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Why not???

[Yang's eyes are a vivid red as she barks the words out, still seated but now glaring up at Blake from the floor like a dog that's finally been kicked too much. She honestly did not think she had this kind of anger left in her but that last statement had spurred it out of her and she latches onto it like a lifeline because anger is better than the sadness that's threatening to over-whelm her or, worse, feeling nothing at all.

She grits her teeth.]

This is making you uncomfortable, right? You don't wanna see me like this??

[It's a little unclear whether she's referring to the version of her sitting in bed or the version of her currently screaming.]

You don't need my help to get away from it!!

[It takes her a moment for the words she's screaming to actually catch up to her and the minute they do, the regret is instantaneous as the red of her irises retreats to a sorrowful purple and she curls in on herself.

She hasn't changed one bit. For all her talk of wanting to be a team again and moving past what happened, all this time she's just been lying. To herself and, worse, to her friends. She's still the same volatile, contentious hot-head that got her team kicked out of the tournament. The same person who couldn't do a damn thing to protect her partner. The same person that pushed her own sister away when Ruby had needed her most.]

...I-I'm sorry. [She curls up tighter.] ...I'm so sorry...

[Blake shouldn't have to deal with this. With her.]

You know what? So am I!

[ Blake's not quite a yeller, never has been. She stuffs her anger and her fear down rather than act it out, redirects it into study and strategy and the relentless pursuit of justice. But right now there's a frantic edge to her voice. ]

I am so sorry! So fucking sorry, Yang! I don't want this, any of this, but I am sick and tired of running away!

[ She dashes a hand across her eyes, holding herself still in place for a long moment. Then she reaches down to touch Yang's shoulder. Her fingers are shaking. ]

Please. [ It's a lot quieter now. ] Get up.

[Yang stiffens at the touch. She can feel the shaking even through her jacket. Or perhaps the pressure is enough to let her feel the way her own shoulders are trembling but, in the end, the result is the same.

Her hands fist where they're crossed over her knees before she reaches up to grasp Blake's wrist. It's an iron-strong grip but still gentle, as Yang carefully uncurls herself and stands. She just doesn't want to lose track of Blake...in case the room shifts settings on them again before they can get out.]

Let's go.

[Her voice is low with a sort of forced calm but, much like her grip, there's no malice in it. They have to get out of this stupid room. And they will. And then...well, it doesn't matter. They just have to get out.

Yang's first thought is to try the lone door across from the bed, but opening it reveals just the view of the hallway and the landing of the stairs she remembers from her home. There's the brief idea of using the window to escape before something else occurs to her and she almost has to smile at the irony of it.

Of course the way out would be the same way she left it back home.

She chances a look in Blake's direction, trying to push some reassurance into her voice. It comes out sounding more than a little awkward.]

Follow me.

[Still keeping her grip on Blake's wrist, she'll carefully lead them out of the bedroom, away from the depressing image of her double, into the hallway and to the staircase. In the back of her mind, Yang could almost be impressed that this is all mirrors and illusions as they carefully pick their way down the flight of stairs. It certainly feels real.

She doesn't pause to look at the familiar living room the staircase deposits them into, ignoring the temptation to peek into the nearby kitchen as well. They have to get out. And the way out is straight ahead. Through the front door beyond the living room.

It would have been nice to have been met with warm bright sunlight as they leave, the way she had when she'd taken that first step outside with her prosthetic on. But instead it's just near dark of twilight and the cold air of the mountain as they exit the mirror room and step back out into the real world.

Yang takes a long, deep breath, belatedly realizing she's still holding Blake's wrist. Carefully, she lets go, turning her head just enough so that she can meet her gaze and offer a small, sad smile.]

That wasn't so hard...

[...Humor is the only fallback she has left.]

[ What can Blake do? Silent, exhausted after her outburst, she allows herself to be led. The door, the hallway, the stairs. All so real, almost too-real, edges and corners looming over-sharp in that way that the world looks when you're on the verge of a breakdown. It could be the illusion, or maybe it's just their state of mind. Some other time she might be curious about Yang's home, but she can't muster the energy right now.

The scent of pine trees that surrounds them as they find themselves back on the mountainside might be the best thing she's ever smelt in her life.

She smiles back, tentative, though her eyes are still wet and there's a hitch in her voice. ]

Piece of cake.

[ In a rare moment of impulse, she angles in for a hug, hesitating at the last second. ]

[There's a brief wave of anxiousness that runs up her spine at the aborted gesture. It's not the kind of stiffness that accompanies somebody who doesn't want to be hugged; there's no movement on Yang's part to back away from it. Just...somebody who doesn't know how to handle something like that. Which is strange given how much of a hugger Yang is in her own right.

The truth is, there's nothing more she'd love right now than a hug. But at the same time, she has no idea where she even stands anymore with Blake after, well...after everything, but particularly what just happened a few minutes ago. So before she even has a chance to really psyche herself up for a hug, Blake's already hesitated and the tension sags right out of her.

She's quiet just a moment while she gathers herself and then she's meeting Blake's gaze again, expression carefully neutral.]

...I really am sorry...about what I said. [Subconsciously, her right arm moves across to steady the slight trembling in her left.] That was wrong...throwing that in your face like that.

[She hesitates a moment, briefly wondering if she could get away with just leaving it at that, but there's something else that needs to be said and she can't keep ignoring it anymore.]

It's not fair for me to tell you everything's okay and then... [She makes a vague gesture towards herself with her hand.] ...Do this.

Nothing has been fair. For months. Years. Our lives aren't fair. Let's forget about it. I mean, no, not forget, we can't forget everything that's happened, that we've done. I know it doesn't work like that.

[ She can't hide the pain in her voice, or the hope. ]

But can we just -- agree that we both fucked up, and agree to try again?

[ Now she does go in for the hug, swallowing her terror and steeling herself for just a millisecond before she leans in. Golden curls brush her cheek as she carefully wraps her arms around Yang. Moving slow, as if she's gentling a spooked animal. No; it goes both ways. What a pair they make: two spooked animals, trying to gentle each other.

She exhales a huff of breath into Yang's hair, a sound that could be a laugh or a sob. ]

[She wants to laugh at how bluntly Blake puts it; no more dancing around each other or any of that bullshit, but the noise stalls in her throat. The tension returns at that hug but again it's only anticipatory as Yang remains frozen in place while Blake puts her arms around her. She's briefly reminded of another place and time, an empty classroom, and an embrace that's both the same and not at all like this one...

Her composure lasts just long enough for her to nod her head in answer, words failing her as she chokes out a noise that's definitely a sob. In the next instant, she has her arms around Blake in return, almost clinging to her as if she's the only thing keeping her standing right now. With the way Yang is trembling, she may well be.]

I missed you. [She manages to squeeze the words out in-between shaky intakes of breath.] I missed you so much.

[Maybe it's the lingering rawness of seeing herself back in that room, back in that bed, and the realization not just how much she hasn't changed, but of how much she was still trying to hold back, trying to fool herself as much as those around her, that finally has her letting go like this. Crying is embarrassing, crying in public even worse, but she can't even care. In this moment, she's just glad that Blake is here.

Born of her emotions, the gentlest of raindrops start to cascade down onto the two of them. But despite the altitude and the cold mountain air, the drops will feel like a warm spring shower than a harsh freezing rain.]

[ The rain comes down around them, a quiet rhythm pattering on broad leaves and bare rock and dirt. The twilight, which had been a vaguely threatening dimness just a few moments ago, seems to settle around them like a velvety blanket. Blake listens to the rain, listens to the echo of Yang's words. She stands there and holds her for what feels like an age. Overwhelmed by the scent of her -- her hair, her scarf, the warmth, their breath.

For the first time in a long time, she feels calmed by Yang's closeness. ]

I missed you too.

[Those words seem to have a profound effect on Yang, her head ducking a little as she was about to bury her face in Blake's shoulder, catching herself and instead settling for simply squeezing her in closer. Several long minutes pass by as Yang remains steadfastly in place, hugging Blake to her and crying quietly in earnest. Her heart feels like it's about to burst; from grief, from happiness, from the sheer weight of how much Blake and their partnership means to her, from the relief that she's here, right now. Still here...

Finally, after yet another long shaky inhale, Yang starts to gather herself again. She doesn't fully let Blake go just yet, but her hold relaxes slowly, enough that she can straighten and meet Blake's gaze. Yang's eyes are red, not her irises but the whites around them, and puffy from tears, the streaks easily visible down her cheeks even as she tries to pull her features into a watery smile.

It's still raining around them and Yang coughs out a laugh that only just qualifies as such.]

Oh god... [Another laugh, this one clearly embarrassed.] I got you all wet, I'm sorry.

[At this point, she has to try to laugh at something or she's afraid she's going to start crying again.]

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Thanks for setting this up! No worries about any slow I've been the same lol

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SORRY....it got lost in my inbox

No worries! This week has been murder orz

orz orz i feel it

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