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thisgirlsays22 · 7 years ago

Text

Intro to Data Science (Chapter 2)

Rating: E

Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin

Pairing(s): Eren Yeager/ Levi

Chapter Word Count: 4.5K

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Angst and Fluff and Smut, (British) Professor Levi, (American) Student Eren, Long Distance

Summary:

“You’re probably just into him for the accent.”

“It’s not that,” Eren argued. “It doesn’t hurt, but it’s so much more than that.”

Mikasa rolled her eyes. “Sure.”

Notes:

For my lovely @fluffymusketeer who somehow manages to put me in a good mood even when the day looks bleak at first.

And a big thank you to @attraversiamo19 for being a fantastic beta and to @dreamxxdream for being a fantastic test reader.

Also check out this lovely fanart from @renriva (Mira, you are amazing Y_Y)

Read on Ao3 or under the cut. Edit: Chapter 1 on Tumblr

Monday morning, when Levi nodded at him as he walked through the door of the lecture hall, Eren felt all the tension go out of his shoulders. He hadn’t stopped beating himself up over his failed attempt to ask Levi out. Eren didn’t crush often, but when he did, it was intense and entirely too much.

He couldn’t concentrate during class because of the fucking cadence of Levi’s beautiful, deep voice as he explained the difference between supervised and unsupervised machine learning. He tried to copy down the notes from the slides on the screen at the front of the room, but kept drawing little doodles in the margins instead, wondering what was I thinking? That Levi would agree to go...platonically? That they’d strike up a friendship and eventually something more? God, he was embarrassed. He’d thought he’d picked up some sort of vibe between them, and maybe he had, but Levi was too noble to act on it.

“I can’t get him out of my head,” he complained to Mikasa that night. His desk was covered in junk food and dirty shirts, so he was curled up in his uncomfortable single-bed with his laptop, whining to his sister about his hopeless crush. He had dreamed his life in London would be glamorous, but here he was.

“You’re probably just into him for the accent.”

“It’s not that,” Eren argued. “It doesn’t hurt, but it’s so much more than that.”

Mikasa rolled her eyes. “Sure.”

He should have just called her instead of video chatting. It would be easier to ignore her derision that way. “God, he’s so fucking smart and kind of mean sometimes, but then he’ll turn around and give you helpful advice. I mean he’s only thirty-four and he’s had this amazing career already.”

“If you start talking to me about data, I’m ending this call,” Mikasa warned.

Eren ignored her. “The way he teaches is incredible. He makes such sarcastic comments about what we’re learning, but then if you ask a question, he really takes the time to understand it and give you a good answer. He once made a shit joke to explain a concept about correlation versus causation.” Eren paused to sigh dreamily. “Plus, he likes to read good books. And he shares all these funny posts about cats, like you wouldn’t expect it from him.”

“Wait...what? How do you know that?”

Realising he’d slipped up, Eren froze. “...I may have found his Facebook.”

Mikasa groaned and covered her face. “I’m so embarrassed for you, oh my god.”

“I had to find out if he was straight or not!”

She groaned again. “Eren, don’t do this. I can hear it in your voice. I know how reckless you can be, but come on.”

“It’s just a fun crush,” he defended. “A fun, silly crush.” He left out the part where he’d already tried to ask Levi out on a date.

“Yes. A fantasy.” Mikasa crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look.

“Shut up, Mikasa.”

“I was just agreeing with you!”

“Yeah, but in your I-know-better-than-you way.”

“You know I’m just looking out for you. You get your heart broken so easily.”

“I almost never like anyone!”

“Yeah, but when you do, your heart gets broken like that,” she said, snapping her fingers.

“Whatever, fine.” He rolled over on his side and stuffed a pillow under his head.

“Eren...what aren’t you telling me?”

“What?”

“You have that guilty look on your face. Like in the picture.” Mikasa took every available opportunity to reference The Picture. A photo taken when Eren was a toddler where he wore a guilty expression as he hid in their playhouse to have a private shit.

“I am not making the guilty poop-face!”

“You are!”

He flung the pillow over his face and spoke into it.

“Try again without the pillow.”

“You don’t have to worry about him breaking my heart because I already asked him out and he turned me down. Which he definitely should have. He’s being a responsible, respectable adult, which only makes me like him more.”

“Eren!”

“I know, I know.”

“Oh my god...What kind of date did you ask him on?” Mikasa leaned closer to the camera, looking exasperated but intrigued.

Eren pulled at one of the seams on his pillow. “Philip Pullman is giving a talk about his new book, and I asked him to go.”

Her face softened. “That’s actually cute. You’re still an impulsive moron, but a sweet one.”

“Gee, thanks,” he said and then tried to change the subject as quickly as possible. “So how’s mom?”

“You know her. Working hard as ever. She finally agreed to let me start covering the groceries since I’m running more sessions at the gym.”

“Wait. Mom agreed to let you help contribute?”

“Yes.”

“As in our mother? Carla Jaeger?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re sure this wasn’t an Invasion of the Body Snatchers situation?”

“Haven’t checked yet, but I’ll get back to you.”

“Shit. That’s amazing, Mikasa. Good job.”

She took a little bow, hair falling in front of the camera. “Yes, thank you. Now I just have to convince Zeke to stop leeching off of mom.”

“Yeah, good luck with that.”

“He was only supposed to be here for a month, and it’s been three.”

“Well, Mikasa, it’s really hard to find another pyramid scheme to latch onto. These opportunities don’t just fall from the sky.”

“I swear to god if he ever tries to sell me another vitamin again, I’m disowning him. I’m trying to convince him to just get a job with Connie at the bar until he figures things out.”

“Well, if anyone can, it’s you.”

“If he talks to you, can you mention it too? Couldn’t hurt.”

“Sure,” Eren said, not really meaning it. They hadn’t talked much since Eren had left for school nearly a year ago. Zeke had sent him a few obnoxious texts recently that consisted of, Pip pip cheerio, bro. Or Have you read my blog post on Paleo yet? All of which Eren had ignored.

“Okay, I have to run, I’m leading a yoga session in an hour, but I love you, and for what it’s worth, I think you should still go to the event.” Mikasa blew him a kiss and waved.

“Love you too, and I’ll think about it.”

They disconnected the call, and Eren got that same lonely feeling he always got after calling home to his family or friends. On top of that was the embarrassment about his crush. He had to accept he’d let himself get carried away and was projecting his feelings of loneliness onto this fantasy of Levi.

Eren took Mikasa’s advice and went to the Southbank Centre on Friday even though he hadn’t found anyone who wanted to go with him. His roommates hadn’t been interested: Ymir had called him a nerd, and Annie had just said, “No. Sounds boring.” At least Reiner and Bert had politely cited other plans as their reason for not going.

Whatever, they were all kind of assholes anyway. They only hung out with him because they all lived together, and rarely at that. So Eren had attempted to tame his wild hair, put on his nicest pair of black jeans and a button-down, and gone on his own.

Loneliness clouded his excitement for the night as he waited in line to get his signed copy of The Book of Dust from the little booth at the front of the centre. Everyone around him seemed to be here with someone, chatting happily, flipping through the new book together.

Eren got his copy and didn’t know what to do with himself. Distracted as he wandered around, admiring the large, glossy atrium, he did a double-take when someone caught his eye. Standing by the bar was a man Levi’s height with the same undercut.

The man turned so Eren could see him in profile. Holy fucking shit, Eren thought, maneuvering through the crowd as fast as he could, making strategic use of his broad shoulders to get people out of his way.

“Levi?”

Levi leaned against the front of the bar, looking unsurprised. “Hey.”

“What are you doing here?” He’d spent the whole week trying not to think about Levi, trying to laugh off the rejection and the hopelessness of his crush, but Levi was standing in front of him. He’d actually come.

“I wanted to see the lecture.”

“Oh. Do...do you want to sit together?” Eren asked.

“Not really.”

Eren was knocked further off-balance, unsure if Levi was joking or not. He tried to remain collected as he said, “I thought you were supposed to be polite.”

“I’m polite,” Levi protested flatly.

“No, you’re confusing.”

A funny look crossed Levi’s face, which Eren couldn’t decipher.

The bartender came back with Levi’s drink, a plastic cup full of wine, but before Levi paid, he said, “He’ll have a...what do you drink, Eren?”

Too flustered to think of the names to any drinks, Eren said, “What you’re having looks good.” If Levi was buying him a drink, maybe he had been joking.

“Another red wine, please,” Levi said.

Eren didn’t know what to talk about next. Levi looked so handsome in his dark blazer and jeans, and Eren’s heart wouldn’t stop doing nervous somersaults.

If he’d known Levi was going to be here, he could have mentally prepared some dazzling stories, some intriguing ice-breakers, intelligent questions, but here he was standing in front of Levi awkwardly without a clue what to say.

Fun crush, he reminded himself. Silly, fun crush. Just a fantasy.

“You don’t want to sit with me, but you’re buying me a drink?” Eren asked, trying to keep his tone neutral, breezy.

“You’re a broke student. Like I said, I’m being polite.” Levi paid for the drinks and Eren followed him to one of the empty tables around the corner. For such a bustling place, there were a surprising number of cozy places to sit.

Eren looked around for anyone he recognised from class and was relieved when no one materialised. He wondered if Levi was doing the same. Fuck it, anyway. There wasn’t any rule that they couldn’t socialise if they ran into each other in public.

“Have you been here before?” Levi asked once they were seated, facing one another at a low table by the window. Finally out of winter’s grasp, the sun was still hanging low in the sky, casting the Thames in an orange hue.

“I came to an art exhibit here once,” Eren said, “but never to an event like this. It’s weird they serve you the drinks in plastic cups. I thought it would be classier.” The plastic cup made Eren feel like he was back in the college dorms again. Not bad, just out of place here.

Levi crossed his ankle over his leg, and Eren tracked the graceful movement with his eyes. “You can bring them into the theatre,” Levi said.

“True. Do you come here often, then?” As the words left his lips, Eren cringed.

“Did you really just ask me if I come here often?” Levi asked, bemused.

“That did sound really cheesy,” Eren admitted. “But it’s a genuine question.”

“I don’t come here often,” Levi said. “But I’d like to. Most of my friends have moved out of the city, though.”

I’d go with you. In his mind’s-eye, it played out like fast-forwarding a movie. Levi would wear the same black blazer that brought out the grey in his eyes; afterwards they’d have dinner overlooking the Thames, discussing whatever show they’d seen, and then Levi would take him home and--Eren shook himself out of his spiraling thoughts.

Their knees brushed under the table, and Levi didn’t pull away.

“I’m glad you came tonight,” Eren said, voice low.

Levi frowned and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Eren...Just because I’m here doesn’t mean--”

“I know. I’m still glad, though.”

When Eren met Levi’s eyes, he felt it: a current of electricity running between them. He wasn’t always the best at reading other people, but he was good at identifying that spark of interest, the heat that a single look could carry. The way Levi’s heavy-lidded eyes considered him made Eren’s breath hitch. Did Levi want to be convinced? If he did, Eren feared he would only fuck it up.

Levi cleared his throat and stood. “I need the loo. And we should head in soon.”

“Wait,” Eren said, turning around in his chair. “So we are sitting together then?”

“I never said that.”

“I can’t tell if we’re joking anymore,” Eren said.

“Fine.” Levi waved a hand. “I suppose you can sit with me. But you better bloody well not talk during it. I can’t stand that rude shit.”

Eren nodded, amused by the severity and specificity of the request. “You have yourself a deal.”

He watched Levi walk away, and then leaned back in his chair, smiling to himself.

They chose seats at the front of the rear stalls, so there was no one sat in front of them and they had a wooden ledge to rest their arms and drinks upon. Every time their shoulders touched as Eren sat back in his chair, he lost track of what was being said on stage.

When the interview ended, Eren didn’t want to move. He wanted to stay still and feel Levi’s arm pressed against his, to smell the smoky scent of his cologne that made Eren light-headed with desire. Even though the urge to rest his head on Levi’s shoulder or to thread their fingers together was almost too much to bear, he would have chosen to relive that hour over and over if he could.

Afterwards, Eren waited for Levi to excuse himself, to call it a night, but he seemed content to keep walking side by side as they left the building together. Eren thought, if I just keep thinking of interesting things to say, he won’t go.

“You up for a walk along the river?” Eren tried.

Levi considered this for a moment. So sure the answer would be no, Eren almost didn’t register the nod. “Yeah, alright. Not too cold for it.”

They strolled along the walkway above the water, the night air crisp and cool enough that Eren had put his sweatshirt on. The London Eye’s blue glow reflected on the water below, rotating so slowly above the city that it appeared still. Lights from restaurants, shops and flats on both sides of the river lit up the night, and Eren let himself imagine that there was nothing preventing this from being a real date, that they were just two people without a care in the world.

“I don’t know how I felt about the excerpt he read,” Eren said.

“Me neither.”

“I’m worried it’s going to be really boring,” Eren confessed. “The first ones were perfect. I don’t want anything to ruin that.”

For a moment, they were split apart, maneuvering around a group of tourists clustered together, watching a man waving a giant bubble wand. They exchanged an eye roll.

“I thought you said you hated the last book,” Levi said once they had reached a quieter part of the pathway.

“No, I said it destroyed me. I hated it, and I loved it.”

“What, because Lyra and Will don’t end up together?”

“Obviously. They were soul mates and they were trapped in separate universes.” Eren threw his arms open wide for dramatic effect.

Levi stopped walking and crossed his arms, face caught in the blue glow from the ferris wheel. “Soul mates? They were twelve.”

“What’s age got to do with it?”

“You’re right, nothing. It’s the concept of soul mates that’s bullshit.”

The opinion didn’t come as a surprise. In fact, Eren had been hoping for it; he enjoyed the sarcastic, scathing replies. He didn’t even know if the concept was something he believed in either, at least not for himself.

“Are you going to tell me statistically it’s improbable?” Eren gave him a sly smile.

“Yeah. I’m going to draw a fucking graph for you.”

“Come on. Tell me the ending didn’t make you cry,” Eren teased.

Before Levi could reply, Eren came to a sudden halt. “Shit! I left my book inside!”

“It’s alright. I’m sure it’s either still at your seat or they’ve brought it to the front.”

Relieved that Levi didn’t seem annoyed by his stupidity, Eren said, “I just hope no one took it.”

“You can have mine if they did.”

Levi said this so casually, as though he were offering a piece of gum, that it took a moment for it to register. “What? No, I couldn’t take yours.”

“I’m only here because you found the event. I can just buy another copy inside.”

“Well, let me go check for it.” He expected Levi to finally excuse himself, but he followed Eren back to the venue.

“I need a shit,” he said in answer to Eren’s questioning look as they walked through the entrance.

Eren was startled by the vulgarity of a line delivered in that lovely, clipped accent; he blinked at Levi before letting out a shocked laugh.

“Go get your book,” Levi said, heading to the bathroom.

One of the ushers who was helping close up the theatre let Eren back in, and his book was still underneath the chair where he’d left it. He felt immense relief that he hadn’t lost his momento of the night, something he’d carefully chosen while otherwise refusing to fill his transient life with clutter.

Even though Levi had given no indication he would be departing after said shit, Eren was still surprised to find him waiting, leaning against the wall outside of the theatre.

“I’m peckish,” Levi said, and Eren felt almost giddy with hope.

“Wahaca maybe?”

“Sure,” Levi said. “Something fast.”

He let Eren buy him two fish tacos and a margarita from the Wahaca food-truck outside. “You bought me the drink earlier,” Eren had insisted. They sat at one of the picnic tables out front, the smell of grilled meat filling the air. Levi ate his taco with a knife and fork, and Eren made fun of him.

“Funny, you’re taking the piss when you’ve got sauce on your face,” Levi said, flicking his judgemental gaze to Eren as he cut off another piece of taco.

Eren touched his chin. “Here?”

“No.”

He touched his forehead. “Here?”

Levi rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Spot on.”

Reaching for a napkin from the centre of the table, Eren said, “Thanks for going back with me. That was really nice of you.” He wiped the corners of his mouth then messily tucked back into his chicken burrito.

“It’s fine.” Levi didn’t look up from his food.

“You’re not great at accepting praise, are you?”

Levi’s fork was halfway to his mouth, and he paused to glare at Eren.

“Like when I tried to compliment your teaching or your career.”

“Maybe you’re bad at giving compliments. Thought about that?”

“You’re funny too,” Eren said, like it was a challenge.

Levi pointed at Eren with his fork. “That’s a better compliment.”

Eren finished up his food and stood. “I’m gonna get another margarita, you want one?”

“Go on then. But here,” Levi pulled his wallet out and handed over a twenty pound note.

“Thanks. I’ll keep the change.”

“Yeah. You can buy a new sweatshirt.”

“Hey! What’s wrong with my sweatshirt?” Eren looked down, dumbfounded, at his green hoodie. He’d gotten it from Abercrombie a couple years ago, but it was still in decent enough shape.

“What’s right with it?” Levi said.

“You know what? You keep the change. Buy a new attitude,” Eren said.

Levi burst out laughing, covering his eyes with his hand as if he were surprised it was happening.

Flirting with Levi got Eren’s heart racing in ways he hadn’t experienced since his first middle-school crushes. He’d had feelings for people since then, meaningful relationships, but they’d lacked the novelty and the thrill that he felt with Levi. A dangerous, unlikely possibility unfolding between them.

The whole night had a surreal, magical edge to it. Removing Levi from the context of university had deepend Eren’s crush. It wasn’t Levi as a professor he liked...it was Levi the person. Though he seemed tenser than he did while in front of the classroom, he retained the sharp sense of humor that had caught Eren’s attention from the very first lesson.

Walking back to the food truck, chuckling to himself as he jingled the change around in his hand, that’s when Eren understood. He liked that Levi was a challenge, that he didn’t readily accept compliments. He even liked that Levi insulted his sweatshirt. Underneath his barbs and impassive exterior was a sweetness, a gentleness, and that was the best part of all. Each time he’d talked to Levi he managed to chip away at Levi’s icy exterior just a bit more. Maybe soon he would uncover the sculpture underneath, a masterpiece.

All the things he’d told Mikasa had been true, except that this was a fun, silly crush. Eren could feel he was rapidly approaching the danger line where the fun and silly portion of the evening would end and he would only get hurt.

While he waited in line, he glanced back at Levi at the table a few times, half-expecting him to be gone, but Levi was still sitting there with his copy of The Book of Dust out, idly flipping through.

When he returned, Levi suggested they resume their walk.

“With our drinks?” Eren asked, equally surprised by Levi’s suggestion and the idea of walking around in public with alcohol in plain sight.

“It’s fine,” Levi said, amused.

“Sweet! I always just want to be sure. It’s illegal back home.”

“Your laws make no fucking sense.” Levi shook his head.

They cleared off the table and continued in the direction of the Eye, past the small market selling records and books and two stray street performers dressed as Yoda and a gold statue.

Eren halted. “Shit! I left my book back at the table.” He’d been so focussed on the moment that he lost track of the damn book again.

“Do we need to put that thing on a leash?”

“Yes!” Eren called over his shoulder and as he ran back to their table to retrieve his wayward text once again. Please don’t let him think I’m always like this, Eren thought.

“You sure you really want it?” Levi asked once Eren had returned. He was looking down at the river now, leaning forward on the stone wall along the edge of the walkway. Eren went to stand by his side.

“I do! I really should have gotten two actually. One for my mom,” Eren said regretfully as they resumed their walk once again. “I might just give her mine since I keep leaving it everywhere anyway.”

“I’m sure you’ll be able to find another one. They usually sell signed copies like those at Forbidden Planet.”

“What’s that?” Eren asked.

“They sell comics, merchandise, those sorts of things. They’ve got a decent collection of fantasy and sci-fi books. Bit nerdy, but fun. A friend of mine always makes me stop in there with them.” Levi smiled fondly.

“What do you usually buy?”

“Can’t say I’m too exciting. I tend to like the broadly popular work. Studio Ghibli films and the like. Walking Dead’s alright, I still keep up with the comics.”

Eren hid a smile. “I like some of that stuff. Like anything zombie sign me up, except I’ve given up on the Walking Dead.”

“Fair. I really should.”

“I’m actually kind of surprised you’re into all that.”

“Why?”

Because you seem so aloof and cool and anything that makes you seem more down-to-earth just makes me like you more. “I don’t know, I guess you come off as someone who wouldn’t have a lot of interest in that kind of stuff. Like you’re too cool for it.”

“You don’t know me very well at all,” Levi said. Was there--Eren’s heart stuttered--was there something flirty in the way Levi said that? It was something in the way he held Eren’s eye, the sly way the corner of his lip tugged up.

He was probably just imagining it. Eren rested his arms on the railing above the wall, trying to choose his next words carefully as he stared down at the patch of rocky-beach that was visible now, not yet swallowed up by the tide.

“I wouldn’t mind knowing you,” Eren said quietly, as though he were tossing the words to the river like a skipping stone.

Neither looked at the other. Eren’s grip on the rail tightened. Mikasa’s warning ran through his head again as he waited for Levi to speak. To say something, anything.

“Even if I wanted that too, you’re my student. It’s a bad idea.”

Eren’s heart went into overdrive, pounding against his rib cage like it was trying to escape. Their fingers were inches apart, resting on the guardrail and Eren let the wine and margaritas give him courage as he moved his hand towards Levi’s and placed it on top of his. The hard line of Levi’s profile was impassive, but he didn’t pull away.

Self-conscious, nervous thoughts slithered into Eren’s mind: why would Levi want him? He was just a dumb kid with nothing to offer.

But Eren was also reckless. He let moments overwhelm his better sense of judgement, his rationale, and would always choose to leap. Below, a river cruise ship trailed past, and a few people on the deck waved up at them. Eren tentatively lifted his hand to wave back, but instead of putting it back down on the rail, he took hold of Levi’s arm. Face still angled away from Eren, Levi’s jaw was tight.

Eren could feel the hard muscles of Levi’s bicep through the blazer, and he squeezed. Partially so Levi would look over at him and partially because he had no restraint.

Without a word, Levi gripped Eren’s waist, sending shivers through him at the touch as they locked eyes. Eren hesitantly bent forward to kiss him, expecting to be stopped, but was shocked when Levi’s hand twisted the front of his hoodie to pull Eren the rest of the way across.

They both tasted like tequila, but Eren wouldn’t have changed a thing. Running his fingers along the soft hairs of Levi’s undercut and woozy again from the smell of his cologne, Eren could have kissed him like this all night. Levi’s lips were soft and a little chapped, and he kissed Eren with such tenderness, hand pressed against the small of his back, that Eren thought he must be dreaming.

But Levi pulled away, taking a step back. The breeze blew his bangs in front of his face, obscuring his eyes. “I should go,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

Eren was still reeling from the kiss, words not registering until Levi stepped back.

“Oh, okay,” Eren said, but Levi was already hurrying away. “Goodnight, then.”

#ereri #levieren #levi x eren #ereri fanfic #snk #aot #my writing #fic: intro to data science #levi you're already getting in too deep dude

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texanredrose · 7 years ago

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Forever Together

I actually forgot I wrote this. Based on Ladyhawke, a short mini story (... that’s also like 12k words long...) to hit the highlights.

Blake sighed, trudging up yet another hill in the long road ahead, her dark leather armor growing heavier with every step. Her long raven locks flowed down her back, stirred slightly by the light breeze ad lending to her somewhat disheveled appearance. For three long years, she'd traveled down this and many other roads, on a constant search for the thrice blasted bastard who'd wrought a horrible curse upon her and her lover. They were always a step behind, though, and just thinking of all the times they'd arrived in a town a day or two too late to confront him darkened her mood, her expression souring considerably as she crested the hill.

Before she could dwell for too long upon the negative grind of their journey, the familiar cry of a falcon cut through the air. Instantly, her lips quirked into a soft smile, her amber eyes lifting to scan the purple and orange tinted sky overhead while raising her left arm to stretch it out before her. A moment later, a snow white falcon landed on her forearm, tucking its wings up against its body and eyeing her critically.

"I'm sorry, Princess; I was brooding again," she said, her tone slightly apologetic but warm as she stroked along the falcon's head feathers. "You're always looking out for me, trying to keep me in high spirits." The falcon ruffled her feathers, apparently disregarding her apology in favor of delving further into Blake's worries. "I'm not trying to be negative, but..." Her smile fell a little, another sigh passing through her lips. "I miss kissing you, Weiss. I miss holding you in my arms. Every day that passes without that... it hurts."

The falcon flapped her wings and let out an indignant squawk, those ice blue eyes sharpening their gaze.

"I know you feel the same way. You're just better at carrying it; you always have been." Blake brought her arm closer, waiting for the falcon to spread her wings before wrapping her free arm around the bird's body, the closest approximation to an embrace as they could manage at present. "You're so strong, my love. I don't know where I'd be without you." She grimaced, already feeling the tingling at the base of her neck that signaled her time was short. "Weiss, I love you. One day, this nightmare will be over. I promise."

The falcon rubbed its head against her shoulder briefly, soaking up as much affectionate as she could before gliding to the ground a few feet away, the fading light from the setting sun casting long shadows for both of them.

As the light receded from the landscape, there was a brief flash of illumination on the road. Just like that, Blake was gone, replaced by a large black panther who quickly padded forward, shoving her head into the awaiting arms and chest of her beloved. Where before the falcon had waited on the dirt road now knelt a woman with snow white hair, wearing the intricate blue robes of a mage.

"My sweet, sweet Blake, I love you so much." She pressed a gentle kiss to the fur between the panther's amber eyes, her own ice blue orbs misted over with unshed tears. "But every step with you by my side is not a nightmare. This might be a bad part of the dream, but it will get better."

With reluctance, she stood, starting down the hill with the panther falling into step beside her, Weiss' head held high as she continued their journey.

With any luck, they'd reach the next town by morning, so they could both get some well deserved rest and, if they were lucky, a clue to bring them one step closer to finding the man who cursed them.

Yang Xiao Long was a pretty simple woman. She'd grown up in the small village alongside her younger sister, Ruby, and found that she had a knack for three very specific things: brawling, carousing, and keeping tabs on just about everyone in their village. Adding in Ruby's rather extraordinary aptitude with figures and it only made sense for the sister to open up their own tavern, especially seeing as they lived in a relatively well traveled area of Remnant. While Yang was just as likely to be working behind the bar as patrolling the floor, encouraging her patrons to enjoy themselves and discouraging any knuckleheads who sought to cause trouble, what she truly enjoyed was providing a safe haven for the weary traveler. After their mothers died and their father left with their uncle to search for an old friend, Yang and Ruby became very attached to maintaining their home, wanting neither relative to return and find the place in disarray. Somehow, that translated to giving transients like the merchants and messengers who occasionally passed through a place where they could feel at ease. While she did have a tendency to encourage that sense of peace through physically removing any obstacles to it, the blonde tried very hard to be nice first, allowing her gregarious nature and above average good looks (if she did say so herself) to win the battles before they could escalate.

So, of course, when she looked up from the bar to take note of her latest patron, her face lit up in a brilliant smile, hands idly cleaning a mug from the night before.

"Good morning, stranger, and welcome to the Dragon's Den! What can I do for you?" She took a moment to give the newcomer a once over and, damn, was she glad she did! The woman who'd just shouldered her way into the tavern was stunningly beautiful, even with the dark circles under her eyes and a generally unkempt appearance. Stunning amber eyes met her own lilac gaze with a vicious determination, tempered only by self restraint. "Are you okay? Should I go grab the doc?"

"No," the woman tersely replied, shrugging her shoulders, as if the armor she was wearing had grown uncomfortable, which it likely had. That, or the white falcon perched on her shoulder had dug its talons in deep; it was a bit hard to tell. "Have you heard of a man named Adam Taurus?"

"The name rings a bell." Yang briefly rolled her eyes up, trying to place the name. A moment later, it clicked. "Oh! Yeah, he just rolled through town not too long ago. Left... yesterday, I think." The woman growled, her fists clenching in barely suppressed rage. "He... wasn't a friend of yours, right? Guy made things a little, uh, difficult around here. No love lost when he left."

"That man is no friend of mine." The woman spat back, calming only when the falcon pressed its beak to her cheek, the soothing motion a little alarming for Yang. Given how sharp a falcon's bite could be, she wasn't exactly comfortable seeing it so close to the woman's eyes. "Do you know which way he went?"

The blonde shrugged. "He headed north, but that's about all I can say."

"... thank you." The response was grudging, the woman's gaze already diverted as she made to turn around. The falcon, however, was having none of it, buffeting the stranger's head with its wings. "Okay! Okay! Was that really necessary, Weiss?" She sighed, shaking her head and returning her attention to Yang. "Do you have an open room? We'll be gone by tomorrow morning."

The blonde set the mug down, eyeing the falcon. "Uh... not to put too fine a point on it but your pet-"

"She's not my pet," she said, a certain bite to her word indicating she didn't exactly blame Yang for the mistake but resented it all the same. "And if you're concerned about her making a mess, I can assure you she won't." She paused. "It may be better if our room had a window, though."

A few years back, she might've been unsettled by the woman's uncharacteristic attachment to the animal, but by now she'd seen her fair share of oddballs. This, while new, wasn't entirely unexpected. "Of course. That'll be fifty lien for the night, Miss...?"

"Blake," the woman replied. "Blake Belladonna."

Ah, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. With her smile back in full force, Yang waved towards the back of the tavern. "Well, Miss Blake, I'm Yang Xiao Long and it's my pleasure to meet you. Now, if you'll just follow me..."

As the last drunkard of the night stumble out her door, Yang turned a worried gaze towards the back of the tavern. True, it wasn't uncommon for those weary from the road to retreat to their rooms for hours at a time to rest and recover, but Blake hadn't appeared for any of the day's meals and she certainly didn't look strong enough to weather missing every meal.

Okay, so she didn't worry after every customer like this; maybe she was a little biased regarding the mysterious but beautiful guest staying in her tavern.

"Hey, Rubes, can you and Penny close up?" The blonde reached under the counter, grabbing the simple sandwich that was to be her after shift meal. "I'm going to check on our guests."

Her younger sister raised a brow but shrugged. "Uh, okay. We've got this."

"Thanks!" She quickly stepped away from the bar, breathing a sigh of relief that the night had gone relatively well. If what her sister said earlier was true, they'd made enough lien to cover the cost of materials needed for an addition to the tavern, giving them a full kitchen. It would be nice to have a hot meal while working, especially after the hectic nights.

Bypassing all the other rooms, Yang stopped in front of Blake's, rapping her knuckles against the wood. She'd probably get yelled at for disturbing the woman's slumber- it wouldn't be the first time- but that wasn't a huge concern, really. At least Blake would be fed.

Much to her surprise, the door opened but she wasn't faced with the dark haired woman from before; in contrast, the shorter woman standing in the doorway had blindingly white hair and a noticeable scar over her left eye. The mark did nothing to detract from her beauty, though, and the blonde was a bit gobsmacked with being confronted with two gorgeous women in the same day.

"Uh, I'm sorry, Miss, I was just looking for Miss Blake." She gestured with the sandwich laden plate. "She looked pretty beat and I didn't see her leave for food, so I thought I'd bring her some."

"That's very thoughtful of you. I'm sure she'll appreciate it." The white haired woman took the plate and made to shut the door but Yang stopped her.

"Yeah, I hope so, but I own the tavern, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask how you got into this room without me knowing." Although she wanted to scowl and be generally upset about the turn of events, she couldn't help but feel mere curiosity instead. After all, she couldn't rightly object to the woman's presence alone, seeing as she wasn't causing any trouble. It wasn't like the extra lien was really important to her; she'd given plenty of travelers discounted rates when they didn't have enough to pay. She wasn't heartless. "I don't mind if Miss Blake had company; I'm just concerned for... the safety of my patrons. I'm sure you understand."

The woman smirked, amusement shining in her icy blue eyes that looked remarkably familiar. "Oh, of course. I simply-"

Just then, a crash from the front of the building had Yang turning immediately. "Nevermind; close the door and lock it." She threw a grin over her shoulder. "I'll go take care of that."

Running down the hall, the blonde could make out shouting that quickly became more distinct, her expression settling into a harsh glare as she reentered the tavern's front area.

"Just tell us where they are!" One man was yelling, a white mask obscuring part of his face as he held a sword towards Ruby.

Not to be deterred, her sister had quickly slid over and behind the bar, grabbing the scythe she'd left there for instances just like this. Although the weapon itself was almost comically oversized for her petite stature, the biggest mistake anyone had ever made was doubting she could wield it with deadly precision. Even Penny had managed to recover her twin blades from under the stairs in the far corner, the little ginger standing beside her friend as the group of ruffians threatened them, standing amid a broken table and several chairs.

"We're not asking again." A second man bellowed. "A woman with a falcon or a woman with a panther; have you seen either of them?"

"There's no use lying about it." A woman sneered. "We already know they're somewhere in this pathetic town."

Four others were arrayed behind the mouthy ones and Yang could already feel her anger rising as she noted they were dressed just like that Adam Taurus fellow Blake had asked after earlier. Although she didn't know who the woman with the panther was, they were obviously also looking for Blake, so the blonde stepped up beside her sister and friend, fists raised and ready.

"Get lost." She growled out, allowing her lips to quirk into a slightly bigger grin. "Ain't no one around here matching that description, so save yourselves a painful exit and leave now."

The first man laughed. "Tough talk, Blondie."

"Just as tough as yours." She extended a hand and beckoned the lot closer. "Only difference is, I can back mine up."

With a shout, the seven hoodlums surged forward, the first three to come within striking distance finding out that the three employees of the Dragon's Den tavern were no average barmaids. Penny used one sword to knock aside her opponent's blade swiping the other into the woman's side, biting deep into the thin leather armor. Ruby used the scythe's pole to block the attack coming at her, spinning the weapon around so the curved blade bit deep into the man's thigh. Although she wasn't as easily capable of drawing blood, Yang had no problems ducking the clumsy swing of her enemy and throwing a vicious haymaker straight into the man's face, the satisfying crunch of bone a prelude to his knees buckling.

The second wave, however, was going to be a problem, seeing as they hadn't charged ahead after their comrades fell. While Ruby had reach on everyone present, extending her scythe enough to catch one of them would leave her vulnerable. Add to that being out numbered... well, the stalemate wouldn't last much longer. Someone was going to have to move.

Turns out, it was the ruffians who advanced, two of them focusing on Ruby while Penny and Yang were left with one each. Unlike their comrades, this group was a bit more wary about attacking, forcing Yang to skip to the side to avoid a far more precise slice than before. Ruby remained on the defensive, blocking attacks with her pole while Penny tried to levy her advantage of her dual blades against the longer reach of her opponent's bastard sword.

Before they could find a way out of the predicament, however, the two enemies fighting Ruby were sent flying across the room, ice freezing across their chests and pinning them to the wall. Surprised, Yang's posture slumped just a little, enough for her opponent to try and take advantage of her momentary distraction. As his arm began to swing his sword towards the blonde's unprotected neck, a huge black blur slammed into his side, knocking him to the ground and pinning him there.

Blinking in shock, Yang's jaw fell open as she realized her attacker was being held in place by a black panther, sharp and gleaming white fangs poised to rip the man's throat out. Across the tavern, Penny managed to disarm her opponent, slipping behind him to set the blade against his throat, her second blade appearing on the other side to discourage struggling.

And just like that, everything went still, the groans of the wounded and terrified whimpering of the man pinned by the panther filling the room while the sisters exchanged puzzled glances.

"Uh... that just happened." Yang scratched the back of her head.

Then she noticed the woman from before striding into the room, her hands still awash in blue tinged white light. Her icy blue eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on the panther.

"Don't kill him, Blake," she said, the magic winking out as she adjusted her robes. "Oh, very well." The panther growled, its jaw clenching slightly and prompted a horrified cry from the man. The woman picked her way through the ransacked tavern, kneeling down beside the pinned man. "Personally, I don't care if you survive this ordeal. Blake's of a mind that you shouldn't... but I'm sure I can persuade her to be lenient if you answer our questions quickly and turthfully."

"D-don't do it- ah!" One of the hoodlums- the woman Penny had put down initially- tried to regain her feet only for Ruby to smack her in the back of the head with her scythe's pole.

"It's your decision, ultimately." The white haired woman sighed, standing up. "Wait until I'm out of range, Blake. I do hate getting blood on my clothes."

"W-wait! I'll tell you whatever you want! Please!"

Yang rubbed her wrist idly, flexing her fingers as she walked over to the man she'd decked in the face. His node was still gushing blood and he'd passed out and the man Ruby'd hit in the thigh was similarly incapacitated. Her sister was keeping an eye on the wounded woman, Penny was holding another in place with her swords, and both of the men frozen to the wall were struggling to free themselves. All in all, there was very little damage done to the tavern, so she couldn't really complain about the end result... even if she was really confused about how it all happened.

"Excellent." The white haired woman leaned over the man. "Where is Adam heading?"

"To his fortress!"

"And where is that?"

"A-at the heart of Forever Fall!"

The woman frowned slightly. "Is he expecting us?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's unfortunate." She sighed, standing up straight and stepping away. "Blake, go ahead."

Before the man could protest, the panther released its hold on his throat and roared in his face. There was a moment of pure terror in his eyes before he passed out from fear. Apparently, that was all the panther wanted to do, stalking away from its victim to prowl around the white haired woman.

"Uh, I take it they were here looking for you?" Yang ventured, rolling her shoulders to work out any extra tension. "Miss-"

"Weiss, and we're already acquainted." The woman knelt down to run her hands through the panther's midnight black fur. "Not in this form, of course."

"Wait... so... that is Miss Blake?" The blonde looked over to her sister, confirming she'd heard correctly. Bereft of the benefit of meeting the raven haired woman herself- but hearing plenty from her sister's retelling- Ruby could do nothing more than shrug her shoulders slightly in confusion.

"Yes. To make an absurdly long story short, Blake and I are lovers, something that angered Adam Taurus and motivated him to call upon the darkest magicks known." Weiss sighed, standing back up to glare at the subdued underlings arrayed around her. "He fled with his band of miscreants soon after casting this awful curse and we've been chasing him ever since to undo it." She turned a fond but sad smile upon the panther nuzzling into her leg. "I fly the daytime skies as a falcon while she must stalk the night as a panther. We are forever together... but eternally apart."

"That's... horribly cruel." Yang grimaced, her shoulders sagging slightly. She couldn't imagine being separated from someone she held so dearly by a curse. By circumstance? Yeah, that happened, but it was usually temporary. By death? Well, that was awful, too, but just another part of life. Intentionally cursed with such malice? Unbelievable. "Wait, you have to kill him to undo the curse?"

"We believe so," she replied, digging into the coin pouch tucked into her robes. "Truthfully, we don't know if the curse can be reversed. Only Adam knows, so track him down we must."

"Just the two of you?" The blonde blinked, glancing between the woman and the panther. While they obviously could hold their own, the very term 'fortress' implied they would have a tough time getting inside the structure, much less successfully cornering the coward. Then again, they obviously didn't have much choice, now did they?

"Here." Yang blinked, taking note of the pouch being held out towards her, Weiss frowning slightly. "I doubt it will cover all the damages, but it's all I have. I'm afraid we can't wait until sunrise for Blake to pay you the rest. If there's some other way-"

"Keep it." The blonde waved her off, looking over to Ruby. Honestly, the damages wasn't even that much of a concern- the lien they'd saved up for the addition could easily pay off those expenses instead, and it wasn't a huge priority anyway- but what did concern her was made evident in her expression. Her sister seemed to read it perfectly, nodding resolutely a moment after. She couldn't help but smile as she turned back to her guest. "We'll need all the money we have to make it there."

"We?" The mage raised a brow, clearly confused. "What are you talking about? Who's 'we'?"

"You, Blake, and me!" She turned, hopping over the bar to grab the pack she'd stored under there years ago, just in case her father or uncle returned and needed to leave quickly again. Within was everything a traveler might need, plus a few personal touches to remind them of home. "You two are going to have a tough enough time getting into this fortress thing on your own. If nothing else, I can be, like, a distraction or something."

"Absolutely not." She reappeared from under the bartop to notice Weiss' hands on her hips, openly glaring at the blonde. "This isn't your fight-"

"So? I'm making it my fight!" Slinging the pack over one shoulder, she hopped back over the bartop and strode towards her sister. "That guy sent a group of bandits to ransack my tavern, hoping to harass my guests. That makes him my problem, too!" Ignoring the sputtered rebuttals coming from the smaller woman, Yang turned her attention to her sister. "Think you can hold down the fort for a month or two, Rubes?"

"Yeah..." She looked on the verge of tears, throwing her arms around her bigger sister's waist, an embrace that was quickly returned. "Just promise you'll come back."

"Of course, squirt. I can't leave you alone for too long." Ruffling her sister's hair, Yang turned and reached out, grabbing the man Penny was still holding still by his throat and easily lifting him off the ground with one arm. He was a scrawny little thing, so it wasn't exactly an impressive feat, but the fear in his eyes doubled at the action. "As for you, you've got two choices: draw us a map to exactly where this fortress is or lead us there yourself."

"Look, lady, I-I don't want any more trouble." He waved his arms, all fight having fled the moment Penny had him cornered. "J-just take our horses! Tell 'em to go home; they'll lead you straight there."

"What are you cowards doing?" The mouthy chick from earlier piped up again, prompting Yang to roll her eyes.

"Yo, Blake, you still hungry? 'Cause she's getting on my last nerve."

"You can't be- ah!" The growling, advancing panther shut her up pretty quick.

Tossing the man in her hand across the room, the blonde rounded on her travelling companions and smiled. "Well? What are we waiting for? I'll let the lawman know he's got a few more residents for the jail on the way out of town."

"You're being serious, aren't you?" Weiss raised a brow before sighing. "Very well. Let's go."

A few days later, the trio were on the road heading towards Forever Fall, Yang and Blake astride the henchmen's horses while Weiss soared above them, lazily riding the light breeze.

"Hey, Blake." Yang turned in her saddle, still unaccustomed to sitting in a saddle for hours on end. Sure, it beat walking, but damn if it wasn't uncomfortable as hell. "Mind if I ask you a few questions?"

"I suppose it would depend on what those questions might be," the woman replied, her lips quirking into a small grin. "But I'll humor you. Ask away, but be mindful I might not answer."

"That's fair." The blonde shifted again, trying to neither fall out of the saddle nor agitate the sore muscles of her backside any further. "What did you do before? Weiss said it was a long story but... you know, we've got some time to kill."

"I suppose that's true." The woman hummed, running a hand through her long black hair. "I was a knight, of sorts. We lived in Atlas, where paladins are heavily revered; I served one of the lesser orders and spent most of my time travelling. That is, until I met Weiss."

She smiled, glancing up at the falcon overhead. "Was it love at first sight? Like in the stories?"

Blake barked out a laugh, shaking her head. "Actually, we got into a heated argument on our first meeting. I don't even remember what it was about- something stupid, I'm sure- but neither of us would budge on our views. They weren't even complete opposites; there were things we agreed on, but enough things that we didn't- you get the idea. Anyway, by the time I'd worked up the nerve to apologize, she'd already forgiven me." Amber eyes stared off into the distance, their owner obviously lost in memory. "I remember exactly what she said, though. 'It doesn't matter which of us was right or wrong; anyone who stands by their convictions with such fierce determination is worthy of my respect'."

She hadn't known either woman very long but Yang could hear the words in Weiss' voice, imagining the mage standing there with her hands on her hips as if affronted at the very idea she'd hold a grudge over a trivial matter. It was a pretty cute mental picture. "How long ago was that?"

"Six years." The paladin chuckled at the shocked expression overtaking Yang's face, instinctively raising her arm for Weiss to land on it. "What? Surprised we've been together that long?"

"Not really." The blonde shook off her surprise and gave a sheepish smile. "Just impressed. Six years is a long time to remember what someone said to you." Her lips fell into a slight frown. "I... can't remember the last thing my dad said to me, before he left. I remember the gist of it, but not the exact words."

Before she could fall too deep into melancholy, she felt a hand lightly touching her shoulder, tracing it back to look into warm amber eyes.

"That's okay. Memories work differently for everyone." Blake shrugged. "I suppose it helps that I was absolutely floored at the time. I fully expected Weiss to lecture me for an hour rather than brush everything off like nothing happened." Weiss flapped her wings twice, lightly buffeting the raven haired woman in the process, which resulted in another bout of laughter. "Hey! It was six years ago, before I knew you had a heart under that ice blue robe. Don't blame me for being surprised!"

"Yeah, she can be a bit Weiss cold on occasion, huh?" Yang focused on keeping a straight face, her mood improving as she shoved the sadness to the back of her mind. Her father and uncle kept in contact, so they'd be home one day. Hopefully, she'd be back in time to welcome them back.

Blake busted out laughing while Weiss flew off, returning to the sky now that her perch was being held over the woman's stomach in her mirth. "Did- did you just make a pun out of Weiss' name?"

As she continued laughing, the blonde allowed her poker face to fall away, joining in and genuinely beaming once Blake had recovered. She made a mental note to think up more puns and employ them at every available opportunity. For one thing, she absolutely loved them. For another...

Blake had an amazing laugh, and she enjoyed hearing it.

One night as they made camp, Weiss and Yang sat around a small fire, the horses tethered nearby while Blake dozed lightly just beside the white haired woman. Although the horses had spooked the first few nights with the panther prowling close by, they'd adjusted to the predator's presence, no longer shying away at every flick of her tail.

Yang, who'd managed to clamp down on her questions for an impressive two days, couldn't help as one slipped out while they were eating a simple soup flavored by herbs they'd found earlier in the day.

"How long were you two friends before falling in love?"

It was a side effect of reading Ruby those ridiculous fairy tales every night before bed for... geez, she couldn't even count how many years. The ones with dashing heroes who save the day and get the girl at the end were her sister's favorite and, having no personal experience to draw upon, the blonde was intensely curious as to how love worked in the real world. In her village, very few people left to seek out their husband or wife and marriages were mostly done based on which match would be most beneficial to local business. It was a... decidedly unromantic way for things to go, especially when compared to the idealized portrayals from the stories.

Weiss, for her part, looked taken aback by the question only briefly before tilting her head in thought. "I... suppose about a year?" Subconsciously, she reached out, petting just behind the panther's ears. The large feline couldn't purr the way a barn cat might, but the low, rolling growl was close enough. "I can't quite put a date on when I fell in love with her, but I do remember quite clearly the moment I realized it, which was a year after we met."

"Yeah?" The blonde leaned forward, watching the white haired woman's features soften as she gazed at the slumbering panther.

"We were supposed to meet under our favorite tree to read together. It was innocent, just two friends enjoying their novels under the shade of a big oak tree that overlooked the city, but it was special for both of us. I was called away while going to our spot, though- a meeting with the archmage about something ridiculously pedantic- and by the time I arrived, Blake had fallen asleep. She'd work hard in the morning at the paladins' combat drills and was honestly too tired to climb the hill to our spot. But she did it anyway." The smile that had formed on her lips through the telling widened. "When I got there, I saw her sprawled beneath the tree, her book in one hand, covered in dirt with her hair mussed and... I realized she still looked as beautiful as ever. I didn't want to wake her or even read, so I simply laid down beside her, just to be near her." Weiss chuckled. "She smelled awful but, once I was beside her, I didn't want to move. And when she turned towards me and pulled me closer... I realized there was no place I'd rather be. It didn't matter that she was dirty and smelly and not even conscious... I was happy in her arms because I loved her."

She leaned down to place a kiss on the black fur, prompting the panther to shuffle closer to her.

Yang smiled. "That's what love is, huh?"

"Love is many things," Weiss replied, her gaze finally shifting to meet the blonde's. "But, in my experience, it's taking the bad with the good and never once questioning if it's worth it in the end. Like this curse, for example." She sighed. "Of course I want my beloved back in my arms- in her true form- but... I'm still by her side. I would take this curse over leaving her any day. There's not even a shadow of doubt in my mind."

She nodded, the next question dying on her tongue as the mage begin scratching the panther behind the ears again. The absolute adoration in her expression- the same adoration she saw shining in Blake's eyes when their positions were reversed- was absolutely astounding. More than that, the way Weiss chose to focus on the positive side of things, on the love they shared rather than the pain of being separated as they were. Blake's mood tended to sour whenever the curse came up but not her lover.

That was amazing, too, what one might think of as her stubborn conviction. Yang liked it.

They were probably a week away from reaching Forever Fall and their luck was relatively good. Aside from the last town, which had a few of Adam's hoodlums lying in wait for them, they hadn't run into too much trouble on their journey.

However, Yang was beginning to resent the uneventful trip. Not that she was asking to be jumped again, seeing as her back was still smarting something awful from being struck with a hammer, but it certainly gave her something to focus on aside from the obvious.

"Yang? Are you alright?"

Internally, she winced; something must've shown on her face, giving her away. Then, she actually winced, making a show of stretching her back. "Yeah, sorry, just a little sore still."

The way Blake's face fell did nothing to improve her state of mind. "I'm so sorry; I shouldn't have rushed after him like that."

"It's fine, Blakey! It seemed like the right thing to do at the time." Which was true; running after one of the idiots appeared to be their best bet on getting more information about the fortress. They just weren't aware they were being led into an ambush, that's all. At any rate, it had nothing to do with the strange sense of guilt beginning to gnaw at her stomach. "I've just never been hit like that! I'm surprised it still hurts, that's all. We'll be more careful next time."

And then the paladin gave her that sweet smile that set her eyes sparkling like a sunset. "I'm glad you decided to join us, Yang. I'm not sure where we'd be without you."

"Don't mention it." She shrugged and looked away, wincing again as the action made her back twinge in discomfort. "I'm glad you two let me come. I never really thought about leaving home but... the outside world ain't so bad, ya know?"

It was a bit of a stretch but hopefully she could divert the conversation before things got into awkward territory. Quite frankly, spending time with both women- being technically alone without actually being alone- was beginning to put a strain on her emotions. Not in a bad way... exactly. Except, yeah, it was bad, because she'd asked enough questions to know that both Blake and Weiss loved each other dearly. They had exactly the kind of love that would be written about for generations to come- True Love, capitals and all.

So the fact she was beginning to wonder what it would be like if she could swap places with either woman... that was bad and wrong and so many other things. Fighting was easy and straight forward and way better to think about than what was happening within her own heart.

"I suppose I understand." Blake nodded, sighing wistfully. "Weiss and I talked about travelling Remnant once we had the lien to do so. We'd just reached our mark when Adam wrought his curse. There have been so many times I've come to a place and wished Weiss could stand beside me and admire it."

"Yeah? Like where?" This was torture, in a way, but she couldn't help herself. Once again, she shoved her own feelings aside to focus on the woman's answer.

"Well, like Beacon Hills, where you can see the horizon in every direction for miles. Or the Mistral markets, with so many people trading and bustling around. Or- oh!" Suddenly, Blake smiled, gathering up her reins. "Like now- come on!"

Without questioning it, the blonde urged her horse after the paladin, the two veering off the road and up a steep hill. When they reached the top, her mouth fell open, lilac eyes roving over the landscape. The hill faced the western horizon, where the sun was edging down towards it but obscured by clouds, sending a golden light over the forest and mountains that didn't hurt her eyes. There was no view like this back home and she'd never imagined she find it so gorgeous.

She turned her head, noting that Weiss had landed on Blake's outstretched arm, both of them looking at the view. In that moment, she forgot how to breathe, because she could imagine exactly how Weiss would look if she could stand beside her lover in that moment, both of them with an arm wrapped around the other, faces lit up in simple joy.

"See what I mean? It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Breathtaking," she replied reverently, forcing her gaze ahead just before she could be discovered. "Absolutely breathtaking."

Things were getting progressively worse for Yang, though she was covering it as best she could. Stolen moments like these, however, were her saving grace.

They were nearly to Forever Falls, another day at most. Rather than push through, she'd suggested they get as much rest as possible so they could face Adam at full strength. However, they didn't want to be ambushed, so Yang had volunteered for the first shift watching over her slumbering companions.

In sleep, Weiss was even more beautiful, her hair flowing like pooled moonlight around her head. One arm was wrapped around Blake's furry body, the two sleeping soundly together for the first time in years, by their accounts. Even while traveling with Yang, usually Weiss would keep watch while Blake slept, since the white haired woman could sleep while traveling on Blake's arm during the day. The past day or so, however, she'd even landed on Yang's arm whenever the blonde offered it. She wasn't sure if either woman retained their conscious thoughts while in their animals forms or if, as a panther, Blake responded to Weiss' commands as part of the curse and vice versa.

She hadn't the nerve to ask any more questions, either. Every answer just drew her further and further into the infatuation she held for both women. She wasn't sure how much deeper she could fall... but it would be best to not.

"Ungh." Weiss groaned in her sleep, snapping the blonde out of her reverie. The mage curled closer to the panther as a shiver traveled through her small frame.

Without hesitating, Yang grabbed a blanket from her pack and threw it over the two. She'd planned on using it anyway to block out the morning light once dawn broke but the temperature was plunging thanks to the waning night. She couldn't feel it herself, and not thanks to the dwindling fire. "There ya go, Princess."

She just felt... a little numb. Fighting to distance herself from the women, burying her feelings, ignoring everything- it wasn't easy. It made her feel awful, just as awful as acknowledging that she was falling in love with two women who were already so deeply in love with each other. To be with one, it would break the other; to be with both of them, impossible.

"Hmmm." Her attention was once again drawn by Weiss' groan, though this one didn't carry a note of displeasure with it. Instead, it was almost pleased, and Yang belatedly noted that she hadn't simply laid the blanket over the two but allowed her hands to linger, one on the mage's shoulder while the other rested on the panther's back.

Slowly, she retracted her hands, sitting back and staring at the traitorous appendages in horror. When she looked up, she noted one amber eye was watching her, an ear perked as if awaiting an excuse.

"I-I'm sorry, Blake." She curled her hands into tight fists and brought them into her chest. "It... it won't happen again."

Carefully, the panther craned her neck around, lightly nosing the blonde's thigh before returning to her previous position and closing her eyes once more.

Sighing in relief, Yang shuffled back to the other side of the dying fire, praying the next few hours would pass quickly.

Forever Fall was fascinating, in its own way. The red leaves, although unique, were strange to look at given the battle that lay ahead of them. The village on the edge of the forest had harbored even more of Adam's cronies, and fighting through them the night before was tedious more than anything; it seemed every time one was struck down, two more would take his place. Yang's knuckles still throbbed from the brawl, despite them taking an extra day to recover before plunging into the final leg of their journey.

"I don't like this." Blake muttered, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she scanned their surroundings.. "We must be close... we should've run into sentries at the very least by now."

"Maybe the village was his sentry post?" The blonde offered, though she was watching the trees just as closely. Through the trees in the path ahead, they could see the darkened shadow cast by Adam's fortress; the two were nearly at his doorstep while Weiss soared overhead.

Then Weiss cried out, the falcon's call splitting the tense air and bringing both women to a dead halt on their steeds. A moment later, three arrows flew through the air. One barely missed Blake's throat, but the second found the dead center of her chest while the third embedded itself in her horse's shoulder. Startled and in agony, the horse reared up, throwing the paladin from her saddle and sending her crashing to the ground, landing on her back.

"Blake!" Yang fought to keep her steed under control, the horse spooked by its companion's shriek of pain just before bucking and thrashing, trying to dislodge the arrow. Her eyes widened in horror as The raven haired woman tried her damnedest to crawl back in time, one hoof colliding with her head and knocking her out cold. "Blake!"

She could hear the whizzing of arrows as they flew past her, her horse's erratic movements throwing off the archers' aim, but her sole concern was Blake's motionless body, an arrow in her chest and blood trickling down her face. Gathering her feet beneath her in the saddle, Yang launched herself away from the beast, colliding bodily with the injured and spooked horse, forcing its deadly hooves away from Blake's prone form as it shied away.

There was no time to consider attacking the archers, even as she heard Weiss shriek and the startled calls of her victim trying to dislodge the falcon's sharp blonde knelt down, scooping the wounded woman into her arms, and began running away from the trap they'd stumbled into, as fast as her legs could carry her. Blake was heavy in her arms and disturbingly still, bereft of the tranquil peace that overtook her features in sleep.

"Weiss!" She called out, turning her gaze skyward to find the falcon. "Weiss!"

The falcon called out swooping low over her and coming out of a dive just before hitting the ground. Yang breathed a sigh of relief a moment before cringing as a sharp, stabbing pain tore into her side. Her steps faltered only briefly, gritting her teeth as she forced herself to keep running down the road and out of the archers' range. One arrow managed to soar out ahead of her and the cold dread welling in her stomach multiplied as Weiss cried out in agony, the tip of the arrow embedding in her wing. She tried to stay airborne but glided haphazardly to the ground instead.

"Weiss, no!" The blonde dropped to the ground beside the injured falcon, removing her arm from under Blake's knees to scoop Weiss up and place her on the woman's chest. "Hold on, just hold on! Try not to move much, okay? I'll get it out, I promise!"

Panic welled in her chest as she forced herself to her feet. Her muscles burned and the pain in her side was worsening, a new one blooming in her shoulder, but she didn't care, couldn't be motivated to worry about something so trivial when both of her companions were so badly hurt. In her mind, she was running through the list of places she'd seen at the village they'd just passed through the night before, lilac eyes darting to note the sun's position. She had to remove the arrows before Blake and Weiss changed forms, unsure what might possibly happen if she failed.

The taverns and inns were out; she wouldn't trust them to harbor fugitives, especially if Adam's goons offered enough lien for their position. She couldn't even recall seeing a law station or jail in the town and it was equally likely that anyone in the village would give them up rather than risk Adam's wrath. All but one building- a shabby and rundown chapel on the east side of town, which looked like it had frequently survived attacks of varying nature. It was likely abandoned and the solitude would be perfect to nurse their wounds.

She just had to make it there.

The sun was dipping low towards the horizon when she shouldered her way through the chapel's broken door, breathing heavily and dripping sweat. By some miracle, she'd manage to run the whole way without stopping, despite every muscle in her body protesting loudly. Her legs were weak and shaking but she pushed herself forward, deeper into the abandoned church, looking for somewhere to set Blake and Weiss down among the overturned pews and layers of dust.

It seemed that the small, raised pulpit was her only recourse, so she knelt beside it and laid Blake down as gently as she could. The woman groaned, but otherwise didn't stir, and Weiss flapped her wing weakly.

Oh dust what was she supposed to do now? Where did she start?

Through the panic and terror descending upon her mind, Yang heard the soft patter of footsteps approaching her and quickly spun around, fists raised and a snarl on her face. "Stop right there! Stay where you are!"

"Peace, child, you have no reason to fear me." Yang blinked, taking in the man with silver hair and a priest's robes approaching her, what appeared to be a nun by his side. "And you're hardly in any condition to fight, besides."

Finally, her brain kicked back into gear, falling to her knees. "Please, Father, sanctuary. My friends- they're hurt, please help them."

"They are hurt? So are you." The nun pointed out, blonde curls framing her face as both clerical servants eyed her over the tops of their glasses.

"Nevermind about me! Help them!" Was she hurt? Aside from the fatigue, she couldn't rightly say, honestly.

And it didn't even matter.

Seemingly convinced by her plea, the priest and nun strode forward, the former kneeling beside Blake while the latter tended to Weiss.

"Please, hurry." Yang whispered, her shoulders sagging as the weight of her exhaustion fell upon her. Her eyesight blurred and her limbs felt like lead but she managed to crawl around, facing her injured friends and watching every move the strangers made. Tears stung at her eyes and she scrubbed them away clumsily, her left arm burning like it had throughout her manic run for safety. "Please."

"They'll be alright, my child." The priest reached forward, pulling the arrow protruding from Blake's chest free with a tug. "It didn't pierce her armor but the blow to her head will keep her asleep for a while yet."

"Your pet won't be flying for a while-"

"She's not my pet." Yang growled, shuffling closer as the nun broke off the arrow's head and slid the shaft free, Weiss letting out a few weak cries before tucking her injured wing into her body.

The nun regarded her quietly for a moment before nodding. "At any rate, a week's rest and... she will be fine."

Relief washed over her, taking with it the last vestiges of her strength. She collapsed forward, coughing as the dust she stirred coated the inside of her mouth.

"Now, it's your turn," the priest said as he and the nun moved to kneel on either side of her.

"My..." She trailed off, noting for the first time the bright coloring of the arrow's fletching that rose up over her shoulder. In her sprint, she'd never looked behind her, never risked it, so she hadn't noticed that there was an arrow embedded in her left shoulder. Turning her head the other way, she saw a similar one protruding from her right side.

Oh... so that's what that stabbing pain was.

"They didn't go all the way through." The nun noted, grabbing the arrow shaft in her side.

"On the count of three." The priest took hold of the other. "One... two... three."

Yang screamed as both arrows were pulled out, the pain exponentially growing to the point she wasn't sure if she could remain conscious, or if she even wanted to, her throat raw by the end of it. Gasping for breath, darkness encroaching on the edges of her vision, she fought to crawl forward, reaching towards the pulpit.

"Blake... Weiss..."

"Rest now, my child." The priest laid a hand on her shoulder. "We'll take care of them."

The blonde turned her head, meeting his gaze evenly before the last of her strength abandoned her completely. She fell to the floor, falling headfirst into oblivion.

Pain radiated through her body, a constant throb that beckoned her back to the darkness. By sheer force of will, Yang refused and opened her eyes with a hiss. At some point, she'd been moved into a different room awash in the flickering glow of candlelight, the shattered roof overhead providing an uninterrupted view of the night sky, stars twinkling innocently.

Weiss. Blake.

Forcing herself up, the blonde tossed the cover away and rolled onto her hands and knees, eventually gaining her feet and limping to the other side of the room. There lay Weiss, covered by a thin blanket with a bloodied bandage wrapped around one arm, her soft features contorted by a nightmare as she slept. Lilac eyes scanned her body, looking for anything else out of the ordinary before she hit on it.

Where was Blake?

Panic once again rose in her but it quickly died as she turned, spying the panther lying a few feet away, also covered by a blanket. A bandage was wrapped around her head, the faintest flecks of blood beginning to show through the gauze, while her body twitched uncontrollably, also caught in the throes of a nightmare.

She looked between the two before deciding Weiss was smaller and, therefore, easier to move. Carefully, she scooped the mage into her arms, limping across the room to set her down beside the panther.

"There. That's better." She murmured, making sure that both of them were aware of the presence of the other, soothingly stroking along pale skin and black fur as their expressions smoothed out. "You're both going to be okay."

Yang felt the hint of tears stinging at her eyes before it was overtaken by fury.

How- how dare he! That bastard cursed them and then ran away, and now he won't even be man enough to face them on equal terms? He has to lay traps and set ambushes to try to kill them?

The pain was receding in the face of her anger. A new font of energy surging into her weary body, breathing new life into her limbs.

She wanted to tear him apart herself, for cursing Blake and Weiss, for hurting them, for being such a damned coward.

Getting to her feet, Yang turned and left the room, wearing her fury like armor, allowing it to protect her from the tiny voices warning her against all the really bad things that could happen if she did exactly what she was thinking of doing.

It didn't matter. Nothing mattered aside from making that bastard pay.

He wasn't going to hurt them again.

She'd followed the road, just like they had before; this time, there were no archers hiding in the trees. Apparently, someone had written them off for dead.

Idiots.

Marching up the road, Yang ran in a constant loop images she'd seared into her memory over the past few weeks. Blake's expression in mid laugh, Weiss' smile, Blake just after she'd woken up, Weiss as she slept- each image just made her angrier. She was furious that both women had suffered so much, for so long, at the hands of a man who couldn't bear to face them in person. A man who hid behind walls and talked a big game but, in the end, was just a coward.

Every fiber of her being was invigorated by her fury, turning it into energy to propel her forward. Her fists had clenched the moment she felt the church and they hadn't relaxed; they wouldn't until one was embedded in that bastard's face, she swore.

It didn't even matter if she walked away from this. All that mattered was breaking this curse so two women she cared for dearly could be free. Beautiful and free.

Adam's stronghold loomed tall and dark in the moonless night, a great wooden door the only apparent way inside. She could probably walk around and find another way in... but she was too angry to think straight, so she strode straight up to the door, wound back her fist, and slammed it forward. The wood creaked and splintered, but held. A second and third punch splintered it further, creaking under the assault. With a roar, a fourth punch smashed through the wood, striking the bar behind it and knocking it off its track. Half of the door swung open while the shattered portion hung listlessly on its hinges until Yang pulled her fist free of it, kicking it in and destroying what remained.

There were shouts of alarm as more ruffians began pouring into the courtyard separating the perimeter wall from the lone, towering building that comprised most of the fortress.

Yang just marched forward, sights set on the next wooden door she'd have to bust through. A few hoodlums got in her way- fools that they were- and she quickly dispatched them with savage blows to their heads, knocking them out cold. After the fifth fell bonelessly to the ground, archers tried their luck next, and she heard the twang of a taunt string the moment before the arrow fired. She twisted, swinging her arm out and somehow managed to knock the arrow out of the air, leveling a vicious glare at the woman who fired it.

Fear frozen the majority of the goons in their tracks, none wanting to get within her striking distance and fewer wishing to have her attention focused solely on them. For a moment, she thought she might make it to the door unmolested when yet another moron decided to step in front of her.

Her throat was raw, lending a primal savagery to her voice as she caved his face in, stepping over his motionless body to continue towards the door. There was a commotion behind her- shouts, screams, yells- but she didn't care, reaching out to grab the struts on the wooden door. Heaving at them viciously, the hinges creaked in protest. A second, wood splintered. With the third, they gave away completely, and she tossed the door aside and into a group of terrified underlings.

"ADAM!" She roared, stalking deeper into the fortress. "COME OUT, YOU COWARD!"

The blonde came to a dead stop as she heard slow clapping coming from above her, her gaze scanning the second floor landing until it fell on a man in a dark cloak standing at the top of the stairway before her, seeming to blend into the darkness around him.

"That was an impressive display... for a dead woman," he said, his arms spreading wide as he began descending the stairs. "I suppose a welcome is in order. I don't often receive guests."

"Blake Belladonna and Weiss Schnee." Not in the mood for his theatrics, Yang lifted an arm and jabbed an accusing finger at him. "You cursed them."

"Is that what this is about?" He laughed, though there was enough bitterness to his tone that she didn't believe for a second he was as apathetic about it as he pretended. "That's old news, Blondie."

"Not to me." She raised her fists. "Undo the curse."

"And why would I do that?" He chuckled, reveling in her anger. "Those two deserved it."

"How? How could anyone possibly deserve such cruelty?" Her patience was wearing thin. Not that she had much to begin with but, damnit, she was trying to give the coward an easy way out.

"Blake was mine before that stupid little witch sunk her claws into her." He laughed again, finally reaching the bottom of the stairs. "Or should I say talons?"

"Undo. The. Curse."

He smirked. "No."

Yang surged forward, right fist already cocked back as she let loose another blood chilling scream of pure rage. She started pushing her arm forward, solely focused on caving his face in and ignoring all else.

Including the blood red tinged wisps of darkness covering his forearms.

In the blink of an eye, the blonde was colliding not with Adam's face but with the straircase, a new level of agony cutting through her fury, left arm flying to hold her right. Or what remained of it, anyway.

Whatever dark magicks Adam had at his disposal, he'd summoned them at just the right moment to slice off her right arm, just above the elbow, the stump bleeding profusely as she grit her teeth, trying desperately not to give him the satisfaction of hearing her scream.

With the toe of one boot, he rolled her over and she defiantly glared up at him. She still had her left arm; she wasn't out of the fight yet. Her strength was waning, though, as the new injury superseded anything she'd endured before in her life, compounding the still throbbing arrow wounds she'd remembered now that her fury could no longer protect her.

The blonde probably had enough left in her for one last, good shot before the blood loss got the better of her. She was going to make it count.

"So, this is the great hero who thought she was going to save the day, huh? Pathetic."

"At least I had the guts to face you." She bared her teeth in a snarl. "I didn't run like a dog with my tail tucked between my legs."

"And look where it got you." He scoffed. "Dead, all for two women who won't remember your name in a year."

She growled, bunching her muscles in preparation for her last strike. They'll remember me.

Adam drew his right hand back, the wisps of magick enshrouding him once more, sharpening into a blade extending from the palm of his hand.

"You were nothing to them."

Yang blinked, a grin coming to her lips. "Yeah, you're right... but I still mean more to Weiss and Blake than you ever will."

His face contorted into a sneer as he shoved his right arm forward, in tandem with the blonde sitting up and throwing her last punch, using her bleeding stump to push her. It was her last try, her last attempt, and it was wonderful seeing the shock and surprise in his face as two things happened.

One was his magicked sword being pulled to the side at the last minute, missing Yang completely. The second was her fist colliding with the side of his head, whipping his head to the side as he was drug off the blonde... by Blake.

The panther had her fangs sunk deep into his right arm, using her entire body to pull him along like a ragdoll. There was the satisfying pop of his shoulder leaving its socket before a flash of blue tinged white light and a sharp shard of ice sliced into the flesh, rending his arm from his body at the shoulder. The scream that tore from his throat was bone rattling, ice covering the bleeding stump at his shoulder as he crumpled to the ground.

"An arm for an arm, Adam," Weiss said, stalking towards them with her own magick engulfing her form, cold fury shining like a bright light in her ice blue eyes. She raised a hand and shot off another ice spell, sending his head whipping to the side again as he cried out in pain. "An eye for an eye."

Shuddering and whimpering, Adam stumbled to his knees, holding his remaining hand to the frozen left side of his face.

"Yang!" The blonde blinked, darkness once again encroaching on the edges of her vision as she held her bleeding stump. It took her a moment to register that Blake- as in the real Blake, not her panther form- was knelt beside her, amber eyes brimming over with tears. "Oh, Yang..."

Fighting to remain conscious, Yang's head lolled to the side, seeing Weiss- human Weiss- stalking closer to a moaning Adam.

They... They did it.

Her lips curled into a weak smile. "The curse... it's broken."

Tears fell down Blake's face, a watery smile on her lips. "Yes, Yang. We did it. The curse is broken."

"Good... you two... can be together now." It was bittersweet but her smile strengthened all the same. "Take care of her, Blake."

"Don't you dare, Yang. Don't you give up on me."

But she was so tired. She'd pushed herself far beyond her limits and there just wasn't much strength left in her, at this point.

"Weiss!" Blake stood, her sword ringing out as it left its scabbard. "Weiss, hurry!"

As the raven haired woman departed Yang's line of sight, her lover entered, worry pinching her brow.

"You oaf. Look what you've gone and done to yourself!" Her magicks flared as she reached out, pulling the blonde's hand away from her stump. "This... may sting a little."

Turning her head to the side, Yang watched as Blake advanced on a cowering Adam, fear etched into every groove of his face.

"I'd repay you for the heartache, but I know damn well you don't have a heart." She raised her sword. "This is goodbye, Adam. May you rot in hell."

His death cry rang out a moment later, though the sound was quickly drowned out in the blonde's ears by her own slowing pulse.

"Weiss... Blake..." Yang whimpered as a cold she'd never known before suffused her being. "I love you. Both. Take... care."

For the second time that day, the blonde fell to oblivion in agonizing pain.

Blake sighed deeply, amber eyes roving over the small village. A strange side effect of breaking the curse was that not every aspect had left them. They were no longer forced to change at the sun's discretion but those other forms were still part of them; she'd changed into a panther shortly before leaving the chapel, hoping the appearance would ward off any possible merry villagers.

The townsfolk were still celebrating three days later that Adam was dead, his small legion of criminals and brigands fleeing the fortress that same night. To some extent, the jovial air outside of the chapel was just as nauseating as the dreary atmosphere within it. She was growing restless with each passing day, the nagging sensation of lacking a purpose in life digging into her just as sharply as her bittersweet relief at breaking the curse.

But above all, guilt weighed on her the heaviest. In her mind, she could still see Yang's face, frozen in grim determination as she put everything she had into that last swing, the brief joy at landing the attack quickly overtaken by the pain that was seeping her life away.

She couldn't remember much of the trip to the fortress that day when they were ambushed- it came in snatches and blurs- but she remembered being roused from an unnatural slumber by her form shifting with the setting sun. From there, she was trapped in a nightmare, always seeking what was missing without knowing what it was or how to find it. For a brief moment, though, the nightmare was completely replaced by one of the best dreams she'd had in years, one filled with contentment and peace.

Then something was missing again. There was still peace and contentment... but a longing as well, as if something vital had quietly slipped away. It was that nagging feeling that eventually roused her, animal instincts immediately noticing that something familiar, something she'd come to anticipate and expect over the past few weeks was suddenly muted, gone.

It was Yang. Though the blonde's scent lingered- her sweat, her blood- she was gone.

Weiss woke shortly after, quickly seeking out the priest and nun to learn the fate of their companion. All either could say was that she marched out of the decaying chapel with a grim, fiery determination and took the road towards Forever Fall.

Horror shot through both of them as they sped after the blonde. They were quicker, lacking Yang's limp, which was a true blessing; they would never have caught up to her in the courtyard had they moved even a little slower than they did. Blake and Weiss fell upon the shaken and distracted ruffians with swift precision, but Yang soldiered on into the fortress.

In the end...

"Blake?" She blnked, turning her head to see Weiss exiting through the chapel's broken door. Without prompting, she reverted back to her normal body, certain her lover would expect a response of some sort. "You're brooding again."

"Can you blame me?" The paladin sighed, turning her attention back to the view. "I just feel so... helpless."

In her mind, she could still see Yang's face, that fiery determination glinting in lilac eyes as she poured everything she had into the last strike, the brief joy of landing it that immediately followed. Every time she tried to sleep, she heard Yang's words, whispered with the last of her strength.

They'd taken horses from Adam's stables and sped back to the village the moment the bastard was dead. They cared little for the cretins who followed him, despite Blake's urge to hunt each one down individually and repay them a hundred fold for their role in Adam's madness. If it weren't for them, Yang would be...

"Come, love." Weiss loosely wrapped her arms around the paladin's waist, the embrace soft and reassuring. When it broke, Blake followed the mage into the chapel, weaving through the ransacked interior along a familiar path to the room the priest and nun had set aside for them.

Both of them were present, a grim frown on Sister Glynda's face as she looked over Yang's prone form. Three days and she hadn't stirred, her breathing weak and erratic, pulse slow and thready- such a contrast to when they were travelling together but a mere week ago. Her skin was a sickly pale, lacking their usual healthy shine, her eyes closed and not sparkling like gems as they always did- how had it come to this?

Only Weiss' presence at her side gave her the strength to approach, Father Opzin moving aside to allow them to kneel down beside their companion.

"We'll give you some privacy," he said, motioning for Sister Glynda to follow him.

Once they were alone, the tears began to fall- not only down Blake's face but Weiss' too. Her lover was strong, able to bear their curse much better than she, but this pain was breaking even that impressive resistance.

"You deserved so much better than this, Yang," she said, reaching forward to lightly cup the blonde's cheek. Some urges had remained even after the curse was broken, prompting the paladin to lean forward and nuzzle into Yang's chest, wishing to hear her heart beating steady and strong.

Weiss draped herself over both of them, her weight slight enough that Blake could bear it without pressing down too hard on the blonde. "Give us a chance to give you that. Come back to us, Yang."

For a long while, they stayed like that, both women wishing they could do something more for the unconscious blonde. Blake hadn't cried this fervently, wish this badly to go back and change something, since the day they were cursed. How was it that one man could weave such horrid destruction through others' lives with such abandon? How was that fair?

For the hundredth time since that day, Blake considered never returning to Atlas. She couldn't resume her paladin service bereft of any faith in a higher power.

After all this suffering, hadn't they paid enough?

"Yang, please." She begged, sniffling as she drew back slightly, reaching out to hold the blonde's left hand. Weiss moved around to her right, rubbing her shoulder gently.

"Stay with us." The mage leaned down, brushing her lips against one colorless cheek. Blake did the same on the other side, squeezing the hand in hers tightly.

"Huh." Blake looked up, her crying coming to an instant halt as she saw the same confusion she felt in ice blue eyes. "The stories were right..." Their gazes snapped in tandem to the blonde's face, her eyes fluttering and voice weak. "True love's kiss... is the best wake-up call."

The weak, wheezing laugh that followed kickstarted a fresh bout of tears as Weiss surged forward, throwing her arms around Yang. Blake followed almost instantly, wrapping one arm around both women while keeping tight hold of the blonde's hand.

"Can't wake up like a normal person, no, you just have to make a joke about it." Weiss mumbled through her tears, lips pulling into a wide smile. "You loveable oaf."

Yang winked, groaning as she shifted. "Gah, how long... have I been out?"

"Three days," Blake replied, carefully running her hands through blonde locks. "You had us so worried."

"Sorry."

"We're just glad you're still with us." Weiss quickly added, rubbing her shoulder gently. "But there's still a long road ahead."

Wary, the blonde lifted her right arm, eyes widening as she traced her appendage. Where once had been flesh and bone, Yang now sported a forearm of pure ice, faintly glowing runes encircling the flesh about half an inch above where Adam had severed her arm. Alarm showed plainly in her face, which Weiss and Blake were quick to soothe.

"It can be temporary, Yang." The mage started, worry evident in her tone.

"She had to stop the bleeding; freezing it was the only way."

"I thought it might be easier if you could still use your arm."

"We're so sorry, Yang."

"We never meant for you to be hurt."

The blonde took a deep breath, flexing her ice hand a few times, listening to the tinkling of ice against ice, watching how the light played off the smooth surface. The two other women fell silent, waiting for what would come next. Finally, the blonde gave a weak shrug.

"Well... I guess it could be pretty handy." She pulled a face. "It gets really hot in the tavern during summer."

Weiss slapped a hand to her forehead while Blake chuckled. "You can really make jokes at a time like this?"

Yang smirked. "It's a bit easier than... the other stuff." Lilac eyes shifted away from both of them before closing, a deep sigh passing through her lips. "I meant what I said, before I passed out, but... that wasn't right of me. I shouldn't- umph!"

Blake was not about to listen to another word, leaning forward to crashing her lips to the blonde's. The moment she pulled away, she was replaced by Weiss, Yang's muffled confusion being ignored for the moment. Lilac eyes- wide in surprise- were almost comical after seeing them shut for so long.

"Yang Xiao Long." The mage pulled away, leveling a serious stare at the injured woman. "You might be the most stubborn, impulsive, brash, pun-loving oaf I have ever met, but I certainly wouldn't have you any other way." Her expression fell into the same one she always gave Blake during their quiet moments, slim fingers tracing the blonde's jaw. "I love you, Yang, just as dearly as I love Blake."

"And I love you just as much as I love Weiss," Blake said, giving the blonde a soft smile. "I have to admit, Yang, you worked your way into our hearts much quicker than either of us could've guessed. I don't think either of us were prepared for it."

"Must be part of my charm?" Yang gave them a small smile before coughing, her energy waning. "I feel so... tired."

"Then sleep." The paladin shifted, no longer finding the run down chapel unbearable. "Once you've rested, we'll go back home."

"Home?"

"To the Dragon's Den, of course," Weiss said, arranging her robes around her. "I think we'd both like to get your sister's blessing; it's an old tradition but one we've taken rather seriously in the past."

"Wait until you meet Winter." Blake chuckled. "I think you two would get along remarkably well."

"So... me- us... the three of us?"

"As far as we're concerned, you're an equal partner in our relationship, Yang." The mage offered.

Blake couldn't keep the sly smirk from her lips. "And our lover in name. You'll have to be fully recovered before we can make that part true, too."

The blonde blinked slowly before chuckling, her eyes falling shut again. "Talk about motivation."

Jaune sighed, weary down to his bones as he dismounted his horse and tied it off to the post. He'd traveled for months chasing this legend and, now that he was here, he wasn't sure if he hoped to find it true or merely a tall tale told to children. The first time he heard the story was four years ago in a local tavern, some drunkard raving and swearing by it.

It was an outlandish tale, for sure, but the situation was dire and he needed a hero of the caliber the drunk mentioned.

Mustering his courage, Jaune pushed his way into the tavern called the Dragon's Den and approached the bar, where a stunning woman with snow white hair was pouring ale for guests. Squaring his shoulders, he marched up to the barkeep and cleared his throat. The woman glanced his way before returning her gaze to the task at hand.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Yang Xiao Long."

That gained the woman's attention, those ice blue eyes boring into his soul. "And why, pray tell, are you looking for someone with that name?"

"You're not the first, you know." Another woman chimed in, carrying a tray loaded with food that made his mouth water, her amber eyes narrowing slightly at him. "So, if you're reason's not good, we won't tell you."

"She really exists?" He couldn't help but show his surprise, prompting both women to groan.

The white haired woman waved her hand. "Just... tell us which version of the story you know, first. Let's get that over with."

"Well, that she's a powerful warrior capable of ripping apart fortresses with her bare hands, that she killed a dark mage with no weapon of her own, that one of her arms is made of pure ice, and that she tamed a magical falcon and a magical panther that she keeps as pets."

"They are not my pets!" A new voice cut in as a blonde entered the tavern's main room. Jaune's mouth fell open slightly as he caught sight of her glimmering right arm, clearly looking like ice from where he stood. "Seriously, why does that part never seem to change?"

"For dust's sake, Yang, we've talked about this!" The white haired woman sigh, rubbing her temple with one hand.

"Let us handle these types." Her counterpart set a hand on her hip, still eyeing Jaune suspiciously.

"No, wait, please hear me out!" He took a single step forward before two blades- one cool steel and the other even colder ice- appeared at his throat, one held by each of the women working the tavern while the supposed, legendary Yang cocked her head to the side. "Please."

"Alright, skinny, let's hear it." She crossed her arms over her chest. "What brings you here looking for me?"

"My- my friend. She's been cursed by a powerful witch."

"Oh. This again." The white haired woman rolled her eyes.

Yang seemed at least a little indulgent. "Oh yeah? What's the witch's name?"

"Cinder Fall."

A hush fell over the tavern as even the drunkards dared not breathe. Unlike Adam, Cinder Fall was known all over Remnant for constantly sowing distrust and destruction wherever she went. Paladins of many orders had sought to destroy her; none had succeeded.

"And she took your... friend?" Yang raised a brow.

Jaune bit his lip, eyes darting away briefly before steeling his resolve. "Pyrrha... she was more than a friend but... I never told her-"

Suddenly, the blades were removed and all three women were in motion. He was so confused, he remained absolutely still, watching each of them.

"Rubes! Ruby!" Yang had ducked back into what he assumed to be the kitchen, hollering for someone.

The white haired woman, meanwhile, knelt down behind the bar and retrieved three backpacks, each with its own sigil stitched into the top flap- a white falcon, a blake cat, and a yellow dragon. The black haired woman set down the tray she'd carried and quickly disappeared somewhere.

"What... is happening?" He ventured, looking to any of the patrons for an indication.

One man, with stubble and grey hair, chuckled. "They're a bunch of fools; always running off to reunite separated lovers." He lifted his flask to his lips. "I'd say they have a bit of a complex but..." he shrugged and returned to drink just as Yang reentered the main room.

"Ready to go?"

"All set." The black haired woman reappeared, wearing worn leather armor and carrying blue mage's robes in one hand and a cestus in the other. The white haired woman jumped over the bartop, slipping into the mage's robes and slinging the white falcon pouch over her shoulders. The blonde took the cestus, fastening it over her left forearm and taking the yellow dragon pack. That left the black cat pack, which the armored woman took for herself.

"Great." Yang lightly punched his shoulder with her ice hand. "What's your name, anyway?"

"Jaune. Jaune Arc."

"Cool. I'm Yang, obviously, and this is Blake and Weiss." She nodded towards the door. "Let's get outside so they can do their thing."

Dumbly following the blonde, Jaune felt his jaw drop open even further as Blake and Weiss transformed in the blink of an eye, a panther and falcon taking their places, respectively.

"We're all set," the blonde said, a wide smile on her face. "Let's go save your girl, Jaune."

He'd set out to find Yang Xiao Long as a last ditch effort that he didn't exactly expect to pay off. For the first time in months, he smiled and nodded, hoping igniting in his chest.

Pyrrha had a chance. Help was on the way.

#Bee's Schnee #TRR writes

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