Someone dropped off several bags of food that morning, preceded by Yang's text alerting Blake that they were on the way. They knocked on the door but were gone by the time she answered, leaving behind an assortment of groceries obviously selected by someone with very specific instructions on what to buy. Her favorite kind of oatmeal for breakfast, sandwich supplies for lunch, various snacks, and her favorite flavor of tea rounded out the haul, which she had left spread across the kitchen island.
The lunch items should have been Blake's first clue that Yang wouldn't return soon. The second was Yang's lack of messages as the day dragged on. The last message Blake received said, "Sorry, busy," but that was hours ago. Lunch passed, afternoon arrived, and Blake paced the tiny apartment with nothing to do except think about Adam, Cinder, and the conversation they must have had when Cinder informed him that Blake was in Vale. Alive and well…and helping the police.
How had he taken the news? Did he brush it off as inconsequential or did he decide that he'd like to ruin her life even more?
She sighed and glanced at her phone. Finding no new messages, she considered reaching out first but ultimately dismissed the idea. She didn't know what was happening, but she trusted that Yang would keep her informed when possible. If Yang hadn't messaged, she was probably busy and didn't need an interruption. Plus, Blake didn't want to come across as clingy, even though she wanted Yang to be here with her.
"Focus, Blake," she muttered, spinning around and trekking back to the window. "What does he want?"
The question haunted her, yet she couldn't find an answer in the clues at her disposal. The back-to-back robberies. Ilia. The empty hideout and safe. The instruction manuals. Cinder skulking around, getting away. Blake was still missing pieces and, without them, felt like she was grasping at straws.
She had always excelled with a single objective in mind - get into a bank, clear out the vault - but Adam had proven that he prevailed in a larger strategy with a long-term goal in mind. If she was going to beat him at his own game, she needed to see the entire forest like he did, not just the individual trees.
Her attention snapped to the door when someone knocked.
"It's me," Yang called out, so Blake rushed over to throw open the door. Her smile faltered when she saw the dark circles under Yang's eyes, but Yang still mustered a smile before entering the apartment.
"Sorry, today's been crazy," Yang said, making her way to the kitchen and scanning the groceries.
"Is everything ok?"
After the groceries earned a nod, Yang leaned against the counter, folded her arms in front of her, and sighed.
"We had units searching for Cinder all night. Pulled security tapes from every camera in the mall, caught a few glimpses but then the trail ran cold. No idea where she went other than heading east."
"Ok…" Blake inched closer, studying the deep furrow of Yang's brow, the tightness of her jaw, and the rigidness in her posture. "You're mad though," she commented, bringing Yang's gaze to hers. "Did something happen? Did…did I do something?"
Blake's mind raced with worry that yesterday's kiss had been too much, or that she'd been too forward with her feelings, but Yang shook her head, set a hand on her arm, and looked her straight in the eyes.
"You didn't do anything." Yang waited for the reassurance to sink in before sighing again. "It's the Chief. I briefed her on what happened, but she wants you back out there. Working the case. Even though I told her how risky it is."
Yang turned away, jaw clenched and eyes stormy, and let her hand slide down Blake's arm before returning to her side. Yang didn't often display her frustration so openly, which was enough to make Blake frown and search for an explanation.
"Do you think…maybe she has ulterior motives?" she hesitantly asked, drawing Yang's eyes back to her.
"You mean, like, is she dirty?" When Blake made a so-so gesture, Yang pursed her lips but then shook her head. "I've thought about it," she admitted. "Especially today. But I think she's just…selfish. As long as it helps her campaign, she'll do it. The risks don't matter."
"Does that mean I won't be stuck here all day then?"
"Pretty much," Yang grumbled, but Blake sighed in relief.
"Should I get ready then?" Blake motioned to the door, but Yang shook her head.
"I'm done for the day. Just wanted to catch you up."
"But…what about the rest of the evidence from the hideout? Or the other banks? Maybe we should talk to Ilia again?"
Each subsequent question coincided with a droop in Yang's shoulders. Eventually, she sighed.
"There's always more to do, Blake, but we can't keep throwing ourselves at it until we collapse. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is take a break. Get some rest. Eat something. Then come back sharp and ready to work."
Blake scrunched her nose at the thought of doing anything other than searching for more clues, but she could also read the exhaustion in Yang's posture. She wasn't the only one losing sleep and struggling with a whirlwind of emotions, and Yang had to deal with the added pressure of potentially losing her job on top of it.
"You're right," Blake breathed out. "A break is a good idea." As relief trickled into Yang's eyes, a thought popped into Blake's head. "If we don't have any plans, do you think I could go for a run or something? It feels like I've done nothing but sit here or in a squad car for a week. I don't want my muscles turning to mush."
Blake's chuckle trailed off when Yang's gaze slowly roved down her body. A fire sparked in the pit of her stomach, but Yang mulled over the request and eventually said, "I can take you to the gym."
"Really?"
Yang nodded, her gaze slipping a little too far down Blake's chest before she cleared her throat and turned away.
"Do you need something to wear?"
"I think I have something." Blake went to the tiny bedroom and searched through the limited clothing she'd brought from Vacuo. Fortunately, one workout outfit had made it into her bag. She stuck it between her elbow and body before returning to Yang and motioning that she was ready.
Yang glanced over Blake again - Blake wondered if she realized that she was doing it because Blake definitely noticed - before heading downstairs.
"And it's not like nothing is happening," Yang commented as they left the building. "Evidence is still going through security footage from around the hideout. So far it's just a bunch of people coming and going though."
"It's ok, Yang. I know how hard you work, and I know you'd work yourself to death if you thought it was necessary."
Yang blew a long, slow breath through her lips as if she didn't believe it, but Blake did, and Blake had seen Yang's work ethic in action many times. So if Yang thought that they needed a break, it was probably true.
The prospect of fitting in a workout was also enticing enough that Blake's knee jittered as they drove through Vale. She had no idea where they were headed until she recognized the street, and then the little neighborhood gym where Yang had taken her early in their relationship.
"You still go here?" Blake asked while Yang found a place to park.
"Of course."
Yang flashed a smile before leading Blake into the gym, where a haze of air conditioning and disinfectant greeted them. Blake took a deep breath as the gym's most distinctive element announced itself - this time in the form of two young men in Vale P.D. t-shirts heading towards the exit.
"Xiao Long," one of them said while the other slapped Yang's hand. "We're always just missing you."
"Probably because you don't spend enough time here." Yang smiled as they laughed, their abundant muscles suggesting they spent ample time here. "I'll catch you next time though," she added with a wave and a cheeky, "Probably."
Their laughter continued as they headed outside, but Blake hardly watched them go before smiling at Yang. Yang noticed the look and tilted her head.
"What?"
"Nothing." Blake shook her head, but the smile returned. "You're just…really friendly. I always loved that about you."
"I just…like people…" Yang muttered, her cheeks turning rosy red. She cleared her throat and gently clapped her hands in front of her. "Does this work for you? You can go for a run or lift some weights or whatever you want to do?"
"It's perfect." Blake glanced at the sparring mats and then snuck a sly grin Yang's way. "Rematch?"
When Blake nodded to the mats, remembering the first time they sparred there - and their first kiss - a smile tugged at Yang's lips. Before Yang answered, however, a group of new arrivals walked in, earning Yang's glance and Blake's curious look. All five of the incredibly fit men and women sported shirts or shorts with "SWAT" featured in big, bold letters. Mel was amongst them, and she immediately searched for, and found, Yang. When Yang motioned for her to wait, however, she nodded and lingered near the entrance.
"I'm actually going to run an errand," Yang told Blake. "You'll stay here?"
"Where else would I go?" Blake asked but, when Yang arched a brow, added, "Yes, I'll stay here."
Yang beamed and almost leaned in but quickly stopped herself and tapped Blake's elbow instead. "I'll be back in under an hour," she said, waiting for Blake's nod before heading over to Mel.
Blake watched the conversation - Mel's smile, Yang's relief and friendly shoulder tap. Yang looked back and waved to Blake before leaving, finally directing Mel's gaze Blake's way. Thankfully, it was nothing more than a glance before Mel rejoined the rest of her team.
Blake should have figured that Yang wouldn't leave her without a babysitter, but was Yang worried about her trying to slip away or about someone coming after her? The first option was unfathomable. The other would have been before yesterday but, with Cinder escaping custody, seemed more plausible now.
Shaking the vague worry from her mind - she was in a gym filled with cops and SWAT officers, after all - she found the locker room, changed into her workout attire, then hopped on an open treadmill. As soon as she got up to speed, her body rejoiced in the activity and her mind entered a zen-like state very similar to when she was working on a safe.
Minutes melted away as her feet hit the belt, her breathing elevated but never veering out of control. Her thoughts centered around Yang - wondering what errand Yang was running, when Yang would be back, what Yang thought about her now, what Yang might think about her later. And, as she watched Mel flounce around the gym, she wondered what Yang thought about the slim-yet-fit brunette.
Rather than work out, Mel chatted with anyone willing to lend an ear. She spotted for several of her coworkers, talking all the while, then held court with several others near the free weights. Based on the way their gazes flitted over, Blake knew that she was their topic of conversation. Rather than let it bother her, she focused on her breathing, the slight burning in her legs, and the sense of calm that had settled over her.
As soon as she hopped off the treadmill, however, Mel separated from the group and sauntered over. Blake tensed and stood taller, vaguely bothered that Mel had a slight height advantage but more concerned about what this conversation might entail.
"Hey," Mel greeted her with a pleasant smile and half-wave. "I don't think we've been officially introduced. I'm Mel. You're helping Yang with the White Fang, right?"
"Yeah, I am." Blake paused before adding, "I'm Blake."
"I know who you are." Mel chuckled while Blake fought a frown. "Everyone knows who you are," Mel added. "The infamous Shroud." Blake flinched at the moniker, but Mel set a hand on one hip and tilted her head. "Yang says you're the best strategist she's ever seen. Said you can get in and out like a ghost."
Blake's heart fluttered, but she mustered a demure smile and said, "That was a long time ago."
"Yeah, it was." Before Blake wondered how to interpret the response, a sly smile crept onto Mel's lips. "She also said you can hold your own." Mel nodded meaningfully to the sparring mats. "Maybe we should go a few rounds."
"I don't think I have time for that."
"Don't worry. It won't take long."
Mel's sweet smile overflowed with confidence - Blake flashed a much faster, much faker smile in response. She hadn't realized until now how much Mel reminded her of Cinder. Similar hair, similar eyes, similar swagger, though lacking the sinister edge that made Cinder so dangerous.
Blake didn't feel particularly inclined to put her skills on display, but she knew a challenge when she heard one. "It's probably not a good idea," she still said, but Mel chuckled.
"Come on - it'll be fun. I'll even go easy on you."
When Mel winked and motioned Blake after her, Blake glanced around the room and, ultimately, shrugged.
"If you really want to…" she mumbled, following Mel onto the padded mats. Their location quickly caught the attention of the other officers, some of whom set their weights aside or who watched intently from their current machines spread around the gym.
Mel beamed at the attention while Blake sized her up. They were similar heights and weights - a much fairer fight than when Blake sparred Yang - but Mel's perfect stance belied years of focused training that Yang lacked.
"First one to yield?" Mel asked, rolling her shoulders and bouncing on her toes.
"Sure."
Suddenly wishing that she hadn't spent so long on the treadmill, Blake stepped cautiously to the right as Mel did the same. Everything outside of their small world - the audience, the rest of the gym - faded away. She kept her eyes glued to her opponent, waiting for Mel to make the first move as they circled each other.
Just when Blake considered initiating, Mel lunged forward, swiftly closing the distance and launching into a series of rapid jabs. Caught off guard by the speed and precision of the attacks, Blake sidestepped and dodged the bulk of them, but one broke through and connected with her right shoulder.
Flinching at the glancing blow, she quickly backed away from the fight. Mel, surprisingly, didn't pursue. "That was just a warm-up," she said, her breathing modestly elevated while Blake resisted the urge to rub her shoulder.
Competitive spirit flared right along with her adrenaline, so Blake raised her hands to her chin, ignored the twinge in her shoulder, and prepared to re-engage. Mel grinned and matched the posture, then crept forward and feinting as if to attack only to duck away. She repeated the action again, and again, until finally getting too close.
Lashing out like a viper, Blake caught Mel by the wrist and yanked her forward. Blake's other fist hurtled toward Mel's shoulder, but Mel twisted out of the way just in time. Blake's follow-up was a blur - a quick one-two that forced Mel backward. But Mel only took two steps back before planting her foot and telegraphing a right hook for all to see. In one fluid motion, Blake ducked under Mel's arcing arm, spun, and swept Mel's leg out from under her.
The onlookers collectively groaned when Mel's back hit the mat with a thud. Just when Blake thought that she had the upper hand though, her own balance disappeared. She crashed to the floor and Mel's vice-like grip latched around her wrists before she could regain her feet. They grappled for position on the floor, their limbs intertwined as they struggled to either free themselves or force the other into a hopeless position, all while the audience shouted cheers or advice.
Mel was strong, but Blake was determined. Using every ounce of her power, she managed to free one of her arms as they tumbled across the mat. She then locked that arm around Mel's neck and leaned forward, using her bodyweight to pin Mel facedown to the floor.
"BLAKE."
The entire gym froze. Blake nearly didn't want to turn around but, when she did and saw Yang's disapproving frown, jumped off of Mel. Mel quickly pushed herself to her feet and tucked some flyaway strands of hair back into place.
"Hey, Yang!" Mel flashed a winning smile, but Yang's serious expression remained.
"What're you doing?"
"Oh, we were just having a little fun. You're right - she can hold her own."
Blake squinted at Mel, unsure if that compliment was fake or not, but Yang frowned at both of them before her eyes finally glanced over their audience.
"Come on." Yang motioned Blake after her and left without another word. Blake grabbed her clothes and followed, glancing back only to confirm that everyone was watching her go. Yang, on the other hand, took such long strides back to the car that she had to jog to catch up.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Yang asked as soon as Blake got into the passenger seat. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you could get in?"
"She wanted to spar -"
"And you should've said 'no.' Especially in a gym full of officers. What do you think happens if you piss her off and she says you went after her? Who do you think her teammates will back up?"
Blake opened her mouth, but no words appeared.
"I'm sorry," she eventually got out. "I just wanted to…blow off some steam, I guess."
"Then go for a run. Hit the bag. Don't get in a ring with SWAT. You're lucky it was just Mel."
Blake nodded but remained silent, accepting the deserved scolding for the dumb decision. Yang shook her head several times, eyes never leaving the road, before finally blowing a breath through her lips.
"Sorry. I just don't want you to get in trouble over some stupid jealousy." When Blake's brow rose, Yang glanced over and scoffed. "I'm not an idiot. She's a flirt and you're -" Yang abruptly paused and, noticing Blake's arched brow, said, "You know."
"Are you saying I'm jealous?"
"I'm saying…you notice that type of thing. Especially when I don't."
Blake nodded, accepting the response as somewhere in between. She never considered herself an overly jealous person, but she was also used to Yang's potential suitors getting the hint when they saw the two of them together. Regardless, Yang was right - she shouldn't have gotten tangled with a member of the department when her criminal status was…poor.
"I'm sorry," she repeated. "I'll be more careful next time."
"Thank you." Yang tapped the steering wheel for several seconds before adding, "That was pretty hot though, not gonna lie."
Blake held back a smile, but it grew harder to resist the longer Yang kept her eyes glued to the road. If Yang glanced over, Blake would be beaming in no time. Yang didn't, but pride still blossomed in Blake's chest. Mel was a well-trained fighter, as would be expected of someone with her job, but Blake still had plenty of grit when she needed it. Yang witnessing the end of their battle, and being impressed by it, only made the victory that much sweeter.
"Where are we going?" Blake asked rather than dwell on the flame of desire in her stomach.
"My place. We'll grab some food, and some ice for that bruise, and recharge."
Any thought of Mel or the fight was abruptly swept from her thoughts.
"Your place?"
"Yeah."
Yang's nonchalant response suggested that this was the most ordinary event in the world, but Blake's breath stuck in her lungs as the streets grew more familiar. If returning to Vale had been nostalgic, returning to Yang's building, which looked exactly how Blake remembered it, was like stepping back in time.
Yang parked where she always did, grabbed a grocery bag from the backseat, and led Blake along the same path upstairs to the same door that Blake had dreamed about. In those dreams, something always kept her from opening the door - she usually lost the key and then tried picking the lock, but she would drop her tools, break the pins, or not be able to reach the handle at all.
Yang suffered no such problems as she fit her key into the lock and opened the door. Blake almost didn't want to step inside. At the same time, her feet compelled her forward as if driven by an external force. Only two steps through the door, she stopped and looked around the living room, the kitchen, and the doorway leading to the bedroom, before closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, and releasing it in a sigh.
"This was always my happy place…" she admitted, drawing a glance as Yang set the bag on the island. While Yang unpacked the groceries, Blake drifted through the living room, her eyes glancing over changes a year had brought. A new blanket draped across the back of the sofa. A couple of new photographs graced the bookshelves.
Upon closer inspection, they were photos from Weiss and Ruby's wedding - a joyous occasion burned into Blake's memories as the last few moments of her and Yang's relationship. The last few moments where the future she wanted sat within her grasp, only for guilt and mistakes to stand in her way.
Leaving that past behind, she joined Yang in the kitchen, where ingredients were already making their way to the cutting board.
"Need help?"
"I got it, thanks. You can take a shower if you want." Yang nodded to her bedroom while grabbing a knife.
"Oh. I left my clothes in the car."
Yang set the knife down, pulled her keys out of her pocket, and tossed them to Blake. Blake hesitated with them in her hand but, when Yang effortlessly returned to peeling an onion, swallowed and headed downstairs. There was something so normal about it, yet Blake's quiet trek to the car felt anything but normal.
Realistically, what could she possibly do - where could she possibly go? She knew that she had nowhere else to be than with Yang, but was Yang starting to believe it?
The gesture of trust, no matter how small, ensured that Blake hurried back as quickly as possible, determined to return before Yang even had an inkling of worry that Blake might do something wrong. As a result, she made it through the door in near record time, a bundle of clothes in her arms and Yang's keys ready to be returned to the corner of the island.
"I'll be right back," she said, but Yang just bobbed her head and kept preparing dinner. Blake's heart warmed as she headed to the bedroom.
The instant she stepped into the room, memories hit her like a freight train. Her time in Vacuo had been fraught with homesickness, but she hadn't realized just how homesick she had been until now. The bedspread, the chest of drawers with some folded laundry on top, the curtains covering the window, which had always let in a bit too much morning sunshine - everything felt like…home.
Her heart ached for that period of her life, but she headed into the shower with hope for the future. Any future with Yang was a future worth pursuing and, as the hot water washed off the remnants of her fight with Mel, it felt like the layers of guilt that she had worn like armor were starting to loosen as well. She was still guilty, and the responsibility for making this right weighed on her, but maybe she could fix her mistakes - not necessarily for herself, but for Yang and Ilia's benefit. That dream remained on her mind as she returned to the kitchen, the smell of Yang's shampoo and conditioner lingering around her like a wonderful cloud.
"Can I help?" she asked again. Yang glanced over her shoulder, let her gaze wander over Blake's damp hair, then shook her head.
"It's almost done." Yang slid an ice pack across the island before straining a pot of noodles in the sink. She then removed the lid from a pan on the stove and Blake took one sniff before widening her eyes.
"Is that what I think it is?" Blake craned her neck trying to see what was in the pot. Yang chuckled.
"If you think it's garlic butter salmon and noodles, then yes."
"What did I do to deserve that?"
Yang chuckled again, glanced at Blake, and then shrugged while pulling down two plates from the cupboards. "I thought it'd be nice. And it sounded good, so I figured…why not."
Several reasons 'why not' crowded to the front of Blake's mind, chief amongst those being that it was her favorite meal, so it felt like Yang chose it for her, but she just smiled and followed Yang to the small, round table separating the kitchen from the living room.
"I tried making it on my own," she admitted, claiming 'her' chair while Yang sat across from her. "It didn't taste half as good."
"That's because I never told you the secret ingredient."
"Secret ingredient?" Blake picked up her fork and raised a brow at Yang. "Detective…please don't tell me it's something illegal." When Yang snorted with laughter, Blake couldn't help but smile. "It is, isn't it," she teased with Yang shaking her head all the while.
"It's an entire stick of butter."
Blake froze, a forkful of pasta halfway to her mouth, so Yang burst into laughter.
"You're kidding."
"Cross my heart."
Yang drew an 'x' across her chest, so Blake glanced at her plate, then at the delicious noodles twirled around her fork, and shrugged. "Worth it," she decided before sticking the fork in her mouth.
"You got in a good workout anyway," Yang remarked before returning to her own meal, her eyes sparkling at Blake all the while.
Unlike their first few days together, the ensuing silence lacked discomfort or tension. She actually felt…welcome. Almost as if Yang wanted her here as much as she wanted to be here. Why else would Yang make a special stop for groceries to make Blake's favorite meal and bring Blake back to her apartment when she could have used the time to recuperate from a rough day?
Rather than ask, Blake savored the meal in peace that was only interrupted when Yang's phone buzzed against the table. Yang tilted it towards her then smiled and typed a quick response.
"Want some good news?" She set her phone aside and caught Blake's gaze. "Those two bartenders that got shot? They're going to be fine."
"Really?" As soon as Yang nodded, Blake sighed in relief. "That's great news."
"It is. One of them has a long road ahead, but the doctors expect a full recovery." Yang paused and rubbed her shoulder. "He'll duck whenever a car backfires for a while though…"
Even though the comment wasn't directed at her, Blake grimaced.
"Do you?" Yang glanced up, so Blake gestured to her shoulder. "Do you duck?"
"I used to," Yang admitted, her expression contemplative. "But I worked on it, and it got better." Blake nodded and considered changing the subject, but Yang laughed and held Blake's gaze, the sparkle still in her eyes. "Weiss found some sort of perverse joy in hiding a pistol in her bag and firing blanks in my ear at any goddamn moment."
"You're kidding…"
"Dead serious." Yang chuckled at Blake's flabbergasted expression. "I knew it would ruin her fun when I didn't jump out of my skin anymore, so I had to get used to it in a hurry."
"Of course."
A smile slipped onto Blake's lips, and she even laughed before sneaking several glances across the table as Yang returned to her meal. The story would have hurt like walking on glass a few days ago, but tonight…sadness remained, and guilt at not being here to help, but she was also proud of Yang for continuing her recovery in Blake's absence.
"I almost left that night," she confessed as memories of Yang's injury returned. Yang's confused gaze returned to her, so she took a deep breath and said, "Vale Credit Union. When…" She trailed off and gestured to Yang's shoulder. "When you showed up and said I should come with you. That we could work together. I almost did."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because Yuma interrupted. When he shot you…everything changed. I was afraid they'd come after you unless I left amicably." She paused and looked down at her empty plate. "And…I was selfish. I thought I could have everything. That I could get out and still keep you. That was my biggest mistake."
The silence following her admission felt too loud. When she finally looked across the table though, she discovered Yang's calm, thoughtful expression lingering on her.
"That would've been…interesting."
"Yeah…" Blake shifted in her seat when Yang didn't say more, then popped to her feet and picked up her plate. "I'll clean up," she said, grabbing Yang's plate and silverware and taking everything to the sink. She sensed Yang follow her, and heard the refrigerator and cupboards open and close as the two of them fell into their old routine. Uncertainty bloomed once Blake turned off the water and dried her hands, but Yang motioned for her to stay put.
"I have some stuff for you," Yang explained before disappearing into her room and returning with an unmarked box. She set it on the table and motioned for Blake to open it. Blake did but froze when she saw the contents.
"Before they cleared out your place, I told them I left some stuff there," Yang explained while a vice tightened around Blake's heart. "I grabbed whatever looked important. Sorry if I missed anything."
Blake shook her head at the apology while carefully reaching into the box and pulling out a framed photograph of her parents. She ran her fingers across the glass as tears stung her eyes, then set it aside and removed more photos and mementos that she thought she would never see again. A soft gasp left her lips when she found a miniature safe, no bigger than a small takeout container, resting on the bottom of the box. She quickly pulled it out and set it on the table.
"My dad gave me this…" she whispered, unlocking it and removing a silver bracelet from inside. Clutching the bracelet to her heart, she closed her eyes and fought back tears.
"I can hold onto everything if you want." Yang shuffled her feet when Blake looked at her. "Until you figure out where you'll be."
"Thank you." Blake looked at the bracelet and then the box. "I can't even…I don't know what to say. You have no idea what this means to me."
"It's no big deal, really. It's just been sitting in the back of my closet."
Yang shrugged, unwilling to take any credit for her thoughtful gesture, so Blake leaned in and kissed her. The gentle kiss lasted only a second, but Yang's eyes still fluttered open once Blake pulled away.
Only when Blake saw the soft blush on Yang's cheeks did she realize what she did and that she probably shouldn't have done it.
"Sorry." She tried to back away, but Yang's arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her closer.
"Don't apologize…" Yang whispered before resting her forehead against Blake's and closing her eyes. Blake took a deep breath and did the same, her heart soaring as she set her fingertips on Yang's cheek.
As great as they connected in bed, she had missed these moments of genuine intimacy the most. She could feel Yang's vulnerability and openness…two things she thought that she would never experience again. When Yang's other arm wrapped around her, settling on the back of her neck, she wrapped her arms around Yang, burrowed her face in Yang's neck, and took her first true breath in a year.
When Yang finally moved away, Blake let her go. Then Blake glanced through the rest of the box's contents and paused when she saw a single sheet of paper, folded in half and covered in words. She gingerly pulled it out, smoothed it open, then glanced at Yang.
"I found that, too." Yang moved closer, her presence steady and warm, while Blake stared at the words. "That's how I know you aren't a bad person."
"I'm just a stupid one…" Blake whispered, fighting tears as she reread the manifesto that she wrote for the White Fang so long ago. Yang's comments early in their relationship had prompted her to spill her heart as a message to be delivered to the public, but Adam took one look at it and vetoed the idea. For obvious reasons, looking back on it.
When she shook her head and tried to stuff the page back into the box, however, Yang gently took it from her hand and began reading out loud.
"'We, the White Fang, declare our commitment to being a voice for the silent majority. We seek not to tear down but to rebuild. Not to sow violence but to forge unity.'" Blake cringed at how naive it sounded, but Yang glanced at her and kept reading. "'Our goals are simple. We're fighting for equality in prosperity so that the wealth of our land helps all. Access to education, to break the shackles of poverty. Equal representation, so that every voice has a chance to be heard. And justice for all, blind to status, wealth, and influence.'"
Yang folded up the page and slipped it back into the box.
"A stupid person didn't write that. A dreamer did. You might've chased those dreams in the wrong direction, but…when you realized that, you didn't run away. You could've just disappeared. Instead, you took responsibility."
"I couldn't run away without losing you forever," Blake pointed out.
"Yeah, well…I'm…glad things worked out the way they did. Considering…everything." When Yang smiled, Blake's heart soared. Yang moved on quickly though, her smile becoming a grin as she motioned to the living room and said, "Now, how do you feel about a super cheesy romantic comedy?"
"That sounds like the best idea you've ever had."
"Really? The best idea I've ever had?"
Blake laughed, her heart fluttering when Yang grabbed her hand and dragged her over to the sofa.
"One of the best ideas you've ever had," she corrected, smiling as Yang found the remote and sat beside her.
"How does this one look?"
Yang turned to Blake for approval, but Blake hardly glanced at the screen before saying, "Looks perfect." Yang softly grunted, started the movie, then leaned back against the sofa. Blake mirrored her posture, leaving a sliver of space between them.
Yang wouldn't wrap an arm around Blake's shoulder like she used to, but did she want to? That question occupied Blake's mind more than the movie - though the movie gained her attention every time it made Yang giggle or laugh.
With so much happening outside these walls, it was hard to fathom the two of them sitting here, enjoying a movie. At the same time, the break felt like everything Blake needed. Time to rejuvenate. Recover. Then, as Yang had said, get back to work.
Despite the mildly engaging plot, the dark room and Yang's soothing presence lulled her to sleep before the ending. By the time she woke up, the television had returned to the home screen and silence had fallen over the apartment. Comfortably warm, she blinked several times before sitting up and freezing. Yang was just waking up, shifting in her sleep before rubbing her eyes and blinking at Blake.
"Oh, crap." Yang covered a yawn and lightly shook the rest of her sleep away. "I fell asleep, didn't I?"
"Just a bit."
Blake briefly considered admitting that she had also fallen asleep, and that they had unintentionally cuddled on the sofa, but then Yang sighed, stood up, and stretched her hands above her head. Her shirt rose in the process, revealing the dimples in her lower back and making Blake bite her bottom lip as several racy fantasies sprang to mind. Rather than act on any of those desires, she feigned innocence when Yang glanced down at her.
"I should get you back now."
Reality had returned, settling like a stone in Blake's stomach as she said, "If you have to…" By the time she got to her feet, however, Yang seemed in no rush to go. Instead, Yang's gaze flashed to the bedroom door, then to the sofa, before she ultimately backed away and whispered, "Yeah, we should go."
While not the answer Blake wanted, she followed Yang down to the car, then sat quietly in the passenger seat until they returned to the safe house currently serving as 'home.' Yang checked every room, as usual, then met Blake by the door.
"Thanks for hanging out today." Yang shuffled her feet before adding, "It was nice."
"It was."
'Nice' was the bare minimum for how Blake would describe the evening, but she wetted her lips and waited for Yang to determine what happened next. Yang gently cleared her throat, then glanced at Blake's lips, then stared into the kitchen, before ultimately opening the door and backing away.
"I'll be back first thing in the morning," she said and, after Blake nodded, headed downstairs. Blake went to the window and watched Yang leave, earning a glance over the shoulder and a half wave, before sitting on the sagging sofa and sighing out loud.
A thread of connection still wove between them, yet Yang was holding back. She was uncertain, possibly scared, and Blake couldn't fault her for either of those things. Blake could only keep on this path, giving Yang whatever time or space she needed and hoping that something good came out of it.
If only they could just focus on each other…but with every passing day, the White Fang carried on scheming and preparing for whatever grand plan Adam and Cinder had cooked up. Something would happen, possibly soon, but not knowing what, or where, or when, filled Blake with a growing sense of unease.