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That first night in Vacuo when Yang curled up to Blake in bed with her prosthetic still on, Blake didn't question it. They were both exhausted and she figured Yang forgot to take it off.
The second night as they settled into bed and Yang kept it on, Blake was about to ask but soon Yang's lips were on hers and all her thoughts went out the window.
It was the third night when Blake finally got to ask the question bothering her. Yang was already in bed, but Blake sat on top of the covers next to her.
Yang looked over at her and frowned. "What's up?"
"When we were in Atlas you took off your arm most nights, but you haven't taken it off since we got it back from the Jinxy Peddler."
"Stupid trash panda thief."
Blake placed a hand over Yang's metallic arm. "Why haven't you taken it off?"
Yang sat up and looked away. "Do you have a problem with it?"
Blake was shocked. "What? Of course not! I love all of you and that includes this."
Yang looked at Blake, "Then why do you want me to take it off?"
Blake tried to figure out how to explain herself. "I don't, but I am curious as to why you haven't taken it off. What's different from Atlas?"
Yang's face shifted and instantly she looked uncomfortable. "Well, we were safer in Atlas then. Who knows when Salem will attack? Better to have it on."
Blake pursed her lips. "Yang, you're not a very good liar."
Yang winced at the clear disappointment in Blake's voice. She opened her mouth to tell Blake exactly why she hadn't taken off her arm, but nothing came out.
Yang got out of bed and started pacing, trying to distract herself from the anxiety spiking in her.
Blake stood up and watched her girlfriend pace back and forth. "Yang?"
Yang paused and looked at Blake, opened her mouth to talk, then closed it to pace again.
Blake went over to her and held her shoulders to hold Yang in place. "Yang, what is it? Talk to me."
"I'm trying," Yang said miserably.
Blake tried to figure out what she could say to help her girlfriend. "You don't want to take off your arm."
Yang shook her head.
"And it has nothing to do with Salem."
Again Yang shook her head.
"Okay, does it have to do with me?"
Yang paused then shyly nodded.
"Alright, what about me?"
"I..." Yang took a deep breath and exhaled. "I can't hold you without it," she mumbled.
Blake's heart shattered. The love Blake felt was so immense it was almost overwhelming. She reined in her emotions and smiled softly at Yang. "Take it off."
"What?"
"Take it off, Yang."
"Blake..."
"If you really don't want to, I won't push you, but I'd like you to take your arm off."
Yang exhaled shakily. "Okay." She moved to twist it off, but Blake stopped her.
"Let me?"
Yang nodded slowly.
Blake was grateful she had spent so much time watching Yang in everything she did. Blake found the latch after a short bit of searching and twisted the arm off easily. She set it down on the bedside table before turning back to Yang.
"Hold me," Blake said.
"Blake..."
"Hold me, babe."
Yang blushed. "Babe?"
"Do you like it?"
Yang nodded quickly.
"Good, so are you going to keep me standing here or are you going to hold me?"
Yang moved slowly, then wrapped her left arm and stump around Blake and pulled her close. Blake brought her arms around Yang and relaxed in her hold.
After a moment Yang asked quietly. "Is this okay?"
Blake hummed happily as she nuzzled against her girlfriend's neck. "It's perfect."
"Yeah?"
"Yes."
The two held each other for a long moment before Yang pulled away. "Come on, let's get into bed."
Blake nodded and the two got under the covers. Blake looked at the metal cap over Yang's stump. She lightly grazed the cap. "Doesn't this usually come off too?"
"It doesn't have to."
"You're right, but why does it have to stay on?"
Yang sighed, but removed it and Blake gasped when she saw the dark red and yellow stains on the white cloth cap covering Yang's stump. Blake automatically reached out for Yang's stump, but Yang moved it behind her back.
"It's okay, Blake."
"Okay!? It is not okay, Yang. Let me see."
"Blake, really..."
'"Let. Me. See." Blake's voice brooked no disagreement.
Yang turned towards Blake and Blake gently took her stump in her hands. Blake’s fingers rested at the edge of the white cloth cap. "I'm going to take this off."
Yang was looking down at the covers on the bed. She nodded.
Blake as gently as she could peeled the cloth away and her heart sank as she exposed the weeping raw skin of Yang's stump. Blake felt the tears in her eyes, but did her best to reign it in. If she broke Yang would comfort her and Blake needed Yang to know the comfort could go both ways. "Stay here."
Blake got up and grabbed the first aid kit from the bathroom cabinet, taking a quick steadying breath before returning to her girlfriend. Blake set down the kit on the bed and opened it up. She carefully inspected the stump. Mostly it was raw, the skin rubbed away, but there were areas of bleeding where the metal cap had torn into the skin.
She pulled out the topical antibiotic cream and lathered it on the wounds, before bandaging it up and resting a gentle light kiss on the bandage.
Blake heard Yang sniffle and Blake quickly set aside the first aid kit before holding Yang as she cried softly into Blake's shirt. Blake rubbed Yang's back in what she hoped were consoling comforting circles.
A few minutes later Yang quieted as she croaked, "Are you mad at me?"
Blake held Yang more tightly. "Of course not. Why would I be mad at you?"
"You seemed angry."
Blake hummed. "I was angry. Seeing you hurt like that makes me feel...I guess fiercely protective? So yes, I was angry, but I was never mad at you." Blake paused. "Did you know it was that bad?"
"No. I...I don't have much feeling there, but I know when I don't give my arm breaks it can rub at the skin. I didn't know it had gotten that bad."
"Think you can handle a few days without your arm? Give it time to heal up?"
"I don't know. Tonight has been a lot and my mind is kinda fuzzy."
"You're right. Let's get some sleep, babe."
Yang squeezed Blake. "I really like it when you call me that."
"I'll have to use it more often."
"Definitely do it in front of Weiss. I want to see her reaction."
Blake laughed. "You got it." Blake shifted to lay down on the bed and pulled Yang to lie next to her. Yang held Blake closely and started to drift off.
"Blake?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now sleep, babe. We'll talk more in the morning."
"Talking. Yay," Yang deadpanned.
"Go to sleep, Yang."
"Alright, baby," she sleepily replied.
Blake's body warmed at the pet name from her girlfriend and it wasn't long before she joined her in sleep.