Chapter Text
The flames were everywhere. Everything was burning. Blake watched, helpless as the building collapsed in front of her with Yang inside. She ran into the burning academy, screaming Yang’s name in desperation.
She's okay. She has to be okay. Please be okay.
When she finally found Yang, the sight terrified her. Her bionic arm had been ripped off and crushed by the remains of the ceiling. Her hair was ablaze, her aura desperately trying to heal her wounds. Her other arm was stuck under the head of a statue, having been blown off when the bombs were detonated. Her entire body was covered in cuts, deep gashes bleeding far too much. Her legs were broken, bits of bone protruding from the skin. But worst of all, was the gaping hole in her side. Her right side from her waist to her chest was gone. Just, fucking gone. She fell to her knees, sobbing. She had failed Yang again. Was that all she could ever do? Fail others when they counted on her? In between her sobs, she heard something. Her faunus ears pricked up, searching for the sound again. Then, she heard it. A cough. A weak cough, but a cough all the same.
She's alive! Oh, thank gods!
“Yang?” Blake called gently, her voice cracking as she spoke. “Yang, can you hear me?”
“Blake?” Yang croaked. “Blake? Is that you? Where are you? I… I can't see.”
“Yang! You're okay! Oh thank gods! I'm right next to you.” Blake sobbed
Opening her eyes, Yang focused on Blake's face. “Why are you crying? What's wrong?”
“You… you're hurt. Badly.”
“Shit. How badly?” Yang asked.
“You're missing part of your side, both your legs are broken, and both your arms are crushed.” Blake replied, still crying.
“What… what happened? The last thing I remember is the cops showing up and that red-haired bastard going psycho.” She then began coughing violently, more and more blood coming up each time.
“Yang! Don't speak. I'll tell you everything that happened as soon as we get you out of here.” Blake said, desperately scanning the area for any medics.
“Blake…”
“Save your breath Yang.”
“Blake, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it, Yang?”
“I just want you to know I'm feline alright. And this is gonna be one hell of a tail to tell our kids.”
“Yang, now is not the time!” Blake all but screamed.
“Hey, don't go acting all catty on me.” Yang laughed, bringing with it another coughing fit.
“You know what, I don't care what you do as long as it keeps you alive.”
“In all seriousness, though, I really do have something to tell you.”
“What is it, Yang?”
“If I don't make it out of here…”
“Yang Xiao Long, don't you dare talk like that. You're going to make it out of here, we're going to get your stubborn ass fixed, and you're going to live out the rest of your life.”
“I know I'm going to make it. But in the hypothetical situation that I dont, I want you to know that I love you. I have since we started at Beacon as Team RWBY.”
Blake stared at Yang in a mixture of confusion and surprise. “What?”
“I know you probably don't feel the same way. But I needed to get that off my chest. And it feels great to have finally told you.”
“Yang, I…" Blake found herself at a loss for words
“Cat got your tongue?” Yang asked after about a minute of Blake stuttering.
“I was going to say I love you too, but I'm reconsidering now.”
Yang giggled, her lilac eyes locked with Blake's ambers. Blake found herself wishing that this moment would never end.
Then Yang’s laughter stopped. Her breath hitched in her throat and she grunted loudly. The adrenaline had faded, and the pain was starting to return. Her aura was numbing it somewhat, but she still felt like she was on fire. Trying to keep positive, she thought about all the things they would do together when she got out. But suddenly she was hit by a wave of exhaustion.
When Yang’s eyelids began to droop, Blake became worried again. “Hey, you can't sleep yet. I promise as soon as we find a doctor, you can, but stay with me for now. I'm going to see if I can move this statue head, alright? Just stay awake.”
“I'll try. But before you do that, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Of course, Yang. What do you need?”
“Will… will you kiss me?” Yang asked, with a rare blush on her face.
Blake took a moment to register what Yang had said, then slowly crouched down next to Yang. “You have no idea how long I have wanted to hear you say that.” Gently, she took Yang’s face in her hands and pressed their lips together. She held the kiss for a minute, before slowly pulling away to see that Yang was unusually still. Thinking that Yang had fallen asleep, she tried to grab Yang’s attention. She then noticed that the rise and fall of her chest had stopped. With a sense of dread and panic hanging over her, she checked Yang’s pulse.
It had stopped. Yang Xiao Long was dead.
Blake began sobbing uncontrollably. In a single moment, she had lost her partner, teammate, best friend, and the love of her life. Her sadness consumed her. Until a new emotion emerged. Rage.
It was all his fault. That red-headed bastard had taken everything from her. And the more she thought, the angrier she became. She let out a guttural cry of pure, unadulterated rage before she fell to the ground, weeping again. She heard people behind her, calling her name as they searched the rubble. Blake ignored them, and simply continued sobbing, draping herself over Yang’s body protectively. After a time, she looked up to Yang’s face. Her eyes, still full of life, were open. Gently reaching up to her face, Blake closed her eyes, and gently gathered Yang’s lifeless body into her arms.
She carried Yang all the way through the school, and outside. She saw medical staff tending to the injured, police arresting members of the White Fang, and Ruby and Weiss huddled together in a corner, seeking comfort from each other and the remaining members of Team JNPR. When Ruby saw Blake, she rushed over as fast as she could, dragging Weiss behind her.
“Blake! Blake! Are you alright? Did you find Yang? Where is she?”
At the mention of Yang’s name, Blake burst into tears. Worried she had done something wrong, Ruby rushed closer to Blake, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Yang’s body in Blake's arms. Her gunmetal eyes brimmed with tears, and she collapsed to her knees. She dropped Crescent Rose in favor of Yang’s hand. Blake and Ruby stayed huddled protective around Yang’s body for hours, weeping together and sharing their sorrow. When the police came around to question them about what had happened, they refused to let go of each other, and they fell asleep holding each other's hands.
When the morning came around, Ruby awoke in her bed in the house they were renting. Hoping that everything that has transpired the previous night was all a bad dream, she rushed over to Yang’s room. When she opened the door and saw no-one, she went to the kitchen. There she found a note on the counter.
I'm sorry, Ruby. I didn't make it in time to save her. I know it won't bring her back, but I'm going after Adam. That bastard is going to get what's coming to him. I can't beat him alone, but I don't expect you to come with someone who wasn't good enough to help. If you decide you want to help, I will wait at the south gate until noon. I won't force you to come along, but I won't force you to stay behind either. I leave the choice to you. --Blake
After reading the note, Ruby woke the others. In the end, it was a unanimous decision. They were going with Blake, and they were going to avenge Yang.