Sun took the stairs two at a time as he made his way back to the balcony around the dining hall. He looked over to the closed guest room door and thought about rejoining Kali and Ilia, but shook his head as he thought better of it. Instead, he made a right and began to wander down the hallways without a destination in mind. As he passed another branching hall, he stopped and strained his ears as an unfamiliar sound began to echo from outside the manor. Loud, muted rushing sounds pushed against the walls of the house and caused the wooden supports to groan gently as they were battered by high winds.
"…damn. Sounds like a storm's brewing," Sun mused to himself as he began to walk again. Another whistling rush of wind brought a sharper sound through the halls, and Sun shivered instinctually. "Really hope Blake gets home, soon…"
Sun rounded a corner and paused as he found the lights on in Ghira's office yet again. As though his body was on autopilot, Sun made a beeline for the door and gently slid back the paper, only to find Ghira sitting behind the desk with his elbows upon messy stacks of paper spread haphazardly around the wooden surface and his head in his hands.
"…feels like the only time I see you outside of here is when we're eating," Sun said softly as he closed the door behind himself. Ghira looked up, and frowned.
"That isn't the first time I've heard those words," he admitted as he leaned back into his chair. "If it isn't paperwork dealing with running this village or face-to-face talks with concerned citizens, it's a meeting with Corsac and Fennec. Their absence over the past few days speaks volumes about the White Fang, and what you and Blake told me. The two of them are not exactly skilled at damage control."
"Well, that makes our job easier, at least a little," Sun offered as he moved to sit on the corner of the desk, arms folded. The edge of Ghira's mouth pulled into a frown as he let out a contemplative noise, and he mimicked Sun's gesture.
"Slightly. Very, very slightly. You look well, Sun."
"I am. Well… other than the injuries and whatnot," he said with a grin.
"Mm. Kali filled me in on your outing. This Shoal woman sounds dangerous… and I don't just mean in combat," Ghira grumbled.
"Yeah, she is… but we'll handle it. Blake managed to get some evidence, and we're working to figure out what it all means."
"So I've heard," Ghira replied. "I've been working on an address to the public of Kuo Kuana for the past several hours, and this is only making it easier for me to find the words. Though… would you mind looking it over, once I've finished?"
Sun blinked in surprise, and pointed to his chest. "Me? Isn't Blake the more… words-y type? I mean, she reads constantly, so she could probably make it flow better than I could."
Ghira nodded. "True, but I'm not looking for grammatical assistance. Everything you do seems to be from the heart, and that is exactly what this speech needs to be."
Sun's grin only intensified at the words, and Ghira put on a smirk of his own. "Sure thing! Honestly, though, I think you'll do fine. You must be used to this kind of thing by now, right?"
"You would think so, but some things, you just never get used to," Ghira said as he propped his elbows on the desk once again and laced his fingers together. "I've never been fond of public speaking… but it's something that I have to face. We all have things like that, don't we?"
"Yeah," Sun said through an exasperated sigh. "Yeah, we do. I talked to Blake about… stuff."
"Oh? And how did it go?" Ghira asked as he leaned in with interest.
"Well… at first it just made me feel awful, but… it was almost like flipping a switch, with her. She knew exactly what to say to make things not seem so dark, and she pretty much told me that our entire relationship is going to be dedicated to helping me out, for now," Sun said as he pushed off the edge of the desk to stand.
Ghira chuckled as he rose to stand beside Sun. "What did I tell you? Though she may be outwardly cold, Blake is full of passion for what matters to her."
"Part of why I fell for her, sir," Sun said as he felt a vibration in his back pocket. He pulled out his scroll, and his grin receded into an immediate look of worry.
"…Sun? What's wrong?" Ghira asked with concern as he approached.
Sun looked back and forth between Ghira and the scroll, before typing a hasty response. "Blake's in trouble. She's telling me to give her an hour, and to trust her… and that makes me worry. I'm… I'm just telling her 'okay', even though I want to go after her right now."
"Good," Ghira affirmed as he rested a hand upon Sun's shoulder. "What did I tell you about Belladonna women?"
"That they're fiery and strong," Sun recalled as he stared at the text. His frown grew more intense as he awaited a response from Blake, only to find none. Sun's tail began to anxiously flick back and forth behind him as he stored the scroll back in his pocket, and looked up at Ghira.
"Correct. I don't like this, either, but I trust my daughter. All that we have left to do is wait, and be prepared in the event that she needs us. Did she give any details?"
"She's at the marketplace. I'm guessing she saw someone, or something related to the Fang. I just… I hope it wasn't Adam," Sun said.
Ghira lifted his palm from Sun's shoulder, and moved to sit upon one of the couches. Sun followed along and folded his hands between his legs as he hunched over, staring intently at a nearby potted plant as Ghira spoke.
"I doubt that that is the case," Ghira said. "From what little she has told me of her time with Adam, she seems… scarred. Permanently impacted, and absolutely terrified of him. To be completely honest, I can understand why."
"He hurt her. I don't know details, but… I know that he did. I want to help her, but I also don't want to overstep," Sun admitted as he shifted uncomfortably upon the couch.
"Well, you shared your story with her, did you not?"
Sun looked over to Ghira and made a noise of discomfort. "You really think I should push her on this?"
"Perhaps not push, no, but… lightly suggest that she share some information. Offer your support, and adjust to her comfort level. I am well aware that my position as her father locks me out of any such conversations, in her mind. Therefore… I'm trusting you to take care of her needs," Ghira replied as he rested an arm atop the back of the couch.
"Right. Thank you," Sun said quickly as he began to drum his fingertips together.
"…being tense for up to an hour will do us no good. You'll exhaust yourself, and if she calls upon us, you'll suffer for it. The events of this afternoon were already draining," Ghira admonished. Sun let out a groan, and slumped his shoulders.
"I know, I know, but what am I supposed to do? I'm going to be worried sick until she texts back, or her time's up. There's gonna be no taking my mind off of it, Ghira. She means too much to me."
"Then redirect your energy to benefit her, in the future. I may be able to provide you with something of use," Ghira stated. "You have yet to meet Adam, correct?"
"Right," Sun replied. "And it's probably a good thing, too. My instinct would be to beat him into paste, for what he's done. I get the feeling that would end badly."
"Very badly, without a solid plan," Ghira warned. "Adam is a skilled fighter, and several years your senior. He has seen battlefields since his early teenage years, and has the experience, skill, and semblance to see him through just as many more. He may be irrational, quick to anger, and… a terrible man, but his skill in combat should be respected, especially by his opponents."
Sun furrowed his brows at the news, and exhaled sharply through his nose. "…what is his semblance?"
"Rather complicated, and dangerous. Adam is capable of absorbing concussive energy within his sword, Wilt. The more punishment he receives and stocks away, the deadlier his sword becomes when it is unleashed. He will wait until the moment is right, and then draw the blade in an unstoppable, terrible slash capable of sundering anything in its path. I have seen him cleave boulders, vehicles, even sections of buildings with enough built-up energy. Landing glancing hits and blocked strikes is a surefire way to simply hand him a victory," Ghira said as he shook his head. "If you strike him, it needs to be accurate and decisive. Anything less gives him more and more of an advantage."
"Is he good enough to block bullets with that thing?" Sun asked as he began to feel sick.
"Good enough, and smart enough to bait as much ammunition as he can for an easy victory. If ever you encounter him, it is best to simply run, if you can. Failing that… strike him as little as possible, unless you have a clear opening."
The room fell silent as the wind picked up again and battered against the paper balcony doors. Sun's mind raced as he tried to think of something that could give him an advantage, but he came up with nothing.
"How long can he store that energy? What happens if he doesn't use it?"
"That… actually, I do not know," Ghira admitted. "I would imagine that it would dissipate over time, but… I would not bet on it, just in case."
"Well, at least I know how it works. Kinda. If it comes down to it, I'll get Blake out of there and hold him off as best I can. He's taken too much from her, already," Sun stated with a firm resolve. Ghira looked at him with an obvious sadness in his eyes, before turning his gaze away from Sun.
"…thank you. Blake is my world."
"Mine, too," Sun said with a sigh. "Guess we're a team, on this one."
"…or a family," Ghira suggested. Sun offered him a weak smile, and then convulsed wildly as his back pocket vibrated once again. "So much for letting go of your tension."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll work on that," Sun answered flippantly as he read the new message. He let his thumbs dance across the scroll as he let out a huge sigh of relief. "She's okay, and coming home. Big news, apparently." Sun stood up, and continued to type. "Are you coming?"
Ghira paused to consider the offer, and instead waved a hand from his position upon the couch. "As I said before… I trust you to handle it. Do what you think is best for Blake, and fill Kali and I in as needed, tomorrow morning." Ghira offered a massive hand, and Sun took it to shake.
"Got it. I won't let you down. G-man."
"Mm. One more thing," Ghira interjected as he let his grip fall.
"Sure?" Sun inquired.
"…don't ever call me 'G-man' again, or I may break your fingers."
"Message received. I've got this," Sun reassured as he headed for the office door, and pushed through it. He looked up as the sound of rain pounding on the roof began to echo in the hallway, and picked up his pace as he headed for the staircase.
Sun withdrew his scroll from his shorts as he walked, and reread the conversation with Blake again before flicking over to his previous talk with Ilia. He hesitated as he began to head down the steps, and decided to contact her once again.
Hey, you still here? Blake's coming home in a few, and something just happened. I think it may involve the Fang.
By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, a reply had already arrived.
I'm literally looking out the balcony door. I was ready to leave, but it's storming like hell outside to the point where I honestly don't even know if I can.
Sun picked up his pace as he made his way through the dining hall and jogged into the foyer. He used one hand to throw the front door of the estate open as he texted with the other, and recoiled slightly as he was met with sheets of rain cascading mere feet from the doorstep, beyond the overhang.
Stay. I think the three of us should talk, especially if the Fang is involved. Meet us outside of Blake's room?
Sun narrowed his eyes as he saw a figure running toward the house in the distance, and let his eyes move down to check his scroll one final time.
Fine, but if this goes south, it's your fault. Also, I'm terrified of thunder and if you make fun of me, I'll kick your fuzzy ass.
Sun rolled his eyes as he pocketed his scroll and stepped out to stand on the landing beneath the overhang. Blake sprinted up the steps and leapt the final few feet between them to trap Sun in a hug. She buried her soaked face into his shoulder, and Sun immediately clasped her in a tight embrace as he held her slightly off the ground.
"What happened?" he asked in a gentle voice. "I'm here, Blake."
"It's Adam. Adam's close, and… he's coming to Kuo Kuana, soon," Blake said quickly as she squeezed his shoulders.
Sun hissed as he felt the freezing water clinging to Blake seep into his bandages, but did little else to stop her. "We'll figure it out. Let's get inside, and get you changed. You're soaked…"
"Just… please don't let go of me," Blake begged as she broke the hug and trailed a hand down to clasp Sun's. He looked her over, and found that her facial expression was one of sheer misery.
"Never ever," Sun replied with a cheesy smile as he guided her into the manor and pulled the door closed. Blake sniffed and rolled her eyes at his efforts, before bringing her free hand up and pushing a few sopping strands of hair out of her face.
"How are you feeling? Physically, and otherwise, I mean," she asked as they began to walk, hands clasped.
"Are you serious right now?" he asked in disbelief. "It doesn't matter."
"It does matter. Even with this, you're on my mind," Blake said as she lifted the shopping bag with the shirt and passed it over to him. Sun accepted the gift, and shook his head.
"Blake, this is about you, right now. You were already my rock today, now let me be yours."
"Relationships are give and take, Sun. I already told you it's the Sun Show, from here on. I'm home, I'm safe, and I'm with you, s-"
"And you're dealing with Adam, coming here soon. He's your biggest hurdle, and I'm not letting this one go. I'm the master of deflecting my own issues for someone else's sake, and I'm not about to let you steal my job," Sun half-joked as Blake's ears wilted.
"…then… we'll make a brief diversion to talk about it, once we get to my room," she said as they reached the top of the stairs together.
"Good. We've gotta find balance, right? Oh, and uh… Ilia's here. So, that's a thing," Sun stated as he looked over to the wall. His face grew hot as he felt Blake glaring holes through his cheek.
"Why?" she insisted as she squeezed Sun's hand hard enough to be painful.
"She, uh, came to me, after you went out. We sorted things out between us, and we're cool. I set her up with Kali to reconnect, and… I sorta told her to stay, for this one. We need our inside girl here, if it involves Adam and the Fang," Sun finished.
"…you're an ass," Blake stated matter-of-factly as Sun finally dared to look at her again.
"So I've heard," Sun replied with a smile that he couldn't fight back.
"We're not talking about my issues with Adam if Ilia's here, but I'll fill both of you in on what happened, and what I know," Blake warned as they rounded the corner and found Ilia leaning against the wall outside of the bedroom.
"That's fair," Sun said with a nod as he caught sight of their informant. "Hey, girl, long time no see," he joked in a singsong voice as he offered Ilia a fist bump. The chameleon made a disgusted face as she begrudgingly touched her fist to Sun's, and pushed off the wall to stand straight.
"…you are so stupid," she shot back at Sun as she turned her eyes to Blake. Her face fell as she looked over her sodden friend, and her tone of voice changed from annoyance to genuine worry. "Blake, let me get you a towel, a-"
"I'm fine," Blake lied as she strutted past Ilia and into the bedroom.
Sun shook his head to Ilia as he followed, and made note of her crestfallen expression. "She's not fine. Grab that towel, and I'll chip away at this." Ilia nodded and shifted her skin tone as she set off down the hall. Sun stepped into the bedroom proper, and chose his words carefully as he added a bit of an edge to his voice.
"…Blake. Please, try not to be so abrasive to her? I know she did some really shitty things to us, and in general, in the White Fang, but she's really trying to make up for it. I believe her. Don't you?"
"I don't know, Sun," Blake said as she turned to face him. "I want to. I really do, but… I need time."
"I know you need time, but can you try to let up a bit, while you take that time? Ilia's really got no one, but us. What if I'd never found you, when you had that falling out with Weiss? Imagine how she must feel, right now," Sun insisted as he approached her. Slowly, he began to unbutton her shirt, and helped her roll off the clinging garment as she moved her arms to help him. "This is the best opportunity you're ever going to get to rebuild that bridge."
Blake opened her mouth to reply, only to pause as Ilia appeared once again in the doorway holding a large, fluffy, beige towel and freshly scarlet scales. She lingered for a moment and eyed up Blake in her damp bra, before coughing hard and turning her head to the side as she offered the towel to Sun.
"Uh… should I come back, or…"
"Just… turn around," Blake instructed as she gave Ilia a conflicted look. She watched as Ilia turned completely to face the door, and then gave Sun a quick glance before she unhooked her bra and simply let it fall to the ground.
Sun practically felt his brain stop working as he found himself unable to tear his eyes away from Blake's chest, and he sputtered in disbelief as he watched her step out of her boots and unzip her pants. She rolled down and kicked away the offending garment as she stood before him, wearing only black boyshorts and a mischievous smirk as she draped the towel over her shoulders and turned to walk toward the chest of drawers against the wall.
With a cough of his own, Sun watched as Blake dried herself with the towel and removed a new red nightie from the drawers. She made an agonizingly slow show of putting it on as Sun watched, and he cleared his throat, but not his thoughts, as he turned to Ilia.
"…alright, you're good."
Ilia blinked in confusion as she turned, and caught sight of Blake's new outfit as she made her way to sit upon the bed. Sun joined her side and set the bag with the shirt beside the bed, his face still a furious crimson enough to match Blake's negligée. Realization struck Ilia as she caught sight of the bra, boots, and pants on the floor, and she shifted her weight as she awkwardly folded her arms and looked away.
"This… is going to be a long night, isn't it?"
"Yes. Yes it is," Sun told her with a sympathetic look.
Author's Note:
I've been really sick the past week and a half or so, and I feel the urge to pass out early tonight and sleep in late tomorrow, so have a very early Thursday night update instead of Friday morning, just in case I wake up super late.
We've hit over 100 reviews! Thank you all so much for the input and commentary- it's great to read and very interesting to see what people are picking up on, in regards to certain things.
I'm glad that Cinnamon is coming across as layered, as she is going to be very important as the story goes on. I want to keep Adam's mad bull characterization while adding a little more depth, and making Cinnamon into the more manipulative, behind the scenes 'villain' within the White Fang. I'm sure some of you have already figured out what her purpose is in the grand scheme of this story, but for those who haven't, it's going to be a fun ride.
Next update on Monday, the 25th.
-RD