The sea breeze was cool against Blake's skin as she stood on the deck of the ferry, watching the rhythmic waves crash against the side of the ship. The sound should have been peaceful, but instead, it stirred memories. Her amber eyes scanned the open waters, and her thoughts drifted back to the day she and Sun fought the Sea Dragon Grimm. The battle had been fierce, and Sun—always so confident and carefree—had stood by her side, fighting with everything he had.
The memory brought a bittersweet ache to her chest. She swallowed the emotion down, trying to push it away, but the sadness clung to her. She wanted to forget, to move on, but it wasn't that simple. Not with the guilt weighing her down like an anchor.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear Yang's footsteps until they were right beside her.
"Hey," Yang said softly, leaning on the railing next to Blake. They both gazed out at the vast ocean, the squawks of seagulls in the distance punctuating the quiet.
Blake's ears twitched slightly at Yang's presence, but she didn't turn her head. "Hey," she replied, her voice low.
"You doing okay?" Yang asked, glancing at her with a hint of concern in her lilac eyes.
Blake took a deep breath, feeling the sea breeze fill her lungs. "I'm doing better than before," she admitted. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either.
Yang knew Blake was struggling, more than the rest of the team. She could see it in the way Blake held herself, the way she distanced herself sometimes. She understood, because in her own way, Yang was struggling too.
"We've all been through a lot, haven't we?" Yang said, her voice soft but steady. "I mean… this trip, it's not just about seeing the world or going on some big adventure. It's about trying to heal, to figure out how to move forward. We're all trying to figure it out."
Blake's ears twitched again, and she turned slightly to face Yang. "Do Ruby and Weiss know that's why we're doing this?"
Yang shook her head. "Weiss doesn't. But Ruby… I think she knows. She's been through so much too. She'll figure it out."
For a moment, Blake let the words sink in. Then, surprising even herself, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Yang in a tight hug. The warmth of Yang's embrace was comforting, steadying. Yang returned the hug, holding Blake close.
For a brief moment, everything felt okay. The warmth of the hug, the gentle swaying of the ferry, the sound of the waves—they were all reminders that despite everything, they still had each other.
The moment was interrupted by the sound of a door opening behind them. Weiss stepped out, looking around until she spotted them. "We're almost at the dock," she said with a small smile.
Yang and Blake chuckled as they pulled apart. Before they went back inside, Blake leaned in and quickly gave Yang a small, sneaky kiss on the cheek. Yang blushed, grinning despite herself. Blake smiled too, her spirits lifted just a little as they made their way back inside.
Present Day, Mistral
Blake sat alone in the dimly lit motel room, her back resting against the headboard of the bed. The small room felt suffocating, despite its neatness. She held a picture frame in her hands, her thumb gently brushing over the photo inside: a picture of her and Sun, taken the day before he died. They were smiling, standing side by side, carefree in a way that felt like a lifetime ago.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away as she heard the bathroom door creak open. She hastily tucked the photo away under her pillow as Yang stepped out, wrapped in nothing but a towel, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders.
Yang noticed Blake's puffy eyes and the tension in her body. "Why don't you take a shower, Blake?" she said softly. "Then we can talk, okay?"
Blake nodded, grateful for the moment of solitude Yang had given her. She slipped off the bed and headed to the bathroom, trying to wash away not just the day's grime, but the sadness that clung to her like a second skin.
Meanwhile, Ruby and Weiss wandered through Mistral's bustling marketplace. Ruby's eyes darted from stall to stall, fascinated by the weapons being sold. There were more weapons than she'd expected—swords, spears, shields—all on display like common trinkets. It was both exciting and a little overwhelming for her.
Weiss, however, was growing increasingly irritated. "Ruby, could you stop gawking at every weapons stand? We're just here to buy some fruit," she said, sighing as they stopped at a fruit vendor.
Ruby gave a sheepish grin. "I know, I know. I just—wait…"
Something caught her eye at one of the nearby stands. Weiss turns to look at where Ruby is looking, and she drops the fruit that she was holding. Her heart skipped a beat as she moved toward it, her steps quickening. Sitting on display, behind a glass case, was a familiar sword and shield—Crocea Mors.
Jaune's weapon.
Her throat tightened. Those weapons had been thought lost after he died. How were they here? Why were they being sold?
The vendor saw Ruby's interest and leaned over the counter. "Ah, interested in that, huh? It's a rare find. Got it from a battlefield after the War."
Ruby's anger flared instantly. "You took it from the battlefield?" Her voice shook with emotion. "That's not yours to sell!"
The vendor shrugged. "War relics like this turn up all the time. It's how I make a living."
Before Weiss could react, Ruby snapped. She lunged at the vendor, grabbing his shirt and screaming, "This weapon is not for sale! It's a family heirloom! And you're selling it like it's nothing!"
Weiss's eyes widened as she rushed to stop Ruby, but when she looked the weapon herself, anger in her rising. She didn't even hesitate. Using her rapier, Weiss smashed the glass, reaching in and grabbing the sword and shield.
The vendor cowered as Weiss's icy tone cut through the air. "You have no right to sell this."
Ruby stopped her assault and stared at Weiss, her breathing heavy. Together, they left the stall, ignoring the terrified vendor behind them.
In a quiet alleyway, Ruby sat on the ground, holding Crocea Mors in her trembling hands. Tears streamed down her face as Weiss knelt beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"We did the right thing," Weiss whispered. "Jaune's family will be grateful to have his weapon back."
Ruby sobbed, her voice shaking. "I miss him so much…"
"I miss him too," Weiss admitted, her own voice thick with emotion. "He was important to all of us. And what that vendor did… trying to sell his weapon like it was some kind of trophy… it was wrong."
Ruby nodded, feeling guilty for her outburst. "Maybe I shouldn't have attacked him… I should've just broken the glass like you did."
Weiss smiled softly. "It's okay, Ruby. You were just protecting what mattered."
Back at the motel, Blake sat on the bed, freshly showered and holding the picture of her and Sun again. Yang, sitting beside her, glanced at the photo.
"There's no shame in keeping this," Yang said gently. "You don't have to hide it."
Blake sighed, brushing her fingers over the frame. "I know… I just… I've been trying to look at it less. Sun wouldn't want me to dwell on the past forever."
Yang nodded, understanding. "You're trying. That's all anyone can ask."
Blake bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry for yelling at Ruby…"
Yang smiled softly. "She was just trying to help. She didn't know how it would turn out."
"I'll make it up to her," Blake promised.
Yang stood up, pulling out her Scroll and selecting a song. She extended a hand to Blake, a playful smile on her lips. "Come on. Dance with me."
Blake hesitated for a moment before taking Yang's hand. They moved to the center of the room, swaying gently to the music at first, then twirling each other as the tempo picked up. Blake smiled, enjoying the moment. She leans her head near Yang's, closed her eyes, and taking in the scent of Yang's bubblegum shampoo, feeling the warmth of her presence.
When Blake lifts her hear, her and Yang's faces were inches apart. As they stare at each other, Blake lean towards her. That' when the door suddenly burst open, and Ruby and Weiss walked in, both looking serious.
"We need to talk," Ruby said, her voice somber.
Yang and Blake separated, surprised to see Ruby holding Crocea Mors.
Yang's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"
Ruby explained everything, and as the story unfolded, Yang's fury began to rise, her eyes turning red with anger. But Blake grabbed her arm, grounding her.
"It's not worth it," Blake said softly.
Weiss nodded. "We already handled it."
Yang took a deep breath, calming herself. She trusted Blake's judgment.
Ruby set Crocea Mors down carefully, her voice breaking the silence. "We should talk."