Click…click…click…click…
Blake's brow furrowed and her lips set in a grim line as her ears strained to hear the pin slipping into place. Despite headphones blocking out exterior noise and a stethoscope amplifying any noise within the thick metal door, it felt like listening for a whisper with cotton balls stuck in her ears. Every notch of the dial sounded identical - the mark of quality craftsmanship and many, many layers of metal between her fingers and the lock.
Click…click…click…
She paused and shook her hand, granting a brief reprieve to her sore fingers. She needed them to pick up faint vibrations, but she had worn them nearly bloody from an entire night spent spinning the sharp dial. Her back ached from hunching over in the chair, her feet had gone numb long ago, yet she didn't dare stop.
If she stopped, she would remember why she was here. Why she turned off her phone. Why she hadn't bothered to go home. Why she ditched a very nice, expensive dress in the dumpster. She would have tossed her phone along with it, but she couldn't bear to lose the memories trapped inside.
Click…click…click.
She jotted down the number and raced on. Her gaze flitted to the stopwatch beside her, four minutes disappearing in the blink of an eye. Cinder claimed to have someone for the biometrics, which better be true since the dial wouldn't even spin if they didn't pass the first layers of authentication.
Sensing the tiniest vibration under her fingertips, she noted the second number and spun in the full combination without hesitation. If she was going to do this in under four minutes, her intuition needed to be better than her mind.
The dial hardly reached the last number before she turned the handle and heard the heavy thunk of the lock releasing. She immediately stopped the timer and, glancing at her time, felt a small measure of relief. That relief disappeared when she realized that she had gained an audience.
"Who are you?"
She removed her stethoscope and frowned at the two young men with mohawks and side shaves accompanying Cinder.
"Fennec," the first answered, dipping his chin.
"Corsac," the taller one added.
"They're with me," Cinder cut in before nodding to the safe. "Looks like you can open it. So you haven't been too busy fucking Detective Barbie after all."
Blake's jaw clenched so hard that she swore it cracked.
"Why don't you worry about taking care of your shit and I'll take care of mine?"
"Oh, did I strike a nerve?" Cinder, smirking now, leaned so close that Blake moved away from her overwhelming perfume. "I'm glad to see you're finally taking this seriously," she whispered. "The great Shroud's work will be imperative to our success, after all."
Blake glared as Cinder leaned away. Fennec and Corsac looked between them, deciphering Cinder and Blake's respective roles in the hierarchy, but Blake chewed on her words and ultimately turned away. Cinder clicked her tongue and told her new recruits, "Let me show you around," while Blake shoved her stethoscope back into her ears and restarted the timer.
Her gaze snuck after the two young men, steeped as they were in danger, and the tiny fragments of her heart broke into even smaller slivers. She finally saw the White Fang how everyone else did - as criminals. Their purpose had been usurped long ago, and she hadn't even realized it was happening. She hadn't uttered more than meager complaints while Adam twisted her goals to match his own.
He needed her. That was the only reason she was still here. That was the only reason he gave her the illusion of control. And she let him use her. She let him use Yang.
Click, click, click, click, clickclickclick.
She slammed her palm against the metal door and tore the stethoscope out of her ears. "Fuck," she hissed, tossing everything aside and running her hands over her cheeks.
"Damn." Blake's jaw tightened when Emerald let out a long, slow whistle. "What's eating you?"
"Nothing." Emerald's brow rose, so Blake added, "They just gave me hardly any time to learn this thing and it's not exactly easy."
She punctuated the sentence by spinning the dial and then slamming her hand on it to make it stop.
"I mean…you would've had more time if you hadn't been so busy..."
When Blake glared daggers, Emerald raised both hands and backed away. Unfortunately, Ilia walked through the door then, so Emerald smirked at Blake before flouncing Ilia's way. Several whispered words and a concerned glance later, Blake sighed and braced herself for more poking and prodding at her broken heart.
"Hey, Blake." Ilia faintly smiled as she pulled over a chair. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah," Blake grumbled. "Just had a rough night."
"Did Yang do something?"
Blake flinched at the question, and at how hopeful Ilia sounded, and shook her head.
"No, it's just…everything's a little stressful now. With Adam and Cinder and…everything."
A rough motion to the Vanguard 9000 convinced Ilia's gaze away from her.
"Oh." Ilia worried her bottom lip before smiling. "Things are looking up though! The credit union job really put us on the map, so we're recruiting more than ever. And you're about to break into one of these." Ilia patted the safe. "It's going to be amazing. You're going to be the talk of the city again."
Ilia sighed as if that was a wonderful thing, yet Blake could only imagine Yang's disappointment. How could she ever keep going like this when every White Fang success widened the gulf between her and the life she wanted?
"Want me to time you?" Ilia offered, cheerful in the face of Blake's sorrow. "Cinder said you have four minutes, but I'm sure you can do it in less."
"I can do it in less…" Blake muttered while grabbing her tools and setting her hand on the dial. Ilia already had the stopwatch in hand, her eyes big and round as she prepared to start the timer. Blake, meanwhile, took a deep breath, shot a look at Cinder - who, along with her new cronies, nonchalantly watched from the other side of the room - and spun the dial.
Her concentration zeroed in on that moment. On the sounds. On the feel. Nothing else mattered but finding those elusive numbers. Not the added pressure of having an audience. Not her crushing heartbreak. Nothing beyond her fingertips.
Unfortunately, the relief ended too soon. The numbers fell into place and she yanked the door open as if it might hold the secret to a happy ending.
It was empty, but Ilia stopped the timer and squealed.
"Ten seconds to spare!" Ilia showed Blake the stopwatch before setting it down and sighing. "Jeez…is there anything you can't do?"
"Plenty…" Blake whispered while putting away her tools. She couldn't save her relationship with Yang. She couldn't find a way out of the White Fang. She couldn't correct the mistake she made years ago without destroying everything around her. She couldn't be Shroud anymore. She couldn't pretend that Blake Belladonna didn't exist. She couldn't pretend that this was what she wanted.
"I'm heading home now. I've been at it for a while." Blake lifted her hand so that Ilia could see her red fingertips before swinging her bag over one shoulder. Before leaving, however, she hesitated.
"Ilia…have you ever considered doing something outside of here?"
"What do you mean…?"
"I mean…the White Fang. Is this really what you want to do?"
"Of course! For the first time in my life, I'm part of something. When you met me, I was nobody. Now, I have a chance to be someone."
Blake didn't know what she had expected, but Ilia's bright, earnest certainty stole the remaining wind from her sails.
"Right," she said, nodding once. "Good. That's…that's the kind of dedication we need around here."
"Totally agree." Ilia chuckled to herself before perking up even more. "And when you're done with the detective, you can teach me more! I've been practicing a lot. I think I can be really helpful soon."
"Sure. We can do that." The idea that she would ever be 'done' with Yang burned like a hot iron, but Blake squeezed Ilia's shoulder and finally separated from the conversation with a simple, "See you tomorrow."
Breathing was difficult. Smiling was even harder. She needed to leave before she had a full-fledged meltdown. Unfortunately, she stepped into the lobby just as Adam arrived.
"There you are." She didn't want to stop, but she planted her feet rather than blow right past him. "This is for you." He held up a thick white envelope before shoving it into her hand. "Your cut from the CU."
"Thanks."
She stuffed the envelope in her bag and tried to leave, but he grabbed her wrist. And, in her current emotional state, she reacted instantaneously - by grabbing his arm, twisting it behind his back, and bending his wrist until he yelped.
"Don't touch me," she hissed before shoving him away and storming out. She slammed the door behind her like someone with no intention of ever coming back. Maybe she didn't have any intention of coming back. Why would she?
Two blocks fell beneath her feet before she cooled off enough to regret her actions. She reacted instinctively, but whose instinct was it that recoiled from Adam so strongly? Surely not Shroud, who had developed a thick skin to his provocations over the years.
Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, she closed her eyes. "Shit…" she breathed out before shaking her head and setting off with no destination in mind other than 'away.' Away from the White Fang. Away from her home. Away from anything and anyone who might cast so much as a breath against her frayed nerves.
She had nowhere to be and no one waiting for her when she got there, yet she found herself in a familiar area before long. Recognizing the homeless shelter across the street, she crossed and walked inside. It was just as cluttered, busy, and in need of funding as she remembered, yet there was an element of hope to it. At least these people were trying to help, even if that meant stretching too few dollars as far as possible.
"Can I help you?" the woman behind the desk asked despite having a phone in one hand and a stack of papers in the other.
"Just making a donation." Blake nodded to the box before pulling out the envelope Adam gave her and dropping it inside. The woman's eyes boggled and she fumbled for words while Blake turned around and walked out.
"Do you need a receipt?" she called out, but Blake waved off the question and let the door shut behind her.
With nowhere to go, she wandered aimlessly. She used to feel so much purpose when walking through Vale. She used to bristle at every small injustice and swear that she would fix it, as if some higher power chose her to be Vale's master architect and gave her the responsibility of molding the city according to her vision. In reality, Vale was better off without her. So was Yang, so was Ruby, and Weiss definitely preferred it this way.
Being alone never bothered her…because she had the White Fang. They might not be like family, but they shared goals that transcended blood relations. At least, they used to. Looking back on it now, she realized that the White Fang slipped from her grasp long ago. Now, they made empty promises. They helped no one besides themselves. They were exactly who Yang always thought they were - nothing more than criminals pretending to be the good guys.
In a perverted sense of irony, the person she wanted to run to - the person whose comfort she sought more than a sinner seeking salvation - was also the person who caused this turmoil. If she never met Yang that day in Sapphire Bank, she wouldn't have a broken heart right now. She wouldn't be questioning everything about herself. She wouldn't be wandering around Vale wondering if there was any way that she could ever make this up to Yang.
That last thought lodged into her mind when she blinked at the building in front of her. Tall, brick, stately…a symbol of law and order surrounded by patrol cars and swimming with officers going about their days. Her heart squeezed and she had nearly turned around before something stopped her. An urge. A desire. A desperate need to do something.
Without thinking it through, she stuck her hands in her pockets, bowed her head, and walked into the station. The frenetic energy had grown comfortable through exposure. The steady drone of conversation and radios was uniquely soothing. Her first visit had been nerve-shattering, but today she took a deep, calming breath and went right up to the front desk.
"Oh, hey, Blake!" the receptionist, a young brunette who often told jokes in the break room, greeted her. "Yang's not in today."
"I know." They had planned on spending the day together - a missed opportunity that Blake would regret as she set a hand on the counter and took a deep breath. "I'm here to turn myself in."
"'Turn yourself in?'" the girl repeated, chuckling already. "What'd you do - rob a bank?"
"Yes. Several of them." As the girl's smile slowly faded, Blake took a deep breath and added, "My name's Blake Belladonna, but you also might know me as Shroud."
The name didn't immediately sink in. She even mouthed it to herself before her eyes widened.
"Are you…serious?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
The next few minutes passed in a blur. Officers and detectives - many of whom she knew, some of whom she didn't - fired question after question at her or each other. She repeated herself many times - yes, she was Shroud and no, she wouldn't speak to anyone but Yang. She had always considered the department to be organized, but it quickly became apparent that they had no idea what to do when a wanted criminal walked through the doors. Eventually, they ushered her into an interrogation room and told her to wait.
So she sat in a stiff chair, stared at the barren table in front of her, and tried not to panic. She wasn't an impulsive person, yet she just threw caution to the wind and her life in the toilet. Call it heartbreak. Call it anguish. Call it despair at the thought of never seeing or hearing from Yang again. Whatever it was, it forced her to make a gigantic, irrevocable decision.
They must have contacted Yang by now. Yang must be racing to the department. She might already be there, watching from the other side of the one-way mirror.
Then the door burst open and Yang stormed inside.
"What the hell's going on? I get a call saying Shroud turned herself in only to get here and find you -" Yang gestured at Blake before running a hand through her hair and turning away. After a deep breath, she spun back around. "What the hell is going on, Blake? If this is supposed to be some sort of joke, it's really not funny."
"It's not a joke. I wish it was…but it's not."
Blake's guilt grew as disbelief filled Yang's eyes.
"Holy shit." Yang pulled out the chair and collapsed into it, then leaned forward and shook her head. "No, no, no, no. You're lying. That can't be true. You're -"
"I'm Shroud," Blake admitted, her heart cracking when she noticed the dark circles under Yang's eyes. "I'm sorry. I hoped you'd never find out, but…guilt is an effective motivator."
"You - you -" Tears welled in Yang's eyes when realization finally dawned. "You knew who I was," she whispered. "You knew who I was when we met."
"I only knew your name. I didn't connect the two until I saw your badge."
"'Auditioning banks…'" Yang said before putting her head in her hands. She looked so distraught that Blake clasped her hands tightly in her lap, fighting every urge to offer comfort.
"I was never going to call you," she explained. "But Adam - Wilt - thought it'd be a good idea, so…I went along with it. I never expected to fall for you, but…I did."
Yang took several deep breaths before looking up, her eyes ablaze.
"Adam. Your jackass coworker is Wilt?"
"His real name is Adam Taurus."
Yang subconsciously touched the scar on her shoulder while processing the information. If Adam knew that Blake just turned him in, he would kill her. But she didn't care about him right now. Her heart reached out to Yang instead, clinging to hope that this would somehow work out.
"So you just - you just -" Yang couldn't even finish the sentence before shaking her head. "Why? How could you -?"
The door opened before Blake could even try to respond and a stern-looking woman strode into the room. In her mid-forties, with neatly styled sandy-blonde hair that accentuated her features and a crisp blue uniform covered in metal bars and stars, she spared one glance for Yang before focusing on Blake.
"Miss Belladonna, I'm Chief Fowler, head of the Vale Police Department." She curtly nodded to Yang and added, "I'll take it from here, Detective."
"But…this is my case."
"Given the circumstances -" The woman looked pointedly between them. "I've decided it's for the best that I step in."
"I'm not talking to anyone but Yang," Blake interjected. "If you take her off the case, I'm not saying another word."
The tension could have been cut with a knife as Blake glanced at Yang, and Yang looked at Chief Fowler, and Chief Fowler pursed her lips. Eventually, she pulled out the chair beside Yang and sat down.
"Fine. I'll be here to supervise then."
Blake frowned at her before focusing on Yang, whose stiff posture suggested this was nowhere close to a 'win.' Even more unfortunately, Chief Fowler's presence convinced Yang to pull an impassive mask over her emotions.
"Why are you here?" she asked in a short, detached tone.
"Because I turned myself in."
"Why did you turn yourself in?"
"Because…" Blake motioned to Yang but sighed when Yang's expression didn't soften. "Because I wanted the White Fang to be a catalyst for good, but that's no longer true."
"Elaborate."
"It's…" Blake clenched her hands into fists and perched on the edge of the chair. "I wanted to help people, but Adam doesn't want that anymore. He wants money, power, and doesn't plan on giving back to the city like I imagined."
"Does he know you're here?"
"Of course not. He'd kill me if he knew I was going to the cops."
Yang's rapid questions died at the revelation, but Chief Fowler slowly nodded.
"This could work in our favor," she mused, studying Blake with an intensity that made Blake squirm. "We send her back undercover, wait for the next robbery, then arrest them in the act."
"Are you kidding?" Yang was already shaking her head. "That's too dangerous. We'll just use her testimony and round the rest of them up."
"Testimony from a proven liar doesn't hold up well in court."
Blake flinched at the term while Chief Fowler clicked her tongue as if Yang should know better.
"I'm aware," Yang replied, lowering her voice. "But it's too dangerous to send her back. What if he catches wind that she was here?"
"Your feelings are clouding your judgment, Detective."
"My judgment is fine."
"I'll do it," Blake interrupted, drawing their gazes. Chief Fowler looked vindicated, which Blake hated, but Yang frowned and leaned further across the table.
"Blake, if he finds out you snitched…"
"I know what he'll do, Yang. But I…I want to make this right. Somehow."
Yang opened her mouth to argue, but her boss nodded and said, "Good. Then we need to know what the White Fang is planning next. What's the target, when is it happening, how are you getting in and out - everything."
"I don't know the whole plan," Blake admitted. "Adam's been keeping me in the dark."
"Why?"
"Probably because I'm -" She looked at Yang, who clenched her jaw and turned away, before sinking into her chair. "Because I'm compromised…" she whispered.
"Then tell us what you know."
Blake took a deep breath and slowly released it with a defeated, "Ok." Divulging these details marked the end of her time with the White Fang, which had been her world for the greater part of the past decade. She wasn't just leaving either - she was becoming their enemy. But the thought of losing the White Fang hurt far less than losing Yang, who sat on the other side of the table yet felt miles away.
"I don't know what bank it is because Cinder's in charge of strategy -"
"Cinder," Yang cut in. "Real name or alias?"
"Real name, I think. Cinder Fall." Once Yang nodded and jotted the name down, Blake took another deep breath and continued. "I only know the type of safe. It's a Vanguard 9000, and I'll have four minutes to get in. I don't know when, but it should be any day now."
Yang pursed her lips and shared a long look with Chief Fowler. Their silent conversation frayed Blake's nerves, but Yang eventually nodded and pulled the notepad closer.
"I'll make a list of every bank with that safe and start planning for all of them."
"I'll let SWAT know to be ready," Chief Fowler added before turning to Blake. "You might walk out of here today, but you're no longer a free woman. The second you know the time and location, you'll provide it to Detective Xiao Long. I believe you already have her information."
Yang's mouth set in a grim line, but Blake glanced at her before nodding and saying, "I will."
"You'll be placed under surveillance, but I'll let Yang decide if she wants to take that role or assign it to another officer."
With all attention on her, Yang chewed on the option for several seconds before grumbling, "I'll do it."
"That's settled then." Chief Fowler pushed herself to her feet but kept her palms pressed to the table, staring down at Blake. "The department will be flagging all of your identities, your bank accounts, aliases - I'd advise you not to run."
"I won't run."
"They all say that," she remarked before leaving. Blake frowned and turned to Yang.
"I won't run," she repeated, but Yang just ground her jaw back and forth before standing and jerking her head for Blake to follow.
"Come on. I'll take you home."
Plenty of times, Blake imagined what would happen if she was ever caught or arrested. Somehow, she never considered that she would spill her darkest secrets and then leave the police station without handcuffs. Of course, she might as well be imprisoned by how much her heart ached at Yang's demeanor.
Yang's jaw remained tightly clenched and she avoided looking anywhere near Blake as they got into her car. She didn't speak a word on the drive to Blake's apartment, and Blake didn't dare to interrupt her silent stewing. Her knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel while Blake's turned white from clutching her hands in her lap.
Two days ago, they were happy and in love. Today, Yang wanted to be nowhere near her. The only reason they were sharing the same space was because of Yang's duty to her job. That became increasingly clear when they parked in front of Blake's building and Yang left the vehicle with a gruff, "Let's go."
Blake followed Yang inside, determined not to crumble at Yang's stiff posture and demoralizing aura. She hardly made it a step through the door before noticing that the usually empty lobby had a guest.
"Oh. Hi, Marie."
"Bella," Marie greeted her warmly before looking up at Yang and widening her eyes. "Oh, Bella isn't the only beauty in my building today. Who might you be?"
"This is Yang." An awkward pause followed when Blake grappled over how to describe their relationship. "We're just hanging out," she added lamely.
Marie arched one brow, likely thinking something scandalous was afoot, while Yang politely dipped her chin and said, "Nice to meet you, ma'am."
"Have a good day," Blake added while brushing by, but Marie raised a hand to stop her.
"Oh, Bella, while I have you - I wanted to tell you that you'll have a new neighbor soon." When Blake paused and turned around, Marie sighed. "I had to send her out. She fell behind on rent again."
The news added to an already miserable day, but Blake mustered a small nod and said, "Thanks for letting me know." She then hurried into the elevator and jabbed the button for her floor as soon as Yang joined her.
"Bella, huh," Yang commented once the doors closed. Blake sighed, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back against the wall. She only opened them when the elevator stopped, and only then so that she could lead Yang to her apartment.
Now that they were in private, a storm was brewing. Her body tensed in preparation while she turned on the lights and pretended like this was a normal night. As if Yang had come over for dinner or a movie and wasn't standing like an iron rod in the middle of her living room, practically vibrating with hurt and anger.
Blake shied away from the pain, not wanting to make it worse, but she grew increasingly worried that this might be her only chance to explain herself. And, if she wanted any chance of convincing Yang that what they had was real, she had to put all of her cards on the table. It had always been so easy to talk to Yang, yet today the words kept sticking in her throat.
"Adam said someone hired the White Fang for a job," she finally got out, only to regret it when Yang scoffed.
"Being hired to steal something…sounds an awful lot like something a group of criminals would do."
"I get it, Yang," she sighed. "They're criminals. I'm a criminal. I'm not claiming otherwise. I'm just saying…we need to stop him before it gets worse."
"'We' aren't doing anything. You're providing information. The police will handle the rest of the White Fang." Yang crossed her arms over her chest, planted her feet, and frowned at Blake. "Do they know we broke up?"
Blake flinched, her despondency growing as Yang closed herself off behind a brick wall.
"Yang…" Blake pleaded. "When I said I couldn't do this anymore, I meant I couldn't keep lying to you. I don't want to break up. But I know you probably don't want to be with me anymore -"
"What I want doesn't matter. We can't be together." When Blake winced again, Yang tightened her crossed arms. "Do they know that our status has changed then?" she asked again.
"No."
"Good. At least no one will suspect why I'm over here."
Yang finally uncrossed her arms, but only so that she could walk to the door. Panic surged through Blake's veins, so she spit out the first thought that crossed her mind.
"Aren't you going to ask why I joined?"
Already reaching for the handle, Yang froze. Even from behind, Blake could see her work her jaw back and forth, considering whether or not she should just leave.
"Fine," she snapped, spinning around. "Why did you join?"
"Because…I was young and naive. I met Adam at a protest and we started talking about how wrong things were and how much we wanted to change them. We started throwing ideas around - small acts of disobedience - and eventually…" Recalling that fateful moment in her life, Blake briefly closed her eyes. "It started small - swiping a few extra dollars here and there - then he had a 'brilliant' idea: rob a bank."
Yang's eyes swam with conflicting emotions while Blake silently begged her to try to understand.
"I really thought I could make a difference…" she admitted. "I thought the people we stole from deserved it. I thought no one would get hurt."
Seeing the hurt in Yang's eyes as vividly as she felt the pain in her chest, she clutched her hands over her heart and sighed.
"I can't change my past. If I could, believe me, I would. I can only try to make up for my mistakes - and I've made so many of them, Yang. I - I don't know how I'll ever earn anyone's forgiveness, but -"
Getting too choked up to speak, Blake tried to compose herself. One of her worst mistakes swam to the top of her mind, one that might kill any possibility of reconciliation. But if she didn't get it all out now…Yang might also never forgive her.
She already tried the lying route…look where it got her.
"Yang, there's…there's something I didn't tell Chief Fowler." When Yang recrossed her arms and motioned for Blake to spill, Blake nearly lost her nerve. But, for once in this relationship, she needed to be honest. "Adam…the White Fang…they know everything you know."
"Explain."
Fighting back tears, she took a deep breath and said, "They have a copy of all of your work. From your computer."
Deathly silence descended over them. She waited for Yang to ask how that happened, forcing her to admit the depths of her betrayal. Instead, Yang gritted her teeth and asked, "You let them in my apartment?"
"Yes."
Yang shook her head and turned away.
"I didn't know what to do," Blake tried to explain, reaching out as if she might still be able to reach Yang. "Adam was questioning my loyalty and Yuma shot you. I wanted out, but I didn't know how to leave and keep you safe."
Rather than respond, Yang stared at the opposite wall for a long time.
"Getting shot hurt way less than this," she eventually whispered, looking at the floor before finally meeting Blake's gaze. Her lilac eyes, so often sparkling and happy, were filled with nothing but anguish. "You used me. Lied to me. Pretended like - like we had something -"
"We did," Blake argued. "We do." When Yang scoffed and shook her head, Blake grabbed her elbow to keep her from turning away again. "I crack safes and come up with strategies, Yang. I'm not an actress. I wouldn't have made it past our first date if I didn't actually feel something for you. If I didn't actually lo-"
"Don't," Yang interrupted, raising one hand and forcefully shaking her head. "You have no right to say that."
Only when Blake swallowed the word did Yang lower her hand and turn away.
"Does that make it easier?" Blake asked softly. "Pretending it was all fake?"
"Yes."
The answer cut like a blade, but Blake nodded and accepted the pain. Yang was right - she didn't have the right to say that word right now.
"If it was true -" Yang suddenly said, whirling back around. "Then why didn't you say something? Why didn't you let me help you?"
"Why do you think we're here, Yang?" Blake grabbed her elbow and looked down. "How much clearer can it be that I want your help? I need your help. The White Fang changed; Adam changed. Everything you've said about us is right. We aren't helping people. We're just criminals. I don't want that life anymore. I want this one."
Blake gestured between them, silently pleading Yang to believe her, but Yang just stared for several seconds before clenching her fist and shaking her head.
"Yesterday, I thought I wanted to marry you. Now, I don't even know who you are."
Tears sprang into Blake's eyes while Yang walked out muttering, "I'll be in the hall."
The door shut and Blake drew a shaky breath before wiping away the first tear. Another one quickly took its place and a sob slipped out shortly after. Covering her mouth with one hand, she sank to the floor in front of the sofa and cried more than she had cried in a long, long time.
Yang was just outside, but she wouldn't be comforting Blake today or any day from here on out. Heading into what could be the most difficult and tumultuous period of her life, with a confrontation with Adam on the horizon, she got what she deserved - she would be all alone.