Protect me, Blake?

Chapter 2: Blake's confession

"You weren't there when I needed you the most, and I don't think I need your protection now." Yang hissed, her voice gravelly.

Blake stared at her, eyes widening as the words sank in. A chill ran through her body, and her heart began to throb. Darkness closed in on her as she got dragged deeper and deeper into a trance of guilt and self-loathe.

The blizzard outside had died down, the snow halted mid-air - it was as though time had stopped.

Yang continued glaring at the brunette, eyebrows knitted, her breathing heavier. She gazed deep into Blake's eyes, searching for any means of indifference; and that's when she noticed the tears.

Her pupils dilated as she slowly straightened up slightly, realizing Blake had been crying the entire time. Her instincts were screaming at her to comfort her partner, to hold her close, to wipe away her tears - but her resentment got the better of her as her scowl didn't falter.

With clenched teeth and a small shake of her head, the blonde turned and strode toward the door, leaving the brunette with her tribulations.

Blake wanted to go after her partner, but she was rooted to her spot. She lifted her hand, only for it to slump in defeat. She had failed as a daughter, as a partner, and now...as a friend.

Her lips began to quiver, her breathing erratic. She looked down at her hands, they were shaking violently. She balled them into fists and pressed them to her chest, hunching over.

The stomping of Yang's boots started growing distant. Blake's ears began to ring, her vision blurring; was it from all the overwhelming emotions she was feeling or the tears, she wasn't

sure.

Yang stopped in front of the door as if she were going to turn around and walk back to Blake, console her, embrace her. But instead, she heaved a long sigh, and not sparing another look at

the brunette, lifted a hand to slide the door open.

Blake forced her eyes shut and stood like that for a while, completely still, hoping that the lack of motion would ease her aching heart and reduce the pounding in her head. She was praying, desperately, that this is all a dream and when she woke up Yang wouldn't hate her anymore.

Not being able to contain the raging storm of remorse and anguish any longer, the brunette yelled out, her voice cracking, 'I was scared, okay?! I was scared of losing you!"

Blake's legs gave out and she fell to her knees, sobbing and shaking. Months of suppressed

emotions came crashing down on her.

Yang paused, her hand hanging mid-air, eyes going wide. She blinked rapidly multiple times, unable to believe what she just heard. Turning around, she took a sharp breath. In front of her was the most heartbreaking sight ever. It was so poignant it had her breathing shakily - Blake on

the floor, crying her heart out.

"Blake?..." she breathed out after what felt like hours, and took a step toward her partner.

Blake looked up and straight into Yang's eyes. The blonde halted and winced. She had gazed into those amber eyes innumerable times, but never had they displayed so much pain and hurt and remorse. It shot a pang of guilt straight into her heart.

"D-do you know what-what he said to me that night?" Blake stammered. Yang observed her, brows furrowed, waiting for her to continue.

'H-he said he was going to destroy everyone that I love, everyone that I care about...' the brunette lamented, her gaze distant and slowly falling on the floor as she reminisced the event of the tragic night. Then, she abruptly looked up, "...starting with you...and he did, and...AND I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT!". Blake broke down into tears again. She wrapped her

arms around herself and cried, shaking uncontrollably.

Yang's eyebrows shot up so high they almost touched her hairline. She looked away and around, her eyes not falling on anything or anywhere in particular. Taking a deep breath, she turned

toward Blake again.

Blake placed her hands on her knees to support her upper body. She balled them into fists and continued in a shaky voice, "All my life, all I've ever done is hurt the people I care about, bring harm to them." Tears continued streaming down her cheeks like waterfalls. "I ran away because I thought...I thought the farther away you guys are gonna be from me, the safer you'll be."

Yang grimaced and ran a hand through her hair. She remembered the conversation she had with Weiss at Haven, the conversation between her, Weiss, and Blake on the night of their first huntress mission at Beacon.

"I was born with the ability to leave behind a shadow of myself. An empty copy that takes the hit

while I run away..."

Those were Blake's words. She had a rather skewed opinion of herself; Yang hated it.

Blake was one of the smartest, boldest, and most resilient people she knew. Her determination to get things done and her righteousness were some of the qualities Yang loved most about her partner. She was always there to remind Blake of how amazing she is, and now she regretted not being there for Blake when she needed her partner the most.

Yang wished she could have realized this sooner, wished she had gone after Blake afterward. Of course, the first place she could have searched was Menagerie, that's where Blake was from. She cursed herself silently for being such an idiot!

The blonde got pulled out of her thoughts when Blake drew a shuddering breath in, "But...but I guess I've hurt you the MOST by pushing you away.". Blake couldn't meet Yang's eyes.

The blonde nodded, tears stinging her eyes. But before she could say anything, Blake said something that hit her harder than any blow she had ever taken.

"I know what I did to you is beyond forgiveness, and you despise me for it. So, if you want, I'll leave, and you'll never have to see me EVER again..."