Yang couldn’t help but let out a breathless laugh against Blake’s lips, the taste of salt (was it tears or sweat?) and tangy copper lingering in the mere centimeters between their lips, even as blood that wasn’t mostly theirs stuck to their clothes and skin uncomfortably. Shifting slightly, Yang ignored how the slash on his shoulder and palm burned as he reached one hand up to caress Blake’s cheek.

He had been through so much with Blake, and-

“Yeah?” Blake’s red-rimmed amber eyes met Yang’s lilac eyes as she broke the kiss, her smaller and smoother hand squeezing his larger and calloused one. “It’s just, y’know, kinda funny now. We’ve been through so much screwed up stuff, with the murders and all the other things, and…”

Yang took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself as anxiety pumped through his veins (how could this be more frightening than murdering absolutely everyone?), gently kneeling at Blake’s feet.

“Blake, I love you. It’s been such a crazy ride with you, and it just sounds so fast, but I can’t deny my feelings anymore,” Yang observed Blake as her eyes flashed with something he couldn’t identify, before mustering up the courage to continue rambling on, “And… I know that this show was supposed to end up with us dead or something along the lines of me dying to protect you? But… will you marry me? Since I’m alive and-“

Yang’s eyes grew wide as Blake dropped to her knees and lunged forward, pressing her soft lips to his before pulling away, her laugh teary as she bumped her forehead against his, “Yes, Yang, yes. Yes, a million times.”

As he kissed Blake over and over again, Yang couldn’t help but laugh with her as tears of joy slipped from his eyes and dripped on the bloody marble flooring, the entirety of the show flashing in his mind.

This show was cursed, screwed over, maybe even evil, but he would do it all over again if it meant that he could love Blake forever.

—

One week ago…

—

Yang didn’t want to be here.

With his fifth ONE Championship trophy, Yang expected that he could do literally anything, like catching up with the latest edition of GTA or getting back to building his motorcycle, here he was, stuck in a limousine on the way to a mansion for a stupid new dating show.

(He couldn’t even remember the name of the show. Single’s… Fire? Maybe it was arson, which he very much preferred.

He couldn’t give a damn about the show.)

“Why am I doing this again? I’m not even allowed to bring my phone in!” Whining, Yang squirmed in his seat as Pyrrha gently worked the comb through his gelled blond hair (against his will), kicking his feet like a childish little boy against the floor. “It’s for the publicity, Yang. They said it was a dating show, with a twist that no one knows except the producer, Cinder Fall. For all we know, it could make you a household name,” Coco tugged at his black and gold blazer and thrusted a black biker jacket into his arms, watching him from behind her sunglasses as if to urge him to change the jacket, while holding a manila file that was surely some paperwork related to the show.

Annoyed, Yang stuck his tongue out to make a face at Coco, only to meet the sight of her raising the manila file threateningly (oh no).

“You little-“

—

Rubbing his sore shoulder, Yang sulked as he followed Coco to the open doors of the mansion, the manila file slightly creased (god, was Coco rough) but her pristine hairdo and clothes perfect. Sighing, he looked up at the mansion, the sprawling estate flowing with marble and gold looming over him as the open doors revealed a grand stairway in the lobby filled with more white marble and even more gold.

With his lips curling up in disdain, Yang turned to look at the over-manicured grass and trees, planning an escape. Maybe, if Coco wasn’t looking, he could-

“Hey, Cinder, here’s the paperwork. Sorry that it’s a little crumpled,” with a fake and plastic smile on her face, Coco handed the file to a brunette in stilettoes, before pushing Yang forward and leaning up to whisper into his ear, “Now, you little blond brat, treat her with respect, and don’t try to run.” Rolling his eyes, Yang was about to shoot his manager yet another childish look, only to immediately school his face into a neutral expression when Cinder walked up to him.

“Yang Xiao Long, is it?” Her amber eyes roamed over him, but she didn’t wait for a response before nodding towards the stairs arrogantly, “Go there. The camera man will tell you what to do.” Nodding (and trying not to roll his eyes), Yang stepped onto the first step and fidgeted, trying not to slip and struggling to balance. His leather shoes and the waxed marble were such a terrible idea.

(I don’t wanna be here I don’t wanna be here I don’t wanna be here I don’t-)

“Stop fidgeting. Be more natural and less like, I don’t know, just don’t act like a hyperactive kid on espresso,” the cameraman gestured vaguely at Yang, disgruntled as Coco shot Yang yet another look. Trying to repress the fury simmering just below the surface, Yang pushed his hands into his pockets (too standoffish), before crossing them over his chest (too cocky), and leaving them by his side awkwardly.

“Pick a pose, Xiao Long. Hands behind your back,” Cinder’s voice as smooth as honey, but it barely concealed the irritation underneath while she rolled her eyes. Yang silently moved his hands behind his back, but he didn’t have time to deal with annoying, idiotic Cinder Fall when the director gestured for the cameras to start rolling, as a sleek limo pulled in front of the mansion. Internally, Yang grimaced in discomfort, plastering a fake smile on his face, ready to meet some random girls he would never harbour romantic interests for because this was some stupid game-

(Holy cow, holy cow, she’s so hot??? I’m so cooked.)

Yang’s lilac eyes met a pair of sharp amber eyes, and god, he was barely able to tear his eyes away from hers as his eyes scanned her briefly, landing on her slender yet muscular legs revealed through the slit in her dress, her sharp jawline that could cut glass, her silky black hair framing her face and-

“Hey, I’m Blake.”

(GAWD HER VOICE)

Yang kept watching her, hypnotised as he walked towards her, stopping barely inches in front of her as a shy smile tugged at her lips, and all he could think about was kissing her and having her lips all over his skin but he remembered that he had to speak as he looked like a fool right now, so the first words that came out of his mouth were-

“Hi Yang, I’m Blake.”

And Yang beat himself up internally as the camera crew sniggered and Cinder rolled her eyes, his cheeks heating up as Blake raised an eyebrow and looked up at him just slightly, being a few inches shorter than him, a teasing smile on her lips.

“Yang, is it? It’s a beautiful name, fit for someone like… you,” a twinkle in Blake’s eye sent shivers up Yang’s spine, her hand gently touching Yang’s for just a second before she continued with her oh-so-wonderful voice, walking up the stairs, “I’ll see you.”

Still frozen under her blazing gaze and the spark that buzzed up his spine when he felt her soft skin against his, he reacted a few seconds late as he spun around and called out, “I… uh, I’ll see ya too.”

A goofy smile still on his face, Yang turned back around to face the open doors, waiting for his next contestants although all his mind could think of was Blake, Blake and more of Blake.

Maybe, just maybe, the show wouldn’t be that uncomfortable and mind-numbingly boring.

—

It was nighttime after his first time on the set with all the girls, and Yang didn’t have a good feeling.

Yang felt a shiver race up his spine as he stood before everyone in the candlelit dining room, the soft orange glow of the flames doing nothing to soothe his racing heart, instead adding fuel to the metaphorical fire that his anxiety and fear was. All the contestants were seated in front of him at the dining table, with him forced to stand and face Cinder, who was standing at the other end of the table, her eyes predatory and ominous.

(Something’s bad gonna happen.)

“Yang Xiao Long,” Cinder’s voice reverberated in the room, forcing him to look back at her instead of seeking out eye contact with Blake to soothe himself, her eyes boring into him as she continued in her overly saccharine voice, “it’s been one day with the contestants. Which contestant do you want to eliminate?”

Brows furrowing, he was tempted to eliminate absolutely everyone to keep Blake all for himself, but he decided against it, choosing not to look at any of the girls who had their eyes all glued on him as he gestured towards a random one, “Contestant 4.”

The girl rolled her eyes, raising the middle finger and pointing it at Yang, only to be forced out of the room as a tense silence settled over the room, Cinder still watching him but with an uncanny smirk on her face, eyes flashing with malice as the tension in the room grew thicker, suffocating him and strangling, when a bloodcurdling shriek rang out in the mansion.

It wasn’t just a shriek of someone being jumpscared in a horror game, but it was pained, full of terror and utterly chilling.

(No, no, no.)

“What’s happening?” 

“No, no, no-“

“Oh my god?!”

Panicked voices and terrified screams broke out in the dining room, while Yang froze, the girl’s shriek still echoing in his ears as question swarmed his mind and clouded his thoughts, not even noticing when the bloody guards re-entered and laid the eliminated girl’s possessions before him.

“Mr. Xiao Long.” Cinder’s steely voice that held an edge of sadism brought him out of his trance as Yang’s petrified lilac eyes met her chillingly satisfied eyes, and she gestured towards the objects before him, stained with burning crimson blood. “Pick one. It’s a… souvenir, courtesy of Contestant 4.”

(Yang had seen blood before, as a boxer. It was so normal to him, but this… this wasn’t normal.)

Yang scanned the room, feeling everyone’s frightened eyes on him, save for Cinder’s callous gaze as he swallowed against the lump in his throat, gingerly picking up a pearl necklace, trying not to puke as the slippery and still-warm sensation of blood on his hands, its strong iron and metallic scent chilled him to the bone.

“Take the rest away,” Cinder motioned to the guards, who collected the rest of the possessions, before her lips tilted up in a cruel smile, her voice retaining its sickly-sweet tone, “You all may go. Rest up, because tomorrow is an outing. Have fun!”

—

If the bloodied pearl necklace still on his nightstand didn’t tell Yang that Cinder Fall had no good intentions and that this dating show was going to end very badly, the next four days and the second elimination told him all he needed to know.

Within that short span of time, girls walked out from the corridor leading to Cinder’s office with traumatized expressions, terror flashing across their eyes as they flinched from everything. 

Doors were locked, and guards stood before some corridors, preventing anyone but Cinder from passing through. 

Guards and cameramen gradually disappeared from the set, replaced by drones or hidden cameras and microphones (Yang knew they existed, but he chose not to find them out of fear that he’d find something he didn’t want to see). Even Coco was forced out of the mansion, and she made a big fuss out of it, but she was still made to leave.

Some contestants disappeared abruptly when they left for their toilet breaks or over the night, and the only reason Yang and the remaining contestants received was that they “broke rules”. 

At night, Yang was shepherded into Cinder’s office and forced to pick one possession from the girls that had disappeared, blood absent but the metallic smell still lingering on the objects.

The one other thing more worrying than that was Blake never being “talked to”, but he chose to look on the bright side of that as it meant more time to spend with Blake while his feelings continued developing for her at breakneck speed, as if he didn’t already spend all his time with her.

Yang desperately wanted to confess his love for her, to kiss her senseless and let her ravish him, but he couldn’t.

All because of Cinder Fall and him knowing that something’s wrong.

—

It was the third elimination, and by then, only four contestants were left, a sharp decrease from 15 contestants. Contestant 6, Contestant 11, Contestant 9, and Blake.

Only two were removed via elimination, and the rest… disappeared.

Stepping towards the dining table, Yang noted the very obvious decrease in guards and cameraman, as he tried to ignore the multiple empty seats lining the dining table (gone, gone, gone, all thanks to Cinder Fall). Just like the previous two elimination, the candles were lit, washing the room in an eerie amber glow as Cinder smiled menacingly, “Greetings, contestants and Yang Xiao Long. Today, our elimination is… different.”

Cinder’s heartless smile sent Yang’s heart thumping rapidly against his chest as she continued, “Instead of one contestant being eliminated, two are being eliminated. Also, we have a little surprise for one of the-“

Next to Yang, Blake gasped, dread clear as day on her face, obviously shaken which prompted Yang to hold her hand and kiss her until she’s not scared, but Cinder’s snap forced him to withdraw his hand, “Miss Belladonna, I suggest you keep quiet. And Mr. Xiao Long? I suggest you keep your hands to yourself for now.” Listening to Cinder out of fear for Blake, Yang’s jaw clenched as his eyes turned from a soft lilac to crimson red, eyes snapping to Cinder’s.

“Oh my, is the kitty’s boyfriend pissed?” Smirking, Cinder teased Yang, before scoffing and shaking her head, “Let’s continue with no more distractions. As I was saying, one of the uneliminated contestants gets a little surprise, and the two eliminated ones will… go. So, now, Mr. Xiao Long, which two contestants would you like to eliminate?”

Yang, unable to look at the contestants as he could feel their terrified eyes on him, closed his eyes and pointed at two of the three contestants as they just weren’t Blake.

“No! No, no, please!”

“No! Please, Yang!”

The two contestants frantically pled Yang (what good could that do?) as guards dragged them out of the room, tears pricking at his eyes because he was leading them to their deaths. However, Cinder simply smiled, continuing, “Now that only two contestants are left, I have a little surprise for one of you two here.”

Cinder paused for dramatic effect as Contestant 6, Emerald, tried to mask her fear but failed, while Blake closed her eyes, breaths coming fast and hard by her chest rising irregularly. Yang wished he could reach out for Blake, hold her to his chest and calm her down, but he couldn’t.

(Stupid Cinder Fall.)

“Contestant 6, meet your ex,” Yang could basically hear Cinder’s savage smirk as heavy footfalls from the hall alerted him to a man approaching while Emerald’s eyes widened, softly breathing a devastated “no” under her breath. Turning to face the door, a man about Yang’s age, who had grey hair and an unbelievably cocky appearance, set his eyes on Emerald, before gripping her wrist tightly-

“No!”

Yang turned back around, unable to watch as Emerald started sobbing and begging for the man to let her go, choosing to set his eyes on Blake who looked just as horrified, but in a different way while tears spilled down Blake’s cheeks and she clenched her fists in a white-knuckled grip.

(Blake?)

Before Yang could react, Blake sped out of the dining room, leaving Cinder and him alone, his eyes still fixed on the empty seat which Blake originally occupied as the silence in the room choked him. “What are you waiting for, Xiao Long? Go after your girl,” Cinder’s cloying voice broke the silence, and Yang took off in a sprint towards Blake’s room, determined to find Blake.

—

“Blake?”

Yang’s voice was soft as he gently knocked on the closed door, still panting from running across the entire mansion to get to Blake’s room, “I… I’m worried about-“

Before he could finish the sentence, the door flew open and Blake leapt into his embrace, tears soaking his hoodie as her shoulders heaved, “I-I’m so scared, Yang. I’m so, so scared that something bad will happen and then-” Sobbing and choking on her tears, Blake couldn’t finish the sentence as her legs tightened around Yang’s waist, leaving Yang more confused and worried than ever.

Carefully, he closed the door behind himself with a kick as he ran a hand through Blake’s hair and set her other hand on her back, setting her down on the bed as he sat next to her, holding her hand and rubbing his callused thumb on the back of it, trying to calm Blake down as his heart ached for her.

When Blake’s sobbing gradually faded into sniffles, she clung to Yang as she toyed with the drawstring of his hoodie, voice hoarse and soft, “I… I had an ex, Adam Taurus.” The name held a semblance of recognition in Yang’s mind, and Blake nodded when she noticed his thoughtful expression, “Yes, that… Adam. The leader of the White Fang, the most notorious gang in Vale.”

Blake took in a deep breath, bracing herself, and Yang reached over, ready to squeeze her hand when he drew back, more terrified that ever about how Blake’s reaction would be like. Would it be a look of disgust?  A flinch before drawing away and punctuated by painful, awkward-

(YANG! Shut up, shut up, shut up. Just… touch her. Not in that way, bec-)

Awkwardly, Yang reached out to squeeze Blake’s shoulder, but he couldn’t help himself when his hand naturally drifted to Blake’s hand, which was readily returned by a slight squeeze to his hand as she sucked in a breath.

“He… he wasn’t all that bad, at first. I thought of him as a normal person, as he expressed to me that the White Fang was just an organization to bring justice to the underprivileged. Like a group of Robin Hoods. I joined the gang, as I thought that it was a force of good.

“But… the White Fang’s morals changed. They started becoming violent and… and I didn’t want that. Adam also changed, and he was more… violent to me too. One day, he stabbed me because I denied him… that, so I ran and never looked back. I chose to stay out of the public eye for as long as possible, but I came on to the show because I wanted to force myself to not be scared again. But… heh, I think it’s failing, because I… I’m scared that he’ll show up. Because I know that Cinder Fall’s dirty and sadistic.”

Yang released a heavy sigh when Blake finished talking, her originally tearful and shy voice turning spiteful as she pressed her fists into his chest, while he was stuck between not knowing what to say and wanting to kiss her tears away.

“I… I’ll protect you. From anything, I promise,” Yang looked down, expecting to see Blake watching him with those beautiful amber eyes of hers, only to see her fast asleep on his chest, her mouth slightly open and her face soft and relaxed.

(I think… I love you.)

Yang couldn’t help as a smile tugged on his lips, and he gently set Blake on the bed before settling onto the floor next to her bed, vowing to never break his promise to her.

—

Yang woke up when the sky was still blue (when did he fall asleep?), the mansion eerily quiet with the only sounds coming from Blake’s soft snoring, the shuffling of guards and the occasional muffled voice from Cinder just… gone.

Yang was about to leave the room momentarily to check if anything was amiss when-

(What’s this?)

His eyes caught sight of an inconspicuous brown box next to the nightstand, which would have been overlooked by him if it weren’t for the bright red sticky note on the box, bearing… Coco’s handwriting?

Trying to keep quiet, Yang knelt on the ground and started reading the post-it on the box, fear starting to creep into his soul.

“Yang, I know you’re with Blake. Take care of her and yourself. I don’t have a good feeling about the show.”

Hastily, he tore the tape off the box, only to find brass knuckles, daggers, pistols and a baseball bat with nails attached to it beneath the surface, his blood chilling as he reached for the stack of magazines in the corner of the box, counting at least twenty of them.

Just as Yang was planning to hide the weapons and never look at them again, a crash from downstairs blasted through the mansion, the sound making him whip his head towards the door as his eyes grew wide in fearful recognition.

The White Fang was here. Adam was here. And it had to be Cinder who caused this mess, that sadistic wi-

“Yang?” Blake stirred, gently reaching out to Yang as her eyebrows furrowed, trying to comprehend the muffled voices outside, “What’s happening-“

Yang gently squeezed Blake’s hand, before reaching for two brass knuckles, one of which had a knife attached to it, the weapons heavy in his hands. Turning to meet her worried amber eyes, his voice was serious as he moved to stand next to the door, waiting for the voices to come closer, “Stay here. It’s okay.”

Upon hearing his tone, Blake shot up in bed, her eyes flashing with something deeper than just worry, and Yang could see that she was about to object when the footsteps grew louder.

(No, no, no, no, this can’t be happening.)

Quickly, Yang moved back to Blake and pressed a kiss to her forehead, pressing his finger to his lips to beg her to stay silent, before moving back into position, his muscles coiled as adrenaline pumped through his veins, waiting for the perfect moment.

Once Yang heard the footfalls right outside the door, he took in a deep breath, turning to look at Blake for a final time (if anything went wrong), before slamming the door open and throwing a lethal punch straight into the White Fang member’s face.

Then, chaos erupted.

—

Through sheer willpower and strength, Yang knocked out (and maybe killed) all the White Fang members in this wing of the mansion, giving him some space to regain his energy before the rest of the gang came after him. Wiping the blood away from his nose, he panted as sweat rolled down his cheeks, not noticing when a shadow came closer to him and-

BANG!

Yang jumped out of his skin, turning towards the sound and expecting a gun pointed at him, only to find Blake in a tank top (it wasn’t the time to ogle but god) and a gun in her hands while a White Fang member lay dead on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot to the head.

“I… I took shooting and self-defence lessons after breaking up with Adam,” Blake’s smile was shaky as she shrugged, leaving Yang chuckling and running towards her to wrap the love of his life in an embrace, bumping his forehead against hers, “Maybe I should have gotten you to protect me, instead of me protecting you.”

Laughing softly, Blake kissed his cheek and shook her head, “You’ve held five championship trophies in boxing, you’re definitely better than I-“

Sudden footsteps sounded out from around the corner, imposing and terrifying as Blake held up her hand, gesturing for Yang to keep quiet.

“Get behind me,” Blake gestured to Yang, pressing a finger to his lips to silence him as footsteps grew louder, and Yang was more than happy to oblige.

“Ready?” Blake whispered, her eyebrow arched as she turned around to face him.

“For you? Always.”

—

Yang and Blake panted heavily, surrounded by corpses and blood on the once immaculate lobby, weapons littered all around them while the walls and stairs bore dents and cracks from bullets, when-

“Blake Belladonna.”

Both Yang and Blake froze, the voice which had venom dripping from it sending chills up his spine as Yang spun around, seeing a tall and slender man in a fine suit stalking towards them, his bright blue eyes steely.

“A-Adam,” Blake whispered, her voice strained in terror as Yang moved to stand in front of her, trying to muster up his courage despite the dread settling in his blood when Adam unsheathed a long, red katana.

“So, you abandon me for this… weak lowlife?”

Yang’s eyes turn crimson and he tried to pounce onto Adam, but Blake pulled him back, shaking her head, “No, Yang, he’s calculating. You may be strong, but he will find any weak points and leave you for dead.”

“Of course. Telling your new boyfriend that I’m the big bad wolf, when you’re the one who left me. We could have been a wonderful couple, just like Bonn-“

“No!”

Blake screamed, tears welling up in her eyes as she shot at Adam, but it missed, his mouth tilting up in a vicious smirk.

“Reckless and impulsive as ever, Blake,” her name rolled off his tongue, his voice sullying the very quality of her beautiful, beautiful name, leaving Yang more enraged than ever, but before he could react, Adam had lunged forward, his lips twisted in a snarl with his katana aimed- for his heart– and Yang was sure that this was how he was going to-

“NO!” Blake tugs Yang aside just in time as her scream reverberated around the lobby, the tip of the katana slicing through Yang’s hoodie instead of his body as Yang’s lilac eyes grew wide, the near-death experience leaving him reeling.

“You bit-“

Adam’s eyes flashed with fury, ready to fight Blake but she was already moving, her pistol abandoned on the floor while her combat knife slashing across Adam’s side as she aimed to stab him, only for him to duck. However, Yang was there in that very moment, throwing a punch to Adam’s ribs, but he barely flinched (dawg, how the-) and direct his efforts towards Yang, his katana aiming for Yang’s throat. Jumping back, Yang dodged but the sword sliced across his shoulder, leaving red, hot blood dripping down the cut as agonizing pain shot through his nerves.

“Ow!” Yang hissed as his eyes flickered into lilac, ignoring how Adam laughed and mocked as the cut stung more than it was severe, “See that? He’s a coward like you, Blake.” Taking in a deep breath, Yang let the adrenaline in his blood take away the pain as he leapt back into the fight, eyes turning bloody red.

“She isn’t a COWARD!” Sprinting forward, Yang effortlessly dodged Adam’s swing at him before catching the katana with his bare hands, the blade digging into his skin while the pain scorched his very being, leaving him to grit his teeth as Blake rushed forward and shot at Adam’s wrist, leaving it incapacitated while Adam screamed (like a little girl, if Yang could add).

Letting go of the katana, Adam faltered as his hand trembled, but that was all the time Yang and Blake needed when Yang stabbed the knife-end of his brass knuckles into Adam’s heart, while Blake stabbed his back, tears brimming in her indignant amber eyes.

“N-no…” Adam choked, blood flowing out of his mouth as he groaned and whimpered, the sound pained and agonized. From across Adam’s body, Yang’s determined lilac eyes met Blake’s angry yet fearful amber ones, the same thought clicking when they watched each other. Twisting the knife in Adam’s body, Yang cringed when the wet squelch reached his ears, while tears rolled down Blake’s cheeks.

Finally, finally, Adam fell, limp and motionless, the thud of his body hitting the ground being the only sound in the mansion before everything went silent.

“You’re bleeding,” Blake gestures at Yang’s hand and shoulder, but Yang couldn’t give a damn when Blake was in the tight tank top, with a shaky smile on her so very kissable lips, so Yang lunged forward, stepping over the corpse between them as he pressed his lips to Blake’s for the first day.

Blake froze for just a split second, but she responded quickly, lips moving against his in that delectable way which made him melt against her, wrapping her arm around his neck and gently twirling the short strands of Yang’s hair around her finger as Yang’s hands went to her waist, pulling them impossibly closer.

The sheer love and excitement rushing through his veins left him giggling and smiling through the kiss, almost forgetting about the stinging pain in his shoulder and his palm as he looked back on what happened in this short span on seven days-

God, what a ride.

Breaking the kiss, Blake looked up at him, bringing her hand up to his face to caress his cheek as her other hand wrapped around his larger one, “Yeah?”

“It’s just, y’know, kinda funny now. We’ve been through so much screwed up stuff, with the murders and all the other things, and…” Yang laughed again, cheeks heating up as he took in a deep breath, trying to slow his racing heart as he kneeled down before Blake.

(Oh god oh god oh god oh god)

“Blake, I love you. It’s been such a crazy ride with you, and it’s just so fast but I can’t deny my feelings anymore,” Yang’s eyes were locked on Blake as something indecipherable flashed across her face (oh no), but he rambled on, lilac eyes darting around to look at literally anything but Blake’s eyes, “And… I know that this show was supposed to end up with us dead or something related to me dying to protect you? But… will you marry me? Since I’m alive and-

“Eep!”

Yang squeaked as Blake pressed a kiss into his lips, now on her knees and cradling his face in her hands. Pulling away with a laugh, Blake bumped her forehead against his, nodding with tears in her eyes, “Yes, Yang, yes. Yes, a million times.”

(OH MY GOD YES YES YESSS OMG)

Yang laughed again, the laugh full-bodied and warm as his lips met Blake over and over again, her smile so welcome under his lips as tears rolled down his cheeks and mixed with hers.

—

Epilogue:

“Careful,” Blake gently helped Yang into the front seat of the last limo that was still at the mansion, cringing and muttering soft apologies to his temple as he winced with every slight movement to his bandaged shoulder. Gently, she helped him put on his seatbelt, before taking the driver’s seat, starting the ignition and lacing her fingers with his as she drove out of the driveway slowly, happy that they were finally leaving this hellhole.

“Hey,” Blake turned to Yang, whose smile had turned sleepy as he leaned back against the seat, eyelids heavy while he continued, running his thumb over hers, “This is so Harlivy-coded, but straight. In the Harley Quinn show, y’know?”

Giggling, Blake nodded, “I know that show. It’s one of the best shows-” Cut off by a snore, Blake turned to see Yang asleep with his mouth open, his face relaxed and so cute.

(…I wanna kiss him senseless)

Blake’s wide grin was replaced by a soft smile as she let go of Yang’s hand to run a hand through his fluffy blond hair, leaning forward to press a kiss against his temple.

Yeah, this was definitely going on her wedding vows.