Ch. 2: Dressed Accordingly
They were just a week removed from the party and Yang was excited. Every year, no matter how far they got, how serious the competition became, Yang always most looked forward to the party. It wasn't a lack of love for the sport or her team, it was just that the party was a way to have a festive event with her friends from volleyball as well as a few others.
This year, as a captain, Yang really wanted to look good for the party. This was also the first year that Blake would officially be her date and looking good on a date was important to Yang. However, the element of surprise wasn't something that she held as close to her heart, which was why Blake was sitting on Yang's bed while Yang sorted through her clothing, getting a gauge on what to wear.
"So what if," Yang said. "I combined this top with this skirt?" Yang held up a solid yellow top and a skirt that would've been about knee length that was white with horizontal yellow pinstripes. Yang herself was dressed in a yellow crop top with black shorts, her normal casual attire.
"I think that that's fine," Blake replied, giving both pieces another once over. Blake was still dressed in her black yukata that she used as sleepwear, though she did take the time to ensure that her signature black bow was tied neatly on top of her head. This was the first thing that Yang wanted to do when Blake woke up. Yang had already been up for long enough to make both of them breakfast and get changed.
"You're saying that everything is fine," Yang complained. "You're not giving me a gauge for what's good, what's better, what's maybe not so hot." Blake shrugged and leaned back in the bed a little bit. "I brought you on for help, Blake."
"I'm not the best fashion judge." Yang sighed and set the clothing aside for the moment. She looked back at Blake as she sat down on the ground. Blake was sitting there, mostly lax, observing Yang closely.
This wasn't unusual for Blake, there was a large part of her character that consisted of silently observing..
Blake noticed Yang before Yang noticed Blake. Yang was sitting near Blake, chatting with other people in the room before class started. Blake could discern an occasional word from that conversation, volleyball being the big buzzword that she could catch. It wouldn't be until the project where Yang would take notice of Blake. Yang smiled at the memory of their first conversation.
The two of them got paired at random for their project. After class, the first thing that Yang did was seek out Blake to start planning.
"Hey," Yang said. "I'm Yang."
"I know," Blake replied. Yang frowned and shrugged, figuring that this was not going to be a fun experience of working together.
"Well my guess is that you're Blake. When do you have free time to work on our project?"
"On the same days that you might have free time would be on Saturday and Sunday."
"Awesome, early-wait when I would have free time?" Blake shrugged.
"You're not quiet when you talk about volleyball." Yang was dumbstruck. They had never talked before but apparently Blake already had part of her life figured out.
"Uh, well… I guess those days are fine… Morning or afternoon?" Yang asked, shifting around.
"Afternoon," Blake answered. "For some reason I don't think you're the morning type."
"Is this a hobby of yours?" Yang asked. "People watching?" Blake raised an eyebrow at Yang. "Not judging you."
"Those who're nearby me, yeah," Blake said. "Like I said, you're not quiet. Gives me something to do before class." Yang nodded.
"I respect that." She smiled at Blake. Blake didn't smile back, but she eased off of her suspicious looks.
"Yang!" Blake called out. Yang snapped out of her memory and gave a single shake of her head.
"Hm?" She asked.
"You were just staring at me." Yang blinked and thought up a retort.
"Can you blame me for wanting to stare at the beautiful woman I'm with?" She put on her best smile and stared into Blake's face. She tried to read Blake's reaction but it was fruitless, Blake was impossible to read.
"You had a blank expression on your face," Blake said. "I know when you're staring at me for the other reasons." Yang bit her tongue. She should've known better than to try and sneak anything by Blake.
"I was caught in a memory," Yang said after a brief pause. "Back when we first met and you already had a general rundown on me."
"Mhm, you did turn out to be pleasantly surprising in a variety of ways," Blake said.
"Oh yeah? What ways were you surprised?"
"Only mild arrogance, wicked attitude, sharp wit-."
"Way to paint me in a great-."
"Deep sense of care and incredible commitment to everything." Blake took in a breath and now let out a small smile. "I guess I didn't expect you to be you."
"Well I'm glad I managed to get some surprises on you, Ms. Observer." Yang got up to her feet and started to pick up her clothing.
"Though you are useless when it comes to giving a judgment on fashion," Yang said.
"You want fashion, ask Weiss," Blake said, holding her hands up innocently. "I have faith that you'd look good in any of these combinations of clothing." Blake leaned back until she was lying down in the bed. Yang sighed and looked closely at everything she had strewn about.
She had to make a decision on what to wear that day. If not, she knew that she wasn't going to give it a second thought until the day of the party. She had a bad habit of procrastinating, one that Blake had been scolding her about since their first time working together.
"I could always just rent a suit again," Yang said aloud. "Last time I wore a suit, I rocked it."
"That sounds good to me," Blake said. Yang sighed again, wondering why she tried to get a solid answer out of Blake. She had a habit of being cryptic, normally with some reason behind it but sometimes that was just Blake.
Wait, Yang thought. Is this one of those times? Did I screw something up? She searched in her mind, trying to think of something that she would've done that would cause Blake to be more cryptic towards her.
Pyrrha did the dishes this week, she thought. I picked up my clothing, turned in the assignments, rent's not due for this month yet. Though, Blake would've told me if I forgot rent. What the hell is it?
Yang went back to picking up her clothing, putting everything away. Her mind was simultaneously searching for if she had done something to cause Blake to switch into her cryptic mode and what clothing style to go with.
Maybe I should just ask Weiss, Yang thought. Though she'd just refer me to a dress. Yang sighed and tucked away another shirt. I bet it's a lot easier for Weiss and Pyrrha when it comes to this stuff. They both know what they're going to wear all the time and they just like to surprise each other at the event. Asking isn't even apart of the picture most-. Yang came to a dead stop and her eyes widened.
She turned around and walked over to Blake. Without missing a beat, Yang grabbed Blake and lifted her up to her feet. Blake jumped a little at the sudden change but regained her composure quickly once she realized that it was just Yang.
"Yes Yang?" Blake asked.
"After all of this asking about what I should wear," Yang said. "I figured that perhaps I forgot to ask about the most important outfit."
"Oh?" Blake asked. "And what would that be?" Yang pulled Blake in a little bit closer.
"Would you be willing to accompany me to the party as my beautiful date?" Blake smiled.
"Hm," she said. "Let me think about it…" She shifted her head side to side as she pretended to ponder the question. "You did forget to ask me up until now."
"Was it forgetting or was it just timing it to get the perfect moment to ask you?" Yang challenged.
"Forgetting." Yang opened her mouth to protest but Blake was quick to cut her off. "The only time you ever timed anything perfectly was the first time you asked me out." Yang went quiet, giving away the right answer. "But… I must give you credit for how impeccably well timed that moment was."
It was the week after Weiss and Pyrrha had their first date. The two of them officially beginning a relationship changed the dynamic within the house. It wasn't much, but it was enough to call it noticeable.
What it mostly did for Yang was put pressure on her. She'd felt some degree of attraction to Blake throughout this year, one that she wasn't sure if it was requited. But seeing how happy Weiss and Pyrrha were really gave Yang an extra spur of motivation to act upon her attraction. How was the only question left in her mind.
On that day, Yang was fishing through the kitchen for a snack. It was close to that time of week where they'd need to go shopping again and Yang could feel the impact while looking through the fridge.
"Any tuna left?"
Yang jumped and turned around, seeing Blake standing right behind her.
"Jesus Blake, you've gotta warn a girl," Yang said. "Or at least, walk a little bit louder." Blake smiled and leaned against the nearest wall.
"I like the element of surprise," Blake said. "So is there any tuna left?" Yang looked back in the fridge and pulled out the leftover tuna. Blake took it from her and gave a brief nod in appreciation.
"How long have you been back?" Yang asked.
"Just got back," Blake replied, grabbing a spoon and popping open the container of tuna. "Where are Weiss and Pyrrha?"
"Out on their second date," Yang answered, finally plucking out an apple from the fridge.
"Oh they're really smitten now." Blake let out a small chuckle at her own comment. "I am glad, though."
"I think we all are. The tension was palpable."
"Good word." Yang took a bite out of the apple she got and watched as Blake ate her tuna.
"Remember last year," Yang said. "About… I don't know, three quarters of the way through it, when I commented to Weiss about how her and Pyrrha should bang already?"
"And Weiss gave you a lecture afterwards about how that wasn't going to happen for your satisfaction," Blake said with a small chuckle. "Yeah, I remember."
"Funny how time brings funny moments into reality." Blake nodded and took another bite of her tuna.
"Remember when Weiss' best comeback was to ask if I had 'locked lips' with you yet?" Yang continued. Blake furrowed her brow and shook her head. "She did say that. I think you were already trying so hard to just not explode of laughter at the tiny ball of embarrassment that was Weiss." Blake shrugged.
"Weiss has said a lot of stuff I've forgotten," Blake said. "Sometimes it just doesn't stick."
"Well she did." Yang took one last bite out of her apple and set it aside. "Wanna satisfy the Ice Queen and just makeout in front of her?" Blake started to cough and set aside her tuna, eyes wide in surprise.
"I beg your pardon?" Blake asked.
"Well I guess going that far is a bit extreme. How about we just get coffee together? Tomorrow morning?" Blake's expression went from surprised to a smile.
"Smooth, Xiao Long," Blake said as she chuckled. "That was really smooth." Blake stepped forward, grabbed Yang and kissed her before Yang could say something else.
It wasn't much of a kiss. It was quick, short, sweet but it felt so good. Yang had wanted this for a little while, she wanted a relationship and all this did was reaffirm how much she wanted it.
"I liked your first idea plenty," Blake said below her breath. "But I think I'll take the coffee."
Yang laughed at the memory and leaned her forehead against Blake's.
"I'm glad I made it count," Yang said. "And are my past escapades enough to warrant you being my hot date?" Blake stared at her and nodded slowly.
"I think that your best look would be a suit," Blake said. "This time, you can wear the suit and I'll just keep it to a jacket and pants."
"You're amazing," Yang said. "I promise, I'll give you a good time."
"Of that I have no doubt