Nerves
Blake always disliked coming to this location. The crowds, pulsating lights, loud thumping bass, and the curious looks from the patrons all added up to one hell of a headache. Before Beacon, during her time with the White Fang, Blake had tended to avoid such places if she could manage it. However if there was one club that she had spent more time in than any other it was the Sundrop Lounge.
Which makes getting recognized by someone almost a guarantee. She thought bemusedly as a spike of panic went through her. Causing her heart to clench uncomfortably and her extremities tingle with nervous energy.
Ever since leaving the White Fang, Blake had taken great care to avoid any and all places that she frequented when with them. She had cut all connections. Gone as completely off the grid as she could, even going in so far as to lie about her age and her race to get into Beacon. All that was about to be undone in a very spectacular fashion. Not that it mattered. Adam knew that she was alive, and in the end he was the one that most worried her.
"Blakey? You doing alright kitty cat?" Yang's concerned voice called out to her over the din of the club. Blake looked at her and all doubt about what she was doing here vanished as she saw the concern in those lilac colored eyes. If for nothing else, Junior would be able to help her protect the one person she cared about more than anything else.
"Y-Yeah" Blake called back, forcing a weak smile onto her features. Yang gave her a skeptical look to which Blake responded to with a roll of her eyes before reaching down and giving the concerned blondes hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
"Yang, really everything's ok. I am just… not used to being around this many people you know? I'll be fine once I get used to it." Yang scrutinized her for several long seconds before nodding, her signature smile lighting up her features as she led Blake further into the club, staying carefully away from the congested dance floor.
Blake sighed internally with relief as she let the brawler lead them to whatever destination she had in mind. Though she caught the remnants of concern still lining the edges of her girlfriends eyes every time she glanced back to make sure Blake hadn't been swallowed up into the crowd. Finally after several minutes Yang and Blake stood before a small booth, recessed into the wall. It was a significant distance from the dance floor. However it was currently occupied by several large thugs who all looked like they were taking a break.
Blake didn't recognize any of them personally but she did recognize the red tie and black suit uniform that Junior favored for his goons. At first their animosity surprised her and she felt her fight or flight response begin to trigger when something caught her eye that gave her pause. None of the large men were looking at her, not a single one. Instead every one of them was glaring, with a mixture of anger and something that looked a lot like fear, at Yang Xiao Long. Said brawler was looking at them like a cat who had found an especially curious mouse to play with, a devious smirk stretched across her features as her eyes flickered from lilac to scarlet.
"Hellooo boys." Yang said, her voice low and teasing. "Did you miss me? Hope you saved me a seat." Two of the goons immediately began to stand, nearly tripping over themselves as they tried to distance themselves from the blonde as though she was an Ursa Major on the hunt for her next meal. The third goon stood shakily but maintained his ground for a moment as he spoke, his voice cracking a bit.
"B-B-Boss is going to want to have a word with you." Yang's smirk grew into a full on grin as she leaned in good and close so that her face and the goons face were barely an inch apart.
"Is Junior in tonight? That's great! I'd love to see him again, its been way too long. Just let him know I have a guest with me so he better be on his best behavior." She reached up and gently patted the goons cheek with a gloved hand, causing the man to flinch at her touch, as if expecting her to snap at any moment.
"Y-yeah sure absolutely, I-illl go tell him right now." He began to move away but Yang halted his retreat by placing her hand on the mans shoulder. The man jumped again and turned to face Yang, his eyes wide. Yang gave the man a cheeky grin and when she spoke it was in her usual cheery voice.
"Hey would you mind letting the server know we are ready to order our drinks whenever he can get to us?" The man nodded enthusiastically and upon releasing him the man took off towards the bar, presumably to get their server.
Blake stared at Yang, mouth agape as Yang turned to face her, that same Cheshire grin glowing on her features. They both sat at the now vacated booth, sitting across from one another. Blake couldn't stop staring. Yang's smile faltered just a bit as she began to squirm slightly in her seat.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" the blonde asked subconsciously twirling a lock of her golden hair in her index finger. Blake shook her head in wonder and opened her mouth to speak when suddenly a server appeared at the edge of her table and a familiar soft accented voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hello and welcome to the Sundrop Lounge, my name is Velvet and I'll be your server this evening, can I get you both something to dr-" The rabbit Faunus paused as she sniffed the air, looking away from Yang to lock eyes with a suddenly very sheepish looking Blake. " …..Blake?! Is that you?" Blake looked up and found herself face to face with someone right out of her past. Brown hair and soft, tender eyes met her sharp molten gold. Shock plastered the rabbit Faunus's features as she struggled to regain her composure, so much for not being recognized Blake mused as she sighed in defeat.
"Hello Velvet…it is…um nice to see you again." Velvets face ran the gambit of emotions. Shock, relief, and then anger. Yang watched with confusion as Velvet moved to sit beside her so that she was sitting across from Blake.
"Oh no, Don't you go with that. Don't you dare go on like that, acting like nothing has changed since the last time I saw you. As though everything is hunky dory between us." She leaned across the table , her face pinched in what Yang assumed she meant to be in anger. However the rabbit Faunus didn't look anything but cute. If Blake had a similar opinion she didn't voice it.
Instead she looked like she had just been hit with the guilt hammer. Her golden eyes were turned down towards the table and her body hunched in on itself as if she was trying to disappear into the plush seating. Yang's brow furrowed in concern as she scooted over and wrapped her arm around the girl. She was shocked to find that the girl was trembling.
"Listen, Velv, I am so sorry I didn't contact you….i mean I couldn't I-I got out. You know it would've been too dangerous for me and for you." Blake paused as her voice cracked. "You and Junior were the only people I really trusted b-but I didn't want you to get hurt because of me." At this, Velvets eyes softened and the anger seeped out of them. Blake felt Yang shift next to her as she leaned forward and put her arm on the table, her eyes a fierce cross between scarlet and lilac as she spoke, her voice even yet kindly.
"Listen I don't know what you two are going on about, obviously you two have some sort of history together and I get that. But it's also pretty obvious to me that there's some sort of misunderstanding. Velvet right? Well if Blake here says she did something to protect you then that's exactly what she did. Even though I have only known her for a few months I can firmly say that she would never do anything to intentionally harm one of her friends. Whatever she may have done I am sure she meant it to protect you. "Yang paused for a moment and grinned as she looked from the rabbit to the cat. Laughing as she finished "So why don't you two kiss and make up then we can move on. Though don't actually kiss her because then I might hit you."
Velvet looked from Yang to Blake for a moment before grinning widely, letting out a chuckle as she stood from her seat and retrieved her order pad. 'I like your friend Blake, you should bring her by more often. I get off at 8, if you both wouldn't mind I'd love to join you maybe catch up? " Blake looked to Yang who cheerfully nodded her assent, the more the merrier as was her motto. Blake looked back to velvet and gave her a small smile "I would very much like that."
Velvet grinned "so "she paused to collect herself, gesturing to the discarded menu on the corner of the table. "what can I get for you two tonight?"
"Water for both us at the moment please, I've some business with Junior I'd like for us both to have our heads clear." Blake said quickly much to Yang's disappointment. Though the brawler took note of her mention of Junior, raising a quizzical eyebrow which Blake ignored for the moment. Velvet nodded and left to retrieve their order. As soon as the waitress was out of earshot Yang whirled on Blake.
"Wait. Hold the hell up, how do you know Junior?" Blake squirmed under Yangs questioning gaze.
"I-it was before I came to Beacon. He was a friend of my fathers. And after my father died well….He basically raised me, and Velvet too, that's how I know her we were basically sisters. He took us both in when no one else would bother with two Faunus orphans." Not quite a lie but not the whole truth either. Hopefully Yang wouldn't notice. The blonde leaned back in her seat processing the information. "And that whole speil about having business with him?" she asked not quite convinced.
Blake sighed and took a moment to make sure her next half truth was ready. "Junior is known for his ability to get information. He deals in the acquisition and the sale of such things. If you want to know something about someone somewhere, junior can and will find it out for you. For a fee of course. He isn't cheap and it's a well-deserved expense, he is the best in the world. Governments and crooks alike come to him. As such he might have info on who was financing Roman, I can't imagine their happy with what we did to their investment and I would like to give us some heads up as to any retaliation that may or may not come our way."
Yang nodded again though it was slower and more absent minded. "You could've of just told me that that was what we were doing when we were going out." Blake flinched at the obvious tone of hurt in the blonde's voice.
"Yang, I'm sorry I just didn't think that he would actually be here tonight it was a stroke of luck that he was at al-"before she had a chance to finish, a low almost menacing sounding voice interrupted her.
"Well, well fancy meeting the two of you here."
Blake and Yang looked up to see Junior standing next to their table, bazooka bat at his hip and two heavily armed goons at his sides. Yang and Blake stared at him in stunned silence for a moment before Yang let out a breathy chuckle before speaking."
"Well shit."
Here we go its only 9 months late! Thank you all so much for reading!
Cat: yeah only 9. *Rolls eyes*
Oh yeah and my cat started talking, I've sorta gone a bit of a Alice In Wonderland binge as of late. Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter sorry that its so late. But we are back in in action! Please leave me a review and let me know what you thought! Until next time take care and love and light! )0(
Crystal