Chapter Ten: The View From the Rafters
She'd had trouble sleeping since she lost him. It wasn't as though it was impossible for her to sleep alone, but it was… harder. It was colder, and she could never manage to get back to sleep once she woke.
Having purpose made it easier to carry on; to ignore how tired she felt each day. She had something to search for, something to keep her going. She could exhaust herself trying to get closer to her goal and hope she'd stay asleep after she put in a long day.
Roman would mock her for working so hard. But she couldn't help it: he'd always been the brains of their outfit. She'd never told him any of that, of course, but she'd always preferred carrying out his plan to coming up with one of her own.
Canvassing the city of Mistral at least filled the hours in her day. She'd already cleared a few blocks. She'd already written off what few vehicles she'd seen rumbling along the city's stone streets.
Neo knew there was a lot to cover. But a quarter of a city to search was far better than its entirety.
The skies were cold and gray. A pop of blonde hair would easily stand out in this dreary city.
Neo didn't know how long she had. But if they'd left before Neo's blade found them, Malachite seemed wise enough to tell her which direction they headed. She was closer than she'd been the day before, and that was all the energy she needed to keep going.
Her blade was sharp, her wits still about her. She was taking the time to plan out her attack and not charging in. She only had to be patient a while longer.
Miles to go before she slept, but fewer with each step…
Weiss had recovered well from the battle at Haven. She moved so swiftly on her glyphs Oscar thought she spent more time gliding than running. He could only hope to deflect some of the strikes from Myrtenaster, bringing up his cane more instinctively than anything else. She still landed several blows and left deep gashes in his Aura, and she was moving so fast he didn't have time to rebuild it. He couldn't hope to retreat and put any distance between them -Weiss could pretty much instantly close that gap with her Semblance- so he went on the offensive, swinging his cane in a long arc to try and catch her as she zipped around. Weiss managed to parry his strike, though Oscar did move her off him: it seemed whatever her speed and the force of her attacks, she could still be knocked out from her pattern. Unlike Nora, she didn't have the muscle to push Oscar back. She could be staggered.
Weiss begged off from her attack, and Oscar found his opening to chase her. But Weiss immediately drew a glyph on the ground and followed it with a whole series of them, giving her a path to glide along out of his way.
He couldn't keep up with her. If he gave her time with the distance between them, she could use her summon, or empower her blade with Dust. For all Oscar's improvement, he was still facing an adversary with many more tools in her arsenal: all he had was a cane.
Or… he could…
Oscar tried to remind himself he didn't do that anymore. Or at least, not here in a sparring session where he could learn new combat techniques instead. Maybe he'd try putting thoughts in someone's head when the situation had become dire enough to merit it.
But he waited too long. Weiss pulled up her free right hand and drew a glyph at Oscar's back. He could only watch as several more appeared on the ground and in the air all around him… and watch Weiss move along her created path in a flurry of white and blue. He didn't block nearly as many hits on her second volley. Oscar tumbled to the ground, his Aura visibly flickering.
Looking up at Weiss standing over him, he had to admit… he really missed seeing her bare legs. Those new tights of hers were much less enjoyable to stare up at while he recovered on the ground. Hopefully -if nothing else- that'd make it harder for Weiss to notice that he'd been staring. Pale blue suited her, but it was still a step down…
Weiss reached a hand down to help him up. Hers' was a dainty grip, but she still put in the necessary effort to lift the heavier boy. When she pulled Oscar back to his feet -back to eye level- she smiled at him.
She'd come in the same day Yang had. Oscar had never been so blind as to miss her presence, but lately he'd been neglecting it… thinking about Yang, or Nora, or Blake.
He tried to rid himself of the thought without any visible discomfort. He hoped the smile he cast back at her looked more genuine than it felt.
Fortunately, Ruby interceded before they held the gaze too long. "Alright, Weiss- I'm next. Gonna show you this cool new headbutt I learned."
"Headbutt…?"
It was just a passing thought. Yang would forgive him for having functional eyes and good taste.
He hoped.
Oscar detached himself from Weiss's hand, trying not to be too abrupt. Just to seem his usual, comparatively meek self getting out of the way and clearing their makeshift battlefield for Weiss and her partner to square off.
That was another bond he'd heard about but hadn't given much thought to. Weiss was Ruby's partner at Beacon, and Blake had been Yang's. It seemed… strangely arbitrary, at least most of the time. But Ozpin had assured him it made a difference: it affected their lives and led to positive changes more often than not. Weiss and Ruby probably would've never interacted anywhere else in life had they not both decided to be Huntresses.
Blake and Yang, though…
Oscar glanced back at the open door to the house. He very much doubted it was taking Blake and Yang this long to do the dishes. He only hoped they were still able to be civil.
Yang had told him she'd been working through issues. Even before Blake showed up at the doorstep, she'd been trying to understand something unexpected and Oscar hadn't really helped in Yang's search for balance… not when whispering other ideas to her had been so much more…
He shook his head. When she emerged -whenever that would be- he would just be the supportive-
The supportive…
Boyfriend?
He'd wondered if that was what he was. Yang had never called him that, but she must've asked herself the same question.
Blake knew now; that was probably what she thought Oscar was. Why was it so easy for someone on the outside looking in to call him that when neither he nor Yang could?
Oscar turned his attention back to Weiss and Ruby zipping along the backyard. Ruby's Semblance allowed her to outpace Weiss, necessitating more agility, more diverting in her path. Ruby may have been faster, but whenever she had to slow down she was robbed of that advantage, having to build up her momentum again and giving Weiss an opening to create a new path with her glyphs and move out of harm's way.
Winning the battle by running away… Ozpin had done something similar when he'd briefly had control of Oscar's body and clashed with Hazel. A few strikes, then distance. He took the tall man's leg from under him, staggering his momentum and forcing him to lose ground when he took the time to return to his feet.
If he'd swung his cane lower, he might've taken Weiss's legs out from under her and stalled her completely. He was still shorter than her; he should've tried to turn that to his advantage.
But then… remembering he was shorter than Weiss and Ruby -themselves the shorter members of their team- wasn't a pleasant thought. It reminded him he was still younger than them, and that they still saw a boy fighting against them.
They didn't know about him and Yang. He could only imagine how they'd view him if they knew that. It might make them picture him differently…
Picture him in a way they never had…
Oscar shook his head again, hoping to go unnoticed on the sidelines of their spar. He needed to stop thinking any of this. The suggestions worked: he was in a relationship with a beautiful girl already. He didn't want-
Every night in his dreams, he recalled someone else. They may have been Ozpin's memories, but the desire… that wasn't all the wizard. That wasn't only Ozpin who enjoyed the recollection, or the strength of the feeling.
Ozpin advised him to look at these girls as comrades; to value them for their skills and talents and not only dwell on how pretty they were. But he couldn't help it! Ozpin wasn't blind; he must've seen the same.
Silence in his head again. Maybe Ozpin simply wasn't willing to deny it… or too ashamed to acknowledge what he might've thought.
The sound of footsteps drew his attention. Oscar looked over to the back door, watching Blake stride out from it. Their eyes met briefly, only for Blake to quickly avert them, to look out at Ruby and Weiss and move closer to them.
Oscar didn't broach the subject. He waited to see if Yang would follow. But for several long seconds… nothing.
Oscar stepped back inside. He peered around, searching for any sign of her… drawn by the sound of running water. Still in the kitchen?
Not working on any dishware… Yang just stood over the sink, watching cold water pour down over empty plates. Oscar could see her left hand on the countertop, soaked… and visibly trembling.
He'd thought he'd seen it before, if only briefly. Yang usually used her right hand to calm her left, to ride out the tremor. Now she was letting it continue, still watching the water.
Oscar took one final glance around, just in case they had any onlookers. He didn't know if today would be the day she let the others know -if she and Blake had some sort of arrangement, or someone made an ultimatum- but he wanted to try and be subtle. He'd been too bold, too reckless for her before… he was trying to be better at getting it right.
Her hand was cold. Oscar still encircled it with his own.
Her hand was shaking. He tried a firmer grip to clamp down, to bury that feeling under something firmer.
Yang turned to meet his eye. She said nothing. She did nothing but look back at him.
Oscar moved his free hand to turn off the faucet. There was no point in wasting water; they weren't getting any dishes cleaned right then. Doing a mindless chore wouldn't help put Yang at ease.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Oscar gently suggested.
A long moment of silence. Yang blinked two or three times before shaking her head. "No, I'm… I'm alright. I just… I didn't expect it would be so… hard to talk to her. I really hoped-"
Oscar just listened. He waited for Yang to fill him in.
Awkward as it was to just stand there and wait for her, Oscar trusted this would lead somewhere… that making some effort would matter more to Yang than the results it produced.
"I'm okay," Yang assured him. She slid her hand out from his grip and stepped away, composing herself, drawing a deep breath. "I'll… I'm going to head out there now."
Oscar was not a good liar. He didn't necessarily know when someone was trying to deceive him. But Yang seemed… practiced? More composed than she should've been?
She strode away, heading for the back. Once she was out of earshot, Oscar mumbled: "Oz… I know what she said, but I don't think she meant it."
Silence.
"Some help you are," Oscar grumbled. Just when Ozpin's insight to this would've come in handy…
He just had to be patient and wait for another opportunity to bring it up. Whatever Yang was afflicted by, she'd tell him eventually… without him needing to prompt her.
Wouldn't she?
Yang only took a few more seconds to step outside and join the girls. She wanted to make sure she had her game face on.
It was nothing new. She spent so many years playing the strong one for Ruby's sake that it'd become second nature for her to put on the act. And with Weiss and Ruby around to draw Blake's attention, she was confident she could get through a series of sparring matches. At the very least she could work out a bit of aggression in a place where it'd be easily disguised.
She just… had to not let herself be matched up with Blake. Right now she… she wasn't sure it'd be easy to pull her punches. Wearing a mask was one thing, but in the heat of battle it was much harder to keep it affixed.
She didn't know what game Blake was playing. She didn't know what Blake was holding back or why she felt the need to bring any of it up.
Because it was something different than she expected? Because she had some opinion she'd wanted to share, expecting Yang to eagerly await sitting in her judgment?
No… if Yang were honest, it wasn't any of that. She was bothered because things hadn't come out on her terms. She was angry because Blake had forced her hand.
She… she wasn't ashamed to tell them who she was dating, or worried about what they'd think… she just didn't know what she was going to say. She didn't know how she'd present things to Ruby and Weiss. She just… wanted a bit more time to compose all that.
They liked her, they liked Oscar… it should have been as simple as that, but Yang knew it wouldn't be. It couldn't be. The journey they were on now -and the other soul Oscar carried with him- made things more difficult than they should've been.
Oscar had been patient with her. She felt confident waiting to tell them because she didn't think he'd volunteer it to anyone else.
Blake…
She didn't know what to make of Blake. Yang used to think she had some read on her, but now…
At Mountain Glenn, Blake had quickly corrected Yang's assumptions about her in that dismissive, self-deprecating way she did. When Yang reached out to Blake for understanding after Mercury framed her during the Vytal Festival, she'd attached all manner of conditions before granting Yang her trust. When Blake took her to the landing pads at Beacon, holding her left hand when she passed out from the pain and she woke to find-
She clenched her left hand. A balled fist looked better than trembling fingers.
Yang could accept the presence of someone she didn't particularly like: Neon Katt and Cardin Winchester had fought alongside her when Beacon fell. But then, she hadn't traveled across kingdoms with either of them… and she couldn't imagine Weiss or Ruby were as bothered as Yang was having her back.
Wearing a strong face every day… she could do that if she had to.
Yang headed to Weiss. Talking to her had made Yang feel better before, so maybe a bit of time with just them…
She cast a glance Blake's way as Ruby went to talk to her. She tried not to be suspicious of what Blake was whispering in her sister's ear, but some part of her did wonder…
This was the person she'd have to fight alongside… and she was worried about gossip. She was worried she couldn't trust her partner to be discreet.
Yang told herself she'd find the time to tell Weiss and Ruby. They'd be happy to hear it, they'd be supportive of her… they'd make it feel more like she was surrounded by her friends and less like she was walking on eggshells.
Just when she found the right moment…
Oscar wasn't sure if he was supposed to follow after Yang or not. Given that he'd seen her go outside and join up with her teammates -where any affection he'd shown her would have an audience- he decided to stay back and wait a moment… and tend to those dishes instead. Partially to finish what Yang had begun, and partially so he could maintain the distance a while longer.
It was infuriating to not help someone when he had the ability to. But if Opin was right -and he was right so infuriatingly often- then Oscar would only be intruding on something between Blake and Yang that wasn't for his ears. He wasn't happy to leave it at that, but it didn't seem like anyone was going to let him in.
Oscar was distracted by the sound of running water and the scrubbing of a sponge. He didn't hear her coming.
He just felt her arms snake around his waist as she pulled him into a tight hug, happily exclaiming: "Cute boy Oz!"
Right… it wasn't just Team RWBY who had to wake sometime…
"Hey, Nora," Oscar greeted, patting her arm with his dry hand. Nora nestled against his back, her chest pressing onto his shoulder blade.
Reminding him that Nora was-
He tried not to dwell on it. He'd just gone through this with Weiss, and with all that Yang was going through, he really shouldn't have let himself get distracted by-
But he was. He couldn't help Yang fight this battle and his attempts to make her feel better had been rebuffed. It was so much simpler to think about other pretty girls than piece together what he was supposed to do for the one who wasn't seeking his help.
Still, Oscar tempered himself. Whatever he may have thought about Nora -whatever suggestions he'd put in her head before- he remembered there was someone else occupying much more of her heart than he did. "How's Ren? Is he feeling better?"
"Yep!" Nora happily confirmed. "He and Jaune are sleeping in for a bit longer though… I have a bad habit of waking them up every morning and I'm trying to let them enjoy sleeping indoors while we've got it."
So thoughtful… well, at least, making an effort to be thoughtful. That should've been no surprise: Nora was a lot more aware of her surroundings than she let on, and while she could always be counted on to be bubbly and energetic, she reined herself in more than her friends realized…
...Ozpin's insight? Oscar liked to think he had a pretty good understanding of who Nora was; that he could see those little complexities under the surface…
Things he completely set aside when he thought about her… when he really saw her for the first time and hadn't spared one thought for the nuances of her persona…
Oscar was no longer so certain he deserved this hug. Nora had no reason to think anything was wrong, that her dear friend harbored any such flaw…
He also wasn't too keen on her latching onto him after he'd already taken his first loss of the day and accumulated some grime...
"The others started training early," Oscar explained to her. "Once I'm done here, maybe we can join them?"
"Great idea!" Nora concurred, pulling Oscar along. Evidently she'd heard the second part of his offer without hearing the condition of it.
Oscar didn't put up much resistance. There was never much point in trying to fend off Nora… and whatever guilt may have troubled him, he wasn't too opposed to her holding onto him.
...would it bother Yang to see it?
Probably not. She'd known Ren and Nora longer than she'd known him; she must've already seen how close they were. She was probably aware that Nora's outpouring of affection was an unavoidable fate.
If he and Yang kept going, if their relationship went on, would he ever tell her about Nora and what he sometimes felt? Was that sort of honesty something she expected from him?
Did she feel this way about other guys? Had Yang ever cast a glance Ren or Jaune's way and wondered… what if?
Suddenly -really, without any warning- that mattered to him. Not because he needed to know, just because…
Jaune and Ren were closer to Yang's age. Maybe they'd appeal to her more than he-
Maybe when he got to that age it wouldn't be so difficult. Ren and Jaune had been surrounded by pretty girls a lot longer than he had and they seemed better able to keep their composure. Maybe they'd just become desensitized to it…
He tried not to let the thought bother him. But maybe… just maybe… Yang already suspected he thought about other girls? Or she was uncomfortable with him being younger than she was?
Was that why she kept putting off telling the others? Was that why she was so upset Blake found out?
They'd spent a lot of time not talking. When they finally made time to it'd been derailed almost immediately when their secret came out. He was getting so tired of this dance…
Again he wondered what thought he could put in her mind… in all of their minds, really…
Again Oscar was unsure he deserved this hug -this unconditional affection- Nora gave him…
Midday arrived sooner than they expected. Everyone shuffled in, ready to rest and start up a meal. Jaune patched up some damaged Aura levels and everyone seemed to be in good spirits… only aided further when Ren emerged from his room to greet the others and socialize -to a point- without any visible signs of his injury. He took over in the kitchen while everyone else splintered off in one direction or another. Yang and Oscar briefly exchanged looks and found their opening to slink away when Ruby and Weiss started up an argument about coffee and flavoring… most of which flew over Oscar's head. But it was an excuse for them to move aside that wouldn't call attention to the two of them disappearing for the second day in a row.
"I'm sick of skulking around like this," Yang grumbled.
"Me too," Oscar agreed.
There was an obvious solution...
Was he supposed to point it out to her? Or would that have been condescending?
Not for the first time, he wanted Ozpin to weigh in. Ideally, to weigh in quickly and vanish before Yang noticed any change in Oscar's perception. Just long enough to offer some insight…
He was trying to focus all his attention on Yang now, despite the distractions all around him. He wasn't sure at what point his being considerate was helpful to her, and at what point he started being overbearing. What -exactly- did he need to do?
Nothing from Ozpin. Just him… and her…
Being bold had worked before. Yang certainly wanted him to be assertive…
"We could just tell them," Oscar pointed out.
Yang turned to meet his eye. Another silence followed as the two stood in the hallway, away from Ren's cooking and Ruby and Weiss's spirited debate about spirited beverages. Just them and the air hanging between them.
"Are you sure you're ready for that?" Yang quietly inquired.
It wasn't an easy thing to acknowledge. It would change the dynamics of their group forever.
His first instinct was to counteract and ask Yang the same question. But he backed away from that thought almost as fast: she was looking to him to… not to take charge, but simply be honest with her and acknowledge what he wanted.
Life was so much simpler when he didn't stop to think… though he tried not to dwell on it.
"I don't know," Oscar admitted. "But I think… I think if we don't tell them, they'll figure it out. If Blake noticed, maybe Ruby will. Maybe Nora will. Someone will put it together and we'll have to explain this to them anyway. We should tell them… something."
"Something… like…?" Yang let the thought hang in the air.
"Like… I don't know, that we're… together?" Oscar suggested. "I'm not sure we should say 'dating'... since we haven't… uh, really gone out on any dates…"
Yang may have feigned being worldly and experienced -and she certainly was further ahead there than Oscar- but she was quick to defer to his plan. "Okay. So… we tell them we're together. When do we tell them that?"
Oscar thought on it. "Do you want to tell everybody at once? Or… I don't know, tell Ruby first? I'm sure she'd want to know."
Yang raised her right hand under her chin, resting there for a moment while she thought. "I guess… I guess I could tell her after dinner, when we settle in for the night."
Oscar nodded. "And after you tell Ruby and Weiss I can tell Nora. Jaune and Ren will hear it all from her before I'm even finished speaking."
"And Qrow?" Yang wondered.
Again a silence. That task could fall to either one of them… and yet neither was eager to volunteer. "Maybe we handle that one together," Oscar suggested.
"Alright," Yang agreed. "I'll let you know tomorrow after I tell Ruby."
"Sounds like a plan," Oscar agreed. He tried to sound more confident than he felt, and to offer some reassurance to his… sort-of girlfriend without being too bold. He reached up to affectionately grip her shoulder, to try and show some appreciation that any passing onlooker wouldn't confuse with anything… untoward.
Yang reached over to pat his wrist and smiled. That should have been reassuring to Oscar in return, but… all he saw was his arm reaching up, and Yang's eyes peering down at him. Reminding him that she was still older, and he was still… short.
Anyone would be proud to acknowledge Yang Xiao Long was their girlfriend. But was Yang as keen on saying the same about him? He was four years her junior, and eight inches shorter. Was that the type of boyfriend she'd be so quick to tell her girlfriends about?
Oscar stepped back from the hall to rejoin the others in the kitchen; to return before anyone could take notice of his absence. He knew that a weighty task lay ahead, but he only had to wait for Yang to come back with good news from Ruby...
The afternoon passed uneventfully enough. The evening slowed to a crawl, but Yang could appreciate the time spent with her friends. Everyone was eager to get a move on to Atlas, but they were content to linger in the house a few days longer before they boarded a train for Argus. Another few days could be spent alternating between training and resting, and after they gathered a few supplies they could be on their way.
Yang wondered if this was what Huntress life was like: short stays in other people's houses in between assignments and long trips across continents. When Summer had been out on her missions, she was usually back after only a few days - if even that. Maybe she hadn't had to deal with Salem and her cabal. Maybe Ozpin had reserved that fight for Qrow and the others he'd recruited and let Summer Rose enjoy something closer to a normal life.
Yet now the road ahead seemed to be a lot more time out in the field… though since her family was traveling alongside her, it didn't seem so bad. But that still left her to wonder if Summer ever went through the same thought process… if she ever thought about where her children would end up, if they'd live a life like hers'.
Ruby looked just like Summer. She never let such thoughts bother her: Ruby's life had some bumps in the road, but she was doing exactly what she wanted to be doing. She was only ever bothered by how everyone else was faring. She only ever stopped to doubt when her friends struggled, and asked herself what she could do to put an end to such troubling thoughts.
When Ruby stepped into their bedroom after washing up, she sat down beside her sister and helped Yang with tying up her hair before bed. She idly chatted about the day's events, and never betrayed any sign of worry.
Yang prepared to tell her what had happened. If there was anyone in the world she could confide in…
If there was anyone she'd want to celebrate this major change in her life with…
Yang held her tongue about Blake around Ruby. She'd put up the calm smile and tried to make peace for the sake of all the others. Telling her this would break that already fragile balance.
She'd try in the morning, so this news didn't keep Ruby up through the night. She'd try to start the day with it instead… when Ruby was half-awake and more amenable to surprises.
Her sister. Never any secrets from her. Not for long, anyway.
Just one night more…
Oscar managed to sleep a bit better. For one night, he was untroubled by dreams. Ozpin had been very quiet of late… had the merger he'd promised moved faster than he expected? Were two souls closer to becoming one?
He didn't feel any different. He didn't notice any change, or dwell on any confusing recollections of a life he'd never experienced… maybe Ozpin was simply resting, as he had after Haven. Maybe he needed to recoup his strength before they went to Atlas.
Oscar was once used to the silence; the clarity of only his own thoughts, confusing though they could sometimes be. Now the silence felt… unnerving. He wasn't sure what to make of it, and Ozpin must've known Oscar was confused by his absence… but still nothing.
Oscar didn't linger on it long, climbing out of his bed later than usual, joining Ren in the kitchen well after he'd started breakfast. Ruby and Yang emerged from their room not long after him and set up at the dining table. When Oscar passed by them, Ruby waved to him and smiled… and Yang averted her gaze from him, staring at the wooden surface.
He was still learning, but he knew what that look meant. Why hadn't she gone through with it?
He was sure there was a reason she'd share with him. He'd ask her when the chance presented itself.
Another day passed. And another…
Oscar was starting to miss her. He'd barely interacted with Yang, and certainly hadn't shared any… intimacy. He was enjoying dreamless sleep, but he was also pondering how much longer he'd have to wait before he needed another long shower to deal with some… thoughts.
Was this what it was to be in a relationship? Did things just stop and start for days at a time? He could certainly understand why Yang wouldn't spend all her hours with him, but what had he to think when she seemed like she was avoiding him?
Ruby hadn't brought anything up. Weiss was harder to read, but didn't seem to be aware of Yang and himself. Blake hadn't spoken to him at all outside of the occasional nicety -a "please" and a "thank you" at meals- and he was sure that if Qrow had figured anything out it'd emerge in one of his drunken ramblings.
Oscar waited until after breakfast and after the sparring session, until after Yang headed to her room. Once he was certain Ruby wasn't in there with her, Oscar moved to knock on her door. He knocked so eagerly he might've been louder than he meant to be… but right then, he didn't care if Blake overheard them. Something was wrong and he wanted to try and address it before another night passed. If they waited much longer, they'd be on their way to Argus with their friends none the wiser.
Yang did eventually answer. She didn't greet him, just waving him inside and closing the door. Oscar waited for her -this time it fell to Yang to take the lead- and tried not to think too hard about why there'd been the delay. The girls talked a lot; he might've been out of the loop on something important.
"I'm sorry," Yang explained, sitting down on her bed. "I keep trying to tell her -I really do- but I can never manage to say anything… I just can't seem to get it out. I feel like… like she'd be disappointed, and I don't even know why I think that."
Oscar understood the uncertainty. He'd had the same fear.
If he'd simply suggested it to her…
Oscar shook his head and tried to focus. "Do you think you need more time? Or…"
He didn't want to ask. More than anything he didn't want to ask. He didn't want to put a question before her without knowing what the answer would be.
"Or what?" Yang wondered.
Oscar drew a deep breath.
He had to have some faith in her. He had to believe that things wouldn't be so bad if they were honest, if even only behind closed doors.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Oscar finally asked.
He knew why she might. Sometimes he looked back on the past week he'd spent with her and still had trouble believing it was all real.
"No," Yang flatly replied. "No, it's not that… really."
She was trying to reassure him. But she hadn't provided any concrete reason.
"We can't keep this secret much longer," Oscar reminded her.
"I know," Yang agreed.
"Sooner or later-"
"I know," Yang interjected.
Another long silence.
"We're leaving for Argus soon," Oscar pointed out. "Are we going to tell them before we get there? Before we get to Atlas? Please, just let me know what you're thinking."
Yang considered it. "Well, there is the train. If we tell them then they won't have anywhere to run off to."
"Well… I mean, if you think you'll be ready then…" Oscar let the thought hang.
It was still so awkward. So difficult for them to just talk…
"Yeah," Yang nodded. "Then."
They were always putting it off, always promising to try and do it all the next day or the one after… but at least before they hadn't been apart. At least when they were sneaking into each other's rooms and off to inns they were still enjoying being together. Now…
Did Yang enjoy spending time with him like this? Or was it just as hard for her to make conversation?
Oscar again resisted the temptation to direct Yang on how to think. He tried once more to be bold. "Well, if we're not gonna talk…"
He tried to be confident. It still felt inauthentic; it still felt forced to him to be the outgoing one. He'd hoped he'd have been better at it after… after what he and Yang did.
Yang raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting something in particular, farmboy…?"
There was a bit of that playfulness. Not so different from the Yang he'd first met: confident, a bit of a flirt.
"Maybe we're just bad at talking," Oscar conceded. "But we're good at… other stuff."
He tried to maintain eye contact. Not knowing for certain that his idea would appeal to Yang -hearing only the sound of his own voice- made him dwell on the way he'd pitched the idea, second guessing himself already…
Yang smirked. "Well… do you have an idea?"
She didn't seem opposed to the idea…
"I can tell Qrow we can stock up now, and get some nonperishable food for the trip," Oscar suggested. "And while we're out… maybe we could… not like the place we went to, but… something?"
There he went again…
Yang's smirk evolved into a warmer smile. "Yeah. Something."
He hadn't put the thought in her head. Maybe she was just humoring him… but she must've known what he wanted and why he was asking. And if she wanted this too…
Oscar didn't stop and question his good fortune. He almost bolted from the room to tell Qrow.
Talking didn't seem so crucial right then.
The days had worn on her. The rainwater had mostly evaporated, but it was still cold: the winds and gray clouds made each scouring a trip through cold and wet muck. Each night she slept what little she could in whatever unoccupied dwelling she found in the course of her search and resumed again before first light. She'd eliminated most of the possibilities, and just needed another day, perhaps a second…
She heard the roar of an engine. Neo searched through the omnipresent gray for a splash of color, scaling the nearest structure to get a vantage point above the stone streets.
She hadn't seen where it was parked. She wasn't sure how far away the trip had been, but she saw the yellow motorcycle moving slowly through the streets, passing by the civilians… slow enough she could tail it if she stuck to the rooftops.
Neo saw the blonde hair of the driver. The young man riding behind her with hands wrapped around her waist… she saw a hilt of some kind clipped to the back of his belt.
At last her persistence had been rewarded. She had only to keep them in her sights. She'd follow them to their destination… and if they left it, follow them back to their den.
They passed by several blocks. Neo tirelessly pursued, even though she ached to keep pace with a motorcycle -even one going at a reduced speed. She'd rest after she found the Xiao Long and her lover. She'd rest after she had something to barter for the life of Ruby Rose.
They finally stopped after almost a mile, stepping into another inn. A different spot from the last one… had the proprietor of the last one sent a warning? Was it possible they were luring her in, setting bait for a trap?
Neo kept her eye on the motorcycle. If they needed to make an escape without it, she'd easily catch up. So long as she knew where their vehicle was, she had momentum they wouldn't be able to match. And inside this building, she could turn the enclosed spaces to her advantage far better than a bulky bruiser like the Xiao Long.
She continued along the rooftops, moving closer…
Yang had suggested something different. She paid for a whole night's stay -even though they wouldn't be in the inn more than an hour. She insisted on paying for it, as Oscar had covered their first trip, albeit with Qrow's Lien card.
He was grateful she took the lead. He'd barely managed to say a word the first time. She was much more assertive in working with the innkeeper and making the necessary accommodations. She was the one to lead them to their room: a modestly sized wooden chamber on the second floor of the building, with the arches supporting the rooftop above their heads, with a tall window serving as a skylight. Quaint.
Even after all they'd done together, it still felt strange to start… still felt to Oscar as though he'd experienced some incredible good fortune.
Did Yang feel as lucky?
Was Yang as happy to see him disrobe? Did she go through the same manic sense of wonder? Did she ever… shiver?
He had to try and do all this without putting any thoughts in her head. He hoped it wouldn't just be instinctive… he wanted to be good at these things without the aid of magic.
Oscar gently nudged Yang down onto the bed. When she sat before him or when she laid down on her back… that was when he got to feel tall. That was when he remembered this was real and he could make her happy.
They didn't have a time limit constraining them, and he'd been anticipating this for days now… and she seemed happy to play along. In that moment, he didn't need to know exactly what she thought. He had a good enough idea to work with.
Neo stuck to the rooftop, carefully searching for her way inside. Without any clear access on the thatchwork, Neo had to search for a window to get into the second floor.
It was still midday. Someone would notice if they saw a girl -even one disguised as an ordinary Mistrali civilian- scaling the walls of this inn. She'd have to move very quickly and risk entering one of the rooms.
She was small and lithe. It'd be easy enough to fit through a window. She only had to-
Neo faintly heard something. Voices… noise without words.
Wordless noises she knew. A voice she recognized.
Neo carefully eyed the crowd. She had to aim carefully to perch on the windowsill and not be noticed. Most people were looking at the ground, or what was right in front of their faces… but she did not assume that such fortune would hold.
She followed the voice. She slung down from the roof and moved to catch the awning above the windowsill. She was light enough it could easily hold her weight… and finally gave her the vantage point she needed on her prey.
She'd heard the Xiao Long right through the glass. Neo peered her head under the overhang to look inside and see…
And see…
She wasn't… surprised to see it. She'd expected this was what Yang Xiao Long and her lover would do to spend their time… she still wasn't prepared.
The boy had brown hair and hazel eyes. His gaze was intense; focused on the woman beneath him. She lay on her back in the mattress while he rested on his knees, thrusting rapidly, boring them both deeper into the fabric of the sheets. His hands were wrapped around her ankles, holding her legs up above his head guiding the motions of both their hips.
Neo generally preferred to be on top, but when she and Roman changed positions she'd usually enjoyed herself wherever she ended up. The boy was shorter than Yang too… maybe this allowed him to feel tall too.
Yang was writhing beneath him on the mattress. Neo focused her gaze on the way their hips moved, keeping an eye for whenever they drew apart… giving her the chance to… measure.
They were vulnerable now. She could've killed them both and let Ruby Rose come to her instead…
Neo's eyes turned back to Yang. She always seemed so angry around Neo, so it was quite interesting seeing her looking up at someone with a very different sort of fire in her eyes. And while Neo had a pretty good idea for Yang's form after their clash at Mountain Glenn, seeing her revealed in all her glory… it wasn't something Neo regretted witnessing.
The boy, however…
He started fierce. But after the initial burst of rampant aggression, he leaned down to move his face beside Yang's Xiao Long… moved to kiss her, to add that single moment of tender affection to contrast with the speed and force.
Neo remembered how that felt. She remembered how she coveted it.
One had idly caressed her neck, under her chin, scratching an itch that surely must've been there to merit her touch…
When Yang kissed him back she lifted her head from the bedspread and her long hair flayed out. Oscar removed one hand from her ankle and caressed the back of her long, flowing mane… before tightening his grip and holding her closer, not even letting her escape to breathe.
Roman did the same, mixing the assertive dominance in. Just to remind her that she was still his'.
Neo's fingers trailed down her neck, under the breast of her white coat and gently cupping her chest…
Yang moved up from the bedspread, adjusting positions. She was now the taller one, perched on his lap, still holding that kiss and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Neo so often did the same. She may have been his', but so too was he her own. So too did she get to mark her territory, and -however briefly- tower over him and not be denied her rights.
Her hand slid under the fabric of her blouse. She felt warm flesh and a pounding heart.
Yang and the boy rolled over, getting caught up in the sheets. It obscured Neo's view of them, save the back of the boy's brown haired head and his shoulders. He picked up the pace again -Neo could see his hips continue to move up and down under the covers- and buried his face into Yang's shoulder.
He had a trim frame, but he was stronger than he looked. Maybe it had only been because Neo was so small, but she'd marveled at the way Roman could move her… and been all too eager to let him.
Neo's opposite hand no longer saw fit to secure her to the awning. She gently widened her legs, caressing her thigh right through the fabric of her jeans. She felt the warmth growing there…
Right out in the open, already at risk of being seen by an onlooker… or being overheard by the targets she was supposed to be spying on…
Her hand only moved faster. Neo bit her bottom lip to keep the noise from coming out.
She let him hear her voice. He was the only one who got to.
Yang's head rocked back and forth. The boy was going faster and faster, pushing himself…
Neo wanted to see his eyes. But his head was buried in Yang's shoulder. Yang's were already shut. But her arms were still around his neck, her nails scratching against a prosthetic wrist.
Neo felt both hands moving faster. She listened to Yang's cries.
No words. Not for this moment.
Neo watched the boy's head snap back ever so slightly. She heard Yang's cry muffled through the glass. She watched them both stay in place, save for the slight shake and faltering of the boy's arms holding him up.
Neo was still caressing her chest. Her heart was still pounding.
She really appreciated the show. The search had been such a slog, the city so gray and dull…
She slid back down onto the awning, watching them come back down from their high.
Watching their eyes meet… watching the intensity fade as they shared that tender kiss…
Neo had never known a wooden overhang to be so comfortable. Never thought that just the view from the rafters would be enough to…
Enough to-
She closed her eyes.
Yang finished her shower and began the long process of drying her hair. Oscar jumped in after her, feeling much better than he had when his day began.
Feeling clean after a long day was a common enough reward. Feeling clean after making love to a beautiful woman…
He wasn't so bothered the others didn't know. But still…
When Oscar stepped back into the bedroom, Yang was still wringing her hair through several bulky towels. That was something he supposed he'd have to get used to seeing, once they didn't have to go to the trouble of hiding this…
"Hey," he greeted warmly.
"Hey," she smiled back at him.
"So… the train," Oscar began. He hated to bring it up again -to bring it up so soon after- but he figured…
"The train," Yang confirmed. "We'll do it together."
"...are you sure?" Oscar asked her.
"Yeah," Yang nodded. "I want to introduce my sister to my boyfriend."
Her boyfriend.
At long last… they knew what to call it.
"Let's go get that food," Yang said, taking the dirty towels back to the bathroom. "I'm sure they're waiting on us."
A few minutes later, Yang unhitched her bike and pulled Oscar up onto the seat, taking hold of his wrists to wrap his arms around her waist. Her right hand held on just a few moments longer, briefly intertwining fingers before latching him into place.
When they sped away, neither noticed a girl sleeping in the awning of the window outside their hotel room…
They had no reason to look back.