All Of Me

Chapter Three

Blake was sitting on the couch, facing Taiyang Xiao Long. The man’s blue eyes were staring at her soul through her own golden ones. Of the many negative emotions his eyes expressed, anger was the main one. That’s it, she thought. It won’t be a Panthera or a young Beowolf or my ex who’s a psycho. I’ll be killed by my partner’s father.

“Well,” his deep voice filled the silence of the room and Blake almost wished she had brought Alexander with her. Her tiger Faunus companion was a reassuring company in moments like this. “Care to explain yourself?”

“Huh? Excuse me, sir?” She politely said. “I don’t get what you mean.”

“Then let me be clearer. Why did you leave my daughter?” Blake knew it was coming. She knew that’s what Taiyang wanted to talk about. Yet, not even fighting with a million Nevermores would’ve prepared her for this moment.

“I… It… It’s complicated, Mr. Xiao Long.”

“Oh, of course it is.” He said ironically. “But leaving your partner wasn’t complicated, was it?”

“It’s not like that, sir-”

“And then, find a new group to get stuck with. Or don’t you think I’ve been tuned to what happens in Vale?”

“H-How…?”

“I’m a Huntsman, my dear Ms. Belladonna. I can get information from whoever I want.” He smiled in a bitter way. “And now, I want to get information out of you. Why did you leave my daughter? Didn’t she tell you about her abandonment issues? C'mon, she’s not here, it’s not like you’re talking to her.”

It’s actually worse, Blake thought. Taiyang was an older, muscle-filled version of Yang. His blonde hair shone with the sun rays that started to fill the room in their still rising mood. The blue eyes were pure and held, along with the rage of the moment, a big sadness that Blake knew very well the origin. That was the man who lost his two wifes, had a missing younger daughter and a depressive and pained older one. Which is my fault. I can’t blame him for being angry at me… I am the one who brought this to myself…

Blake sighed and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, she looked down at her lap. “I… I don’t know where to start.”

“What about the beginning?” Taiyang offered. “It’s not like I have anything to do today.”

“What about-”

“Yang? She can take care of herself. She’s been alone here for some days now. If she needs something, I know she’ll call for help. My daughter is not dumb, Belladonna.”

“I know that, sir. I’m sorry.” Blake took a deep breath before starting her speech. “Knowing Ruby and Yang and the way they treated the subject, I know you must not be a prejudiced person. I… I am…”

“A Faunus. Ruby told me in one of her letters. How did she describe your trait? Oh, ‘super cute and fluffy kitty ears. Why she hides them is beyond me. I guess she tries to avoid jerks like Team CRDL and Weiss’ family members.’” Blake smirked a little, the thought of Ruby’s inocent voice saying those words. She missed the young girl’s cheery mood and her optimistic way of seeing life.

“Right…” Blake said. “Well, I was a… I was a part of the White Fang for the biggest part of my life. I was always with the crowd, protesting to try and make people see that Faunus may not be humans, but we are still people. In one of the protests, I met…” The girl sighed. “When I was eight years old, I met a bull Faunus boy called Adam Taurus. He was three years older than me. His father was big fish, the was the leader of the White Fang. I was hurt, a man had thrown a stone at me. Adam got me out of the protest and took care of me. After that, we turned out to be best friends. Adam helped me unlock my aura and helped me training. He said that, living the way we lived, I needed to know how to protect myself.”