Here you are, wonderful readers. Another chapter for you to enjoy. This one is slightly fast-paced, so you have been forewarned. Now, on to the chapter!
"You let her touch your ears?" Organza screamed, large green eyes wider than usual as she stared at her partner, slack-jawed. Loden was in the same state, having dropped his brush at the news. Eyelet was not surprised, her semblance having told her what would happen. She was definitely surprised that it had come true, though, leading to her also staring at her leader. "But you don't even let me touch your ears! The only one you let touch your ears is Eyelet!"
"She asked permission to touch them, though." Velvet pointed out. "Eyelet is the only one who has ever asked to touch my ears. It's customary to ask each time before touching a Faunus' heritage traits unless they give you complete permission to touch them whenever you want."
"I wish I'd known." Loden huffed, crossing his arms.
Organza laughed and said, "She's told you several times, Den. You're just absentminded and forgetful. I kinda just… stopped touching them, I guess. The more I got used to them, anyway."
"So, are you two going out again or just relaxing for a while?" Eyelet called, drawing quickly.
"Actually, she's taking me out Friday." Velvet replied, settling onto her bed and taking off her shoes. "Some club her partner suggested."
"Wow, you two have been going out a lot." Loden murmured. "I'm surprised you're even keeping up with your homework."
"Well, it's not like they go out every single day, Loden." Organza pointed out. "Mostly the weekends."
"True." Loden agreed, turning back to his mirror to try taming his hair. "Good luck on your date, then, Velvet."
"Thank you, Den." Velvet giggled, getting started on the aforementioned homework.
…
Blake and Velvet met outside of the dorm as they had last time, grinning when they spotted each other. Both of their teams were watching from the shadows, Organza and Yang trying to get as many pictures as they could while Ren fought to keep Nora quiet and Pyrrha, Weiss, Ruby and Loden cooed over just how cute their friends looked together.
"You look beautiful." Blake said softly, ducking her head shyly as a blush covered her cheeks.
"Thank you." Velvet laughed, beginning to walk toward the airships. "You look very nice as well. I love the purple halter."
"Yang picked it out for me." Blake chuckled. "And Ruby chose the leather knee-highs. Weiss figured that since my boots were so high, I should probably just wear shorts like I normally do. It was a… team effort."
"Mine too." Velvet told her. "Eyelet chose the dress, Organza gave me her favorite boots and Loden did my hair. He's got a talent for it."
"It looks lovely." The darker brunette murmured, allowing Velvet to step onto the airship first.
"Thank you." The rabbit-Faunus ducked her head as a soft blush painted her cheeks, her heart hammering at the news that Blake thought she looked lovely.
The pair sat on the airship in comfortable silence, waiting until the ship stopped in Vale. Velvet noticed the stares they were receiving from the gathered crowd inside of the ship, but Blake's presence beside her lessened how anxious they made her. Blake sent glares at anyone staring at them, promising a painful death to anyone who made a comment about their outfits. Many of the passengers hurried from the airship, not wanting to get caught by Blake.
Blake led Velvet through the city, following the directions Yang had gotten from her friends. Coming to a rundown building, Blake's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Tipping her head to the side to listen, Blake heard the sounds of a crowd cheering and shrugged. "It must be an underground club." She told Velvet, knowing that, with her more sensitive hearing, the lighter brunette had also heard the cheers. Walking over to the large, thick steel door at the entrance to the building, Blake took hold of the brass knocker and banged it three times at the door.
"Password!" a gruff voice called.
"Cadaver." Blake replied calmly.
The door opened and a large muscular woman allowed them entrance, quickly shutting the door behind them and resuming her position. Blake led Velvet further into the establishment, following the sounds of crowds coming from somewhere up ahead. Velvet heard them too and both of them emerged into a crowd surrounding a ring. Glancing at each other in confusion, the two huntresses-in-training strode forward, wanting to see what the fuss was about. Pushing to the front, Velvet stopped, her heart squeezing at what she found as Blake tensed completely, both watching in horror.
It was a man and a woman, both clad in loincloths as they circled each other. The man was sporting a long fox tail and the woman had lion ears atop her head. The two Faunus were locked in intense battle, clawing and biting at one another, trying to make the other give and submit to weakness. As Velvet and Blake watched, the woman's knee came up and slammed into the man's chest, winding him long enough for her to grab him by the tail and swing his body into the ground. Teeth glinted in the spotlight shining on the rink as the lion-Faunus descended on her prey, quickly ending the match with a powerful blow to the fox-Faunus' head.
Velvet moved closer to Blake as the crowd around them cheered and a few, dimmer lights came on so the owners could get their pets from the ring. Several of the humans glanced around, ready for the next fight while others excused themselves momentarily during the short break. Blake put an arm around Velvet, looking for the quickest way she could get them out of here. Her heart hammered in her ears, her entire body brimming with rage, fire engulfing her heart and venom pumping through her veins.
How could they? She thought desperately, fighting the infuriated tears threatening to spill from her eyes. How could they lose their humanity like that? Was the training really so tough that they would lose themselves to animal nature? We're Faunus! We aren't animals! A loud voice interrupted Blake's thoughts, catching her attention immediately as the voice was far too close for her liking.
"Hey, we've got an owner here too!" one of the men shouted, grabbing at Velvet. Immediately, Blake stepped in front of the rabbit-Faunus and slapped the man's hand away, amber eyes narrowed on him. Bile threatened to spill forth from her lips as she glared at the filthy man who had dared touch her girlfriend.
"Don't touch her." She snarled.
"Come on!" several of the spectators jeered. "I bet she'd catch a hefty bet. She looks nice and strong. You must work her well."
Blake's hands closed into fists, her eyes closing momentarily before she raced in a circle, using her clones to clear the space around herself and Velvet. Taking the rabbit-Faunus' hand, she guided her quickly to the door, slamming a hand into the bouncer's chest in order to get out. Velvet watched as Blake's head swung from side to side, her gaze searching for anyone that might try to hurt them as she hurried from the exit.
Making it out into the fresh air without any further incidents, Blake lifted Velvet into her arms and used her speed to race them several blocks from the Faunus fights. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew she had to get Velvet away from that place, as far away from it as she could. Coming to a stop in a park miles from where they started out, Blake set Velvet on a bench and knelt before her, taking the soft cheeks into her hands, amber eyes staring into brown.
"Did they hurt you?" she panted, tears pooling in her eyes.
"N-no." Velvet murmured, avoiding eye contact. She couldn't believe a place like that existed. It was horrible to see that man get beaten by the other Faunus girl, both of them having nothing but animalistic rage in their eyes. Her stomach lurched at the thought of what those humans could have done to her if she had gone alone…
Velvet started as a pair of arms wrapped around her tightly, Blake clutching her in a strong grip. "I'm so sorry." The brunette whispered. "I didn't know what that place was. I didn't… I would never take you somewhere like that if I knew."
Velvet returned Blake's embrace, the pair simply sitting in silence, providing each other with comfort over the experience. Blake's breathing gradually slowed down and Velvet's trembles died. Taking a deep breath, Blake asked, "I, uh, do you want to grab some ice cream instead? It might help you calm down…"
"Thank you." They stood and Blake went slightly ahead of Velvet, her eyes scanning for danger as she stopped in front of an ice cream parlor. Sitting Velvet at a table and asking her order, Blake made her way up to the counter. Velvet watched out the window, trying to ease the hurt and disgust constricting her chest. Is that how humans really see us? She wondered, sadness filling her stomach. Do they just see all of us as nothing but animals?
A shadow fell over her and Velvet started, glancing up to find Blake standing over her with their to-go orders in her hands. "I-I think it best if we head back to campus." The darker brunette murmured. "You… I want you to feel safer after seeing something like that."
Velvet simply nodded and accepted her treat, not knowing what to say in reply to that. She still had chills going down her spine at what had happened and her stomach was still roiling with fear at the images replaying in her head. Without realizing it, she finished her ice cream and simply chewed on the spoon, deep in thought. It wasn't until they stopped in front of Beacon Cliff that Velvet snapped from her stupor. "Are we too late for the airships?" she asked in confusion, cocking her head up at her companion.
"No." Blake replied. "I just… don't feel comfortable letting you near unfamiliar humans right now. Still tense, you know? Climb on."
Velvet lifted onto the taller woman's back and Blake hurried up the cliff face, leaping onto solid ground and jogging in the direction of the dorms. Velvet made to get down, but Blake held fast, her pace not slowing.
"Blake?" Velvet looked to the woman carrying her. "I can walk. The humans didn't hurt me."
"I know." Blake murmured, not slowing. She continued to the dormitories and finally set Velvet down in front of Team Vole's door. "I'm really sorry about tonight." Blake said softly. "I'll try to find a way to make it up to you. Good night, Velvet."
Before the rabbit-Faunus could say anything, Blake disappeared, racing down the hall and around the corner to her own dorm room. Fumbling with her scroll, the ninja quickly opened the door and hopped inside, closing the barrier with a sigh of relief, ears flattened to her head in sadness. Of course, this was replaced with something else seconds later as her teammates caught sight of her.
"So, how did the date go?" Yang cheered, striding over to the brunette excitedly.
Blake's eyes flashed angrily and she pulled Yang closer, amber eyes glaring into stunned purple. "Animal fights, Yang?" Blake growled, her eyes slits. "Animal fights? They were using Faunus!"
"W-what?" Yang gasped, her eyes wide. "I-I didn't know! I thought… I didn't think my friends would… I didn't know! Blake, I'm so sorry!"
Blake let go of her partner and sank onto her bed, her head in her hands. "I can't believe it." She mumbled, shaking her head. "I can't believe I took her to such a terrible place. How could people do that? She probably thinks I'm the worst person ever."
"Blake, relax." Weiss said, glancing to Ruby and Yang uncertainly. "I'm sure she knows it was a mistake. Maybe the two of you should meet tomor-."
There was a knock at the door and Ruby moved to answer it, finding Velvet on the other side. "H-hey, did Blake come here?" the rabbit-Faunus asked.
"Yeah, she's kinda torn up right now, but I think she'd love to see you." Velvet stepped inside and Blake lifted her head. Amber eyes widened and Blake stood, her form shaking slightly. The pair stared at each other uncomfortably for a moment. Weiss receded, not trusting herself not to make a snide remark and not wanting to make either of the two Faunus upset. Finally, the silence became too much.
"Velvet, I really didn't mean to take you there." Blake whispered. "I would never have taken you to such an anti-Faunus place if I knew-."
"Blake, it's okay." Velvet murmured. "Everyone makes mistakes."
"But they could have hurt you."
"They could have hurt both of us." The lighter brunette said softly, walking forward and taking the ribboned hands in her own. "You fought them off, though. You protected me. I'm safe because of you."
"Hey, Velvet?" Yang called, head lowered in shame. "I'm sorry too, for suggesting that place to Blake. From now on, before I suggest anything for your dates, I'll be sure to check it out first."
"Thank you, Yang." The rabbit-Faunus beamed.
"Y-you get pick of our next date." Blake told her, squeezing the hands in hers. "To make up for this time."
"Alright." Velvet beamed. "Would you like to go out tomorrow, then?"
Blake's lips tugged up in a smile. "I'd love to."
"Great. I'll see you at the dormitory entrance at eleven tomorrow morning." Velvet turned and headed for the door. "Good night, everyone."
"Good night, Velvet." The team called.
Velvet headed down the hall to her dorm room, smiling softly as she held a hand to her chest. The Faunus fights had terrified her, she wouldn't lie about that. She was actually afraid that Blake had taken her there to have her compete as well. Her heart was racing a mile a minute, but then…
Blake had looked so horrified. She was genuinely sorry that she had taken Velvet to such a place. And she knew that Velvet could protect herself, but she still fought off the humans and got Velvet to safety. Warmth spread in the rabbit-Faunus' chest as she remembered how worried Blake had been about her when they were in the park.
"She… truly cares for me." Velvet thought aloud, coming to her dorm room.
Entering the room, she found Organza waiting excitedly on the other side of the door. "How did it go?" the greenette demanded immediately. "Did you get to dance? Did any guys hit on you?"
Velvet's stomach churned in fright, remembering the 'club' she had gone to, but allowed thoughts of Blake to fill her head to calm her. "Uh, I'd… rather not talk about it." She murmured. "It wasn't really a Faunus-friendly place. When Blake found out, we left and went to get ice cream instead."
"Did someone try to fight you?" Loden growled, hand twitching slightly.
"W-well, not exactly." Velvet stammered. "The, uh, club was actually a Faunus fighting place."
"What!" her teammates shouted, Eyelet's head snapping up from her drawing. "Blake took you to the Faunus fights?"
"She didn't mean to!" Velvet told them hurriedly. "She and Yang had no idea that was what it was. Blake… when one of the humans tried to get me to fight, she attacked all of them to get me to safety. She was so worried about me. It was… different than anything I'd ever experienced. I really think she cares about me."
Eyelet relaxed back as Organza and Loden set about calming Velvet and settling down to study. Glancing over at the drawing she had created on Sunday, bright green eyes narrowed fondly as she observed the cat fighting off the large shadows. It looked ferocious and protective, standing defensively over the quivering rabbit under its belly. I think she really cares for you too, Velvet.
Okay, I really like writing for Eyelet and her semblance. I love Eyelet's semblance. Anyway, I hope it didn't go too fast for you, alligators, but scenes like that usually don't slow down until the danger has passed. Tell me what you think and drop a review. Don't feel comfortable with a review? PM me or message any of my media. See you in the next chapter, lovelies!