Chapter 7
Yang could hardly think. It felt as though every ounce of her sadness… No. That’s not the right word. Her despair had been amplified tenfold. It clouded her mind. She couldn’t… think.
Blake’s words kept echoing through her head. “I wish I hadn’t even gone back…” Yang could feel the tears starting to burn behind her eyes. “Yang… I don’t know how much longer I can stand her.” Her left arm started to shake, and she had to bring her robotic one over to steady it. “She can’t do anything right.”
Blake had almost always been there for Yang. She never seemed to doubt her abilities before.
Another memory flashed into Yang’s mind. “I’ll protect you.”
Maybe… Yang thought, looking down at the ground. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I can’t do anything right. Maybe that’s why she felt the need to protect me. Maybe…
Yang glanced back at Blake and Sun for a moment only to see that they were looking at her. She looked away quickly, and she didn’t even see Sun’s expression. But, she saw Blake’s. She saw how Blake looked at her. And it broke her heart even more.
Blake’s eyes were cold and full of hatred. It was a look that was never directed towards her before. It wasn’t a look that Yang thought even Adam got.
Yang felt like she was going to be sick. If someone could see emotions, she’d probably have a deep blue storm swirling around her.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she could finally think clearly again. But it was long enough for Blake to come up next to her without her noticing.
“..ang.. Yang?” Blake’s voice filtered in, sounding very worried. “Are you okay?”
The concerned tone in her voice threw Yang for a loop. Why would someone who practically said that they hated her suddenly be concerned for her?
“Yang. What’s going on?” Blake tried again, reaching for Yang’s robotic hand.
Yang tensed up and pulled it out of her reach instinctively. “What do you mean? Nothing is going on. I’m fine.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed, and she walked in front of her, blocking Yang from walking and further. “I don’t need Robyn’s semblance to know that you’re lying, Yang. I have been calling your name for the past few minutes, and you only just responded.”
Yang mentally flinched at that. How could I not hear her? Maybe something is wrong with me.
But Blake continued before Yang could respond, “Not only that, but you’ve been acting different ever since the cave! You've been staring into space, you’ve been distant, you refused Jaune’s help, and I saw your arm starting to shake earlier. Something is going on, and you need to tell us what.”
I can’t tell them. It’ll only make them want to abandon me more. Yang thought, starting to grit her teeth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m fine.” She replied, keeping her voice as level as she could.
“But you’re not! You’re not okay, Yang, and we all can see it. So stop denying it!” Blake’s ears pressed back in frustration.
“She’s right, Yang. You... Have been acting strange.” She heard Weiss say.
It was then that Yang noticed that everyone was watching them. Watching her.
Yang looked at all of their expressions. Most of them looked concerned or confused in Sun and Neptune’s case, but Ruby and Qrow...
Ruby looked… annoyed. She was tapping her foot impatiently, like this was the most inconvenient thing in her life, and she just wanted to be done with it.
Qrow looked completely done. Yang even heard him mutter, “What is wrong with her now? Maybe Raven was right to leave..”
Blake’s expression turned sympathetic. “Yang… We’re here to help. It’s okay not to be okay..”
Yang sighed softly, her walls finally starting to crack. “I-”
“Yang,” Penny said suddenly, her eyes dimming back to normal. When had they started glowing? Yang asked herself.
Blake looked annoyed at the interruption.
“Are you aware that you have a-” Before Penny could even finish, a roar cut her off.
Almost everyone jumped in surprise, looking around for the source of the noise.
“What on Remnant was that?!” Weiss screeched, taking out her weapon.
The sand was visibly rising in the distance as if a huge dune was speeding towards them.
Sun tensed up and took out his staff, everyone else following suit. “It’s a--”
A huge, ugly-looking grimm rose from the sand; its four fangs spread wide as it let out another roar.
“Blindworm!”
Yang could only think one thing as the grimm turned its nasty head towards her.
Well... Grapes.