"Alright, Operation Get-To-Know-Weiss commences." Nearing the restaurant Ruby had directed them to - a sports bar famous for cheap, delicious tacos - Yang tugged Blake closer and added, "Should we go over the plan again?"
"Eat dinner, get to know Weiss."
"Exactly."
Blake laughed at their simplistic yet official plan, or at Yang's insistence on hyping up this meeting as much as possible, while Yang grinned and opened the restaurant door.
"This is pretty lowkey for one of the wealthiest people in the city," Blake commented as they stepped into the busy entryway. Even though it was the middle of the week, college students and young professionals swarmed the lively establishment. Considering their concentration around the bar, the jerseys many of them wore, and how their gazes trained upon the televisions, some important sporting event was happening tonight.
Yang loved the energy, but Blake was right - this was the last place she would expect to find a high-powered executive type. The menu prices alone might be an insult to someone from the fabled Schnee bloodline.
"You know what this means?" After scanning the bar and not recognizing anyone, Yang gave Blake the most serious expression she could muster. "She thinks we're basic."
"Oh, really?" When Yang solemnly nodded, Blake laughed and patted her shoulder. "Let's not judge her yet. Give her a chance to talk first."
"No wonder Ruby wanted you here..." Yang replied, earning another soft laugh from Blake as they moved further away from the door. Yang's attention turned to the 'restaurant side' of the building then.
"There they are."
Weiss was easy to find, as her striking white hair likely stood out in any crowd. At the moment, her hands rested in her lap as she listened to Ruby, who was in the midst of what appeared to be a long-winded story. Her posture suggested confidence, and she had done a great job of not overdressing, but the way her gaze flitted around the restaurant suggested she wasn't as at ease as she seemed.
First impression? Good at faking it. But Yang would heed Blake's advice and withhold judgment until their meal ended. For now, she grabbed Blake's hand and headed over to the table.
"Hey guys!" she greeted them once close enough. Ruby immediately lit up, and Weiss hardly caught sight of them before standing and extending one hand.
"You must be Yang. It's nice to finally meet you."
After glancing at Weiss' hand, with the perfectly manicured nails to go along with the perfect posture, Yang chuckled and released Blake's hand in order to return the gesture.
"Nice to finally meet you, too." Handshakes were pretty formal, but Yang shook Weiss' before motioning to Blake. "This is my better half, Blake."
"Of course." Weiss turned to Blake and extended her hand once more. "It's really nice to meet you."
"You, too," Blake replied, smiling politely and shaking Weiss' hand before moving toward the two chairs left empty for them. Yang pulled one of the chairs out for Blake before claiming the other for herself.
"Sorry we're late. Lost track of time."
"But you made it to Blake's early, right?"
Yang frowned at Ruby's question, but Blake smiled while unfolding her napkin and said, "she did," much to Ruby's amusement.
"Yang's always late except when she's meeting Blake," Ruby explained to Weiss, whose slow nod suggested the explanation made only partial sense.
"I hate making Blake wait," Yang offered, but Ruby laughed.
"But making everyone else wait is fine?"
"You'll just play games until I get there. And Dad's not exactly prompt either."
"That's true…" Ruby mused before shrugging and pushing a menu across the table. "We already know what we want."
"And I'll pay," Weiss added not even a second after Yang picked up the menu. "Since I invited you, it's the proper thing to do."
The statement came across as friendly yet firm, but the glance Weiss sent to Ruby gave away some uncertainty. Yang, however, appreciated the honesty and obvious desire for Ruby's approval.
"Guess that saves us from trying to steal the check." After glancing at Blake, who nodded, Yang smiled. "Thanks, Weiss. But don't plan on paying every time - we want to treat you to dinner, too."
"Oh. Thank you. I...appreciate that."
Though Weiss seemed thrown off by the consideration - always the one expected to pay if Yang had to guess - Ruby looked ecstatic by the introduction. And Ruby's giddiness made Yang happy, so she smiled before glancing at the menu. She already knew what she wanted though, so it didn't hold her attention for long.
"Why'd you choose this place?"
Yang directed the question to either of them, but Weiss responded.
"Ruby's mentioned it several times, saying that you come here often and love the food, so I figured...at least we'd have a good meal."
"They have the best tacos," Ruby added. "Right, Yang?"
"Yeah, they do."
Yang returned Ruby's smile before sneaking another glance at Weiss. To say the restaurant didn't fit someone of Weiss' status was an understatement, yet she agreed to have this first meeting here anyway. A fancier, quieter place seemed like a more obvious choice, but she chose Ruby's happiness over her comfort. Either way, it was a pleasant surprise.
"If you know what you want, I'll go get 'em?" Ruby asked, gesturing to the counter at the back of the restaurant where a line of people waited to place and pick up their orders.
"Take my card," Weiss added and showed no hesitation handing her credit card to Ruby, who smiled before giving Yang and Blake an expectant look.
"How about I come with you?" Blake asked, hardly waiting for Ruby's nod before standing up. "You want the usual?" she directed to Yang with a pointed look that kept her from jumping up to help. Yang leaned back and smiled instead.
"Yeah! Sounds good."
"Ok. Be right back."
While following Ruby to the counter, Blake gently trailed her hand across Yang's back. The soft touch prompted Yang to turn in her seat and watch Blake walk away, a smile creeping onto her lips when Ruby immediately drew Blake into conversation.
With the two of them waiting in line, Yang and Weiss were left alone - the perfect opportunity to get a good read on what type of person Weiss was and figure out the tone for the rest of dinner. Would Weiss be candid and genuine, or would Yang have to pry honest responses from her?
When Weiss folded her hands on the table and shifted in her seat, Yang studied her a little closer. From the styled hair, pristine makeup, manicured nails, and coordinated outfit, she cut quite a good first impression. But Yang wasn't interested in her perfect appearance. Yang was only interested in how well she meshed with Ruby.
"So...did you work today?" Yang eventually asked.
"I did."
"What exactly do you do, anyway?"
"It's...a little complicated," Weiss answered, though her blue eyes offered an apology for any perceived lack of forthcoming. "Would you like the short or extended version?"
"Short version," Yang decided, though impressed that she was given a choice. "For now, at least."
"Ok." Weiss nodded and, after a glance Ruby's way, smiled. "I'm sure you're aware that my family owns Schnee Industries."
"You know, I thought your name sounded familiar." Yang expected a laugh at the joke but immediately dropped the act when Weiss only looked concerned. "I'm kidding," she added and decided to leave any future teasing for when they knew each other better.
"Oh, I see." Again, Weiss shifted in her seat. "Well, my father runs the company, but he's getting older so my siblings and I have been stepping in to help with a range of responsibilities. Meeting buyers, negotiating with suppliers - that type of thing."
"Sounds...interesting?"
"Not really." When Weiss shook her head, Yang's brow rose. "But if you'd like to know how everything works, I'm more than happy to explain it."
"I'll keep that in mind," Yang replied, softly chuckling at Weiss' refreshingly genuine response. It went a long way in dispelling the whole 'pristine heiress' vibe.
"Ruby said you work at a production company?" Weiss asked before they drifted into silence.
"I do. It's a lot of grunt work, but maybe one day I'll get to do something exciting."
"Like directing? Screenwriting? Set design?"
"No idea," Yang replied with a laugh and shake of her head. "I'm trying a bit of everything right now. Seeing what's fun and what's not."
"That's a good way to figure out what you really want to do."
"Yeah! That's what I'm hoping, at least."
Weiss smiled and nodded at Yang's loosely formed career plan, but Yang was struck by the realization that Weiss probably hadn't been granted the luxury of choice. Her family owned one of the largest companies in Vale, and someone had to keep that running. In that sense, part of her life had been set at birth with no option of branching out and finding something on her own. Even though she might come off as a straight-laced rule-follower, it was hard to believe that she would voluntarily pursue a job in manufacturing.
Or maybe she would have. Yang didn't know her well enough yet to say one way or the other. Nor did Yang have time to dwell over that thought, as Blake and Ruby returned to the table holding trays laden with food.
"Food's here!" Ruby announced while setting her tray down. Blake followed suit shortly after, and Yang leaned forward to look at the stuffed tacos lined up in red plastic baskets.
"Those look awesome."
"I got you one of each," Blake explained while setting one of the baskets in front of Yang and the other in front of her. Tortilla chips overflowed from the last basket, which went between them to be shared.
"And we got all the salsas."
That probably didn't need to be said out loud since the number of plastic salsa cups on Ruby's tray suggested more time spent at the salsa bar than waiting in line. After arranging the different flavors across the center of the table, she grinned.
"From mild to hottest," she explained with a gesture from left to right. "You gotta try them all, too. They're famous for these."
"Word of warning, Weiss," Yang added as Blake slid a glass of water in front of her. "Do not have a competition over who can eat the most of the hottest one. It's not worth winning."
While Ruby giggled at the memory, Yang turned to Blake for commiseration in the form of a warm smile and pat on the back. Weiss, however, looked amused by the fateful, awful event she'd missed out on.
"How spicy is it?"
"Like eating a piece of the sun," Yang explained, though her curiosity was piqued when Weiss picked up a chip and dipped it into Vale's version of liquid lava. Weiss didn't scoop up too much - Yang wouldn't have let her do that - but she did get a fair amount on the chip before popping it into her mouth.
Yang stared - Blake did, too - but Ruby just beamed while Weiss ate the chip and shrugged.
"Not bad," she said, but a smile tugged at her lips when Ruby started giggling beside her. Yang, on the other hand, had no idea how to respond other than to stare with wide eyes and mouth hanging open. She'd watched her fair share of overconfident frat boys be reduced to tears over that salsa, yet Weiss downed it like nothing.
"So...you're part dragon?" Yang eventually asked, waving toward the salsas when Weiss' brow rose. "Because apparently you can breathe fire."
Blake chuckled at the analogy, but Ruby beamed at Weiss as if it was the most impressive thing in the world. Ruby's obvious giddiness was enough to make Yang smile as they started their meal.
No matter how carefully she picked up and held the first taco, however, lettuce fell everywhere as soon as she took a bite. Ruby suffered the same fate, though she added a little squeal that drew Weiss' amused glance.
"These are worse than chicken wings," Blake commented shortly after, making Yang laugh while attempting a second bite. It was just as messy as the first, but at least she didn't lose half of the fillings like Ruby did.
"Ruby and I should eat with forks," she eventually concluded, earning a sheepish smile from Ruby.
"A fork will only help her eat faster, and then she'd finish before we even get started."
Weiss made the comment easily, almost flippantly, but paused when Yang looked at her. "At least, from my experience, that's how it seems," she tacked on, but Yang shook her head.
"No, you're right. She would be." Once Weiss looked relieved, Yang grinned at Ruby. "Dad and I should've taken away your silverware."
"That would've been fun," Ruby agreed, because of course she thought it would be fun to eat with her hands. Before Yang pointed that out, however, a phone started ringing.
Weiss sighed and reached for her bag, her expression already exceedingly apologetic. "I'm so sorry," she said before finding her phone, glancing at the screen, and sighing again. "I need to take this -"
"It's ok," Ruby assured her while Yang and Blake nodded. "Take your time."
"I'll only be a few minutes," Weiss said anyway, adding one more apologetic smile before hurrying to the front of the restaurant. Ruby's gaze lingered on her while she made her way through the tables, and the most endearing smile appeared before her attention returned to Yang and Blake.
"She's been super busy at work. Some big contracts are up for renewal, so people are calling her all the time."
"Sounds like a pain," Yang said before popping a chip in her mouth.
"It is." After thinking about the situation for several more seconds, Ruby frowned and shook her head. "People think she's just rich and doesn't do anything, but she works harder than anyone I know."
"She seems like a hard worker," Blake offered, and Ruby's smile returned.
"Yeah! That's one of the things I really like about her…"
When Ruby trailed off and resumed eating, clearly still thinking about Weiss, Yang shared a look with Blake before doing the same. Weiss returned to the table before long though, brightening Ruby's mood in a heartbeat.
"I'm sorry about that." Upon sitting down, Weiss put her phone away and shook her head. "I told them we'd handle everything tomorrow, so there shouldn't be any more interruptions."
"Running such a large company must take a lot of time," Blake replied. "Does it cut into your personal life often?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Weiss admitted. "But I can delegate more once I have a better grasp on things. It's just during this learning process that everything's a bit...busy."
"That makes sense."
Blake's reassuring smile and nod eased some of Weiss' worries and, for the first time since they got here, she visibly relaxed.
"I refuse to let it consume my life like my father did," she added. "At the end of the day, it won't be the most important thing in my world."
Intentional or not, Weiss' gaze slid to Ruby with that comment. Noticing the look, and connecting the dots, Yang glanced at Blake to see if she caught it, too. She had, and her smile suggested that it made her as happy as Yang felt right now.
"What do you do outside of work?" Yang asked. "Any hobbies? Or...I dunno, a show you like or something?"
Again, Weiss glanced at Ruby, but she thought better of saying that 'Ruby' was something she liked doing outside of work. Instead, she cleared her throat and shifted in her seat.
"I work quite a bit," she answered honestly. "But I like to read when I have time."
"Now you're speaking Blake's language," Yang replied with a laugh, and Weiss' attention shifted to Blake.
"Is there anything in particular you like to read?"
"Anything, really, but I'm partial to fiction."
"You'd think that'd make it easy to buy her a gift," Yang added. "But nope. She's so picky that I've been forced to think of other presents."
"You have to look at more than the front cover to know if a book is good," Blake replied before leaning closer to Weiss. "You should've seen some of the ones she gave me…"
"They looked good!"
"Exactly - they looked good. What happened between the covers was not good though."
"Oh, I see." Yang grinned at the unintentionally suggestive comment and winked at Ruby and Weiss. "I'll do better next time. Because I definitely want you to have a better experience between the covers."
Finally catching on, Blake shook her head but smiled regardless. Yang laughed at the tolerant response and leaned over to nudge Blake's shoulder. Rather than move away, however, she leaned into Blake's side and pointed at one of the tacos left in Blake's basket.
"What's that one?"
"Teriyaki salmon. Want a bite?"
When Blake picked up the taco and held it out, Yang didn't hesitate to try it. Thankfully, it didn't make too big of a mess this time, as she managed to get most of it in her mouth before leaning away. "Mm," she said, nodding once while finishing that mouthful. "That's really good."
"Right?"
"Yeah. Maybe I'll get one of those next time."
"You should."
Blake teasingly took a bite, her eyes sparkling all the while, so Yang grinned and stole a bite from the other end of the taco at the same time. Blake made a small, surprised sound as fillings toppled everywhere, then playfully glared when Yang absconded with a second bite. Yang responded with a cheeky grin, and only then noticed Weiss closely watching the interaction.
"We share food all the time," Yang explained, and Weiss nodded before gesturing between them.
"How long have you two known each other?"
This was one of Yang's favorite topics, which Blake already knew. That was why she smiled, took a sip of water, and motioned for Yang to answer.
"Pretty sure it's been...five years now?"
Yang looked at Blake for confirmation, which Blake supplied via a nod.
"Ever since you graciously bought my tea the first time I came to the coffee shop."
"You were so unamused." Yang laughed just thinking about the memory. "There I was, welcoming you to the neighborhood, and you just looked at me and said, 'Do I know you?'"
"You did?" Weiss asked, and Blake hid a smug smile while Yang laughed even more.
"It was brutal. And I was so surprised - pretty sure I sounded like a huge idiot trying to talk my way out of it."
"You did," Blake answered simply, then smiled and shrugged. "But it was cute, so I decided to forgive you."
"And we've been best friends ever since!"
"So...you tried to hit on her, failed, and became friends instead?"
"Pretty much."
Yang nodded at the abbreviated explanation, which left out some of her best memories but captured the essence of what happened. In that four-word response, Blake had proven herself to be unlike anyone Yang had ever spoken to. It wasn't often that someone so quickly and effectively set her on her heels, nor was it common for someone to so fully capture her attention. Five years later, she still felt like she was playing catch-up, and she loved it.
"Hitting on girls at the coffeehouse is kind of Yang's thing," Ruby teased from across the table, but Yang chuckled and shook her head.
"Ok, Ruby…"
"It's true," Blake agreed. "You talk to every pretty girl who walks through the door."
"Talking to someone isn't the same as hitting on them," Yang argued, but Blake and Ruby just shook their heads.
"Should I be insulted that you never hit on me then?" Weiss asked. The question was clearly a joke, but her smile faded when Yang and Ruby exchanged glances rather than laugh.
"I mean...I don't actually hit on everyone…" Yang nervously chuckled while Ruby nodded. "If I see someone interesting, I might talk to them...but that depends on - on a lot of other factors, and my mood, you know?"
Rather than continue that rambling answer, Yang took a big bite of her taco as an excuse not to talk. Blake also chose that moment to become very interested in her food, but the ensuing silence proved that Weiss was no idiot. Sensing that something was left unsaid, she looked between Yang and Blake before turning to Ruby.
"Should I be insulted?"
In an impressive display of their relationship - or, at least, in how whipped Ruby was - she wilted within seconds of Weiss turning that clear, blue gaze upon her.
"Yang didn't hit on you because I might've...called dibs…"
"...'called dibs?'"
"She didn't say it exactly like that," Yang clarified before Weiss got the wrong impression. "She just...made it clear that she was interested."
"It was very sweet," Blake added, and Yang nodded. Weiss, however, stared at them for several seconds before slowly turning back to Ruby.
"How long ago was that?"
"...about a year?"
"Ruby Rose!" Weiss exclaimed, and Ruby promptly buried her face in her hands.
"I know!" she groaned while Weiss shook her head.
"I rearranged my schedule for months hoping you'd talk to me, and I was just waiting for you to muster the courage the entire time?"
"Wait a second," Yang cut in, holding up a hand. "What do you mean, 'rearranging your schedule?'"
Now it was Weiss' turn to be embarrassed, and Ruby returned from her shell with a grin.
"I start work before you're typically at the coffee shop," Weiss explained, a blush reddening her cheeks. "So I would go to work then leave and hope to get there when you were around."
"Which is why she never stayed," Ruby explained, still grinning as she nudged Weiss' elbow. "Because you had to get back to work."
"I did…" Weiss mumbled before grabbing another chip, dipping it in the lava salsa, and popping it in her mouth. The nonchalant consumption of pure fire still shocked Yang, but her mind was too focused on the prior disclosures to change the subject.
"So you could've been dating like a year ago?" she asked, and laughed when Weiss' blush deepened and Ruby's sheepish smile grew.
"That's cute," Blake concluded.
"That's so cute. You two are like...star-crossed lovers or something."
The term increased their embarrassment, much to Yang's amusement. After listening to Ruby freak out every time Weiss appeared, she couldn't believe Weiss had been hoping for an opportunity to interact all along.
"You could've talked to me, you know," Ruby eventually pointed out, but Weiss scoffed and flipped her long white hair over her shoulder.
"Please."
Everyone at the table expected a witty argument to follow that statement, but Weiss just fell silent and blushed. The lack of words confirmed that she had been just as nervous as Ruby, which was pretty adorable from someone who came off as unflappable and composed under all circumstances. And Ruby made her nervous? Ruby was one of the least intimidating people imaginable - all smiles, laughter, and overt friendliness.
"So what sealed it for you?" Yang asked, hoping to see more of this side of Weiss. "The pretty silver eyes? The smile? The way she knocked coffee all over your white blouse?"
"All of the above?" Weiss replied, much to Yang's delight. "But I think it was your apology that really stuck with me," she told Ruby with a warm smile. "It was so adorable that I forgot to be upset about my shirt, and that was...unexpected."
"What'd she say?" Blake asked.
"A lot," Weiss answered, laughing at the memory. "And really, really fast. I didn't catch half of it, but I'm pretty sure she pledged eternal fealty in exchange for forgiveness."
A laugh slipped through Yang's lips before she arched one brow at her sister.
"You pledged fealty to someone you spilled coffee on?"
"I was really sorry," Ruby said while Yang chuckled and shook her head. "Because then she had to go home and change, and I'm sure it threw off her entire day."
"Oh, it did." Weiss nodded, but her warm, unflinchingly happy smile was all for Ruby. "But only because I spent the rest of the day thinking about you. I ended up rescheduling my meetings because I couldn't focus on anything else."
When Weiss smiled, not at all upset at the result of Ruby's clumsiness, Ruby grinned back. Yang, meanwhile, clutched her heart and slouched in her chair.
"Ugh...they're so cute," she told Blake, who nodded while watching the love-stricken girls smile at each other.
After hearing only one side of the story for so long, Yang loved learning that Weiss was just as enamored as Ruby. And, despite all of Weiss' prestige and wealth, she was far more down-to-earth than Yang imagined, making her a better match for Ruby than initially met the eye.
"So you two -" Yang began only to pause when a round of cheers interrupted. Glancing over, she discovered that more students had joined the crowd, creating a lively-yet-rowdy group watching the television screens.
"I was just wondering -" she tried again, only to stop and smile at Blake when even louder cheers filled the restaurant. After waiting for the celebration to quiet down, she looked around the table. "Are you finished?" she asked as fast as she could. Once Weiss and Ruby nodded, she turned to Blake for the final approval. "Wanna get out of here?"
"It's probably quieter outside," Blake replied while standing up.
"I got this!" Ruby shot to her feet and collected the baskets before anyone else could even make an attempt. "I'll meet you outside."
"Are you sure?" Weiss asked regardless. She looked like she wanted to help, but Ruby waved her away.
"I'll be there in a few."
Finally accepting the response, Weiss smiled, grabbed her bag, and followed Blake and Yang out of the restaurant. Only when the front door fell shut behind them did Yang realize just how noisy it was inside. That wasn't to say that outside was quiet, as a car horn quickly reminded her, but the steady sound of traffic had a way of blending into the background.
"What'd you think?" Yang asked Weiss as they waited for Ruby, nodding at the building when Weiss' gaze met hers. "Would you come back?"
"I would. The food was good, and the atmosphere was...upbeat."
"It's not usually that rambunctious," Blake explained. "It depends on what games are on."
"Yeah, sometimes you get lucky and it's super quiet. Sometimes you get lucky and it's super jammed."
While Yang grinned at the joke, Blake rolled her eyes and gently elbowed Yang's side. The door burst open not even a second later, and Ruby rejoined them with a hop in her step and a big smile for Weiss.
"All clear!" she said while taking her place by Weiss' side. "Want to head home?"
"Sure."
"Live around here, Weiss?" Yang asked while looking around.
"Yes, actually. I live right over there."
Weiss pointed at one of the tallest buildings in the area, which Yang recognized as one of the fanciest buildings in the area. Ruby would kill her if she commented on that though, so she made sure not to say anything. "We can walk with you?" she asked instead. "We're headed that way."
Once Ruby and Weiss nodded, Yang motioned for them to lead the way. As soon as they moved ahead, she grinned at Blake and stuck close to her side while they followed.
Followed and observed. Weiss and Ruby seemed to be on the same page in terms of conversation, and they were adorable in how they talked to and looked at each other, but where were they in terms of physical intimacy? The quintessential 'couple' activity - walking together - should answer that question.
At least, Yang thought it would, but the answer was inconclusive. They weren't holding hands, but it looked like they wanted to hold hands, especially with how often their fingers brushed. Either they were self conscious about Yang and Blake walking behind them, or neither of them wanted to make the first move, or they hadn't reached the hand-holding stage yet.
That last reason couldn't be true, so Yang nudged Blake's shoulder and nodded at the adorable duo in front. When Blake didn't immediately catch on, Yang reached down, grabbed her hand, then nodded at Ruby and Weiss again. Realization dawned in Blake's eyes, and she smiled at Yang before intertwining their fingers and speaking up.
"Have you ever been to this place?" she asked while gesturing to a restaurant across the street. "Their sushi is fantastic."
The question drew Weiss and Ruby's attention, and both of them took note of Blake and Yang's joined hands before searching out the restaurant.
"Can't say that I have…" Weiss mused, her gaze flitting to Blake and Yang's hands once more.
"But maybe we should try it out." Excited at the thought, Ruby beamed at Weiss. "Next time?"
"Of course. If that's somewhere you want to go, then we'll go."
While Ruby beamed at setting up another date, she and Weiss turned forward, and their hands grazed yet again. This time, however, Ruby went for it - grasping Weiss' hand and smiling at her when she looked over. Yang grinned at the result and squeezed Blake's hand.
She'd never shared a bond like this with someone, but it was just one of the many reasons why Blake was so special to her. They didn't even need to speak to communicate. They just knew somehow, with years of friendship serving as their guide.
Even better, they could be affectionate and things didn't get weird. They could hold hands and not worry about the messier aspects of what it 'meant.' It meant they were best friends, and Yang was an affectionate person. And she loved lavishing that affection on Blake. Blake loved it too, if the way she accepted it and, in many cases, sought it out, was any indication.
"So Weiss, did you grow up in the city?" Yang asked to keep the conversation flowing as they headed towards Weiss' apartment.
"North of Vale, actually."
"Maybe you and Blake were neighbors."
When Yang nudged Blake's side, Weiss turned around to look at her.
"Where did you grow up?"
"Menagerie Park," Blake answered, and Weiss responded with a nod. "I'm guessing your family lives a little north of there though."
"They do." Blake didn't specify that north of Menagerie Park was where the mega-rich people lived, but Weiss didn't make a big deal of it either. "I moved here as soon as I graduated," she added with a casual wave at the building taking up much of the skyline in front of them. "Lived with my sister for a bit then found my own place."
"Sister?" Yang asked, latching onto their next topic. "Older?"
"Yes, a few years older."
"Is she married?"
It seemed like a good question in her head but hearing it aloud made her realize she skipped a few more important ones - like name and occupation, to begin with. The way Blake squeezed her hand confirmed that it was an oddball thing to ask, but Ruby had already turned around - brow furrowed - and Weiss gave her a curious look.
"No, she's not…"
"That's cool," Yang said, adding a smile in hopes of brushing past the conversation. "I was just curious since it seems like everyone's getting married these days. Doesn't matter if they've been dating six years or six months - Vale's got the wedding bug, right?"
Blake dutifully provided a supportive nod when Yang turned to her, but Weiss glanced at Ruby before turning forward once more.
"We're probably just around that age. I know several people at work who've gotten married recently, too."
Whether Weiss meant to or not, she let Yang off the hook and provided the perfect opening for an even more personal, potentially embarrassing question. For a second, Yang considered letting it slide. But it was right there, and when would she get to stick her foot in her mouth like this again?
"I still feel too young to get married, don't you?"
As soon as Yang asked the question, Weiss subtly checked Ruby's reaction before attempting a response. Ruby, however, scoffed and turned around.
"Of course you feel that way," she teased. "You don't even want a relationship to last past dessert."
"Those aren't even relationships," Yang protested. "That's just two people hanging out, grabbing a drink or some food together." When Ruby shook her head and laughed, Yang again turned to Blake for support. "Doesn't it feel like we're just not there yet? Like we need to figure out our lives first?"
Rather than offer an immediate vote of approval, Blake thought about the question before responding.
"I think if it's the right person, I'm ready to make that sort of commitment."
Blake held Yang's gaze and offered a small smile with the response. She knew better than anyone how Yang felt about commitment and all the bad that came with it, but she didn't bring up the subject in front of company. That didn't stop her from communicating her acknowledgment though, through her patient eyes and kind smile.
"Getting them to agree is another matter entirely," she eventually added, softly chuckling and shaking her head. The answer surprised Yang, who had always known that Blake was more commitment-friendly...but marriage? More importantly, who in their right mind needed to be convinced to marry Blake?
"I agree with that," Weiss replied before Yang made that point aloud. "If you've found someone who you want to spend all your time with, who makes you a better person in the process, then...that's something that could be discussed."
That was the answer Yang wanted to hear. And, based on her giant grin, Ruby had wanted to hear it, too.
"I think so, too! It's definitely not as crazy as Yang makes it seem."
Earning yet another teasing smile from Ruby, Yang laughed and shook her head.
"Ok, ok, I get it. I'm in the minority here."
Yang glanced over when Blake slipped her hand free and wrapped her arms around herself. Once Blake flashed a small smile confirming she was fine, Yang looked up at the luxurious apartment building Weiss called home. At its core, it was just another concrete box, but every exterior element gave off the distinct sheen of wealth. From the balconies outside every window to the elegant corner moldings to the sparkling silver front door - no expense had been spared in its construction.
"This is it," Weiss said once they reached the front doors. Recognizing the time to say goodbye, Yang stopped just outside.
"Thanks again for dinner. We're buying next time though - whatever you want."
"And it was nice to finally meet you," Blake added. "Especially after hearing so much about you."
The last comment was perfect, as it subtly informed Weiss that Ruby talked about her to friends and family. Weiss' reaction to that knowledge was pleasant surprise, as she glanced at Ruby and her smile widened.
"The feeling's mutual," she replied with a much warmer, much friendlier smile than before. When her gaze flitted to Ruby again, however, Yang gently tugged Blake away.
"We'll wait over there," Yang told Ruby, and winked to make the unspoken reason more obvious. Ruby promptly blushed, and Yang chuckled while leading Blake back to the sidewalk. From there, they were far enough away to offer the lovebirds some privacy but close enough that they could still see what was going on.
One of them could see what was going on, at least. Yang purposefully turned her back to the building so as not to make Ruby nervous.
"Narrate for me," Yang said while looking at Blake, and Blake's gaze immediately moved over her left shoulder.
"They're talking…" Blake began. "Looking adorable and modest..."
"Sounds about right..."
"Oh."
When Blake's brow rose, Yang's interest spiked.
"'Oh?' 'Oh' what? Did they kiss? Are they kissing?"
"Oh, wow," Blake replied. "Ruby's really going for it."
"What?"
Self-control flying out the window, Yang spun around and found…Ruby and Weiss still shyly bidding goodnight...while Blake laughed behind her.
"Alright, good one." Accidentally catching Ruby's gaze, Yang offered a cringe-worthy wave before turning around and lightly slapping the back of one hand across Blake's shoulder. "I can't believe you just did that to me!"
"I can't believe you fell for it," Blake teased in return, looking pretty damn pleased with herself. "You really think they'd make out right there?"
"Of course not," Yang scoffed before waving an arm toward the building. "They're three feet from the lobby. They should make out in there."
"I see." Blake was laughing now, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Is that how you'd do it?"
"I have no shame, Blake. I'll make out wherever a girl's comfortable."
"Oh really?"
"Really," Yang said, grinning when Blake chuckled and shook her head. "I'm serious."
"Uh huh..."
"I am!"
"Alright, then prove it."
Blake gestured with one hand, but Yang looked around in confusion.
"Right here?"
"You said anywhere. What's wrong with the sidewalk?"
"The sidewalk is pretty sexy," Yang joked. "But with who? Am I supposed to find a random girl?"
When Blake's brow rose at the suggestion, Yang grinned.
"Or maybe you had someone else in mind?" Her interest spiked when she spotted the soft blush on Blake's cheeks, and she laughed. "Sure you want to pull on that thread?"
"You wouldn't -" was all Blake got out before Yang stepped closer and ended that sentence.
"Do you want me to prove it or not?" she whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind Blake's ear and smiling as that blush grew.
Few things were cuter than Blake blushing, which Yang had learned long ago and still loved to this day. Blake had to feel the rising heat in her cheeks, but she didn't turn away. Instead, she searched Yang's eyes for something - permission, perhaps - before smirking and wrapping her arms around Yang's waist. When she pulled their hips flush together, Yang experienced a shock of her own. Now her cheeks were heating up, and her heart beating faster than it had in some time.
Blake was bluffing, which meant Yang had to bluff harder. So, even though she worried that her heart might jump out of her chest, she ran her fingers through Blake's hair and leaned in, closing the gap between their lips. Her heart raced faster and faster, especially when Blake's eyes dipped to her lips and back again.
Was she even allowed to kiss Blake? Because she would if it was ok. It would probably be incredible, too. Just a little taste of those soft lips…a hint of that tongue…a tease of what that side of Blake was like…
"Hey guys!"
Ruby's voice broke them apart, and disappointment rushed through Yang's veins when Blake backed away and brushed her hair behind her ear.
"What're you doing?" Ruby asked next, giving them a look tinged with suspicion.
"Just messing around," Yang hedged before clearing her throat and throwing on a big smile. Her heart was still racing, and her cheeks felt far hotter than normal, but she didn't want Ruby to ask more questions about what she unintentionally interrupted. "Ready to go?"
"Actually, Weiss and I are gonna hang out." Yang's brow hardly rose before Ruby rushed forward. "But thanks for coming!"
"You're going to 'hang out?'" Yang asked, refusing to let Ruby brush past that comment. After making a show of checking the time, she arched one brow. "This late? And on a weeknight?"
"It's not that late, but yeah. We just want to...spend some time together."
Ruby could have made their plan a little less obvious by using one of a dozen possible explanations, but that wasn't one of them. After sharing a look with Blake, who had read the situation exactly as Yang had, Yang laughed and shook her head.
"But you like her, right?" Ruby asked, smartly directing the conversation away before Yang started teasing. Instead, Yang played nice and gave a serious response.
"I do." That was all she had to say for Ruby to beam. "She's really nice," she added anyway. "And different from what I expected, but in a good way."
"She's very sweet," Blake agreed when Ruby looked to her for an answer, too. "I'm glad we got to meet her. It was a lot of fun."
"That means we could, like, do this again sometime?" Ruby ventured.
"Absolutely."
The words hardly left Yang's mouth before Ruby squealed and threw her arms around Yang's neck. "Thanks for being awesome," she said before pulling away and hugging Blake next. "Thanks for coming, too. You really are Yang's better half - maybe you can make her behave better next time?"
"Hey!" Yang protested while Ruby backed away, grinning all the while.
"Love you, Yang. See you guys later!"
Beaming so brightly that she could have powered this section of Vale, Ruby skipped back to Weiss. The happiness instantly rubbed off on Weiss, who shared that smile with Ruby before waving to Yang and Blake. She and Ruby walked into the building not long after, and Yang scoffed as soon as they disappeared from view.
"Should I feel weird that Weiss Schnee is taking my sister back to her penthouse for the night?"
"They're just 'hanging out,'" Blake teased before tugging Yang away from the building. When Yang wrinkled her nose at what 'hanging out' might entail, Blake poked her cheek. "Come on, Yang. They're probably just going to talk about how dinner went."
When Blake slid her hand down Yang's arm so they could hold hands again, Yang sighed.
"I hope you're right..." she muttered, but a smile slipped out when Blake laughed. The joyful sound made it impossible not to smile, and her mood lightened considerably while they headed to Blake's apartment next.
"So...what'd you think?" she asked after several minutes of comfortable silence passed.
"About Weiss?" Blake clarified, and Yang nodded. "She seems very smart, very capable...and very into Ruby."
"Right? I got that feeling, too." After thinking over their meal, Yang smiled and shook her head. "She's kind of like two different people - who she has to be and who she wants to be."
"That makes sense, considering her family."
"Yeah...but it sucks that she can't be who she wants to be all the time."
"I'd argue that's the case for everyone," Blake replied, and Yang sent her a curious look.
"What do you mean?"
"If we were always exactly who we wanted to be, we'd never have any secrets. We'd always say how we felt and do what we wanted - we'd never hold anything back. But sometimes…there are reasons to hold back."
Yang mulled over the profound answer before attempting a response. It made sense, in a way, that no one was completely themselves all of the time. Insecurities, fears, or just different social scenarios were more than enough reason to hide pieces of themselves or obscure others.
"But I guess we'll know how Weiss feels if they go out again," Blake added before long.
"What makes you say that?"
"The marriage question, Yang," Blake answered, sending Yang a deadpan look. "You literally asked her if she wants to get married."
"I was curious!" Yang argued but gave up when Blake laughed. "Alright, maybe it was a little heavy-handed, but what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Don't give me that, Belladonna. You had her running scared with that 'how do you balance life and work?' question."
"That's a legitimate concern any working professional should have."
The response was impressively matter-of-fact, but a smile snuck onto Blake's lips not even a second later.
"And I wanted to make sure she'll have enough time for Ruby," Blake admitted. "She's obviously busy, and I don't want Ruby dating someone who doesn't appreciate her enough to make time for her. She deserves better than that."
The caring response warmed Yang's heart so much that all she could do was smile at Blake while they crossed the intersection. It was several more seconds before Blake noticed and asked, "What?"
"Nothing," Yang said, shrugging but finding it impossible not to smile. "It's just...I like that you're protective of Ruby."
"Oh. Well...it kind of feels like she's my sister, too."
Having no idea how to respond to that - because expressing how her heart practically overflowed with love might be too effusive for this late at night - Yang just squeezed Blake's hand and beamed as they walked the last few blocks in peaceful silence. What she really wanted to do was wrap Blake in a big hug and spin her around in circles while peppering her cheek with kisses.
Ruby was one of the most important people in Yang's life. For Blake to become like another sister to Ruby meant all the world to Yang. Maybe that was why, when Blake's apartment building came into view, discontent swirled in Yang's chest.
"What're you doing tonight?" she asked as they neared the front doors. "Want to get a drink or something? Or! Better idea - we should go bowling."
While Yang grinned at the idea, Blake laughed and shook her head.
"I'm going to spare your pride," she teased. "And I should probably turn in - have an early day tomorrow. Besides, don't you have a date?"
For a second, Yang had no idea what Blake was talking about. Then she looked at the time and groaned.
"Shoot. Totally forgot."
"Best get a move on."
"Not before we make plans!" she whined. "When do I get to see you next?"
"Are you doing anything this weekend?"
"Totally booked," Yang replied and grinned when Blake looked disappointed. "With you," Yang clarified, nudging Blake's elbow until a smile reappeared. "What're we doing and when?"
"Well...my mom's throwing a surprise party for my dad's birthday..."
"Am I invited?" Yang asked, and Blake nodded.
"If you want to come. Please don't feel like you have to though. I'm sure you can find better plans."
"Better plans than a party at Casa Belladonna?"
"It's hanging out with my parents, Yang."
"And?" Blake scrunched up her nose, so Yang shook her head. "You just came with me to my dad's."
"That's different."
"How?"
"It was...important."
"Are birthdays no longer important?" When Blake shrugged, Yang set both hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake - just enough to get her smiling again. "Do you want me to come?"
"Of course."
"Then I'm there! When is it?"
Finally believing that Yang actually wanted to be there, or knowing that she would keep insisting otherwise, Blake relented.
"Sunday morning, but I'm driving out Saturday to help my mom set up."
"Mother-daughter bonding time?" Yang asked, and Blake made a 'so-so' gesture with her free hand. "No problem. I'll just drive up Sunday morning. Is that ok? I'm not crashing family time?"
"A ton of people will be there, so no. They'll be preoccupied."
"Then I'm there. Should I bring anything?"
"Just your gorgeous self," Blake teased. "But that was obvious, wasn't it?" she added, batting her eyes while Yang laughed.
"I think I can do that."
"I know you can."
The compliment preceded Blake's gaze subtly sliding over Yang, making her skin tingle and dragging her thoughts back to the sidewalk outside of Weiss' apartment. That feeling of longing and missed opportunities only grew when Blake leaned closer.
"Yang," she whispered, and Yang's heart promptly fluttered.
"Yeah?"
"Your date."
Yang blinked at the words, then sighed when reality sank in.
"Dammit. Alright, I'll go, but only because I'll see you this weekend."
"Right," Blake replied with a soft laugh. Satisfied with those future plans, Yang kissed Blake's cheek before backing away.
"Thanks for coming with me tonight. I'll text you later, ok?"
Only after Blake nodded did Yang head off for the night. As usual though, a tinge of regret filled her thoughts at having to leave so soon. That feeling only grew when she glanced over her shoulder and found Blake watching her walk away.
If Blake had been willing to hang out for longer, Yang would have canceled her date in a heartbeat. Instead, she waved and waited for Blake to wave back before making her way to her last destination for the evening.
She kind of wanted to cancel, since spending time with anyone after seeing Blake always ended up being a letdown. But she had rescheduled several times already, so...she should go. It wouldn't be long - just a quick drink, a couple of jokes, and she would be on her merry way. Besides, she had to figure out what to wear this weekend. Blake would tell her to wear whatever she wanted, but more planning was necessary in order to be her best, most 'gorgeous' self.
Those were the plans she looked forward to while rushing off to fulfill the plans she hardly cared about. Part of her wondered why she kept doing this. Was it getting old, or boring, to have all these hollow plans? Was she scheduling too much and taking away time from the people she actually wanted to spend time with? The other part of her - the part she gave precedence to right now - was mentally going through her closet, picking out potential outfits for Sunday.