Strength & Bravery

First Stage Part 1

The group made their way through the snow, Yang having been left carrying all the luggage and Maria on her bike while everyone else tried to wrap their heads around everything Jinn showed them about Ozpin and Salem.

"I guess I was right with my suspicions then." Blake muttered.

"What suspicions?" Ruby asked, walking next to her. "About Ozpin?"

Blake nodded.

"I never trusted him." Blake admitted, slipping an arm through Ruby's so they could hear each other over the howling wind.

"He always seemed so nice though." Ruby said sadly.

Blake gave her a small smile.

"Ruby, it's fine, he tricked all of us." Blake pointed out.

Ruby just scowled.

"Don't say that word." she ordered.

"What word?"

"'Fine', Yang always says it and it drives me crazy!" Ruby shouted, causing everyone to stare at her and Blake to wince due to Ruby shouting next to her ears.

"Sorry." Yang said, not sounding sorry at all, she shot Blake a grin, which left the faunus feeling warm.

"No you're not." Ruby grumbled, stepping away from Blake and moving toward her best friend, linking arms with Weiss instead.

"Is it annoying?" Yang asked, taking Ruby's place.

"Not really." Blake answered with a shrug.

She'd never been bothered by Yang's bad habits.

Yang stared at her for a long moment, making Blake feel uncomfortable.

"Really?" Yang finally asked, sounding astonished.

"Yep, never." Blake grinned.

"Will you two lovebirds just kiss already!" Maria snapped.

The two girls blushed and turned away from each other.

"W-We're not...!" Yang stuttered.

Blake turned with a slightly offended look on her face.

"Not what Yang?" Blake asked.

Yang just blushed deeper.

"N-Not... Not..." Yang let go of her bike as she fumbled with her words.

Blake just tilted her head curiously.

"Not lovers." Yang finally said, looking like a tomato. "Yet."

Blake's ears shot up as she stared at the blonde in shock.

Yang stared at her in confusion for a moment, then her eyes widened and her blush somehow deepened when she realised Blake heard the last, whispered part.

"I was joking." Yang said with a weak, clearly fake laugh.

Blake couldn't help but feel disappointed though.

"I just want to get this stupid relic to Atlas." Blake complained, changing the subject.

"Let's hope we don't have to walk all the way there." Weiss agreed.

"I thought trails led somewhere." Yang complained, looking pointedly at Maria.

"Do you have nothing better to do than harass a 'defenseless old lady'?" Maria asked.

"Everyone quiet, do you hear that?" Ruby asked.

Blake's ears twitched, sighing happily when she heard an old gate creaking. "Well, at least one good thing happened today." she said sarcastically.