Blake angrily nibbled at a piece of bacon as she watched Sun walk off with her father, and let out a heavy breath through her noise. Kali didn't say a word as she reached over to the tea kettle and refilled Blake's cup, only for the younger faunus to whip her head around and glare angrily.

"Oh my gods, Mom! I'm fine!"

Kali paused and hiked a brow as she held the kettle steady above the table, before resuming her motion and setting it down lightly.

"…honey. Breathe."

Blake grumbled as she finished the bacon strip, and let out a tremendous sigh. Kali busied herself with sipping her own tea, before holding the cup in front of herself and idly letting the warmth of the ceramic travel into her hands. She allowed her daughter to continue to fume as she watched Blake snatch a piece of toast as though she was starving.

"Blake… you realize I didn't say anything, right? We all know that you have it rough right now, and we all understand how serious this is… but you're winding yourself tight enough to snap. Part of the reason Sun just left is probably to avoid being around when you lose it," Kali said calmly as she took another sip.

"Yeah? And what about you keeping our little fight going, and making everyone uncomfortable? And then suddenly, you just want to stop? Why, to save face? Or because you realize how ridiculous it is to just march into town and look for Adam?" Blake questioned as she ran a nervous hand through her hair. Kali watched as Blake's hand jittered while partially hidden amongst the raven locks, and shook her head.

"It has nothing to do with 'saving face', and everything to do with restoring calm. We're a family. Disagreements are bound to happen, and your father was right- we can't afford infighting right now. That, and I told you to drop it for Sun's sake. We both know that he's reaching his limit, as well," Kali added.

"And what about my limit? What if all I want right now is for him to stay here, with me, so I can lean into him and just… try to disappear, or pretend this isn't happening, or eventually come up with a plan?" Blake whined. "What if I need him right now?"

"What if you gave him every signal in the world that screamed the opposite, instead?" Kali asked.

Blake paused and bit her lip, before dropping her toast back onto her plate with a huff. "What if I'm terrified of everything right now, and I don't want him to see that?"

"It's a little late for that," Kali replied as she scooted closer to her daughter and offered a hug. Blake leaned, and truly, almost fell into the embrace as her mother caught her. Her ears drooped into a sad, defeated display as she closed her eyes and returned the hug in silence.

"Honey… I think that Sun made the right call. He's incredibly good at reading you, and giving you what you need. Don't you agree?" Kali asked as she offered Blake a gentle squeeze.

"…yeah," Blake admitted with a groan. "But it sucks. Everything sucks."

"He doesn't suck. He's giving you space to collect your thoughts, and likely dealing with some of his own worries, with Ghira. I'm sure he'll be back in a few minutes, and when he returns, you owe him some love," Kali said as she ruffled Blake's hair.

"There's never a moment when I don't, Mom. Even when he's going through a crisis, he always spins it back to focus on me. I've been trying for like a week to set something up for him… just… one day where he's the focus, and we get away from my problems and stupid insecurities. It's just that… things keep happening. Every time we get near a moment where I can pamper him, I get blindsided by some kind of bullshit that ruins it all. I feel guilty, and needy, and… like dead weight," Blake admitted as she let the last words out with a heartbreaking finality.

Kali gently rocked Blake in her grasp as she continued to play with her daughter's hair. With a sad smirk, she rested her chin atop Blake's head, and closed her eyes.

"We've been over this. You know exactly what I'm going to say, don't you?"

"…please don't tell me 'that's just life'."

"That's just life," Kali agreed as Blake let out another groan. "You know it's true. The best laid plans, and all that. The time will come when you can finally turn the dynamic of your relationship around on supporting him, but for now, it just isn't meant to be. Not yet. As much as you feel like it's unfair to keep taking, you need his support, especially with Adam on the loose in Kuo Kuana. I have a theory as to why Sun is the way he is, based on the bits of information he keeps letting slip," Kali mused.

"…because he's too pure, innocent, and self-sacrificing for this world?" Blake asked. "He's like the eternal boy scout, and that's honestly starting to worry me. He told me what almost happened in the square, and he seriously needs to be more aware that we're dealing with people who aren't going to offer second chances and the opportunity to just talk things out."

"Not quite, though you aren't wrong. He has relied upon you for support, at least a little, what with his past. However… I get the sense that there's more to it, and more to him, internally," Kali said as she shifted Blake to lay upon her lap. Blake looked up at her with curiosity as she continued.

"I think that little bit of reliance upon you was testing the waters, to see what you can handle, and how he personally feels with trusting you with knowing his inner workings. Perhaps, subconsciously, he's supporting you first to build you up. Maybe he knows that you can't handle just 'one more thing' about him, without overloading and dragging both of you down. Maybe he's holding back and trying to fix you, so that you can help fix him. That kind of dedication is a rare and wonderful thing."

Blake searched her mother's eyes as she listened, and then pulled her lips into a frown. "…so I'm not good enough to know the truth, yet."

"…I will slap you," Kali threatened. "That isn't at all what I'm saying. If you really think about it, and reflect on how your relationship has gone thus far, I think you'll find that his behavior and support makes a lot of sense."

Blake shifted uncomfortably in her mother's grasp, and folded her arms across her chest. "…maybe. But, what makes you so sure? Where is all of this insight coming from? It's not like you can read his mind."

"I don't need to," Kali replied as she shook her head. "I just recognize that Sun and I aren't as different as you might think. The start of my relationship with your father mirrors your own more than you'll ever know."

Blake sat up almost immediately, and turned to face Kali. "…what is that supposed to mean?"

Kali shook her head and offered a sad smile and wave of her hand in response. "…I'll tell you, one day. When you're older."

Blake's ears folded back as she crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. "I'm an adult."

"An adult who isn't in any state to deal with something like that, right now. Just take comfort in the fact that when I say Sun is a good fit for you, I speak from experience. Stick with him, trust him, and melt into his constant embrace without worrying about the balance of your relationship. The foundation is there. It'll work out how you want it to, so long as you just go with it," Kali advised.

"Your mother is right," came the booming voice of Ghira as he walked back into the room and returned to where he had previously sat. "Sun is a fine young man, and one that I am proud to have as a member of this family."

Blake watched in confusion with her mouth agape as her father sat down, before closing it and clearing her throat. "You… what?"

"What?" Ghira repeated as he held out his cup. Kali smirked as she titled the kettle to pour, and kissed Ghira on the cheek before he pulled back after his cup was full. "I've said before that I appreciate having him here. This isn't the first time I've been wrong about someone."

Blake sputtered as she grabbed for her own cup. "Yeah, sure, but… not that blatantly. What just happened, while you two were away?"

Ghira waved his free hand as he sipped at his tea, before lowering the cup to chest level. "Nothing special. I simply believe that it's something you need to hear right now, in addition to being the truth. I couldn't be more proud of both of you, in terms of who and what you're becoming."

"Even when you feel like you need to spell it out for me, because I'm a mess?" Blake questioned with a scowl. "First it was Sun, then it was Mom, and now, it's you. Do you really think I'm that close to just losing it?"

"Yes," Kali and Ghira answered in unison. Blake sighed heavily, and shook her head.

"Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Sweetheart," Kali began. Blake avoided her eyes as she continued to speak, and put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "We just talked about this. It's perfectly fine to admit that you need a little support."

"Even to your incredibly lame parents," Ghira added. "You know, it's not lost on me that Sun is giving you space for your own benefit. The storm cloud above your head is practically dampening the carpet, at this point. While he's in the armory, I decided to come back and offer you a bit of reassurance in his place."

Blake stared down into her tea for a long while, and watched as her reflection distorted and danced in accordance with the small, panicked movements of her hand. After a few silent moments of soul searching, she closed her eyes, and began to speak.

"…why am I the only one who can't see it? Why do all three of you know what's going on, while I feel like I'm just wandering around in the dark, bumbling into things and hoping that they end up being what I need?"

Ghira set down his cup and moved closer to Blake as she turned her head to look at him. "Because you keep asking your guiding light why it's there, instead of simply allowing him to give you new perspective and aid where you need it most."

Blake turned her attention to Kali, who merely nodded at Ghira's words. "…I think I get it. I'll… try. I'll try to just 'go with it'."

Kali smiled as she and Ghira moved in from either side to trap Blake within a family hug. "There you go. Trust us. Things may seem dark right now, but so long as we stick together, we can handle Adam, and whatever the future holds. There's just one piece missing…" Kali trailed off as a set off footsteps echoed down the corridor from behind Blake, and Sun reentered the room. Ghira grumbled slightly as he noticed that Sun carried no armor or new weaponry with him, but elected to say nothing.

"…'sup. I miss something…?"

"Just a dogpile on Blake," Kali replied as she nodded toward Blake's back. Sun moved into position and hugged Blake from behind as he sat down, only to earn a shiver and squeak.

"Okay, okay, too much, people," Blake complained. All three of the other faunus let go of her, only for Blake to whirl and quite nearly pounce onto Sun. The young male fell to the floor on his back as Kali and Ghira returned to their spots around the table.

"…I missed you."

"…I was gone for like 20 minutes! At most!" Sun whined as Blake wrapped her arms around his back.

"Believe me, I know," Blake replied as she locked him into a kiss. Sun braced his hands upon her shoulders and leaned up to guide her back into a sitting position, his cheeks turning scarlet as Kali gave them a wolf whistle. The pair broke the kiss, only for Sun to smile nervously.

"Is everything alright…?"

"More than alright. I think w-"

A sudden vibration from Sun's pocket rattling against the wooden floor interrupted Blake's statement, and the room fell eerily silent as the pair looked at each other. Sun felt his breath hitch in his chest as he remained still, only for Blake to speak.

"…is it… is it Ilia? You should pick up…"

Ghira furrowed his brows as Sun reached into his pocket, and brought the scroll to eye level.

"…no. It's… unknown. I don't…"

"Put it on speaker," Kali instructed. Sun nodded as he set the scroll onto the center of the table and did as he was told. He cleared his throat, and leaned slightly over the device.

"Uh… hello…?" Sun began. A shiver tingled from his tail all the way up through his spine as a familiar, smooth, and ominous voice came through the line.

"Hello, Sun. I think we should have a little chat. Privately, this time."

The sentence was punctuated by an odd scraping noise, followed by a weighty click.

Author's Note:

Lots of interesting stuff going on in the reviews, and I'm going to keep my mouth shut on this one in terms of theories about characters and the path ahead. It's definitely fun to watch, though, and some answers are coming soon.

Others won't show up until the final chapter.

Next update is Saturday.

-RD