Renegades (Act VII)

2-DAY EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!

All right, now for their getaway. Will they make it as far as the train station with Weiss' father's men on their tails?

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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															Act VII.

Blake wasn't sure when she drifted off to sleep, lost somewhere between the warmth and the fatigue of it all, but when she awoke the room was shrouded in the pale blue glow of early morning and a familiar weight was curled against her side.

Weiss' breathing was light and steady in slumber, and Blake was hesitant to disturb the stillness. Her soft breaths fanned across Blake's collar like clockwork, strangely calming even if every second that passed brought them closer to their inevitable departure.

And the resulting stress.

So Blake closed her eyes, pushing aside those thoughts as she gently pulled Weiss closer. There was a comfort despite the creeping anxiety, and she wanted it to last...

There was something about the early morning hours that made it seem like time had stopped. A falsity that was the product of the stillness of the back room, but that didn't stop her from dreaming. Blake planned to stretch it as far as she could - for the time being, anyway.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this comfortable.

...

The world came back to her slowly, as did her senses. The first thing Weiss recognized was the warmth, and even without her nose to tell her whose scent it was, she already knew.

She didn't want to open her eyes for fear it would all vanish, that she'd wake up alone and cold in her bed, just as she always did. The morning was still quiet, and she could hear the beginnings of birdsong, the kind that was audible only before mankind woke.

But the sound even more prominent than that was the steady thumping of Blake's heart. After listening to that rhythm all night long, it felt so natural ringing in her ears.

It felt wrong to pull away, but when the rest of the memories caught up with her, Weiss didn't have much of a choice.

A small gasp left her lips as she propped herself up onto her elbows, looking instantly to the window, then to the door - fearful - as if expecting to find her father standing there to drag her back home. But the room was as empty as it had been last night, the only company being boxes of old books, a few blankets, and-

She looked down again and felt herself relax just a little. She kept her eyes open and lowered herself back down into Blake's warmth, slipping an arm around her side and holding to her gently, savoring the last few seconds of calm before they would undoubtedly be forced to rise.

Honestly, she was just relieved Blake was still there.

...

When she felt Weiss shift Blake's eyes drifted open, and she watched through blurred vision as Weiss' attention shifted immediately to the window and then to the door. The action reminded Blake of a child checking the darkness for monsters, and a feeling of utter disgust found its way to the pit of her stomach when it became clear that the monster Weiss feared was her own father.

A shallow exhale escaped her and Blake closed her eyes again, trying to dislodge those thoughts from her mind. It was a struggle to say the least, but the moment Weiss curled back into her side, the warmth returned, and it was almost embarrassing how quickly the purr in the back of her throat bubbled to life; a soft rumbling Blake found she'd had trouble controlling the past few hours, and there was only one person she could blame for that.

Not that she wanted to. The comfort was a welcome sensation compared to the plaguing anxiety, and the arm draped across her stomach squeezing gently only made it more apparent.

It stole the words right from her mouth, and she wasn't that surprised when she realized she didn't mind at all.

...

The sense of ease she felt when Blake's soft purr reached her ears once more was indescribable. She felt like the fears that had been gnarled around her like tendrils had been chased away by the sound, and subconsciously she squeezed Blake tighter, nestling closer to listen to the soothing rhythm.

There was a hypersensitivity of sorts about her now, and she could fully appreciate the softness of the blankets and of Blake's form against hers. Weiss breathed in time with her, as if ignoring the oncoming dawn would make it disappear altogether, as if they could just stay like this forever and never have to worry about anything ever again.

But although she dozed for a few more moments, the trepidation was too great for her to bear peacefully anymore, and when a faint ray of sunlight slipped through one of the blinds she stiffened uncomfortably. She burrowed her face into Blake's shoulder, not wanting to see the new day, wishing it would go away…

But it didn't, and Weiss squirmed as a small sound escaped her throat, rasping from lack of use in the night.

And then she found her voice, peeking up at the Faunus girl as she rubbed Blake's stomach gently.

"Blake…?"

She could hear the tension in her own voice. She didn't want to alarm Blake nor lose this moment, but she hoped there would be plenty of time for more in the future.

But for now, they needed to go.

...

Her name was spoken with a hint of tension, and that was all it took for Blake to open her eyes. The faint beginnings of morning light broke through the blinds like a warning, and the remains of what was left of the night scattered into the far reaches of the room.

It was later than she thought, and the realization coerced a quiet groan from her mouth.

Blake pulled herself up slowly, taking Weiss with her, and the strain on her tired muscles caused a small frown to form on her face. Swallowing only reminded her of the rawness to her throat, and the softness of the blankets beneath her seemed immensely more enticing compared to the trek to the train station. Weariness still tugged at her, even in spite of what was probably the most peaceful sleep she'd had in a while, but they really didn't have much time to spare.

She ran a hand through her hair, easing her fingers through various tangles and over her ears before looking to Weiss. When she opened her mouth to speak, her voice was ragged, and a sharp pain stung the back of her throat.

"How are you feeling?"

...

She felt herself being lifted slightly as Blake sat up, and Weiss held onto her loosely, making a small sound of protest against her will; she knew there was nothing more she wanted to do than lay back down with her, but every second they stayed here was another step closer her father and his men would get to them.

The thought alone made her stomach churn, and that only served to remind her how empty it was.

She rubbed her eyes, unable to hold back a yawn despite how deeply and comfortably she'd slept last night. But when she spoke, her voice didn't sound any better than Blake's.

"I'm all right. A bit thirsty, though." She didn't want to mention the hunger; hopefully that could be fixed later. "If we need to buy anything, I can use my credit card, so there's that. But I… I don't think it's a good idea to do that now. We should just get to the train as soon as possible."

The thought of venturing there both terrified and excited her, feelings that weren't unfamiliar to her whenever she was with Blake.

But if it meant she could have another night like the one she'd just experienced - feeling warm and safe beside Blake - she'd bear whatever consequences necessary.

She blinked until her bleary vision cleared a bit, realizing she was still in Blake's lap. She carefully climbed off, blushing slightly as she bowed her head.

"What about you? How are you feeling?"

...

"Sore," Blake replied, voice cracking, but her wellbeing wasn't the priority right now, and after a moment it slipped from her mind. More pressing matters took its place.

Weiss was right - they needed to leave, and soon.

Blake hauled herself to her feet, deciding not to waste any more time as she reached for the backpack she had left here before running off to get Weiss. Its sudden heaviness when she picked it up was odd considering the scant amount of items she had packed, and it didn't take long for curiosity to get the best of her.

What she found after unzipping the pack made her smile. Of course Tukson would.

She pulled out one of the two bottles of water, handing it off to Weiss before rummaging around the packages of snacks to pull out her sweatshirt, draping it over Weiss with a small grin.

"Well, that's a few problems solved," she said softly, before turning back to her bag and pulling out a clean pair of jeans. The bloodied knees to her pants would certainly draw attention, and that was the last thing they needed right now. "Now all we have to do is catch a train."

...

As Blake stood and went for her backpack, Weiss took the liberty of folding the blankets they had so generously been allowed to use last night. She placed the pillows into a neat pile on top as well and a thought struck her.

But before she could bring it up she was handed a bottle of cool water and then covered by a familiar article. She recognized the sweatshirt Blake had leant her a few weeks back and smiled fondly, remembering the night they'd snuck out for an apple turnover.

Glancing at the water bottle Weiss was puzzled for a moment, but quickly realized it was another act of generosity on the part of Blake's companion.

She accepted the water humbly and took a few sips, knowing they'd need to ration things as best they could manage. When she finished, she made sure the lid was on tightly before slipping it into the suitcase she had brought along.

"I'd like to thank him properly," Weiss murmured, making her way over to Blake with her bag in her hands. "I hate to ask but… do you think he'd mind terribly if we took a small blanket with us?"

After all, as far as she knew, they didn't exactly have a place to stay tonight.

...

Blake's brow raised curiously. For all she knew they were just blankets Tukson kept in storage on the off chance she didn't feel like going back to the apartment with Adam.

"No, I don't think so…" She mused, handing her bag off to Weiss. Tukson wouldn't miss them. At least, that's what she told herself as she turned away to slip into the clean pair of jeans.

The embarrassment didn't hit her right away, but she changed quickly, hoping to be changed before Weiss finished packing the blanket, and she turned back around once the button to her pants had been fastened. A light blush had dusted itself across her cheeks, but she wasn't about to bring attention to it.

Instead, she went about binding her ears. The action was built in enough where she didn't realize she was done until it was already over, and she waited patiently for her bag.

...

Weiss turned away and folded one of the blankets, carefully stuffing it inside Blake's bag, murmuring a small prayer of gratitude to the shop keeper. She squeezed it in beside some of Blake's clothes, making things as compact as possible before turning back around, finding her companion dressed in a fresh pair of pants. Weiss decided her own dress could last her another day or two before she needed to change, if all went well.

She pulled Blake's sweatshirt off her head and fumbled herself into it, slightly used to it since this was the second time. She pulled it down over her head but kept her long hair inside; she probably looked peculiar enough wearing a dark sweatshirt over a white dress, so she decided not to make herself even more ostentatious by letting out her tresses.

Weiss frowned when Blake started tying up her ears; she could guess it wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it was probably necessary to their success in being as discreet as possible. Not many Faunus she knew of could afford train tickets, and it was better not to draw attention to the two of them. Still, her eyes lingered sadly over Blake's hidden ears for a moment before Weiss passed her bag over.

"I think that's everything," she murmured, pulling her own suitcase over to her ankles. She gripped the handles and hoisted it up. "We should go."

...

Blake nodded, taking one last look around the room before slinging the bag over her shoulder. She told herself there wasn't much to see as she lead Weiss through the empty bookstore and out the door, but her eyes lingered over the dusty bookshelves, her favorite spot tucked between the shelves, and the empty counter even in spite of her intentions.

It was too hard not to. It was as close to home as she had gotten in this town, and the only thing she regretted was not being able to give Tukson one last farewell before she left.

Between the high walls of the surrounding buildings, it was still somewhat dark outside, the streets relatively empty besides the rather early morning traffic.

It wouldn't make things that much easier - there was no doubt Weiss' father had already begun searching, and the amount of men at his disposal made Blake's stomach curl - but anything that made it harder to find them was welcome, and she reached out to thread her fingers through Weiss'.

"Stick close."

Blake could only hope that it would be enough.

...

They stepped outside, and the air was still cool with early morning stillness and shadows. Weiss had woken up at such an hour before in her life, but never had she been outside to experience it. Had their circumstances been less dire than they were, she might've liked to savor it a bit more.

But for now that wasn't a luxury they could afford - there were very few of those other than the seconds required to draw breath.

So she followed Blake through the streets as quickly as the weight of her suitcase would allow her to. In her years of being kept as part of a menagerie, Weiss had never gotten much fresh air, let alone proper exercise, even in a healthier state. Presently, she hadn't eaten much in days due to her anxieties about the wedding and a physical inability to keep anything down for long because of that.

And yet, being with Blake gave her a new energy, and only a bit of it was from a sense of fear and an urgency to run; the rest was more of a thrill - again not something unfamiliar to her after spending a few nights with the Faunus girl.

She'd been through the city at night once before with Blake, but that was only to a small cafe. The journey to the train station was much longer and much more frantic. Weiss jumped at every figure she saw, imagining it was her father coming to chase them. She might not have been far off.

She did her best to take Blake's advice and held tightly to her hand all the while, trying to keep the swift pace. She wanted to look at the buildings more, absorb the vastness of the city, but there was no time. With any luck, she'd be able to experience even better things if they managed to catch this train.

...

The train tickets Tukson got them were practically cross country, taking them a bit short of Vacuo's border in the west. After all, to go any further they would need passports, and that was something neither of them would be able to get without trouble.

There was always the option of slipping past the border, but as long as they were far enough from Vale for the time being, Blake would deal with what she could get.

It wasn't much of a relief, though, and the tension she felt in Weiss' hand did little for her fears.

She hadn't been given the chance to ride the train, or at least it wasn't something she remembered, but from what she saw in passing seemed to hint that there would be some kind of rush to hide in, even at such an early time in the morning, and as they neared the station, a morning bustle had already gathered. People for work, individuals traveling, but who was to say that Schnee's men hadn't already staked a spot for themselves at every exit of the city? Hiding until the opportunity to seize them presented itself. Waiting.

Blake felt her throat tighten at the thought as they neared the gates, her hand squeezing Weiss' in an attempt to quiet the fears in her head. The other dug through her pocket for the envelope, holding it like a shield against her chest as they made it through the collection of people mingling in the station.

When they walked up to the ticket window she tried to tell herself that the look of repulsion on the teller's face was simply one of hatred for early mornings at work. He took the envelope with a scowl, muttering something about laziness as he took the two tickets from their confinement and briefly looked them over. His eyes flicked back and forth between the tickets and them, eyeing their luggage, but after a moment he tore the tickets along the perforated middle and handed them back.

"All carry-on luggage is to be securely stored during travel," he stated. "Enjoy your ride."

Blake didn't waste any time, nodding as pleasantly as she could muster as she accepted the tickets back with a muttered thanks, and she turned to Weiss with a slightly energetic smile before tugging her towards the platform and the waiting train. The warning whistles echoed though the air, and suddenly how close they were to freedom was almost too real to believe.

...

It was all just a swarm of fear and tension until they reached the train station. The area was congested with people, more than Weiss had ever seen in her entire life, even considering all the people that usually attended the banquets. But these people weren't dressed fancily like the ones she was used to seeing; instead they wore casual clothes, only a few handfuls adorning suits or dresses. Some even wore rags.

There was a sense there - not of belonging, but of at least being able to mingle effortlessly. With her white hair hidden within the sweatshirt, Weiss' appearance wasn't very notable at all, and Blake…

Blake seemed like she wasn't even there, or like she'd been there in those crowds so many times before that no one would care to notice. And right now, that worked in their favor.

The smile Blake sent her briefly indicated to Weiss that they were close to their destination, and as the Faunus girl took their tickets back, Weiss followed her breathlessly to the platform.

Her first glimpse of the train couldn't be savored very much, but Weiss took it in for all it was worth. It looked just like the ones she'd seen in picture books as a child, and being able to see something from those pages in real life sent a wave of excitement through her.

There was a thick yellow line painted on the cement ground, and Blake led her over it before her shoes tapped on the hard floor of the train rather than stone.

Weiss was mesmerized by what she saw inside.

Rows upon rows of seats filled with people bound for work or other places. Pairs of cushioned seats faced one another to make conversation easier, and there were wide windows lining both sides of the train. Compartments above were packed with luggage, and there was a faint scent of food on the air.

It was a bit overwhelming, but after what she'd been through within the last twenty-four hours, Weiss believed she could handle it.

"It's amazing…" she murmured airily, curling her fingers into Blake's.

...

A soft pressure around her hand drew her attention to Weiss, the words falling from her lips with nothing short of wonder, and to Blake there was something absolutely fascinating about it.

Sure she had read about it before in books, but she had never actually been on a train in her life, and there was a difference between imagining and experiencing. Living it was much more thrilling, and an agreeing hum made its way up her throat. Or maybe it was just the circumstances. Her heart was still pounding, and Blake wondered if it would ever slow from this.

"We should find our seats," she said finally, after the awe of it all had faded to something controllable. She glanced at the tickets in her hand, trying to figure out what it all meant in spite of the minor frenzy currently swirling in her head.

...

Weiss took a few more seconds to absorb it all, and judging by Blake's reaction, she was equally as spellbound - funny how they could find such wonder in something that was so commonplace to most people.

Weiss strained onto her tiptoes to get a view of the closest window, and when her fingers slipped slightly from Blake's, she ended up holding onto her wrist. She could feel Blake's pulse flitting quickly just as clearly as she could feel her own, and she knew it'd be best if they did as Blake suggested and found their seats.

Weiss went onto her tiptoes a second time to peer over her companion's shoulder, her eyes scanning over the tickets and trying to make sense of the ink printed there.

"I believe… our seats are this way." Weiss readjusted her hold on Blake's hand before giving a gentle tug, and with their bags in-hand, they walked slowly, cautiously almost, as if still expecting to be jumped.

It was still an entirely possible scenario, and likely always would be for the rest of their lives.

Weiss counted the seats as she walked, hoping she was correct in reading their tickets. Thankfully, she came upon the designated number and found the seats empty. She gave a satisfied sigh before pulling Blake over to them.

There were two seats facing each other, and altogether four people could fit there. Weiss quickly slipped into place on the far side and put down her suitcase at long last, her eyes lifting to Blake's in disbelief.

"I… I can't believe we made it…"

...

She followed Weiss without complaint, content with the fact that some of the agency had been taken from her. She felt herself relax a bit, and once they had made it to their seats - or at least she hoped it was their seats - she plopped down beside Weiss with a sigh, placing her bag at her feet.

"We did."

A breath - and Blake almost still didn't believe it. Like it was a dream she never woke from, or a nightmare waiting to happen, and she wasn't sure what was worse.

But when the conductor's voice came over the intercom broadcasting their departure, the final whistle split the air and the doors closed for good. There was nothing else to shatter reality, and it was mere moments before the locomotive lurched forward, drawing her attention to the window and the passing scenery where she watched as the train slowly pulled away from the station.

Away from all she had ever known.

...

She didn't realize how badly she'd wanted Blake to sit beside her until the Faunus girl did just that. Weiss gladly made room, shifting closer to the window, stealing a glance past the glass as they started to move.

And it was then when it all truly hit her, how she was running away from home, away from everything, knowing nothing about where she was headed to. It was terrifying and yet still so exciting.

But most importantly, she never for a second wished to go back.

She had Blake now, and so long as they were together Weiss knew they'd be all right. Somehow. She didn't understand why she felt this way - she simply did.

The train was moving at a normal speed now, the scenery of buildings and trees blurring around them. It accelerated in time with her heart, and she leaned closer to Blake, unsure of whether she was seeking or offering comfort. After all, Blake had abandoned her old life for this - for Weiss - and there would certainly be consequences for that, be it from people in Blake's past or from Blake herself.

Weiss felt tears dripping down her cheeks, briefly noting she must have done more crying within the past two weeks than in the entire previous year.

But they weren't tears of regret. Rather, they were more so of awe, bewilderment of what lie ahead.

She released a shuddering breath as she murmured to Blake once more.

"We made it…" She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of the sweatshirt before looking up. "Are… Are you… okay?"

With all of this? With throwing away everything... for someone like me?

...

It was scary how quickly the words "I'm fine" slipped from her mouth. How much of a habit it had become over the years to say that she was okay in lieu of it all.

She grew up believing that if you told yourself something enough times, you began to believe it was true, and looking back it appeared to have worked.

But now, on a train headed for who knows where, old rules didn't really apply. It was better to start over anyway - new habits for new places. They needed to be honest with one another. Their survival depended on it.

Blake leaned closer, resting her cheek on top of Weiss' head. A breath she hadn't known she'd been holding escaped in a rush, and the words that followed were whispered into the fabric of the sweatshirt.

"Actually-" God, her voice sounded so thin, and she tried to smother it with a quiet laugh. "-I'm a little scared."

Of the journey, the challenges - everything. Now that they were actually doing this, her mettle was going to be put to the test and she needed to live up to it. She knew they were in this together, but that didn't change the fact that this entire thing had been her idea, and if anything happened to Weiss because of it...

Well, she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to forgive herself.

...

She went still when she felt Blake lean closer still, resting against Weiss in a way that made the heiress realize she needed this - they both did.

She could instantly tell Blake's reassurance that she was fine was merely a fabrication, and it put Weiss on edge a bit; if they were simply going to conceal their fears from the start, the rest of their time together would surely be nothing but secrets and lies.

So she was beyond relieved when Blake changed her answer, because that honesty provided Weiss with more comfort than the feeling of her pretty lie ever could. She didn't care that Blake was scared about all of this; she would've been more concerned if she'd said she wasn't.

Weiss allowed a smile to reach her lips; she wasn't put off by Blake's admission of uneasiness, but was rather relieved she'd decided to tell Weiss the cold hard truth.

"That's okay," she murmured. Her arms curled around Blake's elbow, and Weiss burrowed in closer amongst the various fabrics of their clothing. "It's okay to be scared."

She couldn't think of much else to say without sounding a bit far-fetched, and she didn't want to start saying things that would be optimistic to the point of being unbelievable. So she stopped there and pulled Blake closer to her.

Weiss was scared too.

It was nice to know she wasn't alone with that.

...

The warmth of Weiss against her side reminded her of last night, that enveloping feeling of comfort familiar even in its brevity. Blake knew she would get more than used to it. A part of her already had.

"Doesn't make it any less difficult." Her voice was soft, perhaps still a bit worried of hidden opposition even as the train sped through the outskirts of Vale and into the expanse of countryside. But she told herself that being cynical wouldn't do them any favors and sighed, pressing her lips lightly to the side of Weiss' head. "But you're right."

This trip wasn't just about escaping and staying alive - while that was certainly an important aspect - it was about experiencing - about having fun and enjoying things they never had the chance to do until now. If they forgot about that then this whole adventure would sour fast.

Blake hoped that would never happen, and she forced herself to relax, consciously uncoiling each muscle until the tension in her limbs dissipated and she leaned tiredly into Weiss.

...

Her body was turned slightly away from Blake as she leaned against her, her eyes trained on the window and the passing scenery as she listened carefully to each word her companion uttered. It wasn't much, but what she did say in confirming Weiss' words meant a lot to the heiress.

If the initial fear of being pursued could ever fade away, Weiss knew she would like to focus on better feelings. With every second, the train took them another foot away from Vale, away from her old prison cell and closer to a new life.

Again it was a feeling she'd experienced before, but only with Blake.

It was thrilling, and Weiss finally realized that this was the closest she'd ever been to freedom.

"We'll be okay," she murmured, and it wasn't just because she thought saying it would make it true or make her feel better. Of course that was probably a part of it, but she said it because in that moment, it was what she truly believed.

The buildings outside were traded for trees and open countryside, vast fields swaying with golden wheat and ferns. It was almost hypnotic in a way, and though Weiss wanted nothing more than to watch forever, she was feeling the aftereffects of their hectic journey thus far.

A sigh from Blake told her the Faunus girl was equally as fatigued. It should be okay to rest for a while, right? They'd be woken up somehow when they reached their destination.

Weiss pressed her cheek to Blake's arm, slouching a little, helping to keep the taller girl supported as she relaxed as well.

"Rest a bit…" Weiss murmured.

Then she closed her eyes, letting the motion of the train rock her into a light slumber. Blake's steady breathing whispered above her and reminded the heiress she was safe for now.

...

Blake settled down, tired but not quite willing to close off the world just yet. She watched the passing scenery in a daze through the window, half-lidded eyes slipping closed only for her to force them open seconds later and find that nothing had changed.

She was still here. Weiss was still here.

There was just a subtle rattle as the train sped across its tracks through the open country, the wilderness blurring into splotches indecipherable beyond color, and soon even that faded, the world going dark when the will to keep her eyes open became too much for her to bear.

It was a deep sleep, one not plagued by the threat of time, and when she awoke to the arriving whistle, the grogginess she felt was thick and drowning. She almost humored the thought of going back to sleep - that was until the last call through the intercom pierced through the drowsiness to rouse her awake again. Her neck felt stiff when she straightened, and she rubbed at it absently as she blinked the remaining weariness from her eyes.

Taking a quick glance out the window, Blake found it was almost dark, the last of the sun's light bouncing off the roof of the platform. There was no telling how much time they had left before night fell, but it was probably better that they didn't wait to find out.

Weiss' grasp was still burrowed against her side, arms wrapped around her elbow in a grip that was more secure than it was restricting, and Blake reached up to brush the bangs from her eyes. The make-up from the wedding had yet to be removed, but the stress of the escape had worn away enough of the concealer for the thin, pink line of her scar to show through.

She cleared her throat and it felt like sandpaper rubbing against already tender flesh, but she ignored it as best she could, her fingers running absently through thin white strands.

"Weiss…"

...

The sleep she had fallen into was a deep one, completely unlike the many nights she'd slept alone back in the Schnee mansion. Those nights she would wake constantly, and come morning would often feel groggy. Last night sleeping beside Blake, and now had been entirely the opposite.

Only now, Weiss felt she'd slept a mere few moments.

However, upon slowly blinking her eyes open, she found the world outside the window was darkening with shadows, and she knew she must've slept the entire day. Blake's soft voice spoke her name, and Weiss made a small noncommittal sound as she tried to straighten her posture.

The loud whistle startled her, more or less forcing her into the world of the waking and causing her mind to jump to the worst-case scenario, and her heart to jump into her throat. Her blue eyes were fearful as her voice choked on a gasp.

"Blake… a-are we-?"

But the calmness in Blake's eyes and in her touch told Weiss she was overreacting. No one had chased or found them. They'd merely reached their destination.

Weiss released a long, shuddering breath, shaking her head to clear it. "Sorry," she murmured, releasing Blake's arm. "I'm still jumpy, I guess."

Something told her it might be a while before that feeling went away completely.

...

"It's fine," Blake said. "It'll take a little bit of time to get used to - for the both of us." Her hand made one last pass through Weiss' bangs, pushing them back as a reassuring smile split her lips before reaching for her bag on the floor and slipping it over her shoulder.

She did her best not to let the apprehension she felt rise to the surface, but now that the train had stopped there was nothing left to hinder the inevitable.

Right here, right now - this is where it all began, and when she glanced out the window it was hard not to imagine the worst, that even the littlest things could trip them up. A small mistake out here could be dangerous, and they didn't have the luxury to fix them.

But it was essential for them to realize that things were bound to happen even in spite of them, and it was probably better not to get worked up about it.

That was easier said than done, of course. They'd simply have to keep trying. They would learn how eventually.

...

She leaned slightly into Blake's hand for a few seconds until she pulled away. Weiss gathered her suitcase and stood slowly, letting the prickling in her legs subside until it was a dull numbness. A coil of nervousness had formed in her stomach in less than the moment it had taken them to get up, and as they headed to the aisle, it only got tighter and tighter.

Weiss stuck close to Blake as they waded through the crowd, pulling the hood of her sweatshirt up for fear someone might recognize her. Her eyes flashed around, looking for answers as to where they were exactly, but there was too much motion to focus her gaze in any one place long enough to decipher anything.

The train station was bustling with people as they stepped out, and there was a din in the air that swept away any softer comments Weiss mumbled to herself.

They were here - wherever here was.

It was confusing, overwhelming, but she felt she truly experienced the notion of freedom at long last.

There was… nowhere she needed to be, no rules she had to follow, no demands to hold herself with proper posture and speak like an heiress should. The thought sent a trickle of excitement up into her chest as she held tightly to Blake's arm and continued their gradual pace out of the terminal.

They had nowhere to go.

And they had anywhere to go.

...

There was a rush once they stepped off the train and onto the platform, mixed in among the bustle of nightlife traffic.

It was almost overwhelming, her ears trying to track every movement of the crowd under the bow, though to little success. It was impossible, actually, and Blake simply followed the flow to the exit of the station, keeping a soft grip on the hand curled around her arm.

The crowd dispersed when they took their first steps into town, filing off into different directions, their movements trained in over years of habit, but Blake found herself stopping. She had no idea where to go, and her gaze flitted between the streets that split off before them.

But there was an absence of the denseness she had grown so use to, the buildings low and spaced enough to let the low sunset shine between the framework. The air was clear, the road beneath their feet absent of the smog that practically grew from the underbelly back home - back in Vale - and she breathed in deeply.

It was almost relaxing, the various smells from shops and stalls was fresh and clear, and underneath it all a faint trace of salt water tickled her senses. Some things didn't change, she supposed, and she turned her head towards Weiss.

"I think we're near the ocean."

She found that small inkling of familiarity to be more than welcome.

...

The people around them all seemed to have places to go - to work, back home to families, or to other obligations. It made Weiss feel lonely for a second - scared - considering she and Blake had no one waiting for them. But then again, that wasn't exactly anything new to either of them.

The uncertainties didn't stay with her for long, though. She started to think about it as a lack of pressure; this was freedom, she reminded herself. She and Blake were unexpected and unbridled, and this town silently welcomed them, perhaps not with words, but with other things.

With the golden splashes of fading sunlight that weaved patterns between the buildings, without interruption.

With new air, foreign but liberating, something her lungs quickly got accustomed to.

With smells not of smoke, but of fresh food, baked goods, and-

The second Blake said it, Weiss caught a whiff of it as well.

Salt.

She looked up to Blake, eyes sparkling. She'd always loved the ocean after all.

She knew they should probably get something to eat, but for whatever odd reason she didn't feel hungry, and something led her to believe it was the same for Blake, at least for now. They didn't know where they could go to eat anyway; the town would be too hectic at this hour. At least the beach was somewhat familiar, somewhere they could be alone in this strange new place.

They could eat and start worrying more tomorrow. But for now…

"Could we…?" Weiss asked in a small voice, tentative. Getting permission was a habit she couldn't shake just yet. "Could we go there? Just for tonight?"

...

The moment Blake caught sight of the look in Weiss' eyes, she felt her heart jump.

"I don't… see why not?"

They had nowhere else to go. Buying a room for an inn would cost too much money, and using a credit card for something like that would put them on the map quicker than they could say hello. Actually, using a credit card for anything would be risky, and would be better off being used for emergencies only.

It would be difficult. Besides the snacks and the bottles of water, she hadn't seen much in the vein of money packed within her bag. Perhaps she just hadn't looked hard enough. She could hope, anyway.

...

With Blake's borderline confirmation that they could go, Weiss' lips curled into the first smile she'd shown in hours. She couldn't keep the excitement down, and in a way she felt a bit like her old self, like she'd been when she'd first met Blake. It wasn't so much naivety as it was wonder, and it sent a bit of energy coursing through her veins.

She kept a hold on Blake's hand and forced her legs to move, following her nose through the thinning crowds of weary people who were just beginning to limp home after a long day. She and Blake had had a long day as well - a long two weeks, actually - but after all they'd been through, they could make it just a little farther now.

Weiss kept Blake's injured knees in mind and moved at a gradual pace; keeping things slow would also dissuade suspicion from the people around them. Even if they weren't exactly the most inconspicuous pair in town, they weren't ostentatious strangers either; the last thing they needed to do here was start attracting attention.

They passed shops that were just about to close, and it was hard to ignore the temptations of food, but Weiss' eyes were focused ahead, past the last of the buildings where she could make out the gentle mounds of sand dunes.

She could hear the waves now.

It was a few minutes later when they got close enough to be stepping on sand the wind had blown down over the streets. Weiss could see no signs that forbade people on the beach past certain hours, so she eagerly led Blake to a small structure of steps that allowed them to climb over the dunes with ease.

When they at last stood at the top, Weiss felt her eyes sting, both from the salt and sand and from the nostalgia that rose up within her like the waves in her sight.

The water sparkled under the setting sun, colors like liquid fire, flaming waves lapping lazily at the shoreline. The tide dragged the remains of children's abandoned sand castles and shell collections back out to sea, saving them for another time.

Weiss was overwhelmed and she swayed slightly into Blake at the sight of it all, at the relief of making it here. Her voice left her lips in a thin breath:

"It's so beautiful… so much more than it was back in Vale…"

...

The smile didn't escape Blake's notice, and the sight had her relaxing. It wasn't often she saw Weiss smile, and after those long hours filled with worry, it was more than a relief.

And the fact that it more or less remained as they made their way by sight and smell to the dunes was a testament to just how far they had come. That the worry and opposition was worth it in the end, and when they made it to the top of the stairs, looking out over the expanse of sand and waves, Blake wanted to breathe it all in – as if freedom was something she could bury into her lungs and keep there.

At least, Blake hoped she could.

...

Weiss took a few moments to be spellbound by what lie before her, and she tried to take it all in. She burned the imagery into her mind so she may see it even when she wasn't here any longer. She breathed the salty air into her lungs deeply, trying to inhale as much as she could, as if it all might vanish the next second.

But eventually she was compelled to move for several reasons, one being fear that they were in plain sight where they stood, and one being the feeling that she couldn't hold herself up anymore.

Without a word, only a glance to Blake's eyes, Weiss led her down the other side of the steps, the side that brought them to the sand.

Weiss hesitated before lifting her shoe and taking her first step on the foreign beach. It sent a tingle up her spine, but it was one that was welcome, not uncomfortable.

Together, they walked along the sand dunes, looking for a good place to set up camp, their pace slowed by the thick sand. But they didn't have to rush anymore anyway. The mountains of sand kept them from view of anyone in the town, and it was almost like the empty beach stretching before them now was their own secret base, like it was theirs alone.

And tonight, it was.

...

It was almost like time had slowed to a crawl, the sand making it hard to move faster than a slow consistent pace. They were both tired, probably more than hungry, and anywhere seemed good at this point.

The dunes between the beach and town were as good of a cover as any. The beach was empty - deserted - and any remains of life abandoned to the tide.

Blake found herself watching it, getting lost in the sight and sounds of it, and Weiss' hand in hers was the only thing keeping her moving forward.

This whole shoreline was theirs - or at least, that's what it seemed like, and once they were far enough away from town, Blake stopped, her stare dropping to the hand curled around hers.

"We made it," she muttered, and it still almost seemed too good to be true.

...

Blake's voice was a soft breath, but over the last two weeks, Weiss had been conditioned to pick up on it. She nodded and smiled, returning the tight grip on her hand.

"Yes…" She looked up to her, waiting until she met golden eyes that were bright beneath the dying sunlight. "We made it, and it's all thanks to you."

They had come to a stop, and Weiss put her suitcase down, inviting Blake to do the same. The blanket they had borrowed from Tukson would at least serve to keep the majority of the sand out of their hair and ears as they slept, and Weiss helped her companion spread it out. They put their bags on either side before finally sitting down, and it was such a nice feeling Weiss couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Even though she'd slept all day on the train, she was still exhausted and she couldn't really understand why. They'd come a long way in a few hours, and it was certainly draining in every sense of the word.

Weiss hugged herself beneath the sweatshirt, the thick fabrics serving to keep her warm even under the evening sea breeze. But when she looked to Blake, she frowned.

"Do you have something to keep you warm tonight?"

...

Her fingers fiddled with the ends of her sleeves at Weiss' question. The cloth was thin, worn and baggy after years of use, but it was better than a t-shirt, and there was only more of the same in her bag. Blake shrugged, shoulders slumping, and she brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs.

"I can make do."

She had quite the amount of practice after all. If nothing else, she could just roll the blanket around herself in a cocoon, though that seemed almost too comical to be comfortable.

It was the wind - each gust seemed to pass unbidden through the fabric, and with the sun close to gone, she could feel the burgeoning prickles to her skin.

Her mind wandered to last night - the warmth, the comfort - and for a moment she felt herself slip, eyes closing. Imagining that was enough to push the chills away. At least momentarily, and when she regained composure to steel her thoughts back together, Blake found that she was staring.

...

Weiss' shoulders slumped when she watched Blake curl in on herself, making herself smaller, mumbling a half-hearted answer. Those words, "I can make do" were so… lonely to Weiss. In all her years at the Schnee mansion, Weiss had always been alone, but she'd never felt lonely. She'd recently realized the only way to feel lonely was to be ignored when there were other people around.

Blake seemed like she knew that feeling all too well.

A pang went through her chest, and Weiss made a move to remove the sweatshirt, fully intending to give it back to her. Perhaps she could bury herself under a few of her own dresses?

But when Blake's gaze met hers - longing for something Weiss hadn't realized she wanted as well - the heiress stopped and slipped back into the sweatshirt fully.

It was clear what they could do to keep the both of them warm, and neither was opposed to it. If they were honest with themselves, they wanted nothing more.

"Then let me help."

Weiss smiled kindly and gently tapped Blake's shoulder, having her lie down on her back. The sand beneath them made for a soft makeshift mattress, and the blanket provided the perfect shield to keep the pesky particles away.

Weiss laid herself down beside the Faunus girl, mimicking their positions from the previous night, resting her head sideways on Blake's shoulder. She slipped one arm beneath her shoulders and draped the other across her stomach, doing her best to envelop her in an embrace to keep her warm, cover her against the wind.

"How's this?"

A whisper - tired, but content.

...

The suggestion was almost too obvious to comprehend, and only when Weiss coaxed her to her back, tucking into her side like the night before, did the confusion finally lift.

Honestly, Blake didn't know what else she was expecting, and in the scheme of things it was rather welcome. More than welcome, actually.

Call it a tendency, but she liked being warm, and having Weiss next to her - safe - was about as good as life could get right now.

"It's-" A breath, and she curled an arm around Weiss, turning into her, the cold bite to the ocean's breeze already starting to disappear. "It's perfect."

...

Weiss sighed. Perfect was something she'd always been far from, but in this case, she agreed with Blake completely.

She closed her eyes, nestling closer, listening to the soft pulse beneath her ear. The combers made for a soothing lullaby, and the sunlight soon faded from the sky, sinking back beneath the waves.

It grew dark before long, but Weiss wasn't afraid. She had Blake now, and if she had anything to say about it, she always would from here on out.

She shifted as much of her weight onto Blake as she dared, sighing heavily against her before her breathing softened.

"Goodnight…" she murmured. "Sleep well, Blake."

And not a moment later Weiss succumbed to her exhaustion, cuddled warmly into Blake's side - safe, protected, and free.

...

The night grew slowly, and by the time Weiss fell to exhaustion, only the quiet roar of the waves remained.

There was a peacefulness about it all, how whatever nerves she felt were slipping away by the second, and the soft even sound of Weiss' breath against her collar brought her that much closer to much-needed rest and relaxation. God knew they deserved it, and after a point Blake didn't bother holding back the exhaustion.

It was like flicking a switch, and in a rush everything shut down. One light after another until all that remained was the warmth against her side, the breath fanning across her skin.

She didn't need anything else right now.

This was enough.

------------

A/N: It's only right that they get to spend their first night of freedom together on the beach, isn't it? But where to go in the morning...?

Preview for Act VIII: She should have seen it coming - the distant grey clouds, the roaring sea - but caught up in life as she was, Blake didn't notice the souring weather until the rain was already falling. Drops fell from the sky, cold and unforgiving as they sunk through the thin fabric of her shirt, chilling her skin. The wayward sea breeze didn't help in the slightest, curling from the beach and through town with a vengeance.