Voices - Chapter 4: From Shadows

Blake crouched in the shadows of the night, back in her natural element with Gambol Shroud firmly clasped in her hand. Her amber eyes narrowed as she scanned the docks, watching the subtle movements of the supposed dock workers that lingered around the large storage building at the edge of the water.

Definitely White Fang sentries. Some have their features concealed so as to appear human.

*You know Rubes is gonna be pissed, right?*

Rolling her eyes irritably, Blake let out an unamused huff. Can we concentrate here?

*I'm just saying. Yeah, you followed the letter of our promise and got back before nightfall, but sneaking out afterwards is gonna get her pissed.*

She bit back her retort, knowing that Yang had the right of it. Yes, alright? And she'll have every right to be. But I can do this… We can do this. Just a reconnaissance raid.

*There's still six grunts to take down. Unless your ninja skills can get us past them?*

Blake chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. No.

*So, a frontal assault, then.*

That would be our best bet, yes.

*As opposed to a stealthy reconnaissance raid.*

You can be a real pain in the ass, you know that?

*Story of my life, kitten. Ain't gonna stop just 'cause I'm dead.*

She let out a humorous snort. You seem to be taking to this better than I expected.

*Oh, don't get me wrong, it still freaks the fuck outta me, and I still ain't used to just watching everything like it was a vid. Keep trying to move my limbs when you walk, and that's unbelievably irritating.*

Well… you're covering it up admirably.

*Yup, that's me, master at faking it.*

With a shake of her head, Blake slipped from shadow to shadow as she made her way closer towards the outermost pair of sentries. She waited a few heartbeats for their attention to be elsewhere before she leapt forward, her sheath smashing into one grunt's face and her boot lashing out at the other's. Both of them fell to the ground limply, like puppets with their strings cut.

It didn't take long for the others to react.

*Playtime, kitten.*

Blake gave a feral little growl as she surged forward, lashing out with her weapon on the end of its ribbon tether to hit one of the White Fang soldiers in the chest, sending him sprawling. The other three quickly closed to within striking distance, and she was kept busy flipping about to avoid their hits, leaving behind a few shadow clones.

As each of her semblance-activated illusions were hit, however, she felt an odd tingling throughout her body that caused her to stumble slightly in surprise.

What was that?

*You're asking me?*

Well, I don't know what it was!

*Worry about it later, get your head back in the game!*

She shook her head resolutely as she faced off against the remaining sentries. With several well-placed hits, two of them went down quickly, though the third managed to get a lucky hit in, making her feel that odd tingling sensation again.

Seriously, what in Oum's name is that?

*Wait a sec… okay, here's an idea. Last guy, just punch 'im.*

...Punch him?

*Yup. Really hard, right in the chest.*

The remaining sentry hurled himself at Blake with a howl, clumsily leaving himself wide open. Without further thought, she sheathed Gambol Shroud on her back and met the charge with an open-handed strike on his sternum.

She sent the man flying back, across the dock and out over the water, sailing across several more yards before splashing down.

Blake stood there, staring out into the darkness and in complete shock.

*Well, I'll be a son of a Grimm. How about that.*

Okay, start talking Yang. What. Was. That?

*That, kitten… was my semblance. Walk over to the water and check your reflection.*

She obeyed, bending over the other edge of the dock and peering into the now-placid surface.

And watched in amazement as her raven hair flickered behind her, the black flames causing her hair to drift about on ethereal currents.

Yang…

*Yep. Opens up all sorts of possibilities, doesn't it? Guess with my aura and, well, me, comes the rest of the package as well.*

A slow smile began to creep across her face, one that was more predatory than gleeful.

Let's go see what we can find out about Adam's location, shall we?

*Oh, yeah. Let's.*

o o o

Blake returned to her room just before the sun came up. She cautiously opened the door, prepared to sneak across to the bathroom in order to change into her pajamas.

Or at least, she would have were Ruby and Weiss not sitting up on the Heiress' bed, waiting for her.

Uh-oh.

*Yup. Toldya so.*

Oh, shut it.

"Look, Ruby, I can explain," she began weakly, closing the door behind her.

"I don't think there's anything that needs explanation," Weiss interjected coldly. "You snuck out. And from the look of things, got into a fight."

Blake winced at the fury radiating off of both of the smaller women and glanced down at the floor in shame.

"I… Yes. I did. I'm… sorry."

"Sorry for doing it, or sorry for getting caught?"

Ruby's quiet question made Blake jerk her head back up again. It wasn't the question itself so much as the tone, so filled with… hurt.

"I'm sorry… that this upset the both of you." Blake walked over to her bed and sat on the edge, facing the other pair. She absently noted that they were holding hands unobtrusively behind them.

What, no comment on that?

*Oh, no, I'm just sitting back and enjoying the show first. Then I'll get pissed off at Princess.*

So glad your priorities are in order.

*You bet. Hey, did I mention that I toldya so?*

Yes, Yang. Yes you did.

"I don't really have an excuse," the raven-haired girl began glumly, fully prepared to face the consequences for her outing. "But I had to do this, I had to find out Adam's location. And I have it now."

"And what will you do with it?" Weiss asked probingly.

Blake sighed, and did the worst possible thing she could think of.

She lied.

"I don't know yet," she said quietly, not looking up from the floor.

*You don't really expect them to believe that steaming pile of Grimmshit, do you?*

How very… poetic of you. And I'm hoping, yes.

Yang's derisive snort echoed in her head, but the two girls seated across from her made no other noise. She looked up briefly, into pools of silver and ice-blue… and saw disappointment.

"Get some sleep," Ruby said quietly as she stood up. Her hand lingered on Weiss' shoulder before she climbed up onto her top bunk.

Blake nodded numbly as she rose once more and changed into her pajamas.

*Hey, kitten?*

Yes, Yang?

*Toldya so.*

You are such an ass.

*But totally right.*

She couldn't really come up with a proper respite to that.

o o o

Blake sat at her customary position on her bed after dinner, ostentatiously reading her textbook but in actuality planning that night's activities in her head with her partner. She was taking a break from that now, though, and reflected on the past twenty-four hours.

She'd been out and about campus for an entire day as herself, her Faunus traits on display for everyone to see. Remarkably enough, most of the reactions were simply… neutral. Some shrugs, a few double-takes, even a few more smiles of encouragement, particularly from the other Faunus students.

Of the harassment and derision and hatred… amazingly enough, none of it surfaced. There were a few glares sent her way, but that was it.

Something so profound, so… game-changing for me, should have had more of an impact.

*Are you complaining?*

No, not at all, just… incredulous, perhaps.

She glanced up, then, to see Ruby bending over to retrieve something out of the bottom drawer of her dresser, and quickly glanced away again, blushing slightly.

*Wait, what was that?*

What was what?

*Did you just check out my little sister?*

No, of course not.

*I saw you! I saw you looking, you were totally checking her out!*

You're delusional.

*I can't be delusional in your head, Blakey! Admit it, you were checking out my sister's ass!*

I will admit to no such thing. I merely happened to be… glancing that way. I cannot help seeing what I saw.

*That doesn't make me feel any better about it!*

Wasn't meant to. Besides, Weiss was the one actively checking her out.

*WHAT?!*

Blake held the book further up to her face as she quietly giggled, Yang's furious growling filling her head.

*This ain't funny, kitten!*

Oh, I have to disagree with you on that point. There is boundless humor in this situation.

It was then that she noticed what Ruby, and evidently Weiss earlier, had been retrieving from their dressers.

Their combat outfits.

Oh, dust… I think we've been found out.

*Yep. Definitely busted.*

Blake sighed and closed her textbook, placing it on her lap so that she might meet the resolute stares of her teammates.

"Look-"

"No, Blake," the brunette team leader firmly interrupted. "Your turn to listen. You and Yang both."

"That sounds so odd," Weiss murmured.

Ruby gave her a bump with her shoulder from where she sat next to her. "We know what you're planning. And you're not going alone. We're a team still."

"But, Ruby, you don't know who he is, what he's capable of-"

"Don't I?" The shorter girl jumped to her feet, standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed and a swirling cloud of emotions shining in her silver eyes. "This guy took Yang from me. Tried to kill you. So, yeah, I know exactly what he's capable of, and we're not letting you take him on alone. I'm not gonna lose you too, Blake."

Ruby's eyes softened then, though her face still remained hard and unmoving. "And I can't lose Yang again," she ended in a whisper. "You have to take us, it's what Yang would have wanted, I know it. You ask her, I know she'll agree."

*Oh, dammitall. Blakey…*

Yes, I concur.

"Alright, then, Rubes," the raven-haired girl replied softly. "If you're going, then we need to plan… and you two need your weapons."

Weiss stood as well, hesitantly wrapping an arm around Ruby's waist. "You won't regret this, either of you."

Gods, I hope not.

A/N: Yang is going to be kept in fits about White Rose. Also, I wonder if anyone thought about the possibility of Blake gaining Yang's semblance as well? There was at least one astute reviewer who picked up on the possibility (props to Jessica). It's gonna work a little differently, though, especially as her clones taking hits also build up the energy, since they're an extension of Blake's own semblance.

Next chapter is the last. Time for a showdown!

growlscout: Yep, Ruby's definitely had to change here, but yeah she doesn't hold Blake responsible. As is evidenced in this chapter, however, she isn't willing to put up with her crap, either. Blake's definitely going to have to keep a better lock on the Adult section of her internal library. And, god, poor Topher, especially when Summer Glau's character… ugh, the feels… Dollhouse was such an amazing show…

Wolfenheart: Thanks! I've actually made a conscious decision not to reflect how things are being affected outside of just the team itself, like with JNPR or Tai or Qrow or the like. But yeah, you can imagine poor Tai's reaction reaching all new heights of angst…

FelipeCH98: And thank you as well! It started out pretty Yangsty, but it's picking up a bit. Couldn't really make it as fluff-filled as my usual offerings, especially with the premise, but hopefully I can end it on a positive enough note next chapter!

Stay shiny!