Valence

by Cowjump

With the end of their first year at Beacon Academy having come to pass, Team RWBY must contend with the next three months of their summer break. Follow this eclectic bunch as they are thrown into a situation that utilizes neither their combined combat prowess nor their acquired knowledge on all things battle-related during their adventures in the city of Vale.

16. Chapter 16: Compassion

Before I begin this author's note, I should make one thing clear so to alleviate tensions and set the tone for the chapter accordingly. I will make a statement about Monty's passing, but it will follow the ending author's note so that any sadness or memories that may be caused by it can occur after the fact and not bleed into a separate narrative. This is so both the story and the statement can have their appropriate effects. I hope you understand.

That being said, thank you for reading. With the posting of this chapter, the story now totals over 300,000 words, an admittedly slight miscalculation from my initial projection (200,000 by the tale's end) but one that I cannot say I am displeased with. That you have tolerated me for this long is something I cannot begin to express my gratitude of. I understand the commonality among writers on this site to claim that their reviewers and readers are the assumingly sole reason why they continue to write, so to claim this would be unfortunately disingenuous on my part, but I must thank you all dearly and assure that your support and engagement with this story is the absolute reason why these chapters are coming out at a relatively quicker pace. You all are the best.

Now, in order to prime you for the impending chapter, I should recap the general tonal outline of the last. Previously, Blake and Yang struggled through their first argument as a couple, leaving them both broken in their respective ways and emotionally trepid even after apologizing. To those of you who commented that the apology seemed tentative and that their mindsets seemed not entirely restored, I can expressly say that you were correct. After their argument, an apology was given, but its existence was but an appeasement from one tearful character to another, leaving much to be said in the way of their upset. With this chapter, we see the fallout of this pain.

Again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy chapter sixteen of Valence.

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Chapter 16: Compassion

Alone, in the dark, scared into a state of melancholic deference, Blake was at a loss for what to do. She could cry—it was a reasonable enough reaction to the overbearing stress of her own effects, but she had already done that and there were no more tears to be shed—or perhaps she could just scream. There was a forest behind the sisters' home that she could run out into, far back into the corners of silence and obscurity, and simply scream to her heart's content in order to properly chastise herself. Her lungs could burn so justly and perhaps more tears could be found while vocalizing this frustration at her mistakes. Truthfully, she did feel like running again, away from Beacon and the White Fang and her parents and RWBY and Yang most of all, but she would not because she simply could not. Perhaps it was pride, perhaps plain stubbornness, but she had succeeded so well beside Yang that to abandon her now and forsake all that they had accomplished together would be the single greatest failure in her life.

Words were terrible things, monstrous constructs built to communicate the ire of one so cowardly that forthright action and its resulting consequence was deemed too effete. Words had been Blake's passion—literature, language, and propaganda all defined who she was—but in the course of surrounding herself with them, she had become calloused to their power. Words were weapons as much as any gun or sword could ever be, but whereas steel could end an encounter quickly or be remedied through practiced medicine, words could bore a hole to the deepest pit of one's soul and leave a scar which would never heal.

What she had said to Yang could never be taken back. She could, and often did, apologize for it, but she had never referenced the occasion with any specifics since the night of. Now there was a gap in their relationship which the two were obviously aware of but were both too afraid to approach. Over the course of these past two weeks, Yang's hugs became somehow tighter, more desperate, and Blake could not say that her own did not, as well. The blonde would now frequently drop her voice to a soft whisper that only Blake could hear and utter hyperbolic compliments until the pain was gone. It was apparent that Yang desperately wanted to save their relationship. Blake did, too, but she unfortunately could not forgive her own shortcomings.

It was disconcerting that she had driven her girlfriend into such a state that the blonde's urgent attempts to prove herself were now an everyday occurrence. Yang did not need to prove herself to anyone, least of all Blake. She had already done so with every single second up until they braved the protest. But then Blake had claimed that she felt smothered, that she would do fine without Yang, and in doing so she had lied absolutely. She could possibly blame this reaction on her indoctrination by the White Fang or perhaps even teenage angst, but truly it was cowardice that had spurred her outrage.

But no longer would she be a coward. This was the admittedly unconvinced decision made on the night of the argument and, more specifically, at the moment of forgiveness. In Blake's eyes, Yang could do no wrong. She could be brash, brazen, and altogether bold, but she never meant harm unless the target of her actions dared accost those she held dear. Yang was constantly warm while the crowd had only been misguided and vitriolic—to place the cart before the horse in this instance would not only be wrong, it would be indicative of ruinous conditioning which had bled into her social life. This conditioning—this hatred for humanity—had no place in their relationship, and if Yang was to be brave about all of the obstacles they faced, then Blake should be able to act similarly.

Unfortunately, this was not the case. Blake had wanted to run, to scream. She had wanted to cry! Yang never cried, not unless she was hurt by someone she cared about. And yet Blake had made her tearful by cowardly lashing out at the nearest force. No, Blake could not be brave, she realized. She could willingly risk her life to save the people of Remnant from the Grimm and she could fight insurmountable odds beside her teammates, but to apologize and admit fault? It was easier said than done.

As was stated previously, this early evening which the two of uncertain mentalities were to embark upon would find them two weeks subsequent to their unfortunate squabble. Despite prior rationalizations and fears, the young couple held close to one another, Blake finding her usual position under her partner's arm and Yang rubbing the Faunus' own reassuringly. It was currently an early hour of the night which made way for a purple-orange twilight that shimmered endlessly across the vast expanse of ocean to the duo's side. A few stars were out and so too the fractured moon, but with the trail of promenade street lamps and sinistral shops and vendors, no one on this esplanade could remove their gazes from the horizontal plane.

"Esplanade" was a word Blake had been unfamiliar with until Yang had stated it so matter-of-factly prior to their argument. To be honest, this was one of the first words she had heard in a while that had forced her to refer to her dictionary. Apparently, Yang's knowledge of the word came from this particular landmark, causing Ruby to have the same information as well as an excitement about the locale that eventually led to a request for her and Weiss to accompany them. But alas this seaside promenade would be explored only by the troubled two of the team and myriad other couples and families who were out and about.

Unlike their earlier strolls through the city which had been entirely fun and earnest, both Blake and Yang were now aware of the gap between themselves and thus held as close as possible to each other. Blake, with a telling frown and ears bound out of rebuffed confidence, kept beneath the chin of her girlfriend as she watched the other couples with a half-lidded stare. She valued this warmth and the lavender scent that she knew was of Yang alone, and despite her self-deprecating thoughts, she would cling to this form and their relationship so that they would never fade as she feared.

Similarly, Yang would hold the Faunus close, having no qualms with displaying to those around her the love she held for the girl. She would maintain a contented smile and would speak as though nothing was wrong, but Blake knew that she was fortunately not running from the problem like her partner was. She was showing discretion and was purposefully avoiding the argument in order to keep Blake away from her own thoughts. In this way, she was being strong about the situation, and Blake was quietly thankful. Still, it was doubtful that the blonde had forgotten what had been said and it was more than likely that she harbored new reservations against her partner.

The mere thought of this pain inside the exuberant youth's heart caused an unwanted whimper to sound in the back of Blake's throat. Unfortunately, Yang noticed.

In an instant, the arms that coiled around the Faunus constricted, immobilizing Blake and sending her thoughts to desperate places as she scolded herself for worrying her partner. But the constricting of these arms was not painful in the least; rather, Yang's warmth was able to distract her from these terrible thoughts. With a long, insistent, but still somewhat reserved kiss to the familiar spot between Blake's upper ears, Yang communicated quite clearly her ease with the situation. This action was apologetic, it was sad, but because it came from Yang, it was hopeful, and Blake could not overlook the calm that spread through her body from the loving embrace.

"Blake?" Yang whispered, her voice lacking all confusion for care's stead. "Kitten? Is everything all right? You aren't still thinking about what happened, are you?"

The Faunus could only shiver and nod.

"I told you it's all right," soothed the blonde. "We're still together, and that's what matters. We apologized and made up for it and now everything's going to be okay. I won't leave you if you don't want me to and I know you didn't mean what you said. The crowd just got to us, Blake." Yang sighed into her partner. "They said some pretty nasty stuff that got stuck in your head, but you said what you needed to and got it all out, and, well…you didn't really overreact. I mean, you were probably right when you said I was smothering you and I'm—"

Suddenly, the Faunus stopped walking, bringing her connected girlfriend to a confused halt in the process. Yang was wrong. She was not smothering her partner; she was merely caring for her, and this was a fact that had truthfully scared the Faunus after her time with the organization. This care was still so foreign in a life filled with hostility, but it was also wonderful. Their summer up until the point of the argument had been, in a word, perfect. Everything had worked perfectly and now they could not recover from that one turbulent spat. For this, Blake sighed before moving from the blonde's arms and facing her, not minding the passing groups or the suddenness of her reaction.

"Yang," she said, catching lilac orbs with her teary own, "I love you. I…I don't know what I said to you and I don't know why I said it, either, but I do know that I love you. You're the most important thing in my life right now and throwing you to the side was…it was low, lower than I'd even expect from myself." The blonde frowned and attempted to reach out, but Blake shook her head and continued to stare resolutely into her girlfriend's soul. "I love you, Yang, more than anything else in the world. I can't live without you anymore. If you chose to suddenly leave or if I chose to run away again, I'd be broken after that. I'd lose a part of myself that simply cannot be regained without you being there."

"Blake, I—"

"Please let me finish," insisted Blake with a painful quaver. Yang warily appraised her for a moment before sighing and assenting with a nod. "You…You've been nothing but incredible ever since I met you. You've constantly had a smile on your face and a fire within your heart that I've always admired. You're motivated without due cause and you'll care for those around you without asking for anything in return." She lowered her gaze. "But I'm not like that. I'm a coward, Yang. If I can't see a way to win, I'll run, even when I know I need to admit defeat. I yelled at you over nothing—over nothing but memories. You're not the one who caused them, you didn't anger the crowd, but I did. I was the one who yelled at you. I was the one who turned on you when they were against us. I didn't even think of you when I yelled, I only thought about running away."

Blake looked back up to her partner, a scowl marking her final efforts to hold back tears. "I love you, Yang, and I promised I'd never leave you. That's an almost impossible promise for me to make, but I intend to keep my word. You didn't deserve the words I threw at you. You don't deserve the pain I'm causing you. You didn't smother me, Yang; my own memories did. The Wh…" She shook her head. "No, I was the one who smothered me. I keep running away from my problems and I keep hoping that once I catch my break, I'll be okay, but that's not the case at all. There is no break. If anything, you were the break I've needed and I treated you like every other mistake I've made. And now everything I've done is catching up to me and you're taking the brunt of it.

"But that's not right. I'm tired of being a coward. I'm tired of running. I just want to be with you, Yang. I…I don't care about the White Fang anymore, I don't care about Beacon, I don't care about anything anymore!" She shouted this last admission, drawing the attention of other groups on the walk and causing them to move away from the couple out of both reverence and fear. Regardless, Blake continued. "I just care about you, Yang. I shouldn't have said what I did, and I'm sorry. You deserve better from me—you deserve better than me. I'm just another name to add to your list of terrible boyfriends, and my story will just be the girlfriend who cut you down with words."

Blake had intended to say more and continue with her self-effacing rambling, but Yang chose to ignore the established boundaries between them and moved to hold her in a hug. "You're not a story, Blake. You're a person—you're my favorite person." Before the Faunus could so much as think of pulling a way, a gloved hand moved to cradle the back of her head and pull her into the blonde's shoulder. "No matter what," she said, her voice moving from its previous whisper, "I'll always love you back. If you want to run away, I'll still love you. If you want to go back to Sierra or even the White Fang, I'll respect your decision. If you say worse stuff and if you mean any of it, I'll understand. No matter what you do, you'll always be my favorite person.

"You did say some stuff that kinda hurt, but it's really nothing to worry about. I know you'll eventually say something worse just like I will. Arguments happen, Blake, and even if this was a bad one, it won't be our worst." The Faunus frowned as she subconsciously nuzzled into her partner, relishing the sturdy form in this fragile world. "But that doesn't mean we have to like it. I love hanging out with you and listening to you talk. You're a smart girl, Blake, and you know your way around a weapon. You're strong, you're careful, and you've got a great head on your shoulders.

"But you're not a coward. I honestly don't know where you're getting that from."

"I ran away from you," Blake attempted.

"No, you didn't. You said it yourself; you just needed a minute to think about stuff. A coward would've left me alone, not only on the couch but back in the Emerald Forest."

"But I did leave you alone. I panicked and I locked myself in my room and just cried instead of helping you."

"But you came back. That's what matters." The hand that cradled her partner's head combed gently through the raven tangle, easing Blake's breathing and drying her tears. "Really, you're the least cowardly person I've ever met. It takes a lot of guts to run away from home at eight and stick with it—trust me, I tried—and it takes a whole lot more to stand up to an entire army like the White Fang. You saw problems in the world and you did what you had to so you could fix them. Maybe you can't fix the White Fang or save every Faunus, but if you think trying was cowardly, Blake, I'd be a wimp. And I can't even think of what to call Jaune."

Surprisingly, Blake felt her mood lift significantly at this aside. Nothing about the situation was particularly funny and this pain between them was definitely not, but Yang's attitude about the situation—her outlook—was restorative and reminiscent of why Blake had asked her out in the first place. Blake smiled, however briefly, because Yang was still with her despite those scathing words from before.

In kind, Yang laughed softly, her smile audible in this caring gesture. "You didn't do anything wrong, Blake," she assured. "You said some stuff that you probably regret, but that's all right. I don't care about any of that, just you. Really, you were probably in the right with saying that stuff to me—I probably deserved it after I forced you into the crowd."

"You didn't force me into anything," mumbled Blake, her voice unfortunately muffled by the strength of Yang's hold and the leather of her jacket.

"No, I did. I was impatient and couldn't stand to wait twenty minutes. Twenty minutes! I mean, really. What I did was dumb and you told me. I deserved what you said—honestly, I probably deserved more—and I totally get why you were mad at me."

No, she did not. How could she understand if Blake was unsure, herself? "I'm not mad at you anymore," Blake whispered. "I didn't mean to yell at you."

"I know, kitten. I know."

A storm was brewing in the distance. Where the orange of the sun and the violet of the shadows were to blend and create the transition into night, an expanse of leaden clouds loomed dangerously and inevitably. It would rain tonight and more than likely storm, but at this current juncture where fear and timidity ran rampant, these clouds were the least of the couple's concerns. However, the clouds would continue their approach regardless and Blake understood the effects of her irrationality under the phobic shock of thunder. If she could not apologize properly to Yang and mend somewhat the gap between them, then both would be met with pain tonight.

As such, Blake returned the hug she was given in earnest, sighed away these oppressing thoughts, and listened intently to the beat of her partner's heart. Even this was musical to her ears, the steady thump that increased in tempo when Blake lost her hands in the flaxen mane. It would be all right, she believed. Everything would be all right. Like any other wound, this situation simply needed the proper attention followed by patience. "I'm sorry, Yang," she said quietly. "I'm sorry for drawing attention to this right now."

"Don't be," Yang said. "It's good to get this out in the open. It's better than keeping it bottled up all night, that's for sure." The blonde then took Blake by the shoulders and pulled her reluctantly away so that she could smile at the Faunus and send a modicum of cheer into the bloodshot amber eyes. "Now," she began with a smirk, "what do you say we forget all of this for a second and just have fun? We've still got a date to go on and I still owe you dinner from that time our night got ruined."

Blake attempted to look into her partner's eyes again, but the evident happiness shown through Yang's visage only reminded her of what she had destroyed. "A-are you sure?"

"Positive! I wouldn't be anywhere else right now."

"I…" Perhaps Blake was brooding. She had acted this way in the White Fang and it had given away her displeasure despite her intent of hiding it. Furthermore, Yang was perceptive of emotional tells and seldom ignored any amount of pain that concerned those around her. Perhaps acceptance of this offer would be helpful—it would most certainly be relaxing if their prior instances of intimacy meant anything. Brooding was merely the act of delaying recovery so one could wallow in her own angst. Brooding gave a sense of self-importance which mimicked confidence so uncannily that assistance and its eventual restoration seemed inefficient in comparison. But Yang exuded true confidence with every smile she gave and every word she said, and accepting this offer of ignorance and bliss could perhaps supplement the gap, not only in their relationship, but in Blake's character as well. "Okay," the Faunus said, doing her best to crack a smile but failing woefully.

Fortunately, Yang did not draw attention to this shortcoming and instead placed a quick, smiling kiss on Blake's forehead before moving with her down the esplanade. With this seemingly simple action, the wanted frown on Blake's features naturally turned upward and a genuine smile was achieved for the first time in what felt like forever. She rested her head back against Yang's shoulder, wholly relieved to have someone so accepting and supportive in her life.

She realized that her furious shouts after the protest would have been an appropriate response to the White Fang's leadership who had never cared to understand her reasons for being upset, but yelling at Yang had been devastatingly wrong—Yang knew the Faunus better than anyone and constantly strived to understand her pain, and Blake knew this now. She realized that these apologies, while necessary for the mistakes she had made, were given with such deference that rather than collected admissions of fault, they could instead be claimed frightened pleas for normalcy. Yang was not a person who required apologies such as these. She most certainly deserved them, but she had been nothing but forgiving to the Faunus after everything Blake had done to her this summer and during the past two semesters. This, in turn, caused Blake to worry that her reaction was unwarranted and overly stressful.

But this thought would fade just as quickly as it came while the Faunus simply took in the ocean air and the company who held her close, faults and all. If ever there was a night to make up for past mistakes, there could not be one as beautiful as this, Blake believed. Though her smile would not return to the self-assured grin of weeks ago, her expression would gradually warm with her partner's aura.

Blake had never before seen Vale's bay at this distance, and though it was unfortunate that her emotions were muddled upon this first viewing of it, she still found reprieve in the sounds of the coming tide. The muted roars and hisses of unending repetition preceded all else within the bound ears of the Faunus, blocking out sounds of cheerful couples and excited children on both the cobbled path they walked and the sandy shore not too far away. The day was ending, but the energy it held only multiplied with the addition of constellations both terrestrial and otherwise.

Truthfully, the catalyst pain from before seemed petty in Blake's eyes. Of course the consequences of her actions were terrible and the damage caused was unable to be looked over, but the frustration created by the crowd and her more contemporary apologetics were simply figments deemed necessary by her anxious imagination. Everyone deserved an apology after being wronged, but Yang did not seem to require excessive assurances, being that she appeared unafraid at the moment.

For this, Blake could perhaps let these stagnantly reverent sentiments go. Perhaps she could focus her attention on Yang instead of herself and enjoy the moment like the blonde wanted her to.

She sighed and allowed herself to be happy, if only for a little while. She would not forget the pain that she had caused, but she would work towards bettering their relationship. After all, Yang had advised her to move forward rather than hang on to the past, and though this lifestyle was not without fault, the blonde seldom lost her smile to anything mundane and continued to warm those around her without fail. Yang was still a role model to Blake in certain ways, even after these past two months of dating. The blonde was confident, brave, and she knew how to have fun. She could dismiss any worry with a smile and always took care of those around her in spite of her own inner turmoil. But now that turmoil had reached its boiling point, and ignoring it was no longer an option for either girl. It was then that Blake decided that she would work towards being a better girlfriend rather than apologizing for not.

It took a considerable amount of effort, but eventually Blake would hum in relief as she nuzzled into her partner's collar and stared out at the bay. "You know," she began wistfully, catching Yang's immediate, smiling attention, "we never did go to the beach. I always assumed that summer breaks consisted of that for kids our age."

Thankfully, Yang chose not to remark on the sudden shift in mood and instead responded in her regular disarming way. "You're saying that like it's impossible now. You know we can still go, right? I bet Ruby'd love that."

"I'd like it, too," Blake said, lifting her head from the blonde's shoulder and greeting her with her best attempt at a smile. Fortunately, the instability she had felt in this expression went unpunished and was met with a toothy grin.

"Wait. I thought cats hated water," joked the youth. "Is there something you're not telling me, Blake?"

With this, Blake's attempted smile became noticeably more sincere and lifted her mood enough so that she could answer, "Well, I'm not a cat, remember?"

"Oh. Right. You're a Faunus. How could I ever forget?" This received a reprimanding elbow in response which only caused Yang to laugh. "No, there's something else you're not telling me, and I've got a feeling it has something to do with that beach."

At this point in their relationship, Blake was certain that she knew Yang well enough to understand that this supposed uncertainty was undoubtedly false. The jocund blonde had a habit of drawing out the inevitable and playing toward her expected reputation while internally planning a suitable course of action. Whatever machinations whirred in her mind were doubtlessly mischievous, but in this recovering state, perhaps a bit of mischief could be helpful. To this, Blake smirked at the blonde's show of contemplation.

"Well, maybe you just wanna go 'cause it's the beach. And to be fair, who doesn't like going to the beach, right? Or maybe you just want to take a long, romantic walk with me so you be all sappy and stuff—not that I'd mind, by the way. But that doesn't really sound like you, does it? Ooh, maybe you do like the water and just want to go swimming. I mean, it can get rough during the summers here when there isn't a public pool within ten miles of home. Or maybe…" Suddenly, realization struck Yang, causing her to gasp in loud alarm. "Blake!" she exclaimed, a chiding offense to her word. "You just want to go to the beach so you can see me in a bikini!" She sent a playful glare to the Faunus and frowned. "Is that it?"

Blake's expression immediately lost all tells of prior pain for an unprepared blush. This was not what she had expected, not in the least. The thought Yang had ascribed to the Faunus had never occurred to her, but now Blake fought desperately to keep the image out of her head. It was a struggle to do so, one that she quite frankly wanted to succumb to, but her defiance and drive for equanimity kept her thoughts coherent and her blush a noticeable red. Her response, as stuttered as it was, told both girls everything they needed to know about the young Faunus' recovery. "You—Y-you're projecting."

Yang's smirk still lingered in the same self-assured way as she shrugged noncommittally. "Maybe," she offered. "But can you blame me? I mean, you're the one who came up with the idea. It's not like I'm gonna ignore the thought of you in a bikini, and it's not like you are, either. Besides, I didn't hear you say no!"

An immense effort was undertaken within the conscious of Blake Belladonna, one which recalled prior stories she had read, suitable lists she had memorized and recited at a later date, and she even went so far as to remember a few regretful moments from her darker decade. Unfortunately, the enthused pull by the surrounding arm and the lascivious singsong in the blonde's voice made the intended imagery a nigh inevitability. To counteract this enabling atmosphere, Blake made a scoffing noise and shrugged off her partner's grip before increasing her pace and leaving behind a chuckling Yang.

She was not particularly offended by the comment—it was characteristic of Yang to enjoy these teasing remarks, no matter how salacious, and Blake had known this fact even before asking her out—but she was certainly not amused, either. While the crude joke did help distance the Faunus from her direr thoughts rather effectively, the subject matter and the suggestiveness of it all was utterly disconcerting and not a small bit uncomfortable. Blake was not hurt by the experience because this was Yang being her playful self, but to say that she was accepting of this sort of advance would be untrue. It is not to say that she did not find her partner physically attractive by any means (rather, she did, but she admired Yang to such an extent that admitting it, even at this point in their relation, would be perhaps a bit too forward), but she did want to mend the gap still yet between them before moving on to more…affectionate matters.

Frankly, Blake felt that she deserved an apology. However, this was not the prideful Blake of weeks ago who believed that she was perennially in the right, but this was instead the logical, rational Blake who had been lost amongst the sea of agitators. She deserved an apology from Yang because what the blonde said had been entirely inappropriate for the situation. It was this sort of mistake which had taken them into the crowd in the first place, and if Yang did not learn the severity of impulsivity, then further mistakes of the kind would only become more commonplace.

Fortunately, as she stood cross-armed at what was believed to be a sizable distance from her partner, Blake would eventually be surprised by a sudden hug from behind. A grinning kiss warmed her cheek and would remain there until the blonde's giggles subsided. This action—this disarming emotion—inspired a reluctant smile of Blake's own despite her recent displeasure, and this only caused Yang's to widen as her lips detached. Out of the corner of her eye, Blake saw Yang staring back at her. "Hey," the blonde began began as if nothing wrong had happened, "you know I was only teasing you, right?"

Blake sighed. "Yeah."

"I probably went a little overboard, didn't I?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. I admit, I got a bit ahead of myself and didn't really think of what it'd do to you, so, I'm sorry. Well, mostly. That thought's gonna come up again eventually and it's not something we're going to be able to run from forever. Doesn't matter if it's two days or two years from now, but we're gonna have to cross that bridge at some point."

"I know," Blake said. "It's just…"

"You were scared?" Yang finished, causing a nod from her partner. "Yeah, I'd imagine you are. Everyone is at first, and I'm not going to rush you anymore. If you want me to stop, I will. Whenever you wanna cross that bridge, though, I'll be ready, but I'm absolutely fine with you wanting to wait."

"Yang, can we stop talking about—"

"Oh! Right. Sorry about that." The blonde gave a sheepish laugh and planted yet another kiss on her partner's cheek, easing the discomfort once more. She then moved to Blake's side but did not place an arm over her shoulder or take her hand in her own. Oddly enough, she stood a small distance away from the Faunus but did not seem deterred in the least. "Yeah, we should probably change subjects before it gets even more awkward, huh?" At this, she began to move forward and motioned for Blake to follow. "Come on. You can pick what we talk about next. I don't really mind."

It was strange not having an arm pull Blake forward. She found that until Yang had motioned for her to move, she seemed content to stay still. However, before an inference is made towards indoctrinated demureness or reliance on another's opinion or help, the frequency of physical contact over these past two months and the enjoyment thereof should be taken into account, leading one to believe that rather than a dog's anticlimactic anticipation from a whistle blow, Blake's current reaction was more so suited to simple uncertainty in this unembraced state—there was no subconscious dilemma on the Faunus' part, simply discomfort. She followed soon after and caught up to her girlfriend's side, not exactly knowing what to do with her hands when they were not attached to Yang, leaving them to fold impatiently before her as she walked.

For a moment, she found herself distracted by the jubilant couples strolling nearby who walked similarly to how she and Yang were now positioned, but even their apparent contentedness seemed alien. Blake was not as vocal about her emotions as those others on the promenade were, and this left her affection to show through her physicality in most cases. Being separated from Yang, no matter how small the distance, felt wrong.

Still, Yang had asked for a different conversation, and leaving this silence to linger only caused the awkwardness to mount between them. As such, Blake chose the topic that held the most weight in her mind despite how dark it was. "Yang?" she asked, receiving a happy hum in response. "Can we talk about…the argument?"

The smile Yang held softened substantially, moving from a delighted grin to something more sincere. "Sure, kitten," she said, "but let's wait until we have some privacy for that kind of thing. If you want, we can talk about it over dinner."

"I'd…I'd like that."

"Great! It's not too much farther."

A small period of silence took hold of the two as Yang continued on her merry way and Blake simply took in the bustling energy around her, but a sudden thought grabbed the Faunus' attention and caused her to inquire, "Yang? Where exactly are you taking me?"

"The sushi restaurant I mentioned a while ago! I probably should have told you ahead of time, huh?"

"Perhaps," Blake said, "but I can't say I'm opposed to the idea."

"I had a feeling that'd be the case. That's why I went ahead and made reservations." Blake raised an eyebrow to this and Yang apparently noticed. "Yeah, I know, it's not a very 'me' thing to do, but I didn't want our night to be ruined again. By having a reservation ready to go, I'm probably less likely to freak out over not getting on the list." The blonde then grimaced. "That, and Weiss kinda made the suggestion after hearing what went on with the protest."

"Oh? It sounds like she didn't just suggest the reservation."

With a sigh, Yang explained, "Yeah, after calling me a big, dumb idiot for about half an hour, she told me I couldn't take chances with you like the one I did. She said, and I quote, 'You moron. If you're going to go out to dinner, make sure everyone is in agreement beforehand. Otherwise, your plan is going to fail like all of your other pigheaded schemes.' It was a bit harsh, but she was right. Whenever you or Ruby or even Weiss plan something, it always seems to work, but whenever I fly by wire, everything just falls apart." She laughed shortly. "It happened when I was eight and I took Ruby out and it happened again in front of the music store. Some things never change."

"Well, that's not always a bad thing," Blake assured. "Perhaps you fly by wire occasionally, but it doesn't mean you're a bad person because of it. Honestly, Weiss can be overly cruel with the things she says, and I think that was one of the instances where she was."

The blonde shook her head and smiled over at her partner. "Thanks, Blake. I'm sorry about being all melodramatic and stuff."

"Don't be." The Faunus returned the smile with one of her own. "I think we've earned the right to be melodramatic after all we've gone through. Maybe we can't be that way around others, but I won't judge you if you need to air your grievances."

A low chuckle emanated from the exuberant youth, bringing her expression back up to the genuine happiness she had held before. Her eyes burned in the way they so often did for Blake and the grin she sported seemed primed to explode with elation. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you? 'Cause you really are the best, kitten."

"Thank you." Another blush burned across the Faunus' cheeks, this one more enjoyable than the previous. "I love you, too, and I…I didn't mean to yell at you. I shouldn't have said what I did and I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's all right. It's no big deal. You've already apologized enough as it is and I can't even blame you for it, to be honest. I think it was that whole protest that caused you to act that way, so they're really the ones to blame. And besides, we said we'll talk about it when we get to the restaurant." She winked at her partner. "You think you can hold off on the negativity for a bit? No offense, but—"

"I know," Blake interrupted. She had not been insulted by this plea for positivity and she did understand the merits of not making everything center around conflict. Truthfully, while she did want to discuss the rift and their argument to such a degree that recovery might find them both, Blake understood Yang's need for levity and she admittedly craved those past days of summer as well. For this, and to ensure that no offended undertone may have been construed from her response, Blake found a gloved hand and captured it in her own. "You're right," she said. "We can't allow this situation to consume us."

A by this point long-lost feeling of relief washed over the Faunus as the fingers between her own clenched softly and surely, communicating the blonde's content and assuring Blake that everything would certainly be all right between them. Yang did not say anything, choosing instead to simply smile at her partner and the many people they passed. In most cases, those others who now retired from the darkening beach or those who strolled along in similar fashion returned the gesture, distancing themselves from practically everyone else the young partnership had unfortunately come in contact with over the course of this season. Perhaps it was the population's genial disposition or perhaps it was the renewed contact with a tentative relation, but Blake felt happy in this moment. Truly, her remorse had passed and now the only priorities were of eventual apology and current affection.

As the sun set on this still yet promising day and as the storm clouds on the horizon blackened and crawled, a strange sense of completeness affected the Faunus. But this was no sense of relationship quality or personal fulfillment. Rather, this was a feeling of jubilation, of bliss, but it was concurrently a feeling of fear and necessity. In Yang's presence and at her side, Blake felt warm and loved but she also knew that mistakes could be made and that these mistakes could be ruinous to her newfound peace. This did scare her, of course, as it would anyone else, but it also made her feel alive in a way. Beside Yang, she could find safety and positivity, but she could also counteract the wonts of her subconscious and stray from the darkness of the White Fang.

Yang had not done anything wrong amid the protest. Perhaps she had acted rashly at its outset and perhaps she had let her temper get the better of her, but nothing in the reprimands given were agreeable in the least. Blake was sorry and she would make it a point to communicate this over dinner. The blonde was too valuable to break or change like her partner had on that unfortunate night. Blake's spirit would remain strong and unburdened by past atrocities for the sake of her girlfriend, and this had been Yang's goal in assisting her. Now was the Faunus' chance to return the favor and ensure that what had happened two weeks ago would never happen again.

---

Night settled quickly over the kingdom of Vale, its quiet arms finally descending upon the last remaining hues of orange and red and in turn relinquishing its starlight and shadow for the city's own bloom. One such light which brightened the now overhead clouds was a seaside shack of sorts, one set upon the sands of the bay shore and one which exuded a warmth and light that could only be described as jovial or frenetic. The young couple would already be seated here, sitting not inside the bustling bamboo construct which Blake had initially written off but instead beneath one of the neighboring cabanas amongst numerous other couples on this warm summer's night. A storm was coming and everyone here knew it, but none of the patrons seemed to mind and instead chose to enjoy the balmy breeze and the ambient waves and the grinning company who sat across the table while it all lasted.

Yang smiled brilliantly, her expression illuminated by the central lantern upon their table, and it was this emotion which reduced her Faunus partner to the hesitant child she had been at the beginning of this summer. Eyes which could burn a fervent hue focused solely on the girl in black, an insistent lilac which, against all odds of spontaneity and facetiousness, favored Blake with apparent warmth. Conversation had hardly occurred, existing only to escape the onset moments of their seating, but now Blake was content to simply pass the time by staring back at the blonde. She felt important under Yang's gaze, human almost. The shining orbs dared not veer above or below her partner's amber, choosing to regard her date as Blake Belladonna rather than a White Fang member, a Faunus, or even a girl who had attacked her scant weeks ago.

Within those lilac eyes was love—it was home, family, and all the comforts of respite and care that had been lost with the childhood affiliation. Blake felt terrible about what had been said and wished it could all be taken back, but time had slipped by and now that moment was gone. Now she could only move forward and apologize. Somehow, Yang seemed ready for Blake's mood-breaking speech, a quick smirk forming at the corner of her lips and a glimmer shining in her eye that seemed to say, "Don't be afraid."

Blake sighed and lost her happy expression, reluctantly exchanging it for something more somber and suitable. "Yang," she carefully began, "what I said to you, what we can't seem to bring ourselves to talk about, I meant it." The blonde's smile still shone above the small lantern, but a clear disturbance crossed her features. Blake could not fault her, however, because this had been an admittedly abrupt start. She figured that small talk would only inhibit their recovery, and if bluntness was to be the means of achieving understanding, then Blake would continue, undeterred. "I didn't mean to hurt you by saying it and I certainly didn't mean to lose my temper over the matter, but I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't what I was thinking at the time. I don't want us to break up, I really don't, but I can't ignore that outburst."

"I don't want us to break up, either, Blake; not over something like that. Maybe, I don't know, if I do something wrong to you or really hurt your feelings, then I'd kinda understand, but—"

"Yang, you did not hurt my feelings."

The blonde hummed in trepid acceptance, her perennial façade falling away to show her true emotion and frown. "Yeah, but I still acted stupidly. I know what you said about not comparing myself to others, and that's not what I'm doing right now, but sometimes I think I'm really not smart enough for you. I mean, take the crowd for example. For some reason, I had a schedule to keep and I didn't want to ruin our date by not following it. I wasn't ready to wait another twenty minutes. I just walked right through them and dragged you with me, and that was wrong—I was wrong."

"Perhaps," the Faunus said, looking down to the still empty table before her. "But I was wrong, too. You tried to help me on so many different occasions, but I only saw it as aggression. I sided with the protesters and the White Fang instead of you. No matter how long I've been away from the organization, I just can't seem to let go of their beliefs. I don't want to believe they're a lost cause, but that crowd and my behavior toward you told me exactly that." She looked back up to Yang. There was no argument to be had here, no discussion of who was right and who was wrong. There was simply acceptance and recovery. "Yang, you know that I can't run from my memories, right?"

"You mean you can't put it all in the past?"

Blake shook her head. "No, I can, and I'm really trying to, but no matter how far I run and no matter how much you help me, the memories are always going to come back. As much as I hate it, I'm always going to have an irrational fear of thunder, but I don't get to fear it like other people do. I don't get to scream and run for help; I have to cry and run away from it. Memories will always come back to me, Yang, because it's what I deserve for the mistakes I've made. My memories will chase me, not the other way around. I don't like it and I'm desperately trying to change it, but it's hard."

"And that's why you yelled at me? Is that why you're saying you meant the things you said?"

"I'm sorry, Yang, but that's what it seems like."

It was then that an unexpected response came from the golden girl. Rather than frowning and seeming disappointed as Blake had anticipated, Yang smirked almost smugly and focused this expression on her girlfriend, confusing the Faunus and oddly raising her mood. "Well, if that's all it is, then we can work around it—you know, except for the thunder part, but everything else is fair game for improvement, right?" This assurance allowed Blake a fleeting smile of her own. "So, what were you thinking when you yelled at me? What did the memories tell you to do?"

Unfortunately, it was not as easy as Yang made it sound to parse the emotions of any time, much less of an argument that had occurred so long ago. Still, Blake would attempt to sort out her own sentiments from those the White Fang had instilled in her so to give Yang her answer. "It's…complicated. Perhaps I should start with the 'smothering' part."

"If you want. I mean, if you wanna tackle that one now instead of something smaller, go right ahead. I'm all ears."

With a sigh, Blake began. "When I was in the White Fang, when I was…I'm not sure. Eight? Nine? Regardless, sometime in the earlier years of my affiliation, I was frequently castigated for wanting attention. At the time, I was only a child and I still wasn't used to being away from home, so I naturally tried to emulate what home felt like. Unfortunately, every attempt failed and members of the White Fang would often find me crying for my parents at night. One time, I asked my commanding officer if I could go back and see my mom and dad for a while and everyone around me just laughed. I didn't need attention in the way most people seek it, I just needed a parental figure around to help me when I was lost.

"Unfortunately, one never came. I had a commanding officer, I had a mentor, and I had others in my cell who took care of each other, but none of them knew how to raise a child. I was just a kid at the time and they all told me to grow up. They told me to grow thicker skin because everyone around me would be sharpening their wits and growing bolder by the day. That's the primary reason why I retreated to literature, but that still did not solve the problem of not having a parent or friend.

"A person—both human and Faunus alike—needs certain things in order to live. The White Fang offered me the most basic necessities such as food and water and also safety. For all intents and purposes, I was a soldier and they provided for me like one, but I was also a child and I needed someone to latch on to for support."

"But no one came," Yang ascertained.

"No, no one ever came. I was told to grow up and I did just that. I became a recluse, I lost all interest for social interactions since I knew I would only be picked on, and I lost my conversational ability. Everything that I needed to know came from either my mentor who taught me how to fight and fend for myself or from my books which gave me morality, however skewed it might have been at the time. I grew accustomed to being alone and I grew to like it. But in order to survive, a person also needs belonging and friendship and, well, love. At the time, I thought that I could skip these things and move on to become the best White Fang member I could."

"So, because you didn't have anyone to talk to, you became self-sufficient," surmised Yang. A morose chuckle was the blonde's response to this understanding. "I know that feeling. When me and Ruby lost mom and when dad stopped talking, I was the only one left who could take care of her. It was rough not having anyone to relate to at the time, but Ruby kept me going. I can't imagine what it was like for you, though. I'm guessing that's why you felt smothered by me?"

Although Yang would frequently claim to be dull in comparison to her partner, Blake could not help but admire her perception. Yes, this was the truth, and Blake could not have said it better herself. She nodded. "I was used to being alone for so long that your help didn't sit right with me for some reason. I…I didn't trust you when we first became partners, but I gradually grew to accept your friendship. A relationship, however, was something else.

"I didn't like it when you bought me things. Honestly, I still don't. I believe that everything you do is sincere and I don't doubt your motives at all, it's just that I still somewhat feel the need to take care of myself by myself. I know it's irrational—all of this is—but it's what makes sense to me.

"Yang, when I said that you were smothering me, I was scared because I didn't know how to react. The majority of my routines learned from the White Fang are all but gone now. I'm speaking more frequently, I'm finding companionship more ideal than solitude, and I'm sharing a bed with you now. Yang, you're single-handedly supplying me with the sense of belonging that I lacked in the organization, and because of that, you've made me realize how messed up I really was. When the crowd said what they did and got inside my head, I saw this relationship as weakness when it really wasn't. I suppose there is still merit in self-sufficiency, but I shouldn't fear help the way I do. I'm sorry for saying that you were smothering me. Perhaps at one point you were, but you aren't anymore, and you certainly weren't smothering me when we were fighting the crowd."

The mood between them had sunken to something of a pensive state, leaving the happiness they had shared earlier to be both a memory and an eventual goal. Currently, however, Yang simply nodded as she took in this information. Blake had known that this mood would be set for the occasion and she assumed Yang had as well, but she doubted either of them was prepared for the candidness of these apologies.

Fortunately, the couple was interrupted by the sifting sounds of an approaching waiter in the sand who carried their previously ordered entrée. Both girls smiled at him as best they could while he neared and set two small plates in front of them before placing a small wooden boat in the center of the table, filled with a variety of rolls and fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Just as quickly and as quietly as he arrived, he left.

Yang flashed her smile Blake's way before helping herself to the shared meal. It was apparent that she understood the severity of her partner's apology, else she would have lacked reverence and grinned throughout the story, but she was Yang, after all, and would continue to have an energy about her that was both undeterred and entirely calming. She still looked to be in thought as she moved a few pieces of sushi to her plate, but she fortunately did not seem upset by Blake's words. This allowed the Faunus to smile as she, herself, moved a couple pieces to her own plate.

Yang would eventually sigh out of assumed contentment. Whether this was caused by the food, the atmosphere, her own thoughts, or even Blake, the latter could not be sure. What was clear was that there must have been multiple thoughts running through her mind at once, causing her stare to leave her teammate and focus on the moonlit ocean beside them for a while as she ate. It would take a minute for her to articulate her thoughts appropriately, but when she was finally satisfied with what she planned to say, she would turn back to Blake and begin her own speech.

"Ruby used to say stuff like that, too. You know, 'You're smothering me!' and 'I can take care of myself.'" Oddly enough, a smile was her choice of emotion, a wistful affair that looked both at her partner and far beyond to a time long past. It showed acceptance of the apology (for which Blake was grateful), but it also showed an inner shadow, a question yet unanswered and now recalled by Blake's tale. "I mean, that's all part of growing up, right? If mom was still around, Ruby'd be doing the same thing to her, running away from hugs and all that."

She laughed. "Anyways, I think I understand what you're getting at. You're saying that being alone kinda became a habit and I'm breaking you of it, right?" In abbreviated terms, yes, this was an appropriate assumption. Blake nodded. "Yeah, I find that the problem with habits is that they don't go down without a fight. Like, when you try to break 'em, they just take hold over you one last time before they're really gone for good, but I guess an actual fight could go on because of it, too.

"I don't know. I've always taken care of Ruby like it's second nature, so I'm not even thinking twice when I'm spending money on you or something—it's just natural. I hope you know that I'm not trying to impress you or anything by doing stuff for you; I'm just taking care of you. And I can kinda get how that could be stifling at times, so I'll try to ease up a bit, but just like you have habits, so do I. I'm sorry if some of them get in the way."

"No, it's fine," Blake sighed. "I like your help. I enjoy being around you, Yang."

"And I enjoy being around you, too, kitten."

The two shared quick smiles, one sporting a smirk and the other a grin, as they silently came to terms with their own pasts. The word "smothering," during the argument, was now understood to be incorrect. Perhaps it could be said that Yang had made her partner uncomfortable after the protest, but even this would be false. Truthfully, the pain of Blake's memory was revealed mostly due to inadequate care for herself and an unawareness of what was morally right in the moment—she had reacted the way she did because she had honestly believed the protesters were justified. But now that Blake understood this and now that Yang was made clear of her intentions, the young Faunus could smile at their relationship's safety she now saw in their immediate future.

The two would dine in silence for a small while, simply delighting in the splendor they had denied themselves with heavy conversation. And though they were currently silent and respectfully could not bring themselves to laughter, there were no negative sentiments shared between them. There was still a sense of hesitation about their interactions, spurred by fear that another argument would break out (though it certainly would not), and as well there was more to say in regard to their now resolved dispute, but the young couple would revel in this peace while it lasted.

All things considered, Blake was enjoying herself. The last time she had eaten sushi was…well, she honestly could not remember. It did not feel as though it had been too long since the last time, but she could not remember an instance in the past year when she would have had the opportunity. Before then, she had almost always eaten alone, and sushi, to her, had been reserved for special occasions—of which there were not many at that time. Regardless, she was happy with Yang's choice. Though their moods were still on the dour side, the food was fresh and the scene was exquisite. In this current reflective state, Blake could not help but appreciate how far she had come from the dilapidated barracks and mess halls of the organization to almost nightly dates.

Yang did not bother looking at her food as she ate, instead staring off into the misty din and shifting swells in the shadows all the while, a glint clear in her eye which Blake watched, enraptured. They were thankfully still dating and had been for a couple months, so a small bit of staring admiration seemed innocuous enough from Blake's point of view. As such, she would cherish this peaceful expression which so contrasted the cold of weeks ago.

As the fire within the lantern set beside their sushi's boat danced in its confinement, so too did Yang's own, her lustrous lilac gleaning insight into her moving thoughts and concealed emotion. Though the primary points of Blake's attraction to this flaxen sight were her warmth of character and energy in motion, the Faunus would be lying if she claimed she did not find her partner physically attractive—in fact, she now flushed at the thought of how lucky she was to have this grinning figure as her own. Soon, the fire welling behind those lavender orbs would come to focus entirely on the dazed Faunus, resulting in a greeting smirk and a teasing wink from the former and a flustered, deepened blush from the latter.

"So," Yang said, an evident question on her mind as she knowingly changed the subject, "how is it? Better than the cafeteria's?"

Blake, still thrown off by being caught, was admittedly at a loss for what her partner was referring to. That is, she was oblivious until two simultaneous revelations hit her. Firstly and quite obviously, Yang was referring to their sushi. Secondly, Blake realized that the last time she had had sushi was at Beacon during a week when the cafeteria staff decided they would try their hands at new recipes. Needless to say, the attempt was faulty but admirable. Blake cleared her throat and as well any remaining hesitation of the previous mistake, and answered, "Definitely. I'm really enjoying the tuna rolls." A noise of fake surprise came from the blonde. Blake smiled. "How did you find this place?"

Yang paused, squinted, and waved off the question as quickly as she could. "Err, it doesn't really matter."

"Sounds like it does," the Faunus conjectured.

The blonde sighed in joking frustration. "Fine," she said. "It was a first date, I didn't really know the guy, but he was just about in love with me. I gave him a shot and he took me here, and I really didn't expect that."

"He sounds sweet."

"Yeah, I guess. Probably. But he was a bit on the creepy side, too."

"Oh?"

"I mean, the guy didn't know how to talk to me at all, which is okay—I said I'd give him a pass for it—but he kinda overcompensated. This place is nice and all, don't get me wrong, but this really is not first date stuff. This is like committed relationship stuff." Blake could not help but smirk at this. "That, and he sort of tried to act like a poet or something. He wasn't very good at it."

"How charming."

"Yeah, something like that."

As light-hearted as the memory may have been to Yang, it was obvious she did not wish to talk about it much longer. As such, Blake pulled a couple more rolls to her plate and asked, "So, is this place as good as you remember it being?"

This question evidently required some thought. A hum emanated from the blonde as she took a break from her meal. "Well, the food's still great. Me and Ruby used to go all over the place for sushi and never really found anything we liked, but then that guy showed up out of nowhere and showed me this. I can't say I'm upset about it. Though, when he took me here, it was in the middle of the day, so the service was shoddy and there was no one else around. Honestly, the place might have been emptier than Weiss' heart."

The Faunus calmly set down her chopsticks and moved to stifle a laugh. Yang watched with a self-satisfied smirk as her girlfriend simply shook her head and lightly giggled in lieu of anything uncharacteristically loud. Blake did not know why the remark was so funny to her—perhaps it was simply unexpected in their conversation or perhaps it was a thankful reprieve from the doubts and negativity over these past few weeks, but whatever the case, she laughed freely and genuinely at Yang's quip.

When Blake finally settled down from her impromptu fit, she was met with the expectant gaze from across the table. Yang seemed eager about something, potentially afraid, too, but the sheer energy radiating off of her was enough to remove the subtle chill of the briny breeze and warm Blake's concerned heart. Again, the Faunus cleared her throat in an attempt to restore her veneer of quietude, but before she could respond, Yang said, "I love you, Blake."

It was a sudden sentiment, and indeed it would be accepted, but it was met with an arched brow.

The blonde continued. "I don't think I tell you that enough, but I want to make sure you know. You're an awesome girlfriend and I'm lucky to be with you. You're the smartest person I know and the prettiest, too, and you're everything I could've ever wanted out of a relationship. I love you, Blake, and I want you to know that."

"Yang," the Faunus whispered, admittedly shocked by this candidness, even from such a source. "I…Why?"

"I don't want a repeat of what happened in the protest. I don't want there to be any confusion about whose side I'm on. I'm on your side, Blake, and I always will be. What you said after we got out of that crowd hurt, and I never want to make you say that again." Blake moved to counter this point and claim that it was the crowd which had spurred her aggression, but Yang continued. "No matter who you said caused you to yell, none of that would've happened if I actually thought about what I was doing. I was dumb and I can freely admit that. You were telling me to not go and I didn't listen, and the end result was me causing you even more pain.

"Remember when I burned you in Sierra? How I got mad and you tried to calm me? Well, that hurt, too. I've taken the short end of the stick in too many relationships before this, so I know how badly that can hurt, and I never want you to feel insecure around me like I was around the others. I know I'm a hothead and I'm liable to lose my cool over something stupid, but no matter what, I love you. You and Ruby are the only things I have left, and she's moving on to greener pastures with Weiss.

"After the argument, I was afraid that I'd lost you or something, that I'd scared you off or hurt you in some way. I was scared that I'd taken your laugh away, that I'd made you mad enough to never smile again. I know you like to think that you're calm, cool, and collected and I know how everyone else thinks you're a loner, but that's not the Blake I know. You're awesome, Blake. You're super thoughtful and love giving hugs and once I get you talking, I just can't seem to stop you." The blonde smiled a wide, prideful smile. "And I love that about you. Yeah, you'd probably stay calm even when the world's about to blow up or something, but you'd check to make sure everyone's doing all right and then you'd check to see if we're doing the right thing. It doesn't matter to me if you're a Faunus or if you used to be White Fang or even if you're scared to do social stuff—all of that's what makes you who you are and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"But me?" Suddenly, her smile dissipated, causing Blake's own to lower in worry. "I'm as seen on TV, batteries not included. There's not much to me, Blake, I'm one-dimensional. I'm just a walking smile who knows how to fight Grimm. You're, like, amazingly talented at everything you do—Ruby and Weiss, too—and I'm just…" She shook her head. "I know I may act full of myself a lot of the time, but I'm really not. I'm just trying to survive like everyone else, trying to move from one fight to the next and keep my smile up. Ruby needs it, you need it, and even Weiss needs it sometimes, but I don't know what I need. I guess I'm just lost or something. I know I need you…and Ruby, but I don't know what else."

Part of Blake wanted to simply rush over and hold on to the blonde and supply her with all of the support that she silently seemed to ask for, but the rational side of her mind knew that this would be inappropriate, not only to their present locale, but to Yang's desires. Yang wanted to continue her speech and figure out exactly what was plaguing her own mind. Concurrently, Blake wanted to comfort her and see her smile again. Quickly, the Faunus would choose an action which would satisfy both of her dilemmas. "Yang," she soothed, "don't say that. You're not one-dimensional, not at all. If anything, you're the most interesting person I know and the most caring, too. Without you, our team would have fallen apart multiple times over. I doubt Ruby would be as great of a leader as she is if she didn't have your guidance growing up and I know for a fact that if you weren't there for me when we were chasing Torchwick, I could have gotten myself killed.

"All of us are lost, Yang—everyone on Remnant is—but it's okay if we don't know what we're doing or where we're going at the moment because if we continue working toward finding out, we'll eventually get wherever we need to be. You were the one to show me that. I'm still holding on to White Fang ideals for whatever reason, and I'm trying to stop, but I still don't know what to do, either. Just because you feel worthless doesn't mean you are.

"Look at what you've accomplished. You've single-handedly raised one of the best huntresses and leaders I've ever met and you managed to keep her from the darkness of the world. You took what you learned from making your weapons and made an entire motorcycle by yourself—not only that, but you built a gyroscope to replace a kickstand simply because you felt like it. You've held our team together by keeping the mood light and, well, you've changed my life, Yang. You create things, give them life. Maybe you don't feel accomplished, but everyone around you is consistently impressed. Even Weiss, who tells us both how different she is from you, knows your value, and Ruby wouldn't even be here without you. You aren't worthless and you aren't one-dimensional. You're strong, brave, and an incredible partner."

Yang sighed. "Well, it certainly doesn't feel that way, that's for sure." She shook her head. "Sorry," she said before returning to her food. However, the enthusiasm with which she previously ate was gone and now she had only the energy to prod the fish. "It's just," she attempted but stopped. Again she shook her head. "I know I'm not worthless. That's not my problem. My problem is that I'm going to become worthless."

"I don't understand," said Blake. "What do you mean? You're going to be a huntress in a few years and you'll always be a sister to Ruby. If anything, that's guaranteed worth."

Tapping her plate in apparent thought, Yang looked to struggle with this concept. What was believed to be an admission of care now seemed like a call for help, one that was rescinded by the blonde's silence and was thus made all the more necessary because of it. This was the same fear that arose with their return from Sierra, the same fear that shed light on the pain of separation. This was not a question of self-worth nor was it a confusion of purpose as she had stated, but rather it was an irrational knowledge that at some indeterminate point in her future, the fire of her being would become irrelevant and flicker out.

Proving this point, the blonde looked up to her partner, a sad smile prevailing over underlying positivity, and said, "I know that, Blake. I know I'm going to mean something to you all, but I'm worried about myself. I know it sounds selfish when I put it that way, but it's something I have to watch out for. Apathy runs in my family, and if something goes wrong, I'm liable to break down just like my dad did."

She sighed. "Blake, ever since my mom passed away and my biological mother left, my dad hasn't been the same. I've told you a few things about him before, like how he's always happy to surprise me and Ruby and how he's absorbed in his work at Signal, but he really isn't the same anymore. He…sort of stopped caring about everything. He'd bury himself in his work, stop taking me and Ruby out, and he lost touch with a lot of his friends. He stopped being a parent because he couldn't handle it—at least, that's what I think—and he left Ruby to me. I was eight and he told me to raise a girl by myself right after my mom died. And then he had the nerve to keep giving us rules even though he'd never enforce them."

"I'm sorry, Yang." Blake frowned. "I didn't realize you had that much trouble."

Yang sighed. "You know, it really wasn't that bad. I mean, my dad's still a great guy even if he's not entirely there anymore. He'd probably want to meet you and Weiss if he ever cared enough to get away from Patch, but I think that's a long ways off. A long, long ways off."

"Still, it sounds terrible. I'm sorry your family had to go through that."

"It's all right, Blake." An attempt was made on the blonde's part for a smile, but the resulting action was piteously telling of the trepidation that still lingered. "I know I'm not worthless. I just need to make sure that when Ruby has to leave, I'll be okay. I just don't want what happened to my dad to happen to me, so I'll have to be aware about it." She would pause and form a genuine smirk before concluding, "At least I'll have you by my side."

Though the sentiments of the present were still hovering above this conversation like buzzards ready to drop, the assurance was calming to a degree. Blake smiled back and allowed Yang to continue her meal. She was distressed quite obviously and had likely been this way for a while without Blake's awareness, but something about the way she moved, something about the way she frequently glanced up at the Faunus for affection as she ate like she had been starved, communicated that improvements were being made slowly, painfully.

Even still there was remaining pain which spawned from their argument and the words Blake had spat. It was likely that the argument would never be forgotten and it was doubtless that the hard feelings had not entirely passed. Perhaps now was the time for further apology and understanding, Blake reasoned. When next the blonde chose to glance at her partner, Blake made it a point to smile even wider than she usually did, hopefully communicating that she had something to say. Upon seeing this, Yang paused. "Yang, I'm sorry about what I said. I overreacted and I told you things I did not mean. Whatever I said to hurt you and cause these present feelings was horrible of me. You're not worthless and you will never be. It may not feel like it at times, but you are a tremendous help to everyone around you."

"I know," Yang responded with a whisper. "But I don't want to become my dad."

For this, Blake could only raise an eyebrow.

"He fell apart after everything happened. I really can't blame him for it, though, since it hurt me, too, but it was tough dealing with him after that. He'd start going into school earlier and earlier and come home way too late, and eventually it was like me and Ruby didn't even exist—it was like we were already lost causes." She made a small noise and set her chopsticks down, staring at them somberly. "I had to fight him about that part."

"You don't mean—"

"Punching and stuff? No, not fighting like that. Even if he was indifferent, he was still a hunter and my dad." She shook her head. "No, I had to yell at him because mom wasn't around to do that anymore. I had to tell him that just because he was in pain didn't mean that he could forget about Ruby. He used to walk her to school while I walked with my friends, but after everything happened, I had to bring Ruby with me because he started forgetting her. And then I had to learn how to cook because he started coming home too late and I had to take care of Ruby by myself. I was eight, Blake, and I had to yell at my dad because he wasn't doing a good enough job."

In an instant, Blake lost her appetite. She set her chopsticks down as well and watched as Yang composed herself with no outward expression. The story told was darker than expected—truthfully, disgusting—and hearing it only made the Faunus' heart ache more. Yang had considered Blake to be family, or at least she had said so in the crowd. Now Blake knew that she would be the second member of the blonde's tenuous family to betray her. Betrayal—that was what had caused her own reaction to Yang's assistance. In kind, Yang likely feared her partner's abandonment which would likely cause a collapse into told apathy and perhaps previously witnessed auric glaciation.

"Yang," Blake began quietly, "what I said to you was wrong. All of it was. I completely overreacted and I didn't realize how badly my words hurt you."

"It's all right, kitten. You didn't hurt me much. Really, I think I hurt myself more than anything else. I don't care about words—words are just that—but seeing you in pain, seeing Ruby be neglected or antagonized, that's what gets me mad. That's what hurts. I didn't want to yell at you, but I had to so I could keep you from hurting yourself. I don't think that was very big of me to do, but I needed you to snap out of it just as badly as you needed it. But when you said that you'd be fine without me, I thought I'd lost you. I'm glad it's not like that, but I thought it was, I really did.

"And I know you meant what you said and I know you didn't mean any harm by it. It's just that I wasn't strong enough." Yang sighed. "No, that's not it. I think we were both a mess after that protest."

"Yeah," Blake agreed simply.

"I don't want to become my dad, Blake. I don't want to break down after graduation. Really, I just want time to stop so we can all be kids forever. I want to be with you all summer and watch Ruby smile and come to understand that Weiss isn't going to hurt her. I want to go out on the town every day and see the side of you that nobody at Beacon could have ever believed. And then I want to come home every night and just fall asleep, knowing that you'll be with me when I wake up. I know that after this summer, things are going to be different, one way or another, and I don't want that. I just want what we have now, but forever."

"You're afraid of growing up?"

Yang shook her head. "I'm like you, Blake; I didn't get to have a childhood. I've always been irresponsible, but for some reason, I keep getting responsibilities put on me anyways. And I know that at any moment, all those responsibilities could fall on top of me and hurt everyone that I'm supposed to take care of—you, Ruby, dad." The blonde gave a haggard smile. Within her lilac orbs, however, a flame still smoldered, giving this expression a sense of hope that was focused entirely on her partner. "No, I'm not scared of growing up. I've already done that. I'm just looking for stability, something to keep me from breaking down."

Blake smirked back, hoping to rekindle that fire that so subtly burned and see the blonde shine as she often did. It hurt to see Yang in pain—it was unnatural for who she was—but Blake knew that this pain was good. She knew that this pain would only lead to recovery. "Well," she offered, "if you ever need help…"

"I know, kitten. I know you'll be there. You always are."

Again, Yang would return to her meal, her thoughts preoccupied with rebuilding her façade and her lips turned unwittingly downwards. It was a sad sight to the Faunus, one which only reminded her of her own lost appetite. The food had been excellent and worthy of praise to the blonde for picking such an establishment, but for the moment, praise would overpowered by darker sentiments.

Now that Yang had assumingly accepted Blake's apology, she appeared ready to move forward with their relationship. Unfortunately, continuation would perhaps be ill-mannered at this point in time. While Yang may have been comfortable with their current level of apology, the two had only grown doubtful of their own worth. Hearing of the blonde's life and her disdain for abandonment only made Blake increasingly aware of her infractions' results. She had threatened to leave Yang like so many others had before and she had claimed the blonde to be worthless when truly so many depended on her. This figure who now avoided conversation and chose instead to eat quietly was not a confident figure; it was not Yang. And yet this really was Yang, or at least the version of her that Blake had broken and driven into an unprecedented cold. She was not confident or brave at this moment; she was frightened, worried beyond reasonable measure. In a way, she was like the Blake who had recently escaped the White Fang and who doubted her decision profusely.

But the organization had been their problem all along. The White Fang had been the cause of most of the team's troubles over the past year, ranging from the incident at the pier to the unending recollections of a traumatized deserter, and this trend looked only continue, regardless of their multiple defeats. The knowledge that Blake had aided them and, more recently, sympathized with their cause was telling of an already opposed indoctrination, and it was this indoctrination which had caused her to yell at Yang. The organization had torn Blake from her parents, exiled her from normal social interactions, taught her how to kill and how to lead others towards killing, and they continued to tear away at her newfound peace.

The goals of unification and equality were simply common sense to Blake. Humans and Faunus were only separated because of a single genetic trait, and even then, the two species spoke the same language, held the same standards, and looked largely similar. Job opportunities and general respect from one person to another should have been entirely equal under the duress of the larger impending Grimm War. Safety was a basic right to any civil being, regardless of biology. Unfortunately, these tenets were ubiquitous to neither society as a whole nor the current White Fang, leaving the world in petty turmoil over something morally simple. Blake fought for these ideals and the White Fang who she had believed would, too, but the longer she stayed with the organization and the longer she fought against them, the clearer it became that unity and equality were notions long past.

She still hoped that within the ranks of the organization there might be someone who remembered the creeds and ethics which guided them well, and she hoped that at some point in her future, she might find reason to argue on the side of the protest, but no longer would she be driven by this hope alone. Now her hope rested with Yang and with Team RWBY. Her hope was that, as a huntress, she could better the world through direct merits and counteract the toxic propaganda which had led her astray. Moreover, her hope was that their most recent argument and all its causes and effects might be washed away by the tides of change and forgiveness. Perhaps she could stand beside Yang in the years to come and perhaps they could reverse the stressors which acted from their pasts. Perhaps Blake could learn to move on with her life and learn to be brave and confident like Yang. But in order to do so, she realized, she needed to take the first step.

Yang still seemed distressed, obviously concerned about the basis for their relationship. It was likely that she believed Blake hated her despite the assurances towards the exact opposite. The blonde had lost too many and had been burned the same, so to hurt her even further was simply vile. She and Blake were kindred spirits bound by loss and their searches for happiness. Together, they found peace. Unfortunately, it had been the White Fang and their collective pasts which now pulled them apart. For this, Blake sighed wearily as she finally came to terms with what she needed to say before reaching across the table to find Yang's hand.

Immediately, the blonde ceased all movements and looked to her partner with saddening fear. With a single brush atop her knuckle by a caring thumb, this expression thankfully relaxed to expectant patience. Blake observed the cold in her teammate's hand and knew that an inner storm raged on in the blonde's mind. She needed reassurance, and frankly so did Blake. The Faunus sighed, gripped her girlfriend's hand for support, and began. "Yang," the girl in reference met the uncertain amber gaze, "I…I think I'm done with the White Fang. I think I'm done with them forever."

Though the blonde did not truly smile, she certainly appeared to. The cold of her hand vanished for the characteristic warmth and the infectious energy which Blake loved dearly. "You…you mean you aren't going to go back to them?"

Blake gripped the hand tighter, validating her own promise and warming Yang in kind. "Yeah. I believe so. I've waited my entire life for them to be the good guys again. I fought alongside them in the hope that if ever their path was made clear, it would be easier for them to do the right thing. But now I know that they are lost and will never find themselves again. The White Fang of my childhood is gone now and there's no use waiting for them to come back. I need to move on, Yang. I shouldn't cling to the past and its mistakes, and though it's difficult to do, I think I'm ready.

"No, I won't return to the White Fang, even if they do decide to reform. My time with them is over and going back would be wrong. I have too many bad memories about my time and I'd rather not subject myself to that pain again." The Faunus smiled, proudly and encouragingly. "I'm with you now, and Ruby and Weiss. I'll change the world at all of your sides and I'll be there for you whenever you need me."

A smile fluttered at the corner of Yang's lips, appearing and disappearing in rapid succession as she took in this information. "You'd do that for me?"

Blake nodded. "Absolutely. You mean too much to me for anything else. I'm sorry about our argument and I regret everything I said. I promised that I'd never leave you, and now I'm certain that I can fulfill that agreement. No protest or terrorist group will stand in our way. You're the best friend I've ever had, Yang, and the most important thing in my life. I'm sorry I ever doubted you, and I'll never leave you again."

The response Blake was given was that of a nod and a smile, one in the latter regard which was observably strained and uncertain until a punctuating squeeze to the blonde's hand made clear the Faunus' convictions. At this, Yang's smile widened considerably and she squeezed back. "I believe you," she said. "Thanks, Blake."

The Faunus' expression softened while Yang's own grew. It seemed as though recovery would be an inevitable effect to her apology, not only for the blonde, but for herself as well. With her own words, a weight of significant memory had been lifted and now the fog of their future seemed to clear, defining the radiant path set before them and the golden end they might reach. As the fire in the lantern flickered in the wind, a veritable hearth burned within Yang's grinning eyes. She was happy—happy to live, happy to be of assistance, and happy to be in Blake's company—and all of this emotion was communicated through her ensnaring irises and affectionate warmth. Though Blake tried to pull her hand away, Yang held tight, a need for her partner evident in her mirth. The Faunus accepted and held tight, too, sending back her reason and knowledge that would assure Yang that they would be all right together.

Their argument was over. Memories would linger and pains would exist, but the memories would become benchmarks and the pains critiques. A fantastic light illumined the darkness of Blake's time-torn heart and as well assuaging shadows settled the fears of Yang's over-enthusiastic mind. The sushi had been forgotten and Blake's appetite repaired, and now all they could do was thank each other with silent stares and minor ministrations. The White Fang was gone from their lives, they were still together, and Yang knew Blake was sorry. Truly, this was amazing.

Minutes innumerable would pass the two by as Blake found herself giddily enthralled by the lilac orbs which reacted in kind. Between them, all sense of reality was gone, the crashing waves and light chatter acting as but a backdrop to their own devices. Life had never been about either girl due to responsibilities and obligations taking precedence over personal happiness, but now Blake felt free. She felt as if the entire universe was fit to accommodate herself and Yang—a binary system of balanced light and shade around which the whole of human creation revolved for their selfish needs. But this was fine, this selfishness. This selfishness was love, and it was this love which told the two of their worth. The Faunus who had fought and lost, who had run away continually, was now home and found the comfort she had set out for. The blonde who had given her life to support those without meaning, those without joy, without even a second of hesitation now found her own meaning and happiness which had osmotically diminished. Together, they were happy, resulting in a glint in the blonde's eye and a flutter in the Faunus' heart.

Eventually, the waiter would return, silently interrupting the couple and in turn causing Yang to blush. However, Blake neither paid him any heed nor worried about why the blonde blushed, instead admiring the beautiful sight that she could call her own. Even flustered by probable surprise, Yang was able to afflict Blake with a longing for affection which had previously not existed. She wanted to hold Yang close and claim her as her own, but Blake would be content to simply watch her pay the man.

When Yang turned back to her girlfriend, the brilliant blush faded and a more confident expression came about. She smirked. "Whatcha looking at?"

She was attempting to fluster Blake as well, her show of supposed weakness apparently requiring emulation, but Blake would not budge. Instead, the Faunus smirked back, her expression less teasing than it was elated. "You know exactly who I'm looking at."

Upon realizing that teasing would not work in this present moment, Yang moved for open exuberance, grinning widely and proudly. "You bet I do!" The two then exchanged low chuckles as the waiter promptly returned and handed Yang her receipt. She briefly flashed her smile at him and they exchanged thank-yous before she returned her attention to Blake. "Hey, kitten? Before we head home, there's something I want to do first."

"Okay," Blake assented.

"Wait. Don't you want to know what it is first?"

Blake shook her head. "I'll find out eventually, won't I? Either way, I see no protests in our vicinity, so I doubt we're in any danger—well, any real danger." She knew Yang had a scheme in mind that had the same miniscule slant of irrationality that Blake had grown to accept. Regardless of what the plan entailed, Blake would accept unconditionally because this was Yang she was dealing with.

"You really are the best, Blake." The blonde laughed to herself. "Shall we?"

Without another word, the two stood, hands still intertwined and happiness positively radiating from their appearances. To Blake's limited surprise, Yang did not lead her towards the restaurant's accepted exit nor the esplanade and Bumblebee, but instead the blonde moved outwards, away from the cabana under which they sat and towards the shore.

With her one free hand, Yang began to unbuckle her boots, causing Blake to roll her eyes and immediately realize what had been planned. They were heading towards the water and that was all she needed to know. Whatever specifics Yang intended for the nearing tide, they were undoubtedly playful and entirely impulsive, but Blake had assented and she truthfully did not want to go back on her word. It could be fun, she reasoned. There was bound to be a rough night ahead with the storm on the horizon, so perhaps a bit of late-night frivolity could lessen the impending impact.

Through the low blanket of grey, the moon did not shine, yet a light was cast by the warm glow of the restaurant which brightened the nearby sand. Blake did not need this light to see the wash of the waves crawl quickly closer or to know that a storm was on the horizon. This light was for Yang, the girl who had braved the shadows and had come out exhilarated. By the time the blonde had forsaken her shoes, the chatter of the cabanas and the bustle of the service was overpowered by the breaking of the waves. With childlike glee, Yang abandoned her socks and left them in a haphazard pile behind her. It was strange, but in seeing her this happy and knowing that their argument was over, Blake felt compelled to do the same. She shook her head. No, she felt enthused to do the same and had given her word.

Suddenly, Yang felt her partner's hand leave her grip. She looked back to the Faunus, frightened by the mere thought of disagreement, but thankfully she found that Blake was retrieving the scattered belongings and was removing her own as well. The girl in black smiled and waved her on, saying that she would only be a minute—a fact that was somewhat of a relief.

The blonde then gazed out at the ocean and moved forward, undeterred. The shadowy blackness that echoed onto the horizon was a daunting sight indeed which inspired a sense of awe and could easily make a person realize her relative insignificance in this big world inundated by war and hatred. However, Blake was not mad at her and they were still together, so everything would be all right. Truthfully, the scope of the ocean and the world beyond were not her primary concerns as much as her own indecision was. The shocking cold of the bay's water was able to calm and distract her mind for the most part, but even still her thoughts raced.

A million questions surged endlessly throughout the blonde's mind. Considerations as to the hows and whys and whats pertaining to the impending speech and question bounded uncontrollably, leaving her panicked beneath her façade. How would she word it? Was now the right time? What would Blake say? Would they argue if she said "no?"

Yang waded further out until she could feel the ebbing pull of the world and the forceful push of its tide wash away all of her doubts. It was dark out, similar to how her thoughts were at that moment, but it was also peaceful and quiet, settings that Blake had taught her to enjoy. How she loved that girl. Where there had once been no assistance or gravity, Blake was there to calm her and provide reason when emotions ran amok. She was a steadfast ally and a force of moral righteousness. She was a friend like no other and an inspiration to Yang's conscience. She was a strong warrior, a brilliant mind, and a beautiful Faunus—it was no doubt that Yang would ask. Now the dilemma rested in Blake's eventual hands as to whether she would accept. This thought alone elevated a heart rate and hastened one's breathing, and though the sand and water cooled her mind, cold feet was Yang's current predicament.

Suddenly, she found a hand entwine with her own and a smiling Faunus standing proudly by her side. Those amber gems which had meant the world now glistened in that adorable way they did, causing every worry and doubt in Yang's mind to simply vanish. She made her decision.

It was a curious expression that Yang held. She looked as if she was smiling, but her lips turned downwards into something of a frown. She seemed contemplative but at the same time assured of herself. Perhaps this was hesitance, some lingering fear from their argument? It was doubtful that this was the case, but Blake leaned against her arm regardless and sighed at the warmth she was met with.

It was calm out here amidst the surf. The wind was tepid and perilous, evident of the approaching storm, but it was also soothing in a way when compared to the water's cold. It felt good to be here, beside Yang and at the beach, even if this visit was not going as expected. She had imagined a trip to this location would include the whole team as would be characteristic of her assumptions for a summer break, but she would accept this intimate situation nevertheless. After all, Yang's plan had resulted in something vaguely dangerous but altogether relaxing. Standing beside her in the moving swell, feeling the sediment and cold lave past their legs, Blake knew that the world was against them and that they were against the world. Looking out into the infinite darkness before them which even night vision could not penetrate inspired awe at the daunting tasks ahead and the incomparable triumph they would together reach. Blake smiled. A storm was coming and she stood with Yang—there was nowhere else she would rather be.

A threatening growl rumbled in the distance. Even before the phobic effects could take hold, Blake felt a comforting squeeze to her hand. "It's all right, kitten," Yang assured, staring at the faraway disturbance. "Just look at it. It's no harm from here. It's just beautiful."

Blake nodded and forced herself to gaze at the storm. At the edge of what was believed to be the horizon, a flurry of lights gamboled across the clouds. Arcs of yellow and orange and flashes of white lit the water in an entrancing show, yet it was the thunder thereafter and the quiet snarls which the lights did produce that frightened the Faunus. She did not wince, however, because Yang was here and the White Fang was gone. She did, admittedly, lean closer into her partner's form, but she continued to stare without hesitation at the source of her fear.

"You mean a lot to me, Blake," Yang would eventually whisper, planting a kiss beside the Faunus' traits. "You mean the world. When you came into my life, I thought you would be just like…I thought you'd be dull. But I don't think I've ever been more wrong in my life. When you asked me out, I nearly had a heart attack, I was so happy. Every day since then has been the best day of my life and right now is the best time I've ever had. It's all because of you, Blake. You're seriously the smartest person I know, even more than some of the professors. You talk about stuff I can't even begin to understand, but you explain it so well that I can get mad alongside you or excited when you're happy.

"You've got a great head on your shoulders, too. You're more stubborn than I am about some things, but you manage to be in the right about it most of the time. You know why someone's doing something wrong and how it's going to hurt someone else, and that's really incredible that you can care for people like that. I can only take care of Ruby, and even then, I'm not too great of a sister—first I let her get kidnapped and then I went off on Weiss for liking her. But you? You're fighting for an entire people and making sure they can live the lives they want. That's…that's noble, Blake."

The blonde then laughed lowly, drawing the watchful gaze of her partner. "And you're the cutest thing ever. Every time you smile, you make my heart stop. Every time you laugh, all those butterflies inside me just…I don't know, explode? That might not be the most romantic thing ever, but that's what it feels like." She shook her head. "Whenever I can stand beside you or have you in my arms, it's like nothing else matters and we'll be kids forever. Time stops when I'm around you, Blake. You really have been the highlight of my life, and I just want to return the favor in any way I can. I love you, Blake Belladonna, and I…"

Yang then paused to look through her jacket's pockets. Her search was initially calm, as though she were at ease with her action despite the bead of sweat running down her forehead, but as she continued her search, her movements became quickly panicked. It seemed as if something was missing with the way she was rummaging about herself. Every pocket on both her jacket and belt was tried until eventually she gave up and released a frustrated groan. "Yang?" Blake would ask to this. "What's wrong? Are you missing something?"

With a dejected sigh, the blonde shook her head. "No, it's nothing," she mumbled. "I'm just making sure I didn't lose my key."

She was lying, Blake believed. About what, however, the Faunus could not be sure. Regardless, the absence of a house key was still a troubling matter, even if the statement was a blatant cover-up. "Well, did you find it?"

"Yeah," she grunted.

Something was going on with her, but it did not seem as if the problem was readily hurting her. Rather, she was simply disappointed in herself, therefore leaving this problem to be a minor inconvenience in a time of happiness. As such, Blake caught the blonde's reddish gaze with a sympathetic smile before she leaned upwards and pecked her cheek. "Whatever's going on, Yang, I'm sorry about it. I love you, too, and I promise I'll never leave you."

Yang would sigh one last time before she brought her expression to a genuine smile. "Yeah, I know you will, kitten. You're great like that." Blake leaned into her shoulder, tucking her head under the blonde's chin and finding her sincere warmth again. "Thanks for everything, Blake."

The two would continue to stand there, simply staring off into the void of shadow and flashing lights as the tide moved out and the storm moved in. Thunder would be a distant occurrence but one Blake would keep in mind. However, her attention was focused solely on her girlfriend who she had wronged so grievously two weeks ago. There would be scars, of course, but it had been their first argument and there were bound to be more in their future. But that did not matter now. No, all that mattered now was Yang's presence and the White Fang's permanent absence. Both girls harbored pain alone, but when they were together—when they stood at the foot of a storm and against the world—there was nothing but joy. The storm was coming; it was inevitable. For the moment, however, these two would rejoice.

---

From blooming high rises to the darker squalors and from the sandy shores to the terminal boundaries, rain now fell on the city of Vale. Though the torrents had not arrived and though the thunder did not yet crash, the storm was doubtlessly here. Occasional gusts sent the rain to knock at the nearby windows and otherwise patter atop the roof, creating a false assumption of serenity and quiet. Still, the noise was presently comforting to the young Faunus who rested beneath her girlfriend's blanket with a book in hand. No longer did she frown at her novels as she had at Beacon. Instead, an invisible smile refused to leave her countenance at her most recent apologies, abandonments, and successes. She was content to be here, content to be under the protection of the sisters' home and in Yang's bed, simply waiting for the blonde to return.

However, as Yang finished her nightly routine, Blake would patiently enjoy the novel that she had neglected ever since their relationship began. It was odd how easily she had given up reading for Yang. Of course, it is not to say that she had given up reading altogether or minded this change at all; rather, she observed that her frequency of reading and her affinity for companionship were inversely proportional to one another. Where literature had once been her escape from the world's problems, both internal and external, and was a means for passing the time when else there was nothing to do, she found that the medium became but a hobby with this new lack of problems and consistency of friendship. She did enjoy this book, but it had been only one of a small library she brought with her and it had been the only book she had attempted this summer. Moreover, she was yet halfway through it.

"Hey, Blake?" Yang called from somewhere in the adjacent bathroom. "I'm out of toothpaste. Do you mind if I borrow some of yours for tonight?"

Without much thought on the matter, Blake replied, "Sure. Will we need to go out and get more tomorrow?"

"Yeah, probably. We also need to get groceries and stuff. You wanna go?"

Though the blonde could not see it, Blake shrugged. "Sure. I don't see why not. It could be fun."

A short laugh would be Yang's chosen response, but nothing else came after. With a squeak and a hiss, a faucet turned on and Yang went about her business while Blake returned to her story. However, the Faunus' attention would never truly return to the narrative because she found a more interesting character invade her every thought. Instead of the depressed hero whose ever-so-tragic backstory consumed him to no end, she found herself thinking of a person so caught up in positivity and others' happiness that her own past could not faze her. Instead of a tale of vengeance that might cure the hero of his ailments, Blake thought of the girl whose existence was selfless and flippant. Instead of the White Fang, she thought about Yang with an excited smile.

The organization truly was gone from her life. They had the possibility to recover and were not a total aberration from their initial cause, but to Blake, they were simply wrong. At this point in time, they were the enemy and nothing more. Perhaps in the future, they might find new leadership, but even if they did, Blake had no intentions of returning. The Faunus were who she fought for, not the organization, and being a huntress beside someone like Yang would only mean protection for everyone, regardless of species. The memories still lingered, but they were now easier to ignore. She was with Yang now and had promised never to leave.

In a matter of minutes, the faucet would shut off and Yang would come into view, grinning widely and radiating palpable heat even from as far away as the door frame. She flipped the lights off, closed the door behind her, and made her way towards the similarly comfortable Faunus. Blake raised an eyebrow when Yang simply stopped beside the bed and smiled down at the bowless girl. She did not say anything at first, instead leaning down and placing a promising kiss atop Blake's forehead. It was now apparent to the Faunus that obligations were about to take hold of her partner and that this kiss was simply a means of appeasing potential disagreements. Still, she would not argue with the action because of the wonderful sensation it caused, but she did give an inquisitive look when Yang pulled away.

"I'm gonna be right back, kitten. I need to go check on Ruby and see how she's doing first, and then we can head off to bed." She smirked. "Sound good?" While this meant that the two would be away from one another for a few minutes, Blake understood the unfortunate necessity. The Faunus nodded, causing Yang's smirk to widen. "All right. Be right back!"

At this, the pajama-clad blonde all but skipped towards the hallway before exiting with a wink and an entirely unnecessary wave. Blake rolled her eyes. All of this operatic emotion caused by their momentary separation ("separation," of course, being an excessively dramatic word for this instance) was completely gratuitous but vaguely humorous in a way which does not make one laugh so much as it does lighten the mood.

Soon after, the door across the way opened with a creak and the light behind it spilled into the hall, causing Blake's unbound traits to perk and focus on the conversation. She did not perceive this occasion as eavesdropping by any means, merely care for Yang and her sister. "Ruby?" the blonde would ask, speaking at a volume that would only be used if the young girl was awake. A slight shuffling sound could be heard followed by Yang asking with an evident smile, "Hey, sis, what's up?"

"Nothing much!" the young leader chirped. "Me and Weiss—" She was suddenly stopped. "Sorry, Weiss and I were just talking about what we're gonna do tomorrow. How'd your date go?"

"Great!" the blonde responded. "We went to that sushi place I told you about."

"Aw, you should've brought me, too! Weiss, we need to go there sometime. I mean, it's a sushi place on the beach—like, on the sand! How cool is that?"

"Absolutely not," rejected the heiress. "Why you would voluntarily pay for food that will inevitably be covered in sand is beyond me. And besides, that's a terrible place to build anything unless your point is to have it wash out to sea."

Yang scoffed. "Suit yourself. That place is loads of fun. Like, we got a little boat with all kinds of sushis on it—"

"Sushi," Weiss corrected. "It's a mass noun and is grammatically singular."

"Yeah, whatever. So, they set you up at this small table—usually, only couples go there—and they put a lantern between you when you sit down. It's really sappy stuff, but man is the food good."

"Really?" asked Ruby. "What'd you have?"

Again, Yang scoffed. "I told you already! We got a boat."

"A boat?" Weiss asked, deadpan.

"Yes, Weiss, I ate a boat. You know, the cannons were a little overdone and I think I still have a bit of mizenmast stuck in my teeth, but overall, that had to be the best boat I sank in years."

At this, both Ruby and Blake began to laugh, the former at a more enthused volume because of Weiss' probable expression while the latter simply giggled so to avoid interrupting their conversation. Blake closed her book and focused the all of her attention on the scene in the other room. Mostly, she would admit, this was simple anticipation for Yang's return overpowering her want to read, but she also did enjoy the interaction between Yang and the newer couple.

"I hope you get scurvy," Weiss said.

"Sounds like someone's jealous that they didn't get to have a romantic dinner on the beach."

"Why are you even here?"

A smile could be clearly heard in Yang's voice, one that was no longer teasing or vindictive towards the heiress but instead one that was sincere and excited. "No reason. I'm just checking up on you two, seeing if you're okay before I head in."

"We're doing fine," assured Ruby. "We're probably gonna head in pretty soon, too. Hey, how's Blake doing, by the way? Did you…"

"Almost," Yang sighed. It was then that Blake's curiosity piqued, being that this conversation, like the one a week prior to Yang's birthday, likely had the potential for importance. As such, her hearing sharpened and her mirth momentarily fell away for critical observation. "I almost did, but I kinda…forgot it."

"You forgot it?" Ruby exclaimed. "How do you forget something like that?"

"I don't know! I just did! Look, I carry it with me every day, and I was absolutely positive I had it. I even did everything perfectly and said everything that needed to be said."

"But you forgot it." For some reason, the young girl sounded disappointed.

"Yeah. I still have it, though. I just forgot to bring it with me."

Now it was Ruby's turn to sigh. "Yang, you're only hurting yourself by doing this. It can wait, you know? You don't have to do it this summer. Just wait a while! It'll probably be better that way."

"I know, Ruby. I just think it's the right thing to do, though. If I don't do it soon and something happens to one of us—"

"Don't think like that," Ruby interrupted, her tone reassuring and strong—just like her sister's, if Blake was to muse. "You'll be fine. We'll all be fine. The only way you're going to get hurt is if you keep thinking about this and don't do anything. Do something for yourself for once, Yang. Do something that makes you happy."

"Um, excuse me?" Weiss cut in. "Is there something I'm missing here?"

Her response came in the form of a ragged exhale from the blonde. "It's nothing," Yang said. "Don't worry about it. If you really have to know, then Ruby can catch you up to speed, but it's kinda personal." She paused a beat. "And Ruby…thanks for saying that. I think I know what I'm gonna do now."

"Anytime!" Ruby chirped, causing a slight chuckle from Yang.

"All right, sis, I'm gonna head in. Are you two gonna be okay?" Her response came in the forms of an enthusiastic assurance from her sister and a metered promise from the heiress. "Good to hear. Don't stay up too late, all right? Love you, Ruby."

"Love you, too, Yang!"

Yang then regarded the heiress with a curt but not at all hostile, "Weiss."

"Yang."

At this, the door to Ruby's room was closed and the blonde let out another sigh. Unlike those previous, however, this was more so telling of Yang's exhaustion than composing. A chuckle emanated from the warm figure before she turned and moved back into Blake's sight.

The Faunus welcomed her weary, obviously distressed girlfriend back with a loving smile. It was a great thing Yang was doing, checking on her sister. It was an action no one had done for Blake at any point during her affiliation with the White Fang. However, now it was Yang's turn to be taken care of, and as she lumbered towards the bed, Blake moved her book to sit beside her weapon on the nightstand and opened a space in the covers for her girlfriend. Just as quickly as this space was made, Yang flopped face-down into it with a groan.

"Tired?" Blake asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to tease Yang nevertheless. She received no verbal response, instead finding the blonde head slide over to her and come to rest in her lap. A pained groan was heard. "It seems so," she joked, running a hand up the wild mane and back down again along Yang's spine. This elicited a contented hum and a nuzzle into the Faunus' legs. Yang was cute like this, Blake would muse, tuckered out and craving of any sort of affection. She realized suddenly that this was a monologue more characteristic of Yang's diction than her own, but she did not really care. Instead, she simply smirked at the form curling tiredly at her legs.

Eventually, Yang would realize that this position was inopportune for sleep, causing her to move off of the bed and then back under the covers to rest her head against Blake's shoulder. When the Faunus turned to look down at the blonde form, she found amethyst eyes dazzling up at her. "Are you going to be all right tonight?" Yang would ask. "The storm's probably going to roll in pretty soon."

Blake placed an arm around her and pulled her close, leaving the blonde's head at her chest and the strong arms which had been the Faunus' summer-long comfort wrapped around her waist. "As long as you're here, I feel safe."

"Ditto that, kitten." Yang smiled into her partner's sleepwear, laughing a quiet laugh as she found a spot beneath Blake's chin. "Thanks for…Well, thanks for doing all you do. I know I can be a pain to deal with sometimes and I know you'd rather be alone—"

"No," Blake cut in, "I don't want to be anywhere else other than here."

Again, the blonde laughed. "Still, I know how you don't like the crowds and situations I more or less force you into, so I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for dragging you through that protest. That was…bad. That's something I don't think I'll ever let myself live down, but I'm glad it's over and I'm glad we're still together."

"Me too." They were once more returning to their apologetics, scrambling for safety and security in their relationship as they tried desperately to ward off the past. But this was a futile effort, Blake realized. Their past was behind them and their future together would only be strengthened by their combined happiness, not their sorrow. As such, the Faunus held her girlfriend close, wrapping both arms around her shoulders and nuzzling into her golden hair, kissing the errant cowlick and taking in the lavender scent of home. "I'm sorry, Yang," she would mumble through her caress. "You did nothing wrong."

"Neither did you, kitten. It was all just a mess." To Blake's chagrin, the blonde escaped her clutches and moved to sit beside her. "I'm sorry," she said again, lilac pleading with earnest amber. "I love you, Blake. I promise I won't do anything like that again."

Perhaps it was due to the present happiness Blake felt about her situation—her long-awaited abandonment of lingering White Fang affiliations and the acceptance Yang had given her after two cold weeks—or perhaps it was due to the sheer frequency of the apologies given on this day, but Blake chose not to use her words as a response. These words which had both eluded and saved her over the past ten years or even another "I love you" could simply not suffice for the adoration Blake held for her partner. Instead, she moved to capture Yang's lips in her own, surprising the blonde and grinning into the embrace.

Though Yang was initially caught off guard by the action, she quickly melted into it, sighing gently as she closed her eyes and leaned into the embrace. Blake's hand found her partner's back and Yang's caressed the aquiline jaw, drawing the Faunus closer until their beings melded as one. Yang felt the need to burst into tears, to sob uncontrollably at the happiness of completion and the pain of destruction. It was a slow act they committed, a powerful act, one which was tender and caring but insistent and kind—it was a promise of acceptance to a question unasked and a light in the darkness of a future so frightful. Perhaps a tear was shed (if this was the case, then Yang would not mind), but the blonde would smile back, promising love a thousand times over and feeling Blake's own communicated in kind. It was possible, Yang believed, that the one her mother had spoken of, the one person in her life who would love her back unequivocally, was Blake—No! No, it was certainly Blake, and she knew this for a fact.

The Faunus would giggle as she pulled away, positively intoxicated by glee. In kind, Yang would come to rest her head on her pillow, gazing up at her partner dreamily. "What is it?" she'd ask. "What's so funny, kitten?"

In the Faunus' mind, the explanation seemed entirely unfunny in an objective sense but amusing to her addled self. Still, Yang had asked and the answer did concern her, leading to Blake's statement of, "You taste like mint."

Now it was Yang's turn to laugh, loudly but shortly. "Hey, don't blame me for your toothpaste."

"Blame? You make it sound like I'm upset."

"Wait. You aren't?"

"I'm amused, Yang. Tired and amused—delirious would be the better word."

Yang sighed in faux relief. "Oh, thank God. For a second there, I thought I'd have to apologize again. That doesn't get stale after the thousandth time."

Blake simply smirked back. "Are you ready to go to sleep?"

"Yup!" Yang chirped, repositioning the covers over herself and turning so she faced her partner entirely. "Hit the lights, if you wouldn't mind."

The Faunus leaned towards the nightstand that she had, two months ago, claimed as her own and switched off the lamp that sat upon it. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness and pulled whatever ambient light existed from within the house and beyond the rain-washed windows, she felt a languid arm snake around her side and a hand come to rest on her abdomen. She initially thought it a simple gesture of affection and familiarity, but such placid sentiments quickly fell to a suppressed yelp as the hand and arm forcefully pulled her back into Yang. Before Blake knew what was going on, a pair of grinning lips were grazing her human ear and her back was pressed snugly against the blonde's chest.

She tried to say something in response but was quieted by her partner's shushing. She was told to listen, and because it was Yang who told her to do so and because she loved this feeling of closeness, she complied.

Rain pattered against the window, tapping ceaselessly to an aimless beat. Patterns would be heard within the swelling assaults to the wind's harangue and as well in the momentary cease-fires as the wind took its breath. It was then that a low growl rumbled from the earth, from the sky, and from the very shadows still within Blake's heart, but Yang knew this would happen and held her close, radiating a prideful heat and using the all of her strength to ensure that the hold Blake was in would never cede. In her panic, Blake turned her head, desperate for assistance and found a sight which calmed her worries of both the present and the past.

Whereas Yang had been cold and icy upon her scorning and abandonment in the instance of inconsolability and shivering self-loathing, she now glowed in the night, her hair and the aura around her burning a peaceful amber. This aura, this vehement fire, was love, and as the Faunus gazed upon the golden form, the thunder could not scare her.

"Yang," she whispered, awestruck by the strength this manifestation must have required.

The fire did not torch nor did it singe. It burned without pain and flared with her kiss. "I love you, Blake. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, not anymore. And that includes me, too. For what it's worth, I'll be with you for as long as you need me, and I'll help in any way I can."

All Blake could do was smile. She had no response to give or any apt expression to show. She simply smiled and cuddled back against the flaming sight and allowed herself to adore the warmth. This was home. This was as far away from the White Fang as she could ever get and she was happy. The thunder growled again and frightened only her most immediate responses, leaving her mind rational and her body warm. This was comfortable—this was paradoxically the childhood she had been deprived of and the adulthood she had been promised.

She knew now why Yang feared the passage of time and why she clutched so desperately to her frightened partner. She was afraid that Blake would leave her. Even after all the apologies given and after the assurance of permanence, Yang was still uncertain. It was doubtful this thought would ever leave her because it was irrational and thus made every other rationale seem illogical. Yang was afraid that if time were to pass, her importance would fade and all those she held dear would leave her broken and cold. And though it was objectively doubtful that she would recover from this idea, Blake believed otherwise and would remain by her side as the years passed them by.

Within the arms of fire and gold, Blake felt her eyes droop and the compounding fatigue of the prior weeks' worry pull her into slumber. Her last memories of that night were of Yang, of her warmth, of her loving words, and of the disparate light which filled the room. Her eyes would close with a final whisper of love returned immediately after by her recipient, and the young Faunus would drift into the darkness of her contented dreamscape. The blonde behind her would grin widely at the girl who had helped her so. With a final kiss to the smiling cheek of her girlfriend, Yang followed suit, closing her eyes and nuzzling close, not letting any cold hurt her partner.

Unfortunately, with the transition from consciousness to unconsciousness of the emanating blonde came abdication. As her body rested and her mind went dormant, the aura which had required consistent care faded away entirely. The flames were gone, the room went dark, and the comforting warmth which had kept Blake calm was no longer as strong as it had been. As the storm rolled in, baring its lightning teeth and howling its haunting thunder, neither Blake nor her fragile psyche had any defense left. The storm approached, the second of its horrific kind for this summer, bearing far greater wrath to be wreaked upon an unguarded target. There would be no simple scare as there had been before. Rather, pain would prevail with no possible consolation.

---

And there's your cliffhanger for the time being. "The Storm: Part 2" looms in the distance as the thunder batters a sleeping Faunus' resolve. But, again, this will not occur until after Edelweiss chapter four is released (which I do not assume will take too long). I should probably also mention that I'm not titling the next chapter as such. Sorry for any disappointment that may have caused.

Now, before I remark on anything else about this chapter, I should mention that the subject of Ruby and Yang's conversation as well as Yang's action on the beach will be entirely up to your speculation. Though the answer is definite and, from my perspective, obvious, I must be evasive about it and refrain from confirming any assumptions as to what it all meant similarly to how I cannot speak of what was inside Ruby's present to Yang. I apologize for this silence, but I cannot say that I am sorry.

As for the change in mindsets that occurred within this chapter, contrasting the emotions at the end of this chapter with those at the end of the last, I can safely say that Blake and Yang have forgiven each other completely. However, this is not to say that this chapter was a happy one by any means. Rather, if one looks at the situation from Yang's perspective—from the perspective of a girl who will make others happy at the cost of her own wellbeing—it is a dark, desperate struggle for reunification. She did, of course, find her bearings by this chapter's end, but the journey to that point was one filled with façade smiles, tired sighs, and appeasing laughs. This is not to say that these were intended to fool Blake, but instead they were intended to fool the blonde, herself.

But this all spawns from her drive to avoid becoming like her father. With this chapter, Yang's relationship with her family is further elaborated upon and an a clearer description is supplied about her father who was referenced, however briefly, in chapter twelve. Normally, I do not enjoy stories with completely broken families, being that they were the only things people seemed to write about when I took Creative Writing courses. Needless to say, it was tiring after a while. There does, however, need to be some turbulence around these four and their parents, but having every single interaction be disjointed (like Weiss' family, as explained in Edelweiss) would just be trite. This leaves Yang's father to be a deplorable mess who more or less abandoned his daughters for grief alone, but he is by no means the story's main antagonist nor Yang's primary source of conflict.

Lastly, I should thank you all once again for reading. It really does mean a lot that you would take the time out of your day to read these chapters. I can imagine that the repetitions of this statement might not make sense to some of you, but just know that whenever a chapter of this story gets a hit past the first two, I get this surge of happiness that makes me feel important, if only for a second. So, thank you for making this writer's life worthwhile.

Four chapters remain.

Before I leave you all for this next pause, I should remark on the events which transpired during this past week at the time of this chapter's posting.

Even after walking the stages of grief, I find myself stranded in the mist of denial. To experience one with such a work ethic as Monty's and then learn of his passing is contradictory to all which is right in the world—it is as though progress should keep coming and the wheels should keep turning, but there is no engine to power what progress could be made. It feels like a paradox, as though a cruel prank is being played on me over something devastatingly real. It feels as if he isn't gone and that he might return at any moment, but this is textbook denial and ignoring it would be childish and antithetical to his ideals.

I never did have the pleasure of meeting Monty, but from what I know about him and what effects I saw that spawned from his creations, I am positive that he was nothing short of a creative leader to this community. From prompting confused YouTube comments as to how Halo characters could fight in the way they did to spurring an entire community into imagining what impossible weapon combinations might work well in the world of Remnant, Monty inspired concurrent childlike whimsicality and a creative drive which pushed the community towards following their dreams—two invaluable traits in this day and age. Truly, his role as an inspiration to many should not be overlooked. To me, he was a benchmark for productivity that I strive constantly to achieve. But even more than this, even more than a community leader, Monty was an artist.

An artist is succeeded by their work. Writers and painters and filmmakers and visionaries of all points in history live on through the works they create and the stories they tell. Monty's art was animation, and through his art, he told a story. It was a story of perseverance, of goodness, of strength in a just cause, and his message was successful. Regardless of your thoughts on his quality, his ideas in RWBY, Red vs. Blue, Dead Fantasy, and Haloid have affected the lives of many people, and to disregard this fact would be to diminish an artist's work and therefore an artist's life. His memory will live on through the art which has defined him and his stories will succeed him far past this day. It would not be a stretch to compare Monty to Shakespeare or Picasso or Haydn because his work showed prospect and he placed his art before all else. Through his productivity, his drive for excellence, and his far-reaching effects which resonated throughout the community, Monty bore the mark of greatness.

As I type this, I find myself lacking of words at this point. Truthfully, it feels as if he's still out there, tiring away at his keyboard while I simply peck at my own. It feels as if a brother has been lost, and in some ways, one has. He was a friend, mentor, and role model to this community and he will never be forgotten.

Farewell, Mr. Oum. You changed my life.

And to you all who read this, please stay safe. These are still rough times and emotions are getting the better of us. Even if you do feel fine and composed, make sure you are staying hydrated, well-nourished, and are getting enough sleep. Please take care.