A/N: Another chapter down, kiddos! I love writing the interactions between Nightshade and Yellow Dragon. They both get so sassy with each other, it's great.
Fun fact, the book that is mentioned is from another fic I have been working on for a while (before this one). If you want to hear more about that AU, shoot me a message. Enjoy the bees!
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY
XxXxX
Chapter 3
In hindsight, the decision to walk Yang back was pretty risky. Not that she thought they would would be attacked. Actually, that is precisely why she wanted to walk her back in the first place, to see if they would make a move on Ruby's sister as well. If they did, this might be a clue as to why the young red-head was taken.
Not that she was using Yang for bait, she just wanted to be absolutely certain that the blonde was safe. The risk was a more personal issue. Walking Yang home could be seen as a ploy to get closer to the woman. And while she wished she could, she knew that it would hurt both of them in the end. So, to deter the blonde from looking too much into this, Blake tried to remain taciturn through their walk back.
It was clearly evident that blonde did not like awkward silences though.
They must have been approximately half way to the manor and Yang had been trying desperately to ignite some semblance of a conversation. Thus far, it seemed to be quite one sided. She seemed to never run out of topics. She would talk about everything and anything.
Anything but Ruby today, Blake noted.
"So!" Yang stated, suddenly changing the subject. "I read that book you told me about, the one with the animal kids."
"Oh?" Blake kept herself brief, but her curiosity was peaked. She knew that Yang wasn't much for reading, so the fact that she read the book she recommended made her feel touched. She felt-
Nope, none of that. It was just a book, no big deal.
"Yeah! It was really awesome! Ugh and so sweet." Yang gushed. "I loved the interplay between the lion and the cat. They were so different, but fell in love all the same."
There was this warm sweet smile that graced Yang's lips when talking about the two fictional characters. Blake found this smile just as endearing (if not more) than her bright giant smile. It was like a cool summer breeze, making everyone who saw it feel relaxed and at ease. Blake wished that the smile was one that was only reserved for her. That Yang only looked that way when it was Blake.
It was merely a hope, and one that she knew would never be true.
"Me too." Blake agreed. "I could really relate with the cat." More than Yang knew. The story was about kids who had the ability to turn into animals. When Blake first read the book, it was right when she discovered her abilities. It had been helpful to find others like her, even if it was in a work of fiction. In fact, she had even taken the idea of wearing a bow to hide her feline ears to heart. She didn't need to keep them out, but it felt more comfortable and natural at this point to let them pop up whenever she so desired.
"Actually," Yang started. "I felt like the lion. Funny, tough, and protective of..." Yang trailed off.
"Her sister?" Blake asked, but immediately regretted it. Yang closed her eyes and stopped walking.
"Heh, Yeah," She sighed, looking down at the ground. Blake wanted to say something, but before she could, Yang shook her head, put on a false smile and started walking again. "Weiss is SO the rabbit though. Snippy and sassy from a ritsy background."
"So does that mean that we are pseudo sisters?" Blake joked. The cat and rabbit weren't related, but the rabbit had taken the cat in and the two took care of each other as sisters would. Blake wasn't even around Weiss enough to say for certain that they were friends. "Highly unlikely." Blake chuckled a bit.
"Eh, you never know. She has a soft spot for the lost and wandering ones. I mean, she did take in me and Rubes." Yang commented. Something about that didn't sit well with Blake. Lost and wandering? What had Yang and Ruby been through before they met the heiress?
"Anyways." The blonde changed the subject, "It's... um... been a while since we have talked."
"We talk at work."
"Well, yeah. But, that's small talk." Yang explained. "And even on this walk... you haven't said much. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE talking." Yang extended the word 'love'. Blake giggled a little at that.
"But I like hearing you talk too, you know." Yang said in a soft voice. A voice so soft and tender that you wouldn't think it could have come from the brash and loud blonde. Her lilac-eyes flicked to her right, searching for amber. Blake felt herself blush, but said nothing. What could she say?
"Blake?" Yang asked after realizing that Blake wasn't going to respond to her previous statement.
"I," Blake started "I'm sorry." It was all she could say.
"Sorry about what?"
"I'm... I'm just sorry," She was sorry that she couldn't let her in, no matter how much she wanted to.
Silence fell for a couple minutes as the pair kept walking.
"We're here," Yang informed her.
"Right."
"You know," she started cautiously, as if she was dealing with a skittish animal. "You could always stick around for a bit? We could pop in a movie, I could cook a... decent-ish meal? Like we used to a while ago?"
Blake smiled, remembering the last time Yang had attempted to cook for the two of them. It ended in Yang screaming 'Fire! Fire!', Blake spraying the kitchen (along with herself and Yang due to Yang's flailing) in extinguisher fluid, and the two of them giggling about the whole thing after the fact over take-out food. She wondered if the blonde's cooking skills had in fact improved or if it would be better to just order out again and save the maids the trouble of cleaning up after her.
Her smile immediately soured as she remembered what she had told herself before. She couldn't get close.
"I'm-"
"Sorry?" Yang finished her sentence with a smirk. Blake nodded looking at the ground, her eyebrows furrowed. "It''s fine, Blake. Just know... Know that you are always welcome."
She took one of Blake's hands and gave it a quick squeeze, bringing the raven-haired girl's eyes to hers.
"I always love your company, Blake." She told her, with that same warm smile. It took all of her being to not go back on her word, but Blake remained firm. Soon, Yang let go of her hand and Blake backed up a bit, managing a small wave.
"Goodbye, Yang."
"See ya around, Blakey." She said with a wink, and into the manor she went.
Blake lingered for a second, staring at the door the blonde had just went through. She them turned around and started to make the trek home.
She held the hand that Yang had just grabbed up to her cheek. Both were still warm.
XxXxX
After Blake left, Yang ate a simple meal and spent the rest of her time training. In the basement of the manor there was a reasonably sized gym. One that Yang sort of... commandeered when she arrived here. Not like Weiss actually used it, if she wanted to exercise, she often went out to a public gym oddly enough. Yang supposed that it was so she could show off to others. That and it could get a little dark and dreary without natural light.
Yang didn't like that either but she made do.
Luckily, she was able to get Weiss to take down the security cameras that used to be in this room. She told her that she didn't like the feeling of being watched while she worked out. It wasn't a complete lie, but part of that request had to do with the fact that she needed some place to practice using her powers.
Today, she was satisfied with normal training. After going through the less rigorous routine, she found herself wailing on a punching bag.
Jab, jab, cross.
She thought she had made some progress with Blake. She was actually able to spend some time with her.
Jab, jab, cross.
Why did she have to ask her to hang out.
Uppercut, uppercut.
She knew that she was pushing her luck as it was. She was so lame.
Jab, Jab.
This could have been her chance to make things right. To build a ladder to climb that wall that Blake had built.
Cross, cross, cross, jab, cross.
And now Blake had probably built that wall higher.
Uppercut.
The punching bag ripped open upon that last strike, spilling it's sandy guts all along the floor. Yang sighed, knowing that she would have to clean that up later. It's not like anyone would be there to see the mess, but it would just bother Yang. Having enhanced strength had it's ups and it's downs.
Looking at the time, Yang was relieved to see that it was almost time to meet Nightshade. She didn't want to think about what a complete fool she made of herself in front of Blake. Fighting crime was easier than trying to get that girl to do anything with the blonde.
XxXxX
"Hey there, kitty-cat!" Yellow Dragon greeted as she hopped onto the roof.
"You're late." Nightshade stated, not amused in the least.
"Well good evening to you too." Yang smirked, figuring that would be her reaction. She'll be a tough one to crack, she noted internally. "You're a chipper one."
"We have a job to do, so let's do it."
"Oof, kitty does have claws after all." YD put a hand to her chest in mock hurt. "Come on, if we are gonna be working together, we should at least try and get along. You know, playful banter, witty jabs, all that jazz."
"Do we have to?"
"Yes! It's what all good partners do!"
"We are not partners." She coldly spat.
"But we're working together aren't we?"
"Only for this, then I'm out."
"I really think you should reconsider," Yellow Dragon requested, with a sly grin "I think that we would be... 'Paw'esome together." To add further offense she gave a little wink.
"Ugh, I thought you said you wouldn't make terrible jokes around me."
"I said I wouldn't follow you around and make terrible jokes," Yang shrugged, "I never said I WOULDN'T make the jokes when we were out looking for clues."
"Lucky me." Nightshade deadpanned. But a small ghost of a smile crept onto her face. It was a short lived one, but one that YD took pride in eliciting. But instead of teasing her for enjoying her humor, she decided to let her just keep her little secret.
"Right!" The disguised Yang clapped her gloved hands together, "So, where do we start partner?"
"Not your partner."
"Ok, friend."
"Not your friend."
"We could be."
"No we couldn't, I don't have friends."
"Wow, emo much?"
"We should start at the scene of the crime, see if there was something that the police missed." The dark hero continued, answering her previous statement.
"Alright, sounds good to me, partner." She walked forward, looked back and threw a wink. She then proceeded to jump down over the edge of the roof towards the crime scene.
"NOT. PARTNERS." She vaguely heard Nightshade call out as she was falling. Not bothering to argue any further, Yang started strutting her way to their destination. She then heard the fluttering of wings in her right ear and turned to see a crow following her.
"Um, Nightshade?" She checked. Upon asking, the crow shifted into the said hero. "Man, that is one cool power you got there. I would love to turn into a REAL dragon."
Nightshade rolled her eyes at that comment.
"Come on, before we garner too much attention." The dark hero warned, dragging the blonde by her arm.
"Whatever mew say." She practically purred at her own joke. Nightshade groaned and let go of her arm.
They arrived at the crime scene in no time at all and started inspecting for clues. Unfortunately, neither girl was able to find anything that they didn't already know.
"Damn, I thought for sure there would be something they missed." Yellow Dragon huffed in frustration.
"Hmm, yeah. Nothing out of the ordinary." Nightshade commented.
"You know Ruby though right?" YD feigned ignorance. "Maybe we could talk with her family, do you happen to know where she lives?"
"Yes, she lives in the Schnee manor." Her not-partner informed her. So she even knew her living arrangement. Yang wondered what else she knew.
"Wow, the Schnee manor? That's pretty ritzy. How'd she wind up there." Yang asked, trying to keep her cover while scouting out for information on her mysterious partner.
"Well, I heard that Ruby started dating the heiress, Weiss. I think she invited her and her sister to stay there."
Well, to be fair, most people could have gleaned this information from the paper. They loved hounding the Schnee about what she was doing at all times. That didn't tell her anything more about Nightshade other than the fact that they happened to live in the same city.
"Why don't we head over there and see if we can talk to her family then." Yellow Dragon suggested. "Maybe they can give us some clues." This was a tad risky, but it was a way for her to seem like she had no connection to Ruby at all. Also, she had a feeling Weiss would tell her more information as a hero rather than her girlfriend's sister. Weiss might be a bit cold at times, but she knew that she would try and sugar-coat this. It was her sister after all.
"Sure." Nightshade agreed. The pair started walking away when the cat-like hero stopped suddenly, eyes fixated on something on the ground.
"What is it?" The bright hero asked.
"Over there." Nightshade pointed, walking over to where she was looking. "It's... a footprint."
Coming over to Nightshade, Yellow Dragon saw what she was talking about. Just outside of the crime scene there was a large red footprint.
"Oh wow, good find." The blonde commented, kneeling down to inspect it closer. "What do you think it is?" Yang heard a sniffing from behind her.
"It think it's clay. Or something similar to that." Nightshade informed. YD was about to ask her how she knew that, but before she could, she saw her pseudo partner tap her nose. In response, she gave a silent 'Aaah'.
"That's a pretty nifty perk, there." She smirked up at Nightshade. "I'll see if I can scope out some places that might have clay sediments. Good find, partner."
"Not your partner." She corrected. "For now, we should go to the manor before it gets too late."
"Okie dokie, pal,"
"Not your pal,"
"Well not with an attitude like that,"
"Do you insist on being a pest?"
"Do you insist on being a stiff?"
"Why are you so obsessed with being my friend?"
"Why WOULDN'T you want to be my friend?" Giving out her third wink of the night. "I happen to be a great friend. I am loyal and caring."
"Like a dog" The dark hero quipped. "Something tells me that wouldn't work out so well." She gestures to her ears.
"Woof, harsh words from mew."
"You used that joke already!"
"Eh, if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
"Let's just go to the manor." Nightshade pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Alright, alright." YD raised her hands in defense, and flashed her not-partner a smirk. For a moment, she saw a look of confusion flash on Nightshades face. She didn't get to ask if anything was wrong because before she could, she started walking again.
"Come on, I know the way."
The pair walked off in the direction of Schnee manor. What they did not notice was a woman with mint green hair who had been watching them interact. With wide eyes, she pulled out her scroll and dialed.
"Hey, it's Emerald. You'll never believe who I just saw." She whispered into the device. "Yeah, her, he's gonna want to hear about this." She nodded, listening to the voice on the other end. "Mhm, she does have a connection to that Ruby brat after all. Looks like plans are gonna change."