Blake Belladonna was used to sleepless nights. Maybe it was her heritage as a Faunus, her natural leanings towards nocturnality, or perhaps it was her past with the White Fang trailing at her heels wherever she went. Either way, the Faunus girl was not unaccustomed to the quiet of the night.
Most of her roommates maintained relatively silent sleeping patterns. Ruby often tossed and turned, as Blake imagined, much to the ire of Weiss. The ice queen, however, kept precisely still as she slept – on her stomach, facing the wall, body straight. The quiet girl couldn't imagine sleeping as such, as she preferred to keep her knees curled to her chest – but maybe how one slept was indicative of one's personality. Expectedly, the only one to take midnight bathroom trips was Ruby. Blake wondered if it had something to do with the girl's restless sleep. Either way, it wasn't as if it bothered her too much. Blake wasn't going to get that sleep anyway. The only one who did seem to mind was Weiss – Yang was often dead to the world, and Blake didn't really mind. Of course, there wasn't much about the silver-eyed girl that didn't annoy the ice queen, so Blake just took it as another facet of their…complex partnership.
Yang, above her, was thankfully not a snorer, despite having all the trappings of the stereotypical. Of course, Yang had to sleep in the most haphazard way possible, leaving Blake to marvel at how the limbs that dangled off the side of her bed didn't get cold.
But for now? No limbs obscured her view, and though Ruby occasionally turned on the other side of the room, it was silent.
Perfect for her memories haunt her, and for her mind to manifest more scary possibilities. Yet beyond it all, Blake was torn.
It wasn't an easy discussion to have – most of the people she talked to about the White Fang had polarising opinions – either the White Fang was a pure organisation doing what was necessary for racial equality, or they were a terrorist organisation who proved the Faunus were scum. For Blake? She so desperately wanted to believe that the White Fang had the best intentions, but she was slowly coming to the realisation that maybe they'd made a huge mistake. Torchwick wasn't to be trusted, she knew, but it still hurt to think her ex-partners – her friends? – had gone down such a dark road. It was…hard to accept.
Sighing, Blake gazed around at the room. She could see almost perfectly, despite the night's darkness. Being of the Faunus did have small benefits, she supposed. Both of the two girls across were fast asleep, judging from their stillness.
However, suddenly Blake heard movement from above. Yang's legs swung down from above her, and the golden-haired girl landed on the ground below with a tiny thump. The raven-haired girl was surprised Weiss didn't wake up, light sleeper that she was. Yang didn't seem to notice Blake's gaze as she tiptoed out the door, failing to fully shut it behind her.
For Yang, this was extremely unusual behaviour. Not once had Blake see her move from her slumber – though the girl was prone to early-morning bathroom rushes. No, this was out of character. Keeping as silent as she could, Blake followed her, footsteps making no sounds as she crept out of the room, in an effort to discern the golden-haired girl's intentions.
Outside, Yang paced down the hallways, walking right down to the end. Blake followed her, keeping close to the wall in the hopes she'd be able to hide in the darkness should the one she pursued turn around. The walls, painted white concrete, felt cool against her skin, though the plushy grey carpet beneath felt soft, and nice to walk upon. Eventually, Yang stepped out onto the balcony of the first floor, overlooking Beacon's courtyard.
The outside air was bitter against Blake's skin, but Yang didn't seem to feel the cold. The golden-haired girl leaned on the railing, gazing into the night. Blake was careful not to make a sound as she peered out from the doorway, listening to…the sound of nothing. Yang wasn't saying a word. Blake internally reprimanded herself – what had she expected? Yang to start talking to herself? Instead, the golden-haired girl remained silent, apparently musing on something.
Blake wondered what exactly Yang would have to think about at this time of night – or morning, if she was to be accurate. It didn't really matter, though. The sky was still pitch-black and salted with stars, and it was still just as cold. She shivered, starting to feel the chill in her bones.
Yang sighed, running her hands through her hair. Whatever she was concerned about, it seemed to be really bothering her. Yang wasn't someone who let on easily that she was upset – she'd always try and play it off with a smile and a bad joke. It was something that impressed Blake, really. The raven-haired girl felt like she was too easy to read – Weiss was able to easily pick up whenever she acted just a little more aloof than usual.
"Blake?"
The raven-haired girl's heart thumped. Whilst she was lost in thought, she must have faltered – made a sound, or forgotten to hide properly. She cursed her lack of stealth.
However, instead of flames appearing, and her eyes turning red, Yang's lips formed a soft smile.
"Can't sleep either?" she offered, tilting her head in a summoning gesture. Blake looked to the side, smiling a little and nodded, joining her partner out on the balcony. Yang smiled warmly at her as the two came to stand side by side, Blake holding onto one of her arms with the other. She still felt as if she'd done something wrong, and she couldn't peel that feeling away from her stomach, that feeling of guilt and shame. She wanted to tell herself that it was only Yang, and that she wouldn't mind, but it still felt like an invasion of privacy.
"Did you follow me because you wondered why I got up in the middle of the night?" Yang asked, tilting her head again. She seemed to have to have little of her usual, her flame not burning like a fireball but instead like the dying embers of a fireplace. It was a startling contrast.
Blake nodded. "You don't usually get up in the middle of the night."
Yang nodded, turning back out to stare at the night with ashen eyes and leaning on the railing again.
"Nightmares tend to do that to you, I guess," she said, with just a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Aren't I pathetic? Nightmares are for kids." Blake shook her head.
"No," she said, more strongly than she'd intended. Yang suddenly turned her head back to the raven-haired girl, gazing at her with widened eye and raised eyebrows.
Blake avoided her gaze, turning away to hide her slight embarrassment.
"It's not pathetic," she said, with conviction. "Everyone has something in the back of their mind that haunts them."
Blake's words left her lips with a touch of bitterness, and a touch of regret. It was true; no matter how far you ran, or how long you waited, there were some things you could never escape no matter how hard you tried. In the end, they'd always manifest, at some point, as nightmares.
Though she didn't say it aloud, Yang seemed to get the gist of what she meant, and smiled in return. It was like their unspoken language – Yang would lead, and Blake would just roll her eyes and play along. If she ever wanted to say something, fewer words said more. Blake really appreciated that sort of relationship – dealing with Ruby's verbal diarrhoea and Weiss's icy comments could sometimes leave one more than a little tired.
"Hehe, thanks. I guess you're right," she said, looking down and still a little unconvinced.
The wind slowly began to pick up, turning from the gentle breeze it had been before to a slightly more aggressive gust, throwing cold air at the two with mirth. Blake failed to resist the urge to shiver. Yang picked up on it in milliseconds.
"You cold?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"You're not?" Blake retorted with confusion. Yang just grinned, walking behind the taller girl.
Then, she hugged Blake from behind. It took all of the raven-haired girl's strength not to completely freeze up in surprise. Slowly, she began to relax into it as Yang's immense warmth chased away the threat of the bitter wind.
"I never get cold," Yang said, resting her chin on the taller girl's shoulder. "Better?"
Blake nodded, turning her face away to hide the slight tinge of pink that had spread across her face. This was…unexpected. Yet, at the same time, it was also…kind of nice. Yang inhaled softly.
'Your hair smells nice."
It was such a random comment that Blake nearly forgot what they'd been talking about only seconds before. After standing still for moments and moments, she began to feel more and more melancholic. Yang's smiled dropped from her face, and she nestled into Blake's hair. Blake tried to keep a straight face.
"You know, I'm scared a lot. Did you know that?" Yang said, resting her chin back on Blake's shoulder. "Scared of losing you guys – Ruby, Weiss," Her voice began to fall.
"You," she added, leaning into the taller girl as if to close some non-physical distance between them.
"When I was little, me and my family were attacked by Ursii. You probably haven't heard that part before."
Blake's ears twitched involuntarily. Her bow thankfully stayed in place. You never knew who was watching.
"One got into the house," Yang continued, voice shaky. "And attacked me and Ruby."
Blake inhaled sharply.
"I wanted to do something, but god, I was only like seven. There was nothing I could do. Ruby was terrified." Yang's eyes glistened wet lavender, and Blake felt the urge to turn around. "Our mother decided to take it on, to protect us. She won, but," Yang bit her lip.
"She died."
It was almost like an anti-climax. Blake had been expecting it, but…it hit surprisingly hard.
"It's kind of like, y'know, I was so useless that I couldn't do anything, y'know?" Yang tried to laugh, but it came out as a bitter symphony of regret. "I know it's stupid, but I just wish I could have done something – anything. Maybe then Mom would still be alive, and maybe then Ruby wouldn't get those nightmares."
Yang's voice wavered violently, threatening to break. "Maybe then I wouldn't get them either."
Blake struggled out of Yang's hug-hold, and instead wrapped her arms around the slightly shorter girl, front-on. Yang hugged her back, silent for once in her life. But now, the silence was threatening, and it was deadly, and it didn't make Blake feel comfortable at all.
"It's fine. You're fine. See?" she said. The raven-haired girl had no idea how to comfort someone, and she fumbled with her words.
Thankfully, Yang nodded, resting her chin on the taller girl's shoulder.
"I guess you're right. I still am kinda dumb," Yang choked out a laugh, this time sounding a little more genuine. Blake just rolled her eyes, smiling wanly. Maybe, just for a little while, they were back to the status quo.
After a few moment, they separated.
"You, uh, wanna head back?" Yang grinned, her voice returning to its normal, bouncy tone. Blake nodded, and let Yang lead her by the hand back down the hallway.
The halls were a little chilly, and Blake felt that familiar chill spread down her bones as the two walked, hand-in-hand. This time, the silence was natural, calm, and comforting. She didn't feel the need to disturb it, though she wondered how long Yang would last.
"Hey, uh, Blake?"
Not long, apparently.
"Mm?" Blake mumbled under her breath in acknowledgement. Yang scratched the side of her head, refusing to make eye contact. The only part of them that touched were their hands, clasped together.
"You know, if, uh, you ever wanted to talk about the, uh," Yang lowered her voice, "White Fang, or anything, I'm here." It came out disjointed, and Yang's confidence clearly wavered. Either that, or, like herself, the golden-haired girl wasn't all that used to the 'mushy stuff' as their young leader would have put it.
"Thanks," Blake murmured, blinking in appreciation. Yang's face turned the slightest shade of pink, and her hand suddenly felt hotter. Blake chose to ignore it.
Eventually, they reached they own dorm room, and tiptoed inside. Yang nearly tripped over in the darkness, leaving Blake to suddenly catch her from behind to avoid waking up the other two. Blake gazed at the opposing bunks, and realised something.
"Yang," she nudged the other girl, "Weiss isn't in her bed."
In fact, if she looked closer, Weiss was in…Ruby's bed. Or, to put it simply, they were sleeping in the same bed. The corners of Yang's mouth twitched upwards in a goofy smile, and she let out a tiny squeak.
"They're adorable," the golden-haired girl cooed. Blake rolled her eyes.
"Shit." Yang suddenly paused. Blake tilted her head questioningly.
"Ruby probably…had another nightmare, and I wasn't there. Shit. She always comes and sleeps with me when that happens," Yang put her hands to her head in panic, "Oh my god, she must have felt so scared."
Blake squeezed Yang's hand, and the golden-haired girl looked at Blake for reassurance.
"Weiss probably said something. Ruby's fine," she said, gazing at the two with amusement. "We should probably head to bed, too."
Even if she didn't sleep much, Blake did need to sleep sometimes. Yang, apparently, needed all the sleep she could get, as shown by the girl's tendency to sleep in. She shivered again, despite the warmth of the room. Yang smiled, and gestured towards Blake's bed.
"Wanna sleep with me tonight?" she whispered, and Blake nodded, though she knew the offer was more for Yang's benefit than hers. Still, as the two settled into bed beside each other, Blake noted that sleeping next to the golden-haired girl was like sleeping next to a warm, warm heater.
It really was nice, Blake noted, as her thoughts collided, and she settled into the best sleep she'd had that week.
Thanks, everyone! This is technically the end, but I did consider expanding the story to feature Weiss's nightmare and Blake's nightmare. Let me know what you think :)! I hope you enjoyed this little mini-ficlet.