"So… we've been walking awhile." Yang began, drawing out the "I" and pushing some of her sweat soaked hair back out of her face. One could hear her barely held back irritation.

"You sure you know where we're going, Rubes?" She asked pleadingly, hoping that perhaps they had just passed the stupid relic at the last clearing.

Ruby grinned and pointed triumphantly up in the air without looking up from her map. It was a nice one, given out at the beginning of this mission by Professor Goodwitch herself. Ruby held onto it like a sacred treasure. A real map from a real huntsman for a real, fake mission.

"Don't worry, sis! I've not looked up for 4 whole hours, and I'm definitely–!"

"We're on the right path." Blake said, landing next to Ruby and startling her a little. She had hopped up into the branches above to get a clear view when Yang first asked the question.

"Still due East, according to the sun." She said, ignoring Ruby's slightly put out look.

"I concur." Weiss said coolly, wiping her brow as she tapped at her scroll.

"The GPS says we're still going the right way, and haven't gone too far yet. Besides, Professor Goodwitch said we couldn't miss it." She said with her customary nod of certainty. Yang giggled a little at the sight, and then a lot when she saw Ruby's pouting.

"...I was holding the map and everything guys…" She mumbled, but, a few minutes after they set off again, she was just as excited as before. Yang smirked, despite her discomfort. Nothing got her little sis going like a mission.

And it was nice that someone was happy. Weiss, while outwardly as demure as always, was starting to give off her little tells of frustration. A few huffs when she didn't really need the air, more frequent flipping of her ponytail. Little things Yang had learned about her, both by teasing her and just simply watching her.

Princess is getting pissy. She thought, smirking slightly at the little jingle, though with no real malice. Weiss had grown on her quite a bit since the first few weeks. She found more amusement in the sheer alliteration of the phrase than in Weiss' discomfort.

Besides, who could blame her? The stupid, stinking, awful jungle they'd been slogging through was hot. And humid. Even Blake, despite all her wilderness experience, was still looking worse for wear. She'd even taken off her bow a few hours back in favor of letting her ears breathe. Granted, that was only after some gentle suggestions from Ruby and herself… and some not so gentle, but still clearly caring suggestions from Weiss. ( "I don't want to carry you if you pass out from heatstroke!")

And as for Yang herself? Well… She wasn't sure if anyone in the world was really responsible for jungles being hot, humid, and awful, but if there were, she had sworn at least a dozen times that she would have her revenge. And they'd be paying for some much needed salon time.

Suddenly, Weiss stumbled on a root, just ahead of Yang, knocking the Blonde out of her ruminations on revenge and hairdressers. Yang knew how it would end if she tried to help. Weiss was just too damn stubborn. She aspired to perfection, and help was a reminder that she wasn't quite there yet. Yang knew that, and she knew that it was a stupid way to be, but it was just how Weiss was. She was, Yang had found after awhile of being around her, a nice person, even a fun one, and very willing to provide help if asked, but receiving was…

...I guess a weakness we share.

So, despite her first instinct, Yang would reign herself in, as she had trained herself to do whenever she had seen Weiss trip and fall. It was easier on all parties, and if that's what Weiss preferred, then Yang would respect that…

Except she didn't.

Yang blinked in surprise as she found herself steadying Weiss, but shrugged it off. She was impulsive. She knew that. She gave Weiss a big grin, hoping to defuse any tensions her bruised ego tried to cause.

"Careful, Snowflake. Wouldn't want you to shatter." She said warmly. She didn't really expect that to work, though she didn't really care either. It was a small thing. She'd get a blush and a glare, maybe a snarky remark, but that was just a job hazard when you worked with Weiss.

"Um… thanks." Weiss mumbled, blushing and looking away. No snark, no sass, not even a glare, just embarrassment and genuine gratitude… and bashfulness?

Yang's eyes widened, but she nodded,

"Uh… yeah. No problem…" She said, confused, but pleasantly surprised.

Well… that was weird but… maybe she's just coming out of her shell some more? I'm all for that… especially if she's going to be that cute all the time. She grinned and shook her head, before starting to walk again.


Weiss was miserable. She wasn't about to say anything about it,– she was no whiny rich girl stereotype, despite the rumors– but in her own mind? She could rage as much as she liked. The heat, the humidity, the plants, the trees, the sun. It was funny; when she was a little girl, Weiss loved the sun. It led to warm days in Atlas. Sometimes the snow would even melt a while and she'd get to see the moss and dirt. She'd get to play outside without getting her feet too wet.

At this point, she was sure she would stab the sun, were she able.

None of that, though, changed her situation. Nothing did that actually, save completing their objective: Find the mysterious "Relic" Goodwitch talked about, make camp next to it, return the next day. It was simple. She had honestly expected this to be worse than it was. Really, a two day training mission in an area with so few Grimm? She hadn't seen any the whole trip. She was starting to suspect that this area had no Grimm at all.

Or maybe Ruby just scares them off. That girl turns into a sadistic reaper when going to our bloody business, that much is sure. The way she rips into them and the smile on her face… it's given me shivers. What a transformation, from how cute she is norma-

She caught her own thoughts there and almost growled while suppressing them. She'd been thinking that sort of thing more and more lately, and not just about Ruby. Blake and even Yang were getting to her. She wasn't sure if these… attractions… were real, or something from living in such tight quarters, but she would not be giving into them. No matter how tempting they may become, she would stay the course, please Father in that respect at least.

...If I… want to please him at all? What if I just… GA- "-Agh!" She squeaked, as she stumbled over a root in her path. She hadn't noticed, too lost in her thoughts, but strong arms encircled and protected her. Her heart beat even faster.

"Careful Snowflake," Yang's stupid, warm, caring voice said. Weiss looked up at her, and she grinned down,

"Wouldn't want you to shatter~." She… flirted? Was she… flirting? Weiss blushed and looked away, unsure and unable to respond.

"U-um… thanks." Her voice squeaked out, embarrassing her even further. She winced, sure that some jape would come her way. How could Yang pass up teasing her when she was that big of a target?

But she didn't. She blushed slightly as well,

"Uh… yeah. No problem…" She said, sounding pleased, but not cruel in the slightest. Yang set her back on her feet and they continued on.

Weiss cursed herself. Clumsiness didn't suit her, and she wasn't some maiden to be rescued. Normally she wouldn't have been able to help but feel disgusted with herself at needing the help, even if she did appreciate it. It was a character flaw, though one she was only half-working on. The biggest drawback was the hurt look on her friend's faces the first few times they tried to help her, before they learned how much she hated it and stopped helping.

But Yang had apparently gotten her courage in the matter back, which was… nice, she supposed, in theory.

But what was that!? Was she flirting? That was clearly a flirty tone! Oh my Dust I can't… I don't… She stopped her rushing thoughts, willed her heart to slow,

Wait… maybe I just wanted her to be flirting with me… She grimaced and couldn't decide which was bett- worse, worse for sure. Both were bad, one was worse, the sky was blue, Weiss was straight, these were the facts of the world.

Still, she couldn't shake how strange she felt as they grew closer to the relic, or how much she really, really cared about what Yang had meant by that petname and… lusty cadence.


Blake hadn't failed to notice Yang's tone either. She had licked her lips at the tone, images flashing through her mind of what those two might do later. She was impressed by imaginary Weiss' flexibility, and Yang's Strength while she held her up and–

Stop it She growled softly in her own mind. She sighed. It was normally hard to not sexualize her beautiful teammates– What could she say? She was a lesbian with an appetite– but this was ridiculous. She was lucky there was only walking to be done, or she'd be in trouble, as her mind was preoccupied completely with flashes she couldn't quite control. Visions of Weiss' pale skin, of Yang's bared breasts, of Ruby's cute ass bo–

A high pitched growl and three shouts startled her out her haze, but too late– the Grimm was already pouncing…

But it was too late too.

*KER-THUNK*

As one, Weiss put up a glyph, letting it smack face first into her semblance, Yang pulled Blake out of the way, even before she could roll herself, and Ruby... Ruby destroyed the thing. Slash after slash and an extra, angry bullet in the ground where the dust was already dissipating. Was that dust? Blake wasn't sure. There wasn't enough left of the creature when Ruby was done to tell the difference.

"Are you ok!?" Yang asked first, tone suggesting she'd nearly died instead of being bowled over by one Beowulf puppy. That thing was small, no threat to her when she was at full aura, even weakened and dazed as she was. It would've been, in the worst case, a tumble to the ground, a fumbling for her weapon, and a quick slash. Her pride would've taken the most bruising.

Yet here she was, Blake's blonde, motherly fantasy visibly holding herself back from checking her over like a nervous parent. Blake wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but–

"What were you thinking!? I don't want you hurt!" The slightly shriller but still… downright cozy warm objection from Weiss came next. Blake had to keep herself from bug-eyeing at her, though it was a struggle. She fumbled for a moment, all this close attention getting to her already lust addled mind, combining with the adrenaline in her system,

"I-I-I, I was just… thinking, I-"

"Are you hurt?" Ruby's voice came, caring but firm. She looked at Blake worriedly, a sincere look of concern on her face. No giggles, not even the glee Blake normally saw for a little bit after Ruby dug into a Grimm, just honest care and concern. If she didn't know better she'd call it lo–

No She shook her head, disjointed thoughts confusing her.

"Good." Ruby said. She smiled and hugged her. Not a quick, chipper hug, but a slow, tight embrace that left Ruby's head nestled in Blake's shoulder. Blake's breath quickened, and she hugged back. Ruby stood on her tiptoes and kissed her cheek.

"Be more careful, K~? I don't want to lose anyone else I care about to Grimm." She looked into Blake's eyes, waiting for an answer, and the stunned girl managed a stuttering nod. This was apparently good enough for Ruby, and she nodded back before moving back to the front and declaring "Onward!" in an exaggerated, silly, yet somehow completely serious tone. Blake took a quick look around as she started onward again. Weiss and Yang looked just as confused and… well, confused anyway. She couldn't know that those blushes were from same arousal she felt.

Blake frowned, furrowing her brow as she focused hard, gaining back enough self-control to try to think through what just happened. She wasn't an expert in body-language, but she was better than most people, and she recognized Yang's grab, hugging her close and putting her own body between the Grimm and Blake. That was a possessive, caring move. No one would do that sort of thing so quickly unless they were willing to sacrifice their life for the other person. Weiss overreacted too, using her semblance like that rather than trusting Blake to move, or someone else to intervene, and over such a small Grimm. And Ruby… Blake shuddered again. Blake had no love for Grimm, but that was brutal. Frightening even, and for a second she was scared.

But then Ruby had walked over to her. That expression on her face... Blake wasn't mistaken. She cared for Blake, loved her even, though in what way exactly... it was impossible to say.

She knew her team cared for her. She cared for them, maybe even loved them? It wasn't so far fetched. They'd been together a while now, and they were the best friends she'd had since she'd left Menagerie. Was it so strange they'd want to keep her safe?

...R-right… I'm being ridiculous. But before she could give herself more reassuring denial, she felt it. That instinctual shiver that runs over when you're being stared at from behind. She looked around only to see Yang… staring at her ass? She wasn't stopping either. She looked another long moment, and then up at Blake, shrugging and grinning. Blake's heart tried to pop out of her chest, and even though she managed to put her eyes back forward, that was decidedly the end of any coherent thought besides a repeating, ever varying,

Maybe… I'm not imagining things~.