Chapter 2 – Curious Collaboration
Rays of sunlight shone through the windows, accompanied by cold air; the perfect weather for anyone but Blake. The sound of the garbage truck woke Blake, who groaned in annoyance. She grabbed a pillow from underneath her head and smothered herself with it in attempt to lessen the noise.
I can't go a day without some awful thing happening, can I?
Blake sighed before throwing the sheets off her and getting up, groggily sitting in the same position to steady herself. Her bare feet touched the cold floor, causing her to wince. Blake brushed her teeth and exited her room, expecting the blonde woman from last night to still be in the closet, sleeping. Blake could have killed her in her sleep but decided against it. Surprisingly, Yang has fast reflexes, so an attempt on her life while she was off guard still would be difficult. Blake's eyes widened when she saw Yang rummaging through her refrigerator as the pans on the stove-tops sizzled. Yang was quite literally half way into the refrigerator. She was bent over and in the same stylish clothes from last night; Blake's eyes involuntarily drifted downwards before she stopped and mentally scolded herself. Yang stopped her excursion of the fridge and stayed in place.
"Like what you see darling?"
Blake quietly scoffed and averted her eyes from Yang, crossing her arms.
"I wasn't staring at you."
Yang stood up and turned to face Blake, closing some distance between the two and leaning against the counter-top. Yang winked with a smirk.
"Are you sure? Because I was talking about our breakfast."
Blake glared at Yang, refusing to acknowledge her witty remark.
"How did you know I was there?"
"Just a hunch. Or maybe…"
Yang playfully bit her lip and wrapped an arm behind Blake's back, pulling her closer until there was no space between them.
"I sensed you were here because we were lovers in a past life and I felt your heartbeat loudly yearn for her gallant knight to notice her presence. Sounds about right?"
Blake stared at Yang with an unamused expression before slipping out of her hold. Yang chuckled as Blake walked towards the stove to put a kettle of water on. She glanced down on what Yang had been making.
Eggs, bacon, French toast, and… tuna. Tuna I am not opposed to.
Yang walked back into the kitchen, flipping the French toast over and sprinkling cinnamon on it. Blake looked at Yang with slight disgust.
"What? I didn't see any confectionery powder, so this will have to do."
Blake made her tea and Yang finished making her exquisite dishes. The two girls sat down by the kitchen counter-top on the bar stools. Yang sat still and stared at Blake with a smile. Blake squinted her eyes at Yang, suspicious.
"What are you waiting for?"
"I want to know what you think before I start eating."
"You poisoned everything didn't you? I don't care much about the other stuff, but if you poisoned the tuna, I won't hesitate to kill you right now Xiao Long."
Yang laughed.
"What? I'm hurt Blake. I woke up early to make a breakfast fit for this beautiful queen before me and you won't even try it?"
Blake raised an eyebrow. Yang stuck her tongue out.
"I didn't poison it, I promise. I just like to see people's expressions when they eat something I made. If I'm eating too, I can't focus entirely on them and this case, you. Though, it's very hard not to focus on you."
Blake looked away from Yang and down at her plate. She had taken 70% of the tuna and half of the other foodstuffs. Blake took her silverware and picked up her food, beginning to eat. Yang beamed as Blake chewed.
This is by far the best breakfast I have ever eaten.
"So how is it?"
"Its… not bad."
"Really? Because your ears say otherwise."
Yang pointed to the top of Blake's head, where her Faunus ears were upright.
Blake blushed lightly. "Shut up and eat already."
Yang grinned and began to eat. The two ate in silence for a moment, strangely enjoying the presence of each other.
"Did you sleep well?"
Blake nodded, beckoning her head at Yang, silently asking the same.
"I did, thank you. You really do care about me, aww~ You're so sweet Blake!"
Blake rolled her eyes before wiping her mouth.
"What are you trying to do?"
Yang looked at Blake quizzically. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember anything that happened last night at all? The breaking in? The blackmail? The poorly timed flirting? Because I still do. But here you are making breakfast, acting all cool and beautiful, flirting even more, acting like we've been a married couple for years. What are you trying to do Xiao Long, please, pray tell."
Yang kept eye contact with Blake the entire time she was speaking, thoughtfully considering her words.
"Well, I can't say I know a clear answer to that. Call me weird-"
"You are weird."
"…but it just felt…'right'… in a way. I've heard a lot about you. Not the greatest things. But you proved that wrong, and I'm curious about you. I want to get to know you better, maybe do crimes together, the usual normal everyday life stuff."
Blake abruptly stood up and grabbed Yang's collar, forcing her up and against a wall.
"You're lying!"
"Blake-no-I'm not! I swear!"
"For a girl who names herself an 'honest criminal,' you aren't very honest. Tell me the truth Xiao Long!"
"I am!"
"THE WHOLE TRUTH."
Yang raised her hands up, signaling Blake to loosen her grip and listen to Yang.
"I know who you are. Well, not who you are per say, but what you do. You target criminals. You don't kill them most of the time, you just drop them off in front of the police departments' doors and go back into the shadows. You're like a vigilante assassin. These criminals though, they're all connected. I did research on the infamous 'Black Death.' Besides the history stuff about disease and what not, I found all your targets. They all were part of the White Fang, a gang that took over the Vale Police Department and replaced every single force with their own. They claim to be heroes, but they kill as they please. They steal what they want and they harm who they wish."
Blake dropped her hands to her side and looked off to the side. Yang tilted her head to follow Blake's eyes.
"The commander in chief is Adam Taurus. Former leader of the White Fang."
Blake winced when she heard his name.
"You're trying to lure and anger Taurus. Take his sights off the people of Vale and onto you. In other words, self-sacrifice. You're seen as a criminal to everyone because of them. He is making you the evil one and himself a hero."
"I know."
"Good, cause I'll have you know that I'm a criminal just like you."
Blake looked back to Yang. "What?"
Yang took out a disposable scroll—one that she could get rid of if her location was ever found—and showed Blake a news headline.
"The Firecracker and Black Death killing spree continues… Commander in Chief Taurus narrows his search, saving hundreds of lives from the murderous duo…? Yang, this-"
"We're going to make things right."
Blake shook her head. "No no no, you have NO idea what you are getting into. This man isn't some ordinary gang leader. He's-"
"Insane, probably a serial killer, definitely has bad taste in clothing, obsessed with you, and needs to be stopped?"
Blake sighed in defeat. "Yes."
Yang took Blake's hands in her own. "We're going to take him down. Two alleged criminals against an angry goat man."
Blake smiled and scoffed. "You're right, but you still suck Xiao Long."
"Hey, I do not! And what happened to Yang? Back to last names now?"
"Don't push it."
"Fiiiiine. Sorry this totally peaceful breakfast escalated so quickly. But I want to help you. Somehow, fate led me right into your apartment and made my search way easier. And before we do start our 'Operation Kick Crazy Man's Ass,' I meant it."
Blake glanced at their hands and back to Yang.
"Meant what?"
Yang sheepishly grinned. "All flirting aside, I mean, I'm still going to do it with you, but… I do want to get to know you better Blake."
Blake stared and decided to tease Yang for once. She leaned forward towards Yang's lips, approaching dangerously close. Yang parted her lips in shock but went along with it and expected a kiss. Blake swiftly pulled away and placed her hand on Yang's shoulder before turning away.
"You're doing the dishes darling."
Yang's mouth was left agape, eyes following Blake as she teasingly sauntered away. Yang snapped out of it and called out to Blake, whistling.
"I HATE SEEING YOU LEAVE BUT I LOVE WATCHING YOU GO!"
Blake entered her room and closed the door behind her, smiling.
A charmer, isn't she? Even in serious situations.
Blake heard the kitchen faucet start running and made an unrelated mental note to give Yang clothes to change into.
Operation Kick Crazy Man's Ass is a go.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Let me know your thoughts on it and please leave a review if you have time! You can find me on Tumblr (sinoftangzents). Have a good one!
