Once more, this is a dark take on Volume 7 from a Bumbleby standpoint. It has scenes of graphic violence. If there are any specific trigger warnings I will specify it.Â
HI THERE! This chapter is the longest one yet. I donât know if Iâll be able to upload on the weekend so I put an extra effort in this one. Thereâs a note at the end that I would appreciate you reading AFTER YOU FINISH THE CHAPTER :) THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT :D I really want to know your opinion on this one. ONWARDS!Â
Yang and Ruby sat on the hospitalâs cafeteria. They both had a soft drink in front of them as they tried to talk about anything but tragedy. Ironwood had sent an officer to get Blakeâs statement on her kidnaping and protocol stated no one could be in the room with her. Yang made it clear she had no intention of leaving her girlfriend alone with a stranger. Blake, however, told her it was fine and that she would be okay. The officer seemed like a kind woman but the blonde was still feeling uneasy about the whole thing. In the end she obliged and called her sister. Maybe Ruby could help her relax.
âSo Weiss told Ironwood that if he didnât do something about her dad he would regret itâ the younger one said with a grin. âWe have very good hints about the relic and it seems Ozpin is coming back slowly. Heâs been giving Oscar some advice. We still donât know if we can fully trust him but we need himâ
âThat is good to hearâ Yang replied. âNot about Ozpin thoughâ she laughed a bit. She was going to have a hard time making peace with the fact her former principal had lied to them but she knew Ruby was right. They needed him. It was hard to think about their mission when her priorities had changed so much. First Blake. Then the rest of the world.
âBy the way, sis⌠What happened to your hand?â Ruby asked. She had noticed the day before but preferred not to ask. Things were already complicated enough. Â
âYou want the truth or what I told Blake?â Yang snickered.
âThe truthâ she replied with a serious face.
âI punched a wall until I broke two fingersâ
âWHAT?â Ruby exclaimed âWhy?â
âI was angry becauseâŚâ she stopped. Was she really going to tell Ruby that her friend was probably sexual assaulted? âI spoke to Doctor Yu about Blakeâs analysis and what they did to herâ
âI understand but hurting yourself is not going to do any goodâ
âI knowâ she replied âI just needed to fight somethingâ. What she really needed was to kill a couple of Traders. Maybe that would give her peace of mind.
âHave you called Blakeâs parents yet?â Ruby asked. She recalled her sister telling her about the conversation she had with them and how they asked to be notified if anything happened. Now their daughter was awake and they deserved to know.
âNot yetâ Yang replied. âI want to ask Blake first if she wants to talk to themâŚâ she spoke without thinking and then reality hit her. She lowered her gaze. âIf she wants to call them I mean⌠She canât really talk to them right?â
âYou are learning sign languageâ the team leader stated to break the tension. The blonde looked up.
âYeah, how do you know?â she asked, perplexed at the fact her little sister knew her plan.
âI saw your book the other dayâ Ruby revealed with a small grin. Yang blushed. Â
âI know sheâll get her voice back eventually. I mean, if they could make thisâ she said, moving her mechanical arm. âI donât think repairing her vocal chords is impossible but⌠It will take time. I just want to make things more comfortable for her. So if we both learn some sign language it will be⌠easier for her, you know?â
âYou really love her, donât you?â Ruby inquired with a smile. She had always known. Back when they met Blake she didnât miss the way her sister looked at the faunus. Why had she picked her in particular to try and socialize? There were lots of other students but she had chosen the quiet girl reading a book. Then, as time passed, she had seen the bond between them grow and get stronger. When Blake left she knew Yangâs heart was broken and it made her so happy when team RWBY was finally reunited. After everything with Adam she thought both women would finally be able to investigate their feelings and live their love. They couldnât of course. Blake was taken and life wasnât fair.
Yang looked at her sister with wide open eyes. She didnât expect her to make such a direct question, even if they both knew the answer. Yes, of course she loved her. Blake meant the world to her. She had dated before, nothing serious, and now she understood why she could never feel complete with anyone else. Blake was her destiny. She had never believed in soulmates but she had no doubt there was no one else on Remnant she could love like she loved Blake. Â
âI doâ she replied finally and her sister smiled as she held her hands over the table.
âYou make such a cute coupleâ Ruby said with a grin, her face turning serious as she continued speaking. âI hate that youâve had to go through this. Itâs horrible and I wished there was more we could do to helpâ.
âYouâve done more than enough, sisâ Yang replied as she placed a hand on her sisterâs shoulder. She was so glad to have Ruby.Â
âBlake! My baby, how are you feeling?â Kali asked. They had video called them using the scroll tablet so the faunus could communicate with her parents. Yang was at the window, her back against the wall. She couldnât bring herself to look at Kali and Ghira. She felt so guilty about what had happened.
âAre they treating you well in the hospital?â Blake nodded at  her fatherâs question.
âIâm so sorry all of this happened to you. You know you can come back home to get better, right?â Kali suggested. Blake moved her head sideways and wrote using the tablet.
âI still have things to do. Iâm a huntressâ
âI know, sweetie but you are hurt. You need to take time and healâ. Yang tried to imagine a scenario where Blake left for Menagerie. Sheâd go with her. Fuck the mission. Fuck Salem. But Blake moved her head sideways once more.
âI can heal here. You take care of the White Fangâ she wrote.
âOkay, Blake, whatever you think is bestâ Ghira replied. âBut we will go to Atlas as soon as their borders are open. We spoke to Ironwood and he said heâd try to make an exception for us but it wonât be easy. Damn politicsâ
The conversation went on for a while, Blakeâs parents telling her about the advances they had with the White Fang, cleaning up their image after everything Adam had done. Yang was silent, looking at her girlfriendâs reactions. She looked happy to be talking with her parents and it made her feel so much joy. When she had rescued Blake she had wondered if she would ever be the same. Now she had faith there was a way out.
âSo, before we end the call, sweetie, could I speak to Yang?â Kali asked. The mention of her name got her by surprise. Blake looked at her and called her with a hand gesture. She walked slowly towards the bed until she was within the cameraâs range.
âHelloâ she said timidly. Her heart was beating fast.
âHello, Yangâ Kali said with a smile. Was she not angry at her? âI wanted to apologize. When you called  us we were really frightened about what had happened andâŚâ
âWe feel we were too severe with youâ Ghira continued. Was this really happening? âWeâre sorry and please, take care of our girlâ
âI will. Alwaysâ she replied. Blakeâs parents looked at each other with a knowing look.
âThat is good to hear. Take care both of youâ Kali said.
âYou tooâ Blake wrote on the scroll tablet.
Once the call was over Yang sat down on her chair. She hadnât expected them to be so nice to her. Had they really said they were sorry? A part of her wanted them to be angry. Everything had been her fault and it didnât matter how many times or how many people told her otherwise, she knew. She felt it. Still, she couldnât help but feel glad this had happened. Maybe there was a way to have a good relationship with them. She knew it would make Blake happy if they did. She turned to look at her girlfriend and saw her holding the book on sign language.
âWant to practice?â Yang asked and the faunus nodded.
After a couple of hours of study they were both pretty tired. Blake was a quick learner. Yang not so much but she put a lot of effort to be in the same level as the faunus. They were advancing a very good pace and it made the blonde very happy. They would be able to communicate without the scroll tablet eventually.
âI think itâs enough for todayâ Yang said, leaving the book on the table. âMy brain canât handle any more signsâ
Blake stared at her and placed a hand near her face with her fingers bent inwards. Then she moved it forwards as she brought the tips of her fingers together. It took Yang a while to understand.
âOutsideâ she said. âYou want to go outside?â Blake nodded.
âIâll have to ask Doctor Yu firstâ the blonde replied and the faunus lowered her ears. âIâm pretty sure heâll say yesâ
Yang pushed her girlfriend out of the room on a wheelchair. Doctor Yu had said there was no problem with going out for a bit but he made it clear the faunus should do the least amount of exercise. Her body was still very weak. However, even if she couldnât walk it was nice to leave the room. Blake was growing tired of being in bed. They were going to the hospitalâs garden. It was really close but at least it was outside. It was a beautiful sunny day even thought it was cold.
As they made their way through the hallways, Blake realized there were many other faunus in the hospital. More than likely rescued from the mines just like her. She recognized some of them and it made her happy their nightmare was over too. She was looking around when time itself stopped for a second. She saw her. Her eyes went wide. Was this possible? Brown hair. Light blue eyes. Small bear ears on the top of her head. She turned around and asked Yang to stop in sign language.
âWhat is it?â the blonde replied. Blake took out her scroll tablet and wrote a single word.
âAgape?â Yang called, not fully understanding what was going on. Blake nodded and pointed towards a girl on wheelchair. âAgape!â the blonde called. The bear faunus raised her head and looked at them. A man and a woman, probably her parents, turned around as well.
âBlake!â Agape said, moving closer to them on her chair, her parents right behind her. Yang looked at her girlfriend only to realize she was crying. Who was this girl? When both faunus were close enough they hugged tightly, even if they were both in wheelchairs and it was uncomfortable it didnât matter. They couldnât believe the other one was alive.
âWe made itâ Agape said as they broke the hug. They looked at each other with disbelief. âI was barely alive when they found me but the doctors in the airship brought me backâ she smiled shyly. Then, as if she had just noticed her presence, the bear faunus looked at Yang.
âAnd you must be girlfriend, Yang, huntress.â the girl added smiling, recalling the words her friend wrote in the ground when they were both in hell.
âYeahâ she replied blushing. Apparently Blake had told this girl about her and had actually called her girlfriend.
âWe are so thankful to youâ Agapeâs mother said looking at Blake. âShe told us how you both took care of each other in that horrible place. Thank you, Blakeâ. The alluded one nodded and then turned around to say something to her girlfriend in sign language.
âShe says you are welcome and⌠Iâm sorry, baby what was that last one?â Blake held her scroll tablet and wrote something and turned it towards Yang. âOh! She says you should be proud of herâ Blake nodded.
âIâm just glad this nightmare is overâ Agapeâs dad said, placing a hand on his daughterâs shoulder. âIt was nice to meet you both. We have an appointment with the neurologist so we gotta hurryâ.
âIâm tired of doctorsâ Agape added. âBut I want to go back to normal. They donât know if I will walk again but⌠Iâm alive right?â she smiled, her light blue eyes bright with tears she wouldnât allow to fall. They said their farewells and went their separate ways. As they got closer to the garden Yang couldnât stop thinking about the last thing Agape said. Back to normal. She looked at the scar in Blakeâs throat, still pretty evident. Was that even a possibility? The faunus turned around to face her. She placed her hands over her chest, both palms facing her body, and moved them in a circular motion.
âYouâre happy?â Blake nodded, smiling. She thought her friend was dead. She even said it to the officer that took her statement that morning. She hadnât asked about her before because she was afraid of what they would say. At least until she knew the truth she could pretend Agape was alive. Now she knew. She was here. They had both made it somehow.
âIâm so glad to hear that, babyâ the blonde replied. Things would never go back to what they were but maybe they could find their new normal and learn to be okay with it. Maybe one day even be happy.
DONT READ THIS IF YOU ARENâT DONE WITH THE CHAPTERÂ
Note: I know this might come as a surprise since I placed a trigger warning when Agape âdiedâ. This was always my plan, to have her come back. HOWEVER, I take trigger warnings very seriously (I have friends that have gone through traumatic things and Iâve seem the react to some things due to that) so I had to put it. I knew the scene would read as a death either way so I wanted to be sure. Iâm sorry if the warning made it seem like this wouldnât happen. Maybe I could have presented it in another way that didnât seem like Iâm contradicting myself but didnât find it back then. So yeah, sheâs here :)Â
