinned leg on the other Faunus' bicep, ceasing her struggle against the hold, and dropped her voice into a husky purr. "I let myself get distracted, had to make things easy for you."

Crimson color showed through the pink of the scars that adorned Ruby's cheeks, a reaction that allowed Blake some small measure of victory after being caught so off guard. Two could play at that game, after all. A solid second passed before the stunned expression recovered into a smirk. "So you.. Let me pin you, that's what you're going with? My looks just overwhelmed you?"

Shifting her body to allow her hands to slip out of the hold, she caught both of the wolf-girl's wrists in the breath of a moment and flipped their positions. Now straddling the waist of the younger Faunus, with both of Ruby's hands pinned near the dyed tips of lupine ears, Blake lowered herself so that she was looking straight down into the silver eyes of her opponent. "I can think of worse fates."

The wolf ears flattened against dark hair and flicked against the carpet as her demeanor seemed to catch Ruby by surprise, enough so that Blake released the younger Faunus from her grasp and rose up to a kneeling position. She paused only to check that she had not caused any problems with the healing wound on the girl's stomach before bounding up to her feet. It didn't feel as though she had crossed a line, or that her advance had been wholly unwelcome. But it had certainly been a shock to her friend, their banter usually not approaching that nature of interaction.

It had surprised her, as well, that she had been so bold. She extended a hand down to the girl below, speaking softly. "I.. Sorry. I'm not really sure where that came from." Her offer was accepted, and she hauled the other Faunus up in an awkward manner, trying to be close enough to help the younger woman up while also not wanting to be too close. It barely worked, and only served to set the atmosphere to a more uncomfortable tone.

Ruby's lips parted and then closed as they stood there, staring at one another. Blake knew an unsalvageable situation when she saw one, and so she cleared her throat and stepped back. "I think that's enough for, uh, today. Good.. Good progress."

Before she could make more a fool of herself, she turned and swiftly moved to collect her jacket from where she had tossed it. Without so much of a glance at the other brunette, she quickly left the room.

Ruby stepped out of her bedroom some hours after their training session. Due to the rather intense way they had ended, she had given the other Faunus space, unsure what the older woman thought of their interaction. In truth, she wasn't exactly sure what she thought about it. Blake was as broken as she was, and had admitted as much to her. It was so short a time after their lives had collided, but whether by the proximity they shared in these last few weeks or the fact that she had found someone who seemed to understand her, she felt close to Blake. Closer than a friend, though?

Perhaps.

There was an undeniable warmth she felt when she was near the other Faunus. As if being near the strength of someone who had endured as much as the older woman had empowered her, infusing a sense that she too could survive this new Remnant. A sense of belonging that had not been present for the dozens of partners she had lusted after in the past four years, distractions one and all from the pain that had permeated her life since the Breach. She could at least be certain that Blake was not that. No, Blake distracted her from agony simply by being, not because she sought it out. Not because she needed it. All thoughts of pain bled away in ribbons when she was being held in those arms.

Yet the older Faunus had also proclaimed that emotions were not something that came easily these days. A self-defense mechanism that was being slowly eroded by Ruby's presence, a barrier that could spell any advance she made for utter failure. She was sure she could handle rejection, if it came to it. A friend like Blake was still incredibly rare to find in this world, someone who had waded waist deep into the river of shit that was her life to ensure she survived. Who had bore her weight for weeks, and endured her unwarranted anger. Who knew when to poke and prod, to draw her from the shell she had concocted around her life to shield others from the horrors she herself could not face.

With masterful ease had Blake torn down her defenses, leaving her feeling more raw than she had in years. Raw, weak, and vulnerable. But there was a small flame of hope in that sensation of nakedness, that if there was any chance for a broken creature like her, she had to believe that it would be with someone as skilled at navigating the shattered avenues of her mind as Blake was.

Her plan to confess these blossoming feelings was helped by an old friend she had discovered tucked away in one of the kitchen cabinets, a bottle of top shelf bourbon that had graciously supplied her with an influx of warm courage with a few preparatory drinks. Even after weeks since her last drop, the alcohol soothed her frayed nerves and numbed the aches of her injured body. It was nothing short of amazing, after unwillingly going dry for her recovery, to feel comfortable again. Like her old self. Or rather, her unburdened self.

But even good drink and hours spent going over the possibilities had not prepared her for what she found. The older Faunus was facing away from her, staring out the massive window of the penthouse's main room, with a bone white mask in her hands.

Blake traced the red markings that adorned the Grimm mask, matching them exactly even though her eyes were instead scanning the streets of Vale that lay far below. It was a unique design among the Fang. It signified her position as Adam's pet, and had become a familiar companion throughout the long years. It had hid her identity through every fight, through every kill. She sighed.

She had spent the time since the training session in her own thoughts, her mind running over possibilities of a new discovery she had made within herself. Through the long conversations with and proximity to the young woman she had rescued, Blake had come to care for the other Faunus a great deal more than she had intended. At the very least, she desired the wolf-girl to think of her in a similar light. It wasn't as if there had been a plan in place, or any idea of what she might do after Ruby had recovered.

This still came as a shock. A sense of duty driven by guilt had given way to purpose, but now that had become muddled by a resurgence of emotions within her. She didn't like it. Blake had learned through fear that to feel was dangerous, that it distracted from the mission and that it would incur the wrath of the man who had held her leash. Now that she was free, she did not know what to do with these sensations building within her.

When she was atop Ruby in their makeshift training room, she had felt the warmth of attraction that had spread through her, and that had been a good thing. When she saw the way the wolf-girl adjusted to the injuries and moved past them, she had felt pride, and that too had been a good thing. But with this new awakening of desires, focused so steadily upon the friend she had only just reconnected with, it confused her. After so long at forcing every trace of emotion down, she could not trust herself to distinguish between what could be a genuine interest in the other Faunus, or an abundance of lust.

And so she stood there, fingers brushing over the smooth surface of the mask that had been her protection as well as a collar, struggling to make sense of this new her. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she barely registered the slam of a wooden cabinet closing, blinking a few times before turning to investigate.

Coming from the kitchen was the girl who had occupied her thoughts, wearing an expression that matched perfectly well with how conflicted she felt. Ruby was carrying a bottle in one hand, and two glasses in another, bringing another heavy sigh to her lips. "I should have known you'd find them, eventually."

A wide grin took over Ruby's lips as the wolf-girl moved to the table and placed both the glasses down, beginning to unscrew the lid of the bottle. "I function best on a fine line between happily buzzed.." Two drinks were poured from a height that caused droplets of the alcohol to splash over the edges of the tumblers, one of which was slid in Blake's direction. "And borderline unconscious."

Taking up the offered glass, Blake tossed the mask to the table's surface, staring at it as she took in a long drink of the bitter liquid. It burned at the nerves in her throat as it went down, an angry and vicious substance that immediately filled her stomach with a pleasant warmth. "So I gathered from your scent when I saw you in that alley." Stealing a glance at the other Faunus, her quip was rewarded with a deep flush of embarrassment that crossed Ruby's scarred cheeks.

She pretended to concentrate on the swishing alcohol in her glass, staring at the surface of the drink as she carefully watched the wolf-girl from the corner of her eye. Ruby stiffened for a moment, watching her warily. Ending her study, she tilted the bourbon back and drained the glass, before setting it down upon the table. "You drink to stop the nightmares. Does it work?"

Ruby did not answer her at first, instead pausing with that same stiff expression that the wolf-girl wore whenever they approached this topic. She observed the way that muscles slowly relaxed as the seconds sped by, and the younger woman let her in just a little bit more. "Sometimes."

The events from earlier that day had set her on edge, it seemed, as she poured and drank another nearly full glass of the bourbon in mere seconds. "Did you ever try anything else?"

"Nothing works as well." Ruby tapped an index finger against the edge of the glass in her hand, and gave Blake a rueful grin. "This stops them. It mutes them, and it makes me numb. All the drugs I tried, the years of being wasted and out of my mind, all that did was twist the memories."

Pouring herself another glass from the bottle on the table, Blake allowed herself a small smirk. She had travelled down much the same path, at first. Until Adam had caught on. That thought led her to downing another long draught of the alcohol before continuing. "That's not what I was getting at, exactly.."

Before she had the chance to explain what she had been asking in detail, Ruby spoke up, a hard edge to the wolf-girl's voice now. "I know, Blake. But you can't fix me. I know what you said before, that you want to help me." There was such pain reflected in those shining silver eyes that she felt a pull within her chest, a desire to drive that agony from the younger Faunus.

"I'm too broken, and I'm too scarred." Setting aside her drink, Blake closed the space between them, reaching up to press a palm against the rough cheek of the other brunette. A smaller hand settled upon her's, and the wolf-girl leaned into the touch. Ruby's voice was quiet now. "..You can't fix me. If you try, you'll only end up hating me."

"Don't say that." Blake grit her teeth as she watched those argent orbs widen, realizing that her tone had been harsh and demanding. She had so carefully avoided forcing the other Faunus to look inward, knowing that it would be a delicate process to heal the wounds that she had never seen. "I refuse to believe that."

It took a long moment of silence to realize that she had placed her hand on Ruby's hip, thumb grazing along the ridged scar that now marred the wolf-girl's bare stomach. The younger woman's hand had also touched upon her forearm, pulling upon it as if it were helping to keep her standing. There were no tears as amber met silver, just a desperation that passed between them as Blake licked at dry lips and began to speak. "When I realized that it was you, kneeling down in front of Adam.. When I realized that you were a Faunus.."

Blake took in a breath to steady herself, feeling more raw and exposed with each word as she looked down at Ruby. She was already tipsy, her rapid drinking having mixed terribly with an empty stomach. She didn't care, this needed to be said. "I have made so many mistakes. But in that moment I knew which one was my greatest, which one I will always regret the most. I gave in to fear. Fear that the world could be anything but what I had seen, that I would not be accepted. I lost so much because of it."

"Fear has taken so much from us." Moving her hand to grip Ruby's jaw lightly, she leaned down to look directly into the wolf-girl's eyes. "So don't tell me that I can't help you. Because when I look at your scars," She brushed a thumb across the stitched ridge where a Beowolf had cut open the other Faunus to emphasize her point. "I see a survivor. One who carries the weight of those she has loved and lost. I see the toll it has taken upon you, and I see the fact that you are still standing and I can't help but think that these scars you carry are beautiful."

Ruby had all but frozen during her tirade, fingers gripping at her forearm while another hand touched upon her waist, but the younger Faunus' expression quickly turned to a mixture of surprise and disbelief. "You are beautiful, from your scars to the tips of the ears you hid away from the world." Blake trailed her hand up to the lupine organs, fingers lightly playing across the dyed fur. "And we are not broken."

Seconds passed in agonizing silence as she saw the shorter woman process what she had said, and the emotions that came along with it. She found herself distracted as she glanced up at the dyed tips of the furred ears she was touching, trying to imagine how life could have turned out if she had known about them all along.

Ruby watched the other Faunus carefully, her heartbeat racing as her thoughts warred over what she had been told. Not convinced that she was anything short of a poster child for being a broken soul, she was also not entirely convinced that she wasn't. So conflicted at this premise, she could not find the words to properly thank the older woman. Blake had seen past the scars she carried, had seen her at her worst, yet did not take no for an answer when the question was if things could get any better. Especially when Ruby herself had lost sight of things ever looking up.

She had consigned herself to the world as it had become, ready to fade away in a mire of guilt, fear, and failure. For the first time since the Breach, for the first time in four years, she felt a spark of hope on the horizon.

The more she thought it over, the more she did not think any words would be fitting to thank Blake for that. Her right hand moved up to touch upon a slender jaw, pressing against the pale skin of a cheek and angling the older woman's face down as she rose up on her tip toes.

Wide amber eyes burned with a fire she now felt the warmth of within her chest as she neared, and Ruby touched her lips against the other woman's with a sense of courage brought on by both the alcohol she had consumed and the words she had heard. The last strings of fear evaporated when Blake returned the kiss, deepening it and pressing their bodies together.

She had intended it to be quick, a dip of the toe to test the waters, but it soon became a different beast altogether. It was awkward at first, as they stumbled around the edges of a table and their noses did not allow the angle they desired, but experience allowed them to adapt. There was a desperate need that was transmitted from the way Blake's fingers entwined themselves through locks of her hair and pulled her close, from the way a tongue danced playfully against her own and allowed her a taste of what was to come.

Heat ignited over the bare skin touched by Blake's fingers as they glided down her body, finally coming to rest on Ruby's rear. A gasp that broke the kiss was all she was allowed as she was easily lifted up and held close, her legs wrapping around a strong waist for support as she draped her arms over the cat-girl's shoulders. Now suspended in the air, she found herself utterly enveloped in a continuation of the hungry kiss, unaware of where the older Faunus was taking her.

But as her back was pressed to the massive window overlooking Vale, a moan escaped her lips, little more than a needy whine of desire. The effect of the cold glass and the growing warmth between their bodies was immediate and electrifying, setting her excited nerves aflame as she ground her hips against Blake's. Her fingers ran through the thick mane of dark hair, entwining within the tresses as she sought dominance in the battle of tongues between them.

In one moment she was happily moving along with the flow of their passion, eager to sample every inch of the older Faunus. In the next, she was struck by a powerful need to breathe. Slipping out of the kiss, she turned her head so that she was looking over Blake's shoulder as she took in a shuddering breath. There was a low chuckle in her ear, and rough lips played over an earlobe, nipping at the sensitive skin. "Blake.."

She spoke in a quiet tone, causing The raven-haired cat pulled back, amber eyes filled with concern as they drifted over her form. "Sorry, did I hurt you?"

"No, no.. Nothing like that." Ruby leaned back against the cool glass, allowing it to temper the heat that was simply radiating from the other Faunus. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths, drawing a quick glance to her breasts that brought a smirk to her lips. "I just want to make sure.. That you want this."

Blake's teeth were bared in a wide smile, and the cat-girl cocked her head to the side, one feline ear drooping to the side while the other flicked straight up. "That I want you, you mean?"

Ruby didn't answer immediately, instead slowly shaking her head as she laid a soft hand on the defined collarbone of the other woman. The thin material of the black shirt she touched allowed her to feel the harsh ridge of bone, and another bump that ran perpendicular to it. A scar, a texture she knew all too well. "I can only guess what you've gone through, I don't want to cross any lines."

Her fingers traced the vein visible on the side of Blake's neck, feeling the racing beat bringing a thrill before she gently set her palm against the line of the cat-girl's jaw. She didn't dare look the older woman in the eye, not when both of them knew exactly what she was asking. "I'm not a fragile doll, Ruby. I'll let you know if I want to stop." Blake leaned in then, pressing their lips together in a softer, more chaste kiss.

It lasted a single heartbeat, just long enough for her to get a taste of the other Faunus, a sample that left her near salivating as she stared into those gorgeous orbs of amber. "Until then.." Ruby stretched back as she spoke, wearing a salacious grin as she pushed her back against the window and tightened the grip of her legs around Blake's waist, moving in a grinding motion. "Don't stop."

Blake let out a predatory growl, digging her fingers into the firm flesh of Ruby's backside as she dived in to lick and nip at the exposed neck the wolf-girl was so enthusiastic about offering her. Sharp teeth left marks as if to proclaim ownership, from the nape of the neck to the edge of the jaw, but finally their lips met each other in a fiery need.

But the wolf was far from passive, as teeth were bared and bit back at her lip, catching it between them as lips spread into a playful grin. It hurt, but to Blake that was a good thing.

It meant there was a contest to be had to see who would come out on top.

"Well, this is the place."

Yang checked her scroll again just to be sure, then nodded as she confirmed that the worn address displayed on the side of the building was the one she had received in the text from Cinder. "Little more.. Dingy than I thought it would be." It was a bar, and it looked more like a dive than her own. Not exactly in a good way, either.

The fact it was called 'Grimm's Den' wasn't helping.

She could chalk it up to the heavy rainfall making it seem so run down, and dismissed the concern from her mind. Then she felt her girlfriend's fingers tighten around her hand, and glanced over to find Velvet's ears drooping over in the middle as brown eyes skirted around the stained stonework of the establishment. "Do we really have to do this?"

"Come on, Velv. With the gangs going at each other again, it can't be a bad idea to have some other ex-Hunters knowing we're still around, can it?" She smiled, leaning over under the umbrella to plant a soft kiss on the rabbit-girl's cheek. "Plus, Professor Fall wanted to know if Ruby was okay. I don't want to just send that over a text, you know?"

"It's just.." The brunette shook her head, giving a cute noise of frustration as Yang brought her around to her way of thinking. "I never really got along with the other Hunters. Not like your team did.."

"Well, they'll love you once they get to know you, trust me!" Beaming at the rabbit-girl, she placed her scroll in her pocket before leading Velvet towards the door. Swinging it open easily, she led the way into the bar.

The sound of loud rock music grew steadily louder as they walked through a cramped hallway, and Yang caught a scent of something she couldn't quite place, a smoky tinge that seemed familiar. When she opened the far door, they were greeted by a screaming guitar chord that launched into a solo that almost sounded like it was ripping the strings apart.

Velvet's form stumbled against hers in surprise as they were both hit by the loudness of the place, but Yang quickly recovered and scanned the large room. It was filled with booths and tables, all of them filled with customers that were even rougher looking than most of those she had fought in the basement of Ember Heights. Even from here she lost count of the number of scars or cybernetic limbs she saw, mostly because she noticed the girls who moved between the tables.

While she had initially assumed they were waitresses, she could now see the boys in suit jackets with trays. The clothing of the girls was far less professional, and a confirmation came when one pulled a patron up and led him towards a flight of stairs. "Oh."

Glancing at Velvet, she saw that the Faunus had already made the same conclusion, and was looking more uncomfortable as the seconds passed. Yang was just starting to favor the plan to get out of there when a voice cut through all the noise. "Yang Xiao Long!"

The shout drew an alarming amount of eyes, so much so that she took a step to stand in front of Velvet as she glanced about for the speaker. She found a redheaded woman come out of the crowd, one with light green eyes. It took a long moment before she processed who it was. "Octavia?"

"One and only." Octavia Ember grinned as she approached, giving a bit of swagger to her steps as she spoke. "Cinder said you'd be coming by, this way."

The redhead jerked a thumb over her shoulder and took off towards a set of stairs, leaving Yang to glance at her girlfriend before giving a shrug and following their old acquaintance. She hadn't seen Octavia seen the Breach, which raised a question. "I thought you went back to Vacuo?"

The woman leading them upstairs looked back with a smile. "I did. But without Shade, life in Vacuo fell apart. I didn't really have a direction to go, none of us did. It was a bit difficult to acclimate to civilian life, not having other Hunters to talk to.. Many became mercenaries, when faced with the knowledge that the world didn't want us. But Nebula found her way here, and Cinder found her." Halfway through opening a door, Octavia paused and turned to them. "She's kept us together, given us something to work toward."

Yang fixed a stare upon the redhead, feeling no less uneasy than she had down in the common room. Octavia noticed her hesitance, and opened the door all the way before speaking. "You'll see what I mean, talk to her."

Stepping past Octavia with Velvet all but clinging to her arm, Yang gave the room a once over before focusing on the woman she had come to see. Cinder Fall was facing away from her, leaning on her palms onto a table surrounded by other men and women, none of whom Yang recognized. The former Beacon Professor slowly turned to face them, donning a wide grin as those burning eyes settled upon them. "Yang, Velvet. I'm glad you could make it!"

Long black hair swayed as the older woman looked back at the other occupants of the room. "Let's discuss this at another time, yes? Mercury, if you would?" A silver haired man who couldn't have been much older than Yang rolled up a large paper document from the table, his steely eyes glancing over in their direction before he followed the rest of the Hunters out of the room. Once it was just the three of them, Cinder spoke up. "Some old friends from Haven, sorry about that."

"It's.. Not a problem." Yang cleared her throat, stepping forward and bringing Velvet with her. "Nice, um, place you've got here."

"Please Yang, I know it's a bit rough. But there's a certain honesty here that I prefer." Cinder moved around the table before settling down onto the couch behind it, tresses of black hair obscuring one of those burning orbs. "So, what brings you by my little corner of Vale? Would you like me to order some drinks?"

"No thanks, we've got to get back to Ember Heights soon." Yang had almost completely forgotten what it was that had brought her here, so concerned with the atmosphere of the place. She had been in plenty of seedy places in her life, but the fact she had dragged Velvet into this one made it worse. "Um.. Well, I just wanted to let you know that I heard from Ruby. She's alright."

Cinder let out a sigh, holding a hand to her chest as she did so. "What a relief! I was so worried.. The latest reports said that she was in rough shape when she was rescued from the Crimson Quarter."

"Reports?" Yang glanced over her shoulder at her girlfriend, but Velvet looked as if the question had simply slipped out.

"Why, of course, Ms. Scarlatina." Cinder lounged back on the cushions, her husky voice practically a pure as she eyed the shy rabbit-girl. There was something about the stare that didn't sit right with Yang, a touch of hunger she had seen in many eyes downstairs. "I'm sure you both know how hard it is to sit on your hands these days, all the Hunters who've come to me want to do something."

"So you've.. Employed them?" Yang was the one who voiced her curiosity this time, cocking her head to the side as she watched her old Professor.

"Helps to keep them out of trouble, I think." Cinder let out a low chuckle, shaking her head as if caught up in an amusing memory. "Your own sister is becoming quite the poster child of what happens when one of us has too much time on their hands.."

"Is that so?"

"It is." The older woman's gaze flicked between them for a long moment of silence before her lips parted again. "And the authorities of the world are taking note. I worry for what might happen if they decide that the weapons they built are not worth the trouble they bring, that it might be easier to simply get rid of them. Don't you?"

The thought had crossed Yang's mind before, that without the purpose of tracking down and slaying Grimm, Hunters throughout Remnant were now highly trained soldiers with no allegiance to the kingdoms or the people. If the leaders of the world ever began to see them as a threat, there was a chance that someone would think getting rid of them altogether was a good idea.

"And that is not even mentioning those horrible gangs that prowl the streets. The way they have treated us has been nothing short of abhorrent, no? Those who won't join them are seen as threats, and simply.." The gorgeous woman snapped her fingers, a flashy show to emphasize her point. "Dealt with." Burning gold eyes made their way to Yang, showing a hint of danger in their depths.

"Is that why you came to see me?" Velvet's fingers were now tightly clamped around her palm as she watched Cinder lean forward with a raised eyebrow. "You've seen the trouble brewing, so I assume you want to make sure there are people who have your interests in mind too.. I can happily be that person, my dears."

Their hesitance was palpable, Yang knew, as her unease grew even further. It sounded like a good offer on the surface, but the way it was phrased, the tone that was used. There was an implication of a price to be paid for such protection, and for refusing. She wasn't sure it would be worth paying, and from the way her girlfriend was holding on to her, Velvet agreed. "I.. Don't think that will be necessary, Cinder. This have gotten bad before, Velv and I know how to take care of ourselves."

"Of course, dears." The woman spoke words dipped in honey, but with a mouth showing tightly drawn lines around it. "You know where to find me, if you change your minds. And please be sure to let your sister know as well, I think she could use some guidance in these dark days. She would fit in well here."

Yang felt the nervous pit in her stomach twist just a bit more at that, at the thought of Ruby being a part of whatever it was Cinder was building. "I'll let her know."

The dark haired woman leaned back into the couch, smiling up at them from across the table as if there wasn't a tense air hanging over the room. "A pleasure to see you both, as always. Do swing by again."

Being dismissed in such a way was fine by Yang, as she opened the door and quickly retreated with Velvet in tow. Octavia was standing by a nearby table, and shot them a smile as they appeared. "Leaving so soon?"

"Business to take care of." It was all Yang could manage as she fought against that knot in her stomach, and moved towards the stairs without a thought of lingering on this place.

As they made their way back into the main room, Yang caught a brief glance of a Huntress in a dark corner injecting something into her arm. The vial being emptied glowed with a bright red light that seemed volatile even from this distance. The sight allowed her to place that unusually familiar scent she had smelled upon entering the bar, one she had always caught a whiff of whenever she ejected the shells from Ember Celica.

Fire Dust.

Draping an arm around Velvet's waist as casually as she could manage, Yang guided her girlfriend towards the door at a brisk pace. She didn't even pause to wait for the Faunus to open their umbrella, stepping into the rain before she slowed. "Yang?"

There was no small amount of concern in the rabbit-girl's voice as they moved closer together under the cover of the umbrella. Yang reached up and rested her hand on the nape of Velvet's neck, feeling entirely off balance by the meeting. "I really should listen to you more."

Velvet wore a sweet smile as her ears gave an irritated twitch. She hadn't felt like she had belonged at Beacon, not past her team at least. But they certainly hadn't belonged in there. "Come on, let's get home."

Blake awoke some time later, her eyes fluttering open to reveal a darkened room. There was an absolute warmth to the bed that warded off the chill of the night, but what had awakened her was the fidgeting girl lying beside her. Her first instinct was to scold the other for jabbing an elbow into her stomach, but as she caught the limb, it became more clear what was happening.

As her thumb played over the twisted and thorned branches of the tattoo that spiraled up the arm, she heard the soft protests and gasps that preceded the nightly attacks that she had witnessed at least a dozen times now. Even through the haze of a hangover just starting to rear its ugly head, Blake knew that the younger Faunus was suffering from a nightmare.

Instead of waking Ruby, she slid her arm around the slim waist of the wolf-girl and pulled her close. Her bare skin burned where it touched the other woman's, and she pressed a gentle kiss against the rose inked on the back of a shoulder. Raising up to touch her lips against the edge of an ear, she quietly made shushing sounds as her hand trailed down the tattooed side of Ruby's body.

The effects of her contact were slow, but soon the restless movements of the wolf-girl's body ceased, and Ruby fell back against her. With each stroke down the scarred skin of the younger woman, and with each whispered word of comfort, the building murmurs of horror faded away.

Satisfied she had calmed the other Faunus, Blake nestled herself into the pillow, unperturbed by the wolf ears that rested against her nose as she closed her eyes. Each long, slow breath brought a mixture of their scents, of the musky sweat that had clung to their skin and the sheets after their earlier activities. Within a minute, she had drifted back to sleep.

Weiss Schnee took a moment to look herself over in the full size mirror inside her closet. She stood on a short podium in the middle of the room, and two women were busy helping her dress. One was pinning the right sleeve of her black collared shirt to the shoulder, leaving a respectable profile for the stump that remained of her arm. The other was wrapping dark cloth in a braided pattern around the long length of her white hair, a daunting task considering that her tresses reached down past her knees, but one performed with perfection each day.

These were, after all, her employees. And a Schnee accepted nothing but perfection, especially in matters of appearance. Especially when she lacked the ability to ensure it herself.

Her undershirt was a bright white to contrast with the black of the collared shirt, with red accents to bring a bit of color. Atop the overshirt was placed a dark vest, its face marked with a silver snowflake pattern that stretched over the entire garment's front and back. Dark slacks and a pair of polished black shoes rounded out the ensemble.

The final piece was a white and red glove that was strapped around her left hand, the design covering her index and middle fingers but leaving the others bare. In the center of the palm, a red indicator lit up as the subtle circuitry within the glove reacted to her Aura.

The braided cloth confining her hair created a ponytail of sorts, with a tuft of stark white at the end that swung easily, and when the two women were done, they stepped back to admire their work. "Thank you ladies." Shooting both of them a grateful and pleased smile, Weiss caught the sight of red hair entering the room from the corner of her eye.

"Commander Ironwood would like me to remind you to wear your sidearm, Ms. Schnee." Her assistant spoke calmly, but there was a hint of mirth to the young woman's tone as well.

Weiss held up a hand as one of the women at her side moved to collect the firearm and its holster from where they sat. "Please remind the Commander that it is a dedication ceremony, not a live fire exercise."

"As you wish, ma'am." Penny wore a small smile as she typed away at a scroll pad, and Weiss was sure that her assistant would receive a reply within a few minutes regarding the topic. Emerald colored eyes snapped back up to her after a moment. "The driver is waiting for us, whenever you are ready."

Author's Note: It was my birthday yesterday, so this update is sort of my present to myself and all of you, I hope you liked it. It would have been out a week or so ago, but my computer's power supply.. Exploded. Anyway, got that fixed! Got a bit of everyone in this chapter, but I want to just say that the story will focus on Blake and Ruby pretty exclusively. Weiss wasn't actually planned to show up this much, but she's very entertaining to write in this AU. I hope you all have enjoyed the breather from constant and horrible depression that this story started out with, but rest assured that this fluff won't continue(I mean what is Cinder up to?). I wanted to thank everyone who has supported this story, I'm glad so many of you are enjoying it. Please drop a review to let me know what you think of this chapter!