Chapter Text
The low, steady beeping of the machines in Blake’s room sounds as Yang gazed at her partner, her hands clenched tightly together. Her bow was off and her hair was a mess, tangled and knotted from fighting at the fall of Beacon. Yang sweeps her eyes across Blake’s prone body, bile rising up in her throat as she comes to a rest upon Blake’s legs… or at least… what was left of them.
Yang swallows hard and shudders as she recalls running into the cafeteria and seeing Blake on the ground, barely breathing and pale as she bled out from the gaping wound in her right thigh. Yang had nearly been sick at the sight of torn skin and muscle, severed nerves and shattered bone.
It had taken far longer than she would have liked to get Blake to safety. But here she was, safe and sound in the hospital, even if she occasionally woke up screaming Yang’s name, eyes darting around her in terror; desperately searching the shadows for the man that had hurt her.
Adam Taurus.
Yang growls, low and dangerous in her throat. Blake’s old partner, from what she could assume. He had hurt Blake. He had taken her leg. He terrified Blake. There’s a part of Yang that wants to chase him down. Hunt him and bring him to justice.
But she knows that wouldn’t be right. It isn’t what Blake would want and it wasn’t what Yang wanted to turn into. It isn’t who she is and she refuses to become that person.
“Mmmn.”
“Blake! Hey, you’re okay.” Yang soothes as Blake blinks open her eyes and stares her. She brushes Blake’s bangs back from her forehead, smiling a watery smile down at her. “There she is. Hey.”
“Fuck. Adam-“
“He’s gone. We don’t know where the bastard went but he’s gone.” Yang says softly, moving to cup Blake’s jaw, her thumb brushing her cheek soothingly. “You’re safe. I’ve got you, Blake.”
“... he- he went after my- my leg.” Blake says weakly, gripping her sheets tightly. “Is it-“
“I- oh, honey. I’m so sorry.” Yang whispers, tears filling her eyes as Blake stares down at her missing leg, cat ears pressing against her head and shoulders trembling. “They couldn’t save it.”
The sob that leaves Blake’s throat is ragged and broken, and when Yang curls her arms around her, Blake clings to her desperately, crying into her neck. Yang grits her teeth and holds her tightly against her, gently soothing her and running a hand up and down her back until Blake’s tears have run dry.
“This is all my fault.” Blake says suddenly, and Yang pulls back to stare at her in bewilderment. “I should have known. I should have recognised Cinder. I should have looked into it harder. Or- god. If I had just stayed, maybe I could have stopped him! At least then none of you-“
“Stop. None of this is on you, Blake.” Yang says firmly, cupping Blake’s jaw and guiding her to look at her, keeping her touching gentle. Her heart breaks when Blake’s flinches, her amber eyes full with pain as she looks back at her. “You’re an innocent victim, Blake. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t deserve this. You’re not responsible for the actions of a monster.”
“But-“
“No. Look, you can say that you never should have come here all you want. But I am so glad that you did. I’m so glad that you chose me.” Yang rests her forehead against Blake’s, chest twisting violently as Blake’s trembling hands move to grip at her wrists. “And I am so glad that you’re still here.”
A heartbreaking noise of distress rips itself free of Blake’s chest and Yang pulls her closer once more, climbing onto the bed and carefully curling her arms around Blake as her partner gasps and sobs and apologises in her arms. Yang can feel Blake’s nails dig into her skin as she clings to her desperately but she can’t bring herself to mind. Blake needs her to be strong, to hold her until she’s ready to… do whatever it is that she plans on doing next.
And Yang knows that, if Blake were willing to let her, she was going to support her. Every single step of the way.