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Unfamiliar birds and insects chirp and call in the distance. The nighttime in the strange world is surprisingly cold. Team RWBY lay sprawled out in various, slightly uncomfortable sleeping positions. Weiss and Ruby lay across the other side of the fire, close to each other but not touching. Everyone sleeps soundly save for the cat faunus.
Blake sits with her knees to her chest, trying to warm her hands by the fire that Yang had created before they all went down for some well-deserved rest. She had volunteered for first watch, knowing everybody else was just as exhausted as she was.
Blake had been unconsciously taking on the role of the leader of the team. Not that Ruby wasn't capable of leading them, of course. But Blake had noticed the change in Ruby's entire being once she had learned of Penny's demise. The passing out had been unexpected, and she had been off ever since she came to next to her sister.
The faunus sighs through her nose. Her cat ears flatten as the thought of never being able to leave this fairytale land. How are they going to get themselves out of this one? There hasn't ever been a situation they couldn’t find a solution for, but this seemed so different. How is she going to get her team out of this place in one piece? What more is out there that they haven't seen?
"Blake?"
Blake startles, her ears perking up and her entire body jumping at the groggy greeting of her partner. The blonde had been sleeping next to Blake, Yang's hand resting on Blake's thigh. The faunus would not let Yang out of her sight. Not again. She needed to be touching her in some way for her own assurance that this was not a dream.
Yang yawns and rubs her eye with her only hand, Blake immediately missing the touch. She smiles with such fondness at her sleepy partner.
"Go back to sleep, Yang," Blake says gently, her hand coming to rest on Yang's cheek. Yang closes her eyes again and leans into the touch, placing her own hand on top of Blake's.
The blonde sits up more, stretching her arm and her missing one. Her shoulders release with a few cracks and she sighs in relief before scooching closer so that her entire body rests up against Blake's.
"No, I'm up," Yang says, yawning once more. "What's wrong? You look worried."
Yang's arm snakes around Blake's waist, and Blake is thankful that the glow from the fire masks the blush spreading across her cheeks. She rests her head on Yang's shoulder as the girl pulls her close.
"I'm just worried about getting out of here. Nothing we aren't all thinking about," Blake replies. Her eyes close and she takes in Yang's scent which is still her, just tinted with the smell of the salty sea air.
"Yeah?" Yang replaces. "I'm just glad we're all together."
Blake smiles at the callback to all those years ago. She thinks how far they've all come - the team and then their relationship specifically. She shivers and nuzzles herself closer to Yang.
"You cold, little spoon?" Yang asks playfully with a fond smile and her eyes aglow at their closeness. She holds the faunus even closer.
"We can't all be blessed enough to be a walking space heater, Yang," Blake counters with a smile on her face at the nickname. She yawns a jaw-cracking yawn, and her eyes grow harder and harder to keep open.
"Yeah, good thing I'm here then," Yang replies. Blake hums.
"Yeah, good thing."
"Alright, you two," comes the new voice of Weiss across the fire. The two cuddled up huntresses startle at the accusing voice and separate quickly. They both immediately miss the contact.
"If you're going to flirt this loudly, then I might as well get up for my turn for watch," Weiss finishes, an eyebrow raised at the pair.
"Sorry, Weiss."
"Yeah, sorry Weiss," comes their replies at the same time.
"Yeah, yeah," Weiss says, sitting up with a wave of her hand while the other brushes sand off of her clothes. "You lovebirds get some sleep and keep quiet."
"Yes, ma'am, boss," Yang says with a salute. Blake chuckles and moves back to Yang's side, laying down and pulling the blonde down by her good arm.
Said arm comes to rest behind Blake's head as a makeshift pillow. Blake turns on her side and nestles into Yang's side. Her arm snakes around Yang's waist, and she pushes her cold nose into Yang's neck.
"I'm glad you came back to me," Blake whispers, her breath sending a chill that isn't from the cold temperatures up Yang's spine.
Yang places a kiss to the black hair under her chin. "I knew you would come for me. Go to sleep, Blake."
Yang can feel Blake's smile against her neck. The faunus breathes out a content sigh, closing her eyes and finally getting some rest.
They could worry about everything else tomorrow.