They were washing the dishes when it first happened.
Yang and Neo had shared their first kiss, and the two of them had spent the first few days after that in what Yang could only describe as bliss. Though they had gone back to sleeping in separate rooms, it seemed that every waking moment was spent in each other's company. With the outside world still bound in heavy snow, the two of them found ways to pass the time.
Most of that was lying on the couch or in bed together, trading kisses, soft and gentle or heated and passionate. Sometimes they would talk quietly with each other, or read books, or just lie there and enjoy each other's presence.
Some days they would find the time to exercise in the garage, and even then they found ways to do it together. Whether it was Neo sitting on Yang's back while she did push-ups or Neo showing off just how flexible she could be, it was another way for them to be together.
They would part long enough to eat meals, to sleep, or to help Yang's dad with chores around the house.
And on one particular day, half a week since the fateful evening when the blizzard swept over their house, Yang and Neo were doing the dishes when Neo finally said it.
Yang was drying the dishes, her mechanical arm strapped to her stump. She was trying to wear it more throughout the day, it made things easier but still felt awkward and clumsy at times. She had just finished stacking the plates by the sink when Neo finished washing. She quickly stepped around Yang and looked at the stack of dishes, then frowned up at the cupboard. Dragging a chair over to the counter, she climbed on top of it and picked up the stack of plates before realizing what she had done.
"Can you get the door?" she asked. Yang smiled playfully and opened the cupboard for her.
"Thanks. I love you," Neo said as she set the stack of plates on the cupboard shelf.
For a moment Yang stared at her, unsure as to what she had heard, when Neo blinked and turned to look at her. Standing on the chair had put her at eye level with Yang.
For the space of a heartbeat, they stared into each other's eyes. Neo, sweet and gentle Neo, loved her, and after all they had done for each other Yang could almost believe it. She did believe it. And she felt an upwelling of happiness that her bond with Neo had grown that strong. But really, Yang believed Neo simply because she trusted her not to leave.
In that heartbeat, Yang knew how to react.
"...I love you too," Yang said, her voice quiet. Neo's eyes widened, and Yang saw the breath catch in her throat.
"You..."
"You said you loved me," Yang said quickly. Neo clapped a hand over her mouth.
"I do love you..." she whispered, lowering her hand again. Tears glittered in her eyes, but she had a smile on her face. Yang quickly put her hands on Neo's hips and pulled her in close.
"I know. It just feels good to finally hear it..."
She leaned in and kissed Neo, and the smaller girl quickly returned the kiss, one hand going to the back of Yang's neck. Yang broke away from the kiss, but Neo was holding her close, her lips next to Yang's ear.
"How...how long?" Yang asked breathlessly.
"Since that night when you let me fall asleep with you," Neo whispered in Yang's ear.
"I don't know when it happened," Yang replied, "But I know it now."
Yang reached up to run her real hand through Neo's hair. Yang was sure that she loved Neo. There was no other way to describe how close they were, how much Neo meant to her...
Neo rested her head on Yang's shoulder, and for a moment the two of them stood alone in the kitchen, holding each other.
"I was so worried..."
Worried I wouldn't love her back, Yang thought.
"Don't be. I mean it, I promise," she said, kissing the side of Neo's head as she gently stroked her hair.
"I know. I know, Yang. I love you..."
Yang savored the now-familiar feeling of Neo's body pressed against hers. It seemed like every day the two of them were crossing a new boundary with their relationship. And even as the excitement faded those boundaries became comforting.
This was another one of those moments. Right now, it was exciting. Yang could feel Neo's heart beating through her ribcage, and her own heart was beating in time with it. She felt the words swirl around in her head, until she wanted to say them.
But she knew she would be able to say them again, a thousand times more.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Instead, the two of them held each other in silence, their embrace saying all it needed to for them.
/
Neo stepped soundlessly into Yang's room. She padded over to the bed and looked down at the sleeping blonde. She looked beautiful, golden hair spread out around her head like a halo. Her face was peaceful, untroubled by her waking worries. Neo almost felt guilty about disturbing Yang's slumber as she shook Yang's shoulder and whispered to her. She wanted to slip into bed next to her, but she still felt too much apprehension.
"Yang? Yang..."
"Neo?" Yang mumbled as she shifted in bed.
"Yang, I couldn't sleep."
Yang half-rolled over to face Neo, eyes still shut tightly.
"Nightmares?" she asked sleepily.
"Mmhmm."
Yang rubbed at her eyes.
"Aww. Come here, pint-size," Yang said, lifting the blankets to welcome Neo into bed with her.
Neo smiled and slipped under the covers, snuggling up next to Yang. She threw her arms around the blonde's torso, savoring the warmth of Yang's body.
In truth, she had been having trouble sleeping, but only because she missed having Yang next to her. She had tossed and turned, painfully aware of her cold and empty bed, until she couldn't take it any more. She just needed to be with Yang.
"I've got you, Neo," Yang said soothingly. Neo sighed and rested her head on Yang's shoulder.
She was sure she would sleep well now.
/
Everything was fire and blood.
Adam Taurus stood above her, in the blazing ruins of Beacon's cafeteria.
Everything was red, the red of his hair and his sword and the blood that was everywhere. Her arm was hurting, a searing, stabbing pain. She could feel it in her missing fingers all the way up to her shoulder, a screaming lance that refused to die.
Adam's cruel grin below his inhuman mask was directed down at her, mockingly. She thrashed, trying to reach up, to fight him, but every movement tore at her missing arm. She didn't know whether she was screaming or not, but she wanted to.
The red began to fade to black, everything faded, her throat was tightening, all she knew was the pain in her arm and the darkness around her.
She continued to thrash, until it felt like the darkness was beginning to fade, she felt gentle hands on her face, and then...
/
Neo cupped Yang's cheek and stroked her hair as Yang's eyes snapped open, wide with fear. She was panting, her brow slick with sweat.
"Yang, Yang are you okay?" Neo asked. Yang was gasping, sucking in breaths, as her left hand untangled itself from the sheets and grabbed her right shoulder.
"M-my arm..."
Neo felt panic grip her. She had been awoken suddenly when Yang began thrashing around, she had tried to wake up her partner, and now that Yang was awake Neo had no idea what to do. She immediately tried to comfort the blonde, hugging her as tightly as she could and rubbing at her shoulder, trying to help reduce the lances of phantom pain.
"I've got you, sunshine, I'm here..." Neo said desperately. Seeing Yang in this much pain and fear was terrifying, Neo was willing to do anything to stop Yang from feeling that, but she just didn't know how.
Yang sobbed and held Neo back as tightly as she could. The poor girl was afraid, but Neo was glad she was there to give her some small comfort. As Yang's breathing began to slow, Neo kissed her forehead gently and stroked her hair.
"Yang, it's okay...you're safe..." she whispered. Yang sighed and relaxed, though she still held on to Neo, as if she was afraid Neo would slip away.
"You're right. It was...just a nightmare," Yang said quietly. Neo lifted herself up enough to look into Yang's eyes. The fear was gone, but it was replaced by grief.
"It was your arm, wasn't it?"
Yang nodded, her face twisting with frustration.
"And Adam..."
Neo shushed Yang and held her again, cradling Yang's head against her chest.
"Has this happened before?" she asked. Yang took another deep breath.
"Y-yeah...a lot. Neo, I'm never going to get past this. It's always going to be a reminder of...of everything that happened. Everything I've been through."
Neo was silent. She didn't know what to say, she didn't know how to make these feelings go away for Yang. All she could do was hold Yang tightly. And...
Neo pulled away from the hug and gently took hold of Yang's stub. She ran her thumb gingerly over the mass of scar tissue on the end, then dipped her head and laid a kiss on it.
Yang reached up to pet Neo's head, brushing back her soft particolored hair.
"Neo..."
"I'm staying with you. Even if you always have to deal with this, I'll always be here to help you."
Yang pulled Neo into a gentle kiss. She guided them both down onto the bed, where Neo pulled away from the kiss and cuddled up next to Yang again.
"You're such a sweet thing, Neo..."
"I just want to help you, Yang. Anything I can do, just tell me."
"I think...I think you did help. Thank you."
"Of course, sunshine. You going to be okay?"
Yang was quiet for a moment.
"Neo...I don't know if I can be okay."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Sometimes...I think I'm too broken by what happened. And that I won't ever recover."
Neo was silent. Privately, she'd had the same thought sometimes. The pain and fear she'd been through was never going to leave her. But when she and Yang held each other, she felt less alone, less afraid.
"That doesn't change anything. I'll still be here. I have to be, to make it all up to you."
Yang went silent again.
"Is that really what you think?"
"Of...of course it is. I couldn't live with myself otherwise."
"Neo...I don't want you to think you're obligated to stay with me…"
"That's not it at all!" Neo said quickly, "I just mean...after all the pain I put people through...I want to show you I can…" Neo trailed off, suddenly embarrassed.
"What?"
"...To show you I can deserve your love."
Yang pulled away from the embrace, but Neo was afraid to make eye contact. Yang put her hand on Neo's chin and tilted her head up so that she could see Yang's eyes shining in the darkness.
"Neo. I love you. You don't have to prove anything to me, you don't have to earn anything."
Neo swallowed.
"I know, but...it's still the only way I can live with what I did."
Yang kissed Neo gently on the forehead.
"Then maybe one day you can forgive yourself like I have."
Neo wiped her eyes and cuddled up against Yang again. She very much hoped that one day she would be able to feel that way...but until then, she still felt like she was atoning for something.
That didn't change the fact that she loved Yang with all her heart.
"I know I've never met him...but I hate Adam for hurting you like this."
Neo was trying not to hate herself for hurting Yang as well. At least she had the chance to make it right. She could channel that guilt into helping Yang.
"He's still out there. Somewhere," Yang said hoarsely, after moment.
"I know. But I promise as long as I'm with you, I'll protect you."
"We'll protect each other."
Neo smiled into Yang's chest.
"I love you, Yang..."
"I love you too, Neo. I love you so much..."
Neo felt her eyes beginning to water again. All she'd wanted, all she'd ever wanted, was to be loved and cherished by someone. And she'd finally found it, and she'd discovered what it felt like to love someone in turn.
Yang held Neo so tightly it seemed she was being crushed against the blonde's chest, but Neo couldn't bring herself to complain. Instead, it was all she could do to return the embrace.
Neo listened to Yang's breathing slow as she drifted back off to sleep. Neo smiled as she felt her lover relax, then closed her eyes and waited for sleep to claim her as well.
She was sure that as long as they had each other, they would be alright.