BOILING POINT

-Yang POV-

I don't know why I'm mad. I know it's not what I think it is, but seeing Ezra with other girls... it hurts just to even think about it. It's selfish of me, and I know I can't really stop him from making friends- we haven't really even clarified what are to each other. Still, I want him to only see... me.

"Miss Xiao Long. Are you still with us, Miss Xiao Long?"

Before I knew it, I was completely zoned out. Professor Port had to nudge me back from cloud nine for me to realize that the whole class was staring at me. Well, everyone except for Ezra. In between me and him was Blake and Weiss, only two seats apart but feels like a world away considering we usually sit right next to each other.

"Uh- Y-yeah, I'm here professor."

Honestly, off all the days he ain't talking about his 'glory days' I swear, he catches me daydreaming. I sighed and pretended to listen to Professor Port, resting my chin on the palm of my hands. I was about to drift once more till the usually silent Blake started to notice that I'm out of it today.

"You should talk to him about it."

"Huh?"

I responded confusedly, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Blake was talking.

"I-ah don't know what you mean?"

Blake glanced back at me with a smirk after she hears my halfhearted attempt to avoid the subject.

"Yang, I'm know I don't talk a lot, but I hear a lot of things." She quickly pointed her eyes at her bow then right back at me. "I admit I don't fully know what's going on between you and Ez, but nothing's gonna change if you don't talk."

I wanted to respond right away, but I hesitated when I saw her deadpanned face turned gloomy as she ran her fingers along her notebook. I followed the path her hand took and caught a glimpse of an artistically drawn man with a rose insignia on his back. Blake quickly closed her notebook the moment she saw that I was looking.

Once more, our eyes meet.

"Trust me."

She whispered softly.

"You... have someone special?"

Blake broke our eye contact and pretended to pay attention to Professor Port's ramblings.

"Had."

Her voice was quiet, almost to a whisper, but I can feel it loudly echoing in my head. It was as if I can feel the regret and anguish she felt with just one word.

"I'm sorry Blake."

"Yeah well... Thanks... Yang."

Blake looked at me and forced a smile, something about her looking at me the way she is now is making me want to hug her. She noticed how fixated my gaze was, and how much I wasn't paying much attention to anything else, so she raised an eyebrow and slouched back against her chair, bringing Ezra to my line of sight. It took a me second to realize that I wasn't staring at Blake anymore, but Ezra and he immediately noticed. Our eyes met for a split second and we both quickly looked away.

"Ezra is just as stubborn as you are Yang. He's the most mature out of all of us, but his childish stubbornness is what drags him to our level. He won't apologize or make the first move if you don't."

I smiled at what she said with the thought of how Weiss would react to what she just said.

"I-I know... but that's honestly what I love about him."

I blushed, realizing what I just blurted out.

"LIKE! I- I mean...*sigh*"

Blake placed her hand over her mouth and giggled.

"Somehow I knew that's what you feel about him."

She grabbed my hand from under the desk. Her grip was tight, but somehow it was also gentle and caring at the same time.

"Look, it's not like you to be timid. Just go for it, talk to him and clear things out. The rest will figure itself out."

I wanted to complain, that it wasn't going to be as simple as Blake makes it sound like, but the image of the man in her notebook and the pain in her voice is making me question whether I was in any sort of position to complain. She definitely has it worse than me. I don't know what went on with her past, but it's not too farfetched to say that it might be too late for Blake to act on whatever it is she feels for the man in her notebook. Still...

I glanced at Ezra one more time out of the corner of my eye, hoping that he wouldn't notice that I was looking. Blake was right about me being stubborn. A part of me refuses to surrender and follow her advice. In my mind, Ezra's not exactly innocent. There are some things he need to come clean about and for the two of us to hash out. The only frustrating part about that last one is I might not be in a position for him to clarify anything. For all I know, I'm just another woman for him to flirt with.

"It's not as easy as you think it's going to be Blake, like how am I supposed to even get the chance to talk to him alone?"

Before Blake could answer, Ruby butted in.

"Leave that to me."

GAH!

"Were you listening the whole time?"

Ruby looked at me confused while she scratched her head.

"Pfft. Are you kidding, a conversation about cotton candy is much more exciting than that."

Me, Blake, and Ruby tilted our heads at Professor Port who is still rambling about his time as a Hunter.

"I agree with Blake, sis, aaaand don't worry, I have your back on this one."

Ruby winked at me while she wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Admittedly, that doesn't really make me feel confident about any of her decisions. I mean, this is Ruby. It's easy to forget that she's two years younger than me, and in a way, is robbed of some semblance of being a young teenager by coming to Beacon early. But nevertheless...

"O-okay Ruby, I'll leave it up to you then."

As soon as those words came out of my mouth, Weiss panicked and abruptly stood up.

"Leave what to Ruby exactly!?"

The whole class room stopped and stared at Weiss. She nervously laughed as we all watched Professor Port's face turn bright red. We could all feel his anger simmering in his head. We all leaned back, preparing for the coming explosion, but the bell rang and saved Weiss from detention. Looks like his outburst is going to have to wait another day.

We hurried out of the classroom, not wanting to risk running into Professor Port- or any of our friends for that matter. Don't wanna get them involved in things they didn't have to. So we gathered under the farthest tree in the courtyard just outside the classroom, far enough that no one else can hear our plans about tonight.

"As I was saying! Leave what to Ruby?"

Weiss faked a cough and crossed her arms right in front of me. Crap. I can't exactly tell her what it is I left with Ruby since what we're talking about was Ezra.

"Probably about tonight."

Speak of the devil. Ezra walked past me and Weiss with his hands interlocked behind his head. He carelessly swayed as he walk, then gracefully turned around and rested his back against the trunk of the tree.

"Sooo." Weiss furrowed her brows at me and Ruby. "Are you gonna tell me or what?"

Ruby eagerly skipped in place and was about to speak, but Ezra cuts her off.

"Not right here."

He pointed his fingers towards a balcony connected to another classroom. We followed his fingers to see what he was pointing at, only to realize that it wasn't a thing he was pointing to, but a 'them." It was Sun and Neptune who seem to have seen us, and is slowly making their way towards us - well to Weiss and Blake. Annoyed, Ezra looked down and scratched his head.

"I'll lead them away, you girls go get changed and I'll meet you all at your room?"

Blake nodded.

"Sounds like a plan."

And with that, Ezra was away. It wasn't long till we found our way back to our rooms getting ready to change. It was then that Weiss decided to put her two cents into the situation, but not the situation we should be worrying about.

"So Yang, about Ezra?"

I sighed and turned around, giving her an exhausted look. I wasn't expecting everybody to be that interested in whatever it is Ezra and I had going on. I mean, I don't even know and I'm the main gal involved in it.

"What? I just thought that you and him in an argument will really put a dent in our operation tonight. So, why not-"

I cut her off.

"Talk to him yeah, yeah, Weiss I know. You aren't the first person to tell me that. I-I'm working on it alright? Leave me alone!"

I feel bad snapping back at her like that, but now is really not the time. We're heading out to stop Torchwick and his lackeys but my teammates are over here worrying about me and Ezra... well, I'm included in that list too. Weiss raised an eyebrow, as she finished changing her clothes, but she would not leave it alone. And here Blake thought I was the stubborn one.

"Maybe it's not my place to comment on your relationship between Ezra, but we are still part of the same team. Much like Blake was with the White Fang, we are all concerned about you and Ez, and like Blake said, Ezra is-"

Just then Ezra arrived, kneeling on our window frame. He wore an eastern style shirt, I believe it's called a qipao, much like what Ren wears, but Ezra's was black and trimmed with gold lacings. He had his sleeve folded up to his elbows and he wore that same scarlet scarf around his waist that he likes so much. He completed his attire with grey jeans and a pair of shin length white combat boots.

"What about me?"

Looks like Ezra caught the tail end of the conversation. Weiss panicked, frantically shaking her hands. She stuttered her words, desperately trying to find an excuse while she scanned the room, hoping that me and the other girls would save her from the predicament she created. She certainly won't get it from me, but ironically enough, Ezra simply let the topic drop.

"Nevermind. We got a big problem."

He opted to let silence engulf the room after making that big statement. He wore an irritated look on his face, as contemplated on the words he should be saying next. Ruby was about to ask what the problem was till Sun swung down from the tree behind Ezra like a wrecking ball, barreling into our room.

"So, what's the plan?" Sun asks, but Ruby replied with a serious tone.

"Sorry Sun, can't get friends involved."

Ezra tapped Blake in the shoulder and apologized.

"My bad, couldn't get rid of them. Ol' boy's too worried about you."

Blake quickly took a peek at Sun then blushed. Ezra then looked at Weiss with a playful smile then pointed back at the window.

"So is Neptune, Weiss."

As soon as Ezra called out Neptune's name, Neptune came nervously crawling into our room. Ruby tried to convince Sun and Neptune not to join once more, but it was all for naught. If Ezra couldn't talk these out of it, none of us can, so we all just collectively agree to let them join. Ruby gathered herself for a moment and relayed the plan and playfully asked Weiss to repeat the whole thing.

"So! Everyone get the plan? Weiss?"

Weiss arrogantly scoffed.

"You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem."

Then Blake continued.

"The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning."

I looked at everyone in the room, and explained once more what it is I plan on doing.

"I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard..."

With that, Ruby snaps her fingers then mischievously winked at me.

"The plan is set then! Weiss will go with me and Neptune, Sun can go with Blake, and of course, Ezra can go with Yang! Sound good?"

W-wait d-did she just say!?

"W-wait RUBY!?"

I tried to intervene, but before I could, the gang all bolted out the room faster than I can say Beacon, leaving me and Ezra alone. So this was Ruby's plan huh? Cheeky. Way to go sis, way to go. I swear, I'll get you back for this.

"So. You know a guy huh?"

I wanted to at the irony of the situation. To think that 'I' would know a guy. The catch phrase that Ezra uses so often, being used against him was hilarious, but every time I look at Ezra I somehow see Pyrrha too and THAT irritates the hell out of me.

"Yeah."

I nodded and walked away, denying him the opportunity to respond. I hear him trip behind me, desperately trying to catch up. Everyone pleaded with me to talk to Ezra, and I myself have been meaning to, but not in our current state. I have to sort out my feelings first and then face him head on. This- whatever this is that Ruby has planned in mind is not it. I'm so stupid, I honestly don't know what I was expecting out of her.

"Great, I'm even mad at Ruby now."

"What for?"

Seems I'm not very good at whispering myself. Karma for criticizing Nora, I guess.

"Ruby has nothing to do with our argument."

I continue to ignore him, but Ezra grabbed me by the shoulder, forcing me to look at him.

"Yang, listen-"

"No Ezra."

I cut him off.

"I'm tired of listening. All you've done is talk. Talk about Blake and the team, yet you abandon us, talk about your commitment and then use your family as an excuse to break free, and talk about me the way that you do, only for you to turn around and flirt with Pyrrha."

I vigorously rub my forehead, hoping that the wrinkles from my irritated face would go away.

"Just... nevermind, let's just go. Bumblebee is this way."

Ezra sighed and quietly followed me with a frustrated look in his face. A part of me wants him to respond and argue, at least I know some part of what he says is true- that I wasn't just led to feel the things that I'm feeling for him now. Looking at Ezra now and hearing nothing speaks volumes of how much of what I'm thinking is true.

We made our way through the student parking lot and rode through downtown Vale with Ezra not saying a word. He didn't hold on to me like how motorcycle passengers normally would. We're inches away from each other, but we feel like we're miles apart.

Honestly, the longer he keeps this code of silence of his, the more I get pissed, and when he does speak, it's not the words I'm expecting him to say.

"This is Junior's place. So you know him too?"

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow and full of skepticism.

"Why am I not surprised? Of course you would now him. This is your part of Vale after all."

Ezra smiled at me, almost swaying my resolve.

"You're right. Actually, it'd be weird if I didn't know about Junior."

He replied as if what he said was common sense.

"Whatever, let's go He's probably loaded and ready to fight. I kinda blew up the place last time I was here."

Ezra grinned, not surprised at all by what I just said.

"Oh I heard about that. Junior was pretty pissed, though I have to admit, seeing you here again would probably the last thing he'd expect. We should just be able to walk in, especially since I'm here."

Hearing what he had to say, I lowered Ember Celica down and followed his lead. We slowly approach the entrance to the nightclub, but Ezra still hasn't discussed any sort of plan with me, so I leaned closer to inquire about the situation... but what I saw after caught me so off guard, I practically froze in place.

Ezra's footstep became so quiet it damn near vanished. He gently placed his knuckles on the door, but the banging that came from his knocks was so loud he could have woken up the whole neighborhood. His chest slowly rose and collapsed as his breathing began to all but disappear. It was almost as if he wasn't breathing at all. He still and motionless, slowly blending in with the darkness. All of that however, wasn't what surprised me, it was the look he had in his eyes. It was absolutely frightening. His entire demeanor is completely different. It's almost like I'm looking at a different person.

"BLONDIE!?"

I frantically shook my head back and forth, as the voice from the small window on the door brought me back from my trance. The man ignored Ezra as if he wasn't there at all, one would assume it's because my hair stands out more than Ezra's dark clothing.

"Shhh."

Ezra gracefully slid in between me and the man staring at me from the window. His movements were sudden but silent. In an instant, the man's gaze met his and he was quickly stricken with fear.

"Y-YOU!"

Ezra sneered in response, it was as if he had the man hypnotized.

"Now, now. No need to cause any sort of commotion. If you recognize who I am, then you know what you are right?"

The man stood there in silence with his jaws dropped, then suddenly, Ezra's patience started to grow thin. In a tone of voice that I never knew he could make, Ezra yelled at the man that sent chills down my spine.

"SAY IT!"

The man behind the door trembled. His jaws violently shook up and down, his voice cracked, desperately trying to find the words Ezra wanted to hear.

"RATS! We're RATS! T-trapped in a cage! Please! I'm just doing my job."

In a panic, the man opened the door and frantically ran pass me and Ezra. I looked at Ezra, begging for answers but were quickly shut down with a bright and childish smile.

"See! I told you it was gonna be a breeze!"

He's not fooling me. That was something else, I've seen people stricken with fear before, kind of the nature of the job being a huntress-in-training and all. It's never quite like that.

"Jeez Ezra, what have you done to him?"

Ezra shrugged his shoulders in response and nonchalantly corrected me.

"Them and him. Let's go, Junior's probably waiting."

He pointed at the hidden cameras loitered around the flickering streets lamps and the entrance of the night club that even I didn't know was there. We quickly made our way towards the bar at the end of club without much resistance. Each of Junior's henchmen slowly backing off as me and Ezra walked passed them one by one. Before I knew it, I was once again face to face with Junior.

"Yang. Yang. Are you there?"

THIRD time today somebody had to shake me back to reality.

"Y-yeah! Yeah, I'm here what's up?"

Ezra and Junior looked at me dumbfounded, but Ezra ignores it for the time being and begins to question me.

"Did you catch that? Seems Torchwick was here, but he has no leads. No idea where he went, actually caused Junior here a couple of his henchmen."

I looked at Junior pissed, but from the terrified look on his face, I can tell that he's been telling the truth.

"Are you sure you're alright darling?"

Ezra playfully pushed me on my shoulders. I don't know what it is that made him think we're okay, but we're not and I have to let him know that whatever idea he's got going on his head is wrong.

"Don't touch me! And don't call me darling."

He looked surprised... and hurt. His flustered eyes met my angered gaze for a split second and I quickly stormed off the nightclub. Ezra sprinted after me and grabbed me by my elbow, which I violently shrugged off.

"Yang, please! Wait!"

"Why Ezra!"

He caught his breath for a second then slouched his shoulders while he leaned towards me.

"I want to talk about this, please, it's not what you think I swear..."

There it is again, his denials and pleas that leads to nothing.

"I can't Ezra. You're so secretive, you're full of lies and deception."

I didn't know what was up with me. All I know is that I have this pain in my chest, and a tornado racking my brain and this heat building in my gut that's begging for me to let it out. I couldn't take it no more, so I did. Before I knew it, I was yelling at Ezra.

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE ANYMORE! I MEAN WHAT WAS THAT!?"

I swung my arms wildly in the air, fumes still coming out of my ears. I was pretty sure my eyes have long shifted its colors.

"What was what?"

The calmness in his voice when he asked that question pushed me pass my boiling point.

"WHAT WAS WHAT!? THAT EZRA! THAT! YOU JUST ALMOST KILLED A MAN WITH YOUR STARE! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO INSTILL THAT KIND OF FEAR!?"

He was taken aback. His stance softened as his fingers began to limp and drop to his waist.

"I... Yang, I."

Ezra's speechlessness is doing nothing but confirming the statements I'm making, but even so..

"Ezra, despite all that... despite your secrets, your persistence to avoid the truth, despite you flirting with other women, despite your lies. Despite your RELUCTANCE TO LET ME IN YOUR LIFE..."

Tears began to run down my cheeks, and the more I look at Ezra's defeated face, the more I cried.

"I still... I STILL! STILL! Want you in my life."

I took a deep breath, and tried my best to compose myself. I rubbed the tears out of my face and looked at Ezra with eyes filled with determination.

"But I refuse to struggle with something that might never come. So Ezra... answer me this as honestly as you can. Screw your lies, whatever it is your hiding- or whatever it is you're hiding from, answer me. Honestly."

What am I to you?