RWBY Summer Contest 2015 Fanfic (Forlorn, chap 1)

It was a beautiful day, perfect for a visit to the beach. The sun was bright and warm, there was a soft breeze that wasn't too cold nor too humid, and most of all it was the weekend - in other words, no classes to attend. It had initially been Yang's idea. Ruby had quickly supported her sister with much enthusiasm and despite Weiss' protests, it had been decided that Team RWBY was definitely going. She even extended the invitation to Team JNPR, whom of which all four members promptly agreed to come along as well. It was bound to be a fantastic day out.

Blake hadn't said much. She never really said much.

The young woman wasn't a fan of water in great quantities, but she had nothing against going to the beach with the group of friends. She just made sure to bring along a book, a beach umbrella and also her personal journal, in case she was inspired to write. That would most likely keep her entertained for at least a good part of day, or for however the long the two teams planned on staying. She doubted she would actually be left in peace to read for too long, knowing that her friends would want her to participate in any activities they initiated, but she could still try.

And for the most part, Blake surprisingly was given her space. Comfortably seated in a wooden recliner in the shade of the beach umbrella, the Faunus had her golden eyes glued to her book, thoroughly intrigued with the development of the story. She had barely been bothered, the sound of her friends laughing and enjoying themselves further off a sort of reassuring reminder that although she sought solitude, she wasn't actually alone.

Ren had tried to just relax nearby at the beginning as well, but Nora had wanted none of it and had practically dragged him over so he would play games with the group of friends. And while Blake considered herself fortunate that the hyper girl was more interested in getting her partner involved than the bookworm, Blake was aware that there was someone on her own team who probably wouldn't let her seclude herself during the whole day. Probably.

The inevitable eventually occurred.

"Blaaake! Hey, Blakey!"

Her cat ears perked up slightly, making her bow twitch subtly. That voice. That one voice she could never tune out, never ignore, and never tried to. Her gaze slowly shifted from the pages of her open book and up towards the person approaching her, who had first been walking, but after seeing they had her attention began an effortless jog on the white sand to arrive faster.

Yang had clearly been in the water. Her blonde hair was still dripping, clinging to her skin all the way down her back it was so long. She was wearing a yellow bikini, the bottom piece tying together on each side of her hips and the top piece shaped more or less like a bra, one side displaying the blonde bombshell's flaming heart symbol in black. Her tanned skin was glittery with beads of water. To say the least, Yang looked good in a bathing suit, her strong and quite prominent muscles and tall, very feminine figure on full showcase for all to see.

Blake focused her eyes on the blonde's face as she approached so she wouldn't be caught staring. Bright lilac met sharp golden, and Yang grinned as she came to a stop. "Hey Blake. Team JNPR wants to battle us in a game of volleyball. You wanna? It won't be in the water, promise."

The Faunus considered Yang's invitation for a moment before glancing at the book in her hands. It was a really interesting story. And she was really comfortable where she was.

"C'mon Blakey. You can't stay sitting there all by yourself the entire time we're at the beach! It defeats the purpose of being here. Come have some fun with us. I love it when you participate." There was a genuine want to have Blake's presence with them in her tone of voice and expression.

And Blake really did believe that Yang wasn't lying when she said that she loved it when her partner decided to engage in the group's activities. That was one of the things about Yang. She had an authentic care for others and by nature enjoyed seeing everyone getting along and having a blast. But it was the way she specified "I" and not "we" that made Yang's approach more personal and true. She was like that with everyone and Blake had no reason to doubt that Yang really did want her to say she would join them.

But old habits die hard, and the quiet bookworm couldn't bring herself to say the simple words that would make her partner's day in a heartbeat, no matter how much she wanted to see that thrilled glint in her beautiful lilac eyes. Instead, she looked over to where Weiss was trying to pull Ruby out of the water while Nora and Jaune splashed each other and Ren and Pyrrha were gazing on in amusement and laughing, respectively. "I think with Ruby's and my semblances, we would be overkill. Ruby could probably handle a game on her own. I'll join you guys later, if that's okay?" She met the blonde brawler's stare apologetically.

Yang's beam had dimmed, clearly disappointed. Nevertheless, she tried again. "Are you sure? It's not the same without you."

Blake had to smile a little appreciatively at that. Leave it to Yang to make her feel like she was important. If only she knew how much of a difference that alone had made in her life. "I'm sure. Don't be sad, I'm certain you don't need me to have fun. Like I said, I'll join you later."

Her partner hesitated, and finally acknowledged with a movement of her head. "Alright then. But I'm holding you to that!" Her grin was back, and she winked before heading back off towards the others.

The Faunus found herself watching Yang as she walked away, and when she glanced back in concern, Blake gave her an encouraging nod before shifting her eyes back to her book. However, no matter how much the story had been intriguing her, when she realized she was rereading the same sentence over and over again without actually understanding the meaning of it, she sighed quietly and had to give up. The only thing on her mind was Yang. Always Yang.

She had attempted to halt her feelings so many times before, and still was. But it was incredibly difficult to not fall harder every time her partner went out of her way to reassure Blake, or get her to voice her opinion as if it mattered, or to just generally make her feel valued. She knew that was just who Yang was and it had nothing to do with attraction. There was no reason for her feelings to be reciprocated.

The raven haired girl bit her bottom lip, deliberating, and then marked her page before putting her book away into her bag and taking out her journal and a pen. For a moment she stared at the blank sheet of paper before her, the breeze lifting the corner slightly only for a few seconds. Finally, Blake made up her mind and began to slowly write.

I remember the first time we met. I didn't think much of you back then, and still not for a while after that. You were loud, boisterous and came across as shallow and not particularly smart. Your typical popular dumb blonde, to put it plainly. You and your sister Ruby irritated me beyond words, and then you would get on Weiss' nerves. Between the three of you, there was enough bickering to make the entire Academy lose its patience. 

But the problem was never you. It was me. I had just severed my ties to the White Fang, and being wary of everyone was my norm. As much as I despised what the White Fang was becoming, I had remained long enough that it still exercised a certain influence on my thoughts and actions afterwards. You were human, almost all of you at Beacon were. You couldn't be trusted. I was attending Beacon to pursue what the White Fang's original cause had been - to help people, to make the world safe for everyone, especially for the Faunus. And I was going to do that on my own. I didn't need anybody, not after being deceived and hurt and abandoned so many times before in the past.

Professor Ozpin's peculiar manners of proceeding quite literally 'threw' a wrench into my plans with his partnership regulation. Your landing was loud and unnecessarily garish, just like what I imagined your personality to be. I wondered if you were also insane or if you had a death wish, as you would definitely attract the Grimm with that display and your insistence on announcing your boredom to the entire forest. I had no intention of letting you see me. You were the last person on my quickly fabricated mental list of tolerable partner candidates. I was going to leave you to your area and search for someone else. Truly, I was. But then...I didn't. I figured that maybe if I had no choice but to collaborate closely with another person for the rest of my time at Beacon Academy, it might have been preferable for me to choose someone I couldn't possibly grow fond of. I wouldn't develop expectations, wouldn't be let down again. No strings attached should something go awry. 

I followed you, still half convinced I was making a mistake. But then you came across those two Ursas. Curious, I watched how you would handle the situation. You surprised me. You were strong, vigorous, and your fighting style relied heavily on your martial arts skills, using your body as a weapon. Ember Celica were exactly what they should be; an extension of you, used - dare I say - masterfully. Most of all, your confidence was evident. You were fearless, even if it bordered recklessness with the kind of taunts you spouted. 

Your reaction to losing a strand of your hair perplexed me, to say the least. My initial thoughts on your talent underestimated what you were truly capable of. I have yet to meet anyone or anything that could compete with the kind of pure power you demonstrated. And your semblance was a wonder to behold. Knowing my own set of skills and areas of expertise, it was more than clear that being partnered with you would be advantageous to both of us - on the battle field, at least. 

At this point, Blake paused to gather her thoughts, the memory of first meeting Yang one that she now remembered tenderly, and maybe with a bit of regret for the kind of person she had been back then, over a year ago. Very cynical and distant. The blonde brawler hadn't deserved many of the judgements the cat Faunus had entertained about her in her mind.

Blake's gaze gravitated to where her friends had set up their volleyball game. Yang was immediately apparent with her shock of blonde hair that had quickly dried - probably a result of her semblance. It appeared that Ren had decided to not play, preferring to watch on the sidelines. The teams were therefore equal. The speed at which the ball was sailing through the air between both teams was phenomenal. They were definitely enthusiastic, and Blake could see the elated grin on Yang's face, a clear sign that she was enjoying herself. She couldn't help but smile a little too, glad that her partner hadn't allowed her refusal to join to dampen her spirits.

It wasn't like Yang needed Blake to have fun or be happy. She had so many other people who loved her and supported her and liked to spend time with her. Blake wasn't even sure she actually counted as a friend. She kept to herself so much, and tended to always have a certain darkness about her person...she couldn't imagine being good enough to be a friend. But Yang had always been there for her, in contrast, reminding her that she had a team willing to help her and that she wasn't alone. Most of all, Yang had offered understanding and her shoulder to lean on. And that was more than Blake could ever ask for in itself.

She sighed, returning her gaze to her journal, and continued writing.

Yang, you annoyed me at first not because you were boisterous, not because you were constantly drawing me from my want for solitude, not because you kept blurting awful puns, but because I couldn't concede that you were a deeply caring person and genuinely looking out for me. You most definitely were not a dumb blonde, and you were not shallow. You accepted everyone and surrounded us all in your warmth and attractive, jovial personality. Just the fact that you had made it into Beacon proved that you were intelligent and studious enough to achieve your goals.

All my life I struggled with my heritage as a Faunus. My parents died when I was young because of it. I was mistreated and tormented, learned to be ashamed of these animal appendages that marked me as different, as less than human. The White Fang was this collective hero that would save us from that kind of treatment and give us the same rights as humans. I was a fervent believer and defender of the cause. But I was young and still naive, and taught to do things that a child should not know how to do. Stealing, using the shadows to my advantage, infiltrating secure buildings and turning off the alarm systems, disarming opponents... I didn't understand at first. I thought it was normal. I thought it was just. 

I wish I had left sooner.

I have a dark past and that darkness followed me to Beacon, like a kind of permanent stigma, even if all I wanted was to extricate myself from it. But it practically defines me. I am shadow. My very semblance reflects this. I haven't done much good in my life, and I doubt I deserve the friends and the help I have received here. And you, Yang Xiao Long, are like a bright light in my sombre reality. You pull me from my comfort zone and make me experience the world as pleasant and new, the very pillar of any changes that have occurred within me, although I wonder if you even know it. I began to wake every morning and be inexplicably happy to have the sun itself by my side. Warm, reassuring, invigorating, joyful. But also powerful, dangerous and explosive. And I never could have felt safer. 

You're more than a social butterfly. There's a certain maturity and protectiveness about you that you gained from having to raise Ruby mostly by yourself. And deep down you have an intense drive to search for your mother, but you know where your priorities lay. You face your problems head on but don't let them control you, and I have admired that for I have proven incapable of doing the same. By nature you are a deeply passionate, generous soul. You forgive me for all the stupid decisions I make and continue to value me, as if you understand my plight and are trying to make up for all the lifetimes you couldn't be there for me. But that's ridiculous, because I am well aware that I am not something you would miss, that I do not contribute to your happiness. That comes from within yourself, not me. 

And I can't blame you for that, Yang. I'll never burn as brilliantly as you do or compare to your inextinguishable flame. It's only fair that I keep my feelings hidden, that I cherish you in silence and satisfy myself with what you do give me. You are my light, my sun, my warmth, a constant friend that I've found I can no longer live without. If you didn't exist I would have to find a way to invent you. Every day spent by your side makes it harder for me to silence the voice of my heart, but I have to if only to keep a chasm from opening between us. It would kill me, so I rather grace your lips with a smile than with my own touch...

Blake had to stop writing when she realized she had tears in her eyes, blurring her vision. She blinked fiercely, trying to clear the wetness, suddenly feeling very self-conscious and a little foolish. That was enough, no more writing. She would not cry. After quickly wiping her eyes, she put her journal and pen away into her bag before carefully standing up. The young woman took the opportunity to stretch, maybe a bit languidly, and then began heading over to her friends. Even if Yang made it difficult for her to concentrate, these people had become an important part of her life and she wouldn't take their presence for granted. She had lost too much as it was. She knew better.

She knew how quickly someone could be there one moment and gone forever the next.

Sunsets were a beautiful thing. They were especially breathtaking when the view was unobstructed. As was the case now. Team RWBY and Team JNPR had gone to a nearby restaurant for supper and hadn't left until a little later into the evening, choosing to return to the beach since the day wasn't 'technically over', to put it in Ruby's words. Still, it had been a good idea as everyone had proceeded to have as much fun as they had had that same afternoon, if not more.

Well, that was what it sounded like, in any case, from where Blake was sitting on the sand, facing the water and watching the tide slowly come in. She had taken her bow off - considering that there weren't very many people still present at this time and she doubted running the risk of mockeries - and had her thighs up against her chest, resting her chin on her knees.

The sky was painted in vibrant colors of red, orange, yellow and pink, and although not quite so bright anymore, the sun radiated a comfortable warmth that Blake allowed herself to quietly bask in. She had once again sought out solitude, preferring to relax after the animated discussions over supper than to engage in more physically demanding activities. The raven-haired girl adored her friends, but apart from Ren and Weiss, they were all quite the extraverted social butterflies and Blake couldn't always keep up with all of them together at once. Not when she was tired, anyway.

The cat Faunus was aware that Yang was approaching even before the blonde sat down next to her without a sound. Blake had recognized the casual fall of her steps, the strong beat of her heart, and the slight increase in temperature of the air when she was around - all things that were exclusive to Yang. The robust woman had apparently not taken another swim, guessing by how she was still wearing her everyday clothes which consisted of a beige jacket over a black tank top and a pair of jeans, completed with her usual combat boots and a necklace that complimented her eyes.

Yang didn't say anything at first, sitting indian-style and watching the sunset next to her partner in silence. Blake quietly inhaled the mixed scent of citrus and gunpowder that the blonde seemed to permanently carry around with her, and had to resist leaning into her side. As much as Blake hated the reminder that she wasn't human, she couldn't help but to be subjected to certain instincts that were clearly feline in nature sometimes. And there was something about Yang that made those urges surface more easily. For instance, her constant warmth made the cat Faunus want to perpetually cuddle up against her. Even her scent prompted Blake to want to smell more closely. Both of those actions would have been weird in every circumstance, including the present one. So she refrained.

Eventually, Yang murmured, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Blake raised her eyebrows. "Talk about what?" Of course, she could figure what the blonde bombshell was referring to, but since she would have actually favored not revealing her feelings, she would see if she could somewhat change the subject.

"Well, you know." Yang hesitated. "You've been kind of distant today...actually, you've been that way for a while now. Like, you want to have fun and participate with us - I can see it in your eyes - but then you just...don't, and you tend to look sort of forlorn after. Do you want to talk about what's making you unhappy?"

There had been a reply on Blake's tongue even before the extraverted girl had finished speaking, and she opened her mouth to say it, but then closed it again. Yang was looking at her, and made it evident that Blake had her undivided attention. And with the fiery hues of the setting sun shining on the golden girl, bright lilac eyes gazing intently into hers, the young woman found that she couldn't even remember what she had been about to say. Her brain simply felt like it had melted into a pudding.

But she had to say something, because staring would give the wrong impression. "Um..."

Real smooth, Belladonna. The Faunus frowned, frustrated with herself, and shifted her head away from the gorgeous sight beside her, returning to watching the sky...which suddenly seemed not as beautiful anymore. Dust, Yang. You are not making this easy for me at all.

"Blake? Don't be angry. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to..."

Her voice was gentle and sounded so calming to Blake's sensitive cat ears, which automatically flickered towards her every time she spoke. That, she would never be able to fully conceal and they would always betray a small part of her feelings. Exactly how much of it Yang interpreted correctly was a different matter, though. Or if she thought there was something to interpret out of the motions at all.

"I'm not angry and we both know you really want me to share," she replied with no particular intonation, which made the blonde chuckle a little.

"Yeah, I do, but only because I want to help. But if you're not ready, then I'll just sit here with you and watch the sunset. It's very...purrty." Her lips curved into a huge, deliberate grin.

God dammit. Decidedly, she wouldn't even deign that last comment with a reply. She exhaled heavily through her nose, the only sign that she found her partner's puns insufferable. Well, that was a lie, really. She didn't hate them. They were just never all that great, and instead of inspiring amusement, they tended to cause almost physical pain. But she didn't hate them.

The two friends sat in a comfortable kind of quiet for a while, only interrupted by the noise their team and JNPR were creating further down the shore as they had some kind of playful beach war, and the sound of the waves as they collapsed to reach the coast. It was still relaxing, and even if Yang was an expert at ruining the moment, she nevertheless cherished sitting by her side and ultimately being the focus of the blonde beauty's attention, no matter how platonic. It was these rare occasions that she stored more preciously into her memory, to savor them whenever she was submerged with a longing she knew senseless to feed but could no more help herself than the proverbial snowball in hell.

Yang suddenly broke the relative silence, uncurling her legs from beneath her and stretching them out, leaning back on her hands casually. "It makes me sad that I'm the cause of whatever you're feeling right now," she stated softly, not meeting her partner's golden gaze, which had switched back to her when she began talking.

"Excuse me?" Blake's heart thudded harder in her chest. Had she understood that properly?

"I mean, it's pretty obvious this is my fault," the robust girl continued, appearing sorrowful - an expression that Blake wished she could kiss away immediately. She controlled herself. "You don't get that look in your eyes with the others, when they turn away and you think no one is watching. You're okay. But when it's me I see it almost without fail. It's been a few weeks now. I saw it several times today as it is. What did I do, Blake, to make you unhappy?" Yang had altered her position again, this time opting to face her partner entirely. Honest dejection in her lilac orbs, she added in a murmur, "I'm always trying my very best to be the kind of person you can trust and lean on when you need support or reassurance. I thought I was actually helping to make a difference for you... You seemed to smile and open up more. But these days... I mean, it says a lot about my friendship skills if one of the people I care about the most becomes sad because of me and then doesn't even want to talk to me about it..."

Blake was able to calm herself at least marginally when she realized that her partner hadn't truly figured out her feelings towards her. Nonetheless, the raven-haired girl wondered if this was worse. Her behavior had made Yang question her usefulness and trustworthiness. She had it all wrong. It was exactly because of how great of a friend, of a person Yang was that had the Faunus slowly but surly falling head over heels for her. Again, the problem was never Yang. It was always Blake.

But knowing she was one of the people the blonde cared about the most warmed her heart, even if she wondered how it was even possible and being fully aware that she was hardly worthy of it. "There's nothing wrong with you, Yang," she almost whispered, looking down shamefully. "You did nothing wrong. It's me. Do not blame yourself anymore." Her throat felt increasingly tight.

Long, calloused but gentle fingers cupped the young woman's jaw and exercised a small pressure so that she would raise her head and meet the blonde's beautiful eyes. Blake's breath caught at the touch and the intensity of her partner's gaze. I can't keep doing this for much longer. One day or another, and probably very soon, this is going to break me. 

"If it's you, then please, please tell me why." Her voice was so tender, her sincerity so evident, overwhelming Blake with everything she felt for the blonde brawler in an instant, and it was powerful. "I won't watch you run head first onto the path of self-destruction a second time. I can't."

And it's going to hurt.

The Faunus didn't say anything for a moment, internally battling for control over her feelings and urges, and simply restraining them made her eyes slightly misty with tears. She wouldn't cry, but it had become painful to behave and she was only rendering her friend increasingly worried for her.

"Blake?" Yang murmured, extending her other hand to hold Blake's, and her heart cracked just like glass.

"I'm in love with you, Yang," she finally admitted very quietly, making sure to form her sentence so that the words wouldn't be ambiguous, and feeling as if her whole world was crumbling around her and that she was the sole cause of it. It was probably what she deserved anyway. "Not some meaningless, superficial infatuation. Unequivocally and deeply in love with you."

If the situation hadn't been so serious, the pure openness of her partner's shocked expression might have been comical. But Blake couldn't bring herself to smile. There was nothing funny about watching her expression shift from stun to acceptance and then to saddened apology, and from that, receiving confirmation that her feelings were not reciprocated. It was no surprise, really. She had known this from the start. Yang had never manifested a romantic interest in girls before - even Blake, at first, at been obliged to deal with a considerable amount of confusion about the way she felt before conceding to it - and any past relationships (however few and far between) the blonde had mentioned had undeniably been with boys.

But Yang pulled Blake into her arms right there on the sand, making her golden eyes widen and basked her in the scent of citrus and gunpowder, holding her tightly into one of her signature bone-crushing hugs, the kind that was immediately warm and reassuring in a way that only Yang could convey through such force.

"I didn't know," she breathed into Blake's black hair, tickling her ear and nearly making her shiver. "I'm so sorry. I didn't...I didn't realize I could have been affecting you that way. I thought...well, it doesn't matter what I thought. I was obviously wrong. All my efforts...it meant that much to you?"

One of the things that made Yang incredible was that even upon such a revelation, she didn't inspire embarrassment or humiliation. She simply continued to show she cared and that she didn't want such a thing to prevent the two of them from acting as close as they had before, effectively proving that Blake's fears had been unfounded and that she should have just told the truth before it became a problem, a burden - and a heavy one at that.

Still, Blake was falling apart piece by piece, crying without crying, clinging to her partner with the strength of desperation. But this was only fair. Yang could be compared to the sun itself, and Blake had absolutely nothing to offer the sun. If anything, she would only dim its light with her darkness. "I told you to stop blaming yourself," she whispered shakily, unable to refrain from burying her nose in the blonde's thick mane of hair, fingers clutching her clothes tightly. "I'm the one who developed these emotions, and I'm the one who repeatedly failed to halt them. And now that you know...can we please just forget about it? You clearly don't feel the same, and I don't want to ruin our friendship. I would rather try to move on than lose you." Her voice hitched at the end. As true as the statement was, it still added more fissures in her heart to say it.

Uncharacteristically, Yang did not reply. She just kept the cat Faunus securely wrapped in her embrace for a while, waiting for Blake to relax as a cue that they could continue the conversation with more of a level head. Eventually, she carefully pushed Blake back, enough that their eyes could meet at a comfortable distance. She looked thoughtful, if not maybe a little troubled, chewing on her lower lip and searching her partner's golden orbs for a sign of something. The young woman had to look down, breaking the contact. She was still so ashamed.

"Blake," Yang finally said softly, and waited for her to actually look back up before sharing what she had on her mind. "I care about you just about as much as I do Ruby, the only difference being the number of years spent together. I want Ruby to be happy, and that's normal because she's my family and I love her. But I also want you to be happy. I haven't genuinely wanted - no, demanded - that for many people in my life, since very few of them actually stayed long enough for it to matter." She paused, collecting her thoughts and making sure her friend was listening to her. Subconsciously, her fingers began to tap against her thigh, giving the impression that she was reasoning out loud. "We still have at least two more years here at Beacon. You're part of my team, the partner I have to coordinate and work more closely with, and you've been a good friend too. We've had our ups and downs, but I feel we balance each other out, both in battle and in our everyday lives, and that we've grown close enough that we'd still choose to stick around each other as graduated huntresses."

Blake tilted her head to the side a bit, showing that the beautiful girl in front of her still had her attention. She appreciated what the blonde brawler was saying about her, though, and her composed demeanor helped the Faunus to recover from the previous painful emotions, although there was still a lingering sadness.

Yang's lips curved upwards slightly into a small smile. "I mean, I don't actually know about you, but even before this, I kind of figured that's how it would go. I have a hard time imagining a future in which Blake Belladonna isn't somehow present with me on missions. It would be very strange to not have you watching my back or intervening just in time, striking out of nowhere like a deadly predator in the night. Or even meeting up after a long day and talking about our concerns, getting into trouble, laughing, or even just sitting around quietly while you read. That's all stuff I've grown used to, if not fond of, and all things considered, I think Ruby would agree with me if I said you've been a positive influence on me with how placid and rational you are. We've been through quite a bit together already, too, and have learned to trust each other with our lives."

At this point, Blake knew Yang was trying to get somewhere with her speech, and based on what she had chosen to mention so far, a tiny flicker of hope - and along with it a healthy dose of nervousness - sparked to life within her. Still, she wasn't entirely certain just what exactly her partner was trying to say, and she by far preferring listening to her get it off her chest than interrupting.

Except, someone else did that for her. That someone had an authoritative - if not bossy and a little sarcastic - kind of voice.

"I don't mean to rain on the party you two seem to have going here, but we're going to miss the airship if we don't leave immediately. Some of us don't particularly feel like being here until midnight, if you get my gist."

The two girls looked to their side and up, beholding Weiss standing with her hands on her hips and her slight signature frown on her face. They both simultaneously glanced behind her where, further down the shore, the others were packing up or talking while waiting. It was then that they also realized it had gotten rather dark out, the sun almost well below the horizon, and the water lapping at the sand only a few feet away.

Yang promptly jumped to her feet and extended her hand for Blake, who took it to be helped into an upright position as well. While they dusted off their backsides, the blonde bombshell then addressed the Schnee heiress, "Weiss, tell Rubes and the others to start heading off without us. We'll catch up before the airship leaves."

The girl in white creased her fine eyebrows even more, appearing as if she might have wanted to dispute that decision, but then rolled her icy blue eyes. "Whatever. Don't blame me if you miss it, and don't worry Ruby." With that, she turned on her heels and began walking back towards the group.

The two huntresses in training watched her go, and once Weiss was out of earshot, Blake looked up at the slightly taller girl in concern. It must have been important if Yang felt the need to finish the conversation right then and there.

She hummed briefly, probably attempting to recall what she had been saying and figuring out a way to shorten it, before properly facing her partner and meeting her gaze. "What I was trying to get to, Blake... Since we're most likely going to be around each other for a long while still, and that I want you to be happy, I thought that maybe..." She hesitated, and Blake's throat tightened again, her cat ears beginning to flatten a little. Yang noticed this, and still looking uncertain, she gently took the raven-haired girl's hands into her own warm and strong ones to keep her reassured. Her voice was just a murmur when she finally admitted her thoughts, "If you would like to give it a shot, I wouldn't mind seeing if...maybe, I can learn to reciprocate your feelings."

Blake probably would have asked Yang to repeat that if she hadn't been so sure she had actually heard correctly. She stared at her incredulously, unable to form a complete logical thought for a moment or two. When it finally sunk in, what her partner was literally suggesting, she found that she wasn't immediately ecstatic, instead troubled and anxious. "Do you even know what you're saying? What that involves?"

Yang appeared mildly uneasy as she replied, "To be honest, maybe not entirely. I mean, I've never looked at any girls that way. I don't know if I could...really...romantically be interested in you or not one day? But I figure that if we do things a couple would do, and that I keep in mind that goal, it's something that I can develop, just like anything else...right? You're already a good friend, an awesome partner, and an attractive person in general. I don't see why I couldn't find it in me to see you as more than that."

Blake shifted her weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably, her cat ears still flat against her head. She knew Yang was being perfectly authentic and that she believed her intentions were harmless, but... "Yang," she said, and winced at how distressed she sounded. "I understand your thoughts here, and I really want to say yes, but I hope you realize you can't just spout stuff like that and then not very seriously commit yourself to at least trying. My feelings for you are already very much developed, and you would have the power to truly hurt me if you were just...doing it to see if you could. I need to know that...that if I agree to give it a shot with you, it's because you're sincerely interested in having this relationship yourself and are willing to sort out any issues that may arise as a couple. Don't commit yourself to something like this to make me happy, or to see if you can, because ultimately it will fail and the opposite of the initial goal will be achieved." She was holding her partner's hands tightly, heart pounding, desperately wanting her to understand.

Yang instantly pulled the Faunus into her arms again, trying to convey through action what she couldn't necessarily say with words. This was her usual tactile approach, the one that had proven extremely useful in the past when dealing with Blake. "I would never play with your feelings," she uttered sincerely. "Never. We'll find a way to make this work, and that is a promise I intend on keeping. Okay, kitten?"

If the quiet bookworm hadn't been blushing before from being in the blonde's embrace, she definitely was now after being given that pet name. "O-okay. I'm going to hold you to it." She paused, wrapping her own arms around her favorite brawler to return the hug in joy and disbelief that it was actually happening, nuzzling her face into the crook of Yang's neck and breathing in her scent contentedly. "Don't call me kitten, though," she mumbled.

At that, the extraverted girl was back, laughing heartily and holding her partner tighter. "Alright, I won't...kitten."

Blake groaned but never let go or tried to move away. "I hate you."

Yang only snickered more.

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