Renegades (Act VIII)

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Calm before the storm indeed. Thanks to all of my readers who continue to review and support me!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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														Act VIII.

For the second morning in a row, Weiss regained consciousness to find herself in Blake's arms. She didn't open her eyes right away, and instead savored the warmth of the body beneath hers. She moved slowly in time with the rise and fall of Blake's chest, and by the time Weiss opened her eyes, she almost felt tired enough to shut them again.

The pale yellow sand around her reminded her of where she was, the taste of salt water thick in the back of her throat. It also reminded her of just how parched she was, and when she grunted to clear her voice a bit, an irritable scratching worked up her throat.

It was immediately discomforting, and a bit worrying as well. She hadn't eaten or drank much in over two days, and despite the deep sleep she'd been blessed with last night, she could feel the effects of her hunger and dehydration now.

Sleeping in the dry air last night caused her breathing to become raspy and she wheezed a bit now, wincing at the arid feeling on her tongue. It hurt to swallow, and with the oncoming rays of the sunrise peeking above the horizon, Weiss felt the apprehension wash over her as if it was one of the ocean waves. She feared people would start walking along the beach soon, and quickly checked to ensure their bags were still beside them.

Weiss coughed into her shoulder before resting against Blake once more - just for a moment, just to prolong the peace as long as she could manage.

But when the pain in her throat became too great, she lifted herself up again, unable to even enjoy Blake's closeness anymore. She reached up slowly to brush fingers through the Faunus girl's bangs, rasping her name softly.

"Blake…"

. . .

She didn't want to wake up, and the moment she felt Weiss stir, Blake had half a mind to pull the girl back down for another hour or two of shut-eye. But consciousness ebbed in slowly, and the cough that escaped Weiss had her aching ears twitching beneath the bow.

Blake thought she could ignore the rest when Weiss settled back down against her, breathing in a sigh at the familiar weight, the pressure it put on her chest.

It didn't last long though, and when Weiss pulled herself up again, the light graze of dull fingernails trailing across her forehead, Blake forced her eyes open.

The sudden influx of light had her turning in to Weiss, the loose grip she had on her tightening. Blinking, she tried pushing the weariness away, and for the most part awakening was a gradual happening.

It was the rasping voice that had her glancing up to Weiss worriedly, and she sat up in one quick fluid motion. She couldn't quite erase the worried crease to her brow as she gave Weiss a quick once-over, trying to find a source, and as a result her voice came out thin and anxious.

"Are you okay?"

. . .

When Blake pulled her back in, Weiss almost caved; of course she too wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, forget the rest of the world, and curl up into her side again for as long as she felt like it. Guilt surged within her when Blake sat up so quickly, and she almost told the Faunus girl to lie back down.

But the concern in those golden eyes and in that familiar voice made the heiress crack all too quickly. Weiss sat up as well but her eyes went to her lap, fingers clutching her dress.

"I'm all right," she murmured. "It just hurts a bit to swallow…"

She knew she shouldn't be complaining; Blake was exhausted and hurt as well, she recalled.

But when she asked Weiss with such… care in her voice, Weiss had to tell her the absolute truth. She reminded herself they needed to be honest with one another above all else if any of this was going to work.

She looked up slowly, eyes apologetic for already causing trouble so early on in the day. Weiss noticed the twitching of Blake's bow and hesitantly reached up, a familiar motion she'd done several times now. She moved carefully, untying the bow to reveal ruffled ears. Weiss ran her fingers over them gently, trying to smooth the fur and let in some air.

"I guess we both just need… a bit of time to take it easy. We've gotten far in these last few days, and while I know it's only detrimental to stop running…" She sighed and gave Blake a hopeless smile. "I think it's what we need, at least for today."

. . .

Weiss looked away from her, eyes lowering to her lap, and Blake inched closer. It was like Weiss felt guilty having to bring up her wellbeing, and when Blake caught a glimpse of blue eyes, the feeling merely became more apparent.

This whole thing would be a struggle, but Blake wanted Weiss to know that voicing her concerns would never be met with opposition or denial. Out here it was just the two of them, and no one besides themselves would make sure they made it through to the end. That trust was essential. And how they had it was still a bit of a mystery.

After years growing up in problematic circumstances, keeping to oneself was more second-nature than a habit, and to shake it would probably be more of a struggle than they thought.

The comfort, though - that warmth she felt around Weiss - that was a start, and she made no move to stop Weiss as she went about untying the bow, her ears flicking contentedly at the release and the gentle motions soothing the tussled fur.

"Then we'll take it easy," she said, nudging her head into Weiss' hand before pulling away to reach for her bag. She dug out the water bottle and a few granola bars, handing them to Weiss. It wasn't a lot, but it would hold them off until they could find something more suitable. "We'll explore the city, take in the sights, make a plan - whatever we need to do."

. . .

Weiss couldn't help but smile when Blake pressed into her touch. Such a small action made her feel necessary - needed - something she'd never felt she was in the eighteen years before she'd met Blake.

"All right. I think that will be best. At least until we've regained a bit of our strength." She accepted the water and food quietly, but handed one of the granola bars back to her companion. "You need to eat, too," Weiss reminded her. She peeled the wrapper off of her own and stuffed the trash into a pocket of her suitcase, not about to risk a littering fee should someone see them.

The flavors weren't anything as strong as the turnover they'd shared back at the cafe so many nights ago, but it was more than enough to stave off the terrible hunger that assaulted her. She made sure Blake ate a bit as well before taking a sip of the water and then handing it over to her companion.

The sun rose in front of them, the waves still lapping softly, and the peaceful scene brought a comfort like no other. In addition to the food and water that subdued the ache in her throat, Weiss realized she hadn't felt so good in a long, long time - if ever at all.

When the silent agreement between them came that it was time to get moving - to look around town and hopefully find some place to stay the night - Weiss was reluctant to move.

However, before either of them could stand, she couldn't stop herself from wrapping her arms around Blake one last time, squeezing her with a gentle desperation. It was a thank you, and many more things as well.

When she sat back at last, Weiss' gaze went to the ribbon in her left hand. "Do you want me to tie it back on for you?"

She hated to have to ask, but felt it was her best option. She wanted Blake to be comfortable above all else, and if concealing her ears was the way to do that, Weiss would oblige her.

. . .

The embrace was sudden, or at least it seemed that way to Blake. Contact in general had been sparse for the better part of years, and what little instances she had to draw upon seemed so far away in comparison.

It was something new, but then again, a lot of things from here on out would be. She would get used to it, and in a way, she kind of already had.

Weiss was rather open with contact in spite of her upbringing, or perhaps because of it, and whether or not Blake meant to, it was quickly becoming clear she was getting used to it. Looking forward to it even, and the comfort she felt melted away the tenseness to her muscles from the abrupt awakening a few moments earlier.

When Weiss pulled away, her words brought Blake's attention to the ribbon, and she reached for it with soft hum.

"That's all right," Blake said as she began to wrap her ears beneath the ribbon. "It takes a bit of practice."

Which was true. For the most part. Though Blake wasn't about to say that something just didn't feel right about having Weiss bind her ears. She'd actually prefer to be without the bow entirely while with Weiss, but with this town still so new it was better to be safe than sorry. Maybe one day she wouldn't have to worry about it.

. . .

Weiss didn't protest when Blake tied the ribbon herself. She could understand Blake might not want the heiress - or anyone, for that matter - touching her there, even though Weiss just had moments ago. She made a mental note not to do so carelessly from now on if she could help it.

They stretched for a moment as the sun rose higher, and the sounds of a waking town started to fill the air around them. Cars started rolling by behind the sand dunes, dogs barked, people called greetings, shops started opening.

The two girls stood on unsteady legs before shaking the numbness out. They each held one end of the blanket, folding it together while also being sure to shake out the sand. Blake packed it into her bag as Weiss picked up her own.

The sunlight was strong and she could tell it would be a warmer day. Therefore, she tussled her way out of Blake's sweatshirt, leaving her in her simple white dress.

"Thank you for letting me wear it last night," she said, handing it back to its owner.

She pulled a hair tie from her wrist and began tying her tresses, pulling it all into a ponytail, slightly askew to the right side. When they were both ready, they set out for their first day on the new town.

No one expected them. And yet everything awaited them.

. . .

The town was bustling, the seaward breeze ever present, and soon the distant sound of trade ships moored at the docks sounded off on the wind. There was a saltiness to everything, ever present on the back of her tongue and while it wasn't unwelcome, Blake figured it was an acquired taste she'd get used to eventually.

That was, if their time spent here turned out to be significant.

Blake had spent almost her whole life near the ocean, and yet here it felt different. In the early morning thrum, people paid them no mind. After all, what were two out-of-place girls in the scheme of things? She had Weiss, and so long as that remained, the rest didn't matter.

After so long, she felt invisible in the best way possible, and for a moment it felt like just the two of them in the world. And the options laid bare at their feet were overwhelming.

. . .

The town they'd found themselves in was a quaint one. The people didn't seem as high-strung as those in Vale, and there was something Weiss took note of particularly quickly.

Faunus intermingled with the humans, and the balance of each race's numbers was reassuring, promising. Tails and ears seemed to be just as common as a lack thereof, and Weiss smiled to know Blake's people didn't appear to be so oppressed here.

They walked slowly down the sidewalk, keeping out of the ways of other passerby. Weiss believed there were even a few pleasant greetings or "good mornings!" called their way.

On the surface, it seemed like the perfect town. But they knew nothing of what they were going to do in terms of staying there. They would need to find someplace to live, or at the very least spend the nights. Then there was the matter of obtaining money…

But those thoughts were presently pushed to the back of her mind when she caught sight of a large tree. It stood in a grassy patch between two small shops, but what caught Weiss' attention were the large red apples growing in its branches.

"Blake, look," she whispered as though it were a great secret. She nodded her head toward the tree. "Do you think it'd be all right to take a few?"

. . .

It was difficult to know for sure what they could and couldn't get away with here. After all, it was still very new to the both of them, but upon inspection there was nothing telling them they couldn't, so what was the harm in trying, right? Well, that's what Blake told herself.

"A few shouldn't hurt," she said, shoulders rising in a slight shrug. The worst that could happen was that someone would tell them to stop, and that seemed like an easy price to pay in the scheme of things.

The tree was rather large though, and only when they had made their way over to stand under the canopy of branches did Blake notice that neither of them had the height to reach. Raising her arm, there was still about five feet separating her from their goal, and she looked to Weiss questioningly.

But that was the exact moment a solution came to mind. Her ears perked subtly under the bow, twitching, and she bent at the knees, crouching down before looking back to Weiss with a curl to her lips.

"C'mon, I'll boost you up."

. . .

The first thing Weiss noticed was the issue of the height of the tree, how the fruit was a good distance out of reach. Climbing the trunk probably wouldn't be the best idea; they weren't exactly inconspicuous here, after all.

But Blake met her eyes as she crouched down, and Weiss caught her intention instantly. She felt a slight warmth in her cheeks at the thought, and her eyes went from Blake to the tree and back again. It took her a second to gather her bearings.

Then, she went to Blake slowly, hesitantly. She moved carefully, climbing onto Blake's shoulders, keeping her dress as advantageous to herself as possible. She settled her weight onto Blake's shoulders gradually, hands clinging to the Faunus girl's hair, though Weiss was careful not to tug.

"A-Are you sure about this?" she stammered.

Blake had caught and lifted her before, but never quite like this.

. . .

Slender fingers threaded through her hair, gentle and careful not to tug, and her ears twitched at the touch. The rest of Weiss' weight settled on her shoulders gradually, as if the heiress was worried for whatever reason.

Blake had picked her up before, and this right now was nothing more than a slightly upgraded piggyback ride. As a result, Weiss' stammered question coerced a soft laugh from Blake's lips.

"More than sure."

Her arms coiled around Weiss' thighs, holding tight as she stood, testing out her balance. Everything seemed in order, her legs sturdy despite the added weight. Well, as sturdy as they could get considering the past few days, but Blake wasn't about to let Weiss fall if she had anything to do with it, and she tilted her head back to toss a confident smile up at Weiss.

"See?"

. . .

Blake straightened up, and Weiss finally let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She was lifted up slowly, until she was among the tree branches. The aroma of the fresh fruit wreathed around her, but Weiss knew this was no time to be enjoying the fragrances.

She moved slowly, as not to unbalance Blake. Weiss imagined they were making quite the spectacle out of themselves right about now, but no one confronted them or ordered them to stop what they were doing.

Therefore, Weiss reached up to the nearest branch, her fingers brushing over the hard skin of a plump apple. A slight tug and it came off without a hitch. She leaned down a little to let it drop down onto her suitcase before going back for more.

She managed to pick six of them from where she was, but she imagined Blake was getting sore about now. So Weiss dropped the last apple down before her hands went back to Blake's hair, fingers massaging her shoulders and neck gently.

"That should be fine for now. You can let me down."

. . .

She could hear the snickering of the passing citizens, stifled behind hands as they made their way through town, but Blake knew better than to pay it any mind, and she returned her attention to Weiss as she dropped each apple down into the suitcase. As long as no one did anything to stop them, then they could laugh all they wanted.

There wasn't anything they could do about it anyway, and worrying about their nonexistent reputation in an unknown town was a waste of time.

When Weiss' hands returned to her hair, Blake understood the intent even before the request made itself known, and she crouched back down to let Weiss off. She was careful to make sure they were both steady before easing the grip she had on Weiss's legs, allowing her to slip off with minor effort.

"We can always come back for more."

And with the way things were going, there was a high chance that they would. Though Blake hoped there would be a bit of variety sooner rather than later.

. . .

Weiss waited until Blake was low enough before slipping off her shoulders. The smile that had been absent whenever Blake was had been easier to show within the past few days and nights, and it returned now, as did the old sparkle in Weiss' eyes. She chuckled a little bit at her friend's discombobulated appearance, and the heiress reached up to smooth out Blake's shirt and bow for her.

She then went to her suitcase and closed it with the apples securely inside; they'd make for a nice meal later on.

Now if only they could find a place to enjoy such a meal…

Weiss looked around herself, taking in the humble buildings and houses, much smaller than those in Vale. She and Blake chose a random direction and started walking; their free hands came together without question.

All the while, Weiss kept her eyes open for any place they might possibly be able to take a rest for the night.

"Any ideas as to where we should go?" she wondered.

. . .

There was always the beach. It was unlikely they would be bothered there, even if the accessibility meant a lack of actual shelter. Though the further they ventured into town, the more her curiosity got the better of her.

The streets were wide, open despite the number of people milling about, and it was harder than she thought not to get lost in it all. Taking everything in was a task in and of itself, but that wasn't enough to stop her from trying.

She couldn't help it. Beneath the risk there was wonder, and in the moment that was all she could see. Anywhere seemed good to her right now.

It was the gentle grasp of Weiss' hand around hers that kept Blake grounded, connected to the here and now and not lost among the crowds, and occasionally her grip would tighten. A reassurance, to make sure Weiss was still there with her, and her gaze would wander from the crowds back to her side - back to Weiss. Blake found herself smiling, too caught up to realize she failed to answer Weiss' question.

. . .

As they continued to walk, somewhere along the lines, Weiss realized Blake didn't have an answer for her. And that was fine; what harm was there in wandering the town, scoping it out and getting to know it better? After all, that was part of the adventure.

Time seemed to pass them by in slow motion, and Weiss relished every second of it, keeping her hold on Blake's hand all the while.

They passed all kinds of people - human and Faunus alike - and they passed many different buildings, shops, and restaurants. There was variety in this town, unlike the static uniformity of Vale. Weiss presumed a dynamic place was more preferable for most people, herself and Blake included.

They wandered, and it was nice to be aimless and unrestricted for once.

Only when the hunger started crawling back into their stomachs did they stop for a break. Weiss dug into her suitcase and fished out one of the apples, breaking it in half after a bit of a struggle and handing one piece to Blake.

They stuck to the edge of a building, keeping out of peoples' ways as they watched the bustling town. The apple was fresh, crunchy, and juicy, and the strong flavor was something Weiss hummed at as she ate, making sure to leave nothing but the core.

However, by the time she'd finished, she realized the sky had taken on a darker color, and the distant ocean seemed to be crashing a bit louder. The breeze grew cooler and stronger, and Weiss shivered once as she looked to her companion. A quick, nervous glance to Blake's troubled eyes told Weiss she was aware of their newest dilemma as well.

As if to force them into some course of action, raindrops started falling a few seconds afterward, scoring each of their noses in succession.

. . .

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.

Without thinking, she grasped Weiss' hand and tugged her across the street, avoiding traffic, and over to a small overhang bus shelter for temporary relief. Though, in the scheme of things, by the time they were halfway there, the sky had opened up, and they reached shelter nearly soaked.

Blake let out a groan and pushed back the hair stuck to her forehead and cheeks, flicking the excess water from her hands with a frown. Of all the things she hated, rain was right near the top.

"Hopefully it won't last long."

And the moment she said those words, she wished she could take them back.

. . .

The shelter the overhang provided was welcomed, but extremely humble; the strong wind that had picked up assisted the rain in slipping underneath to ultimately reach them anyway. The storm had commenced so quickly, it was almost as though it'd been like this for hours already.

Weiss shook her shoes off as best she could, wringing her ponytail out a bit with her free hand. She was shivering in spite of herself, the cold rain harsh and relentless as it was misted over the both of them on the wind. Cars sped by, eager to get home, spraying fast-growing puddles up only a few feet away from them. People with umbrellas hurried along to take shelter as well.

Before very long, Weiss realized she and Blake were the only two people still outside. She could hear the ocean surging behind them, taste the drowning rainwater on the back of her tongue.

She was hoping this would just be some passing torrential downpour. But even after several minutes of waiting, the sky only grew darker, angrier, and when the first bolt of lightning flashed and thunder cracked the sky, Weiss jumped and gasped audibly. Holding tightly to Blake's hand and arm, she looked up, conflicted.

"Should we… try to go somewhere else?"

They didn't know if there was anywhere else to go, and running aimlessly through town in a storm like this with their luggage to weigh them down could be dangerous, not to mention the risk of catching sickness in the rain.

And yet, she didn't think it would be a good idea to wait out the storm here either, under the minimal protection of the overhang.

Either way felt like a dead end, but pressing closer to Blake felt like a good way to start for the time being.

. . .

The first flash of lightening had her ears falling back against her scalp, warping the bow, but the shock of thunder made her jump even in spite of knowing what would follow. It was deafening, her sensitive hearing only making it worse, and the sound seemed to split her head in two.

It took a moment for the ringing in her ears to stop, the dull discomfort never fully leaving, but she was able to make out Weiss' question over the insistent fall of rain.

Blake just didn't know where they could go, and no matter their decision, it was quite obvious they wouldn't make it without being completely drenched in the process. And none of that sounded enticing, but standing there as the wind pushed the rain into their temporary shelter wasn't any better.

There was a subtle pressure as she tried to scramble for an answer - tried to think of a place to go when she felt Weiss press closer to her. But what did they know of town besides the beach and the train station, both of which were almost too far away to be considerable? Though if push came to shove, they had nowhere else to go unless something else popped up along the way.

"We have to try." Blake exhaled shakily, looking out over the street and the pouring rain. "We don't really have anything else."

. . .

Weiss watched as Blake's bow trembled with the following crashes of thunder, realizing how painful it must have been for her to have to listen to such things. Never before had she considered what negative effects a Faunus' senses could have on them; Weiss had only ever seen positives, aside from the widespread human oppression that seemed to come with the esoteric territory.

In that moment, she made a small vow to herself, to start thinking for herself and stop relying on Blake for all of her answers.

Weiss was used to asking permission all her life, being ordered and expected to comply. But there was a difference between asking permission and burdening someone with weighty questions. She wanted to alleviate some of that pressure for Blake now, the pressure Weiss herself had put there.

"All right," she said, resolved. "Then let's go for it."

If worse came to worst, they could take shelter in a store nearby, but it would probably be best to find a place to spend the night anyway.

Weiss tugged at Blake's wrist, urging her forward and inevitably out into the rain. She took off as quickly as she could manage given Blake's grip, the weight of her suitcase, and the fragility of her little shoes. Puddles splashed, but they managed to avoid the worst of them, though the rain pouring from above had them drenched within seconds.

Squinting past the bombarding water, Weiss kept her eyes open as she scoured her surroundings; the shops turned into small houses, and the workplace atmosphere was exchanged for a more homely one.

Weiss prayed they too could find a temporary home here, even if just for the night.

. . .

The rain fell with force, seeping into her clothes in a matter of moments after they set foot out of the cover of the bus shelter. It was weighty and cold, drenching her hair and the bow along with it.

Before long, she tugged the ribbon free, and her ears flattened to keep the excess water from sinking in, but at least it didn't feel like swimming underwater anymore. Not that reality was an improvement.

She had trouble paying attention in the mess. Weiss' hand in hers was an anchor as the sky split above them and another flash of lightening burst to life. The resulting thunder was still booming, and her grip tightened around Weiss' fingers.

Blake tried not to think about it - tried to push the creeping feeling of anxiety aside. It was just rain, but telling herself that didn't seem to fix things at all.

. . .

She felt Blake's grip tighten around her hand once more, and the sense of urgency only increased, as did her pace and pulse. Every flash of lightning and crash of thunder was more frightening, more severe than the last. She could sense Blake's anxiousness more than her own now, and Weiss knew it was up to her.

Her eyes searched frantically, scouring every waterlogged building where the gutters had already overflowed. The sky had darkened significantly in such a short amount of time, and it was becoming increasingly more difficult to see despite how early on in the evening it still was. Seeking shelter was becoming a desperate endeavor now, and Weiss could hear the blood roaring in her ears even louder than the pouring rain was.

It was nothing short of a miracle when she spotted a small shack sitting on a stretch of drowning grass. There was a sign on the property signifying it was abandoned and due to be reconstructed at a later date. It was humble to say the least, but not dilapidated, and that was good enough.

"Blake!"

Weiss called her name to get her attention and nodded toward the shack, changing course instantly. She very nearly tripped in her haste to get there, but righted herself somehow by keeping hold of Blake.

Weiss all but crashed into the side of the shack, skidding to a halt that left her slipping in the mud with Blake not far behind her. The heiress panted, flashing Blake a quick glance.

"S-Sorry…"

She led Blake toward the little door, letting go of her suitcase rather than Blake's hand in order to open it.

. . .

They were a mess by the time Weiss had wrangled the door open, and they stumbled inside soaked to the bone and covered in splotches of mud.

The clumped strands of her hair were water-logged and sticking to every inch of her face, dripping insistently onto the bare concrete floor, and Blake pushed them back from her face with chilled hands. Her ears wouldn't stop twitching, trying to flick away the remaining water, as she rung out her shirt as best she could while still wearing it.

Honestly, it was probably better to change entirely, but the fabric material of her backpack most likely did little to keep out the rain. If she was lucky, a few things would still be wearable, though she was hesitant to check, and she simply slipped the bag from her shoulder and dropped it on the floor.

Blake told herself that she'd look in a second and instead she settled her gaze on Weiss. She just didn't know what to say.

. . .

They stood there for a moment as the door slammed shut behind them, catching their breaths and shaking off the excess water. There wasn't much inside the shack, but there was a roof and a couch, and that was all Weiss needed to know.

She let out a long sigh as she pawed through her ponytail and unwrinkled her dress to the best of her abilities.

Before anything else, she noticed Blake's backpack drop limply to the floor, and Weiss cast her a curious glance. She frowned; Blake looked understandably frazzled after the whole ordeal, but there was more to it than that. It almost felt like she was blaming herself for the storm for some reason.

Weiss let go of her hand only to reach up, smoothing out Blake's hair and the fur of her ears, taking care to be gentle. Droplets of water fell continuously to the floor around them, but the speed of them gradually slowed until they were few and far between.

"We made it," she sighed, offering a smile.

She looked to her own suitcase before crouching down beside it. Unlike Blake's bag, the materials that constructed a Schnee's suitcase weren't so flimsy. Weiss unzipped it to find all of the clothes she'd packed were dry, and she gave an approving nod.

At least her father's money was good for something. This suitcase might've been his best investment.

Weiss rummaged about before pulling out her largest dress, azure in color. She handed it to Blake before choosing a smaller blue one for herself.

"Sorry. I didn't own many pants. But this should help keep you warm, or at the very least give you something dry to wear. I suppose if we change, we can let what we're wearing now dry overnight and it'll almost be like having washed our clothes."

She placed the dress into Blake's palm, silently imploring her to accept it for the night.

. . .

Weiss was slender and small, and Blake eyed the dress handed to her curiously. The garment looked loose-fitting, most likely the largest Weiss owned, and Blake supposed it was the thought that counted. She couldn't refuse something like this, especially considering it was currently the only option available to her, so after a minor hesitance she turned around to peel off the moist shirt sticking to her skin.

A towel would have been nice, but after tossing her shirt over near the soaked backpack and pulling the dress over her head, this was a good second best. Her shoes came off next, then her socks, and finally the mud splattered jeans.

In the end it felt a little odd, though not particularly uncomfortable. Maybe just a bit chilly, but she'd get used to the chill if it meant being dry. Dresses weren't exactly White Fang material, after all, and the last time she had worn one was before she could remember.

At least it was loose-fitting, the fabric hanging from her form unrestricted. Free of ties and elastics, it was just a simple blue dress, and she could live with that.

Now if her hair would just dry...

"Thanks," Blake said, turning back to Weiss with a small smile.

. . .

She was glad Blake had accepted the dress, and Weiss turned away to change as well. It was a simple exchange of her current white dress for the dry blue one, and the lack of water clinging to the fresh material was very much welcomed.

The rain continued to hiss outside, pattering against the little windows, the evening sky providing only a bare minimum of light inside splashing onto the floor. The occasional flash of lightning illuminated things and made it easier for Weiss to see, but she would have preferred no storm at all.

The thunder didn't stop either, and as they both finished changing and spread their drenched clothing out to dry, Weiss noticed Blake's ears had gone flat again.

She did take a moment to appreciate the sight of Blake in a dress, however. It was peculiar and yet charming in its own way, and while Weiss wasn't certain she'd get used to it right away, she didn't dislike it in the slightest.

"It looks good on you," she offered softly.

The heiress reached up to untie her own ponytail; since it'd been tied up, it wasn't as sopping wet as Blake's hair was now. She took the Faunus girl's hand again and led her a few steps toward the couch, shaking off her shoes as she did so.

"Come here, now. I'll help dry your hair for you."

The couch wasn't anything grand - a firm, dusty cushion that smelled like abandonment was all it was, but they couldn't complain. Weiss had her companion sit beside her and turned Blake slightly so she could access her hair better. Weiss divided her dark tresses into sections and began twirling them slowly, wringing them out one by one to get rid of the water.

It would've been nicer without the explosive thunder every other minute, and Weiss jumped and gasped more than a few times. She couldn't see very well, but relied on her hands and fingers, repeating the motions in succession. She focused on her task until it was completed, and Weiss gave a pat to Blake's back to indicate as much.

"There. I hope that's better. I don't want you to get sick."

. . .

It was musty and dark, though that meant little to her eyes, and somewhere off, Blake could hear the rhythmic drop of a leak in the ceiling as the rain filtered through the dilapidated shelter and onto the concrete. It was something to focus on besides the thunder, even if every time the roll of noise split overhead her hands curled into the dress.

The hands at her back, sifting through her hair, was a strange mix of calm and comfort. Familiar in that as far as Blake could recall, Weiss was the only person since Adam a long time ago to touch her hair - who Blake would let touch her hair.

After such disregard for it had been built back in Vale, Blake forgot what it had felt like. That gentle comb of fingers through her hair, twirling...

When it was over Blake wished it wasn't, and the soft pat to her back had her turning, looking over her shoulder at Weiss. Her hair was down, the slight sheen to her skin still present in the damp air, and Blake unconsciously reached over to brush aside a stray bead of water rolling down Weiss' chin.

"I'll be fine." Her hand made one more pass, pushing the thin strands from Weiss' face. "It's just a little rain."

It was the memories she wasn't fond of - how all they seemed to do was make the noises louder, the images much too clear.

She could ignore it. That's what she had always done.

. . .

She tilted her face upward a little, welcoming Blake's soft fingers as they cleared the water droplets from her face, tucked her hair back behind her ear for her. Weiss sighed, losing herself in that sensation for a few seconds, until the next crash of thunder sounded and broke the short-lived tranquility.

Her eyes went to Blake's once more, two sparks of gold in the musky darkness, the only color Weiss could see in a confined place of foreign shadows. Even when nothing else was familiar to her, Blake was.

But what was also familiar to Weiss was the fear she could clearly make out in those eyes.

Their day hadn't started out all that badly - she might've even gone so far as to say it was going well, all things considered. The storm was a setback, but not necessarily a major one, so long as they both managed to fend off any ensuing sickness.

After all, they'd found a place to spend the night, at the very least. And they still had each other.

It had been another long day though, and Weiss could see Blake's utter exhaustion just as clearly as she could feel her own. But the uncomfortable flicks of the Faunus girl's ears at every alarming blast of thunder made Weiss' spirits sink a little more each time.

"We should try to rest."

And she really did mean try; with all this noise and haphazard lighting, it might be a challenge, despite their fatigue.

Weiss pulled her legs up onto the couch and wrapped her arms around Blake loosely, wanting to offer a new way of sleeping that might help her companion a little tonight. She laid herself down on her back and coaxed Blake down on top of her, rubbing her hands up and down the Faunus girl's back and shoulder blades in an attempt to offer whatever measly shreds of comfort she could muster.

Guiding her down, Weiss coaxed Blake to rest her head against her chest, one soft, furry ear pressed to the heiress' collar; Weiss merely hoped she could provide something a bit more calming for Blake to listen to.

. . .

She almost had half a mind to refuse the second Weiss' intention made itself apparent. The thought was appreciated, more than Weiss probably realized, though accepting it was rather difficult in practice.

For so long Blake had dealt with this by herself, and quite honestly, it felt like the only true way she'd get over it would be on her own - through her own force of will.

But the sound of Weiss' heart thudding softly in her ear had her biting her tongue, the initial retort and her need to pull back melted away like so much debris. Her ears flicked unconsciously, tickling exposed skin as they adjusted to the sound, focused on it instead of the booming thunder just outside.

It really wasn't much, every splintering crack overhead drowning out the dull beat so close to her ear, but when the noises faded, that pulse remained.

Persistent. Steady.

And Blake couldn't help pressing closer.

. . .

Blake grew still against her, and Weiss liked to believe this was working.

It was a few minutes before she could physically feel the tension draining from the Faunus girl's body. It was no simple feat to relax in wake of such a furious storm when all they had to defend themselves from it was this puny little shack, but as time ticked on, something calmer did settle between them.

And Weiss wanted to do more. She wanted to do everything she possibly could.

So she sang.

A song she couldn't remember when she'd learned, but one she'd known and perfected after so many years of piano lessons. It was a soothing song, one of sunlight and fairytales, one that lasted a few moments.

She exhaled, keeping it quiet, squeezing Blake just a little tighter to herself. Weiss closed her eyes, concentrating on that comforting warmth, that softness despite the old couch beneath her. Blake's ears flicked on her collar, and Weiss smiled, feeling the girl breathe against her.

"We'll be all right," she murmured.

And for whatever reason, with Blake against her like this now, she truly believed it.

. . .

Weiss must have realized something was wrong; it wasn't like Blake did a very good job at hiding her discomfort, Weiss must have just decided it wasn't the time or place to ask. It had Blake breathing a sigh of relief, and the tension eased somewhat as she pressed herself into Weiss' side.

The assurances were enough. Temporary maybe, but right now, temporary was the best she could get - was all she allowed herself, even if she knew it wasn't good for anyone in the long run.

Perhaps she was hoping it would come apart on its own one day. There was something about it being out of her control that made it seem less intimidating.

Something was sure to slip sooner or later, and she glanced up at Weiss, lingering for just a moment before looking away. She hummed lightly, trying to focus on nothing in particular, keeping that pulse a constant drum in her ear.

"We still need a plan." Her fingers fiddled with a piece of Weiss' dress, kept them busy from worrying. "We can't just hope for the best."

Today had more than proven that.

. . .

Blake's words weren't harsh, but they were reality. They reminded Weiss that as much as all of this felt like a fairytale - being whisked away from a life of torment and false affection and taken instead to new lands - it wasn't going to simply have a happy ending on its own. They needed to work for that, and she knew Blake was right.

"I know," she sighed. "There's so much we can do, and yet so much we can't…" They were limited on resources and energy, and perhaps even time as well if her father's men had anything to say about all of this. "Maybe we should keep going, try to find somewhere else. If there's anywhere you know of, I trust you if you want to take us there. Anywhere but back there…"

She knew this was a lot to ask of Blake right now, a lot to make her think about when she was already so exhausted and shaken from the storm. Weiss shuddered as well, sucking in a sharp breath as she subconsciously clung tighter to her companion, seeking her warmth.

"We can think more in the morning, okay?"

For now, the storm seemed like it was beginning to fade, slowly but surely, the steady hiss of rain receding just a bit.

. . .

Keep moving. That seemed like as good a plan as any. Lingering in one place for too long wouldn't be smart as long as Weiss' father was still looking for them, and with the scandal they'd stirred up a few days ago, it wasn't even a question. It was a matter of when, and simply delaying that for as long as possible until Weiss' father decided to give up was unlikely as it seemed.

There were people after them. Just because Schnee's men weren't knocking down their door right now didn't mean they weren't out there.

And now - while everything was closed off and the storm kept people away - felt like the best time to think things over. It was fighting off the ache that had built up over the course of days that made concentrating difficult, and Weiss' suggestion for rest went in one ear and out the other.

"We should find a newspaper - something that will tell us what's going on."

Weiss' name could be everywhere, perhaps even her own if those after them did enough digging, and Blake's hand curled into the dress. Maybe crossing the border was their best option after all.

. . .

The thunder kept rumbling, every once in a while the blasts more severe than others, and Weiss always hugged Blake tighter with those. The rain kept hissing, the lightning kept flashing, and she alternated between opening and closing her eyes.

She listened as intently as she could, all things considered, fighting to keep herself awake.

"A newspaper…" she repeated. "That's a good idea. I'm sure one of those shops in town has them, hopefully free of charge."

The mention of checking how things were back at the Schnee mansion made her remember she and Blake were far from being out of the woods; they'd just stumbled into them. Her father wouldn't give her up so easily, not when her marriage would be such a financial goldmine for him.

The memories began creeping back up, and Weiss started breathing harder, desperately trying to shake them off as a whimper slipped free. She reopened her eyes to remind herself where she was, that in lieu of all other things, she was as safe as she was going to get right now.

Safety was huddled on a dirty old couch inside a tiny, dilapidated shack beneath a raging thunderstorm.

But safety was with Blake, and there was nowhere else she'd rather be.

. . .

The whimper that escaped from Weiss had Blake shifting, lifting herself up slightly to glance at Weiss. Memories probably, and when Weiss opened her eyes, it was as if she was trying to remind herself where they were and what was happening.

They were real fears, circumstantial compared to the haunting Blake felt that was brought upon by the weather, but no less severe.

They both had demons - they just had to destroy them, one by one, and when Blake caught Weiss' stare, she smiled. Attempted a smile anyway, and for the most part, Blake liked to think she succeeded.

In this lighting, who could really tell?

And instead of worrying about something so far off as disfigured memories, Blake figured helping Weiss deal with hers was a much better use of her time. If everything went well, it would help them both, and when she lowered herself back down, the purr was almost instantaneous.

"I'm sure they will be. If not we'll deal with it."

. . .

Blake's eyes captivated her, again the only comforting bits of color in all this darkness. Even if she was trapped in this cold black room all night, having those watchful - even protective - golden eyes to look after her gave Weiss a sense of comfort unlike any other.

She focused again on Blake, until the less favorable thoughts faded away, to somewhere unimportant in the back of her mind. Sighing as Blake rested against her once more, the heiress could feel the gentle rumbles of her companion's purr even more so than what the thunder created.

"Right. We'll… deal with it together…"

A yawn cut her off, and her eyelids fell shut once more, her body relaxing, pulse dropping. She hummed the tune of her lullaby softly, the little vibrations from her throat matching with Blake's purr in time with their breathing.

Weiss could feel herself slipping now, but she needed to make certain Blake was headed down a similar path.

"Do you… think you can get some rest? I don't want to be the only one…"

. . .

Blake exhaled, the breath morphing into an idle hum in the back of her throat. She didn't think rest would be all that obtainable with the current weather, but she'd try.

The exhaustion was certainly there, she just wasn't sure it was enough to beat back the lingering anxiety.

Typically, it was something she drifted through in a haze, but Blake knew she would slip past the line into sleep at some point or another. Eventually.

Perhaps here with Weiss it would be quicker than she thought.

. . .

Weiss continued threading her fingers through Blake's hair absentmindedly, trailing her palms up and down the Faunus girl's shoulders. The warmth pressed between them now was perfect, and the heiress had gotten used to the rough surface of the couch beneath her by now. She chose to focus on Blake anyway, and could feel the faint thump of the other girl's heart against her stomach, the purr still present at her collar.

"We'll be all right…" she sighed, releasing one last long breath. She'd grown accustomed to the thunder and hoped her pulse could provide Blake's lullaby rather than the storm.

Never before in all her life had Weiss slept beside another person until she'd met Blake. And yet, somehow, all of this felt so natural, as if they'd been born to fit into each other, keep each other warm. It was like inevitability and coincidence had converged to bring them into each other's arms. When she petted through Blake's hair, Weiss felt as though she'd been doing this her entire life.

"Goodnight…"

A tiny mumble, and then Weiss felt herself slip away, entering the realm of slumber, wondering what she'd dream about. Knowing she wouldn't be alone in the morning was nice, and it was certainly something she could get used to.

. . .

Of course it always seemed easy in retrospect. Falling under was a simple matter once the exhaustion caught up to her, but staying that way was another problem entirely.

In the haze of conscious just short of sleep, there was nothing stopping her mind from focusing on the worst.

And it was almost like being back on the streets with Adam when the rain would fall with alarming intent. Deep and sinking, mixing in with the smog.

It was before White Fang, before that apartment, before they had anything but that small, and almost literal hole in the wall downtown.

Back then, an escape never felt possible. An almost unforgivable mix of the hand dealt to them by fate and a world full of humans so set on keeping them down - by force - and they both had the evidence to prove it. All they could do was wait it out, but in the time spent waiting, it never seemed to end.

And it always made awakening a sudden affair, like being yanked harshly by the throat, and she awoke gasping now, pushing herself up on her arms as she tried to shove it all back down.

. . .

She knew she was dreaming, but she couldn't quite grasp what it was all about. It seemed she was just beginning to tiptoe into the realm of slumber when something pulled her back to the waking world.

She realized she'd been feeling it for some time now, the little prickles like thorns in her sides, digging in through her dress and finding purchase in her skin. Weiss opened her eyes to find herself still in darkness, the storm not yet over, and she assumed she'd only rested ten minutes or so.

Glancing down her stomach, she realized the source of the slight pains in her sides were Blake's nails, curling unconsciously into her.

Slowly, Weiss moved one of her arms, sliding her hand toward Blake's to grasp her fingers gently, as not to wake her, and carefully pry her nails out.

But it was only seconds later when Blake suddenly flew up on her elbows, jolted awake by some unseen terror, gulping in a frightened breath. It made Weiss gasp too, and her heart leapt to her throat as she quickly propped herself up on her elbows.

"Blake…?"

Her eyes begged for answers she wasn't sure the Faunus girl could give. But Weiss was alert now, prepared to do whatever she could. She didn't care if it was pouring and thundering out. She didn't care if it was the middle of the night. She'd run back into town and pound on every door until she found a doctor if Blake needed her to.

Weiss sat up slowly, helping Blake do the same, facing her. She longed to reach out but wasn't sure if she should, if that would help at all or just make things worse.

So she settled for asking again.

"Blake?"

. . .

It was difficult to slow each rush of breath, every inhale just as insecure as the last, and Blake pushed herself back into the far corner of the couch. She pressed a hand to her head, the constant pressure grounding but no more helpful.

The memories were still alive, or perhaps dead enough where the haunting became that much more severe. She wasn't quite sure which.

But she heard her name, soft amid the storm outside, and Blake glanced up at Weiss.

It was almost a surprise, and Blake found holding that stare to be harder than she imagined, so she looked away.

She was supposed to be strong, the backbone to this entire endeavor, not some crumbling excuse of a girl still so caught up in the past that one break in the weather could tear her apart.

She had promises to keep, after all. Promises to Weiss, to Tukson - to herself. Falling apart wasn't an option, but that was easier said than done, and without a place to run, she tried to find a place to hide.

It was just... besides the darkness, there wasn't much in her favor. All she could do was let out a shaky breath, hoping her bangs and the hand at her temple did a good enough job shielding her face from view.

"I-It's nothing. Just give me a few minutes, I'll be fine."

. . .

Her hands fumbled for something to do, but the uncertainty of what her touch might do to Blake scared her, so Weiss settled for stuffing them into her lap for now. Blake scrambled away from her and pressed herself into the far corner of the couch, and Weiss felt her throat constrict at the sight of the girl now.

In the amount of time Weiss had known her, she'd always seen Blake as a somewhat confident person. She was a Faunus in Vale who had more or less lived on her own before she'd met Weiss, and she'd been audacious enough to whisk the heiress away from her father.

To see Blake like this now, so shaken and scared…

Weiss couldn't help but slide a little closer, lifting a hand to her mouth as she felt a sob work its way up her throat. She wiped her eyes, unable to stop herself from reaching out after all, brushing gentle fingertips on the Faunus girl's shoulder.

Weiss wanted to be strong for her for once.

"It's okay," she whispered. "You're all right, Blake. You're all right…"

She inched forward slowly, trying to cover the distance at a rate that wouldn't startle her companion. Weiss slipped her hand to Blake's back, rubbing up and down soothingly. She could feel the trembling, and it was nonstop, sometimes even turning to a spastic shudder when the thunder blasted.

Weiss brought her free hand to the front of Blake's collar, tracing circles. The pulse beneath her palm was erratic, and Weiss closed the final inch between them.

"Shh…" she breathed. "It's all right. I'm here, Blake."

The kiss to Blake's cheek came naturally, and she couldn't help herself from letting another linger at the Faunus girl's temple.

"Just breathe…"

. . .

Her ears flattened and she felt her cheeks flush, unsure whether or not it was the result of stress or the gentle feeling of Weiss' lips against her skin. It had her posture crumbling as she slouched forward into a half-curl, shrinking.

She felt exhausted after so many days with insufficient sleep, and the frustration she could feel coiling in her gut as a result simply made everything worse.

Blake wanted it gone - all of it gone.

She had succeeded, had gotten Weiss out of that house and out of that toxic situation, but everything refused to settle. It was stupid to think it would.

She had hoped that the progress they had made would be enough to quell the insistent, irritating itch that the rain and noise only seemed to amplify. Obviously it wasn't.

Just because she had escaped from her own slice of hell as well didn't mean the memories wouldn't linger, wouldn't fester and burst when she least expected them to.

But she didn't exactly feel like talking about it either, and the relief she felt when Weiss didn't ask why was overwhelming.

So she breathed, tried to calm the rush of shortened, choked breaths that spilled from her mouth in soft gasps. Most things were easier said than done, but there was something to be said about trying, and out here it was the only thing they could do.

. . .

She didn't know what more she could do than continue what she was already trying, so Weiss made sure not to stop. Blake hadn't protested any of the physical contact in any way.

Perhaps Weiss was just being selfish, because holding Blake made her feel better. And yet, in some part of herself, something told her it was doing the Faunus girl a bit of good too, even if just a little.

She could only measure time by the rolling blasts of thunder and flashes of blue lightning, and judging by those indications, it had been over an hour since they'd first entered the shack. That was a precious hour of sleep lost, and Weiss knew Blake needed that more than anything else.

Necessity eventually overrode hesitance, and Weiss moved her hand up from Blake's back to pet through her hair slowly.

"It'll be over soon," she whispered. "Just breathe. You aren't alone. I'm here, Blake." She just kept repeating things, hoping they wouldn't lose meaning with frequency. She truly meant them, each and every one.

Even in the poor lighting, she could see how Blake's ears had folded over and flattened against her head. Tentatively, Weiss adjusted her posture and shifted herself a bit so she may kiss them both tenderly, feeling soft, warm fur tickle her skin.

Blake was still shaking, her breath shallow, and it pained Weiss to hear and feel her this way. She pulled the girl close again, cradling Blake's head against her chest, sharing her pulse once more. It had seemed to have a bit of an effect the first time, and she could only pray it might help a bit now.

"If…" She sighed, closing her eyes as she gently rested her chin atop Blake's head. "If there's anything you need… anything I can do just please… please tell me…"

It had already been much longer than the "few minutes" Blake had requested before.

She blinked and felt warm tears slip down her cheeks. All of this reminded her of the evening Blake had come in through her window to find Weiss ill and withering and had held her all through the night.

It must've been a curse - that when one of them suffered, the other suffered as well.

But perhaps the slightest act of mercy was that they could share that pain, and eventually overcome it together.

. . .

Bake shifted slightly, and the soft beat of Weiss' pulse filled her ears again. She wasn't sure how much it would help now after the fact, but it was better than nothing at all.

"You're doing more than enough. Trust me."

More than she had ever expected, to be quite honest. It was both encouraging and somewhat alarming to experience just how much Weiss put herself into things. Or at the very least, how much she seemed to in relation to Blake – how quickly both of them had become attached.

Perhaps it was unhealthy, maybe even damning. With their current circumstances, getting attached was almost as foolish as it was a necessity. They had each other and yet–

–they only had each other.

And that thought was scarier than Blake was willing to admit.

. . .

She'd been tense until now, but as Blake's trembling finally started to lessen, Weiss allowed herself to relax a bit. She leaned against the back of the couch, sinking into the old cushion, keeping Blake close.

Her anxiety about the situation wasn't helping either of them, so Weiss took her own advice and slowed her breathing. The tears didn't stay long, and once they'd dried she did her best to convey a sense of her tranquility, calm; storm be damned, she didn't want to fight Blake's fear with more fear.

She started to hum once more, the same tune she'd sung not long ago that night, drowning out the angry roars of thunder with a softer voice; she hoped it would provide as much comfort as possible, given the situation.

Blake's verbal reassurance that she was doing some shred of good caused Weiss to sigh softly, and she pressed another kiss to the top of her head.

Eyes closed, her senses were heightened, and her mind started to wander.

It was almost strange how intent - how adamant - she was to help Blake through this. It'd only taken Weiss this long to realize she wouldn't hesitate for Blake, for any reason. She'd never felt that sense of urgency before, the desire to help someone else in any way she could.

It felt so natural, holding Blake like this. It was as though her arms had been made for no other reason, as though her heart beat for Blake alone to listen.

Time passed, but as it did so, she could feel Blake's tight muscles loosen, her shuddering breaths easing a bit. Weiss continued her lullaby; if Blake were to fall asleep in her arms, she'd gladly curl up together with her just like this, without question or protest.

It was almost terrifying when she realized the truth amidst the fading storm; more than sleep, more than food, more than oxygen, she just needed Blake to be okay.

. . .

It was a relief to feel Weiss relax against her, breaths escaping softly from her mouth, and Blake couldn't help but find it contagious. She felt herself go lax, muscles releasing the coiled tension still lingering, even if her hands stayed curled in Weiss' dress.

The hum was a constant drawl in her ears and the contact between them a reminder. Everything out here had a consequence, a reaction. They would just have to be prepared for anything. Or at the very least confident enough in each other to help pull them through the worst of it.

Blake liked to believe they would be.

And when she finally slipped under, the resulting sleep was a numb and dreamless state.

. . .

She'd lost track of time long ago, but if the fading storm was any indication as to how long they'd been like this, Weiss knew it'd been a while. But the softening thunder and fewer flashes of lightening made it that much easier to relax, and Weiss didn't fight the dreariness that tugged at her conscious.

Only when she felt Blake go limp in her arms did she decide she could allow herself to succumb.

Making sure to move carefully, Weiss laid herself back down in her prior position on her back, keeping Blake close, laying the Faunus girl on top of her body to cushion her. Blake's hands were still clenched in Weiss' dress, and the heiress didn't mind at all; it was warmer this way, for the both of them.

She cradled Blake's head against her chest once more, eyes closed as she listened to the rolling storm finally recede. The rain slowed, the darkness settled into a stillness, and her final lullaby was Blake's soft breathing as it danced over the skin of her collar.

She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but at least for now they could finally rest.

----------

A/N: Of all the RWBY girls, we agreed that Blake would probably be more likely to suffer from an anxiety or panic attack, so that was something we'd wanted to incorporated into this. And considering what these two are going through, it seemed like an appropriate development, but one that also brings the girls closer together

Preview for Act IX: Her eyes traveled down to the crumpled paper in Blake's hand. The ink was slightly stained with residual rainwater from last night's storm, but it didn't take more than a second for Weiss to register the words on the front page.

Her eyes only scanned, but her breath stopped abruptly at the sight of the angry, bolded headlines:

"Schnee's Men on the Hunt for cat Faunus and Missing Daughter"