"So hey," Sun began as he circled the damp cloth around the inside of the frying pan once again. "Guess who's a good cook?"

Blake rolled her eyes as she kept them on the wine glass that she continued to polish to a sparkling transparency over the sink. "…Sun, I just made some fish. It's no big deal…"

"Some fish that was delicious," he added as he circled around to Blake's other side. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she fought back a smile, and watched his movements from the corner of her eye.

"You can't embarrass me when we're the only ones in the kitchen. It was really nothing special, okay?"

Sun jutted a hip out to the side and bumped into Blake's as he leaned over the sink and into her field of view. "Well, I think you should be proud. Some people can't make cereal without putting down a drop cloth and wearing a hazmat suit."

"Is that your way of telling me that I'm stuck doing all of the cooking, if we end up living together after all of this?" Blake asked as she finally spared him a glance. Sun's jaw dropped in mock offense as he pointed to his chest.

"Excuse me? I happen to be an amazing cook! I can make omelets with the best of them, and… I make really good omelets!"

Blake sighed and slapped her dish rag into Sun's face as she placed the clean glass next to its brothers upon the counter. "That's both pathetic and adorable, at the same time. I'll teach you what I know, when we have more time. Though… I'm not exactly a master chef."

Sun clawed the partially damp rag from his face and slung it across his shoulder as he continued to work at drying the pan. "Doesn't matter. I'll eat whatever you're cookin'. It's both good food, and pretty cute."

"Cute?" Blake asked as she picked up the fourth and final dirty glass and began to rinse it out beneath the faucet. "How exactly is my cooking cute?"

"…you drew little flowers on the plates with the sauce and fanned the broccoli spears into patterns," Sun answered in a deadpan voice.

"…shut up," Blake shot back as her left cat ear twitched.

"What? It's not a bad thing! I said it's cute! I like your artistic side!"

"You like all of my sides," Blake replied as she shook her head.

"Uh-huh. And is that really a surprise? It's my job, as your boyfriend, to appreciate all side-age of Blake equally," Sun stated with a heroic pose as he put his hands on his hips while keeping a tight grip on the frying pan.

"…you are such a dork," Blake offered as she reached out a hand for the pan. Sun passed it over, and Blake put her finished glass and the cookware on the opposite side of the sink. "I can't believe I fell for you."

"Neither can I, honestly, but I'm totally cool with it. Speaking of cool, how was Ghira, when he came down to help you in the kitchen?" Sun asked as he hopped up to sit on the counter and put his palms flat against the surface.

"…you think my dad is cool?" Blake asked in disbelief as she leaned back into the fridge to face Sun, arms crossed.

"No, not… well yeah I think Ghira's cool! But I meant 'cool' as in… being okay, you know? Did he seem alright, when he came downstairs?" Sun corrected.

"I… sort of? He was quieter than usual, I guess," Blake offered alongside a noncommittal shrug. "I wasn't really paying much attention, since I was trying not to burn the rice. Why, did something happen?"

"Well… a little? I guess?" Sun said as he tilted his head. "Not so much something happened, as he seems wicked stressed out about the speech tomorrow. I read over it and tried to be supportive, but he still doesn't seem too happy about talking to the public."

Blake frowned ever so slightly. "It's a bit of a big deal, Sun. What we're proposing is a shift in both ideology and potentially lifestyle for a lot of citizens of Kuo Kuana. The White Fang as they are now are so ingrained into faunus society, especially here, that making a change like that can't happen overnight. He's just planting seeds with this, and a lot of people are going to be upset with him for it. I just hope it doesn't turn out badly."

"With Ghira at the helm, and us backing him up? They've gotta listen," Sun said confidently. "We're just presenting the truth to the people in one neat little package. There's an opportunity to really send a message, though, that would need your help to pull off."

Blake's expression of concern turned almost immediately into a glare as she tensed. "What are you planning?"

"I mean, I didn't plan it, actually, but Ghira thought it would be really effective if you shared your story with the people. Your story of Beacon, and… Team RWBY," Sun said with a bit of trepidation.

"…no," Blake said simply without a moment's hesitation.

"Blake, please, just think ab-"

"I said no, Sun!" Blake fumed as she raised the volume of her voice. "If you want to talk about something I'm really not ready for, it's revisiting that night and sharing it with people I don't even know."

"Holding it in is only going to build pressure, and I know you blame yourself for what happened to Yang. Why don't we discuss it, and try to lift a bit of the burden, and then you can decide how you feel about telling others?" Sun asked as he slipped off the counter and approached Blake.

Blake didn't move as Sun approached to put his hands on her hips, and instead only let out a frustrated breath through her nose. "…okay. Fine, if you really think it's a good idea."

Sun blinked in surprise. "Wait… really? I expected you to get mad, or…"

"I am a little mad, but you know what? If you think this is such a good idea, and you think it'll help me start to feel better… I'll at least try," Blake spat. "I trust you."

Sun grinned despite Blake's sullen pout, and transitioned an arm down behind her knees. He pulled and pushed at the same time to unbalance her and scoop her into a bridal carry as she flailed wildly, and then clasped her arms around his neck.

"Sun, what are you doing!?"

"We can't just talk about something like this in the kitchen. Let's go get comfortable, and then we can get into it. Besides, my second duty as boyfriend-in-chief is to administer cuddles when the Blake is upset, and the Blake is clearly upset," Sun teased as he began to walk.

"…I'm never letting you sleep in again, if it makes you like this," Blake complained as she watched him chart a path through the dining hall and to the stairs.

"You love it," Sun countered as he made his way up the steps.

"I love you."

"Yup. Now, let's do this. Couch? Bed? Shower?" Sun asked as he pushed through the guest room door.

"…shower?"

"Joking!"

"I hate you. Couch," Blake ordered as Sun made an abrupt pivot. He made his way to the couch and slowly sat down, before transitioning to lay atop the cushions as Blake shifted to sprawl out atop him.

"Better?" Sun asked as he folded his arms behind his head.

"…alright, yes, this is better. I still hate you," she groused as she pecked Sun's lips.

"You'll get over it. Now… let's try to sort this out, together. How much of your feelings, and your silence about this until now is about Yang?" Sun asked as he searched Blake's eyes.

Blake didn't answer for a long time, and eventually looked away to lay her head atop Sun's chest. "…to be honest… maybe half of it. Seeing her on the ground, missing an arm destroyed me… but so did knowing that Adam came to Beacon partially because of me, and seeing all of the destruction and bloodshed around us. It was… horrible."

Sun slipped a hand down from behind his head and into Blake's hair to gently rub at the base of one of her ears. "Don't take this the wrong way, but uh… weren't you used to violence, from being with the Fang? And… maybe even killing?"

Blake let out a sigh at the question, and closed her eyes as she tried to focus on Sun's heartbeat. "…I didn't kill… but I did see some of it, yes. The difference for me then was that it was all working toward something. I know that isn't right, but the slaughter at Beacon just seemed mindless. Savage. Like the very portrait of what some humans accuse us of being."

"And that right there is exactly what you need to tell the people of Kuo Kuana," Sun said firmly. "You really don't need to get super detailed, but if they hear that you were once a member of the Fang, and that Beacon helped you wake up and see them for what they really are… maybe we'll have a shot at this."

"Maybe we will," Blake agreed as she shifted to rest her chin between Sun's pecs and stare up at him. "I still don't feel comfortable, though. Then again, I don't think any of us are exactly comfortable right now."

"Yeah, no, not really," Sun replied. "The stuff about Yang, though, you can definitely keep out. Is she your first priority, once we get Haven under control?"

"No," Blake said immediately.

"No…?"

"You are my first priority, then. Once we reach a point of relative safety, where we can really, finally relax without worrying about what terrible things might happen tomorrow every single day… I want to get away, with you. Spend some time on us, without having to plan, or wonder, or deal with other people," Blake said.

"Well, I'm all for that," Sun affirmed with a smile. "But seriously- once you and I get that time to ourselves, what do you want to do? Try to find her? I'm not letting you avoid this one," he added as his expression grew more somber.

Blake twisted her features into a look of annoyance as she kept her eyes locked to Sun's. "Honestly… I think priority one has to be Weiss."

"Weiss? Really? I thought you two didn't get along as well as the rest of RWBY," Sun stated with more than a little confusion.

"We're not incredibly close, but… Adam has always hated the Schnee family, and for good reason. They branded him like cattle. That's what he's hiding beneath the mask."

"That is… that's…" Sun struggled to find the words, and eventually just gave up.

"…fucked up beyond reason?" Blake offered.

"Yeah. That's the one," Sun nodded. "How… just… why do they even have brands?"

"They're an effective threat, from what Adam told me. Basically, the overseers down in the mines threaten to brand faunus who refuse to work. Usually, it's a hip, or back, or a hand, in extreme cases. As Adam explained it, he attacked a pair of guards after he found out that his parents were killed in a mining collapse. Their response was to hold him down, and brand his cheek. He thrashed about, and ended up taking the brand to the eye, instead," Blake recounted with a shiver.

"…I'm gonna puke," Sun stated as he felt a surge of disgust. "How can anyone even think to do that to someone?"

"I know. He blames the Schnee family for allowing the overseers to do things like that, and… even now, so do I. But Weiss wasn't directly involved. She probably doesn't even know what her family allows down in the mines, and now, her life is under direct threat," Blake warned. "I wouldn't be surprised at all if he heads to Atlas, looking for her. We need to be ready to stop him… if we haven't stopped him permanently, by that point."

Sun took a moment to process the information, and dipped into a slow nod. "Weiss it is… and then Yang, and Ruby. We need to get the band back together."

"I'd… I don't know. I'd love that, but I don't know if they would accept me, after I ran. I know what you're going to say, so don't even start," Blake said as Sun opened his mouth. He closed it again, and Blake continued. "I'm still willing to try."

"Good. Great, even!" Sun encouraged as he moved his hand to her other ear. "That's a big step forward, and you know I'll be there every step of the way to help smooth things over with the girls."

Blake furrowed her brows, before laying her head sideways again to trap Sun's hand against his chest. "…what about your team?"

Sun bit his lip and chewed for a moment. "What about my team?"

"…Sun, what's wrong?" Blake asked as she raised her head immediately and looked over once again. Sun sighed in response, and drew his hand back to rest it upon his chest.

"I get the feeling that I may be in hot water with them. I told Neptune I was coming after you, and I think he was honestly cool with it… but Sage and Scarlet? They might not be," Sun confessed.

"Well, did you talk to them? Or is this another one of those 'guy things', and just not something you would do?" Blake accused.

"I… kinda left in a hurry, and asked Neptune to sort it out."

"Sun!" Blake said in disbelief.

"I know, I know! But… Neptune's always been a bro, and I trust him. Sage and Scarlet, it's… I mean, they're cool and all, but we're not close. We used to have it out every so often, mostly me and Sage, and… that's part of why I went after you," Sun said as he shook his head. "I knew you needed me, and… I kinda needed you, too. Things were starting to get a little uglier, every so often, and Neptune kept stepping in to be the middle man."

Blake merely stared, before pushing herself off of Sun and sitting up beside him as she moved his legs into her lap. "So let me get this straight- you really did abandon your team."

"I'm not proud!" Sun shot back. "I… I'm basically the worst leader ever. I have no idea why I was given a team to begin with, and time and time again, I ended up feeling like I was doing it wrong. Any time I asked for help from the professors, they just told me I would figure it out, eventually. I never did, so I… came with you," Sun said in a defeated tone. "I'm sorry, Blake, but it's the truth. I'm better off following and supporting. It's what gets me through the rough times, and makes me feel useful. Leading them… really didn't."

"Do you miss them, at all? What's going to happen when the new semester starts?" Blake asked.

"Of course I do! I miss Neptune, for sure, and the others…" Sun's eyes widened, as he came to a realization. He pushed backward into the arm of the couch as he scooted into a sitting position, and drew his legs off of Blake's lap.

"Sun? What's wrong?" Blake said as her ears flattened against her skull.

"…that's it. The new semester. Cinnamon said that she wouldn't even build explosives, if they were going to hurt faunus, but we know she did. Blake, think about it- if they blow Haven sky high before the new semester, then it'll wreck the building, but not the students, while still sending a message. The new semester starts in a few weeks!" Sun stated in a panic.

Blake clenched her jaw as she thought over the theory, and shook her head. "Sun, that's… if you're right, we have almost no time. We need to convince the people as quickly as possible, and bring as many as we can to Haven. Isn't SSSN based there?"

Sun sighed, and nodded. "Yeah, and I told them to head back. I'll contact them once we get in range, and hopefully, we can at least convince Neptune to back us up. If not… we'll make it work."

"We seem to have a knack for doing that. Let's stay here tonight, just in case Ilia comes back with information from the camp. I doubt she will this quickly, but we need to fill her in and see if she's heard anything that suggests the Fang is moving soon," Blake said as she straightened her legs into a stretch above the floor.

"Sounds good to me. We should get some rest, soon, and get ready for the big day tomorrow. Ghira needs us at our best, just in case," Sun added as he stood and raised his arms above his head.

"Yeah. Then, assuming everything goes well… date night. I've got a plan. A real one, this time," Blake stated with an unsure smile.

"Lookin' forward to it, though… let's just take it one step at a time, yeah?" Sun asked as he made his way toward the bed and flopped down unceremoniously.

"One step at a time," Blake confirmed as she moved to sit beside Sun on the bed. "Get some more sleep, if you're still tired. I'm going to sit up, for a bit."

"Oh yeah?" Sun asked as he let out a yawn and wormed his way backward toward the waiting pillows. "Got some big plans, while I'm out cold?"

The corner of Blake's mouth twitched a bit as she eyed him up with her peripheral vision. "I was… thinking of maybe writing a bit of poetry."

"Go for it. Share in the morning?" Sun asked as he closed his eyes.

"No."

"Please?"

"Still no," Blake sang as she stood up and headed for the bathroom. "Sleep, Sun."

Sun smirked to himself, and settled in to the blankets. "…totally gonna hunt for that poetry tomorrow."

"I heard that!" came the call from the open door of the bathroom.

"How?" Sun asked in disbelief.

"I have four ears!"

"…right," Sun said to himself as he rolled onto one side. "More sleep makes Sun less stupid."

"Let's hope so!"

Sun didn't reply, as he drifted off without another thought.

Author's Note:

Let the speech begin on Friday, the 12th.

-RD