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Ever since Blake had placed Yang's hands gingerly onto her ears, a silent order for her to scratch there when she previously thought them an area untouchable, Yang had made sure not to leave them out of the regular head-in-lap hair playing sessions they would have when Blake would be in desperate need of a nap.
It wasn't unusual for Blake to work herself to the bone, and on a night like tonight, after taking on three missions in a single day, the ravenette was well and truly drained.
Her muscles ached, something that one of Yang's hands had tried to work at to unravel knots buried deep beneath her skin to no avail. But most of all, her mind was tired, and for whatever reason, it wouldn't let her rest.
After a while, it dawned on Blake why sleep was avoiding her with such eagerness. And it isn't just the insomnia this time around, unfortunately.
Upon returning to Menagerie after the Fall of Beacon, Blake had begun to experience rapid, extreme migraines that were unrelenting and agonising. Over time they had faded just a little along with her stress, but with their newfound roles here in Atlas, Blake had found herself back in their wretched grasp once again.
It wasn't all that long ago that Yang paid witness to one, after Blake had tried so avidly to keep them a secret from her team. When you've got grievous, unyielding migraines that leave you practically immobile and dependent on everyone around you, it's admittedly hard to keep it a secret for long. Especially when you push yourself so hard with blurred vision that you collapse mid-training in front of everyone.
At least it meant it kinda got the word out. There's always extra hands should Blake be in dire need of anything, always a surge of little gifts, snacks and drinks being dropped off at the team RWBY dorm door to help out whenever word was spread that she was having a particularly bad time with one.
But what matters is the present: no matter how much Yang hums or plays with her hair or tousles the fur on her ears between thumb and index, her brain just won't switch off and call it a night. And by now, naturally, she was growing weary.
"I hate this," Blake grumbles, her hand raising just to press the heel of her palm into her pounding temples, desperate for even a second of sleep. She squeezes her eyes shut when a pang ripples sharply through her head, whimpering at the feeling. "Fuck," She winces, so quiet that only Yang can hear, "Why me?"
"I know," Yang croons, "I know, Blakey. I'm sorry." Her hands momentarily stop cascading through raven strands just to cup her cheeks, Blake's face upside down in her lap. "I wish I could just… make all of this go away."
Yang has her back pressed against the head of her Atlas Academy bunk, her legs spread to allow Blake to lay comfortably between them with her head pillowed on her lap, cushioned by her thighs.
Blake's ears are pinned firmly against her skull, stiff and achy as the outside world rings beyond their little bunk, open only to Yang, always Yang.
Every time she opens her eyes to try and gaze up at the sun itself looming over her with the sweetest, most comforting smile she's ever known, she's met with inky black blotches upon parchment, blotting out portions of her vision.
"Is talking okay?" Yang asks, hushed and low when Blake looks up at her with pleading golden eyes that look like they can't quite reach her.
Breathing in, Blake holds it before releasing it with her words, shaky and pained. "Yeah, just– quiet. Please."
"You got it, baby." Yang hums, arching her back over so that she can crane her neck, pressing a kiss delicately to Blake's forehead as it wrinkles with another wave of pain, a whimper sounding involuntarily from the back of her throat. "I wish I could do more. I feel so… useless just sitting here." She whispers it against her skin, sweat-slickened black bangs rubbing against the partially chapped skin of her warm lips.
All of the lights in the room are switched off, curtains drawn, and Yang had even made sure that both of their scrolls were perched on the bedside cabinet at the lowest brightness so that if anything were to happen, at least it's not going to cause Blake any discomfort.
The moment Blake had told her it was a migraine when she'd realised what was happening, Yang had shot into action.
After Yang had sat and held Blake as she cried during the first migraine she'd seen her have (well, it wasn't the first – she's just good at hiding it), she made sure to ask her partner everything she could do to make her as comfortable as possible during them. Every little detail was committed to memory. Lights. A cold or warm compress. Caffeine, if at all possible. Massages. Pain relief. Anything just to make her as comfortable as possible so she could ride it out without much hassle.
"'S nothing," Blake rasps, biting back a strangled, pained noise that rises from her throat, "Just stay,"
"Hey," Yang shushes soothingly, moving back up to relax the ache in her back from her awkward positioning, "This shit must be making you crazy if it's making you think you could ever get rid of me." She giggles lightly, her hands resuming their gradual combing of raven locks, "Sorry to break it to you sweetheart, but you're stuck with me."
Laughing breathily, Blake smiles exhaustedly up at Yang, her sunny smile never faltering.
"Good." She croaks, "Love you, buttercup,"
That nickname always catches Yang off guard. It's not one Blake uses too often, but it's so spoken with such love, honey-coated and sickly-sweet, and the blonde just can't resist it. And she especially can't resist the giddy little smile that creeps onto her lips every time she comes out with it.
She's brought out of her dreamy thoughts with a disheartening, agonising thump when Blake winces again, her body tensing and almost locking up as she moves her limbs slightly in a feeble attempt to extinguish the pain rippling through her.
Yang, of course, knows this response all too well. The best medicine is for Blake to relax, but it's not like her brain is just gonna allow that.
"Easy, sweetheart." Yang croons, "Shh, shh," She shushes, thumbs running soothingly along her cheeks, "Relax your body, lovely. I've got you."
But it's like Blake physically can't, her head rolling back heavily just to press further into Yang's warmth and to hope that the crane of her neck may somehow subdue the agony coursing through her. Not to mention that she's holding her breath, lips pressed together tightly like she's bracing against it.
"Don't restrain yourself, Blake. You gotta breathe." Yang urges, her right, cool arm moving to rub soothing circles against her waist, supporting her weight there. "Shh, easy, relax, hon." She dares not move much, Blake's entire body is practically pulled taut on top of her, and Yang is powerless to help.
Her heart aches and her eyes sting with tears when Blake finally gasps for air, only just now realising that the girl in her lap had been bracing herself by gripping the fabric of her sweatpants in tight-balled fists.
"Fuck," Blake exhales with a watery breath, shaky and quivering, her cheeks and nose highlighted, rawer and rosier from the strain and torture of it all.
"There she is," Yang beams, trying not to let her sigh of relief be too loud to a point that her girlfriend's ears pick up on it. "Hey, easy, just relax,"
"I can't," Blake sobs, and she doesn't mean to snap, but her entire body aches and she just wants it over and done with. "Make it stop," she begs, not to Yang, but a plea to anyone who might hold the power to stop this from hindering her.
As of recent, they've grown far too common, sometimes the slightest of offenses setting her off like alcohol against a naked flame. And as far as Blake is concerned, she's sick of them – not only is the discomfort horrific and indescribable, but it causes Yang pain too. She sits with her through every one, and she can't help but feel a pang of guilt at relying on her so much during them. Plus, it means they both miss out on training and missions now and then – but whenever Blake tries to bring it up, Yang shoots her down; it's fine, she tells her, I'd rather help you. I'd rather be by your side, no matter what.
"Gods, I wish I could," Yang sighs, leaning over awkwardly, painfully, again to pepper kisses to Blake's now dampened face, rosy cheeks glistening with tears as she continues to sniffle. "I'd take your place in a heartbeat,"
"'s not what I want," Blake rasps, her breathing ragged and tormented, "M'sorry for snapping, this– this is a curse, I swear…"
Yang hums, then giggles. "I'm not upset, babe. I get it." She runs her right hand through her hair, tucking stray black strands behind her ear, "And hey, let me be all cheesy and selfless." Her cool hand continues to massage at Blake's side, working to undo the last flare-up's newly formed tension knots deep within her muscles.
Blake makes an awkward attempt to laugh at it, but it comes back for naught when her smile quickly diminishes, brows knitting and eyelids wrinkling as the pressure increases, face scrunching–
And like that, it's back to square one. If only they could get Blake to sleep, it would be fine – her unconsciousness would take the brunt, have her wake up refreshed, although achey. So right now, that's Yang's aim as she kneads the tense bases of her partner's fluffy cat ears, trying to relax them into upward, pointed positions that never come.
After a little while, Blake's head lolls to the side, nuzzling her nose rather forcefully into the warmth of Yang's thigh in a desperate attempt to quench the pain pounding on the walls of her skull, resounding and reverberating back and forth like a drum pedal is being constantly hammered into her temples.
Blake had told her to be careful of doing so previously, but slowly, Yang begins to tenderly, gently massage her girlfriend's visible temple, thumb running in reassuring circles to work to relax her.
It definitely doesn't come into effect immediately, but over a few minutes, Blake completely melts into the warmth of the blonde, soaking in the comfort and relaxation while it lasts. She knows not to hope or think about it too much in case it gets the jump on her and returns faster than it should.
"Yang?" Blake croaks, her chin lifting slightly, "Can you– can you talk to me?"
As far as she knows, her hearing is mostly okay as long as they keep it low and hushed. She'd take anything to get her mind off of the pounding pain in her head.
"Of course," Yang hums happily, like she'd just been asked to do her dream job. "Anything in particular?"
"Uh," Blake drones, "'s a book, on– on the nightstand,"
Oh.
Yang resists the urge to let out a reluctant oh, because well – she'd do anything for Blake, she would, truly, truly would – but reading isn't exactly her thing. It never has been, and probably never will be.
She adores that Blake can blissfully get lost within these worlds, she loves listening to her rambles about the recent book she's hyperfixated on – but when it comes to Yang, reading definitely does not spark joy. The opposite, in fact.
"Yang?" Blake grates, her voice breaking the moment it hits the vowel, "'s fine if not,"
Snapping back to reality, Yang fumbles for a moment. "Shit, sorry–" She hisses, "No, I can, it's just that– well, I'm– I'm not exactly the best at this."
Truthfully, Yang can read at a pretty good pace. The issue is the stuttering, the stumbling over words and whole lines, the mispronunciations of words she's never seen before and can't even fathom the meaning of… oh, and don't get her started on her own writing. She can't remember writing a single essay back at Beacon.
"Reading?" Blake asks, her ears tilting a little, Yang just glad that they're not pinned to her hair anymore.
Yang hums with a nod, "Yeah," Her shoulders bob, her hands moving to continue playing with Blake's hair – she loves doing this, loves feeling the way she melts into the warmth of her hold.
"Babe," Blake drawls, dangerously moving her arm up to cup Yang's cheek, sensing something deeper, looming beneath the surface, a knot she's yet to unravel or speak aloud. "Talk to me about that,"
"What?" Yang stutters for a moment, brows furrowed as she gazes down at the upside-down, loving, devoted smile across Blake's face. "You– you're sure? It's not gonna stress you out?"
"I should be okay," Blake breathes deeply, trying to settle her own rattling lungs and quench the ache deep in her bones. "Go on, sunshine." She urges, butting her nose against Yang's thigh as a sweet, eager gesture as she lets her hand fall to her side again.
Steeling herself, Yang takes a deep breath of her own and looks out over the cot to the adjacent wall for just a moment before turning her attention back to Blake, her fingers working as nimbly as ever to card through ebony black strands.
"I'm dyslexic," Yang admits, and she watches Blake's eyelids flutter open slightly for a second at the revelation, but only for a second before shutting again. "It's– I can read just fine, I just go a bit slower than average, I suppose." She shrugs, "My handwriting was so bad as a kid, I could barely retain information from textbooks, and nobody batted an eye… Just got seen as the 'kid who always falls behind' instead." The blonde sighs, leaning forward again to press a kiss to Blake's forehead when she holds a wince back, humming in response to let her know she's okay. "I only actually realised I was dyslexic when I looked into it for myself."
"I remember reading aloud in class this one time," Yang recalls, "And… okay, don't laugh," But Yang's already giggling, "I must've been, what, eight? I had to read a portion of this book about pirates that the class was reading aloud, and…" She breathes in again, laughing with her exhale, "Let's just say that tentacles and testicles look a lot alike, even though I didn't know what one of them meant until the teacher looked at me all horrified–"
Blake gasps, beginning to turn into a lightly giggling mess. "Gods, you didn't, did you?"
"I did," Yang chuckles, "You should've seen my dad's face after he got that call."
Raising her arms a little, Blake sets them on Yang's shins, tracing gentle shapes into the area of bare skin where her sweatpants had ridden up.
"No, but… every time I tell someone I'm dyslexic, they'd give me this… this look… Pitying, I guess, if I had to describe it." Yang sighs, keeping her voice down despite her irritation, "I can read decently, but my issue is that I mess up when I do," She sighs, "I miss words, I miss whole lines, I see a word over, what? Seven or eight letters and I'm fucked unless I sound it out first or I've seen it before," Pausing to think, a groan escapes her after a moment. "And don't get me started on writing."
"Oh," Blake blurts wondrously below her, quietly and pained, and Yang jumps into action to ease her despite her continued speaking, "That's why– at Beacon, you– you always asked for help with essays,"
Yang chuckles, remembering all the times she must've barely scraped past plagiarism claims with how much she scribbled from Blake's drafts. "You were my go-to." She admits, "Sorry for not crediting you at the bottom of every paper."
With a breathy giggle, Blake shakes her head as best she can, so slow and almost invisible had Yang not kept her eyes transfixed on her partner during the movement. "If you'd told me," The ravenette rasps, "I wouldn't have gotten all… irritated over it,"
For a moment, Yang averts her gaze. "I didn't want the pity."
"But I wouldn–" Blake tries to speak, but her mouth closes so fast that her teeth make an audible click, her lips pursing as agony rips through every fibre of muscle in her body.
She turns rigid and stiff beneath Yang's touch, hitched attempts at breath leaving the blonde's heart shattered as she leans forward again to attempt to comfort and ease her tortured lover.
"Easy, Blakey. I've got you," Yang reassures, peppering feather-light kisses to her forehead and face to try and get her to relax, to get her to unpinch her brows and unscrunch her nose, an irritating habit that only made the strain in her head worse. "You gotta relax if you can,"
This time around, Blake takes in a deep, quivering breath and holds it for a moment before releasing it, allowing her body to relax as her lungs deflate.
"Yeah," Yang praises, "Good, just like that, that's my girl." There's relief in her tone when she leans over, completely ignoring the strain in the middle of her back with the awkward positioning, but she'd do anything to be able to kiss Blake. "Gods, you're amazing."
"Charmer," Blake huffs, catching her breath after tensing so many of her muscles. Her eyes flutter open and look up to Yang, or where she thinks Yang should be, unable to see her completely, her sweet smile sadly downturning.
Yang coos, but then a little joke comes to mind, "My face isn't that bad, Belladonna."
The frown disappears in an instant, Blake giggling lovingly, her eyes shutting. "Brothers, you're so…"
"Hot? Cute? Devilishly handsome?"
"All of the above," Blake laughs, playfully patting Yang's shin to get her to stop in her tracks before it goes further, "I love you," She brings her hand up to Yang's cheek for a moment to caress her skin before letting it limply fall back to her side, too exhausted to keep it up for long. "And for the record, I was gonna say… I wouldn't have pitied you. I would've just helped," She sighs, nuzzling her nose into Yang's as she moves closer to snuggle a little despite the awkward positioning her girlfriend has tilted herself into just to offer her comfort. "And… I can barely see you right now, so just– talk to me?"
Yang swallows, her throat bobbing at the notion. Every day she's struck with awe for her lovely girlfriend, for her strength and passion and her inability to give up – because Brothers knows that if Yang were in her position right now, barely able to see her while in pain, she'd be losing her shit.
"You got it," Yang hums, pecking a kiss to the corner of Blake's lips, "I think I'll talk about being dyslexic another time. Would you like anything? Your forehead's pretty warm," The blonde notes the sheen of sweat across it too, something she'd neglected to bring up earlier.
For a little while, Blake presses herself further into Yang's hold, noses pushed against one another in a silent show of affection, a plea to stay close, while she rides out another pang.
"Yang," She breathes, swallowing thickly in a way that makes her nausea evident. "I… really don't feel well."
"How so?" Yang asks, moving back up to ease the ache in her back while making sure that her hands stay close to Blake's face, her way of telling her that she's still right here.
"Nauseous… fuck," Blake grimaces, tilting her head back with her eyelids squeezed shut again, "I don't– don't think I need to be sick. Not yet at least," Still, she's learned over time that asking for help isn't all that bad. "Water would be good," She whispers with a tiny smile.
"Can do." Yang hums, moving her hands back to comb her fingers through ebony black strands, "Sit tight, yeah? I'm gonna call in backup."
Blake laughs at that, relaxing immediately after into Yang's warmth to ensure she's as comfortable as possible for the next wave.
The blonde reaches across to the bedside table, carefully plucking her scroll from the surface, pulling up their teammates' contact info. They're lucky they have a group chat; it allows for any of them to quickly contact the rest in a flash, and it's ideal for team member emergencies like this.
–
Yang XL
rubes weiss
dk where u guys are but do u think u could bring water for blake
oh and a bowl or bucket or bin or something too
Ruby R
yeah of course !! how is she ?? :(
Yang XL
hanging in there but she might be running a fever on top of everything else ://
blanket would be awesome too we have them here i just cant get up 4 them
Weiss S
We'll be right with you, leaving the training hall now.
The others are asking how she is.
How bad is it this time?
Yang XL
i mean i wont lie its a pretty bad one so
brace urselves
pretty sure she wont want a fuss tho
so lie or smth, tell them shes good
team fnki r nice n all n they mean well but the last thing blake needs rn is a private trumpet concert
or nora nattering her ears off
Weiss S
Alright.
Ruby R
iceflower to the rescue !!
u want anything for urself while we r out sis?
Yang XL
nah im good
oh actually ya
strawberry lemonade sounds good right about now
Ruby R
u got it!!!! cya soon <33
Weiss S
Let Blake know we're on the way.
Talk to you soon.
Yang XL
thx girls love ya
–
Setting her scroll back down on the table, Yang redirects her attention to Blake when she feels goosebumps prickle upwards on her skin beneath her fingertips, a physical shiver coursing through her body.
"Rubes and Weiss're coming." Yang tells, "And they're bringing everything you could ever want."
Grinning, Blake quips, "I'll have you know that I have everything I need right here,"
Yang can't help scoffing. "Flirting, Belladonna? Now, really?" She says it as a sarcastic complaint, and yet it brings a giddy smile and a rosy blush to her face. "Gods, I love you," Her fingers massage at her partner's scalp, adding pressure when she feels Blake press into her touch. "But seriously, they're bringing water, a bowl, blankets… anything else come to mind that you might want?"
Thinking deeply for a moment, Blake murmurs a faint nuh-uh noise once she's come to her conclusion.
"We should probably get some food into your system before you sleep, if you'd be up for that." Even though Yang's suggestion isn't commanded or a must, Blake whines at the fact stubbornly. "Hey now, it'll only be something plain. Some crackers or biscuits or something so it lines your stomach,"
The blonde's thumbs and indexes work nimbly to massage at the base of her girlfriend's ears, frowning when her face scrunches up below her.
"Fuck, fuck fuck–" Blake winces, suddenly flitting her ears to wrench them from Yang's hold – immediately, her hands move to comb through her partner's hair instead, trying her best to soothe her through the incoming wave of agony. "Shit, 'm sorry," Blake grimaces, her eyes squeezed shut.
Yang fumbles for a moment, because she can't quite figure out what Blake's apologising for in the first place. "For what?" She asks, but when Blake winces and writhes again she quickly shuts herself down. "You– you don't have to answer tha–"
"Stop," Blake manages to hiss between gritted teeth as she pats Yang's shin stiffly, getting the blonde to press her lips together tightly to stifle any minor utterance that could disturb her partner.
Staying quiet, Yang cautiously moves her hands to massage at Blake's shoulders instead, steering completely clear of Blake's head until she's told she can do otherwise.
She'd be lying if she said the little snaps Blake has to make before the pain envelopes her doesn't hurt, but she knows deep down that it comes from a place of stress. The way the ravenette clings to her despite it all says enough for Yang to be put at ease, to know she can wrap her arms around her partner and all will be well because she'll melt into her warmth like it's all she's ever wanted.
As it subsides, Blake lolls her head slightly to the side, facing out into the rest of the room, pressing her eye firmly into Yang's thigh to stifle the headache that pounds against her skull.
"'m sorry," Blake drawls shakily, trying to get a grasp on her ragged breathing, as she curls further into herself, her ears well and truly tacked to her hair. "I don't mean t– to snap, I just–"
"Hey," Yang croons softly, "It's okay… is… is talking okay?"
Judging by the way Blake presses firmer into Yang's thigh with a subtle head shake, trying to add counterpressure to subdue the pain however she can, the answer is undeniably a no. Her breaths continue, quietly wheezing and raspy.
It wasn't that long ago that they were wading through shallow water after being saved from the deep end, only to be whisked out by a strong current that ruins all of their progress.
No talking. That's fine. Well, it pains Yang that she can't even communicate properly with her loved one, holding her as her body rages a war against itself.
Yang's cool, metallic palm begins to run tenderly through the locks on the back of Blake's head, her heart warming ever so slightly when she feels her press into her touch.
During her moment of bliss, between the hell that is the ripples of pain, Blake clumsily twists to lay on her side, her head still comfortably cushioned by Yang's lap. Her face faces out into the room, and the blonde can already wager a pretty good guess that the upside is the side of her body that's hurting the most.
Apparently, Blake had told her, her migraines started out duller, just a headache on one side of her head. But then it got worse and worse and worse, trailing a path down her entire body until it felt like she was engulfed, suffocated by the agony, dealing with the ringing ears and the blotted eyesight all at once.
Blake being on her side also gives Yang the ability to massage at the top of her back, a place that's ideal for getting the rest of her torso muscles to relax.
Yang works her palm there, trying to unravel the knots as Blake melts into her warmth, pressing the front of her body against Yang's right leg, her arm laying over it so that the blonde can hold her hand, running a soothing thumb over her knuckles.
It's a small gesture, but a one that's a good substitute for words; I'm here, it says, relax, you're safe with me.
Not long after, a faint noise sounds within the room. Blake barely moves in reaction, a small noise coming from her throat involuntarily in response. Yang shushes her gently by running her hand up into her hair, silently telling her that it's okay.
Unbeknownst to her, the intruders in the room were actually Ruby and Weiss, kicking their shoes off at the door to muffle even their footsteps, something Blake probably wouldn't even think of as a disturbance. And yet here her team are, as caring and loving as ever.
Yang moves her hand from Blake's back for just a moment to signal with a single finger to her lips. Ruby and Weiss nod, acknowledging the plea to stay silent.
In Ruby's arms are multiple bottles of water, since sometimes Blake's migraines have her immobilised for quite a while. Then there was Weiss, armed with a bucket and an ice cold strawberry lemonade, a straw and even an umbrella peeking out the top of the cup.
As time has gone on, the two have become rather used to the blonde and ravenette's displays of affection turning outward and unfiltered, little kisses here and there, cuddles, sleeping in the same bunk – they'd come to see it as natural, something that just happens. Weiss had even stopped with the eye rolls, learning to be more appreciative and happy for the couple instead of directing her teasing towards them.
Well, she and Ruby still do tease them now and then. When the feeling arises.
Although it's a struggle, Ruby sets the numerous bottles down on the bedside cabinet, arranging them in a cluster on the furthest side of the tiny table while bringing one closer that'll be easier for Yang to grab. Weiss had set the bucket down with a quiet thunk by their bedside, followed by placing the cup of lemonade on the nightstand.
Then, without warning, the ice queen leans forward and presses a soft kiss to Blake's forehead while Ruby hurries to silently fetch a blanket to lay over her.
Blake squirms, releasing an appreciative hum as she blearily blinks her one visible eye open.
"Yang?" She croaks confusedly, aware that that wasn't Yang, craning her neck back just to feel the pressure of her cool, reassuring and metallic touch against her nape.
Taking that as her cue that she can speak, Yang whispers lowly, bending over to be nearer to Blake's ears for a moment. "Weiss and Ruby're here," She informs her, "Don't worry."
Weiss, perched carefully now on the side of the mattress, sighs in a way that makes it so clear she's smiling; "The kiss was me," She whispers, with a faint laugh, "We didn't know if staying was a good option, what with you needing all the rest you can get, so it was just going to be a well-wish until you were back on your feet."
She explains with a shrug, dodging out of the way for a moment to help Ruby lay the newly fetched fluffy blanket over Blake. It was one she used often, warm and fresh from the dryer, the one blanket they could find at the school store that didn't make her sense of touch go haywire. The pair tenderly tuck it around her form, watching with content as she hums happily at them and flashes a smile.
"Thank you," Blake rasps, a contented sigh releasing all of the tension in the room. It takes a second for her brain to formulate her next words, Weiss perching back on the side of the cot while Ruby situates herself on the floor, leaning against the wall of the Atlas bunk so that she can see all three of her teammates and be there if Blake needs her.
And yet, despite all of their coddling, she's still their ever-caring Blake. "How was training?"
For a second, Weiss and Ruby can't believe their ears, glancing at each other and scoffing before looking back down at Blake, looking so exhausted and weary with her eyes closed that you'd assume she's asleep, or on the brink of it with the way her voice drawls.
"Same as ever," Ruby dismisses, leaning her head on the edge of the mattress, just in front of where Weiss is perched. "Why're you asking us, silly?" She whispers low, her hand reaching up to gingerly rub Blake's shoulder through the fuzzy blanket, "We wanna know how you are."
Blake laughs just a little, but it's clear that she's on her last legs at this point, and yet she's still willing to talk to her teammates because she missed them, missed out on training.
"Guess how I am just by looking at me," Blake tries to joke, but it falls flat because… well, yeah, she doesn't exactly look her best.
As a result, none of them bother to answer her question, all staying silent or huffing small, pathetic attempts at pitied laughter.
Trying to get her attention, Yang runs her prosthetic hand into the back of Blake's hair, tousling it softly for a moment.
"Blake?" She coos, "D'you think you could sit up to have a drink? We've got some water here, and… we can help you up." Yang attempts to offer the chance to get up from what appears to be an admittedly very comfortable position based on the fact that Blake had been purring pretty quietly between waves of pain prior to their two teammates coming in.
Multiple beats of silence pass before Blake makes any noise, this one coming out strangled and weak as her ears, which had raised back to normal thanks to the distraction, pin back down to her skull.
"Shit," Blake's breath hitches, tensing in Yang's hold as the blonde wastes no time moving her metallic hand back down to the top of her back, kneading the tight, knotted muscles there to release the tightness as her partner rolls her head back slightly, her body locking up, the slightest movements igniting pain like fire on dry grass.
"Easy, hon…" Yang soothes, pressing the heel of her palm into a tight-wound muscle on her back while shushing her sweetly.
Weiss and Ruby fuss quietly at their side, hushed words of "Relax, you gotta hold still, Blake…" from a visibly fretting Ruby, while Weiss silently rubs her shoulder under the blanket, a frown upon her face.
It luckily doesn't take long to subside, and this time around, Blake's eyes flutter open and her ears flit upwards, still a little droopy from looming exhaustion.
At the sight of the beautiful, golden irises that she fell in love with and continues to get lost in so often, Yang beams. "There you are,"
The first word and only word Blake speaks in response whisks her team's relieved smiles right away. "Sorry,"
Each of them make some sort of noise – confused, concerned, saddened; (I'll let you match which to who) and then they all cut themselves off when they realise the overlap, trying to keep as quiet as they can for her sake.
It's Weiss who gets the first word in. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Seriously, you have to stop it with the apologies." She's still gently rubbing Blake's arm through the fuzz of her blanket, careful not to move her too much. "We're here for you – and we don't mind leaving if you just want to rest with Yang for a while."
"Yeah," Ruby backs her up, "You could really do with some rest, Blake." She even stands, getting up to hold Yang's lemonade to her sister's mouth, letting her sip from the straw for a moment before placing it back on the nightstand.
"Mm," Blake's voice comes out scratchy, "I– I'm exhausted." Her head rolls onto its side again, nuzzling back into the fabric covering Yang's thigh, letting her eyes flutter shut.
At her words, Yang glances up at Ruby and Weiss, smiling gratefully with a nod, a silent cue that she'll be making the decision for her girlfriend who evidently doesn't have the heart to up and tell them both to give them some space.
But right before they can depart, Yang points to the water bottle on the tableside and smiles as Ruby registers what she's asking, unscrewing the lid for her and setting it back down.
Back when she'd texted them both, she'd neglected to ask for an extra straw – but she's pretty sure Blake won't mind the faint remnants of lemonade on her own straw.
"Don't be afraid to message if you need anything," Weiss mumbles, backing up from the cot with a tender smile. "We won't be far."
The Atlesian girl is already making her way towards the door while Ruby nears Blake for just a moment, leaning over to peck a quick kiss to her forehead.
"Get well soon, Blake." Ruby wishes as the ravenette sleepily flutters her eyelids for a second with a contented hum, causing the youngest girl to smile tenderly as she moves away to join Weiss, not before sending her sister a sweet smile.
The door closes behind them not long after, the two girls waving through the open archway to Yang before it obscures them from view.
Sighing quietly, Yang's gaze moves down to Blake, still snuggled into her lap.
"Blakey?" She croons, "You here with me?"
The yawn Blake lets out a second later is a testament for how desperate sleep is to pull her under. "Barely," She croaks.
Yang hums, her heartstrings being tugged and played sadly with each little murmur that comes from her girlfriend's throat.
"Let's get you some water, yeah?" The blonde whispers, leaning forward to pepper kisses to the side of Blake's face, her heart warming when she hears soft giggles sound beneath her lips.
Moving back up, she reaches over to the nightstand, picking up the water bottle and plucking her own straw from her strawberry lemonade, tapping it on the rim a few times to get rid of the drips.
She plops it into the water, bringing it carefully down next to her thigh where she bends the straw, moving it a little closer to her lips so that Blake can situate it between her partially chapped lips.
"Small sips, okay? Go slow, baby." Yang coaches, her other hand rubbing gently at her back.
Once Blake pushes the straw out of her mouth to signal she's finished with a happy sigh, Yang sets the bottle back on the bedside table and turns her attention fully back to her partner.
"Rest now," She urges, "Gods know you need it." Yang combs her fingers lightly through Blake's hair, testing the water by edging her thumb closer to the base of her ear to knead the furry area there, smiling happily when Blake moves her ear towards the blonde's hand as a clear indicator that she can assume her scratches. "I'm sorry I couldn't read to you,"
"Yang," Blake breathes, "I would never force you to if you're going to struggle," Her words slurred slightly from her exhaustion, "But if you ever wanted to… I'd love to listen," Yang feels her smile into her leg, giving the blonde's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Yang chuckles as she squeezes her partner's hand right back. "You're sweet, y'know?" She scratches at the base of Blake's ears, beaming when she hears a purr begin to rumble from the back of her lover's throat, a telltale sign that she's as comfortable as can be. "And… I'll think on that. I'd love to, but I guess I just panic while reading aloud." She shrugs, "What with the– the stumbling over words and all that,"
"I get that," Blake reassures, "But I wouldn't mind that one bit." She wriggles for a moment, moving into a comfier position, even if it's only one or two inches off what she was before. "Everyone has reading quirks… even me," She insists.
Yang doubts it. "You do?"
"I do," Blake reaffirms, then frowns, squeezing her eyes shut as she presses further into Yang's leg. "Talking's a little hard,"
That was inevitable – Yang knew Blake's streak of talking could only last so long while she was like this.
"Tell me another time, yeah?" Yang urges, leaning over again to delicately press a kiss to Blake's temple, trailing them across and over the visible side of her forehead.
Blake giggles against the ticklish sensation of Yang's lips, pressing gently into the feeling. It must work like a charm, because she continues despite what seemed to be an influx of pain disappearing into thin air. "When you meet my mom–" She stops to take a deep breath, continuing during her exhale, "-she'll probably show you my phonics video,"
"Your phonics video?" Yang laughs slightly, "What's that about?" She asks it half to keep Blake talking, and half because she's actually genuinely interested – she'd never seen a baby photo of Blake, whereas Ruby had taken Blake on a tour of every childhood photo she had saved on her scroll.
"Mom and dad were helping me with homework this one time," Blake recalls, speaking so quietly that Yang has to strain to hear, "And they kept telling me to just… sound the words out and– Gods, it was horrendous," She laughs tenderly, squeezing Yang's hand. "My mom shows that video to everyone, so… prepare for it when you meet her,"
Her voice is still raspy, and Yang's heart aches at the sound. The fact that Blake isn't even fighting Yang's conversations off but actively participating instead of sleeping doesn't sit well with her.
"You've seen every baby photo of me that Ruby has at her disposal." Yang jokes, "When your mom gets the photo album out, you best believe I'm going through it with her."
"Noooooo," Blake whines, her tone cloaked with sleep in a way that makes you think she'd probably just been woken up. "The phonics video is bad enough." She nuzzles into Yang's warmth, drained of energy, leaving a beat of silence before completely backpedaling the topic, something the blonde knows her partner does purposefully when she'd rather talk about something else.
Her head seems to flinch for a moment, the blonde registering the fluttering of her eyelashes where she blinks sleepily. "Yang?"
"Mm?"
"I keep almost falling asleep," Blake regards, limply squeezing her girlfriend's hand, "'s it okay if I don't respond while you're talking?"
Yang huffs a momentary exhale of laughter, humming right after. "Of course, babe." She leans over yet again to kiss her partner's temple, "I love you," And another to her forehead, "And I hope you rest well… oh, you know what?"
Before Blake can completely drift off, Yang reaches over to the bedside table, picking up the book her partner had previously talked about.
There's no bookmark, indicating it's most likely one of the ones Blake had picked up on their weekly team shopping trips into Atlas, the pages fresh and spine not yet creased.
"Don't laugh if I fuck up and say shit instead of sit or something, alright?" Yang teases, nudging her sleepy partner.
Blake chuckles lightly in her lap, but stops as her ears flit to the sound of the book cover opening. "Are you sure you're okay with it? You don't have t–"
"Blake," Yang shushes when she feels the ravenette tense up in pain mid-sentence, "I'm fine. Promise. You just relax… get your beauty rest."
Without arguing, Blake settles comfortably, getting ready to let sleep finally take her now that its let down its stubborn front.
"I love you," Blake rasps, giving one final squeeze to Yang's hand, lifting it ever so slightly to press a kiss to calloused knuckles.
Resting the book in her left hand, Yang offers a loving squeeze to the hand holding her right. "Love you… Sweet dreams, Blakey." She croons, "I'll be here when you wake up."
With a nimble finger, Yang flicks to the first page and clears her throat.