[@HereComesTheSnow]

[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/er5FgrY.png[/img][/center]
[Center][H3]Finally facing the truth.[/h3][/center]

That look in his eyes...

Luke's next words came as no great surprise, though she found they stung more than she would have expected. It was only the cold, raw truth; she was saying some of the dumbest things she had heard in quite some time. Even the most patient and understanding individuals were bound to get sick of it. And after that last round of compulsory word vomit? Luke had had enough. She understood. Everyone had their limits, even someone as kindhearted as him. But it still hurt. Not because she felt attacked or offended, but because she had driven him to this.

[i]You've done it now. Maybe now you can shut your mouth after you swear it won't happen again? You owe him that at the absolute [b]least[/b].[/i] She opened her mouth to do just that, but Luke had more to say, and his next words shattered her preconceptions. 

Skye could take a direct physical blow without flinching, or even budging. She could ignore the pain and never lose focus on her defense. But Luke's words alone were enough to cause her to jerk back as if he had actually struck her, as if she had no defenses to speak of. She even stumbled back a step, arms reflexively covering her stomach. [i]He's upset about... how I speak of myself?
Is he right? Am I trying to make him hate me? Why would I...? [/i]

Luke kept digging, tearing apart whatever flimsy excuses she had made like the insubstantial things they were. He was like a predator going straight for the neck, too relentless and swift to be stopped. A Hunter more than just in title, and in a moment of clarity she realized where he was going with his words. It was then that she felt terror, more than any Grimm had inspired. [i]Oh no. Please no. Don't ask me that. Anything else but please don't go [b]there-[/b][/i]

But he did ask. 

'What happened?' It wasn't the same question the doctors or the people from Beacon asked, not the impersonal request for the facts of her situation. Lucas Schwarz had seen right through her, mask and all. He had gone right for the metaphorical throat and slain her in one decisive strike. She knew she couldn't lie. There was no running from this. He had asked the one question she subconsciously knew she had been hiding from, but had done nothing to prepare herself for. All she could do was close her eyes and take a deep, shuddering breath. When there was no hiding and no running one could only resign themselves to their fate. And face it head on.

[i]You can tell me, he says. Unbelievable. I had no intention of telling anyone, it's not anyone else's business or problem but mine. Does he have some kind of semblance that can make people he's just met open up and tell him their deepest personal secrets? Doubtful. It's far more simple than that, isn't it?[/i] She knew now this had been a long time coming. Her inability to keep herself together was proof enough of that. Luke was a perceptive man and a Hunter. He had only needed to notice the crack in her mask, and his nature, his desire to help, had taken over from there. She had not recognized him as a Hunter for what little of his physique was apparent, but in his eyes she could see now what truly separated a Huntsman... from a girl wielding Dust and aura like a cudgel.

[i]No more masks, Byakko. They never suited you anyway.[/i]

Skye pushed her hood back to reveal her freshly dyed hair and faunus ears. [i]Might as well make this literal as well as figurative.[/i] She fully untied the red and white ceramic mask that had served as her surrogate face today. Beneath this was a face that could have been considered attractive in a way, a bit more angular than the female ideal with a longer, more prominent nose. But currently this face was far from pleasant in any sense of the word, and not just for her fresh tears. She was clearly gaunt, underfed, and her pure white skin looked unhealthy beyond just the unusual color. There were dark circles under her eyes as if she didnt just have difficulty sleeping but had not slept at all in days. Against these things her almost all white irises and few facial scars were less noteworthy but added to her unnerving visage. Her eyes met Luke's, and in her gaze was a weariness that went beyond mere lack of sleep, confirming what he had already deduced. She held the mask against her body, suddenly looking small despite being taller than Luke.

[b]"Alright. You truly want to help me, and I... I think its about time I faced this. So... the whole story. I haven't told anyone yet, but you deserve more than just the short version."[/b] She looked around, having been so focused on their tiny part of the world, she had actually managed to briefly ignore her surroundings. As expected some people were staring. 

[b]"Is there someplace more private we can go? This is going to be hard enough without an audience."[/b]