Coffees & Teas

3 weeks ago

"Sun... that hurts." Blake winced. Sun was helping Blake by putting medicine on her back for the wounds. Blake is staying at Sun's home 

"Well it's not my fault someone thought leaving the hospital would be a good idea." Sun sighed, Blake frowns. 

"By the way, I'm digging your hair! It's cute short. Why did you get it cut, I'm just curious." 

"I cut it because Adam had my hair. I tried to get away." Blake bluntly said. Sun blinks

"Uh." Sun nervously scratches his head. "Whoops." He let out a nervous laugh. Sun finished applying medicine and pulled Blake's shirt back down. He moves in front of her. Seeing tears run down the Faunus's cheeks. 

"U-Uh was I too rough? I'm s-" 

"Its all my fault..." Blake then cried into her hands. Sun blinks. 

"You uh... never told me what happened nor why you suddenly wanted to leave. You don't have to tell me but... what happened?" 

"I... Adam-" 

"Ah. Right." Sun frowns. "Well I heard he's dead! So that's great! How does it feel to be finally free from that asshole?" Sun smiles. Blake tenses up, not replying to Sun which takes his smile away. 

"Blake, I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong."

Blake sighed. "I left because I... I don't know. I just... I can't look at anyone anymore. Especially Yang. I can't... I just cant." 

"For what reason?" 

"I could hear her in my coma. She visited me everyday. Everything she said... I... I'm scared for her. It's my fault she's so hurt mentally. She cried... so much. I've never wanted anything else to just wake up and hug her but... it wouldn't do shit..." Blake sobbed. 

"I ruined everything Sun...! Yang lost her arm because she was going to visit me. Weiss is having to pay for me because I can't get a job! Ruby is hurt because I didn't stay with Adam.. a-and... Yang had to kill him. I fucked up everything..." 

Sun had no clue what to say after hearing all that. His tail curls around Blake's waist as he pulls her into a hug, making sure to avoid the injuries. 

"I uh... called Ilia what was happening and she's coming. She should be here soon." Sun brings up. Blake doesn't even react. She's too busy crying. Sun sighs and just comforts his friend. 

1 week later

"Shh. It's okay Blake." 

Ilia came over a week ago and she's been doing her best to help Blake cope and help with injuries. Blake was having a panic attack and Ilia was trying to help Blake by comforting. Ilia kissing Blake's head as she whispers kind words. 

But the kind words doesn't feel the same anymore with Ilia. Like the words doesn't hit her heart like it used to be. Blake isn't sure why but her panic attack was subsiding now, and she can actually focus on Ilia. 

"Ilia... I'm glad you're around." 

"And I'm glad you're here! You have any idea how much I missed you?" Ilia smiles. She leans in to give Blake a kiss on the cheek, but to her surprise, Blake backs up. "Blake...?" 

"I... I'm sorry Ilia. You can kiss me." Blake smiles a bit. Ilia smiles back and pecks Blake's cheek with kisses.

But to Blake's disappointment, her heart doesn't feel all fluttery or warm. It just feels empty.

"Blake... you still look sad. I know it's been hard for you... but I'm here for you." 

I'm here for you. Yeah, Blake frowns. She said that to Yang and now here she is. 

"Come on... your ears has been droopy all day. A week actually. Blake..." Ilia held Blake's cheeks. Making eye contact with each other. 

"I'm sorry Ilia I don't want to talk about it." Blake tears up. Ilia shakes her head. 

"Then don't. Please don't cry though. It hurts seeing you cry." 

"I'm sorry." 

"You also gotta stop saying sorry." 

"I'm s-" Blake stops herself. Ilia sighs. She pulls away. 

"I'll get you some tea. Be right back." Ilia said as she left Blake's room. Leaving her alone. 

Blake wonders if she's forgotten what love is again. No. That can't be it. Then why is she not... in love with Ilia? She loves her! But there's no... love for her anymore. It's like Blake only sees Ilia as a close friend now... but why...?

"He will be afraid of me! Rawr!" Yang joked. It did make Blake giggle. 

"There's the smile." Yang grins. Blake felt her cheeks turn pink from embarrassment. Her hand to her mouth covering it. Yang poked at Blake, making her complain. Till Yang poked at a ticklish spot and made Blake yelp. Yang laughed while Blake sat there flushed. 

Blake tears up at the memory. Oh my god. Blake isn't in love with Ilia. 

She's in love with Yang. 

How is Blake supposed to tell Ilia that she found someone else who she loves? No... Blake can't tell Ilia.

"I'm back! I got your favorite, I still remember." Ilia smiles as she hands the cup of tea to Blake. 

Blake held it, staring at her reflection. She sees herself smiling when she was at the Cafe after Yang made her tea, even if it wasn't the right one. 

"Blake?" 

Blake tears up. She misses Yang. She wants to say sorry, but why would Yang want to see her? Blake ruined her life. She can't go back. 

She knows Yang hates her. How could she not? 

Blake sobs. Ilia sighed. "You know what. Blake. I think we need to go somewhere." 

Blake looks at her girlfriend with tears running down. "Huh...?" 

"Blake. Let's get you home." 

Blake's eyes widened and she shook her head. "No... I can't. Why should I go home?! My parents are mad at me for leaving." 

"Blake! How do you know that?! It's been years!" 

"Yeah! Years of disappointment for me! I yelled at them and left!" 

"And look! You got away and you came to us!" 

"Ilia! I can't to back!" 

"Can't isn't an option. You can! Blake. You are just afraid of taking a step away from your past." 

Blake cried. "Because I am afraid Ilia..." Blake sobs into Ilia's shoulder. 

"Blake you need this. Its clear that we won't be able to help you. You need parent support. I'll be here for you Blake if anything goes wrong." 

Mayne Ilia is right. Blake really doesn't want to go home but... she wants to stop hurting. Blake took a shaky deep breath. 

"Okay... Okay..." Blake nods. Ilia smiled. 

"That's my girl. I'll let Sun know what's happening." Ilia ran out the room, heading to where Sun sat and told him everything. Blake frowns. She felt her phone buzz and looked at it. Seeing that it was a message from Weiss.

Blake's grip on her phone tightens as she reads this. How is Weiss so... forgiving? She traumatized Weiss's closest friends! Why...? 

Blake thought about replying. But it's like what she told Ilia. She's scared. But... there's no way she can heal if she can't take a step forward. Blake took a deep breath. 

Before replying two words. That's it. Blake really doesn't want to have a conversation. She looks at the background of her phone. 

It's her friends.

Blake doesn't know what to do. She just hopes what Ilia said would help set her path. Blake needs guidance, she agrees with that. But Blake doesn't know if she wants to move on from this. How can she just pretend like this never happened? She knows she hurt everyone.

Blake wish people understood that. Blake has been living in shadows till Yang brought her to the light, and Blake has never been so happy. But being in the light meant she was in the spot light as well. Shining on her for anyone to target her. Yang said she'd protect. But no. Blake doesn't want anyone protecting her. She wants to be equal with that.

"Okay! Sun thinks it's a good idea. I'll go ahead pack stuff for you." Ilia spoke with excitement when she returned. Blake gave Ilia a quick smile before she looks out the window. 

Blake wonders if this can ever be fixed. 

Probably not. 

Present

So now here she is. On the boat with her faunus friends. Blake was looking over the railing, watching the boat push its way through the water. The cold gust blowing into her face, letting her hair fly in the wind. 

She's on sail for Menagerie. Where she used to see her parents. It feels like forever since she's seen them. Blake sighs. She puts her earbuds in. Listening to a song called "Like Morning Follows Night." 

Blake sighs. She looks out in the distance, where endless sight of the water meets the horizon. Blake taps her fingers on the railing to the beats to the music. 

Blake looks at her phone, going through her gallery. She sees a picture of her and Yang singing together. Yang was so loud and funny. Blake remembers having a hard time singing without laughing at Yang's exaggerated singing. 

Blake smiles a bit, but her ears tucked back. Yang is so happy in the picture... why did it all go so wrong? 

"Who's that?" Ilia peeks over Blake's shoulder. Blake immediately turns off her phone. Taking off the ear buds. 

"It's... my friend Yang. I don't want to talk about it." Blake looks away. Ilia frowns. She's suspicious. Blake looks so happy in the picture, and Blake smiles at it. Ilia has been trying to cheer up Blake and this stupid picture is the reason she smiles? 

Ilia left it alone but she's a little irritated. Leaving Blake alone to think about things. 

"Hey! There it is!" Sun shouts. Blake looks at the direction Sun yelled. She walks up to the front of the boat where Ilia and Sun were. 

"Hey Blake, we've arrived." Sun smiles. Blake looks ahead. Seeing the island. Her heart started to pound. She's scared and nervous. 

"It'll be okay." Ilia held Blake's shoulder, smiling. Blake took a deep breath. 

"I know... Its just... you know..." it's scary. The fact she's almost there. Is her parents even there? Are they alive? How have they been? Will they forgive her? Surely not. Why would they? 

Blake believes she doesn't deserve forgiveness after everything that's happened. 

After a few minutes, the Ship was anchored, and faunus got off the ship, and Blake's heart was pounding as she gets off, now standing. Staring at the town of faunus and shops. Litters running and giggling.

"Okay! We're here! Soooo... you know where you live?" Sun questioned with a smile on his face. Blake frowns, she takes a step back. 

"I can't do this. I want t-" 

"No. Blake." Ilia grabs Blake's arm. "Don't back out. We made it this far. I'm not leaving your side. Please..." 

Blake gulps. She let out an exhale and started walking off. Her mind racing as she goes by stalls and faunus. She can see her home. It's a mansion. It's getting closer and closer as she walks. 

"YOU DONT UNDERSTAND! I LOVE HIM! I don't want to stay here anymore! I hate you!" Blake shouted, storming out of her home. Hearing her father yell her name. 

'I hate you.' Was the last thing she said to them. Now here she is standing in front of the massive door. 

"Dude... this is your home?" Sun was stunned. 

"Damn girl, I didn't expect this. Wait are you a princess or something?!" Ilia exclaimed. Blake shakes her head. 

"No I..." Blake's hands were shaking when she reaches out for the doorbell. She took a long deep breath before ringing it. Taking a step back. 

Her heart is pounding. Once she saw the door start to open, Blake started to tear up, scared for what's going to happen. 

It's Blake's mother. "Hello! Can I he-" When the Faunus opens the door all the way, she immediately went quiet after she saw Blake. 

Blake couldn't look at her mother's eyes. She's ashamed. "I- I - I-m s-so sorry! I was so stupid and I really fucked up I-" 

Suddenly Blake was pull into a tight hug. Her eyes widening. She heard her mother sobbing.

"Kali? Honey who is i- oh my god... Blake?" Then comes her father. Before Blake knows it, Her father hugs her as well. Blake broke down into tears. 

"I'm so sorry...!" 

"I don't care about what happened. I'm just glad you're okay... welcome home Blake." Ghira smiles. He pulls away. Soon Kali does the same. But she held Blake's cheeks.

"Oh baby... I missed you so much... are you okay? Did you get away from him?" Kali questioned. Blake was still sobbing. 

"Honey... why are you crying? You're home... safe and sound and that's all what matters now." Kali smiles a bit. Wiping Blake's tears away. Blake was about to say something till Kali jumps in. 

"Please, come in. I'll prepare tea for you all. We will definitely have a big dinner for Blake's return." Kali invited.

"Hell yeah!" Sun entered, only to be met with Ghira's glare. Sun gulps and nervously enters. Ilia enters as well. Thanking Ghira. 

"Blake...?"

"I- I'm coming..." Blake apologizes and enters. 

"Here you go..." Kali sets down the tea set. Pouring tea into the cups. Sun and Ilia showed their gratefulness but Blake remained silent. Still not wanting to look at her parents. 

Kali notices this and she let out a sigh. "Ghira? Why don't you keep our guest busy while I talk to my daughter." Kali spoke, getting a nod from Ghira. Kali looks at Blake. 

Blake gulps as she stood up. Letting Kali take her outside on the porch. Giving them privacy. 

"Baby... what's wrong?" 

Blake cried again. "Everything... How are you guys so calm about this? I ran away! I yelled at you guys! I left for a man! And now you're acting as if I just got home from school or something... you should be angry at me!" 

Kali was stunned. She shakes her head. "No... no... honey no." Kali held Blake's hand. "The only thing we were angry about was not being able to prevent this. But we were never angry at you. Blake... we love you. So much. We knew that one day you'd come home. And you did." Kali smiles. Blake moves her hand back. 

"I don't get it... I really don't. I hurt you guys..." Blake cries. Kali frowns. She looks up at the orange sky. 

"Well... yes you did, but you know what?" Kali smiles. "We got over it and moved on. Past shouldn't hold us back. No matter what, you are still my baby. The baby I held on the day of your birth. The child I raised. The person who I love so much. You are my daughter, and nothing could change that." Kali pulls Blake into a hug. 

"I..." Blake hid her face on Kali's shoulder. Sobbing. 

"Let it out honey... I can tell there's a lot more to this. You're in pain... aren't you? We can talk about it later but for now... just let it out. Take a deep breath." Kali held the back of Blake's head, gently caressing. 

Blake was shocked, but relieved. She really thought her parents would be mad but... she was so wrong. Blake parents has been waiting for her to return. They knew she would. And Blake did... 

"B-Blake?" There was a worried tone in Kali's voice. Blake pulls away, confused. "What's with the bandages...?"

Blake's eyes widened. She tenses up. Kali's ears goes down. Blake wipes her tears, and walked back inside, heading to her room and shut the door. 

Blake couldn't handle it. She slid down onto the floor, sobbing into her knees. The feeling were so overwhelming. She just. Needs a minute. So much emotions... its too much. 

The faunus isn't sure how long she's been crying for but she knows she's done when tears dries up. Blake took in a deep breath, lifting her head up. 

Her room was clean. It's not dusty. Kali must have cleaned it frequently. She still cleans her room even if she doesn't know if her own daughter would ever clean. 

Blake then noticed something on her bed. It's a small chest. Blake's ears perk up in curiosity. She gets up to walk towards her bed. Taking the chest in her hands to look it. Before opening it. 

There's a lot of things inside. Letters. Cards. Pictures. 

Blake takes the first thing she sees. It's a letter Kali wrote... 3 days ago. 

Dear Blake, I wonder when you will return. I miss you dearly. I would cry, when I enter your room, but no matter what, it makes me happy. I'm glad you're able to leave and explore the world. If that's what's happening. 

Today, your father tried building a chair, and ended up breaking it. It was funny, I wish you were here to see this. 

I miss you, and I'll be waiting for you when you come home. 

-Mom

Blake tears up. The realization hitting her. The letters are like a diary. Kali wrote them randomly, telling Blake what she missed and how it's been. 

The pictures has notes on the back to give Blake contexts. 

The cards are... for her birthday and holidays. 

Blake goes through them, till she got to the bottom, pulling out a folded letter. The first letter Kali left. She unfolds it, reading it. Taking a seat on her bed. 

Blake, my beautiful daughter, I am scared for you. The man you love isn't a good person, I can almost see it in him. He isn't good. I hope that you will realize this soon... and maybe you will come home. 

I am worried for your safety. But I know you are growing up, and maturing. So I still hope you can make good choices for whatever you've chosen. 

Your father has been angry. Not at you, but at everything. He is worried sick for you. It's been a week and I've gotten nothing. No messages from you. I still think about calling you. But I know you won't respond. So I can only hope. 

Hope that you can come home. And I can give you hugs and kisses. Letting you know how much I love you. 

Come home soon. I love you. 

-Mom

 

Blake read the next few ones. Before she finally gets to her birthday card. 

Happy 14th birthday. 

Blake tears up. She was 12 when she fell in love with Adam. Oh how stupid she was. She ran away at the age of 13.

4 years. 4 stupid years of being with Adam. She then finally ran away from him when she was 17. Turning 18 while living in Atlas. And now she's 19. 

She's 19. It's been... 6 years. Since she's seen her parents. 

Happy 15th birthday. 

Happy 16th birthday. 

Happy 17th birthday. 

Happy 18th birthday.

Happy 19th birthday.

Blake sobs. Her childhood was taken away because of that asshole. She didn't get to live her teenage years properly. 

She hears a knock on the door. 

"C-Come in..."

It's Kali. Holding a tray of food. "Hey honey... I brought you dinner. Ah... I see that you're going through the stuff I made for you." Kali smiles. Setting the tray on the bed and sat down next to Blake.

"It's been... 6 years. Mom... 6 years... I grew up too quickly..." 

"I can tell... You've grown. Grown up to a beautiful woman." Kali smiles. Wiping Blake's tears away. 

"I- I'm so sorry mom... I- I love you." Blake's eyes sparkled with tears. 

"I know... I know you do." Kali picks up a picture from the pile Blake took out. Chuckling at the picture of her Halloween costume she worn with Ghira. 

"You did miss a lot, but that's why I put this together. So that you could catch up to what you missed." 

"Mom... thank you..." Blake smiles a bit. Kali gently places her hand on Blake's shoulder. 

"You're welcome. I hate to ask this now, but are you uncomfortable? In pain? Anything? Your blonde friend told me what happened." Kali was worried.

Blake's eyes widened. She tenses up. "I'm... still a bit sore but... I-" 

"I'd imagine... I can't believe you almost died. My heart dropped when I heard that. Your father was furious at Adam. But he's worried obviously. May I look at them?" Kali questioned. Blake took a deep breath. She nods. Taking off her shirt. She has bandaged torso, chest and shoulder on one side. Kali unband them, and her eyes widened at the healing wounds. That would turn into scars. 

"Oh baby..." Kali's voice broke. Her fingers lightly touch near by Blake's wounds. Kali tears up. She then sees the scar that was old. It looked like an X. 

"Honey? What's this?" 

"Adam uh... he stabbed me when I got away from him." 

Kali gasped. Her ears flattens. "Oh my god... baby... oh god." Kali chokes back a tear. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this... how did you manage after that...? Actually..." Kali bandages Blake again and pulls the shirt down.

"Why don't we eat while you tell us what we missed? What has happened over the 6 years?" 

Blake took a deep breath. She nods. Putting the stuff back in the chest to set it aside and eat with parents and her friends. 

Blake ends up telling them the full story. For what she remembers. 

The first few years was painful but in her 17th year and later, things got better.

"Blake, can you call your dear friend Weiss to come over? I'd like to give her gifts and my gratitude! Same with Uh... Yang and Ruby! And you two good friends of Blake's." Kali smiled at Sun and Ilia. 

"Yeah uh..." Blake frowns. "I... ran away from them after I woke up in the hospital." 

"Huh? Why is that?" Ghira question. 

"I fucked everything up...! I ruined everything...! It's all my fault that they're hurting now..." Blake exclaimed, now tell them the accident she had. 

"My god..." Ghira was speechless. 

"I can't go back. I really can't. I... I guess I came here because I miss you guys and... I need your guidance. What do I do...? Please help me."

Kali smiles. "Of course. I think you running away was... a good idea." 

"What?" Sun blinks. Blake was confused. 

"Well... think about it. It gives everyone a chance to think about it and try to find their own path to recovery. Everyone should know what independence is. That's a part of growing up." Kali explains. 

Independence.... not having to rely on anyone... Blake hasn't been able to make choices for herself. 

"But you can't stay away forever. I won't say when you should see them again, but know, that you'll have too soon. After all, anger and grief doesn't last forever. Yes... everyone deals with them differently. Some long, some short, some painful or calming. Soon everyone will figure it out." Kali pauses to take a sip from her tea. 

"What I'm saying is, this is your chance to find your independence and your main goal. I can tell you're lost. I'm not going to make the choice for you." 

"You have the choice to choose what you want to do. So... Blake. What do you want to do? Whatever it is, we'll support you." 

Blake stared at her parents before thinking about it. The choice. What does she wants to do...? 

Blake opens her mouth a bit. She takes a deep breath. "I... I'd like to stay here for a few weeks and then I think..." Blake then smiles a bit. 

"I might return to them. And tell them I'm sorry." 

"Beautiful job. We'll support that." Kali smiles. Blake felt... better. The pain was still there but she finally found it. 

The path to healing.

1 Month Later. . .

Blake was out shopping with her mother. Buying some food to make their traditional favorite food of Blake's. 

"Mom, does this look on me?" Blake was trying out a hat. Making Kali giggle. 

"It does. But I think this..." Kali switches the hat to a different one. "Hmm... what do you think?" 

Blake smiles. "I love it." And with that, she buys it. They continue to chat as they walk... till. 

"GET OUT OF HERE!" 

"Don't hurt us!" 

"Humans aren't welcomed!" 

"What on earth is happening?" Kali was confused. Blake looks at the crowd. 

"Please! I'm looking for Blake Belladonna! You know, the girl with black hair and cat ears?" 

That voice...no... it can't be.

"Huh? Who could possibly be- b-Blake?!" Kali watched Blake run into the crowd. Pushing her way through. She finally reached to the middle, and her eyes widened. 

"Blake...?"