Chapter 9 Yang: Warmth in All Forms

Contrary to popular belief, Yang didn't have everything all figured out. She didn't want to figure it out, either…

Her life was a whirlwind, and she was fine with that. Going with the flow had always been her greatest aim. It wasn't for everyone. In fact, for most, it was probably an unhealthy way to live. Yang didn't discount that. Most of her friends would never be able to live the way she did. They wouldn't be able to love it. The pressure and anxiety would be too much for them.

She glided by moment-by-moment with flippant disregard for what others might think. She did what she wanted, when she wanted, and nobody was going to tell her not to.

Honestly, it was selfish to live the way she did. Yang had known that all along. It helped that she had a zest for life and a loving disposition. Still, even she had to admit that her whims had gotten others in trouble over the years. In the past, she had put more than one person at risk. Jumping blindly into battle, fists swinging and temper burning hot like an inferno. At her best, she was a whimsical sort of person, at her worst she was a force of nature.

Even still, she never had a plan. She was more than happy to let fate take her wherever it wanted. At first she justified it as rebellion. Then, as a good thing. Finally, she admitted to herself that she didn't want to get her hopes up. No plans meant no dreams. No dreams meant less disappointment. No one else to let her down.

It just so happened that she had gotten married and settled down in Atlas. That was just the way that life took her. She wasn't going to question it. Instead, she accepted every day as it came. Yang Xiao Long lived with an unmade bed, dusty knickknacks, and a husband who was much more interested in having a compelling spouse than a homemaker.

It was a good thing too, because Yang lived in a constant state of disarray.

The blonde cursed under her breath as she dug through a pile of dirty laundry. The keys to her motorcycle had gone missing. She scavenged through the pockets of everything crumpled up on the machine until she found them. When she found her keys she just tossed them onto the kitchen counter without a care. Then, she shoved all of the laundry in the machine at the same time. She wasn't going to bother sorting it. The dishwasher was slowly piling with rinsed dishes, but she didn't hurry to run that, either.

Her growling stomach was much more interested in the protein shake sitting in the blender. She poured it into her glass before doing anything else.

Yatsuhashi's large shirt dwarfed her as she walked through her home barefoot. His shirt and a pair of panties were the only things keeping her modest. With her shake in hand she sipped it long and slow, glancing around, trying to find the first place to start. She made her way to the bedroom, that would have to be first. After a week of putting it off, she was finally getting around to cleaning it. She blasted music in her ears while putting away their other clothes. She hummed while disposing of the litter in their trashcan beside the bed, grimacing at the contents.

If anyone saw the state of their bedroom, they probably would have jumped to the worst conclusions. A small fortune of used condoms in the trashcan, two empty liquor bottles, and numerous snack wrappers cluttered the corner. An outsider would think they survived on a junk food diet. Yang sighed, plucking one of the chocolate wrappers at the bottom on the can. It was boring to catch up on the housework, but somebody had to do it…

Yang was no more dressed that afternoon. In fact, one might argue she was even more indecent than before. Fresh from the shower and no bra of which to speak of, her long hair cascaded down her back in damp waves of gold. Another grey shirt from her husband's drawer and a clean pair of panties did absolutely nothing for her modesty, even when faced with a visitor.

"How very becoming." Velvet said with a smirk.

"Glad you think so." Yang shrugged.

The Faunus could only roll her eyes, pushing passed the cheeky blonde. "It's a good thing Coco didn't see you in that get-up." In one hand she carried the best chicken salad that Atlas had to offer. In the other she carried several black garment bags with her. "In her mind that sort of fashion statement has only one use."

"I'm going to be a glorified dress-up doll after we eat anyway." Yang said, closing the door behind her. "What's the point of getting dressed if I'm just going to have to undress over and over again?"

"Touché…" Velvet said, carefully laying the garments down across the nearest sofa. Then she carried their lunch into the open kitchen area.

"So, how are we going to do this?" Yang asked, pulling down clean plates from the cupboard.

"It's simple really. You're going to try on the clothes in the bags. If they fit correctly, I'm going to take a few photos for Coco to look over." Velvet went for the glasses, filling them both with water from the fridge. "It shouldn't take very long."

"So I really am just a dress-up doll then."

"Coco will want your honest opinion too." Velvet corrected, her long ears bobbing of their own accord. "Even if you have nothing but negative things to say, those clothes are prototypes. If you have complaints, she'd want to know about them."

"Okay…" Yang trailed off dubiously. "Doubt I'll have to do anything like that, though. Coco doesn't make crappy clothes."

"She's never made an entire line with dust sewn into the fabric, either." Velvet replied, taking both of the glasses to the small table in the corner of the kitchen. She sat down with one leg crossing over the other as Yang finished plating the salad. "She doesn't show it, but I can tell she's worried that her new line won't be up to the usual Adel standard."

"Isn't Weiss endorsing the whole damn thing?"

"On paper, yes. She's providing the dust at a discount too. All in all, I can't complain about her involvement."

"There's a 'but' someplace in all of that." Yang said, sensing that there was an issue. It seemed to nag at the Faunus, no matter how small it might be. "You want to rant about it, don't you?"

"I wouldn't want to speak poorly of a friend." Velvet told her. "Especially when that friend is your former teammate."

"Oh, you're free to rant all you want."

"No, really, I shouldn't."

"Velvet, relax. I know how Weiss can get. There's nothing you could really say that would shock me."

"I know, Yang, but even so..."

"When it comes to that company of hers, even Weiss knows she can be a total bitch sometimes." Yang said with an easygoing laugh. "She doesn't make apologies for it. Why should I? Hell, I don't even understand half of the stuff she does all day."

That rabbit Faunus sighed, ears drooping. "Behind the scenes, Weiss doesn't involve herself in Coco's new combat line. She only provides the dust. I know that worries Coco, and to be honest, it worries me as well. Even with the discount, Coco's paying a lot of money. She wants the best dust money can buy, so it's turned into a very expensive proposition."

"Ah, I catch your drift." Yang said, stabbing a chicken onto her fork for a quick taste. "Since Weiss isn't more involved, you think she probably doesn't have any faith in what Coco's doing."

"She's never been so…" Velvet fumbled looking for the right word. Her effort failing her. "She's just so withdrawn, Yang. That isn't like her. At least, not about the dust business."

"Weiss knows dust like the back of her hand. She doesn't know a damn thing about making clothes." Yang said with a smirk. "When she isn't good at something she avoids it like the plague. She's been that way since I've known her. I had to teach her how to sew a button back onto her uniform at Beacon. She stabbed right into her thumb with the sewing needle. She didn't have her semblance active, and left a bloody thumbprint on her white Beacon shirt."

"She didn't know how to sew a button…" Velvet looked to Yang in disbelief. "In Beacon, really? Our clothes barely survived a week, let alone a school year."

"Yeah, no kidding. She never did learn how to do it. Before Beacon she had maids. Now she still had Klein do it, I think." Yang shrugged. "Anyway, she was so mortified that she just kept buying new uniforms on her credit card. Finally I just felt so bad for her that I ended up doing all of the repairs on her clothes while we were in school. I had to fix mine most of the time, so hers weren't exactly a problem."

"Dust enhanced clothing certainly makes a world of difference in that regard." Velvet murmured then. "I was so happy in senior year when we didn't have to wear our uniforms anymore."

"Yeah, no kidding. There's not enough clothing out there for semblances like mine." Yang finally sat down at the table, both plates fill with salad and utensils in hand. She passed off one set to Velvet. "I'm fine day-to-day, but I can't wear anything into combat that'll catch fire."

At this Velvet offered a genuine smile. "It's amazing what a little dust can do, but, it's also very difficult to work with."

Yang knew how true that statement was, murmuring as much through a mouthful of her meal. Their small talk was companionable at best, but the undercurrent between them wasn't nearly as innocent. Velvet had an attraction to vivacious women. Yang was certainly full of life on the dullest of days. Flirty for the sake of it, carefree whenever her overtures were turned down. The implication in the air between them certainly wasn't romantic, but neither of them could deny that they found physical gratification pleasurable enough.

It was something Velvet delighted in. She felt an impossibly smooth leg brush up against her own. It was a pleasurable thing for the both of them. Yang caressed the black thigh-highs, and the firm long legs beneath the too-thin fabric. Velvet was entirely too worried about things beyond her control, and Yang saw fit to amend that. A little distraction was in order, her actions growing bolder beneath the table.

"How much you want to bet Coco's riding Yatsuhashi on her desk as we speak." Yang said with a grin that was downright filthy.

Velvet's own amusement, somewhat shy, pulled at her lips. "What makes you say that? He's not one to have sex in the office."

"I gave him my blessing and the last condom we had in the drawer." At Velvet's curious glance, Yang just shrugged, pushing some of her blond hair over her shoulder. "It's shark week, so he's not getting anything from me besides the occasional blowjob. That's not his favorite way, though, so weeks like this are kind of a dry spell for him. He'll be like putty in her hands for sure."

"A quick shot too, if that's the case." Velvet tilted her head for Yang to close the distance between them.

"Give my guy a break, will ya?" She whispered against Velvet's lips. "It's not his fault Coco's just that good."

The kiss was slow, unrushed and aimless, both women pulling away before it got too deep. It was nice, but, it was also unrelentingly shallow. The two of them met eye-to-eye. Velvet quietly cleared her throat, a stuttering breath making it all the more difficult.

"So, shark week..." Velvet murmured, watching as Yang nodded gently. "Drat."

"Yep." Yang agreed under her breath. "So, yeah. I'll take a raincheck on the casual encounter. If you wanna hang around after we're done with the whole outfit thing, I'd totally be up for some cheesy rom-coms and make-outs though. Yatsuhashi said he'd be late, and I could really use a cuddle buddy."

"Sounds good to me." Velvet said quietly, more than delighted with Yang's offer. "I just have to let Coco and Fix know."

The next day, Yatsuhashi didn't go into the office to help Coco. Instead, he busied himself with his own project.

Yang watched as her husband spent his time sketching.

The musclebound Yatsuhashi Daichi was the quiet bookish type. He spent his time studying old texts on the art of war, history, and government. When his nose wasn't pressed to a book, he was often honing his own skill in combat. Yang never could understand his fixation on politics, but she didn't linger long enough on the topic either. His study was probably the cleanest room in the house, a single bookcase and desk free from clutter allowing him to harbor his musings in peace.

He locked himself away for hours. Sometimes doing nothing more than glaring at a blank piece of paper. Pencil in hand, he'd sit to flesh out his memories as vividly as he could.

His drawings of Grimm were fearsome, his sketches of carnage a haunting whisper that a huntsman's job was never done. When Velvet traveled in order to launch her name into the photography world, Yatsuhashi often went with her. He committed himself to putting those same horrors onto paper. For him, they were personal ruminations. Grievances he couldn't find the words to speak about even if he wanted to. Yang didn't question the journeys he went on with Velvet, his personal relationships with the members of team CFVY were as important as they were ambiguous, and that was just fine with her.

Whatever physical gratification he received from them remained strictly that. For Yatsuhashi, spoken word was often lost to the ashes of his past and the unknowns of his future.

Yang's comfortable life was his nightmare, and she knew it.

She stood from her place beside the desk and leaned over him, arms draping around his broad shoulders. "You're tense." She observed, feeling it in his posture. The way he carried himself and the fixation on his drawing was enough to tell her all that she needed to know. The mug of tea had gone untouched, the man was in his own little world. It had long gone cold.

"Not so." He said softly, red colored pencil shading in the eyes of a four legged beast. The ursa Grimm was massive, rearing up on its haunches atop a hill. The otherwise scenic image was what Yang expected out of the small villages. Plenty of them dotted the southern coasts of Vale. Aside from the occasional Grimm, they were a peaceful places where forests met the deep blue of the sea. "I'm just working diligently."

"Doubt it." Yang said, fingers tapping a small rhythm across his chest. "You were zoning out."

"I was lost within concentration."

"Oh, yeah? I don't buy that for a second."

"I must prepare." He spoke with an unflinching neutrality. Both immune to the events that Velvet had captured in photos, and tarnished by them all the same. "Coco is hosting another one of her charity events. Velvet's photos will be framed and sold to the highest bidder. Coco asked me to provide some sketches as well."

"Oh crap, Yatsu, you didn't actually agree to go, did you?"

He didn't look up from his drawing. "I did."

"That means I'm going to have to go now too." Yang groaned, resting her forehead on his shoulder. "I hate those stupid charity galas, they're always so full of assholes."

"I didn't have the heart to decline." Yatsuhashi admitted under his breath before clearing his throat. "If my art is there as well it will take some of the attention off of Velvet."

"You big softy." Yang teased, only to feel him sag with the mental fatigue.

"Not all of us can be social butterflies."

"True, but Velvet's not exactly a wall flower, either."

"No, she isn't, thankfully." It wasn't enough to placate his uncertainty. "Even so, I sympathize. I'm not very fond of these events either."

Yang nodded ever so slightly. Yatsuhashi had a natural talent for the arts that his parents cultivated when he was a young boy. They weren't very pleased that he had squandered his talent. When he became a huntsman, he willingly accepted the negative associations that came along with the profession. His large size and weapon of choice painted him out to be a thoughtless brute. There were many times such a thought had been to his advantage. Now that he no longer took missions, those that knew of him spoke of his days as a huntsman for better and for worse.

It was the same for all of them, not even Weiss could escape the reputation of her old ambition.

Yang didn't want to think about it. Her family was one long list of failures in the hunter's profession. Bloodline was an omen she refused to consider. If she did, what would Ruby's fate be? Worse yet, what of her own? The blonde pushed it out of her mind. It could only poison her thoughts the longer it lingered there.

"You've been at this a long time." She said, her hand reaching down to slow his wrist. Coaxing the pencil out of his grasp, she felt him sigh as he leaned back against the chair. "Maybe you should take a break."

"Should I?" He reached for another colored pencil, but Yang stopped him. "What would you have me do?" He asked when he felt her grip tighten slightly. A wordless refusal to allow him to continue.

"Fold clothes, go for a jog, grab dinner, or if you're feeling pent-up ask me for a blowjob…" Yang trailed off dryly, hiding a scowl by burying her lips into the nape of his neck. "I don't care what you do, so long as you leave that damn sketchbook alone."

He looked up to the clock, several hours had ticked away slowly. The only sign of his guilt was the way he closed his book, fingertips curling into a fist atop the hard cover. He tapped at it a few times before placing it away in the drawer. He took his time rolling up the leather pencil holder that kept the tools of his craft safe on long journeys. "I would prefer something a bit more intimate." He replied then.

"Yeah, I figured that." Yang muttered. "I'm still on the red."

"I don't particularly mind." He said. "I've bought more condoms, and the shower is large enough for the both of us."

"I know it's happened before, but, I'm just not feeling it right now." Yang said, this time with a small laugh.

"Perhaps I should meditate, then."

"You sure?" she asked. "I'm good for getting you off, if you want. You're the only dude I know who actually turns down oral sex most of the time. You don't have to, ya know."

"While I find the act pleasurable, it also lacks the connection that I prefer. It would be best to meditate so that I can clear my head." He stated as he slowly stood up. He loathed the feeling of Yang sliding away from his shoulders as he moved. He knew it was a long-shot, but he still hoped that she might take up the hobby herself. "I have the spare mat in the closet. You could join me if you wish."

"Not my jam. You do that, and I'll deal with food." She said, leaning up to give him a slow and lingering kiss. It was the kind he enjoyed the most, a small consolation for the lack of intimacy he craved from her at that exact moment. When she pulled away she noticed his expression had softened considerably. "On the topic of dinner though, we're out of decent groceries. We have to either order out from someplace, or call for a pizza."

"I'll let you decide."

The image of the trashcan flashed in her mind. Maybe they had been a little too lazy, recently. "Vegan it is. I'll go to the place down the block and grab the usual."

Yang's friendships with rest of team CFVY were a mixed bag.

She was emotionally closest to Velvet, finding a bond in the Faunus she hadn't quite expected. They shared a lot of the same core values, and spent plenty of time together. The rabbit Faunus was a gentle soul at heart, and a terror in combat. Her ability to photograph and fight with almost any weapon made her adaptable. Yang harbored deep respect for the subdued woman, and the ease of their friendship helped to fill the void of boredom that accompanied a life married to a man like Yatsuhashi.

Fox was just fun to be around. He was cocky and standoffish, more than happy to keep to himself. Yang got along with him because she wasn't easily offended by his nature. He was an amusing person, rough around the edges and happy to be that way. They shared insults out of habit. Their shared sexual gratification came as a rivalry. While she certainly wouldn't consider Fox her best friend, she supported the deeply seeded bonds he kept with Yatsuhashi. Her own connection with Fox was just as unique, and something she would never find anywhere else.

Coco was team CFVY's leader back in the day, and she was the one that Yang had known the longest. The fashionista had acquired a soft spot for Ruby back in Beacon. They had a shared love of complicated weaponry, and a responsibility to look after their fellow teammates. Coco had mentored the young leader to navigate the complex social problems that came with the heavy burden. Yang had gotten to know Coco first through the gaze of her silver eyed younger sister, and then through the lens of Yatsuhashi himself.

Now, she knew Coco Adel as a person, their vices the selfsame. They were both slightly vain, and somewhat selfish. She found her outlet in Coco. Liquor was the greatest equalizer between the two women, a bond that came from a complex mix of the people around them. If it weren't for the influence of others, they probably would have bypassed each other without a second thought.

"A sleepover, huh…" Coco said, twirling her lowball glass filled with amber liquid. "Haven't done one of those in months. I've been so busy I haven't been thinking about bedroom frolics."

"Yeah, I was thinking that last night after dinner. Yatsu's been a little restless recently, and Velvet seems like she could blow off a little steam too."

"Oh?" Coco cocked her brow, tipping back her amber liquid. "Why do you say that?"

"Cause it sounds like Weiss hasn't been the most supportive when it comes to helping out with your new line." Yang said, eyeing the glass her own hand. "She knows you're worried about it. I guess that's stressing Velvet out more than she wants to admit."

"That's just business." Coco scoffed. "Weiss always plays new deals like this close to the chest."

"Even for a friend?"

"Especially for a friend." Coco pulled off her glasses, scowling at Yang as though the blond were crazy. Then she sighed, realizing the blonde had no clue. "Listen, the Schnee Dust Company wouldn't be the industry titian otherwise. If she took every business contract at face value, she'd lose her ass."

"Yeah, but you're reliable..."

"Doesn't matter." Coco shot back. "I don't plan to screw Weiss over or anything like that. However, this is an experimental venture. Weiss would be an idiot to jump in with both feet."

"Is it the money?" Yang asked.

Coco shook her head. "In the long run, the money is totally negligible. If my new line fails, it could make her entire company look bad. They might blame my failures on low quality dust, and Weiss would take a heavy hit in her other business dealings. Trust me, business is just business. That's not the problem I've been dealing with."

"So, there is a problem with Weiss then…" Yang said, catching on. "If she has a stick up her ass about something, I can go pull it out…"

Coco doubled over, hand slapping on the table with a rough laugh. "It's not a stick it's a while god-damned forest." She managed to bring the glass to her lips again, snickering through her sip. Then she grinned unrepentantly. "It has absolutely nothing to do with my fashion line, though. Honestly, it has nothing to do with me at all. She's just been coming to me for advice. Apparently, I know something you don't…"

"Do I want to know?" Yang asked, refilling Coco's glass.

"I don't know, you might be too close to this one for comfort." Coco replied, her grin falling to something more serene. "It's not my problem to tell, anyway. What I will say is that it does concern me. If Velvet thinks I'm bothered by something, it's because I am. Weiss is a good friend, and right now she's navigating a very complex and personal issue."

"If it's that bad, why doesn't she ask for help?"

Coco placed her glass down onto the table and sat back in her chair. "Like I said, Yang, you're just too close. If you want to snoop around, just tread lightly... That's all I'm going to say."