Love and Trust

Sylvia opened her eyes, sitting up within an instant of coming back to consciousness. She looked around even though it hurt her head as she was a little disorientated, no longer in the tent or even in the Emerald Forest, she appeared to be in a bedroom. Taking in all her surroundings she got out of bed and walked over to a desk in the corner of the room.

She had a fair idea where she was and it was confirmed when she picked up a picture frame from the desk finding a much younger Celica with the smile that warmed her heart but saddening it at the same time knowing she was one of the reasons that Celica stopped smiling. The other reason was also in the picture as behind Celica were her parents.

Sylvia wished her parents had survived, not only were they good to her but they would've helped Celica and been there for her when she wasn't, once again wishing she could go back in time and fix her mistakes and even potentially stop Luca and Arthur from joining the White Fang. She laid back on the bed and got a faint smell of Celica, which triggered her to lose all control as she started crying uncontrollably.

Ever since Luca's death, Arthur's arrest and then all the events into finding Celica, Sylvia hadn't stopped and processed everything well, yes she had her own memorial but now alone in Celica's old room she felt so alone and guilty that everything was connected to her, Arthur and Lucas both wanted her romantically and she felt she wasn't there for them and that's why they joined the White Fang.

Her heart ached for Celica all year, however the past year she thought Celica was the one in the wrong when now she knew she was the one at fault and caused her love of her life pain. A pain Celica had to go through alone, before the Vytal Festival she was so happy, not only were her best friends on her team but she also had Celica, now Lucas was dead, Arthur imprisoned and Celica hated her.

Sylvia cried herself to sleep and woke up twelve hours later, she slowly sat up rubbing her eyes and sighed, the room was quiet, it seemed as if nobody had come in to check on her and from what she could hear it seemed like there was nobody in the house as she used her wolf ears for better listening but the only thing she heard was nothing but the city of Vale.

Sylvia got up and walked to the door only to find it locked, she tried turning the door knob left and right but it was locked, she tried pushing on the door but even the door wouldn't budge and that's when she noticed the deadbolts at the top and bottom of the door, no way was she getting out of that room without cutting the door down or going out the window.

The option to go out the window wasn't the best as the room was on the 2nd floor, she considered a brief thought of Celica locking her in as a prisoner but she slapped herself erasing the thought thinking Celica wouldn't do that, even the new Celica that hated her which got her mind starting to entertain the idea again, but she took control of her mind once again noting that Celica would've preferred Sylvia to go back to Menagerie so why imprison her?

Sylvia took a deep breath, sitting on the bed she remembered Celica's semblance, thinking Celica had the ability to teleport herself, someone else or objects to another location she could see while back at Beacon. Then the thought hit her as she remembered the first time seeing Celica again she tricked her sending her through a portal but she landed three blocks away at the docks.

With that memory she knew Celica couldn't see the docks obviously three blocks away so the only logical conclusion is that Celica could teleport over greater distances now. She looked to the other corner of the room where her belongings were and right by her scroll was a piece of paper telling her to call when she was ready to go with a number.

Picking up the scroll she entered the number and after a couple of rings, her call was picked up as she asked into the phone, she waited a couple of seconds but she didn't get a greeting so Sylvia awkwardly just said "Hello?" which got Celica to just bluntly ask "You ready?" Sylvia was taken aback, she now had Celica's number and it took a couple of tries as she stuttered in her reply finally confirming she was ready to go.

The call ended abruptly and a couple of seconds later a portal opened up near Celica's locked bedroom door, Sylvia got her belongings and stepped through the portal, stepping out of the portal she saw Celica sitting on a chair sharpening her gauntlet blades. Celica just continued sharpening her Gauntlet blades not even looking up as the portal closed and Sylvia just stood there awkwardly and nervous.

After what felt like an eternity Sylvia coughed lightly getting Celica to finally look up as Sylvia thanked Celica for keeping her safe after she collapsed. Celica shrugged and just said her parents told her to always repay their debts as Sylvia had done the same before when she found her on the boulder in the Emerald Forest and thanked Sylvia in return.

Sylvia noticed how lucky she was, she had got Celica conversating without any malicious intent, she knew she had to choose her words carefully not knowing what might set Celica off but she had to try. Sylvia thought she'd play it safe and ask about Celica's semblance as she pretended to be more curious asking Celica how she got her back to Vale from all the way in the Emerald Forest.

Celica without looking up just said she knew her semblance as she kept sharpening her Gauntlet blade. Sylvia knew this was going to be difficult but the more she could talk with Celica then maybe they could eventually keep talking, she just needed to choose her words carefully and restrain herself as she then said "I thought you could only teleport to places you see?" with a slightly confused look on her face.

Still Celica didn't look up as she still sharpened her Gauntlet blade but answered that she worked on her semblance the past year discovering she could teleport to places she has been, the more she knew the place and could think of it mentally then she could open a portal to that exact spot she was thinking.

Sylvia took in the information even though she had a good idea when she had worked it out when she was in Celica's room, Sylvia then asked a couple of small talk questions and asked where they were now, Celica had stopped sharpening her Gauntlet Blade and was now rubbing it down as she answered they were in a hotel in Vale but did pick up Celica was getting more annoyed with each question.

Obviously she couldn't bring herself to ask why she was in a hotel room when her home was also in Vale but she knew she had to try, she started to ask but then chickened out when Celica had an annoyed look which got Sylvia to change her question mid sentence and instead asked how and why she got to the boulder they met at.

Celica let a frustrated breath out as she retracted her Gauntlet blade just stating she took on job after job while waiting for her to leave Vale and mentioning she even did a job in Vacuo and to different towns across Anima. Sylvia put two and two together and it was obvious that Celica never fully recovered after each job and just kept pushing herself.

Sylvia looked down and asked if she had completed her recent job, Celica nodded stating the day she stumbled across her on the boulder was practically right after she completed her last job, the horde of Grimm almost brought her down and after completion, she had used her semblance to get out of the area.

Sylvia listened, on but then had to ask when Celica she finished, Celica knew what her next question was going to be and before Sylvia could say her 3rd word, Celica rudely cut her off snapping at Sylvia why she chose the boulder because it was special to her. As it was the day she met the love of her life, her first proper friend.

The two went silent, Celica looked away after snapping at Sylvia and Sylvia looked at the floor feeling guilty as both didn't know what to say or do. It was obvious both girls still loved one another but both had been apart for a year, both feeling betrayed, Sylvia teared up looking at Celica and dropped to her hands and knees crying apologising for not believing her and leaving her all alone.

Sylvia's tears kept flowing as she took full responsibility for betraying Celica's trust, not listening to her and for not being there for her when she needed someone. Celica just stayed put, she didn't retreat further but she didn't move forward to even try comfort Sylvia however Celica could see how everything was effecting Sylvia and if she was telling the truth the death of Lucas wouldn't help.

Meanwhile Sylvia was asking if she was causing Celica more pain for being here and if so she promised to leave, Celica was conflicted, the girl she loved was hurting but part of her was glad that Sylvia was suffering but from behind her walls the old Celica had managed to bust out through the cracks just a little as she got down to Sylvia's level, with a soft expression and slight smile she looked into Sylvia's teary eyes telling Sylvia she should stay.

Sylvia stared at Celica in shock, for those seconds she swore she saw the face of the Celica she fell in love with, Sylvia then asked Celica if she trusted her. Celica shrugged retreating back behind her walls shrugging as she answered "Yes and no". Going further into detail saying that she could trust Celica in combat fighting Grimm but wasn't sure she could trust Celica completely.

They both knew they had a lot to talk about and it would only work to get a friendship let alone relationship back if they were both serious about it as you couldn't have love without trust. The two just kept staring at each other as Sylvia grabbed onto Celica's hands promising she'd be there for her from now on, begging Celica just for a chance of reviving at least their friendship and would fully trust Celica.

Celica didn't look too thrilled, it caused Sylvia to ask herself multiple questions about why she said that and thought maybe perhaps she was coming on too strong and desperate but despite all this Celica hadn't pulled away, looking into Celica's eyes Sylvia knew she was also fighting with herself internally. Celica let go of Sylvia's hand and backed up running her hands through her hair clearly having a mental debate.

Sylvia sat down on the bed while Celica sat on the chair she was sitting on before debating to let Sylvia back in her life and if she can trust to have her around but also her main question was could she trust herself? She still loved Sylvia and she was still as beautiful as ever unlike her as she was constantly reminded by her scars and her eye that she didn't have the looks anymore.

Celica out of nowhere then opened a portal in the middle of the room, she stood up and walked over to Sylvia telling her to bring her weapon but leave everything else as Sylvia could see Celica had her weapons. Sylvia picked up her Longsword and joined Celica stepping into the portal with her unsure of what Celica's plan was. The two stepped out of the portal as Sylvia found Celica had taken her back to the boulder once again...