MARVEL I AM DRAGON GOD

Arthur walked purposefully, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hallways of Beacon Academy.

Weiss followed a step behind, her earlier distress still evident in her slumped shoulders and tear-streaked face.

Ruby and Yang had already gone ahead, hoping to find Blake.

Arthur knew Blake's usual haunts—quiet, secluded places where she could be alone with her thoughts.

The library was a possibility, or perhaps one of the quieter courtyards.

But his instincts led him higher.

He pushed open the heavy door to a stairwell, and they began their ascent.

The silence between them was heavy, punctuated only by their footsteps.

Weiss sniffled occasionally, her regret a palpable presence in the air.

Arthur didn't speak, letting her process her emotions.

"You should go back to the dorm first. Tell Ruby and Yang not to go around and wait for me there."

Weiss wanted to protest. But she understood. Blake wouldn't want to see her now

"I understand."

She left after that.

Finally, he emerged onto the rooftop of one of Beacon's taller buildings.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the empty space.

A gentle breeze rustled through the air, carrying with it the distant sounds of student life.

And there, huddled near the edge, her back to them, was Blake Belladonna.

Her shoulders were shaking, and a small, muffled sob escaped her.

Arthur approached slowly, his presence a calming anchor in the agitated air.

Blake didn't react at first, lost in her misery.

He stopped a few feet away, allowing her space, but also making his presence known.

"Blake," he said, his voice soft but clear.

Blake flinched, her cat ears twitching atop her head before she slowly turned.

Her eyes, usually so sharp and observant, were red-rimmed and swollen from crying.

When she saw Arthur, a flicker of something akin to surprise, then relief, crossed her face.

Normally, Blake's first instinct when confronted with difficult emotions or situations was to run away.

It was her ingrained defense mechanism, a habit formed from years of hiding and self-preservation.

But something about Arthur's calm demeanor, his unwavering gaze, made her hesitate.

She didn't feel the urge to bolt.

Instead, she felt a strange sense of safety, a comforting presence that reminded her of a frightened kitten finally seeing its mother.

Arthur sat down a respectful distance from her, cross-legged, his gaze steady.

He didn't pressure her to speak.

He simply waited, offering a silent invitation for her to share.

The quiet stretched, filled only by the gentle hum of the city below and the rustling breeze.

Finally, Blake took a shaky breath.

"I… I can't believe this happened," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion. "I thought… I thought they'd understand. I thought they were my friends."

She poured everything out.

The years of hiding her Faunus heritage, the fear of judgment, the constant worry that once people knew, they would see her differently, as nothing more than an animal, or worse, a White Fang extremist.

She spoke of her past, of her involvement with the White Fang, and the disillusionment that led her to leave.

She confessed her deep-seated fear that once her secret was out, she would lose the only true friends she had ever made.

"They were my first real friends," she said, her voice breaking. "Ruby, Yang, and… and even Weiss. I really thought we had something special."

Tears streamed down her face again, and her shoulders began to shake with renewed sobs.

Arthur listened patiently, his expression unwavering.

He didn't offer platitudes or easy answers.

He simply absorbed her pain, allowing her the space to express it fully.

When she finally paused, exhausted by her emotional outpouring,

Arthur shifted closer. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Blake," he said, his voice imbued with a quiet understanding.

"Your fears are valid. Hiding a part of yourself, especially something so fundamental to who you are, is incredibly difficult. And when it's exposed in such a public and painful way, it feels like a betrayal."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"But your friends… They care about you. Ruby and Yang immediately tried to come after you. And Weiss… she's distraught. She came to me because she genuinely regrets what she said."

Blake looked up, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and a faint flicker of hope.

"She does?"

"She does," Arthur confirmed, his gaze firm.

"Her words were hurtful, Blake, and there's no excuse for them. But they came from a place of fear and misunderstanding, not malice. She was reacting to years of prejudice and the actions of the White Fang, not to you, Blake. Not to her friend."

He offered her a handkerchief, which she gratefully accepted, dabbing at her eyes.

"It still hurts," she whispered.

"I know it does," Arthur said gently.

Comforting her, he pulled her into a gentle, reassuring hug.

She hesitated for a moment, then hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.

It was a silent acknowledgment of her pain, and his unwavering support.

She clung to him as if he were a lifeline, drawing strength from his steady presence.

After a while, she calmed down.

The sobs subsided, replaced by quiet sniffling.

She pulled back slightly, her grip on his shirt loosening.

She still looked vulnerable, but the raw anguish had begun to subside, replaced by a quiet sorrow.

"Are you ready to talk to them?" Arthur asked, his voice soft.

Blake hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I… I think so. But what if they still… what if they can't look past it?"

"Then we deal with that when it comes,"

Arthur said, his tone resolute.

"But I have a feeling they will. They're good people, Blake. They just need a chance to understand."

He helped her to her feet. Her legs felt a little wobbly, but she stood tall.

He gently guided her towards the stairwell.

"Come on," he said, a quiet sense of purpose in his voice. "Let's go home."

He led her back through the quiet hallways, her hand still occasionally brushing against his arm, a silent plea for reassurance.

The journey felt shorter this time, the weight of her sadness having lessened considerably.

They reached the door to Team RWBY's dorm room. Arthur paused, giving Blake a moment.

She took a deep breath, her shoulders squaring.

He pushed the door open.

Weiss, Ruby, and Yang were there.

Ruby and Yang immediately sprang to their feet, their faces alight with relief when they saw Blake.

"Blake!" Ruby cried, rushing forward, her arms outstretched. "Oh, thank goodness! We were so worried!"

Yang was right behind her, a wide, relieved smile on her face.

"Don't you ever run off like that again, you hear me? We were freaking out!"

Blake hesitated for a split second, then let herself be enveloped in their embrace. It was a tight, reassuring hug, filled with unspoken apologies and overwhelming relief.

Weiss, however, remained rooted to her spot, her eyes wide with a mixture of apprehension and desperate hope.

Her gaze met Blake's, and for a moment, the air crackled with unspoken emotions.

The silence stretched, filled with the raw vulnerability of their exposed feelings.

Finally, Weiss took a shaky breath, her voice barely a whisper.

"Blake... I am so, so sorry. I didn't... I didn't know. I was just so angry, and scared, and I reacted terribly. It was wrong of me, so wrong. Can you ever forgive me?"

Her voice cracked on the last word.

Blake pulled away from Ruby and Yang, her eyes still a little red, but a newfound strength in them.

She looked at Weiss, a long, searching look.

"It hurts, Weiss. A lot."

"I know,"

Weiss choked out, tears welling up again.

"And I deserve that. I said terrible things."

"But," Blake continued, her voice softer now, "you came looking for me. And Professor Arthur said you were upset."

Weiss nodded, her gaze earnest.

"I was. I am. You're my friend, Blake. My teammate. And... I realize now that my anger at the White Fang doesn't give me the right to hurt anyone, especially someone—I."

She took a tentative step forward.

"Faunus or not, you're Blake. And I want you here. I want our team to be whole."

Ruby stepped forward, putting a hand on Weiss's shoulder.

"We all do, Blake. We're a team. And teams stick together, no matter what."

Yang nodded vigorously.

"Yeah! We've faced Grimm, we've faced exams, we can definitely face a little cat ear reveal. Seriously though, it's cool. They're cute!"

She gave a small, nervous chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

Blake looked at each of them, her gaze lingering on Weiss.

A small, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips.

"They are pretty cute, aren't they?"

Weiss let out a shaky breath, a small, relieved smile breaking through her tears.

"They are."

Blake then did something unexpected.

She walked over to Weiss and, still a little hesitant, reached out and gently placed a hand on her arm.

"Thank you, Weiss. For trying to understand."

Weiss's eyes widened, then filled with fresh tears, this time of relief.

"Thank you, Blake. For giving me a chance."

The tension in the room, which had been thick enough to cut with a knife, began to dissipate.

Arthur watched from the doorway, a subtle sense of relief washing over him.

The Vytal Festival would test their physical and combat prowess, but moments like these would define them as a team, and as individuals.

Craze: you can read 60 more chapters on [email protected]/phelio