Chapter Six: Pass me the Torch

A few hours had passed after Roman left to put up the notice that the Golden Dragon Gym was closed for the day. Ruby and Velvet were washing the dishes leftover from making a large pan of baked alaska. "We can leave it cooling in the fridge for now. We'll take it out when the others are ready for it and then we get to the fun part." Ruby said placing the last dish in the cabinet, the ghost of a smile on her face.

"Let me guess, the eating?" Velvet asked, glancing at her friend with an arched eyebrow.

"Well yes, but there is one more step. Lighting it on fire." The silver eyed baker said, pulling out a small culinary torch from a drawer.

"...What?" The brown-eyed woman asked confusedly.

"Yup, how else did you think we give it that singed look? You don't get that from an oven." Silent Flower's proprietor said giving her brown-eyed friend a small smile.

The immigrant returned the smile with one of her own, "You have a point, then again you're the baker, not me."

"Yes I am. Hhmm, what do you say to a little brunch? I've got quite a few pastries all ready to be eaten." Ruby suggested jerking her thumb toward the fridge that held the breakfast sweets.

Velvet nodded as she followed the shorter woman to the fridge, "Sure, that sounds like a good idea. Do you want me to bring some up to Yang and Neo too?"

"That wouldn't be a bad idea. At the very least Neo should eat something, even if Yang isn't awake yet." The baker said as she pulled out a large assortment of pastries she had made a few days prior, her smile giving in to a frown at the thought of her sister.

"Hey now, no frowning Ruby. You know she'll be fine as long as we're here." The taller woman said poking the baker lightly on the nose.

Ruby shook her head slightly, trying to keep her frown from returning as she replied. "I know, I know, it just sucks so damn much. Worst part is though is that Neo and Roman were the ones who found her. So you can guess how hard that hit them."

The former Aussie blinked in surprise, "Damn...you didn't mention that. But it does explain why Neo is pretty much willing to handcuff herself to your bed until Yang is awake."

The baker sighed as she pulled out a plate and started setting a few of the pastries on it. "Partly explains it at least. Those two are a matched set, always have been and always will be. Even if they don't have the courage to open up to each other just yet."

That was something I should have picked up on easily. If I'm that blind then how have I been using my camera? Velvet thought before replying, wondering how she hadn't picked up on the cues. "Hhmm, So that's why they acted the way they did when you teased them."

"Yeah, I think it all started sometime around my sophomore year in high school. Neither of them had a date to their senior dance so they went with each other," The silver eyed woman said, thinking back to her days in high school. "Things were different after that they were more awkward around each other, teasing them became easier that sort of thing. After a while, I put the pieces together and figured out they had, at the very least, a crush on each other."

"And now?" The photographer prompted as she noticed Ruby was starting to get her mind off of how frustrated she had been feeling.

"I wouldn't say full blown infatuation or love struck that just seems too sudden. But they are definitely in love one way or another, even if they are scared." Ruby replied with a small shrug.

"Scared because of their own personal disabilities, you mean."

"Yeah, I want to give them that last shove to push them over the edge but if Neo is afraid to commit because she's mute and unable to communicate fully sometimes and Yang feels…well, broken half the time, then maybe letting them figure things out is better." The baker answered as she slid the loaded plate toward Velvet and pulled out a large pitcher.

"That would be a safer decision. Besides if they help each other get over their hurdles then they'll have no reason to not follow their hearts." The brown-eyed woman said, picking up the plate.

"Probably have a point. Why don't you go and take that up to them, I'm going to get started on a pitcher of lemonade. And then see about getting a pan of brownies started." The red and black haired woman said as she pulled a bag of lemons from the fridge. As Velvet left the kitchen and walked up the stairs Ruby heard the door chime signaling a customer. "Welcome to the Silent Flower bakery, what can I get you today?"

Velvet crept up the stairs, not wanting to disturb Neo or Yang too much of she could help it. As she cracked open the door slightly to Ruby's bedroom the tall brunette could see the pair was more or less in the same position she had seen them earlier.

Yang's head cradled in the small pink and brown dressed caterer's lap, Neo's hand was stroking the blonde woman's unruly mane, her other arm wrapped around the tall blonde hugging her to her slighter frame. Her pink and brown dyed hair hid her eyes a little as her head was bowed slightly, her gaze focused solely on Yang.

If it wasn't for her stroking Yang's hair I'd have thought they were both asleep. Velvet thought as she slowly opened the door the rest of the way. As the brunette stepped into the room Neo paused her stroking of Yang's hair and, without looking at her, patted an end table indicating where the martial artist could place the plate. "Ruby is going to be making some lemonade. Do you want me to bring you up a glass when it's ready?"

Neo turned her head slightly to look over at Velvet as she went back to running her fingers through Yang's hair giving her a faint smile and a nod.

"Alright, be back up in a minute or so." Velvet said softly not wanting to disturb Yang. As the twenty-four-year-old stepped back out of the room and closed the door she thought, She didn't want to take her eyes off of Yang. Neo is dedicated to her alright.

As the brunette walked back into the bakery she noticed Ruby signing quickly to a child before handing her parents the order, "I hope you all enjoy it. Come again!" The baker said aloud while signing for the benefit of their daughter.

"How often do you get customers that require you to use sign language?" Velvet asked, curious as she walked behind the counter and into the kitchen.

The silver eyed woman thought a moment, as she turned to the pitcher of lemonade and started to mix it, "I'd say we get someone in here like that, oh, three or four times a week." The Australian blinked, surprised at how nonchalantly Ruby said it, "We actually have a pretty long list of regulars with hearing or speech problems that we need to talk to with sign language."

"When we have the time, would you mind teaching me? It'd give me a reason to help out a little more."

As she took out a few glasses and poured the lemonade, Ruby smirked a little, "Sure but I have to warn you, I charge for lessons."

"And how much would that be?" The brown-eyed woman asked, returning the impish smile with one of her own.

"First taste at your attempt of making red velvet cookies." The baker said, a small glint in her eyes at the mention of the sweets.

"Too easy. But I may wait to bake them till after the gala. I don't want to crowd your kitchen too much." Velvet replied, before taking a sip from the glass of lemonade and taking one of the pastries.

"How are they doing?" The twenty-one-year-old asked the glint leaving her eyes.

"I think Yang was actually asleep, I couldn't see her face but her breathing was even." The brunette answered, swishing the liquid in her glass a little as she thought about the pink and gold dressed pair on the second floor. "If it weren't for the fact Neo was stroking her hair I would've thought they were both asleep. She didn't even look at me at first when I walked in. She just patted one of the end table showing me where to put the plate."

"Sounds like Neo alright." Ruby said as she pulled out a baking pan as she thought, No more dark thoughts, Ruby. Neo is with her, Yang will be just fine and just like Velvet said, when she wakes up you'll be there for her just like you always are. With a deep sigh, the baker asked, "Would you mind taking the glass up to Neo? I'm going to get started on that pan of brownies. "

"Already told her I would. And Ruby?" Velvet asked as she taking the glass of lemonade from her.

"Hmm?"

"Remember what I said, keep your chin up." The amateur photographer reminded, giving the baker a small smile.

The silver eyed woman started to pull out the ingredients she would need for the brownies. "I know, Velvet. Thanks, for talking to me about, you know."

"Anytime, Ruby."

A few hours passed after Velvet had brought Neo the pastries and the lemonade. The heterochromatic eyed woman was still stroking Yang's hair when she felt the taller woman nuzzle deeper into her lap as she regained consciousness, trying to keep the light out of her eyes and muttering as she did so, "I had another one didn't I?"

Neo didn't cease stroking the blonde mane as she lifted Yang's head with her free hand so she could look her in the eyes. "Yeah, you did Firecracker." The gym owner's eyes were still dull, a cloud of frustration at herself filling them. The caterer continued signing slowly, doing her best to convey what she could with one hand before her friend could begin speaking again. "I know what you're thinking. Please, Yang, do not start apologizing to me or the others. All I want from you is to tell me how we can keep helping you."

The lilac eyed gym owner brushed Neo's hands aside as she sat up and turned her back to her, looking out the window at the Vale skyline, not wanted the smaller woman to see the tears born of frustration that were forming, "That's just it Shortcake, you guys already do enough. But I'm just so, angry at myself, every time this happens… I can't help but feel like a bur-."

"Stop." The caterer signed emphatically, cutting off the blonde woman as she spun her back around to look at her. "Yang, you could never be a burden, not to the others and especially not to me. I, we, are here for you and always will be, because we want to be. Not because we feel obligated, but because we all care about you."

"A-Are you really sure about that?" She stuttered as she hung her head, her voice cracking as she started to sob.

The diminutive woman gently lifted the blonde's head back up as she started to sign again. "Of course I'm sure, Firecracker. And there isn't anyone or anything that could make me think otherwise." She didn't sign anything more. What else could she tell Yang that she hadn't already? I could tell her that I… No not now, saying that now wouldn't be the right thing. I need to wait till her thoughts are lighter and I see that smile on her beautiful face again.

With her mind finally made up Neo pulled Yang into as strong a hug as her small frame could manage. The blonde haired woman clung to her as a person would cling to a piece of flotsam in a storm, and let her tears flow.

After a few minutes, the fitness instructor finally broke the embrace, "I-I'm good now, Shortcake." Yang stammered as she tried to get herself back under control. Looking out the window again she realized it was late in the afternoon and the sun was starting for the horizon. "I-If you don't mind I think I need a shower. Unless you and the others took the time to change me." She joked, doing her best to smile again.

The heterochromatic eyed woman returned the smile with a ghost of her own as she signed. "No, we didn't go that far. Do you want me to wait up here for you, or are you going to be alright?"

"Go on, I'll be fine. Besides, I'm not the only one that needs you, Ruby is probably in need of her co-worker." The blonde said, motioning to the bedroom door. Yang walked quickly to the bathroom that connected Ruby and Velvet's bedrooms and turned on the shower. Is she right though, am I really not a burden?" The thought washed over her, stifling all others as she waited for the water to warm.

As she walked down the stairs Neo could hear voices coming from the sitting area of the bakery. It was almost time to begin closing down for the day as they stopped taking orders after five O'clock.

Most days traffic into the bakery was slow enough that the owners of Silent Flower would be locking the store up around seven in the evening. "You should have seen it, there was Neo barely four feet tall and she has this six foot something or other fifth-degree black-belt pinned to the mat and-." Ruby paused her story as the caterer walked into the room.

The heterochromatic eyed woman smiled slightly as she looked at the occupants of the room. Ruby, Roman, and a raven-haired woman wearing a simple red blouse and a red pleated skirt were regaling Velvet with a story of Neo's earlier years from studying martial arts. "Hey there Neo, how is Yang doing?" The raven-haired woman asked, voicing the thoughts on everyone's minds.

"Hey Mom," Neo signed giving her mother a small smile, "She's taking a shower right now. Should be down in a few minutes, she's… I…" The caterer's hands fell to her sides, unable to sign what Yang had told her because she didn't know how to convey the emotion properly.

"Let me guess, sweetie, Yang feels like she's a burden to us?" Roman asked, understanding why his daughter was hesitant to sign the words.

"Do you want me to try and talk with her?" The red dressed glass maker asked concernedly.

"I think you should wait, Cinder." Velvet said looking at each of them in turn, as she pulled out her phone and started looking through the contacts, "When she comes down we'll talk with her together, a one on one sit down could give her the wrong ideas and that's the last thing we want."

Ruby stood up from the booth they had been sitting in with a sigh, "Well right now I'm gonna go get my torch and pull a little something-something from the fridge. Knowing my sister she'll spend another half hour washing her hair."

As the baker walked out of sight and into the kitchen Neo signed questioningly as her father translated for her, "What did I miss?"

"You'll just have to wait till Yang comes down, Neo. She wants it to be a bit of a surprise." The Australian said, giving the smaller woman a smile. "Now, I have a quick call to make and then I want to hear the rest of this story."

Yang turned off the water and started drying herself off, the question still echoing loudly in her thoughts. As she reached for a hairbrush she closed her eyes, took a few slow, deep breaths. Stop. It. You are not a burden, why the Hell would you even doubt what Neo told you?! Is it because of what you feel for her and you don't think you're good enough, or is it because you don't want to have to rely on others?

"Both." She replied to the echoing thoughts that grasped her, pulling her away from the doubt.

If that's the case you know what you have to do. You go down those stairs and you accept the help your friends, your family, want to give you. And then, when you are ready you tell Neo the truth. It doesn't have to be now, it doesn't have to be in a week, but it needs to happen. The blonde's thoughts echoed as they dragged her out of the dark mire of her depression.

"But is it really that easy?" The blonde whispered, running the brush through her unruly locks.

Her more grounded thoughts continued to pull her away from the dark, towards lighter thoughts. It is. You know that, you just have to accept the help and do what needs doing afterward. Mercury was worse off than you and he is better because you, Neo, and all the rest helped, and continue to help him, and you've been like this longer than him.

"Ok, you've made your point." Yang muttered, setting the brush down and reaching for her clothes. After taking a few moments to compose herself and get dressed, the lilac eyed gym owner slowly started making her way down the stairs to the main floor of the bakery.

"Evening Blondie, how are you feeling?" Roman asked when he saw the tall blonde walk into the sitting area.

"Hey there, Roman, Cinder." The lilac eyed amputee said, giving Neo's parents a faint smile, "Not gonna sugar coat it, I feel like shit."

"Well that may be the case, but you know we're here if you need us right?" Cinder assured, sliding a chair in Yang's direction.

Ruby passed Yang her phone, before making her way to the back of the bakery counter, "If you need some proof, sis, I've got something to show you."

"W-what?" Yang stuttered as she scrolled through the various messages. Each one was from one of their friends wishing her well. Including a very emphatically worded message from Coco saying she'd be dragging her out shopping in two days just to see what outfits she could try on to make her laugh. "I… um, shouldn't you have been baking or something instead of calling everyone?"

"She didn't need to call anyone. I did, well, I called Summer, and then she made the rounds since I don't have everyone's numbers yet." Velvet informed her with a small smile. "Like Cinder told you, we are all here for you. No matter what."

"Damn right, Velvet!" Ruby called out from the serving counter, startling the other occupants in the room as she set a large pan down with a loud clang. "And for the record, I have been baking. And," The silver eyed baker lit her culinary torch for effect, "The last time I checked you always love lighting baked alaska on fire. Now get over here and do it or I will."

After seeing over a dozen messages from her friends saying they'd be taking her out somewhere in a few days, or that they'd be coming by later in the week, each one offering their support in their own way. Yang couldn't help but feel that the depressive mire that filled her thoughts was just a little bit shallower. She smiled a little, "Alright, Rubes, pass me the torch."

AN: Even I am not cruel enough to drag out fully depressed Yang for multiple chapters. She will still be a bit...out of sorts for at least another chapter or two. But for those of you wondering whats up next? If you guessed clothes shopping for the gala, you guessed correctly. Figure I'll give it another two or three chapter till the gala happens, but it's gonna be fun to write up to. That is about all except for one thing...

I have an announcement for you all! My collab with BurningPeace is now live, the story is called Productive Lives and you can find it on his profile!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter of Desserts! My next personal RWBY related update will be Schnee's Troublesome Troubadours! Enjoy the journey, keep moving forward and don't feed the guard dogs! - Phoenix Commander signing off!