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The wind rushing past her caught her notice before her sight returned. It raged against her body and whipped her blonde hair wildly about her head. The burning scent of ozone and precipitation passed through her with every breath she took. Beneath her, the ground swayed and wavered back and forth. Yang chanced to open her eyes.
They widened as she took in her new surroundings. The rope bridge beneath her creaked precariously loudly and Yang’s hands shot out to grab onto the old rope stretched out on either side of her. She looked down and her heart leapt into her throat. Her boots held her up on a worn wooden plank wrapped on either side by rope and below that? A cloudy swirling abyss, its monstrous voice rushing in her ears. She had no further planks to step on, no way to move forward. She’d never been particularly afraid of heights, but looking at the fall, Yang was paralyzed.
And then a call reached her, impossibly rising above the roar. Her head shot up, amethyst eyes wide in shock. Yang’s heart thumped against her chest when she saw her.
“Blake!” It slipped out involuntarily.
She seemed miles away, in the same situation as Yang found herself, grasping desperately to the harsh rope bridge, her only source of stability amongst the rolling cumulonimbus around them. Blake gasped for breath, amber eyes wide in fear and uncertainty. Yet between them, a white stone platform rose to connect their bridges, anchoring them where they stood. Yang stared at the girl across from her, saw how her ears flattened against the dark of her hair, watched how she seemed to be begging Yang for an answer. I have to get to her.
“You alright?” Yang called above the wind, praying her voice would reach Blake. Yet even as the words left her lips, the rush of the wind slowed, as if it wanted Yang to be heard.
“I’ll feel a lot better when we’re together , on that platform.”
Despite the world around them, the words warmed Yang and she knew, without a doubt, that was what she wanted too. But Blake’s gasp caught her attention and Yang watched as a plank materialized in front of Blake. She watched as her partner took a tentative step onto it, then straightened up, eyes on Yang. The wind slowed more, ever so slightly. Yang studied the planks she stood on. The fall between them. Then she met Blake’s gaze again.
“Do you think it’s a password or something?” Yang furrowed her brow. “Together! Platform!”
Nothing appeared. Yet, they didn’t seem as far apart as Yang initially thought as Blake’s gentle voice reached her again, softer and quieter, but still the clearest thing Yang had ever heard, “No luck?”
Yang hung her head, shaking it. But her despair didn’t last long because Blake had been able to do it. If anyone could figure this out, it’d be her.
She looked back up at Blake, a small rush of warmth seeping into her chest, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out though. You’re good at this stuff.” She smiled despite her lingering fear.
Blake returned her own soft smile, “You think so?”
Yang’s smile strengthened, “Of course. You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met. You’re… brilliant.” When the last word left her mouth, two planks appeared in her path, which she excitedly took. The warmth grew stronger. Across the chasm, Blake stood, staring intently at Yang, her eyes shining in the low light. Yang continued, “Okay, that did something. I…” She paused. “… I talked about you, right? So…” Yang’s heart pounded wildly away in her chest, as though it meant to escape. What should she say? What could she say?
“You… have cat ears?”
Across the gap, Blake’s gaze softened, her left ear twitched happily above her dark hair.
Nothing happened. Yang’s heart dropped ever so slightly. But meeting Blake’s gentle gaze, she said, “…I think your cat ears are cute.” She’d never told Blake that before, but it felt right to say. She felt a warm flush fall over her skin, and it seemed to combat the effects of the wind. A plank appeared. Yang danced onto it, the smallest thrill taking over, “Nailed it!” She frowned just a bit in bemusement. “Even if we don’t know what it is, exactly.” Yang looked up in excitement and met the gaze of amber eyes. The loveliest blush kissed Blake’s cheeks, who looked like she’d been startled, pretty eyes wide and mouth parted ever so slightly. Yang realized exactly what she had just said, but she couldn’t take it back now.
Blake’s voice was melodiously pleased as the shyest grin stretched across her face and she responded, “You think my ears are cute?” A hand reached up to brush against one of the ears absentmindedly and Yang longed to join the movement. “Of course. I think they’re adorable… and soft and sometimes I just wish I could reach out and…” Yang stopped herself, her eyes widening. She couldn’t say that out loud. But based on the gleam in Blake’s eyes, Yang didn’t need to. The moment stretched infinitely like the fall between them and Yang wished Blake would grant her mercy and break it. Her heart pounded deafeningly in the silence.
“Your eyes are the prettiest color I've ever seen.” It was blurted out, as if Blake couldn’t help but say it. As if she had been holding it back, but no longer had control over her voice. Yang’s jaw dropped a little at the admission. A plank appeared at Blake’s feet. She took the next step. Her cat ears were folded back nervously, but Blake kept her gaze. Yang’s flush deepened. She couldn’t keep her eyes off of the girl in front of her. It was only a testament to how well Yang knew Blake that she could see the gears turning in Blake’s head. Her golden eyes darted down momentarily before finding Yang’s again.
She bit her lip before opening her mouth hesitantly, “Maybe… it’s responding to things we’ve never said to each other before?”
Yang sent her a small smile, “It’s worth a shot.” What was something she’d never told Blake before? A memory surfaced. She cleared her throat, still working on forcing the blush on her cheeks to abate, and said, “I used to cheat off of your papers during exams at school.” She looked at Blake expectantly, whose ears were again flattened as she glared half-heartedly at Yang across the gap between them.
“I already knew that, Yang. You weren’t exactly subtle about it.”
Yang chuckled, “I guess that’s fair. Okay, something else then.” She thought for another moment. “I… thought you were the coolest person ever when we first met. I was disappointed when you didn’t want to talk.” Yang stepped forward onto the new plank that materialized at her words. It seemed Blake had cracked the code. Not that Yang ever doubted she would.
Blake laughed lightly, “I was a little wary of people in general. And, I never was really good at talking. But… I like that you didn’t give up on me. You’ve always been there for me, even when I wasn’t there for you,” Blake looked away shamefully, but she didn't stop talking, “Yang, I think you’re an incredible person. Your passion is intoxicating… you’re the bravest and strongest person I’ve ever met. You make me feel like maybe I can be too.” And with her words, five planks appeared. Blake took them immediately, straightening up and smiling brilliantly at Yang, “Try to keep up!”
Yang was never one to back down from a challenge.
“I always liked that you were never intimidated by me. And you never put up with any of my shit. You’ve always had my back, made me want to be better.” Yang took a breath, steeling herself, letting the words trickle out of her like a crack in a dam. “Watching you fight takes my breath away. And I… you… You’re just about my favorite person in the world. When you were away from me, I felt like a piece of me was missing. I—” Yang stopped herself, not even sure herself of what she might say next if she continued. Her words had definitely done the trick, though. A line of planks paved a path in front of her. She took it. Yang looked up at Blake, haloed in the strengthening light that swirled around them where the storm clouds had once been. Yang let out a soft gasp. In her expression was something Yang didn't have words for yet. Blake standing there, flushed and smiling so tenderly, golden eyes shining in the light, was the most beautiful thing Yang had ever seen. Yet they were still too far away from the platform, there was still the possibility of falling.
Blake’s voice played through her ears like a song, “Let’s make this quicker. Any big truths we haven’t dropped yet?”
And looking at Blake, standing there staring at Yang like she was the sun, only one thought came to Yang.
But she couldn’t say that, right? She averted her gaze, scared the words would spill out of her if she looked at Blake any longer. Scared, she’d lose her balance and fall.
Yet the instant she looked away, a sensation like a hook dragged her back farther from the platform again, Blake in tow as they were forced even farther apart. Yang was forced to grab ahold of the ropes astride her so she wouldn’t plummet. Finding her balance again, Yang’s head shot up to look at Blake who mimicked her stance.
Her ears drooped and she was looking at Yang so sadly that Yang felt her heart shatter inside of her.
“Did you just think of something… but didn’t say it?”
Yang’s heart stopped in its tracks. In the golden light, she flushed, eyes wide. She ran a hand through her bangs, eyes darting away, “That… can’t be what this is about…” but then she was back looking at those beautiful, pleading eyes.
Blake stood looking at her as if the only thing that ever mattered to her was what Yang would say. Like she was the only person in the world.
It was like a cliff. Once Yang stepped off, she knew she would free fall.
But with the way Blake was looking at Yang so gently, all Yang wanted to do was fall with her. To surrender herself to the fall. To her.
“… Just say it, Yang.” She said her name like a prayer. And Yang knew. They would fall. Together.
“I think I love you.”
“I love you too.”
And then Blake was there, warm and real in her arms. Yang held her face tenderly, drinking in the fact that Blake was there, that she loved her . That in the golden twilight, Blake was more perfect than anything else the world could ever create. She drank in the dark silky hair framing her flawless face, the curve of her cheekbones, the slope of her nose, the golden flecks dancing in her eyes, the soft parting of her lips. And Blake did the same, looking up at Yang with the same expression as earlier. The one that Yang knew now was pure and unadulterated love.
It took no thought at all. She leaned down and pressed her lips against Blake’s slowly and softly, one arm reaching around her waist, the other cradling her jaw, guiding her impossibly closer. The dark haired girl responded longingly, pressing into the kiss and pulling on the collar of Yang’s jacket. Yang tilted her head to the side to deepen it, moving her mouth against Blake’s lips as though it was the last thing she’d ever do.
Blake loved her and she loved Blake and they were falling so gently together.