Home Chapter 1: Never Go Back

Downtown Vale wasn't an option for a newly graduated huntress. Not even for two. The sleepless city life and the better food and the proximity to all the places where Yang would want to spend her partying hours needed to be worked up to. That meant actual jobs and no school-given allowances. That meant moderation and self-sufficiency. That meant, at least for the couple of Blake and her partner Yang, the lower-east side of Vale.

It was not an upscale place, nor was it especially run down, but, in time, it could make a nice enough home. At least, that could be true as soon as that home found a couple income streams.

As it was, the apartment sat three stories above an early hour street, windows darkened and blinds still open. It was quiet inside, for its owners were away, and so a sleepy stillness overtook the neighborhood. That is until the silence was broken by laughter, far off down the nearest sidewalk, which was cracked and lined with weeds. In the darkness, excepted by intervallic and alternating amber streetlamps, were two figures—one with a voice as amused as it was proud of its sense of humor and the other with a laugh so joyful that its past owner would hardly recognize it. Blake and Yang walked together, beneath the shuddering spring trees and beside one another to ward off the remaining cold.

There wasn't any frost left by their breaths—there hadn't been for some weeks now—but still Blake found herself drawn to Yang's side like she had been for a long while now, ever since she had befriended that beautiful, wonderful space heater. Likewise, Yang seemed to live for her partner's laugh, goading another chuckle out just after the last one with a new pun or wordplay.

"Yang, that's terrible." Blake grinned nonetheless, jabbing her girlfriend in the ribs at the awful joke the prankster had just made.

Yang only cackled more, flashing Blake a killer set of pearly whites. She waggled her eyebrows. "But Blake! You know you love it."

The Faunus slowly shook her head, still smiling. It was undeniable—somehow, Yang's puns had gotten funnier over time. Or maybe it was just Blake's appreciation of them that had changed along with her growing esteem for the blonde. Or maybe she had just been worn down to the point where anything remotely funny could be considered extremely funny. Still, she couldn't just let Yang know that. "Close. I like that you think you're hilarious."

Yang wrapped her arm around Blake's waist, pulling her closer and allowing the raven-haired girl to clearly see the pout sent her way. "How could you? My heart! Why?"

Blake's grin widened again. "You know you love it," came her quietly amused comeback.

At that, Yang burst into giggles.

Tonight, they were officially huntresses. That meant bad jokes were allowed to be bad and laughing Blakes were allowed to keep laughing. They deserved this night, Blake and Yang—and so too all the other members of Teams RWBY and JNPR—because, after four years of Beacon Academy, they had finally graduated.

Unfortunately, the bar Weiss had booked was quite a ways away from Blake and Yang's apartment. The heiress had only thought of herself and Ruby, whom she had taken care of in terms of real estate, while Yang leased an apartment with Blake. Moreover, the members of Team JNPR all had places that were just too far for a walk, so they had excuses to use taxis. Blake and Yang, however, lived only fifteen blocks away.

It wasn't too bad, all things considered. They had walked together the entire way, even though they had pretty much talked exclusively to each other for most of the get-together, too, and enjoyed every second of each other's company. Even amid the perpetual tension machine that was Jaune and Pyrrha's "nonexistent" relationship and the subtextual dagger-throwing competition between Weiss and Nora, Blake and Yang only had eyes for each other. And when the night ended and everyone said their goodbyes, the couple had had no qualms about walking back home on this brisk spring night, hand in hand.

Now they were getting close. Their eyes naturally gravitated toward their new apartment, taking it in yet again, as it was still a bit of a wonder for them to contemplate. It was not so much the exterior appearance of it—nor the interior, really—that caused such a reaction. It was more so just the newness of it all. This was the place they were going to live in from now on. Together.

Yang sighed happily, moving to walk backwards in front of her partner. "So," she grinned. "What'd you think?"

"Think of what?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe that five-hour party thing we just came from."

"Right. That." Blake tucked her hands into the pockets of her cotton jacket, not having Yang's warmth beside her anymore. Yet still she smiled at the blonde. "I had fun. I think we all needed that, considering all we went through. And it was nice seeing JNPR again."

"Yeah. Shame Ozpin had us out doing solo missions. I forgot how disgusting Jaune and Pyrrah can be together."

"You know they're probably saying the same thing about us, right?"

Yang shrugged. "Let 'em talk." She turned around, apparently aware that they were arriving in front of the walkway that led to the entrance of their place. Blake made it back to Yang's side, amused that the brawler was taking the comment so lightly. But then Yang wondered, glancing up at the night sky and then at Blake, "Do you think we're actually that cheesy?"

The Faunus hummed, pretending to think about it. The subject was of no consequence, all things considered—they were just comfortably talking about whatever popped into their minds. "I think…it doesn't matter." Her tone was gentle, removing any bite her words could have possibly held. The two girls stopped and faced each other once they had climbed the cement steps to the front door. Blake smiled reassuringly at Yang. "We're us, and I'm satisfied with that."

Midway through fishing the key out of her pocket, Yang gave her a look. It was a mix of amusement and bemusement, and, before Blake could read into this expression, Yang leaned over and quickly pecked her cheek, pulling away with a now-mirthful smirk. "Same, TBH."

She unlocked the door and allowed Blake to pass through first. This only got her an eye-roll that seemed to say "You're incorrigible" and "I'm happy," both of which Blake had intended.

The lobby was relatively clean compared to the other buildings Blake and Yang had toured—despite being strapped for cash, Blake could not bring herself to live with mold or uncaring tenants. An elevator stood to either side of the square room while mailboxes—which neither girl had yet gotten a key for—rested in the back wall. Blake and Yang moved to the elevator.

"I mean," Yang said, letting her back press the button for her, "I don't think we're, like, movie-level cheesy. I'll take most of the blame for the cliché things I say about you, but even that doesn't make us as cheesy as some movies are. Maybe as much as a TV show. But nothing syndicated. We're better than that."

Blake shook her head. "Sometimes—"

"Don't you dare say we are!"

"Sometimes," Blake continued, keeping a laugh at bay, "I do think we can be a little much. Not for my tastes, mind you, but maybe for others'."

"Yeah, I can see that. But whatever. That's their problem."

A ding caught their attention. The elevator nearest them opened, and, with the same smirk she had been holding, Yang led Blake inside. They leaned against the railing as the elevator closed behind them, and Blake found herself resting her head against Yang's shoulder as they waited. It really had been quite a night, and it was late now—well, early. Blake figured they would end up sleeping in, especially if she took into consideration the fatigue she could already feel in her body. They probably deserved that small moment of respite, anyway.

"Agreed. I'm just glad we're home now," she murmured, almost drowsy.

Yang muffled a chuckle in Blake's hair. "Home sweet home," she replied, "with the fantastic view, the rich decorations, and the simply divine company."

The elevator opened again, and Blake moved away from Yang, giving her a wry look. "Well, you aren't wrong about one of those things."

Yang immediately struck a pose, one hand on her hip, the other on the elevator wall, "Yeah! This fantastic view! Am I right?" She winked emphatically.

Blake rolled her eyes but couldn't help the simper on her lips. "Absolutely." She stepped into the hallway. "Now get out of there before you end up striking a pose for someone in the lobby."

"You say that like I wouldn't actually do it." Nevertheless, the blonde left the elevator, all the while snickering quietly. "Before you strike a pose for someone in the lobby. Yeah, if they're awake at three. Sure."

To be honest, Blake somewhat needed that goofball to accompany her to their apartment since she had their only key. That, and she figured Yang was just as tired as she was, so impromptu modelling sessions would not be good for either of them.

The hall was quieter than usual, even with Blake's long-uncovered ears trying to search for something. This was calming in a way. Usually, there was some semblance of community in these halls, what with the televisions and music and conversations sounding throughout the day. But now the taupe hall was simply still. And the lack of sound began to influence the Faunus' energy. Fortunately, they did not walk for long.

They reached the end of the hall, and Yang moved ahead of her partner, keychain in hand. "Just so you know," she began, turning the key in the lock, "I'm gonna time you and see how long it takes for you to pass out. I've got money on five minutes."

"Who else is in on the bet?"

"Well, that's the problem." With a comforting click, the door was unlocked and pushed open.

They had only moved in less than a week ago, and one could still tell from the lack of furniture and the abundance of unpacked boxes. The house was dark, and Yang, seemingly, preferred it to stay that way, as she strode into the small living room and left Blake to deal with the light switch. However, Blake could see just fine in the dark, and, she had to admit, the barren room ahead seemed somehow prettier with moonlight streaming upon it. Yang doubly so.

Unbelievable, Blake thought with vague amusement. Of course, Yang would just keep any money she lost and gain nothing if Blake collapsed within the next few minutes—because Yang was just, as per usual, making things up.

The raven-haired girl made her way to their bedroom so she could change while Yang went to the bathroom. By the time the former finished tying her yukata, she heard the latter smash into something.

"Owww… Blake, the lights…"

Blake ventured out, stifling a laugh. "Yang, we don't have any furniture. What could you have possibly hit?"

In a strained groan, "A stack of boxes…"

The sight that greeted Blake out in the corridor was one she has seen several times before—but not here. At Beacon. Her teammate was fumbling around blindly, trying to find a light switch as she rubbed her shoulder. It was just as funny as it had been all those other times. Not wanting to add insult to injury, though, Blake refrained from showing too much mirth. Instead, she went over to Yang and took one of the blonde's hands in her own.

"You all right?"

"Yeah," Yang assured. "And thanks."

"For what? I haven't done anything." Nevertheless, Blake could not help but smile through her tiredness. Yang was showing her own, and her thanks was only the tip of a sleepy iceberg.

Yang felt around with her foot for the box, tapping it carefully and moving around it. "For, you know…" She and Blake moved away from the offending stack. "Thanks for being here."

It was not unusual for Yang to grow affectionate before bed. A sleepy Yang was both a talkative and honest Yang, and, on occasions—such as, seemingly, now—both descriptors applied in spades. The hand in Blake's own gripped appreciatively, but when Blake tried to step back and guide her partner into the bedroom, Yang stepped forward and stopped her. Perhaps it was due to her tired-yet-affectionate state or perhaps it was due to the near honeymoon levels of joy they had experienced since moving in, but Yang's step forward brought her lips to meet Blake's.

It was an easy kiss that neither felt obliged to push further. It was the longer, realer version of the behind-Weiss'-back pecks that had happened all night long. They were home now—in their home—the home they meant to make together—and such was why they each breathed easier as soon as that kiss happened. But it was over before they knew it. Yang pulled away with a small, grateful smile.

"You couldn't see the boxes," Blake said, "but, somehow, you could see my lips."

"Correction: I couldn't see your lips. I just so happen to have memorized where they are."

"That's not creepy."

Despite the joke, Blake tightened her grip on Yang's hand and finally pulled her into their bedroom. There was no attempt at another kiss, though Blake was sure there would be another, as was part of their goodnight ritual, but Yang seemed sated for now.

Sleeping together was still weird. Beacon had never allowed them to share a bed, even when they were on missions. And although that rule had been broken a handful of times, during weekends and on especially cold nights in the field, sharing a bed still felt novel to Blake. Maybe that had to do with the air mattress at the back of the room. It was the only piece of furniture they owned, and it was hardly comfortable by Blake's standards. But Yang liked it. And, really, if the furniture was inexpensive and Yang showed a liking for it, then Blake could find it in her high-standards heart to like it, too. It was only one-hundred Lien, so that certainly helped.

"I'll turn on the light," Blake offered, but Yang stopped her.

"No. I can see in here. There are actually windows. Plus…Well, I kinda like it like this. It feels comfortable."

Having the ability to see in the dark had its benefits, no doubt, but Blake had to admit that she occasionally took humans' sight for granted. A Faunus actually had to focus to see by moonlight alone, and, when Blake presently did, the sight she found was surprisingly serene. The cocktail dress and the olive-drab jacket Yang wore over it were tinted white-blue by the setting moon. Her eyes were unfocused but alert and her shoulders were beginning to slump. Blake watched as the blonde struggled in the direction of their closet, the raven-haired girl being unable to bring herself to lie down for the present moment. She did sit cross-legged on the mattress, though, patiently waiting. Making sure Yang could manage on her own seemed more pressing than getting comfortable under the blankets.

Yang felt around for the closet handle, and when she finally found it, opened the door. She stepped in, but then Blake saw her pause. A short silence followed.

"Uh, Blake?"

Having known this would happen, Blake slowly shook her head. "Yes, Yang?"

"I…can't see colors."

"That's a problem you should have told the optometrist before enrolling at Beacon," Blake teased, nonetheless standing back up and making her way over to Yang.

"So funny," Yang gibed. "Please help."

Sometimes Yang's stubbornness escaped Blake. "You know, I can just turn on the light for you."

"Aw, but where's the fun in that?" the prankster retorted with a snicker. "Also, we're in the closet."

"Oh my God, Yang. We've never been in the closet. Now, which pajamas do you want?"

Yang was still giggling at her awful joke. She might have been drunk. Maybe just a little bit. "The usual? Orange shirt, black shorts?"

Not annoyed in the least—feeling quite the opposite, in fact—Blake looked through the clothing that had been thrown a bit haphazardly within and eventually found what Yang was searching for. She gave the articles to Yang, and they both exited the closet. The Faunus was about to return to the mattress so her girlfriend could change, but Yang apparently needed help with something else.

"Wait, one sec." The blonde removed her army-style jacket and let it just drop to the floor (and Blake promised herself she'd get the incorrigible girl to pick it up tomorrow). "Could you unzip me real quick?" she asked, sort of turning her back to Blake and lifting her mane of hair out of the way.

Blake was about to oblige, but she suddenly paused. In the dim light of the moon, the parts where Yang's skin was bared reflected a soft umbral glow, creating defining contrasts and fascinating gradients. Golden irises followed the slant of Yang's nape, taking interest in the barely noticeable shadows formed by the muscles in her shoulder blades.

Sometimes, like now, Yang's beauty struck Blake hard enough to take her breath away. The reserved girl sauntered over and tentatively gripped the zipper, pulling it slowly down Yang's back, gliding along the curves of her spine and baring more of her skin. A certain kind of warmth pooled in Blake's belly, a familiar desire she hadn't allowed herself to entertain even once since entering this committed relationship with Yang.

Blake had never done this before. She hadn't waited for this, hadn't expected it to happen, and part of her even felt like she wasn't allowed to follow through. Even her proximity felt forbidden. Her inexperience made her nervous, and she suddenly felt like her arms were appendages separate from the rest of her. But, nevertheless, heart pounding, fingertips tingling, she found her free hand snaking gently around Yang's waist, closing the space between them, and laying her lips on Yang's neck from behind—a tender, lingering kiss.

"O-Oh." The blonde shuddered. "You know, I thought I'd actually get in to clothes after I got out of these…"

The zipper kept going and Blake laid another kiss on her partner's neck, pausing at the initial contact. The joke had been funny, despite her lack of laughter, but this—all of this—only served to bring her progress to a complete and awkward stop. She cast her eyes down in shame and nearly backed away.

But Yang stopped her. "Blake."

Two amber irises met one lilac, which peeked over a moonlit shoulder.

Her voice was calm as she spoke, her tone easy and without doubt. "It's okay," Yang said. "If you want to do this, let's do this. It's been, what, a year now? Year and a half? I'm okay with this. I'm okay if you are."

Unfortunately, the assurance did only a little to soothe Blake's worries. "I…I-I'm not sure if I'm okay. It's weird, Yang. I…think I want this, but…"

"It's weird when it's real, huh?"

Blake nodded.

Without her partner's hands on her hips, Yang could turn to face her girlfriend fully. Her expression was apologetic yet somehow encouraging. "I know what you mean," she offered. "This isn't exactly a walk in the park for me, either. Like, I've been with guys before, but…yeah, this is kinda really new to me. But I'm with you. And I know that it can't be as weird as we think it's gonna be."

Unfortunately, Blake couldn't find a single word to reply with.

But that was all right. Yang reacted to this silence by moving forward and catching the Faunus with a hug. There was nothing sexual about it; it was friendly, and that, Blake thought, was what Yang was trying to convey.

"It's all right. There's no rush. I'm with you for the long run, kitten."

Guilt tore at the raven-haired girl's conscience. She needed to say something to let Yang know she was not just being…difficult. Blake tried to apologize by hugging back, finding her head quickly cradled by Yang's hand as an "I'm sorry" escaped her lips.

"It's okay. Let's just get to bed. I think we're both a little too tired, anyway."

Blake nodded into the golden girl's shoulder, and the two pulled away. She took another look at Yang, simply watching the light dance across her skin and retiring dress. Some part of her regretted not pushing that moment further, yet another part of her knew they could take that step some other time. Yang's smile assured this.

Concerns mostly assuaged, Blake made her way back to the mattress and allowed herself to get comfortable—as comfortable as she could be on that inflatable thing—under the blankets. That proved to be a bit of a difficult task, though. As she propped herself up on her elbows, trying again to find a more suitable position, Blake's gaze was drawn to something landing over by the jacket on the floor. She recognized Yang's dress.

Blake tried to ignore that. Really, she did. But then her eyes, traitors that they were, caught sight of Yang, and, well, captivated became an accurate description of her state. The warmth she had felt earlier returned.

Yang was one of those people that exerted both strength and femininity. Her back was turned to Blake, but that didn't matter. The Faunus' golden eyes were fixated on Yang's muscles stretching out and compressing as she unclasped her bra and let it fall with the rest of her clothes. Her stance then relaxed, and Blake's gaze wandered downward, cheeks heating up at the firm shape of Yang's…thighs. Blake had long ago noticed that Yang was desirable, but she had mostly kept those kinds of thoughts at bay—specifically to avoid this kind of overwhelming lust. But now it was abundantly clear just how alluring Yang's figure was and even clearer how much Blake was affected by it.

"I feel like I'm being watched," the blonde commented, turning only slightly to grab her pajamas. Before Blake could even react to that, though, Yang suddenly glanced in her direction from the corner of her eyes. "Yup. What a perv. Enjoying the view?"

Blake was instantly flustered, lowering her gaze and altogether collapsing onto the mattress so she could stare up at the plain, white ceiling. "Now you can see in the dark?" she mumbled, letting out a bit of a sigh and covering her eyes with her hand, as if it would somehow erase the image from her mind.

Yang laughed. "No, but I know for a fact the walls don't have these little eye things that reflect light."

"Kill me."

"Well, I mean, if you really want me to…"

Now Blake was definitely blushing. "Yang, get dressed."

"Something tells me that's not what you want."

"Yang."

The prankster surrendered with another snicker, and Blake heard her put the pajamas on. If Blake was to be honest with herself, she wasn't sure how she was going to deal with Yang joining her in bed now. She knew this was entirely her own fault for not controlling where she had been looking, but that didn't help the tiny embers burning in her body, hungering for more fuel. And Yang had this terrible habit of teasing Blake every time the occasion presented itself—and this, no doubt, counted as one.

To say the least, Blake's heartbeat didn't calm. And when Yang approached, feet padding ominously closer on the hardwood floor, Blake's heart not only refused to calm, it began to race—both from apprehension and anticipation. Her eyes were drawn to the left at the feeling of her blanket being momentarily removed. Yang, with shirt on, was lowering herself into the bed and had no qualms with direct and piercing eye contact.

"You know," she said, making the mattress wheeze as she readjusted, "that look in your eye only wants me to flaunt it more."

Blake groaned. "Well, it's working. And I hate it."

"Hate it in a love-it sort of way?"

"Don't remind me."

The blanket was pulled over the both of them, and, not a moment later, Yang's auric warmth spread throughout the bed. It was calming in a way, if only on an instinctual level, but this wonton lusting was still grating on the nerves. Nevertheless, Blake turned on her side to meet Yang, who did much the same.

"You know, we probably would have been asleep right now if you hadn't decided to 'flaunt it.'"

Yang gave her a confused look, as though Blake were crazy. "Are we forgetting the part where you started macking on my neck? I mean, props to you for that; it really got my engines revving, if you know what I mean." She waggled her eyebrows and clicked her tongue. "But, seriously, let's not forget who's to Blake for this."

"Wh—" Had Blake heard correctly? Engines…revving? No. Yang needed to be treated right, with more respect than Blake's late-night mind could muster. But…revving?

A chuckle interrupted Blake's thoughts, and, before she knew it, the mattress' PVC creaked as her body was pulled toward Yang's. A chin rested between her cat ears, a hand traced lines up and down her spine, and that hand's index finger rubbed lazy circles all the while. "I'm just teasing you, kitten," came Yang's soft reply.

There was something about that noise, maybe the proximity of it. It sounded smooth but felt husked, and, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, Blake somehow felt reassured and thus drew closer to the warmer form. She was not out of her awkward wood yet, but she could see light on the horizon. For this, she breathed easier and allowed herself to be hugged, lightly returning the favor.

"Like," Yang continued, musing as though her words were and were not for Blake, "I don't actually think you're a perv. If I did, I'd be a hypocrite, 'cause then I'd be one, too. I really didn't mind when you kissed me back there, Blake. And I didn't mind you watching. Really, I uh…" Blake paused as the rumble of Yang's words ceased, her attention and…more shameful attention piqued. "I think about you like that, too. And I was—I'm not gonna lie."

And there was the blush again. They were both supposed to be tired. They were supposed to have gone to sleep by now. But Yang was talkative and affectionate…and not to mention buzzed. Despite Blake's attempts at trying to push away all lurid and obscene thoughts of her partner, Yang, with her worst unintentional tease ever, was affirming all of them. This was both a dream come true and an anxious nightmare.

Worse yet, a kiss was placed between the Faunus' ears. "But it's okay. We'll wait. We'll move at your speed since mine's a bit… Well, we'll move at your speed."

Blake wondered if Yang was doing this on purpose, letting her savor the presented dessert before cruelly taking it away, maybe in the hopes that Blake would ask for a bite or two…or more. It was late—it had to be three in the morning by now. However, no amount of tiredness would snuff out the growing flame that burned somehow hotter at Yang's confession. Was it worth it? Was it worth it to take that step now? To indulge that little flame? Guilt and anxiety aside, Blake…wanted this. And so did Yang, purportedly. And it was three in the morning, and they had had a long day, and Blake was inexperienced—and Yang, by earlier admission, was inexperienced, too, at least with regard to girls—and sugar before bed was rarely conducive to a good night's sleep, and, and…

And Yang had said she liked bold. She said the kiss and stare had worked for her. And Blake, despite all her reservations, wanted this—wanted her bite of Yang.

They would do it, Blake decided. Whatever it turned out to be.

She snuggled closer, pulling Yang toward her just as she had been pulled toward Yang, and kissed the hollow of her girlfriend's neck. Yang started, visibly surprised. "Oh," she gasped. "O-okay. So we are doing this?"

Blake hummed and, instead of speaking, let her actions reveal her answer. She kissed Yang's neck again, higher, and coaxed the golden girl onto her back with a gentle push by a hand on her waist. The Faunus wasn't sure this confidence would last—beyond her initiating push, she didn't really know what she was doing. Her heart seemed to want to thud out of her chest, and that certainly wouldn't be a problem soon. But if Yang couldn't hear it pounding as it was…

Yang obliged her girlfriend, though, allowing Blake to lean halfway over her. The raven-haired girl kept her weight off Yang, and as her lips hovered closer to the brawler's jaw, Blake was taken with a bit of a funny urge—an urge she hoped Yang wouldn't mind. Breathing in her partner's fading lilac scent, Blake laid another kiss on Yang's skin, right below her earlobe, and then nibbled lightly on the upper part of that same ear.

The blonde seemed to shiver a little, arms automatically pulling Blake closer, and Blake was glad about the positive response. Her lips grazed Yang's cheekbone, and then she held herself up high enough to meet her girlfriend's lilac-eyed regard. Yang looked particularly focused on Blake now, and she tilted her head slightly, gliding one hand across the bookworm's cheek. "Are you okay?"

Her voice was soft, and Blake found herself smiling despite her nervousness. "Yes. Mostly. I just…" She paused, admiring Yang's very existence for a brief moment. "I love you, Yang."

This made Yang beam. "I love you, too, Blake."

It wasn't like this had been the first time they had said that to each other. But Yang's affirmation was so confident, so sweetly honest that hearing those words overwhelmed Blake with joy, blanketing her tightly-strung nerves in a soothing enough manner that her remaining reservations dissipated.

It, therefore, felt only natural to lean in, closing the gap between them and capturing Yang's lips with all the affection she could physically muster. Blake wanted—needed, in fact—to show Yang just how much this love meant to her.

Yang reciprocated readily, deepening the kiss into something more fervent without nearly the same hesitation Blake had displayed. All the barriers and inhibitions put up by Blake's asceticism came crumbling down in an instant, and they did so harshly. Where Yang deepened the kiss, Blake reciprocated. Where Yang's hands clutched at her partner's back, Blake clutched at her partner's sides. And, likewise, where Blake allowed herself to lay fully on top of her girlfriend, focusing on putting everything she could into the kiss, Yang allowed it and leaned upward to do much the same.

Soon they were sitting upright, their kiss still heated, Yang holding Blake's back while Blake held Yang's head. The Faunus gasped for air, drawing in a breath as quickly as she could so she could return to the golden girl's lips. But Yang smirked at this. "Yeah. Total perv," she whispered, her voice that same husk from before. "But I love it."

Disparaging though the comment might have been at some other, non-sexual point in time, this acceptance kept Blake's heart hammering at that same mad pace. The words were helpful, forgiving. They made the Faunus feel safe, with help, no doubt, from the arms around her back and the furnace-like warmth burning at her front. Thankful to and drawn by that warmth, Blake let her hands wander—through the thick and curly mane of hair, finding the occasional knot or tangle and combing it out gently.

This was bliss. Although it might have been late and the waning sleepiness might still have lingered in the back of her mind, joy welled in the Faunus' heart. She had Yang in her arms, and Yang had her in her own. They had a home together, a bed together, and the significance of their taking this step was not lost on Blake, distracted though she was. She was happy—genuinely and existentially happy—and made sure to convey that emotion with a softer yet somehow deeper kiss.

But then her eyes widened. One of the hands on her back had crawled stealthily upward, and now it rested on her shoulder. Blake's muscles tensed at the realization that fingertips had found and grazed the collar of her yukata.

Of course, this sort of thing was to be expected—this sort of…intimacy. Never minding the fact that she and Yang had seen each other nude before, Blake knew this situation was different. She was sharing this moment with Yang, sharing herself with Yang. She had already bared her heart and soul to Yang—now it was time to take that dreaded yet long-awaited next step.

She pulled away and searched for those lilac eyes. Yang's breathing was rougher and her gaze was inquisitive, ardent. That Yang wanted this so unabashedly much was both flattering and frightening. Heat rose to Blake's face, but her shared desire for this to happen made her nod imperceptibly, consenting. She lowered her eyes.

"Hey, look at me," Yang murmured, making Blake meet her regard again. The blonde's expression was gentler now. "I've got you. I promise."

This was, against Blake's expectations, much more appeasing than she had anticipated. When Yang leaned in to kiss the crook of her neck, Blake found herself embracing her partner tenderly, muscles relaxing under the golden girl's touch. Yang's kisses were intermittent, lips hovering over Blake's skin so she could breathe as she deliberately traveled to the Faunus' throat, then to her collarbone. At the same time, careful hands slowly slipped the yukata down Blake's shoulders, baring more of her skin little by little.

It was painstaking, but Blake became incredibly aware of Yang's every kiss, every torrid exhale washing over her senses and feeding the flame burning deep within her. She closed her eyes, her grip on her girlfriend tightening. However, Yang paused when her lips reached Blake's upper chest.

"Oh my God, Blake. Your heart. Are you sure you're okay? Like, I can literally feel it racing."

Well, this hadn't come as much of a surprise—in fact, Blake had feared a much worse reaction. Still, she was a bit flustered. "Y-yeah, I'm fine." Really, she just wanted Yang to continue. It wasn't like she could do anything about her heart beating in sync with her anticipation, anyway.

It seemed, though, that, Yang being Yang—too selfless and caring for her own good—would need more than a simple, dishonest "I'm fine" to keep going. She had already begun to pull away when Blake decided to add—almost under her breath—"Don't stop. …Please." Her own request made her blush more. But how else could she have communicated her want without making a complete fool out of herself?

Yang again froze, hands halfway down Blake's biceps, keeping the yukata from baring the raven-haired girl's chest completely. Lilac met golden for a second, and then Yang suddenly caught Blake with a firm kiss on the lips, lasting long enough that Blake had to gasp for air again when the blonde eventually separated from it. "Wh…What was that—"

"You're amazing."

Blake knew where Yang's hands were. Frankly, by this point, she didn't care. Unfortunately, she couldn't find words to return the compliment right now. She simply watched as the brawler's hands let go of the silken nightwear. And, at that moment, this became real—realer than it had already been.

There was a certain awe evident in Yang's expression. A pausing, curious light shone behind her lilac irises, making Blake feel even more bared than she physically was. Yang scrutinized her partner, yet did so caringly, as though she were a mapmaker, memorizing and detailing every hill and valley. But she didn't stop there, a fact that made Blake stiffen. A coarse yet soft hand found the Faunus' right side, and, not an instant later, every past scratch and scrape and cut that had formed this brawler's gentle fingers was felt by the Faunus. Small jolts of electricity coursed up her abdomen as that hand ascended.

Yang glanced at Blake, once again verifying that everything was all right, just as her fingers lightly trailed up and across Blake's shoulders and then down Blake's chest, tracing slowly along the side of her right breast. Blake held her breath, keeping as still as she possibly could. She couldn't help the goosebumps, though. With Yang looking so openly—fascinatedly?—at her like this, she didn't know how to react. Yang's intrigue was so disconcerting, yet the touch of her hand felt, somehow, calming. It was an odd paradox, but far was it from unpleasant.

When their eyes met again, Yang looked like she was about to say something. However, before she could mouth the first syllable, she decided against it and leaned up to kiss Blake again. Blake gladly accepted the gesture as she practically hugged the blonde's head.

The intensity of the kiss amplified, yet Yang's hand remained gentle. However, it did nothing to stop the extra leverage gained from the newly emboldened kiss, Yang's greater lean forcing the Faunus back somewhat. Perhaps Yang was simply in her own head—and, frankly, Blake could not blame her, being no different, herself—but the lean kept furthering, and Blake kept having to bend back until at last their balance was broken.

The kiss was interrupted, not only with a gasp but with an "Eep!" Yang's lean became too much for either, causing them both to lose their seating and fall together onto the bottom end of the mattress. The air in the bed coughed out as Blake and a bracing hand from Yang fell heavily down. It took a moment for the former to realize what had just happened, her eyes unfocused because of the kiss, but soon she saw Yang above her—sheepish and panting. Blake realized that she, herself, was breathing roughly, too. But when their eyes met again and a smile formed on Yang's lips, no lack of oxygen could dissuade either from laughing.

"Wow, Yang," Blake chuckled, more confidently than she expected from herself in this situation. "Real smooth."

"More like real smooch."

There was no retort that Blake wanted to offer besides a friendly scoff. She let her laughter die down while holding the blonde's gaze, knowing full well that her head had landed only a few inches from the floorboards and that she was halfway bared before her partner. But neither of those things mattered anymore. She was too happy to care.

Yang seemed to think similarly, letting her giggle fade before leaning down and kissing Blake once more. They continued as if nothing had happened, despite the fact that the mattress tended to deflate this far down. Riding this wave of happiness and mirth, Blake returned to holding her girlfriend, hands slipping between the brawler's arms and drawing her close. Likewise, her legs had come to wrap themselves around Yang's thighs and calves, the Faunus' body doing anything it could to keep that warm presence near.

The kiss was as fervid as it ever had been, their lips pressing against and holding on to each other in a soft battle for dominance. But Yang seemed to have not been satisfied with just this. She moved away from Blake's face, lips finding the Faunus' throat again and pressing firmly to its side. Blake's breathing grew heavier as this kiss continued downward—to the shoulders and collarbone. She brushed a hand through Yang's hair as hot breath washed down across her sternum. Indeed, Yang was quite the cartographer, her hands surveying the lands of Blake's hips while her kisses ventured further down.

But then she stopped. Blake saw a smirk as Yang rose up midway through her exploring. The Faunus, supine, now stared up at the kneeling blonde above her, confused and incredibly distracted. Yang's smirk gave her words a teasing edge. "Is it hot in here?" she asked. "Or is it just me?"

"Uhh," tried Blake, scrambling for something—anything—until at last she found, "both?"

"Glad you agree. Now help me get this shirt off."

All things considered, it wasn't much of a surprise that Blake needed a brief moment for that to register in her mind. When it did, however, her eyes widened, and she felt her blush rise all the way to the tips of her cat ears. Well then. Oh.

It seemed that Yang, ever the eternal goofball, was taking a mighty pleasure in Blake's flustered state. She grinned. "Or, you know, I could do it myself." This was followed by a very obvious wink.

That Blake had to actually consider both options and determine which one she preferred was probably a little sad. Maybe she was a pervert. Still, it didn't take her long to decide that she didn't want Yang getting anything off on her own. Blake deliberately sat up and allowed herself to steal another kiss. "You're incorrigible," she murmured as she pulled away, fingers trailing down to the hem of Yang's orange tank top.

The seductive smile that played on the blonde's lips was both alarming and—frankly—hot. "Nah. Just horny." The admittance was blunt, but it was abundantly clear that Yang knew the exact effect she was having on Blake.

Case in point, Blake almost choked. She tried several times to reply but failed to speak at all. Scratch that, her mind went into all the corners she really didn't visit often, spurring only unbidden and very obscene images instead of anything resembling a useable word.

Yang laughed at Blake's reaction—low and husky—and the Faunus became convinced that the golden girl shouldn't have had any right to laugh like that. Anything that sexual should have been against the law. Therefore, Blake couldn't exactly be held accountable for her actions. At least, that was her justification. She gripped the hem of Yang's shirt and, with minimal awkwardness—or so she liked to think, at least—pulled it over the buxom blonde's head, quickly discarding it to the side.

And because Blake had slightly more class than Yang, she didn't just sit and stare. Well, to be honest, she did a little bit. Because how could she not? Yang, in all sincerity, in every aspect, was gorgeous. From the cascading locks of messy, golden hair to the mischievous, amorous glint in her striking lilac irises and all the way down from the hard lines of her collarbone to the softness of her chest, Yang rendered Blake speechless. Also, her curves were to die for. A perfect blend of toned muscle and feminine beauty, instead of helping the temperature of the room drop, Yang's sensual form seemed to make it spike. The warmth Blake was feeling all over definitely intensified, and dear God, would her heart please stop thudding so fast and so loudly?

Blake found herself embracing Yang, kissing her neck, nibbling on her collarbone. The brawler pulled Blake onto her lap, fingers tracing patterns on the raven-haired girl's bared back and leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Blake barely contained a shudder. Yang's chest was heaving with every breath, and Blake was surprised to hear the blonde's heart beating rapidly, too.

It was funny, really, how Yang never hid her emotions. She was an open book, her heart always on her sleeve, and the fact that it was racing now only confirmed Yang's pure candor. It was encouraging—and flattering—to know that Blake was the cause of everything she was observing about her girlfriend, that despite the bookworm's inexperience, she could still make Yang feel this way.

Her hand wandered down, raking nails across the rolling plains of Yang's abdomen, following every bump and crease, and Yang shuddered, one of her hands cradling Blake's head and scratching just at the base of her cat ears. The Faunus hummed appreciatively, closing her eyes and continuing to kiss Yang's smooth, burning skin. Unpredictable as usual, Yang, making sure to keep her grip on Blake tight, let herself fall on her back and brought her partner down with her—returning to the upper part of the mattress.

Blake raised herself up only a bit, gold meeting lilac through the darkness in the room. Fires roiled all the way into her fingertips, and seeing Yang so genuinely affected was an igniting fuel. She was beautiful, and the need to show her and make her feel like it continued to grant Blake just enough confidence to keep trying. Plus, Yang was so expressive—both in the verbal and non-verbal—that Blake had only to watch for telling signals that showed what worked best for her partner.

"You're amazing, too," she finally returned in a tone close to a whisper. It was strange—Blake was still nervous, but she was comfortable now, too. This felt right.

Yang chuckled a bit breathlessly, passing a hand through her lustrous blonde locks and licking her lips—another sin. "Kitten, you're killing me…"

This, bizarrely—but not so bizarrely, in afterthought—kicked Blake's mind into overdrive. Yang wanted this, wanted Blake, mirroring the Faunus' own desires. She couldn't, in good conscience, withhold that from her girlfriend any longer. And although she had no idea if this was going to work, Blake supposed it was worth a try. She raised herself up more, one hand still fondly tracing the muscles of Yang's abdomen, and just as she was hovering her nose along the golden girl's shoulder, firmly planted her knee between Yang's upper thighs.

Yang's reaction was instantaneous. Her breath caught, hitched, abs noticeably flexing and releasing under Blake's fingers as she bucked her hips once, searching for more friction. Blake's eyes widened, surprised to feel the warm humidity through Yang's thin shorts—another proof that Yang hadn't been lying, despite her tease—and…frankly…aroused by such a positive response.

To say the least, Yang was definitely breathing harshly now. "Oh my God, Blake…"

And Blake shivered, cat ears twitching, wondering if Yang's voice might just be her undoing, especially if the blonde said Blake's name like that. Again, a dream come true and an anxious nightmare.

She wanted to focus on that dream part, though. Doing so would definitely help. Eyes blazing, Blake descended from Yang's shoulder, trailing a light kiss as she went, until she met the yielding flesh of Yang's left breast. This was met with a restrained breath, and when Blake looked up, pausing her trek downwards, she found that her girlfriend was similarly blushing. Whether this was because of arousal or similar nervousness to her girlfriend's own, Blake had no clue. Nevertheless, hints of both could be seen in her pleading lilac eyes. They made Blake smile as she continued.

The Faunus refocused on her objective, making slow, certain movements up the slope of her girlfriend's breast. Her hands travelled with her, brushing along Yang's sides, while her mind lingered on the softness of Yang's skin. Lighter kisses were contrasted with harder kisses, Blake testing the firmness, and lack thereof, of every part of Yang Xiao Long. But it was not only about the test's results; rather, the rising temperature that increased with every inch was the goal of Blake's expedition. They were proof that she was doing a good job—the tests and ragged breaths were merely added benefits.

But then Yang's hips bucked again. Flitting her eyes upward and checking on the blonde, Blake found that Yang was propping herself up on her forearms, a look of stupor gracing her features. Yang was indeed still here mentally, but Blake could tell that the previous reaction had been involuntary. Yang's eyes had remained where they were before—locked on Blake.

Blake looked down again and surprised herself. She was face-to-"face" with Yang's nipple, the proud bud having grown sensitive to Blake's touch. Hesitantly, she leaned in and offered an experimental lick, observing the even greater hip buck this received. Deciding she liked that reaction, Blake tried again and found a similar, if not lesser, response. Not wanting to add to any frustration, she moved her knee again, giving Yang all the friction she could get as the ministrations on her chest continued.

With this same idea in mind, Blake, being tentative at first, wandered one of her hands along Yang's waist and hip, caressing firm muscles while she continued to lick Yang's hardening bud. The feeling of those hips thrusting both under her hand and against her knee momentarily sent Blake's mind reeling. Her right hand continued its path around the curve of the brawler's hip, palm resting against the side of her rear, and gripped hard enough to encourage the bucking and provide even more pressure for her girlfriend.

This elicited a gasp and a deep moan. "Blake," Yang managed, "with you doing that, you look like a—"

Suddenly, with the mood teetering on demise, Blake stopped. "Don't say it. I will bite you."

"Ooh," Yang laughed, forcing her speech through the evidently overwhelming sensations.

This caused Blake to pull away, if only by an inch. "And not in a nice way."

"Ooh . My heavens, Blakey. You know just the things to say to a girl."

Blake just stared at her for a second, trying to figure out if this was simply Yang joking around or if she wanted to spoil the mood. Or get bit. Either way, that wouldn't happen tonight. The Faunus shook her head and returned to pleasing Yang. She moved to her partner's right breast now and repeated her actions from before, lavishing Yang with affection until the brawler's hips were erratically thrusting against Blake's knee, and even Blake couldn't help her own spiking arousal.

Perhaps more than anything else, those thrusts were what, to use Yang's parlance, got Blake's engines really revving. There was something so…animal about them that made Blake slightly, and regrettably, neglect her current objective. Her balance swayed, her knee slipped an inch, and Yang's motions only grew in protest.

"Ugh," Yang groaned. "Are you really going to tease me? It was just getting…huh, good."

Blake's mind stood still for a moment, not necessarily thinking, but it did continue to motivate. Something about those bucks, those groans, made her feel emboldened—so much so that when she met Yang's wild eyes with her own, she found herself kneeling without realizing it, releasing her girlfriend entirely. Her hand went to the bow of her yukata and pulled, allowing the silken garb to fall on the now-tangled mass of blankets. Her mind was racing, and while the majority of her thoughts told her to stay calm and composed, something deeper within begged her to indulge that bolder, impatient side.

So, she did, husking back, "Now I am."


HEY. DOWN HERE. LOOK. THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY. THERE WILL BE A CHAPTER TWO. WHAT YOU JUST EXPERIENCED WAS A CLIFFHANGER. NOT THE END OF THE STORY. SO, IF I SEE ANY REVIEWS FROM YOU ASKING 'YWU, WHY DID YOU END THE STORY THERE?' I WILL ACTUALLY END THE STORY HERE. THERE ARE FIVE CHAPTERS, BUT IF YOU DON'T BEHAVE, THERE WILL BE ONE. GOT IT?

Actually, because I'm spineless, the story will continue regardless. I'm just letting you know that the ending above is not the ending and that the next chapter, as well as chapters three through five, will come out two days after each other. The entire story is already written and edited, so just wait a couple of days, and come back then.

Ok. That's all. Ciao, bambini!