The whole relationship was progressing way too fast. It was only a few weeks ago that Weiss first had the vague idea that dating Blake might be nice and now they were apartment hunting together and Blake's behavior was so affectionate they seemed like a newlywed couple. The plan to lure out Ilia required it and Weiss didn't exactly mind, but Weiss also wouldn't mind slowing down a little.
After all, her dating experience was miniscule. Her family did not approve of her going out unchaperoned, most of her dating activities at Beacon were confined to turning Jaune down and the exception that was Neptune did not last long. She had a general idea of what to expect, but it all ended being so fast.
Her imagination provided her with some potential scenarios, but Weiss was still unable to fully cope with the reality of Blake being openly affectionate. Weiss couldn't help but wonder how much of it was just an act. She felt Blake drawing her closer and snapped back to reality. The owner of the small place they were checking out was looking at them expectantly. "So, what do you think?" asked Blake.
Weiss wouldn't admit that she wasn't paying attention, so she quickly looked around the small one-room apartment. It was about as big as their dorm room at Beacon, but since it had to fit in a kitchen counter, they would have about the same amount of personal space. There was a bathroom attached, so all the necessities were covered.
"It'll do," she replied before Blake would have a reason to think she was only just now looking around. That was the reason she only spotted the double bed when it was too late.
"Perfect," said the owner, an unassuming deer Faunus, "I'll just leave the keys here and let you settle in."
All the lessons in law and economy her father made her take were more than enough for Weiss to know that this wasn't how rental contracts were usually done. Menagerie's real estate market was still booming and there was little reason for the owner to rent out the place so quickly. Unless, of course, he was connected to the White Fang who were supposed to help new arrivals in Menagerie find places to stay.
A quick signature later, Weiss and Blake were left alone in their new apartment. The curtains were drawn to keep out the day's harsh sunlight, so the two quickly stepped away from each other. Weiss was glad that the pressure of acting like a lovey-dovey couple was gone, but at the same time, she couldn't help but be a little disappointed by how fast Blake drew away.
"I'm not bothering you, right?" asked Blake with worry apparent in her voice.
"No, not at all," replied Weiss reflexively. Truth be told, she was bothered a little by how close Blake had been to her the entire time they were in public, but she figured she'd get used to it eventually and she didn't want Blake to start having second thoughts about the whole idea.
"Good," said Blake and moved in closer to quickly squeeze Weiss' hand. It was much less than what Weiss had to endure (?) in public, but she appreciated it much more.
They were standing hand-in-hand win the middle of the room and Weiss felt like she should say something. A lot of the time she spent with Blake in the past was filled with comfortable silence, but they should probably try to communicate more now. Their entire relationship was sort of a whirlwind affair, but Weiss was sure that something should change now that they were dating.
"Blake," she said, "This is suspicious."
Blake nodded. "It was too easy," she said, "It should be more difficult to find a place to stay in Menagerie, even for the chieftain's daughter."
Weiss couldn't help but smile. Of course Blake would notice. She didn't like to be reminded of it, but Blake used to be a member of terrorist organization. She would notice if things were happening a bit too conveniently. "Do you think the landlord is connected to the White Fang?" she asked.
"That's possible," said Blake, "We should assume everyone we meet is at least a sympathizer."
"Good thing we're dating then," said Weiss, "If this was just an act, we wouldn't be able to catch a break." She was painfully aware that they were still holding hands and this was a perfect excuse to avoid letting go. Blake had to think a long time about whether she wanted to date Weiss and it seemed the decision was a difficult one. Weiss wasn't sure how long would the relationship last, so she wanted to take advantage of every moment she could.
Blake was watching her with an impassive expression and Weiss had to wonder what was going on behind her amber eyes. It was difficult to tell what Blake was thinking at any given moment. Weiss knew that it wasn't because Blake was trying to hide her thoughts. It was just a natural part of Blake's personality that came in handy when she was trying to hide something. Weiss herself had to struggle to hide her emotions and play the perfect daughter at home. It was a great relief to be able to just go and yell at Ruby or Yang when they did something stupid.
Speaking of expressing emotions… "Blake," said Weiss and when the dark-haired girl turned to look at her, Weiss quickly rose to tiptoes and pressed her lips against Blake's cheek. "We might be watched," she whispered. What a convenient excuse.
"You're right," said Blake, "We should unpack or they'd think we're not really moving in."
For the first time since their departure from Vale, Weiss was settling down in a place where she intended to stay. Not only that, she was settling down to stay together with Blake, not just as teammates, but as a couple. All this just a day after they got together… It was too good to be true and Weiss was thoroughly convinced it wouldn't last. That meant she had to be very careful and not hasten the demise of their relationship by being overeager. She had to be just affectionate enough to make Ilia jealous and not a bit more.
Weiss tried to be business-like about the unpacking, but she couldn't help and steal a glance at Blake from time to time. When they were moving into their room at Beacon, Weiss barely cared about her teammates and so she didn't notice how graceful Blake was. It was no wonder none of her teammates guessed that she was a Faunus. Everything about her showed just how much in control of herself she really was.
She scolded herself for acting like a hopelessly lovestruck teenager. Behavior like that was unacceptable even if she technically was a lovestruck teenager. No matter how peaceful things looked, they were in mortal danger. If the landlord really had connections to the White Fang, Ilia might already know what was going on. Even Blake couldn't predict what she'd do next.
"Are you tired?" asked Blake when they were done, "We could go out and act as a bait for a bit if you're not."
Weiss shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, "Let's go."
Half an hour later, they were sitting in a private booth at a small seaside restaurant and Blake was hungrily eyeing the seafood selection. Weiss didn't have much of an appetite, but she supposed she should eat something to keep her strength up.
Going outside in Menagerie was always a bit stressful. There was the heat, of course, but even worse were the constant hostile looks and glances from the locals. She felt like there were even more of them now. If the White Fang spread around the information that she was in Menagerie, the locals might have stopped giving her identity the benefit of the doubt.
"Did you pick something?" asked Blake when she noticed that Weiss was no longer looking at the menu.
"I'll just have the tuna salad," said Weiss, "I don't feel like eating much."
Blake observed her. Weiss didn't understand why. She never was a big eater. Ruby deciding to skip a meal would be a case for concern, but Weiss eating only as much as she needed was normal.
"Weiss, you don't have to be worried," said Blake, "I'll protect you against everything and everyone." She paused for a bit and then added, "Even Adam."
Weiss didn't know if she was blushing, but this was as good an occasion as any. What Blake said brought to mind idle childish fantasies of having her own knight in shining armor (Naturally, as a daughter of the Schnee family, Weiss did not have to pretend that she was a princess). Blake wasn't exactly a knight and Weiss was capable of fulfilling that role just fine if she had a weapon, but hearing Blake say something like that made Weiss feel all warm inside.
"I won't let Adam hurt you, my friends or my family ever again," said Blake, "I swear it."
Unconsciously, Weiss' hand sought the scar over her eye. To her, it was a mark of pride; the proof that she was a fighter. From what she knew, Adam wouldn't just stop at leaving a scar. Would he take her entire eye, leaving her mutilated like Yang? Or would he outright try to kill her?
"I'll hold you to it," said Weiss, "Because I'll need help to take him down."
Blake stared at her. "Are you crazy?" she asked, "It's Adam. He's not just someone you can 'take down'! He's too strong."
Before Weiss could reply, they were interrupted by the waiter who arrived to inquire if they were ready to order. Blake rattled out a list of dishes so long that Weiss wondered if one person could eat it all. When the waiter left, Blake turned back to her. "Don't look at me like that," she said, "You're eating it too."
"There's no way I could eat half the stuff you ordered," countered Weiss, "I don't need to eat the equivalent of my body's weight in one meal."
In response, Blake reached over their table to take Weiss' hand. Weiss looked around if there was perhaps someone spying on them that could have prompted Blake, but she saw nothing suspicious. That did not mean much, of course, but Blake didn't give any signal that would tell Weiss that they were being observed. Perhaps she intended to hold onto Weiss until the waiter had returned and make him think that he had just interrupted a private moment. It was all just part of a plan, not spontaneity on Blake's part.
Even though she saw no one and they were in a private booth, Weiss still felt watched whenever Blake touched her. They both wanted others to see them for the sake of their plan, but Weiss felt a little dissatisfied. There was no way she could enjoy the time spent with Blake wholeheartedly until they had dealt with Ilia. A flash of doubt flickered through her mind. Would Blake break up with her once the White Fang was dealt with? Weiss shook her head. There had to be something wrong with her. It was Blake she was thinking about and Blake would never do something cruel like that. It just all seemed so unlikely that what Ilia had put her through would in the end turn into a blessing in disguise. It was wonderful to have Blake all to herself. Her mother, her sister, Beacon… all had left her or have been snatched away from her. The idea of losing Blake as well was paralyzing.
"You're awfully quiet," said Blake, "Is something the matter?"
"I don't want to hear you complaining about others being quiet," deflected Weiss with a fake practiced smile she had used on her father so many times before. It was their first day together, she couldn't afford to appear clingy even if she wanted to take hold of Blake with both hands and never let go.
Blake smiled slightly at Weiss' retort and Weiss relaxed a little. "Do you have something else planned for today?" she asked and took a sip of water.
"No," said Blake, "Maybe just a walk before going back and relaxing for the rest of the day." She still wasn't letting go of Weiss' hand.
They exchanged a few more strained words before the waiter arrived. Weiss knew the culprit. She was feeling nervous around Blake, even more nervous than in those few awkward days after they found out that Blake was a Faunus. Every word and every gesture were now filled with a new significance that Weiss didn't completely understand and she was afraid of making a mistake.
The huge pile of food Blake had ordered seemed daunting to Weiss, but Blake assaulted the seafood with gusto Weiss had rarely seen her exhibit. She had to smile at Blake's appetite. Weiss herself ate at her usual pace which meant that Blake was finished with her larger meal before her.
A mischievous smile curved Blake's lips. "Do you need any help?" she asked, the tone of her voice arousing Weiss' suspicions.
Her plate was still half-full and Weiss thought she had eaten enough and could share the rest. Blake's tone seemed like she was asking for a bit more than just part of Weiss' portion, but Weiss did not give it much mind. She knew just how much Blake loved seafood and with most of Menagerie's populated areas stretched along the coastline, the island's selection was superb.
Upon hearing Weiss' reply, Blake picked up a piece of fish with her fork. Instead of eating it herself, she leaned forward to move it towards Weiss. In an instant, Weiss felt her face heat up from furious blush. Her mouth remained stubbornly closed. She looked around. No one was watching them as far as she could tell. Blake's senses were sharper than hers, but there was probably still no need for this… theatricality.
"I don't need that kind of help," she mumbled with her face turned away from Blake and her fork.
"Are you sure? It's delicious," Blake's voice was openly teasing her now and Weiss had trouble repressing how angry she felt with the blush on her face that was deepening with every passing second.
The small gap between the window curtains showed that it was dark outside and Weiss caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass. If anyone was watching from the outside, what would they think? Would this look like a light-hearted moment between a couple or like a haughty Schnee heiress unable to cope with her deception any longer? Whatever the case, they had a goal and Blake was clearly working towards it. Weiss slowly turned her head back towards her and opened her mouth with hesitation.
That one piece of fish was somehow much tastier than any she had ever tasted before and Blake was already readying another one. Weiss was burning with embarrassment, but she only had to remind herself of their purpose to docilely submit to Blake's attention. Mouthful by mouthful, the rest of Weiss' meal was fed to her by Blake who had never once commented on Weiss' face.
When the ordeal was finally finished, all semblance of calm had left Weiss. "What was this all about?" she asked Blake, trusting in the walls and windows to conceal the irritation in her voice.
"We're on a date," said Blake with imperturbable calm, "And I always wanted to do this ever since I read about it."
Weiss rose from the table. "I think we should go," she said. Why was Blake doing all this? Surely she couldn't be serious? It had been just a day, but Weiss' entire life was even more upside-down than it had been after Beacon. She needed rest and to wake up fresh the next morning with the knowledge that all this really happened because her dreams were sure to be even stranger than her day.
Blake followed her lead, but before they even left their private booth, Blake linked her arm with Weiss to make it clear even to the most casual observer that she and Weiss belonged together. The delicious thrill that ran through Weiss' body at that thought was accompanied by a chill of dread. So many people had seen them today that was no way the White Fang didn't already know about them. The staff of the restaurant bid them a friendly goodbye, but Weiss was sure that it was just a practiced mask.
The last time Weiss was on Menagerie's streets after dark was when Ilia chased after her. She pressed herself closer to Blake to chase away the memories of that time. The presence of Blake's well-toned body next to her was reassuring and Weiss fully enjoyed the privilege of being so close to her. She had to enjoy it while it lasted.
They walked in silence to their new apartment with the noise of the crowd all around them. Weiss was so thoroughly absorbed in enjoying the moment in spite of the ever-present threat of the White Fang that she didn't even consider the issue of sleeping arrangements until the door closed behind them.
There was only one bed. It was simply unthinkable that she should share it with Blake. It was too soon. As teammates, they had huddled together for warmth before on school trips, but that was a communal experience, but this was different. They could draw the curtains tight and no one would be able to find out.
Blake was so forward all day that she might not see sharing the bed as something Weiss would take issue with. She had to try and sort out the situation before Blake got any ideas.
"You take the bed," said Weiss, "I can make do with the floor."
"The bed is large enough for both of us," replied Blake. She didn't seem surprised by Weiss' reluctance. "Besides, someone might see us and get the wrong idea."
That was an objection Weiss expected. Was Blake just trying to make her comfortable or was she just focused on drawing Ilia out? "It's a big step to take so fast," she admitted her real concern.
"I'll take the floor then," replied Blake immediately, "You're more tired and I'm more used to it."
Weiss' first instinct was to argue that it should be her who sleeps on the floor, but Blake had a point. She wouldn't get much rest on the hard wooden floor. Neither would Blake. They didn't have any sleeping bags with them. Blake might say that she was used to sleeping on the floor and in similar spots, but it's still be rough on her.
"Let's just both keep to our side of the bed," mumbled Weiss. It would be fine if there was enough space between them to prevent them from accidentally touching each other.
She sighed and headed to the bathroom to get some privacy when changing.
