Renegades (Act XIII)

2-DAY EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL OF MY PATRONS! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Thanks again to the few people who are still reading. I've been getting only a few reviews a chapter which is a shame, because this is honestly some of my best writing, and Ash's parts for sure are deserving of much more.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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														Act XIII.

The thought of resolution finally urged her into sleep, but despite the lack of dreams, she woke plagued by a sense of restlessness. The wall stretched in front of her, the off-white shaded dark in the corner of the room, and when she swallowed, she found her throat scratched raw and her muscles cramped from hours spent huddled against the edge of the bed, and yet that wasn't the worst of it all.

It was the decision she had made, to tell Weiss that maybe - maybe it was best she went off on her own. Settle somewhere as far away as money could take her, get a job, and then start small building things back up again.

Weiss was an amazing girl, a beautiful young woman with so much to offer - there wasn't a doubt in Blake's mind that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to. It was just the initial push of setting her on her way.

Blake had already planned the speech; the things Weiss would need, the best ways to go about finding shelter in new a place - everything Blake knew she would give freely, and those were the words on the tip of her tongue when she forced herself to roll over and face the coming storm with some semblance of dignity.

Maybe they could meet again when things got better, and that was good enough for now.

But the emptiness that stared back at her when everything came into focus had her heart leaping into her throat, and she scrambled to sit up.

"Weiss-" she croaked, voice hoarse as she searched the small room for Weiss in spite of the signs, and as the seconds passed, Blake felt her breath catch high in her throat. When she tried to force it through, it came out stuttering.

There was so much she'd done wrong, but she'd at least wanted to say goodbye.

...

Waking wasn't hard when she'd been up all night anyway. It had just been a matter of pushing herself up and slipping off the bed, turning away, aimlessly ambulating, and heading for the door.

But she couldn't stop one last glance over her shoulder at Blake; the Faunus girl had fallen asleep at some point in the night, and the fact that she was unconscious now at least meant she wasn't suffering, wasn't forced to think about all the awful things that had happened. That didn't mean there weren't nightmares, but at this hour, she seemed to be resting calmly.

But she looked terribly cold, probably as cold as Weiss was feeling. It was extremely difficult not to lean over and hug her, a display of affection she easily and shamelessly could've shown Blake just yesterday morning.

But not now. She didn't think she should - didn't think she physically could.

She hugged herself, still shivering pitifully even as she limped to the door and exited the room. The hallway was empty at this hour of morning - only the rush of heated air swirled around her ears. The silence was good for clearing her head, and though she was utterly vacant of vivacity, moving around made her feel a little better.

Before Weiss knew it, she was wandering down to the lobby, collecting a tray of fresh food for breakfast.

It was about fifteen minutes later when she reached the room again, tray in-hand. She hesitated just for a second, fearing what she might find inside, and suddenly she wished she'd never left in the first place. Fresh trepidation surged within her, quickly and more poignantly than the dull numbness that had been present last night.

What if Blake was gone? What if she'd done something drastic or hurt herself?

The thoughts panicked her and Weiss pushed inside, immediately placing the tray on the empty desk and rushing to the bed, eyes wide and brimming with tears.

She found Blake there, looking much the same as Weiss herself was, eyes scared and breath short.

And in that moment, Weiss knew. Knew Blake had thought she'd left her, and Weiss felt wretched.

With a cautious step forward, Weiss shook her head, dislodging a few tears, her lips failing to form a comforting smile with how much they were trembling. She was glad Blake was all right, that she was still here, that she'd worried for Weiss' absence. That meant she didn't want her to leave any more than Weiss wanted Blake to.

But she'd made her worry, made Blake think Weiss had abandoned her, and she hated that.

The heiress paused just a foot away from the bed, arms hugging her stomach as she shivered, her gaze locked on Blake's, voice soft.

"No…" she whispered, voice cracked and small. "No, Blake. I didn't leave… I'm sorry. I'm… I'm here…"

Maybe she shouldn't still be, but she was. There was no way she could've left Blake - not after all they'd been through. Unless…

"Unless-" She choked on a breath, gasped softly, and took a shaking step back. "Unless… you want me to leave…"

...

Seeing Weiss walk through the door was like a second chance, and the words Blake had planned to say faded away into the back of her mind.

An ache filled her chest - wanting - heart thudding against her ribs as if she had run a mile, and even though Weiss was right there, it was difficult not to think it was only temporary.

So she pushed herself from the bed, trying to smother the frantic feeling she felt already snaking through her limbs. She nearly tripped in her dash, practically falling from the bed had she not caught herself in time on the edge.

The remaining distance was closed in a rush, a collision in everything but force. There was still a hesitancy holding her back, a sort of plague that burned in her, saying she didn't have the right - but leaning down, a sort of whole-body slouch that brought her closer to Weiss, it wasn't something she could stop.

It was the barest of contact, the hands on backs and the brush of fingertips over skin, and after the words had stopped, after the last inches of distance had been erased, Blake hoped the gentle and far-too-timid kiss she placed at the corner of Weiss' mouth was the answer Weiss was looking for.

But just in case it wasn't enough, she forced her voice past the rawness of her throat, her words a weak rasp.

"I'm so sorry..."

...

She watched as Blake moved, a familiar figure and following shadow in the light of the breaking dawn. There was more motion in those few weighted seconds now than there had been all last night since they'd arrived here.

And then that awful chill that had been assaulting her vanished when Blake rushed to her, crushing her into a desperate, yet gentle embrace. Only Blake could make her feel something like this, something so tender and yet simultaneously so fervent.

It was nothing she'd been expecting, but it was everything she'd wanted.

It was warm, supportive, and it grounded Weiss, stopping the shivers dead in their tracks, enveloping her in a familiar presence she was foolish to ever have believed she could live without. There were hands on her back, pressing her close, and lips on her skin, proving all of this was real and not just a figment of her imagination.

She tilted her head slightly, catching Blake's lips once, then twice, capturing a short, trembling breath between them. Weiss understood, even without Blake explicitly stating it, but hearing it said out loud only solidified the emotion, the acceptance.

And then the tears were back full-force, swelling up like the salty tide they'd left behind so many weeks before. Unfurling her arms from her chest, Weiss wrapped them around Blake instead, pulling her as close as the world would allow, refusing to let go. Her shoulders shook with soft sobs, and she buried her face into Blake's shirt to stifle the sounds.

They stood there for a moment, holding and being held, forgiving and being forgiven, and realizing there'd never been any blame in the first place.

But Weiss was tired of crying, and there really weren't many tears left anyway. So it wasn't much longer before she stopped herself, silencing the muffled whimpers with another kiss to Blake's lips.

"Don't be…" she whispered. "Don't be sorry. You didn't do anything. It just… this can't be helped…" With a heavy sigh, she rested her chin on Blake's shoulder, arms still tight around her back for the moment. She didn't want to resurface the issues at hand aloud - they were already thrashing in the backs of their minds as it was.

So Weiss changed the subject, pulling back slightly to meet Blake's eyes with a plea. "I brought us some breakfast. Please… just try to eat if you can. It doesn't have to be much. Just… something. Please."

...

Feeling Weiss pull her close made Blake wonder why she ever thought she could let go. Pressed against her and gripping tight - as if Weiss harbored the same fears she did. Apparently it was a nightmare they shared, and it didn't take much thought to return the gesture. She could feel Weiss shaking, and Blake hoped if she held steady, maybe it would stop.

When Weiss finally pulled away a few moments later, it was difficult to not pull her back - to make up for hours lost. One apology didn't seem like enough, but it was clear Weiss didn't want to revisit the memories clouding yesterday's arrival. Neither did Blake for that matter, but they'd have to sooner or later.

It was why they were here - stuck.

And it was those memories, those actions, why the idea of pushing Weiss away lingered. No matter how obvious it was that she didn't want to.

Blake looked over to the tray - some buttered toast, apple slices, and eggs, with two styrofoam cups of what Blake could only guess was tea - and despite the way her stomach did flips at the thought of eating anything, her parched and itchy throat practically demanded relief.

And so, after a quick kiss to Weiss' temple, she nodded. Pulling up an extra chair to the desk, she slipped sluggishly into her seat before reaching out to grab a cup, and almost instantly the warmth of the liquid radiated from the styrofoam and into the palms of her hands.

...

She couldn't help but sigh when she felt Blake's lips on her skin once again, something she'd been missing for hours upon hours. To finally have that back was relief in and of itself, and she knew she never could've survived another day without it.

It was with reluctance that she let Blake go, but the possibility of seeing the girl eat a bit was something Weiss couldn't pass up. So she went to the desk beside her and quietly took the seat next to Blake's, drawing it as near to her companion as possible.

She gave Blake her full attention, watching as the Faunus girl went for the tea first and foremost. Weiss smiled a little bit at that; small as it was, this would prove to be the first step of the convalescence.

Seeing Blake drink was what permitted Weiss to make her own move for a slice of the apple. But she paused abruptly at the sight of the long red gash on her own forearm, seeing it now for the first time, courtesy of the sunlight slipping in past the curtains.

Weiss promptly put her left arm back into her lap, reaching for the fruit with her non-dominant hand instead. She brought it to her mouth, and the flavor was a delight to her dull tongue, the juices a benison to her acrid throat.

She munched and swallowed, then cast another glance to Blake to ensure she was drinking at the very least.

Weiss wanted to say something, but cognizant thoughts failed to translate into coherent words. All she could do was reach out with her free hand beneath the desk, resting a steady palm on the top of Blake's thigh - a silent reminder.

...

The first sip stung, slipping down her throat hot and biting, but the aftermath left a pleasant numbness that made drinking worth the initial pain. It soothed the worst of the rawness and gave her a reason not to disrupt the silence that both of them seemed hesitant to break. The last remnants of fear, Blake suspected.

And yet, watching Weiss had become second nature in the days spent in each other's presence, forged from mutual concern that inevitably grew into something more. What was there besides each other, after all?, and before long the cup of tea had been placed back on the desk, one hand idly turning it round as she watched Weiss reach for an apple slice.

Blake noticed it then - the awkwardness in which Weiss retracted her left hand, instead reaching out with the right, and Blake's ears swiveled forward, brows knitting as Weiss settled the hand on her thigh. It was like a reassurance, for whom Blake wasn't sure, but that didn't stop her from reaching out, the tips of her fingers brushing over the back of Weiss' hand before lacing their fingers together.

It took her a moment to decide, turning their hands over, and the sight had her eyes widening, breath catching in her throat and she looked up.

"Weiss-" Blake swallowed, searching Weiss' face for something - anything - but it wasn't long until the garish red in her peripheral dragged her eyes back down. "Why didn't you-" tell me.

...

The soft comfort of Blake's warm familiar hand over her own was short-lived, and as soon as she realized her wrist was being turned over, Weiss was too late in pulling away. She dropped the next apple slice back onto the plate, something as crucial as eating now falling into second place in the face of Blake's strained concern.

Weiss tried to turn her arm back over to conceal the gash, but Blake's grip didn't allow that. She felt like a child who'd been caught trying to hide the pieces of a broken vase. Blake might've been a bit upset with her, but above all else, Weiss sensed the concern wafting off of her, as if it hadn't been audible enough in Blake's startled voice.

She didn't know what was worse - the fact that she'd been found out, or the fact that her own carelessness was now causing that look of guilt to spread across Blake's countenance. She longed to shake her head and insist it wasn't Blake's fault, but she knew that might only make things worse. Then again, she had to remind herself that keeping secrets would do them more harm than good in the long run - they'd learned that lesson time and again already.

Therefore, it was with a sigh when she flashed her gaze up to Blake's and spoke in a murmur.

"I thought it would've healed by now…" she sighed. "There's enough to concern ourselves over at the moment. I didn't want something as petty as this to add to that burden unnecessarily. It's fine. Don't mind it."

She was miffed that this little ordeal had drawn Blake's attention away from eating. With a pleading glance, Weiss silently begged her to forget the cut and focus on what was vital right now on this painstaking path to recovery.

...

"This isn't-" I did this. "This isn't fine, Weiss. Your wellbeing isn't some second-place concern." Blake looked down, trailing her fingers lightly over the wound. It was mostly crusted over, but the stress of their current circumstances meant healing would take time even with aura, and the constant movement that they undeniably found themselves in was a threat to even the simplest of injuries.

Honestly, it was hard to stare - a mark purely her own doing etched into Weiss' skin.

"Don't ever think you're not important enough," she managed after a moment of silence, and the tremble to her voice was impossible to stop. "Please."

Her fingers squeezed briefly, ignoring Weiss' silent plea to live and let lie as she stood, wandering over to rummage through their bags for the bare-bones first aid kit they'd gotten on a whim. It was a simple collection of band-aids, gauze, and antibacterial ointment, and Blake set it down next to the tray of food before wandering off to the bathroom to grab a wash-cloth soaked with warm water.

When she finally sat back down Blake angled her chair towards Weiss, positioning the other girl between her knees as she gingerly took hold of Weiss' injured arm, turning it palm-upward.

The laceration ran from the inside of Weiss' wrist to the middle of her forearm, dried blood chipping like old paint where the wound had cut deep enough to bleed. The sight made her pause, the damp cloth poised over the wound.

"Just… tell me if it hurts."

...

"Don't ever think you're not important enough."

The words had a familiar sting rising up behind Weiss' eyes, and she blinked in an effort to fight it off.

For the past eighteen years, she'd been paraded around like a dress-up doll selected from a glass menagerie - a trophy, something to observe, not consider or care for. That kind of lifestyle hadn't exactly allowed her to place her own self-worth very high up on the list of significant things in life.

But she wasn't living that life anymore.

She should've known better. Whatever had convinced her to believe that Blake would react to this with anything but the utmost concern for her, Weiss wasn't sure. She felt like an utter fool; had their positions been reversed, Weiss knew she would've reacted the exact same way, would've been equally as appalled if Blake had pushed her own wellbeing to the side.

Therefore, when Blake moved across the room to fetch their medical supplies, Weiss didn't budge, didn't protest. She simply watched her, eyes naturally drawn to the perk of her ears and the slump of her shoulders, watching as loose strands of onyx slipped down her arm.

Only when Blake had sat back down before her did Weiss' gaze travel to the gash, but it didn't stay there for long. Blake was concentrating on her task, so the heiress' tiny smile went unnoticed. This all brought back memories of their first night together, when Blake had run back through the forest to help Weiss remove the thorns from her foot and patch her up a bit.

It felt like a lifetime had passed since then.

Presently, the wash rag paused just an inch above the cut, a dull aching throb that matched her pulse radiating throughout Weiss' arm. She was certain anything Blake did to treat it would only help the pain.

"All right," she murmured.

Even just feeling Blake's calloused fingertips right now was doing wonders; Weiss was simply glad to hear that voice in her ears again, to see that gaze meet hers again, and to feel that touch on her skin again.

Those things had become a necessity; the effects of a single night without them was evidence of just how badly Weiss needed Blake by her side.

...

The first pass of the cloth over Weiss' skin did little to clear away the stubborn grime, smudging the blood that remained, and Blake muttered an apology, clumsily maneuvering the cloth in her hand to a cleaner patch of fabric before starting again.

It took a bit of firmness to work free some of the residue that'd had hours to congeal onto Weiss' skin, but she was nothing if not understanding - patient under Blake's hands.

She reached for the ointment next, placing a small amount on the tip of her index finger and then spread carefully across a portion of the wound, repeating the process until she was sure not a spot had been missed.

Her ears flicked subconsciously, focused as she was, and Blake plucked the roll of gauze from the desk, immediately setting to wrapping the bandage around Weiss' forearm. She was sure to make it snug, a bit of pressure to stop any excess bleeding.

But when everything was said and done, the clips all latched into place, Blake found it difficult to let go, her fingers holding gently onto Weiss' left hand. It was something tangible - something she could hold on to, and when she glanced up, ears folding back, the ache she felt coil in her gut was a minor nuisance.

Or so she told herself. It was obvious what needed to be done - the problem was doing it.

"Have you-" thought about leaving? She stopped, shook her head, started again. "I think you should-" leave. No. That was all wrong, and Blake cleared her throat, eyes dropping back to her lap, to the hand clutched between hers. When she finally managed to find her voice, it was a thin breath between her lips. "Y-You should go."

...

There was a bit of a sting when Blake passed the rag over her forearm, and Weiss flinched. But the pain wasn't bad enough for her to speak up about it and she continued to sit still, watching the other girl with patient eyes as she worked. Blake's fingertips were gentle and slow, never pressing too hard, not even for a split second.

There was no denying the excessive care with which Blake treated her. It had always been this way. Blake had never once been harsh or violent with her in any manner, and the gingerness of her movements even now spoke volumes despite the silence of their nature.

But Blake wasn't merely treating the wound; this was also an apology, Weiss realized, her way of taking responsibility.

If that cut would be what brought Blake back to her, Weiss didn't regret it at all.

Blake finished wrapping her arm, and Weiss was about to thank her. But she paused when the Faunus girl spoke first.

And it wasn't anything Weiss had wanted to hear.

Her smile fell away instantly, feeling the way Blake was squeezing her hand for support - but supporting which one of them, Weiss couldn't be certain.

It was clear what Blake had been trying to say. The implications were as evident as the cut on Weiss' arm.

Leave. Blake was suggesting that Weiss leave her, and she sounded almost sure of herself. She wanted Weiss to turn and run off without looking back, bury the memories in dust to let them sink into the depths and be forgotten.

But just because Blake was pitching the idea to Weiss didn't mean she wanted her to leave. Of course she'd try to persuade Weiss to get herself out of a potentially-perilous situation like this, now that their plans in this town had been shattered. It proved that Blake loved her deeply enough to encourage Weiss to strike out on her own if it meant she'd be better off.

But she didn't want to be better off if it meant being alone, or if it meant with being with anyone else in the world other than Blake.

Weiss lifted her gaze to meet distraught pools of liquid gold with stern blue ones. Her lips were set into a firm line, her posture erect and confident as she produced a supported voice.

"It hurts," she uttered. The confused flick of an ear had the heiress continuing so she may elaborate. "You instructed me… to tell you if it hurt. Well, my arm feels just fine. But that hurts, Blake. Asking me to leave - without you - …that hurts."

She slid her chair forward, hands now covering Blake's in her lap, running the pads of her fingers over the veins behind the other girl's knuckles as she continued.

"I could never do that. Not after everything we've been through together. I don't want to…"

She lifted one of Blake's hands in both of hers, not entirely sure what she wanted to accomplish when she pulled it to the center of her own chest - over her heartbeat - and held it there. Part of it was to prove to herself that Blake was still here, a tangible reassurance. And the other part of it was to remind Blake that Weiss was here, alive thanks to her.

When she inhaled again it was shaky, but her voice remained steady.

"I won't leave, Blake. I won't leave you. Not voluntarily. Not unless you… really, truly want me to, from the bottom of your heart." She squeezed Blake's hand again, holding her gaze with unfaltering eyes. "But… if it would be best for you… if it would undoubtedly benefit you more if I were gone…" She hesitated, swallowed, then asked: "Do you… really… truly want me to leave…?"

She wanted the truth, and trusted Blake would give it to her.

...

"Of course I don't," Blake choked, the words almost a plea, and she subconsciously moved closer. "But I can't-"

There were a lot of things she couldn't do, and that would only make it more difficult for them in the long run. But it wasn't just that, and she felt herself shrink, the hand caught in Weiss' grasp slackening.

She liked to think that she was helping, but that didn't change the fact that everything they had done so far - everything they had accomplished - was just as easily done by themselves.

"I have nothing to my name, Weiss. Nothing. I can't offer you anything, and I won't allow you to throw away your best chance at a happy ending just because I won't be there with you." Blake tensed, tried to keep the tremble from her lips. "Because it's not about me, and it shouldn't be. You can use the money to make it somewhere far away - somewhere your father can't find you, somewhere you can have the life you've always dreamed of… Isn't that what you want?"

...

At the very least, Blake confirmed she didn't want Weiss to leave. It was a small phrase, but a massive reassurance, solidifying the faith Blake had in her, enough not to hide her true feelings from Weiss.

Even so, the heiress felt as Blake's hand went limp in hers, but Weiss refused to let it fall. She kept a tight grip on it, as though letting go now would mean letting go forever.

She refused.

As she listened to Blake's words - her candid thoughts laid bare for Weiss to consider - Weiss could see the merit in them. Blake would only ever suggest such a thing because she loved Weiss so dearly, so unconditionally.

It was an affection that ran deeper than blood - it constructed their very souls, built of intangible substances, shared experience, and mutual emotion. Blake would even go so far as to push her away, for Weiss' own sake, even if it would only benefit one of them in the long run.

Weiss was amazed that her own voice didn't tremble when she spoke, but she soon realized it was because she was entirely certain of what she had to say.

"It was," she murmured. "That was what I wanted, Blake. I wanted to be free of my chains and my father. I wanted to explore the world and simply live life in whatever ways made me happiest. That was my dream for the longest time, and for the longest time it was only a dream, and an unattainable one at that…"

Her voice tapered off for a moment, until her gaze met Blake's again and held it, fingers squeezing.

"But then I met you… I met you, and after that, everything changed. My goals, my dreams, my future. It all changed the second I met you, and only continued to do so as I fell in love with you."

It felt cathartic to confess it so blatantly, when up until now it had mainly been conveyed through gentle kisses and soft murmurs. She couldn't stop a small smile from spreading across her lips, her eyes earnest as they bore into gold, looking past the swirl of distressed emotions and focusing instead on the kindred soul that resided beyond.

"The truth is, there won't be a happy ending for me unless you're there with me to see it through, Blake. You say you have nothing, but… to me you're everything."

...

At Weiss' words, Blake felt the threat of tears prickle in the corners of her eyes, and she brought a hand to her face to wipe them away, exhaling a steadying breath that in the end did little to calm the swell of emotion swirling in her chest.

She wanted to laugh, wanted scoop Weiss up in her arms and never let go, but what resulted instead was less than dignified.

She didn't particularly like crying; the shortened breath that never seemed like enough, and the utter mess it left her afterward. It made her feel weak, and in the growing tides of White Fang, that was the last thing she needed to be, so Blake had learned to keep it down.

She had never been anything besides a Faunus to most of the world, and to hear those words from Weiss - to see the sincerity in her eyes as she said them - it was more than Blake could handle.

At least it was quiet, just the tears she tried to wipe away as the occasional jolt to her body had her breath hitching. Her right sleeve, however, was beyond saving, soaked by a combination of tears and mucus, but the hand still held in Weiss' grasp wasn't something she wanted to let go of.

It made her wonder why she had ever thought she could.

...

Weiss interpreted Blake's tears as a sign of her acceptance, and the heiress couldn't help the small trembling smile from curling her lips once again.

She was led to believe that Blake now understood just how important she was to Weiss. Or at the very least, she was just beginning to grasp how much she meant to her. Weiss wasn't sure if she herself even knew the full extent.

She could feel her own tears welling up at the sight of Blake's emotion manifesting itself, but Weiss felt the smile winning. Blake wasn't fighting her anymore, wasn't trying to convince Weiss to leave her behind.

The hand she'd been holding to her chest was soon brought up to her lips, and she pressed a flurry of kisses to the back, the wrist, the palm. With the chairs positioned as they were, Weiss was situated in between Blake's knees, and she moved herself as close as possible. She released the Faunus girl's hand, placing it gently into her lap before reaching up to cup either side of Blake's face.

Pulling her down with a gentle tug Weiss kissed her cheeks, catching salt on her lips. She murmured soft phrases to her in an effort to sooth the sobs, going so far as to reach up to caress her Faunus ears with slow, cajoling strokes.

By the end of it all, she'd shifted into Blake's lap, kissing her cheek and hugging her neck, pressing close to her for all she was worth.

"I love you," she whispered. "I always will, Blake. Even if everything else changes, that is something that never will.

...

It was second nature to return the embrace, arms circling Weiss' waist to bring her closer as the last of the emotions worked their way through her system.

There was a certain comfort when she was close to Weiss. Like the warmth of the sun through a window, pooling heat and gentle, and she wanted to soak it up for all it was worth.

Love.

Love spoken with such sincerity wasn't something Blake had experienced often, if at all, back in Vale. There was Adam and his purely silent affection, portrayed by what he did for her by proxy rather than directly. And then there was Tukson and their familial relationship based off of a need for parental guidance and protection.

But this - this love which fell from Weiss' lips so freely - so earnestly - was heaven. Something given simply to make it known, not because there was something expected to be received in return.

Though Blake hoped Weiss knew that the feeling was more than mutual - that the love she felt for her ran deeper than even Blake herself knew. She could dig it all up, lay infinity at Weiss' feet, and even then it wouldn't be enough.

But there was no better time to start than the present. A lifetime was only so long.

"I love you," she whispered back, burying her face into the crook of Weiss' neck. "I love you so much."

...

She never thought she could have this, not with anyone. Eighteen years of being locked away in a restricting, immaculate mansion had made Weiss very skeptical of things like freedom and affection. Despite the fairytales she'd heard of and the books she'd read, she had honestly never expected to have something like that for herself.

And Blake had given her everything. Freedom, love, and so much more. She'd given Weiss not only a reason to live, but a reason to keep living.

This wouldn't work if she was alone from here-on out. Being alone in unfamiliar territory might've very well have been just as bad as being trapped within the abusive walls she'd grown up behind.

Weiss truly believed she wouldn't be able to live without Blake.

With gentle hands she cradled Blake's head against her chest, kissing tenderly in between her soft ears.

In all honesty, Weiss had never heard those words before in all her life. Not her father, sister, or even the husband she'd run out on had ever spoken words of love for her - at least not explicitly and certainly not truthfully.

And she realized she didn't want to hear it from them; she never did and never would.

Only Blake.

With a smile Weiss wiped away the last of the tears, her arms draping around Blake's shoulders to pull her ever closer. After a lifetime of lies and chains, she felt a bit of gratitude was necessary for the one who'd unlocked those shackles with such care.

"Thank you," she murmured. "Thank you…"

...

'Thank you.'

It felt like their relationship was built around that - around the feeling that someone could care unconditionally. They were so used to the opposite, so used to that sinking feeling of growing apart from those closest to them that the opposite was liberating.

Thank you for helping me. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for caring.

All of it was rolled into two words that meant more than they could ever describe, but that didn't mean they shouldn't try.

After so many years, it was perhaps a foreign concept, at least sincerely - not with Weiss trapped in that house and Blake running from hers.

But now home wasn't so much a place as it was a feeling, a tranquility that seemed synonymous with the warmth of Weiss' hands in hers, or the gentle pressure of this embrace.

"Thank you," she said, a small half-laugh half-hiccup escaping as she bumped their heads together, enjoying any and all extra contact she could.

...

Weiss didn't want to let go, and for several moments she didn't. She simply remained there in Blake's arms, wrapping the Faunus girl in hers, kissing her neck and the underside of her chin. The smile seemed permanent on her lips, and for a split second she honestly thought the purr was her own.

It was amazing how everything could feel better so suddenly after all that had happened within the past twenty-four hours. Of course there was still the lingering issue of Blake's missing family, and the demand to find answers.

But the pain seemed to have dissipated, if only for the moment. At the very least they'd established their feelings without question - fearlessly.

Neither wanted to leave. Neither wanted to be left. They needed to stay together, not just for themselves, but for each other.

Weiss didn't want to diminish the significance of such a vital accomplishment. She wanted to celebrate it.

But there would be time for that later perhaps. For now, she reached out to their breakfast, content to remain in Blake's lap as she picked up another apple slice. She bit into it, chewing the first half and then finishing it off quickly.

But when she plucked up the second one, it wasn't going toward her own mouth. With a soft inviting hum, she held it up toward Blake's lips instead, nodding encouragement.

...

A purr rumbled at the contact of Weiss' lips to her neck, the underside of her chin. An involuntary tick that bubbled up in an attempt to perhaps, calm them both down. The simple touch was already working its effect on her - grounding - and Blake hoped she was somehow offering the same in return.

When Weiss stopped, pulling away slightly to reach for the food, a slight frown formed on her lips at the loss - however meager - instantly missing the smile against her skin. Her appetite was still weak at best, but there was a sincere eagerness to Weiss' eyes at the offered apple.

Blake thought about refusing, though after a moment she discarded the notion. After the day they'd had it probably wasn't in her best interest to skip food. She didn't need to get herself sick after everything, and who knew - maybe eating a little something would rekindle the need.

She opened her mouth and bit down on the offered apple, ears flicking. When she swallowed, it amounted to nothing in terms of sating her hunger, but at least it didn't immediately feel like coming back up. It was the small things she supposed, and instead of reaching for the last of the slice, Blake bypassed it entirely, placing a kiss to Weiss' cheek.

"I love you."

...

She knew this was hard for Blake - all of it was. It was far from an affable issue, and the thoughts it bred were harrowing to say the very least.

And she knew eating wasn't exactly at the top of the Faunus girl's list right now, but it needed to be done. So Weiss was relieved when the apple slice was bitten into with a slight tug - tentative, but firm.

Weiss waited until she swallowed, uneasy as it might've looked. But the following kiss on her cheek and the confession made her heart skip more than a little. It was almost like renewing old vows, reaffirming them undoubtedly.

Weiss leaned into the contact for as long as it lasted, then indulged herself with finishing the apple slice, welcoming the full physical kiss as well as the indirect one.

She suddenly didn't feel like eating all that much anymore, and it didn't seem like Blake was too keen on it, either. And that was okay. They could take time to rest and recuperate for a while, and rebuilding appetites would come with time.

But until then, Weiss was content to curl closer in Blake's lap, nuzzling her face back into her prior position at the girl's shoulder. Her hand went to Blake's midsection, rubbing with cajoling motions over her upset stomach in an effort to soothe whatever pain might've been present there.

She pressed closely until the purr had returned full-force, humming beneath her ear. Weiss' eyelids fluttered shut, the atmosphere having lifted a bit, enough to allow her to relax this much.

"I love you, too," she breathed. "I love you, Blake."

She liked telling her.

...

Blake leaned back, letting out a breath as she relaxed against the chair. Her hand carded through the ends of Weiss' hair, twirling it idly between her fingers.

The touch was light, almost hesitant, but the nearly-lost feeling of normalcy came back gradually - the weight more than familiar. It was like breathing in fresh air after so long without it, the tenseness melting away when it became apparent that nothing would change besides what they chose to do next.

Maybe they would move - head somewhere further away, crossing the border into Vacuo somehow.

But after the stressful event that was the previous night, any decision they made from here on was leagues simpler in retrospect.

They had time; they could gather their bearings and start all over again.

...

Weiss rested for a moment - they both did - simply keeping close, maintaining that necessary contact, a warmth that reminded them it was all right to breathe. She listened to the faint pulse in Blake's neck, finding it more addicting than usual.

Which was why it was a bit of a feat to pull away, but Weiss managed it for the sake of satisfying a new idea that had worked its way into her head. She straightened up, then kissed Blake's cheek, shifting her weight until she'd slid off of her lap and her shoes found the carpet. With a playfully-promiscuous wink, Weiss pressed her pointer finger to her lips and smiled, indication for Blake not to ask what she was doing just yet.

Weiss would show her.

She moved the chair she herself had been using aside, pushing it against the wall somewhere unimportant. Weiss could feel the curious eyes on her back, and she knew her manners; the last thing she wanted to do was keep a lady waiting.

Scurrying across the room, she paused in front of a shelf where a small antique radio she'd only recently noticed sat. Until now, it had watched the room in solemn silence, forlorn and lifeless. It didn't look like it'd been dusted off within recent months, so she was a little worried nothing would happen when she turned the knob. For a few seconds there was static, a muffled buzz that made her ears feel stuffy.

But then the station started to clear up, as though it had only needed a minute to get back on its feet, and the little radio sprung to life. Sound that could be considered as having some semblance of musical merit to it was produced. The pleasant sounds of violins and soft trumpets soon filled the small room, a leisurely, joyful tune.

With a smile, Weiss hurried back to Blake where she'd stayed in her chair. With a slight dip of her torso, Weiss extended her arm and offered her hand.

"May I… have this dance?"

...

It was after a kiss that Weiss pulled away, standing once her feet found the floor. A part of Blake wanted to follow, keep close even in spite of the exhaustion, but she settled for watching as Weiss fiddled with the old radio on the shelf.

For a moment there was only static, causing her ears to fold back against her scalp. It didn't take long for it to clear though, and soon a joyful melody swept through the motel room. Her ears twitched, eyeing Weiss with a hint of veiled curiosity until the girl returned and extended her hand.

Weiss was smiling, and that was really all Blake could see when she reached out, gently grasping her outstretched hand.

Blake felt a smile tug at her own lips, a sort of lopsided curl that grew wide by the time Weiss pulled her up to stand.

Weiss was small, that much had always been clear, especially when compared to herself - seemingly fragile, and yet so inexplicably alive. It was infectious - that hopefulness, that delight - and Blake raised their hands to place a kiss on the inside of Weiss' wrist, lips brushing the soft fabric of the gauze before she moved closer, pressing another to the crown of Weiss' head.

"You can have that and so much more."

...

Weiss was smiling so much at Blake's alacrity that the apples of her cheeks were starting to ache a little, but it wasn't anything bad. Not in the slightest.

She stepped backward, guiding Blake with her toward the open space provided between the bed and the window - it was a miracle she didn't bungle the process with the way her legs were shaking in lieu of the amatory action. She was absolutely beaming now after the kisses Blake had graced her with, and Weiss was intent to return the favor as best she could.

She slipped her right hand into Blake's left, and Weiss reached her dominant hand's fingers up to the Faunus girl's shoulder, lightly gripping the fabrics of her shirt.

There was a moment of pause, where neither of them moved, simply listened to the music and prepared themselves for what was to come. Blue and gold met as they'd done so many times before, but this time there was something more.

There was a subtle anticipation in the air, a sense of un-rushed urgency, a desire to begin but to enjoy, a wish to never stop so long as they were breathing.

An inhale, and Weiss took another step, moving with purpose now, doing her best to sway in time with the music. Her past experience with dancing was limited to a few evenings humming alone in her old room, and she knew she wasn't terribly good at it.

She'd never had a partner before.

The antemeridian light made for a soft glow all about them, illuminating the shapes and colors of the room and giving a glint to Blake's eyes that was typically unnoticeable. Weiss' heart was a mess in her chest for a lot of reasons, and that familiar shimmering gaze was certainly a contributing factor. Perhaps it was also the knowledge that only Weiss herself could burnish such expressive emotion in Blake.

The music flowed smoothly, and Weiss did her best to keep her steps the same way, controlled and confident. But despite her best efforts, she ended up accidentally stepping on the tips of Blake's boots a few times.

"Sorry," she chuckled, partly-nervous and partly-elated. "I haven't had much practice."

...

Blake leaned down, resting her head against Weiss'.

"Neither have I."

Though that was probably more than obvious.

There was nothing graceful about their display, but there was something right about it all. Pressed close, the warmth spread quickly - collected between their hands and in the subtle contact of their cheeks pressed lightly together.

Blake wanted it to last, this awkward glide across the floor of the motel room that - despite its clumsiness - was everything she needed.

The steps were simple, it needed to be after everything that had happened. It was learning it all, stumbling through it with Weiss that made it therapeutic in a way. Like beginning again, and a soft purr trickled from her mouth.

It was after a moment that Blake gently wriggled her left hand free from Weiss' grasp, both arms coming round to circle Weiss' small waist and pull her closer, and their dance gradually dissolved into a mindless sway. A sort of swing back and forth on their feet as the music slowed and quieted to a softer, slower melody.

Blake smiled, the action hidden against Weiss' neck, but she drew back when a noise mixed itself between the music; a quiet rumble that caused her ears to perk forward curiously.

She considered Weiss briefly, a silent question in the raise of her brow, before she turned her head towards the radio that sat still upon the shelf. Her hold tightened, hands locking behind Weiss' back.

"Do you hear that?"

But by then it was already too late, the wood of the door nearly splintering as it was forced open with a crash.

...

Blake's soft arms had grown suddenly stiff around her, the smiling lips on her neck vanishing, the once-calm voice now taut with alarm. It all had Weiss' heart seizing for a moment, then thumping painfully as she listened…

Her dream come true came screeching to a halt within a matter of mere seconds.

The door was swung open with such ferocity that it slammed back against the wall, nearly thrown off its hinges. Half a dozen men all dressed in horribly-familiar white suits poured into the room like roaches, encircling the two horrified girls.

Weiss didn't even have time to react before she felt rough hands on her shoulders, dragging her back, ripping her from Blake's warm and tender embrace.

"No!"

Weiss screamed and thrashed wildly, with everything she had, every shred of strength in her body burning with torrid fear and defiance. She kicked and clawed like a trapped animal, twisting herself violently to seek escape.

The full-grown men were hardly fazed by her resistance, but she didn't stop.

She saw Blake also being assaulted by cruel hands, though Blake's fingers were reaching out for her.

Weiss reached for her, too.

But just before their fingertips could brush, Weiss was yanked back again brutally, this time by her hair. She cried out in pain and stumbled back, and soon found both of her arms now secured by two of the men.

"NO!" she shrieked. "Let me go!"

Her eyes could only go to one place, tears already streaming as she wailed her name.

"Blake!"

...

"Weiss-!"

The rest of her words were cut off as a large hand grabbed a fistful of the collar of her shirt, pulling her back roughly. It jolted the breath from her throat and she gasped, desperately trying to force air in past the constriction of the fabric against her neck. All that resulted was a hacking cough, burning her throat. Her sight blurred with tears. She had to-

"Let go of her!"

Blake threw herself forward, her entire weight behind the action, and she felt the man stumble forward with her, but his grip didn't falter. She tried again - pulling - boots desperately trying to find traction on the floor to little success.

All she could see was Weiss through the mess of her hair, and every second that passed felt like her heart was slowly being crushed, each beat a painful pulse. How could she have let go?

Another hand wrapped around her arm, stopped her dead in her tracks. She tried to reach out with the other, but the inches seemed to stretch out right before her eyes.

"Please... Please - I'll do anything."

...

Weiss screamed again, wringing herself out of the grasp of one man, but into that of another. There was still pressure tugging her hair, her arms pulled tightly behind her back. She forced her eyes open, seeking out Blake, trying to get to her.

They were striking her, hurting her.

The fear in Weiss' stomach instantly turned to rage, as though a switched had been flipped.

She surveyed her environment, trying to use it to her advantage. With a surge of strength she shoved backward, knocking into the man behind her and consequently bowling into another. Weiss kicked the table over, sending their unfinished breakfast all over the room.

It worked, just for an instant.

Weiss broke away, straining to reach Blake, scrambling and desperate.

"Blake-!"

A hand grabbed Weiss' ankle and she went down, just inches shy of Blake. She fell to the floor, the impact forcing the breath from her lungs and leaving her gasping. She was hoisted up once more, sputtering, her arms restrained even more harshly than before.

Weiss swayed, her vision blurring as she looked up. She met Blake's agonized eyes and could only sob.

"No-" she rasped. "Let her go…"

...

Her mouth opened the moment Weiss hit the floor, but the man holding her collar pulled and she jerked back, her sight tearing from Weiss.

She wanted to tell Weiss that she was all that mattered, that anything was better than going back home to that monster of a father, and if it meant abandoning Blake herself, than so be it. What happened to her in the process didn't matter. After all, Bake had been more than prepared for that this morning.

So she shoved her elbow back, the hard bone jutting into the man's stomach and he doubled over in pain, a curse spilling from his mouth with fire. The shock of it all allowed her to slip free from the grip around her arm, body seeming to fade as she used her semblance for what seemed like the first time in ages, stumbling forward in the aftermath.

It was a foreign feeling almost, and a trick she'd only get to use once, so she wasted no time in rushing forward, a silent, earnest promise in her eyes when they met Weiss'.

It felt like slow motion as she tried to get Weiss away from the men, hands working too slowly as she tore and pulled at their skin in attempt to free Weiss.

But she saw the fist - saw it coming, and there was nothing she could do about it.

The first bloom of pain that spread through her temple was the last thing she remembered–

–before her world went black.

...

"NO!"

Weiss screamed until her throat burned with acrid heat, but even then she didn't stop. Blake's name tumbled out in between cries and pleas to the men not to hurt her anymore. Though after the emotional and physical exertion she'd just been put through within the past few minutes, her voice was nothing more than a strained assortment of cracked sobs and whimpers.

"No… Blake! Blake, wake up, please!"

But she didn't. She just laid there, motionless, prostrate, and it scared Weiss more than her father ever could.

Weiss was despondent, frozen with horror, limp from suffocating trepidation as the men lifted her up once more, pinning her wrists behind her back again as though she were some kind of criminal.

The next few minutes were full of groans and curses as the men righted themselves, the previous dissonance falling back into an awfully unsettling silence. They kicked over the pieces of fallen furniture in order to clear a path to the door.

The fight was over.

It was all over.

Everything…

Weiss hung her head and wept as she was pushed toward the door by uncaring hands, her decimated dreams all lingering behind her, detached like lost memories unable to follow. She was shaking so badly that the men ended up supporting most of her weight.

She'd been under the impression that they'd just be leaving Blake there in the room, that it would simply be a matter of getting Weiss out, closing the door behind her, and never looking back.

But Weiss was appalled when she glanced over her shoulder to see that a pair of the men intended to move the Faunus girl as well.

Instantly, Weiss dug her heels into the carpet and jerked herself back, refusing to take another step.

"Wait-" She growled, though caught in between the hiccups like it was, it wasn't a very intimidating sound. "What are you going to do with her? You can just… leave her here. She won't…" Come after me…

The man to her left heaved a sigh and pushed Weiss forward another step.

"Your father wants her persecuted for her crimes. She will be severely punished."

"No-" Weiss snapped. "Let her go!" Her voice rose up again, this time into another shriek, seeking to get someone's attention - anyone's. Someone must've heard all the commotion; someone must've been around to help-

With another surge of strength, she tried to break away. But a knee rammed mercilessly into her diaphragm and she all but collapsed - sputtering - her head spinning, ears ringing with the words, "You gave me no choice."

Her vision blurred, briefly catching sight of Blake being slung over someone's shoulder as though her worth had been abject to that of a mere rag doll.

And that was the last Weiss saw of her.

-----------

A/N: You all knew it was coming. But did you think it'd be quite like this?

Preview for Act XIV:The slamming of a distant door shattered every memory as quickly as they had revisited her. Muffled voices sounded on the other side of the door until some unseen signal was given. The guards clicked the lock up and open, pulled the door inward.

He entered, dressed as importantly as ever, with all the power and presence he'd ever had and then some. His posture was stiff, his eyes were cold, and his voice was hateful.

"Finally, I've caught you."