The next morning began with Yang arriving early, laden with breakfast and a 'good morning' kiss that seemed to slip her mind. She then ushered Blake outside so that they made it to the station as the morning shift arrived. While the other officers and detectives went about their jobs, however, Yang and Blake sequestered themselves in the investigation room, where Blake quietly finished her omelet while Yang sorted through the collection of evidence boxes.
"This stuff's all useless…" Yang muttered, shoving aside a box of video tapes. "Oh, here - you might want to read this." Yang removed a folder from another box and slid it to Blake, who glanced at Yang before flipping it open. Finding a lengthy, handwritten document inside, she read the first sentence and then stopped.
"Is this…?"
"Ilia's full statement." Yang grabbed a chair and pulled it closer to Blake. "Maybe you'll pull something from it that I missed."
When Yang leaned closer, her eyes flitting from one word to the next, Blake stared at her for several seconds before taking a quiet, shallow breath and looking at the confession lying in front of her. Her chest tightened as she read, remembering how it felt to write her own statement so long ago.
Ilia rambled for several paragraphs but then spared no detail as catharsis set in. This wasn't the same wide-eyed, naive girl who Blake had recruited to join a 'better' cause. She had matured and, in some ways, hardened, becoming disillusioned with the world Blake had once hoped to mend.
Now, Blake re-experienced what had happened during her absence through Ilia's eyes. The White Fang had grown in number and perceived power, yet Adam had become withdrawn and unpredictable. Cinder brought in more and more of her 'mean' acquaintances. They hatched grand plans and hustled small crimes. Ilia brought up Emerald a lot, starting plenty of sentences with "Emerald and I." Littered throughout the pages was fear, turmoil, pride, denial, and every emotion in between.
"Hey." Yang plucked the pages away, making Blake blink before noticing the tears rolling down her cheeks. Yang hugged her an instant later, rubbing her back and saying, "It's ok - she's ok," while she buried her face in the crook of Yang's neck.
Nothing felt ok. It felt like she left a trail of destroyed lives in her wake.
"I should've…done something…" she began before giving up and melting further into Yang's embrace.
"You are." When Blake sighed, Yang gently pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes. "You're doing everything you can for her," Yang insisted. "She's lucky to have a friend like you."
Blake didn't know if anyone should consider themselves lucky to be anywhere near her orbit, but she sniffled, rubbed the remaining tears from her eyes, and gladly accepted Yang's hug. Wrapped in Yang's secure warmth, she took several deep breaths and reminded herself that Ilia's story was what she needed to stop. The police brought her back to Vale for a reason: because she knew Adam. If they had any hope of getting a glimpse into his mind, she was it.
"Xiao Long!" Yang and Blake jolted apart as Detective Proud careened into the room, gesturing Yang to him. "Patrol just called in a White Fang sighting. A florist spotted someone in the mask near Ember Park."
"You're joking." He shook his head, but Yang was already following him out of the room with Blake on her heels. "When?"
"Ten minutes ago. Units are on the way."
"We are, too."
Yang didn't even check that Blake was behind her while half-jogging, half-running out of the station.
"Why would they wear a mask in the middle of the day?" Blake wondered out loud, buckling herself into the passenger seat as the engine sparked to life.
"Maybe it's just a copycat. Either way, we're checking it out."
While Yang turned on the siren and gunned it out of the parking lot, Blake tried to calm her racing heart. After reading Ilia's statement, she didn't know if she hoped for a copycat or a real member of the White Fang. A copycat implied that Adam had successfully put the White Fang on the map as one of Vale's 'premier' organizations. A White Fang member wearing their mask out in public was equally concerning since they might pose a threat to innocent bystanders.
Names flew through Blake's mind as they raced through the streets. Yuma, Fennec, Mercury - who could it be? Would they still be around or had they disappeared just like Cinder? She braced herself for the answer as they reached Ember Park.
Sitting smack dab in the center of Vale's most densely packed neighborhood, Ember Park drew visitors from all walks of life, most of whom lived in the apartment buildings towering over it. Train lines ran around the park in a giant square, representing some of the busiest stops in the city as people squeezed into filled train cars or disembarked in a large crowd. At any time of day, celebrations or sports games were happening somewhere amongst the acres of greenery. Birthday parties, reunions, chess tournaments…the park had something for everyone.
Mom-and-pop businesses offering everything from ice cream to haircuts to flowers had sprung up around the periphery to serve the steady stream of travelers. One such flower shop, tucked into the first floor of an aging apartment building, advertised bouquets of roses and other freshly cut flowers for sale, but the police officers speaking to a young woman out front currently garnered far more interest than the advertisements.
Yang parked beside a patrol car in the train station's lot and hopped out in one fluid motion. When Blake followed, however, Yang motioned for her to stay put.
"Wait here until I get an update," Yang added before glancing both ways and jogging across the street. While Yang joined the patrol officers, Blake leaned against the car and watched the conversation from afar.
The young woman gestured with her hands and pointed in a direction, which the two officers soon set off in, before wringing her hands as Yang asked follow-up questions. When Yang motioned to a small camera at the topmost part of the store, the young woman nodded and ducked into the building. Yang caught Blake's gaze, but Blake motioned that she was fine. Even then, Yang hesitated before nodding and disappearing into the tiny store.
While Yang checked the videotapes, Blake tapped the hood of the car and waited. A new train pulled into the station and released a crowd of passengers. As they streamed past, she scanned as many faces as possible, half-expecting to see another ghost of her past but finding only a sea of strangers. The train left the station, screeching along the tracks, while another arrived. A typical, busy train station in Vale, always moving and never quiet.
Amidst that ongoing energy, a soft whistle caught her attention. It could have been intended for anyone, but when she glanced over and spotted a flash of green hair, her heart stilled.
Emerald looked exactly how Blake remembered her: striking green hair and red eyes, willowy figure, dark skin, and a shiftiness that made her a skilled thief. She stood half-hidden behind a pillar near the train tracks and, once Blake's gaze met hers, motioned Blake over.
Blake immediately glanced at the flower shop, but Emerald whistled again and then pointedly shook her head. Biting her lip, Blake watched the new train load its passengers and weighed her options. Ultimately, she shot one last glance at the flower shop before walking over.
"Where's Ilia?" Emerald asked before Blake even made it to her. "Do the cops have her?"
Caught off guard, Blake stopped several paces away and shook her head.
"I know you know," Emerald pressed, squeezing her fingers into fists before releasing them. "Just…tell me if she's ok. She's ok, right?"
Blake squinted at Emerald, whose tense posture and flitting gaze were like a rabbit poised to dash away at a moment's notice. The train, in particular, earned frequent glances, and her jittery energy only rose as the doors closed.
"She's fine," Blake answered, watching the knowledge first bounce off of Emerald to no effect then circle back around and release some of the tension in her shoulders. "What're you doing here, Emerald? What's Adam planning?"
"What isn't he planning…" Emerald grumbled, her red eyes flitting both directions before focusing on Blake. "He doesn't tell us anything anymore. It's all 'Just do this' or 'Just do that' and 'It's not your role to know everything.'" Emerald paused and scowled before shaking the frustration away. "All I know is he got us into some shit. Took an impossible job, now we've got some rich ass, scary motherfucker breathing down our necks."
"He's working with someone else?"
Emerald nodded. "No idea who. Someone with a lot of guns." Emerald briefly looked down but then shook her head. "Target's big though."
"What's the target?" When Emerald bit her lip, Blake stepped closer. "If you tell me, we can stop him."
"I can't help you, Blake. But Shroud can."
The name hit Blake like a slap to the face.
"Shroud's gone."
"Then I suggest you find her, and fast. Because Adam versus Blake is a bloodbath. Wilt versus Shroud though…"
As Emerald trailed off, Blake scrunched up her face.
"Emerald, what are you talking about? We're the same people."
"You're not though." When Blake remained confused, Emerald glanced over her shoulder as if someone might be watching. Finding only a sea of people, she turned around and lowered her voice. "Listen, I don't know anything else. I'm only in charge of spoofing some black SUVs - standard private security shit."
"Private security?" Blake repeated, unable to fathom how private security could be involved with a bank. "Do you know where?" she pressed only for Emerald to shake her head. "Or when? What else are they prepping for? What model are they looking at?"
"I don't know." Emerald continued shaking her head before pausing. "I only caught a glimpse of the tester they brought in. It had a little silver star on the bottom right corner."
"A Prestige," Blake immediately deduced.
"Can you crack it?"
"Probably." Blake shrugged and then glanced at the flower shop. Yang might be back any second now. "Emerald, if you're not turning yourself in, you should go -"
"Wait."
Emerald caught Blake's arm but, as soon as Blake looked down at her hand, released her.
"Ilia's not the only one who wants out, ok?" Emerald whispered, clutching her elbow close to herself and looking anywhere but at Blake. "It used to be fun, you know? Swiping wallets, stealing codes…now, it's all beating up tellers and shooting people. I didn't sign up for that."
"Then come with me. The police will help you."
"I can't." Emerald shook her head when Blake sighed. "Listen, I can't leave, alright? Cinder will kill me."
"The police can protect you."
"Right," Emerald huffed. "How's that working for you?"
"I'm alive, aren't I?"
When Blake held out her arms, Emerald stared while worrying her bottom lip. Blake remembered the feeling perfectly - trapped but terrified of the repercussions of leaving. Not wanting to live the rest of her life looking over her shoulder, wondering when Adam or Cinder would catch up to her.
Another train pulled into the station, screeching along the tracks and making Emerald flinch away from indecision.
"I can't," she repeated, her decision made. "After this job though…" She glanced at the train, then at Blake, before backing away. "Sorry," she added as the distance between her and her escape dwindled. "I wish I knew more."
Blake shook her head but paused when a thought niggled at her mind.
"How'd you know I'd be here?" she called out before Emerald moved out of reach. The question earned a condescending look.
"Everyone knows you're back. Cinder wouldn't shut up about it. Then Fennec decided to be an ass and traipse around in his mask - I figured your girl would be shuttling you around."
"She's not 'my girl.'"
"Right," Emerald scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You only destroyed your life for her. If you think she doesn't recognize that, you're the idiot."
With that, Emerald slipped onto the train right before the doors closed, erasing her in a crowd of passengers headed to another part of Vale. Blake watched the train pull out of the station and speed away, her mind racing even faster. Before she could sort through even a fraction of that conversation, however, Yang jogged over to her.
"Hey, what's going on? Who was that?"
"That…that was Emerald. She's - she's still with the White Fang." Blake froze when a realization hit her. "Should I have tried to stop her?"
"No, you leave that kind of stuff to me." Yang stepped closer, her hand resting on Blake's elbow. "What did she want?"
"She said they're working on something big." Blake parsed through more of the conversation and then frowned. "They were hired by someone - someone scary - and she said -" Shroud can help, she kept to herself, shaking the name from her mind. "She said she's in charge of spoofing some private security SUVs, and it's a Prestige vault."
"Private security? Are they going after a person?"
Blake's eyes widened as she spun around to watch the train before it disappeared.
She and Emerald had never been best friends, but they weren't enemies either. Plus, the crimes Emerald committed were for the thrill of it - she thought it was 'fun' to steal someone's wallet. Violence hadn't drawn her to crime, and its presence in the White Fang was probably pushing her away. Unfortunately…leaving the White Fang was much harder than joining.
"Hey." Yang squeezed Blake's elbow, drawing Blake's gaze to hers. "What're you thinking?"
"I…I don't know." Blake shook her head but attempted to put her thoughts into words. "I don't know if I can trust her. Did she really want to know how Ilia is or was that just pretend?" She dwelled on that question for several seconds before shaking it from her head. "We have the model though, potentially. And you're right…they might not be after a bank."
"Which makes it harder," Yang sighed. "Banks are more than willing to give us information, but start questioning some rich people…" Yang made a face suggesting that would be a horrible task, so Blake bit her lip and mused over their new predicament.
"Can you take me somewhere?" she asked when an idea sprang into her mind. "I mean, if we're done here?"
"Oh, yeah." Yang waved away any concern. "Camera caught a good look and patrol's combing the area, but I doubt we'll find him now."
"Most likely. Emerald said it was Fennec just being an 'ass.'" Once Yang rolled her eyes, Blake added, "I just want to go see something."
Without hesitation, Yang led them back to the car. "Where to?" she asked once they buckled in.
"You know where the Prestige showroom is, right?"
Yang sent Blake the cutest smile before putting the car in drive. "Do I know where the Prestige showroom is…" she playfully repeated to herself, chuckling while leaving the train station and flower shop behind.
Despite Yang concluding that they wouldn't find Fennec, Blake kept her eyes peeled for any sign of the young man. As Ember Park fell behind them, however, any hope - or worry - of spotting him disappeared. If Emerald already knew that he'd been spotted, then he must also know to lose the mask and go underground.
As much as Blake wanted to dwell on another ghost who got away, she refocused as a sleek, modern storefront came into view. Yang parked in front and waited for Blake so that the two of them could enter together, leaving Vale's vague humidity for the climate-controlled space.
Various safes sat under soft lighting, much like artwork might be framed at a gallery, with their open doors inviting visitors to peek inside. A placard stood beside each one but, rather than a history of the artist, listed security features. Enlarged photographs of locking mechanisms, carbon fiber, and combination locks adorned the gallery's walls.
"It's like a museum for thieves…" Yang commented to herself before smiling at the well-dressed gentleman headed their way.
"Welcome to Prestige," he greeted them with a half-bow. "How can I help you?"
"We're working on a case." Yang briefly showed him her badge, which quickly altered his demeanor. "Any chance you can get us a customer list?"
"I'm sorry. Every sale comes with a confidentiality agreement. We can't disclose names unless you have a warrant."
"Figured." Yang puffed a breath through her lips and put her badge away.
"Can we look around though?" Blake asked, gesturing to the displays.
"Of course. Take all the time you need."
He glanced at Yang as if requesting permission to leave before ducking out of the conversation. His quick pace back to his counter suggested that he would be reporting their inquiry to his superiors, but Yang looked unbothered as she motioned for Blake to lead the way.
"Think you can get a warrant?" Blake asked while walking to the nearest safe. She looked over the door before glancing at Yang and moving on.
"Maybe. It'll take time though. Like I said, rich people don't like when the cops start asking questions, and they have good attorneys. Judges try not to piss them off. If we had something in writing, it would be a slam dunk."
"But me hearing it from a criminal, ex-coworker without any witnesses isn't exactly dependable."
Yang cringed but then glanced at Blake.
"I believe you." Yang hardly let the comment sink in before gesturing to the next safe. "What're you looking for?"
"A star." Blake looked at the bottom corner of this safe, found nothing but sleek gray, and moved on. "Emerald said there's a silver star at the bottom right corner," she explained. "And Prestige puts their logo in a unique position on every model. 'No two look alike.' It's part of their whole…thing."
Blake motioned to the opulent showroom before passing by a model where the star had been ostentatiously wrapped around the top corner. Noticing Yang's smile, she paused.
"What?"
"Nothing." Yang shook her head, but the smile snuck back onto her lips. "You just…really know your stuff."
It sounded like a compliment, but Blake didn't know if she should accept it considering her experience came from committing crimes. Her cheeks warmed though, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she searched out the next model. This one was large - something industrial that a bank might use - but a small silver star had been emblazoned on the bottom right corner, just like Emerald said.
"Here we go." Blake touched the side of the safe before scanning the placard beside it. "It's older - probably installed within the last three to five years. Doesn't have the best features, but the walls are almost impossible to drill. Using the combination would be the best bet."
"That's where you'd come in," Yang commented, stepping closer. Her gaze roved over the safe before moving to Blake. "Can you open it?"
Setting her hand on the cool, metal dial, Blake sighed and said, "Probably. I'd just need my tools and enough time."
"How much time?"
"Depends on the number of distractions. In an ideal world where no one makes a sound and I'm lucky, it'd still take longer than I'd want to spend breaking and entering."
"Honest question…" Yang glanced at the showroom employee before turning her back to him and holding Blake's gaze. "Can anyone in Vale besides you open this without the combination?"
"If there is, I don't know them."
Yang nearly smiled, but then set her lips in a grim line and stared at the safe. "What if…they moved it?" When Blake's brow furrowed, Yang waved her hands in front of her. "Just go with me here. What if they moved it to the perfect location? Then anyone could take their time trying to crack it."
"That'd be an unorthodox way of doing things…" Blake trailed off and then her eyes widened. "The manuals! They're trying to figure out how to move it without tripping the sensors."
"So they're going to yank a safe out of some bigshot's house?" Yang huffed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Well, that'll make the front page."
"Not if we stop them." Blake's brow unfurrowed when Yang beamed at her. "What?"
"You're right," Yang said, her smile brightening. "When we stop them, we'll be on the front page instead."
The thought was just as compelling as Yang's smile, and Blake only realized that she was leaning in when Yang's gaze flitted to the store employee. Crashing back into the moment, she cleared her throat, nodded once, and said, "Sounds like something to look forward to."
A smile slipped onto her lips when Yang chuckled and bumped her elbow. "Need more time?" Yang asked, gesturing between Blake and the safe. "I can leave you two alone…let you get acquainted…"
Yang laughed when Blake swatted her shoulder. "I'm good," Blake added, rolling her eyes but still smiling.
"Then let's get out of here."
Yang's fingers settled on Blake's side as she guided them out, waving to the employee as they left. A tingle ran down Blake's spine from the soft touch, the sensation just as welcome as the gentle warmth on her cheeks.
"So I need to make a list of some rich people and then convince them to tell me what brand of safe they own."
Yang huffed at her new objective after opening the passenger door for Blake, her hand only then disappearing from Blake's side.
"You probably don't have to bother," Blake replied, slipping into the seat and then waiting for Yang to join her. "Ninety percent of them will have a Prestige."
"How could I forget - expensive means better."
When Yang rolled her eyes, Blake smiled at her. Yang didn't notice as she backed them out of the parking spot, already caught up in their next objective. She might be lost in thought, but her posture remained relaxed and her grip on the steering wheel stayed loose. Blake's heart sang at the marked improvement, stirring hope that one day they could move past the lies and hurt. That hope only grew when Yang turned to her, lilac eyes clear as could be, and smiled.
"How about we pick up some takeout and eat at your place?"
"'My place?'" When Yang wrinkled her nose and made a 'so-so' gesture with her hand, Blake laughed and said, "That sounds great. You pick."
Humming to herself, Yang focused on the road while Blake cast frequent glances her way.
"Just how difficult could these rich people be, anyway?" Blake eventually asked, but Yang just laughed and shook her head.
"I'd rather stick to banks, believe me."
Yang could have left the comment at that, but she gave examples instead, each in the form of personal encounters with Vale's 'elite.' Many of the stories needled at Blake's sense of injustice, reminding her of Vale's rampant inequality, but mostly she just listened and asked questions. Her only distraction came in the form of one of her favorite takeout restaurants, which she swooned over until they left with two containers stuffed with delicious noodles.
"You're spoiling me," she said as they returned to the car.
"I figured you haven't been here in a while." Before the reason for the absence settled over them, Yang added, "I haven't either, and you know I love their noodles."
"You and me both."
Blake held the boxes in her lap, excited at the prospect of enjoying another dinner together, as they returned to 'her' apartment.
"The White Fang robbed a person before," Yang remarked as they headed upstairs. Blake appreciated that Yang didn't use 'you' but still felt compelled to answer honestly.
"We did." Blake ruminated on that job before adding more. "It was a crime of opportunity though. He posted pictures of the safe all over the internet. He traveled all the time and left only two guards at the house when he was away. Then there was the fact that his employees hated him. As Cinder said…he was 'practically asking for it.'"
"He was a tool." Yang clicked her tongue before opening the apartment door and motioning Blake inside. "Why the switch to banks? Seems like breaking into a house is way easier."
"It is. But it's a lot harder to turn a one-of-a-kind artwork into money than to turn actual money into money."
"Ah." Yang claimed a stool at the small kitchen island and watched Blake remove the containers from the bag. "You had trouble fencing it?"
"More like we were too scared to try. Pretty sure Cinder kept one of the paintings - it's probably hanging on her wall somewhere."
"So why would they go after another private party now? They think this person has a ton of cash or they have a better fence?"
"Mercury always wanted to build out a fence network…" Blake mused. "That's probably what they did. Now, they can steal anything."
"Lovely." Yang flipped open the lid only to immediately flip it closed. "I don't like it. Three White Fang sightings in two days. Are they getting careless or is this part of the plan? And now that they know you're back…" Yang trailed off, frowning at the counter, and then shook her head. "I just don't like it."
"I don't either," Blake admitted. "But we'll figure it out."
She offered a small smile, and Yang responded by staring at her before smiling in return.
"We will." Yang reached over and squeezed Blake's hand before flipping open the lid and grabbing one of the plastic forks. "I'm going to devour all of this." She pointed her fork to the pile of food just as her radio spurred to life.
"Attention all units, we have a 10-90 reported at Vale Community Bank at the West Oak Mall. Please respond Code 3."
"Oh, shit." Yang's fork clattered to the island as she sprang to her feet. "Someone just tripped an alarm at Vale Community."
Blake was on her feet by the time Yang looked at her and froze. Blake could practically see the wheels turning in her head, running through scenarios and possible outcomes.
"You stay here." Before Blake could argue, Yang kissed her cheek and hurried to the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can, ok?" she added on her way out. Blake stared, mouth agape, before rushing to the window and watching Yang run out to the car, jump into the driver's seat, and tear off.
Sighing at the rapid change in fortune, she returned to the island and half-heartedly ate several forkfuls of noodles. They were just as delicious as she remembered, but her thoughts remained with Yang, wondering what she would find at the bank. Was a robbery in progress or was it just a coincidence?
Blake scoffed to herself and absentmindedly spun her phone in a circle on the counter. It couldn't be a coincidence. Something else was going on, and she wished that she could have gone with Yang to try to figure it out. The feeling of missing a vital piece of information was starting to gnaw at her. It felt like the answer was right in front of her, but it was too cloudy and blurry to read.
The minutes slowly ticked past until she received a message from Yang, but it did nothing to ease that sense of missing something important.
'False alarm.'
Was it just a coincidence? She could make the argument but, as she stared at her phone, couldn't convince herself to believe it. It was too coincidental, but for what purpose? Had the White Fang legitimately intended to rob Vale Community Bank and accidentally tripped an alarm? Or was the alarm intentionally tripped for some other reason?
While she considered that possibility, a heavy knock tore her attention to the door.
"Ms. Belladonna," a man called out immediately after. "It's Officer Riley. Detective Xiao Long asked us to do a welfare check."
'Detective?' Blake mouthed to herself before sending Yang a hasty, 'Did you send someone to check on me?' She quietly stood up and moved further away from the door, keeping one eye on her phone waiting for Yang's response.
"Ms. Belladonna," the officer repeated, knocking harder. Blake took one step towards the door before Yang's message arrived.
'DON'T OPEN IT.'
"Shit…" she breathed to herself, spinning in a hapless circle while scrambling for a plan. "Just got out of the shower - give me a minute!" she called out while hurrying to the window, but the apartment was seven stories up and there was no fire escape. The unmarked police car sat across the street, but she couldn't see if the officer was inside or if he'd gone on another of his many smoke breaks.
Murmurs reached her ears as she gave up on the window and searched the kitchen for something to defend herself with. Of course, the police hadn't stocked the safehouse with defense in mind, but a flimsy butter knife was better than nothing.
The knocks became pounds as she flattened herself to the wall beside the door, her heart racing as the angry sound reverberated through her skin.
"Last warning," the man called out. "Open the door or we're breaking it down."
Blake took a deep breath and glanced at her phone one last time, hoping to stall for as long as possible.
"I'm getting dressed!" she replied, hoping they couldn't hear the fear in her voice. "Just give me a second."
The murmurs on the other side of the wall said that their patience had worn out. The next second, something slammed into the door like a battering ram, making the wood crack in protest. Another resounding boom quickly followed, twisting the handle. The third kick broke through, sending wood shattering into the room as the door flew open.
The door slammed into the wall beside her, but her focus snapped to the first man entering the room - a tall, skinny man with tattoos covering his arms and a gun held in front of him. She instantly kicked out with her heel, using the element of surprise to knock it from his hands. He yelped as the weapon clattered to the floor and slid into the wall, but his partner - a hulk of a man with long hair tied back in a ponytail - lunged at her.
She swung the knife, but he tackled her before the blow landed, sending both of them crashing to the floor. She grunted as his heavy elbow landed in her ribs, but scrambling out from under him was more important than the pain. His partner had almost reached the gun, so she leaped at him right as he stooped down to pick it up. He didn't see her coming, but he felt her grab his shirt and, using her forward momentum, swing him face-first into the wall.
A loud crack echoed through the apartment as he collapsed to the floor covering his nose with both hands. Before she could claim the gun for herself though, a thick arm wrapped around her neck and yanked her back so roughly that her feet briefly left the floor. That muscular arm tightened, choking off her oxygen as she clawed at his arm, face - any part of him that she could reach.
"Just - stop - already -" he huffed, doubling his effort as her vision darkened and her strength faded. Her consciousness was quickly leaving, but it abruptly returned when footsteps pounded down the hall.
"Police! Hands in the air!"
Blake fell to her knees when the man suddenly dropped her, gasping for air as two plainclothes officers charged into the room with their weapons drawn. For an instant, the burly man looked like he might put up a fight, but the officers were on top of him before he decided, spinning him around and shoving him to the floor.
"You ok?" one of the officers asked, his gaze flitting to Blake while yanking the man's arms behind his back.
Still coughing for air, Blake could only hold out a thumbs up. The officer's partner had already reached the second attacker, whose blood-covered hands still clutched a broken nose. Blake pointed at the gun near the wall, drawing the officer's attention to it while a second set of handcuffs was snapped into place. He nodded before returning to his task, so Blake settled on the floor, leaned against the flimsy coffee table, and tried to catch her breath.
With the chance to breathe, she inspected the two men but found no similarity to anyone she knew. They must be new recruits or even just friends of Cinder's who were willing to get their hands dirty. Now, they grunted and groaned as the police read them their rights - the one with the broken nose glaring at Blake as blood dried on his face.
Another set of footsteps sprinted down the hall and, hardly a second after Yang flew into the room, she was kneeling by Blake's side.
"Are you ok?" Her hand landed on Blake's elbow while her panicked eyes searched everywhere for injuries. "Are you alright? Jesus - talk to me, Blake. Are you ok?"
Blake mustered a nod but immediately grimaced.
"I'm sorry." Yang glanced at the scattered furniture and the two men being hauled to their feet before holding Blake's gaze. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you. I shouldn't have -" Yang stopped, squeezed her eyes shut, and took a deep breath. "I shouldn't have left."
Blake shook her head, grimaced again, then opened her mouth only for Yang to press a finger to her lips. The turmoil swirling in Yang's eyes convinced her to remain quiet, but she accepted Yang's help gingerly moving from the floor to the sofa. Her ribs protested from being crushed by a heavy elbow and her neck was taken over by the stinging warmth that preceded major bruising. Her heart still pounded and her hands shook but, as her adrenaline faded, a sense of calm - or, at least, security - returned.
Blake's gaze left Yang to watch her two attackers being led from the apartment, but Yang didn't so much as turn around. Yang hardly even glanced behind her when a new officer arrived and started taking photographs of the scene. Two paramedics showed up shortly after, and it was only for them that Yang left Blake's side. Even then, she only moved far enough to give the man and woman space to look over the injuries.
That steadfast lilac gaze warmed Blake's skin just as much as the blossoming bruises. It was so distracting that she got lost in it and fumbled through several answers to the paramedics' questions, resulting in them testing her for a concussion on top of everything else. They cleaned and bandaged the floor burns on her arms and checked her throat multiple times, asking her to speak or hum or an assortment of vocal activities that were painful but possible.
"You should probably go to the hospital to make sure there's no larynx injury," one of the paramedics suggested.
"I'll take her," Yang jumped in as Blake shook her head.
"I'm fine, Yang," Blake tried, her voice soft and raspy.
"We're still going."
Considering the tenseness in Yang's jaw, Blake didn't bother arguing. The paramedics glanced at each other before one of them started packing up their bags.
"The doctors can run some images and give you more instructions, but ice, pain relievers, and try not to strain your voice for the next few days."
"Thank you," Blake whispered.
"Thanks," Yang added, temporarily standing aside so that the paramedics could leave. As soon as they were out of the way, she sat beside Blake and pulled her into a hug.
Yang hugged her like she was a china doll who would crumble under too much pressure, but she burrowed into Yang's embrace as if wrapping herself in the strongest shields known to mankind. As Blake burrowed, Yang sighed, her shoulders slouching, and brushed her fingers through Blake's hair.
"Ilia set us up."
Blake frowned as she pulled away and looked into Yang's eyes, but Yang nodded.
"Vale Community was a decoy. Someone must've fed her the name. Then the guy walking around in a mask…they knew someone would call the cops. They knew I would show up - we would show up. But how'd they know where to find you…?"
Yang glanced around, and Blake's brow hardly furrowed before Yang's eyes snapped back to her - or, more accurately, to what she was wearing.
"Emerald. How close was she? Did she touch you?"
Blake started shaking her head but then froze.
"Where?" Yang instantly asked. When Blake held up the arm that Emerald had grabbed, Yang ran her hands up Blake's sleeve, then slid them around Blake's collar before down the other arm. Blake's breathing hitched when Yang's fingers slid under her shirt next, feeling around the waist of her pants, but Yang was too focused to notice. Then Yang paused, her brow furrowed, and she held up a small, black device that had been stuck in one of Blake's belt loops.
"Well, there you go…" Yang whispered, rolling the device between her fingers.
"Guess that answers my question about Emerald…" Blake mumbled.
"She could've been forced to do it. Same with Ilia."
Blake made a face but ultimately sighed. She couldn't find it in herself to be mad at either of them. Ilia's statement painted the picture of fear - of course she would do what Adam told her to, especially accompanied by his threats. Emerald was a little less clear, but if she actually wanted to leave and Adam threatened her, too…or presented this as her opportunity…then Blake couldn't blame her for taking it.
"We'll figure that out later," Yang concluded, sticking the device into her pocket. "We're getting you to the hospital first, then down to the station." Yang paused and glanced at the other officer, who looked nearly finished cataloging the apartment. "Let's pack your stuff first. You aren't leaving my side until Adam and Cinder are both behind bars."
The hospital seemed like an unnecessary precaution, but having Yang assign herself as Blake's protector…well, Blake uttered zero complaints while shoving her meager belongings into her bag. In the back of her mind, she worried about the escalation - Ilia and Emerald's roles in it suggested they were only pieces of a larger plan - but she was feeling more and more confident that the solution rested in her and Yang's hands.
Or in Shroud and Yang's hands…