Chapter Text
“Ah, dammit.” Blake cursed through her teeth as blood welled up on the tip of her thumb. The sewing needle in her kit had become worn and dull, making it hard to push through the leather of the book she was rebinding. She quickly drew her hand away so the blood wouldn’t dribble on the crumbly, yellowed pages. It was an ancient medical textbook one of the professors in town had asked her to fix, paying her a modest sum of a few coins in exchange for the work. The thread had been weak and frayed and many of the pages had come loose from the binding. It was clearly going to be more work than what Blake had been paid, but she didn’t complain. It was something to do after all.
She wrapped her throbbing finger in a bandage and waited for the bleeding to stop before picking up the needle to examine it. The tip was beginning to bend sideways from being pushed through the incredibly thick cover of the textbook. Blake sighed. That was her last one, meaning she would have to travel into town and buy a new sewing kit with sturdier needles. She glanced at her little box of savings sitting over the fireplace. Nothing to contribute this time.
The sun was still high and bright in the clouds, probably just after lunchtime. Blake gathered up her coin pouch and travel bag, counting out the exact amount she would need for the sewing kit, plus a bit extra just in case she spied something else along the way. She also grabbed her scarf, draping it carefully over her head and tying it snugly under her chin.
Blake stepped into the garden and paused to dribble some water over her herb sprouts and vegetables growing in neat rows. Everything was so tranquil in her own secluded part of the forest and that’s just how Blake preferred it. She never had to worry about prying eyes or nosy neighbors trying to get a peek through her windows. She was utterly alone.
Town was different.
Vale was a bustling and busy place to live. It was rapidly expanding and the population was booming more than ever thanks to the soaring lumber industry the town was founded on. Blake’s parents owned their own tavern, The White Fang, that was filled to the brim with an array of colorful characters almost every night. Every time she stopped by to visit, her father would drop hints that they wanted Blake to move into town with them and work at the bar. And every time she had to reassure him that she was perfectly happy in the woods.
She could never tell them that she hated Vale.
Blake kept her head down as she walked past the town entrance. The square was bustling as usual with merchants and buyers alike. It was easy to get lost in the crowd and it was the only thing that helped Blake relax. Nobody was staring at her. Nobody paid any attention to her at all. She followed the flow of people until she ended up at the seamstress. It was a small, modest shop run by an older woman named Maria who was half blind and wore the thickest glasses Blake had ever seen. Despite her age, she was still incredibly quick with a needle and could fix a garment that had been torn to shreds with her eyes closed.
Maria also ran the shop with her young, energetic apprentice Ruby who was incredibly fast at sewing but inexperienced and clumsy. But she was young and still learning, so Maria had more patience for her than others. As loud and boisterous as she was, Blake still liked Ruby and didn’t mind her company when she visited since Maria was quite grumpy. It was nice to have someone to balance it out.
As soon as the bell above the door rang, Ruby was up out of her seat. “Blake!”
She rushed forward faster than humanly possible and had Blake wrapped in a tight hug before the door could even slam shut behind them.
“Hello Ruby,” Blake said politely, “It’s nice to see you.”
“You haven’t come by for tea in forever,” Ruby whined, “And don’t lie about being busy!”
“I have been busy,” Blake laughed softly, “You know books don’t bind themselves.” Ruby huffed but couldn’t hide her pleased grin.
“Wait here, I’ll go put on some water!” Ruby said excitedly, “We just got some tea imported from Menagerie that tastes like sweet berries!”
Blake had to stop herself from wincing at the name of her home village, instead she smiled pleasantly as Ruby rushed into the back of the shop.
“I thought I heard Ruby shout your name.” Maria said in her usual brisk tone as she came limping down the wooden staircase, “Nearly gave me a damned heart attack.”
“Hello Maria,” Blake said. Maria motioned towards the table with her cane.
“What brings you in today?” She asked, gazing at Blake over the rims of her thick glasses. Her eyes were a cloudy silver, much like Ruby’s, and Blake often wondered if they were related.
“I need a new sewing kit.” Blake said, “The textbook I’m mending had a thicker spine than I was expecting.”
Maria hummed and nodded, “I think that can be arranged.”
“If you have any thicker needles that would be appreciated.”
Maria didn’t answer, studying Blake intensely with her piercing gaze, “Have you considered my offer at all?”
Blake’s father wasn’t the only one trying to convince her to move out of the forest.
“I don’t think now is a good time.” Blake said, averting her eyes towards the kitchen where Ruby was bustling about, “I’m content where I’m at now.”
It was half true at least. Blake had to admit to herself that she did get lonely sometimes but it was often a fleeting feeling. Moving to an overcrowded village wouldn’t fix that.
“You’re talented with a needle.” Maria continued, “And you know Ruby absolutely adores you.”
“Your offer is generous,” Blake said diplomatically, “But right now I think it’s best for me to stay where I am. I’m happy there.”
“Sometimes I can’t tell who you’re trying to convince,” Maria said, “But the offer still stands.”
“Tea!” Ruby loudly announced, holding a tray laden with cups and a steaming teapot. They wobbled dangerously as she walked over to the table a little too fast.
“Slow down for once!” Maria snapped at her, finally turning her attention away from Blake, “You’re going to spill hot water on someone!” Ruby grinned and shrugged off Maria’s words, passing a cup to each of them. She carefully poured the brownish-red tea into each cup, leaving enough space for milk and sugar if one desired.
Blake recognized what kind of tea this was. Smelling it made her pulse jump in her throat as she thought of villagers pelting her with rocks. She tried to hide the shaky grip she had on the cup. That wasn’t the memory she wanted to associate with a tea from her hometown.
“Do you like it Blake?” Ruby asked, eyes wide and expecting. She had already drained half of her cup. Blake took a small sip, forcing the anxious part of her brain to be quiet. It tasted pleasantly sweet and flowery, reminding her of rainy days spent with her mother by the fireplace. That’s what the tea should’ve tasted like in the first place.
“It’s very good.” Blake said, “Doesn’t need sugar at all.” But she already knew that of course.
“Why did you put four cups out?” Maria asked, eyeing the extra mug.
“Oh, Yang might stop by!” Ruby said, “She should’ve been here by now.”
As if right on cue, the door banged open and a girl with wild blonde curls and a devil-may-care grin came strutting into the shop. At once, Ruby was up out of her seat, arms already wrapped around her before Blake even had time to blink.
“Yang!” Ruby squealed, making both Maria and Blake wince in their seats, “I knew you’d come!”
“Of course, kid.” Yang knuckled the top of Ruby’s head, “As soon as you said you had tea from Menagerie I was on my way.”
“You mean you didn’t come to see your loving sister?” Ruby asked with a pout.
Yang tapped her chin in thought as if seriously considering the matter.
“Nope.” She shrugged, causing Ruby to try and playfully tackle her.
Blake watched curiously while the two sisters bantered by the door. Yang was holding a bag of sweets high above her head where Ruby couldn’t reach them. It was odd that aside from a few similar facial features, they looked nothing alike. Yang was tall, blonde and built with thick bands of muscle whereas Ruby was dark-haired, tiny and slender. Blake couldn’t process the thought of them sharing the same gene pool.
“Hello Yang,” Maria said stiffly, her lips pursed in a disapproving manner.
“Hey Grams!” Yang grinned, either ignoring or not noticing Maria’s icy greeting, “Good to see you’re still kicking!”
“Of course I’m still kicking,” Maria muttered darkly under her breath, “I’m not that old.”
“Hey Ruby, who’s your friend?” Yang asked suddenly, eyes snapping to Blake, “You’re a terrible host for not introducing me.”
“Oh!” Ruby stopped grabbing for the sweets, “Yang this is Blake! She fixes books!”
“Nice to meet you,” Blake stood up and held out her hand. Yang took it in a firm grip and Blake could feel the calluses underneath. “Do you work at the lumber mill?”
“Nope!” Yang barked a laugh, “I’m kind of a wanderer. I do my own thing.”
“Sounds like you have some interesting stories to tell,” Blake said admirably.
Yang shrugged modestly, “Oh you know, I’ve been around.” She took a seat at the table and poured herself a cup of tea, quickly sprinkling something over the top when she thought nobody was looking. Blake could see Maria practically glaring at Yang’s mug.
“Blake, I’m going to get your sewing kit together,” She said, quickly getting up from the table, “It might take a few minutes.”
“Thank you Maria,” Blake said, feeling surprised by the sudden exit. She tromped up the stairs until they could hear her footsteps up above.
“Grumpy as always,” Yang said casually, taking a swig of her tea.
“What’s the beef between you two?” Blake asked curiously. She knew Maria was often bad-tempered and surly but she wasn’t known to outright hate anyone.
“We just have some disagreements,” Yang said vaguely, glancing over at Ruby who was staring down at her empty cup, “So you bind books huh?”
“Uhm yeah kind of,” Blake said, “Just locally. It’s mostly a repair job.”
Yang’s eyes glittered.
“Bet you wish you were the best in the trade huh?” She asked, leaning forward over her cup, “Lots of money involved for that sort of thing.”
“Yang stop it.” Ruby said suddenly, not looking anything like her usual carefree self. Her face was more serious than Blake had ever seen it. Yang seemed to ignore her sister as she eagerly awaited an answer.
“I’m not really in it for the money,” Blake said, feeling tense at the strange shift in conversation, “It’s mostly just a way to keep busy.”
“Fair, fair,” Yang said, sitting back in her chair, “I guess if that’s enough for you then who am I to tell you differently?”
There was a moment of silence while Yang continued to study Blake over the rim of her teacup. Ruby kept shooting nervous glances at both of them.
“Okay, I have everything all packed together,” Maria said, stomping down the stairs with the sewing kit in her hands, “I’ll give it to you for the usual rate.”
Blake, thankful for an excuse to get away from the tension, dropped the handful of coins into Maria’s hand and took the kit. She glanced back at the table and everything was back to the playful atmosphere it had been when Yang first arrived. They were both laughing as Ruby’s cheeks bulged with the sweets Yang had brought her. Maria quietly tsked and shook her head.
“Well I should probably get going,” Blake said awkwardly, wanting nothing more than to be back in the solitude of her garden. Her herbs were going to need watering soon or they would wilt.
“I’ll walk with you,” Yang said, getting up from the table, “It would be impolite to let you travel home alone.”
“It’s fine really,” Blake said quickly, “I live up in the woods pretty far from here. It’s not on the regular path.”
“What a coincidence, I’m heading that way myself.” Yang said, “Plus it will be dark by the time you make it home. There are robbers in the woods you know.”
Ruby was making a playfully disgusted face behind Yang’s back.
“I guess I could use the company.” Blake said, stowing the sewing kit in her travel bag. She said her thank you’s and good-bye’s to Ruby and Maria, making promises to visit them more often. Ruby hugged Yang tightly and thanked her for the candy, but refused to let her go until she was promised more letters or visits. Blake had a feeling Yang could easily break free from Ruby’s grip but she made the promises anyway, even crossing her heart.
“Be very careful on the way home.” Maria muttered into Blake’s ear, “Don’t make any promises you don’t intend to keep.”
“What does that mean?” Blake whispered back.
“Hey bookworm, we better get going if you want to be home before the sun sets,” Yang called from the front hall.
“Just remember what I said,” Maria said darkly. Yang was holding the door open with a charming smile.
“After you, my lady.”
---
The sun hung low and hot in the sky, ready to make its decent behind the trees. Most of the merchants in the square had packed up and gone home which also meant most of the crowds had dispersed as well. Blake wasn’t used to being in town this late in the afternoon and felt exposed as she walked alongside Yang. A few people were staring over their way and it was enough to make Blake pick up her walking speed. She just wanted to be home.
“What’s the rush?” Yang asked, glancing sideways, “Scared of the dark?”
“I don’t like people looking at me. They always do.” Blake muttered, not sure why she just admitted that to a complete stranger.
The truth was, there had been a few altercations in the past with some of the local villagers. A few of them had gotten the idea that a woman living alone in the woods was something sinister. It wasn’t normal. Blake had been cornered more than once by suspicious townsfolk, demanding to know what she was hiding all the way out there in the forest. She was alone and secluded and unmarried so she must be a witch.
Blake laughed bitterly to herself at the memory.
Word quickly spread around Vale but nothing more. Blake had been the hot topic of whispered gossip between farmers and merchants alike. It was nearly impossible to walk through the streets without frightened glances or outright sneers in her direction.
Yang suddenly threw her arm around Blake, pulling her close. Her first instinct was to pull away, but for some reason she decided not to.
“What are you doing?” Blake hissed, noting the sweet cinnamon smell on Yang’s clothing.
There was a moment where she felt a chill run from her neck down to her spine as if someone had dribbled cold water in her shirt. The sunlight seemed to flicker for a moment like a candle about to blow out.
“What are you talking about?” Yang said breezily, “I didn’t do anything.” All of the heads turned in their direction had gone back to minding their own business. Even when they passed closely by a pair of men standing on the street corner, they didn’t nod or say hello. They continued smoking their cigars as if Blake and Yang didn’t exist.
Neither of them spoke as they made their way to the path that lead into the forest. Yang had moved her arm off of Blake’s shoulders some time ago and now kept her hands dutifully in her pockets. The guard by the front of the village gate continued picking at the end of his sword when they passed. Though he normally had a few choice words for Blake, this time he didn’t say a word. Yang hummed softly to herself as they started up the dirt road.
Blake peered down the long path and found it wasn’t empty. There was a friendly, yet rowdy bunch of local hunters walking in the oncoming direction. Their leader was a tall and charismatic man named Sun who was always a little too excited when his crew crossed paths with Blake. She was always flattered by his enthusiasm but never sought out his company when she spent time in the village. Unfortunately he was a regular at her father’s tavern and Ghira would always poke fun at the amount of time he spent talking about Blake.
(“It always sounds like he wants to marry you.”)
But this time, Sun and his hunting crew said nothing as they passed. Sun’s eyes stayed locked on the road ahead of him, not even moving to glance in their direction. He adjusted the dead stag on his shoulder and almost knocked Blake over when he turned to yell something at Neptune. She looked back at them over her shoulder, just in case it was just Sun trying to be funny. But he marched towards the town as if there had been nobody else on the road.
“So,” Yang said as they finally entered into the forest, “Peaceful walk huh?”
“I would say so,” Blake said dubiously. Yang shrugged and kept walking, saying nothing more.
There was another reason Blake didn’t like staying in Vale for too long. The forest was large and very easy to get lost in if one strayed too far from the path. At night it became increasingly harder to navigate and every snapped twig or crunching leaf sounded like oncoming danger. Luckily they didn’t have far to go, and as long as Blake kept her eyes trained on the stone path they wouldn’t have any trouble making it to her cottage.
“You sure live in the middle of nowhere,” Yang said placidly, not at all afraid of the creeping shadows of the trees.
“I like my privacy,” Blake replied simply. They were getting close, she could see the gate that kept the deer out of her garden.
“Yeah I can tell,” Yang said, a strange smile was creeping up onto her lips, “I bet you really enjoyed the stroll out of Vale right?” Blake stopped walking and turned on Yang.
“Why do you keep bringing that up like you know something I don’t?” She said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.
Yang’s smile only grew wider, “You mean you didn’t notice?”
“Notice what?” Blake asked impatiently. Yang crossed her arms smugly as if waiting for Blake to take a guess. They stared at each other stubbornly as the last bits of sunlight faded behind the trees.
“Nobody was looking.” Yang said in the darkness. Blake heard twigs snapping but couldn’t see any movement, “Not a single person even knew we were there.”
“What are you talking about?” Blake asked, looking around in the black. Her eyes hadn’t yet adjusted and she could barely see her own hands in front of her face.
“We were invisible.” Yang said right in her ear, sounding out every syllable for emphasis. Blake jumped and looked around wildly but she still couldn’t see anything.
“Stop, this isn’t funny.” She demanded, a shake in her voice. Animals called out around them as the nightlife of the forest began to come alive. Blake wasn’t sure what kind of joke Yang was trying to pull but she had to admit that it was starting to unnerve her, especially in the darkness.
She realized now that it had been a mistake to let a total stranger walk her home at night. This is how people ended up robbed and murdered. And Blake felt like she had blindly walked right into a trap. Yang had been incredibly vague about her profession, leaving Blake to fill in the blanks that she was probably part of a bandit gang.
Oh God I am such an idiot, Blake thought as she stayed frozen in place, waiting for the rest of the thieves to come bleeding out of the shadows.
“So are you going to invite me in?” Yang asked, seeming to appear out of nowhere. Blake swallowed thickly, eyes still searching desperately for more attackers. But the only thing she heard was the forest creatures yipping and howling into the night.
Maybe she had been wrong about the bandit gang, but Yang’s presence was still unsettling.
“Only if you explain to me what the hell is going on,” Blake said with a scowl she knew Yang couldn’t see, “And stop being so mysterious.”
“Fine. Lead the way.”
Blake turned and felt along the wooden fence until her fingers brushed the latch of the gate to her garden. As soon as she stepped inside the perimeter, she felt the tension leave her neck and shoulders. She was home at last.
“Watch your step,” She warned Yang, “These herbs are rare.” There was a scoff but Yang’s footsteps sounded careful and calculated. Blake reached the front door and dug around in her pockets for a book of matches. She struck one and lit the lamp hanging by the front window. Light washed over both of them and Blake could see that Yang was smirking, making her feel slightly uneasy. She was having second thoughts about allowing her into the house.
“Alright come on in,” Blake said, opening the door and lighting some nearby candles.
Yang made herself comfortable at the small kitchen table, never taking her eyes off of Blake.
“So,” She finally said after Blake had taken a seat, “What do you want to know?”
“Well I want to know what all that was,” Blake said, glaring, “What do you mean we were invisible?”
Yang’s smirk broadened, her eyebrow was quirked high up on her forehead as if about to share some big, juicy secret. She leaned far back in her chair, head high and arms crossed.
“It means what it means,” She said, “We were invisible.”
Blake clenched her teeth, “I told you to stop being so mysterious.”
“That’s about as straightforward as it gets sweetheart,”
“No, because that’s impossible.” Blake snapped. Yang’s smile upturned into something more sinister and wicked, but...still playful. The candles behind them went out and plunged the whole room back into darkness.
“You know the impossible isn’t impossible for everyone.” Yang said. Suddenly the room filled with light as Yang’s palm was filled with bright flames, “You really were invisible, Blake.”
Then, it hit Blake like a ton of bricks. Not a robber, not a bandit.
“You’re a witch.”