Darkest Nights: a RWBY Story

Chapter 23: A Night To Remember

The small raft floated in the water. Jason pushed it out with his foot, then brought it back in with the short rope he had tied to it. That day had certainly not gone as planned. It was their seventh day on the island and Jason and Blake had spent the past few days on the construction of the small boat to try and get away from the place.
However, after rowing an hour in any direction, they would always end up at the island. It didn't help that they had encountered a massive sea serpent.
Blake lay next to him, her hair still wet from having fallen in the water when trying to tie the boat up earlier. Jason let out a sigh.
"Well,"
He said, turning to look at her,
"We tried."
She nodded, adjusting her short-cut hair so it would dry quicker in the late afternoon sun.
They hadn't had as many grimm problems in the past few days as when they first arrived on the island, not around their cave anyways. Jason had spent the morning arranging ursa bones in a sort of perimeter around the small mountain that contained their cave. So far at least, the grimm has seen them and known to stay away.
The large Nevermore feather they had been using to check wind direction, mounted to the back of the raft, fluttered in a sudden light breeze.
Jason looked off into the distance, lost in thought.
Blake sat up, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"You okay?"
Jason seemed to come back to reality.
"Huh?"
Blake smiled a little.
"You've been looking preoccupied all day. I just wanted to know if you were okay."
Jason turned to her, smiling a little and stroking one of her wet cat ears.
"I'm alright. Just thinking, that's all."
"Mental connection with Talia still not working?"
Jason shook his head.
"Nothing."
Blake sighed.
"Keep trying though."
Jason nodded.
"She's still alive, I can feel that much. I can still feel her aura."
Blake yawned a little, the rowing that day had taken a lot of her energy.
"You should go lie down, you look exhausted."
Jason said.
It was a sign of how tired she was that Blake didn't even argue.
They walked back to the base of the cliff face, looking up at the plateau and beyond that, the cave.
Jason snapped his fingers and Blackest Night appeared in his right hand.
He handed it to Blake.
"Go ahead."
He held her left hand as Blake drew back her right arm, and then threw.
The sear whistled through the air, landing just inside the cave. There was the familiar loud cracking sound as the world quickly dissolved around them, before reforming with Jason and Blake standing just inside the cave.
Jason snapped his fingers once again and the spear disappeared, waiting to be summoned again.
Blake walked over to the bed of ursa pelts in one corner of the cave and, pulling the covers over herself, quickly drifted off to sleep.
When she awoke two hours later, she smelled the aroma of tuna being cooked.
The sun was setting now as she stretched and exited the cave.
Her draw dropped.
Jason sat on a thick, ursa pelt blanket on the plateau, two torches lit in front of him.
On the two slabs of stone which they had been using as plates, sat a large helping of tuna, perfectly cooked, with a side of berries.
Blake smiles as she sat down across from Jason, the two torches between them.
"What's the special occasion?"
Blake asked, a slight slight smile playing across her face.
Jason passed her a plate of tuna and berries, grinning.
"You didn't really think I'd forget did you?"
Blake looked somewhat confused.
Jason leaned across and kissed her cheek.
"Happy 19th Blake."
Blake smiled. The time has seemed to go by so fast on the island, she had almost forgotten that, in the real world, today would have been her nineteenth birthday.
"Thank you Jason."
Blake said, beginning to eat.
The tuna was amazing, cooked to absolute perfection, complemented by the sweet berries.
She looked at him.
"You really didn't have to do all this."
Jason reached out and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Yes I did Blake. If we were still in the real world, I would have taken you out to dinner. So here, I had to do what I could."
Blake smiled.
"I can't think of anyone I would rather spend my birthday with."
The two finished their food as Blake walked over to sit beside Jason.
She purred lovingly as she nuzzled Jason's neck.
He smiled, nipping her cat ears gently, eliciting a loud purr from the cat girl.
"I wish I could do more for you for your birthday but, given our current circumstances–"
Blake cut him off with a gentle kiss.
When she pulled back she smiled at him softly.
"Jason, just having you here is the best gift I could ever ask for. And,"
she smirked,
"if you really want to do something special for me, I've got a few ideas."
Jason blushed red and smiled back.
The two lay down on their backs, gazing up at the stars. They knew by now not to look for any constellations that they would recognize, the sky changed every night. Blake nestled herself up against Jason, purring slightly.
They were silent for a few minutes.
"Happy birthday Blake."
Jason said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they lay there.
"Thank you Jason... for everything."
"My pleasure."
After a while, the two sat up.
Jason grinned at Blake.
"So, about those 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴."
Blake blushed and stood up, offering Jason her hand and pulling him to his feet.
"Well come on then."
She said, grinning and, after extinguishing the torches, headed towards the entrance to the cave.

Hours later, Blake lay in their bed. She was still panting slightly as she turned on her side to look at Jason.
"You know,"
she said, her tone soft,
"you never cease to amaze me."
Jason gave her a loving smile.
"I try my best."
He reached out and gently and traced the marks on her neck with a finger.
Blake smiled and kissed his forehead. There was no sound in the cave apart from the light rain that had begun to fall on the rocks outside.
Jason shifted closer to Blake, wrapping his arms around her as the two closed their eyes.
They were the only two constants in each other's lives now, the only normal thing in this crazy world.
Listening to the sound of the rain on the rocks outside, the two drifted off to sleep, lost in their lover's embrace.

(Chapter co-author Raven Blackheart)