Saturday 8 Golden Locks

"... and there! How's that, Tsu?"

Tsuyu opened up her eyes and blinked. She'd nodded off! She quickly wiped her mouth as she had been so relaxed She'd been drooling a little. "Well that's embaressing... ribbit..."

Walt blinked. "What? Something wrong?"

Tsuyu shook her head glad he hadn't noticed! "No! Everythings fine." She ran her fingers through her hair. It and she both felt great infact. "That's really good, Walt. Thank you. Ribbit." She noticed that some of the others had been watching her though smiling. Neo pointed down and she looked. She'd drooled a bit down to her swimsuit. She hopped up. "Think it's time for a swim! Ribbit," she announced and quickly grabbed her towel heading that way.

"You're welcome and I'm glad you like it, Tsu," he called after her shaking his head.

He saw Penny and Blake whispering and wondered what was up. Some of the others were looking his way as well. He'd enjoyed combing their hair as well earlier but if they wanted to go again- his stomach growled as he smelled something good.

"Hey," Yang said as she approached holding two plates and beers. "The others were saying you needed a break so..."

Walt smiled. That's what they were up too! "Thanks, Yang that's very-" *Hungry stomach sounds* "-considerate of you... sorry."

Yang laughed and passed him a plate and beer. "No worries! Dig in!"

Yang blinks then laughs as Walt eats like Nora or the way her sister did with cookies. She'd been surprised watching Sasha at breakfast and heard the others talking but hadn't seen Walt in action that way yet. *Good to know he's got his faults too.* she takes a bite of her burger as he's biting into his. "Ow! Too hot!" She starts cooling down her mouth with a swig of beer and frowned.

Walt paused looking up. "Too warm?"

Yang nodded but shrugged. "It's fine- Hey!"

Walt grabbed her burger and beer and passed her his. "It's fine. I don't have cooties or anything and mines just right. What are friends for?"

Yang blinked watching him bite into her old burger and swallow the beer She'd just sipped. *Indirect kissing,* she shook her head. *What am I? Five? Ridiculous... still...* Still it was nice and he was different from those three that way. She smirked. "How do you know I don't have cooties big guy?"

Walt swallowed and laughed. "Cooties I can handle!"

They both laughed. Yang bit into her new burger and nodded. He was right. Just right.

Blake, Penny and Neo joined them. They'd brought more food over and kept feeding Walt as they talked with them. Neo surprised Yang as she kept cleaning his face... and not like a chore. She smiled in a way Yang had never seen before holding his hand. Penny was too. Yang looked at the rings realized. *They really are close! Will he start wearing Pyrrha's red soon? They'd definitely been doing something fun when They'd slipped away and nobody had commented on it!* she looked at Blake. *Or maybe black next?!* She looked at a few of the others who were already wearing bits of silvery grey... *Including Kali and Willow!? Holy-* Yang started coughing.

Walt and Blake started rubbing her back. "Are you alright, Yang?" Penny asked leaning in as Yang stared at her ribbon then Neo's Bandana.

Yang nodded setting her beer down. "Fine... just fine. Went down the wrong way. I'm alright thanks." She looked at Blake noting she wasn't wearing any grey, yet, as she and Walt both rubbed her back in tender concern together. It was... nice... but *how long until Blake was wearing grey too?* she thought coughing.

Blake smiled and snapped her fingers. "I just had an idea." She pointed at the comb next to Walt. "Do you mind?" She turned Yang so her back was towards Walt.

"Oh- *Cough* that's not-"

Walt smiled and picked up the comb. "I'd love too! I've been admiring your hair for a while, Yang! May I?"

Yang tried to protest between coughs but it must have looked like she'd nodded. She tensed as she felt him touch her, gently gathering her hair.

"Careful," Blake told him. "She's sensitive about her hair..."

Walt nodded and slowly started to work the comb into the ends. "I'll be gentle," he said softly and started working on her wild mane, humming a soft tune.

Yang was about to bolt or turn and punch him... but his humming was soft... soothing... it reminded her of her mom. Not Raven, but Summer. Gentle but strong. Loving but firm. And most of all... safe and reassuring. A promise that everything would be alright as long as they were there. Nothing bad would happen. They wouldn't let it. There was nothing and nowhere safer. It was a different tune but the same tone.

Walt hummed as he worked the comb gently and carefully. She had lovely hair like spun sunlight but it was wild, tough and thick. Not easily tamed. But he was used to that. It was the same with manes and tails. Don't fight it, work with it. He hummed some half remembered tunes that his grandparents used to use when his grandmother would seat her wild grandson down for combing just like this or his grandfather used when tending to the horses, just like he did to this day. There weren't any words to them as far as he could remember... maybe there never were. Didn't need them anyway. Something generations had passed down and changed and added too but all saying the same thing without saying a word.

Blake stared in awe as she held Yang's hand and Penny in happy curiosity. They'd never seen Yang like this. She was... docile. Completely relaxed and at ease. It was like a spell had been cast. Neo swallowed and tapped Penny's shoulder. When Penny turned she saw Neo nod and point her thumb away. Penny wanted to stay and watch... but she knew this was an important moment for them. She slowly nodded and rose. She and Neo could watch from a distance. As they walked away they intercepted Pyrrha and Nora who had started that direction. Pyrrha smiled understanding and had already stuffed a sandwich in Nora's mouth, which she chewed happily letting her friends lead her away.

Blake wasn't sure when it had happened but Walt had stopped humming and combing. She looked at the two of them. He leaned against the tree trunk and Yang was leaning against him. Neither were moving, just breathing with their eyes closed. Walt holding Yang with his left arm as his right lay by his side still holding the comb.

She smiled at how peaceful they both looked. Yang had slept ok in the cabin but had been up and down. Probably still wore out and on edge from her ordeals in "The Pit". She wasn't now. Safe and secure. Walt would keep her that way even in his sleep. She was smiling but it also looked like she'd been crying just a little. *She is safe enough to do that now,* she thought.

She looked at Walt smiling. He was too in his sleep. *That's right. He still hasn't been to sleep yet! When was it last? Thursday? He'd shown no signs of exhaustion but now... he was resting comfortably with my best friend. Two of my best friends! Together. Two people I...*

Blake swallowed. She... wanted more she realized. She was afraid to... disturb this. Whatever it was, it was special and she shouldn't disturb it. She went to move away but Yang wouldn't let go of her hand.

Blake nodded. "Alright," she whispered softly. "I promised myself too. No more running." She moved closer instead and over towards Walt's right hand side, slowly taking the comb from his fingers and laying down on top of him as well facing Yang. "Is that... alright?"

She felt Walt's right arm wrap gently, protectively around her as Yang squeezed her hand. She froze but they were both still asleep... but even there they welcomed her. She listened to Walt's heart and Yang's breathing. Two of the most important people to her. Holding her. Together. It was perfectly natural. It was just right. "Thank you..." she whispered closing her eyes as well. "I love... you... too..."

Kali looked at them holding the blanket in her hands. She had several other different emotions going on inside but there was one above all of the others... she was happy for them. They obviously needed rest and solace. Something they could give each other. Anything else was of far less importance.

Still she hesitated holding the blanket. "It maybe warm but they're all still lightly dressed. It wouldn't be good if they caught a cold before the wedding. How-"

She felt the blanket lift from her hands and watched as it spread out in the air, then gently settle over the trio as if it were floating down around them. It almost looked like there were tiny figures that settled it and disappeared. Looking up she saw Pirotess up in the tree branches turn her back and bound away as lightly as a leaf in the wind.

"There," said Glynda adjusting her glasses as she put The Disciplinarian riding crop/foci away. "That should be satisfactory, yes?"

Kali nodded and smiled at her as Glynda pretended to huff and disapprove in general... but she, and Pirotess too, had totally given themselves away. The dark elf had already gotten away but... Kali took Glynda's hand. "Thank you, Glynda. Would you care for a drink?"

Glynda smiled. "You're very welcome... and yes. I think I would like that."

Kali lead her over to where she and Willow were sitting with the others. Neopolitan smiled at her and caught her eye pointing to her cellphone. Kali chuckled and grinned winking at Neo and giving her a thumbs-up, which Neo returned and passed along to Sayoko, who'd returned it back passing it to Manami who repeated the process. They'd already gotten the memory on picture and "film".

Kali indicated to Willow to pour a second glass and when Willow raised her eyebrow she simply said, "For Pirotess."

Willow nodded and did as she asked setting it at an empty spot.

"Not going to take their invite?" Sienna asked from the branch she lay in.

Pirotess simply crossed her arms and asked instead. "Are your senses truly that keen that you can detect me?"

Sienna actually smiled and opened her eyes. "No... I just always know you're around somewhere near-by."

Pirotess made a dismissive noise and Sienna laughed. "Just like earlier... when you watched them mating!"

Pirotess very telling said nothing which made Sienna chuckle more. "It's not like you were alone. I was there too. They just happened to pick directly below our tree..."

"That maid was out there somewhere as well," Pirotess said irritated. "I don't know where exactly but she was."

Sienna blinked. "Is that what's got you upset? You couldn't detect a ninja/maid? Or something else?"

Her friend was silent again which made Sienna smile. She'd learned that her silence often meant she was correct... but not always. "They were pretty hot. I love when he does that to me too. He's really quite unbelievably good... how long has it been for you?"

Pirotess sighed. "If I agree to go have wine can we talk about something else?"

Sienna knew that meant she'd been correct but she nodded. "Absolutely... and we don't have to jpin the others for wine if you don't want too. We don't have to talk about anything either. I was only asking." She stood up stretching getting ready to climb down.

"It's been a longtime... years," Pirotess admitted. "Not since my Ashram died..."

Sienna sighed. "I was right. You are like him... but even he eventually started having sex again... and now he's having bunches. Nearly limitless if the we have our way. It's against the rules but if you want to I could talk to the others if you want? Maybe we could even sha-"

"No," Pirotess said quietly but firmly. "I don't... need that. Thank you."

Sienna shrugged. "Alright. Consider it dropped... but I am worried about you." She sniled even as Pirotess scoffed. "It's true. If you ever need to talk, I'll be here for you... and so will he. Now let's go have ourselves some wine."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM and KL-E-O

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Saturday

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