Weiss led Blake into their room quietly, too emotionally exhausted to pry any details out of the equally silent Faunus. Weiss figured they both understood they would talk about the whole incident tomorrow, after a well deserved night of sleepy. That was one of the things she loved about Blake — she didn't need to constantly fill the silence with superficial chatter. They could just be comfortable with each other.
Weiss eased herself onto the bed, looping her arms around Blake's waist and pulling the girl on top of her, giggling when the Faunus fell over her clumsily. Weiss kissed Blake tenderly. Blake didn't reciprocate. Weiss frowned when Blake stiffened as well and pulled away from Weiss, sitting herself on the bed but away from the princess.
"What's wrong?" Weiss asked, sitting up and grabbing hold of one of Blake's hands.
Blake fidgeted. Weiss watched as the uncertainty in Blake's expression was overtaken by something else, something hard and defiant. Blake tugged at the collar on her neck. "I want you to release me. I want to leave." Her voice never wavered.
Weiss froze, fighting a wave of emotion that seemed to be tearing her insides apart, trying to get out of the prison Weiss was locking them in. "I see," Weiss said as calmly as she could, putting on a mask of indifference. "Why now? Why? Are you unhappy here?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you," Blake replied curtly.
Weiss' eyebrow raised at that. "You don't? After everything we've been through, you have the audacity to say that you don't need to explain why you suddenly want to leave?" Weiss' voice was controlled but icy.
Blake paused, fear flickering over her eyes for a split second before disappearing. "I met an old friend. He invited me to join the White Fang. I realized that I should be fighting for the freedom of my people, not staying here to act as your pet." Blake explained dispassionately, straightforwardly.
Weiss gripped the blanket on the bed, clenching her fingers. "You aren't my pet." Oh god. This can't be happening. Weiss fought the wave of nausea that was overtaking her. That was right — Blake had never said she thought of Weiss in that way ever. It couldn't be that Blake had thought she was doing her duties as a pet this entire time right? I couldn't be. "You're my girlfriend," Weiss asserted, trying to keep calm.
Blake looked away slightly. "I want to leave, Weiss. Release me."
"Are you breaking up with me then?" Weiss asked, her entire body shaking.
Blake looked Weiss in the eye. "If that's what it takes for you to release me, then yes." Blake spoke calmly. How could she be so calm? How could she? "I'm allowed to leave, you told me you would release me if I wanted to be released."
Weiss wanted to cry. But she wouldn't. No. Not in front of Blake. Not anymore. Not when Blake would just abandon her. Instead, she reached forward, willing her hands to stop quivering. Weiss saw Blake flinch as Weiss' hands approached her face just to drop to her neck and to remove the collar. The clasped unlocked with a hiss and a beam of blue light. Weiss set the collar on the bed and got up, turning her back to Blake and heading as quickly as she could to the doorway without seeming like she was running away.
"The White Fang is coming tomorrow to meet with the council. You can go with them then. Or you can leave now, whichever you prefer." Weiss said, her hand on the doorknob, the first tears dropping down her cheeks. "I won't stop you."
Weiss was just about to step out when a hand on her wrist pulled her back into the room.
"What?!" Weiss snapped, not turning around. She couldn't show her face to Blake, not like this. "I released you already."
Blake spun Weiss around, pulled the door closed and locked it. Then, she pinned the angel against the door and kissed her.
"Get off me!" Weiss cried, pushing Blake away after coming to her senses. "What is wrong with you?!"
Blake blinked, seeing Weiss' expression for the first time. "You are upset," Blake breathed, as though surprised.
"Of course I am!"
"I'm sorry, you just seemed so calm." Blake stepped closer to Weiss.
"Don't," Weiss glared, her glance scathing. "I'm leaving."
"No Weiss," Blake pounced over to block the door.
"Blake this isn't funny." Weiss couldn't see anymore, the tears were blurring her vision. "I can't do this. Please," Weiss tried side-stepping Blake. "What more to you want from me?"
"I lied." Blake blurted. "I don't want to leave, I'm not joining the White Fang."
Weiss' heart fluttered for a moment before she Weiss consciously kicked that emotion down as well. "Blake, this isn't funny," Weiss repeated.
"I'm really sorry," Blake pleaded. "I just— I needed to see if you would actually release me. I needed to make sure— "
"So this was a test?" Weiss snapped, her eyes flashing.
Blake's ears drooped. "I guess, sort of. But I—"
"Get out of the way," Weiss ordered, clenching her fists. "I'm leaving."
"Weiss—"
"No," Weiss' expression was scathing. "I don't want to hear it. Now move."
"Weiss—"
"Did you think this was a game?!" Weiss shouted in anger, in relief, in disappointment. "I trusted you! I cared about you! My emotions are real and you don't have the right to play with them like you did! You don't have the right to expect me to forgive you! Now get out of my way." Weiss grit out the last words, shooting daggers at Blake.
Blake finally stepped aside.
Weiss threw the door open and stepped out of the room.
"Weiss, please," Blake grabbed Weiss' wrist again. "I didn't mean to—"
"Shut up," Weiss wrestled her arm away.
"Can we talk tomorrow?" Blake tried again.
Weiss didn't answer. She just walked away, leaving Blake with the unsettling feeling that she had just ruined everything.