"WHO'S READY FOR THE TIME OF THEIR LIVESSSS? Ahhhhh!" Yang spoke like an announcer before cupping her hands around her mouth to imitate the faraway screams of a thousand fans.

Walking next to her, Ruby rubbed her eyes when tears formed after her yawn. "We're just going for karaoke."

"Yeah, I know, but aren't you excited?" she asked, lighting up at the thought of spending the whole day with her new friends.

On any other day, her answer would've been a quick 'heck yeah!' Because karaoke was her thing. It was right up her alley! She loved music so much she'd have headphones on all day, even though she'd get scolded every time she was caught. She loved it so much she'd play music with the volume all the way up just so she could savor every sound. Sometimes there was ringing in her ears, but that was probably from something else completely unrelated. But today was different — more specifically, this morning was different.

"I was excited until you showed up at my apartment at 3 AM," Ruby said, her voice dripping thick with drowsiness as another yawn tickled her throat.

"You know it was only payback." Yang stuck her tongue out while opening the door to the small building that had Flynt's Karaoke Bar illuminated by neon lights. Inside, muffled music came from all the karaoke rooms, different voices carrying a delightful melody that had her humming along in no time. "Have you decided on what songs to sing?"

As they searched for a room that had the number 12 written on the door, Ruby answered, "Nope! No idea. Why does it matter anyway?"

"Hmm, I dunno." Yang's voice went cartoonishly higher, which Ruby recognized as an issue. When she spoke like that, it was often bad for Ruby. Scratch that — it was always bad. "Something tells me Weiss is really good at music."

The comment caught her attention, and for the briefest of moments, it made her freeze. What did Weiss sound like when she sang? She looked like the type that could do anything without breaking a sweat, so maybe she was awesome at singing, too. But Ruby didn't want Yang to know she lingered around that idea since taking that bait would only give Yang more teasing fuel.

So she brushed it off, thinking it was probably one of her sister's jokes. "Psh, yeah sure."

"I'm serious! This could be your chance to impress her. With less white lies this time, unlike at the gym." Yang dropped to a whisper, leaving Ruby to wonder if she'd heard that last part correctly.

First off, how the hell did she know that? Was it one of those psychic powers big sisters had? To magically sniff out the most embarrassing secrets younger siblings hid in the innermost part of their brains? Or was it just the fact that she was bad at hiding how she felt? She'd always imagined her emotions were locked in some kind of diary that had a 10-digit passcode. But realistically, the inside of her head was more of a set of drawers voluntarily hanging open, with her thoughts and emotions lying on the floor like last week's laundry.

Ruby didn't want to assume it was the latter; otherwise, she'd be in big trouble. Not 'big trouble' as in she'd get yelled at and get told to sit in the corner, but it was the type of trouble that ate at her soul. At night, she still has trouble sleeping when she remembers something cringey about her past. And judging from the cheeky grin on Yang's face, she wasn't going to forget about this any time soon.

...had she been obvious since the very beginning?

Her cheeks flushed at the thought of it.

Yang was probably just kidding like usual. Besides, there wasn't anything wrong with trying to impress Weiss. She was trying to do it in a friend kind of way, you know? Nothing wrong or malicious about that. Everyone's wanted to impress a friend before, like showing off your new lunchbox or how fast you can run.

It didn't matter that Weiss was really funny and cute… and adorable when she rambled about boxing. It definitely wouldn't matter if she was good at singing either! Ruby was awesome at karaoke. She killed it whenever they handed her the mic, so she had nothing to worry about.

Except.

She had everything to worry about.

This was the worst possible time for Yang to not be lying. Even if she'd been honest, Ruby wouldn't have expected Weiss to be this good at singing. The range? The vocal cords? She wasn't even sure if the person holding the mic right now was human or not; an angel was more like it…

And so, she sat there, at the very back of the tiny room — completely dumbstruck with her jaw hanging open.

Weiss' song had started with a bang. It wasn't classy or sophisticated like she'd expected; instead, it was upbeat and embodied the essence of rock and roll. Furthermore, her performance didn't lack in any department. The power of her voice, enhanced by her facial expressions and hand gestures, sent the girls into shock — except for Blake, who was enjoying her tea and the look on Ruby and Yang's faces. Weiss, too, enjoyed the attention. This girl knew her assignment and aimed for straight A's.

As for Ruby, straight was the last thing on her mind.

"Got a broken ego, broken heart…. And God, I don't even know where to… start," Weiss finished her song, lowering her voice into a whisper. Satisfied with herself, she dropped the mic on the sofa before taking a seat next to Blake with her hands crossed. "Well... that was certainly a good warmup."

"Warmup..." Ruby blinked several times.

"You guys invited us for karaoke - we came for karaoke," she shrugged before taking a sip of her drink.

"Scooch over, Rubes." Not wanting to back down from a challenge, Yang grabbed the mic and made her way to the front for a better look at the screen. When Blake asked her what she was going to sing, she simply responded with a grin aimed at Weiss. "Oh, you'll see. Not to brag or anything, but I'm kinda the best at this."

"Au contraire." With an amused smile, Weiss set her glass on the table and clasped her hands on her lap, unfazed by Yang's confidence. She actually went on to entertain it, as though she were waiting for Yang to make a fool of herself trying to reach her level.

There was no stopping these two from always competing with each other; they've come to accept that, so Ruby and Blake settled with observing and playing referee from time to time. Other than that, they seemed to get along quite well… if you consider trash-talking with your friends a normal thing. In the short amount of time they've gotten to know each other, they've come to a conclusion that where Team RWBY would go, chaos would follow.

And Yang was all about that chaos.

As soon as a familiar high-pitched violin played from the speakers, the lights switched from soft yellows to taunting blues, then Yang turned around to dramatically flip her hair for the intro.

"Baby, can't you see, I'm calling?"

"Oh my god —" Weiss slapped her forehead.

"A girl like you should wear a warning," she changed the lyrics, sending Blake a playful wink as she did so. "It's dangerous, I'm falling."

Any challenge she'd offered on the table was forgotten when she heard Blake laugh. From then on, she just vibed with song and savored the disappointment across Weiss' face, which clearly said: Of course, you would sing this song. As opposed to the coach's earlier precise gestures, Yang went for more rowdy and exaggerated ones — ones that kept the smile on Blake's face, because that was the whole point of today.

Whenever Yang was upset, all she needed was to spend time with the people she cared about. Now, she doesn't know much about Blake, but with the current twinkle in her eyes, it was safe to say this was exactly what Blake needed. After the bomb she'd dropped the other day, Yang was more than happy to be able to pull her out of the shadows.

It was even worth pretending to lose to an arm wrestling match with Ms. Schnee over there. She didn't know what had brought that up and why the coach wanted to test her in the first place, but it was the only way to get her to come, and her joining meant Ruby would tag along. Makes sense, doesn't it?

At the end of her song, there were claps (mostly dry ones from Weiss).

"Thank you, thank you." She bowed before swishing the mic between Blake and Ruby. "Who wants to go next?"

The two girls in question looked at each other, trying to figure out who wanted to steal the stage next, until Ruby smiled to show a piece of candy in her mouth.

"I think Ruby's a bit occupied." With a faint smile, Blake stood up to take the mic and input the code for her song.

Yang returned to her seat next to Ruby, and both of them began patiently waiting to see what kind of music Blake was into or if she could hold a candle to Weiss' raw talent. Anticipation grew by the second, with the sisters making guesses about what the next song was going to be. A soft ballad, maybe. That seemed like something Blake would enjoy.

But as soon as the powerful intro played, Ruby stood up, nearly choking in her candy. "You know Shaman King?!"

"At least one person in a friend group has to have good music taste," she said with an amused curl of her lips.

While she sang, Ruby happily patted her lap and bounced her knees, occasionally mumbling the lyrics to herself. She wasn't able to sit still for the entirety of the song, and as Blake reached the final line, Ruby sprang back up with a glint in her eyes. "That was the best cover for Brave Heart I've ever heard!"

"Well, I - I wouldn't call it the best," she gushed a second after being taken aback by the earnest compliment, "but thank you."

Blake didn't expect to see such a positive reaction for her performance — if anything, she thought Weiss would gain all the praises and looks of awe for today. So she was more than flattered to discover she had a number one fan with overflowing admiration right under her nose.

Shaking her sister, Ruby squealed, "Yaaaang, you never told me you had such cool boxer friends! I would've come around more often!"

"You'll show up for Blake, but not for me, huh? I see how it is." She wiped away a fake tear.

In her defense, she had a totally different view on boxers before. Could you even imagine Dwayne Johanson, the biggest, toughest guy — watching anime on the weekends? Pretty hard to imagine, right? So this was a pleasant surprise... wait no, more than that. This was the awesomest! From the moment she heard the intro to Brave Heart, Blake had skyrocketed to the top of Ruby's Cool People List. She didn't actually have one, because Yang would write her name all over it, but if she did, Blake would definitely be there.

Once her song finished, Blake laid eyes on Ruby as she offered to hand her the mic. Her smile was soft and her eyes were filled with curiosity for the young woman's voice.

''Don't you think it's your turn to impress us now?''

When Blake made her question, Ruby took a deep breath. She was certainly nervous after the performances her friends just made, but she couldn't back down now! Oh no!

''Well, I guess it's my turn then! But, would you give me a minute, please?''

Blake glanced at the other girls, with Yang deliberately building up suspense as Weiss offered them an encouraging nod. She then urged Ruby to take her time, as stage fright could kill even the most angelic of voices and even being with your closest friends was enough to evoke that fear.

''Go ahead, we have plenty of time.''

They had the karaoke room for half an hour at the least — that would be enough to have the mic pass around a few more times. And she was hoping to see more of Yang's eccentric performances. For now, she cheered for Ruby, lending her the same confidence boost she'd given Blake earlier.

As the girl shuffled around the list of songs available, her silver eyes targeted a certain song that stood out among others; it didn't just catch her attention, it was a song that she personally connected to.

That song.

With a sudden light of confidence, she hardened her grip on the microphone as she finally made her choice and turned to the other girls, ready to make a show.

As a joyous guitar riff played, she cleared her mind from any worries. She knew that the only way to give her best performance would be to directly speak from her heart.

"I fly high into the blue sky

And become the happiest butterfly

I'm on my way now, I'm soaring my way straight to you"

As words and musical notes left her mouth, Ruby was progressively feeling at ease with the aura surrounding her. She was doing a nice job getting through the most nerve-wracking part of standing in front of an audience.

But when she was reaching the first chorus, an intermission happened.

"So tell me, woah-wow-wow-wow-wow"

Suddenly, shock struck as a thunderbolt in the room as everyone was caught by surprise by the sudden voice joining the melody.

"Can we reach those skies that shine up above?"

It was Blake of all people, and her intention was not stealing the show. As she gestured to Ruby with a wink to keep going, the younger woman certainly didn't object as she followed her without a single word interrupting their improvised show.

"But tell me, woah-wow-wow-wow-wow

Why I don't know what tomorrow will bring for me…"

Suddenly, their voices joined together, bringing full circle the little duet that was formed out of a shared interest.

"After a dream that goes on endlessly

We open our eyes to our destiny

In this world, so miserable

I guess maybe we don't need our common sense after all...

Stay on this path and keep going strong

With these wings that could fall apart

I believe that we can fly...

On my love"

The last few lines reverberated within Blake, carrying a sense of carefree, lighthearted fun that nearly lifted her from the ground. Ruby's raw energy and zeal was infectious, making her more cheerful than usual. Like she could sing and laugh a little louder today, dance a little more. It was just the four of them in the room. No cameras, no journalists. It was a breath of fresh air at the beach that while closing her eyes, she could almost hear the waves crash against the shore as leaves rustled with the wind.

After their impromptu duet, there were claps and even a whistle from a very proud Yang.

"That was fun," she said, her smile never leaving since the two sisters had entered the room.

"Yeah!"

"But I think it's your turn for a solo," Blake said as she returned the mic and sat next to Weiss.

"Today is a special day," Ruby began as if she were making an important announcement, despite the sigh Yang let out. She knew full well what Ruby was about to sing next. And that's right, baby. It's time to introduce these noobs to The Fours. "Prepare yourselves for I shall bless your ears and —" Her stomach grumbled. "Maybe some other time..."

"Time for lunch already?" Yang turned to Blake. "Know any restaurants we can go to?"

Blake looked all too happy when Yang asked the question, which… ding, ding, ding! Another point for Yang Xiao Long. Man, she was killing it today. Seeing her expression soften or her ears perk up was such a rewarding achievement. She had to figure out more ways to do that, but first — lunch.

After a few minutes of walking, they reached a small building by the beach.

"Silver Seas…"

"She has a thing for seafood," Weiss mentioned, and Yang took a note of that.

While she and Blake went to the restroom, Weiss and Ruby took the liberty of finding them seats before more customers flooded in for rush hour.

Not knowing what to say, Weiss settled for keeping quiet, until from the corner of her eye, she noticed Ruby doodling on a piece of tissue. From time to time, she would glance up at Weiss then go back to her drawing. For a moment she was confused, but putting two and two together, Weiss stayed perfectly still to avoid interrupting the artist's flow.

"Good afternoon and welcome to Silver Seas! How can I take your order?"

Still stuck in a pose, Weiss answered, looking in the opposite direction from the waiter. "We'll have four servings of lemon pepper tuna. And as for the drinks, water is fine."

Confused, the waiter circled around the table to where Weiss was turned. "Will that be all?"

"Yes, thank you," was her short answer.

He looked at her companion to hopefully understand what was going on, then he caught sight of Ruby drawing the decorative flowers behind Weiss.

"...I will be right back," he said politely. Pursing his lips, he walked away and kept his secret to spare Weiss from the embarrassment.

When Yang and Blake came back, Ruby slipped the tissue paper into her pocket, and at the same time, the waiter returned with glasses of water and plates of steaming tuna on his arms. Carefully setting them on the table, he gave them a bow before allowing them to enjoy their meal.

While they ate, Blake had the time of her life, her ears flicking in excitement with each bite. This was one of the best restaurants in Vale, not because it was fancy or expensive — it was a fairly decent restaurant with a variety of meals ranging from king crabs to shrimp dumplings, and all were prepared as though they were home-cooked.

During her first months in Vale, this place became some sort of haven whenever homesickness would sneak up on her. Their tuna would never come close to her mom's cooking, but it gave her more motivation to continue her fights, so she can finally face her again and share a warm meal with her family.

As disheartening as it was to admit, she'd formed a habit of playing pretend. Usually, she'd sit at a table for two, picturing either her mom or dad sitting in front of her. At home, she'd pretend one of them occupied the empty space at the top bunk of her bed. Those nights, she'd whisper I'm sorry's and I miss you's she could only hope would reach them as they slept, because she lacked the courage to do so for now.

Over the time, she'd convinced herself to think it was practice for the real thing, but why would she even need that…? A small frown made its way to her lips at the prospect that she would ever need to be that level of guarded around her own parents. Once upon a time, they'd been a happy bunch, the model family in their city. But right now, it felt like she'd thrown that away in favor of her own selfish desires. After being away for so long, she could feel her grip on her past life weakening.

She missed them an awful lot, but she wasn't even sure if she'd be welcomed back with open arms. After lodging a wedge between their relationship, it would be hard to pretend nothing happened and have things go back the way they were. For her to gain their trust, she would have to start from scratch and work her way up.

There was also the issue of having to get used to being around people more often. If she was going to reunite with her family, she would have to get used to someone stealing her toothpaste, her bedroom door always being opened but never closed, looking for the remote because someone would forget it in the kitchen. That, and having to realize she wouldn't be eating by herself again.

She was getting better at that last part. Recently, she found herself sharing meals with Ruby, Weiss and Yang. It felt like she was getting spoiled. What seemed like a bother to her before was now a luxury she wished for each day. That wasn't even the best part.

Yang had asked her if she wanted to hang out. That morning, she'd invited her in such a cute way she couldn't say no. She asked about what she wanted to do and where she wanted to eat. It caught her in a surprise, but hopefully Yang didn't think she'd get away with this so easily. Next time, Blake would be the one to ask her all those things, and that was definitely something to look forward to.

The waiter came back, asking, "Is everything to your satisfaction?" When they gave him nods of approval and a thumbs up, he smiled. "Here is your bill. Thank you for dining at Silver Seas." Placing a piece of paper on Weiss' side of the table, he walked away and tended to new customers.

The three looked at the coach, mid-chew.

"Does this mean Weiss is gonna pay?" Yang asked with her mouth full.

"What —"

Swallowing, Yang explained, "They say whoever gets handed the bill has to pay. It's an unspoken rule in the restaurant world."

"You just want a free meal," Weiss said dryly. "There's no such rule."

"I dunno." Yang played with her glass, swishing the drink around in circles. "I've worked as a waitress before and it's a real thing. We usually give the bill to whoever looks the most charismatic." She took a sip and sighed in satisfaction. "So I think it's a huge compliment."

Weiss stared. "I'm not buying it. But if you're so insistent, I think you owe me a real match." Placing her elbow on the table, she extended her hand towards Yang. The blonde huffed, realizing Weiss had caught on to her earlier ploy.

"Loser pays?"

"Yup."

Ruby and Blake offered each other looks of sympathy.

"I'm so sorry for my sister."

"I'm so sorry for my best friend."

Yang clasped Weiss' hand, leisurely counting down. "Three, two, one —"

With a hard slam against the table, several guests' attention were drawn in when their glass utensils rang. For a while, Yang could only stare at her hand that was most certainly beneath Weiss'.

"That doesn't count."

"What, did you think I'd hold back just because we were in public?" Weiss had a wry smile, one that suggested she knew the answer even before she asked.

"Hah! No?"

Weiss raised an eyebrow.

"Yes…"

Ruby and Blake laughed. Yang had to pay, which was awesome! Well, not for her, but it was so rare to see her lose in a bet or competition. She was always so confident about it, which made it all the more worse, because then she'd rub it in your face. Now though, she got to experience what it was like to eat dirt for once. Honestly… serves her right for trying to compete with Weiss of all people.

Right as Yang took out her wallet, Weiss added, "Make sure to leave a tip."

Now barely containing their laughter, Ruby and Blake turned away from Yang. It wasn't even their win, but something about Yang being slack-jawed and unable to retort was so amusing and satisfying. If Blake wanted to maintain her spot as the number one coolest, then she'd have to step up her game, as Weiss had just proven she could easily overtake her in no time.

Their next destination was the park, and the walk there was long enough for Ruby to digest her food. Now, she was ready to have some afternoon fun.

Scattered across the fields were different play areas: jungle gyms, monkey bars, slides, swings — you name it! But even those couldn't compete with the sheer awesomeness of the secret play area.

Rubbing her hands together, she asked, "Okay, who wants to try grinding on the railings?"

"Pass. I'm a bit full," Yang said.

Blake agreed. "Yeah, me too. We can watch you though."

The two of them made their way to the swings, which left Ruby and Weiss together.

Shrugging, she turned to Weiss. "Wanna try it out with me?"

"You want me - to grind - on a railing." She took a cautious step back when Ruby nodded. "That sounds painful and highly inappropriate."

"Not that kind of grind, silly. I mean this!" Quickly running up to a railing, she jumped up and balanced herself like a surfer would on a giant wave, until she slid down and landed on the crunchy grass below. "Just like that!"

"And why would a person ever feel the need to do this?"

"When they get chased by a dog or something?"

The answer did little to convince her to partake in the ridiculous stunt. Ruby might have outstanding balance from years of practice, but Weiss couldn't say the same for herself. If she angled herself wrong on the slippery metal, she'd fall on her back and get mauled by whatever theoretical dog was chasing her. A terrible fate, really.

Weiss turned to Yang. "Does she know she can just jump?"

"Yeah, but she has fun doing it this way," was her succinct answer as she waved her off.

Still hesitant, Weiss asked Ruby, "Do you have money for a knee surgeon?"

"No?"

"Then no."

She'd been resolute on her declination, but a buzz in her pocket was enough to jolt her out of her thoughts. Weiss prayed it wasn't the same caller as before, but as her phone rang, she tensed up and stared at the contact name. There was a familiar sinking feeling in her chest, her heart rate slowing before shooting back up. She hadn't been running, but her heart made it feel as though she'd just been in a marathon — a heavy thump, thump, thump pounding against her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Biting her lip, her thumb hovered over the End Call button, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Once it stopped ringing, she sighed and placed it back in her pocket.

Ruby was now staring at her, curious as to why she didn't answer the mysterious caller. But that was something she had to deal with later.

"On second thought… maybe I will."

"Really?" Ruby walked over, casting worried silver eyes her way. Her hands were slightly raised, like she was about to catch Weiss if she were to ever fall. "You don't have to if you don't wanna."

"No, it's - I tried it before as a kid - once. And I got in trouble for it."

She was familiar with the stunt; she'd seen people do it on TV and video games. It only caught her off guard when Ruby mentioned it earlier because it was a memory she'd left untouched. It had been left in an old attic to collect dust and cobwebs. After all, she wasn't the type to misbehave. And once she'd been warned, they made sure to make it so she doesn't try it again.

"Oh… I'm sorry to hear that," Ruby said, as if she could sense the negative energy from Weiss' past seeping into the present.

"Yeah, and I was never really good at it." Because of that, she didn't have a reason to try again. It looked so simple, too. You just got on and rode the waves, but apparently, you needed to harbor more skill. For her, that usually meant singing and dancing, not parkour.

Her last comment made Ruby snort.

"Psh, you don't need to be 'good' at it right away. Come on, I'll teach you!" Before she could protest, Ruby already had her hand wrapped around Weiss' as she led her to the staircase. Once they reached the area, she let go and gestured for Weiss to watch closely. "First, you take a few steps back for a running start, then you jump on." With a hop, she landed on the railing. As she masterfully slid on the metal, she extended her arms to balance herself. "Now, let the momentum carry you aaaaall the way down."

"Why do I get the feeling I'm gonna regret this?" Weiss asked mostly to herself when Ruby landed perfectly and with much confidence. Not all confidence was good; there were some that put you in compromising situations like drunk calling your ex, and in this case, a surprise trip to the hospital.

"You won't, I promise! And if you ever feel like you're about to fall, you can roll into those leaf piles - kinda like how a boxer rolls with a punch."

She was right about that — boxers did roll with a punch to minimize damage, but that was only because they didn't have other viable choices like dodging. Weiss still had that option, so she wasn't exactly happy to hear that.

"That's very reassuring, Ruby. What irks me is that you suggested throwing myself into a leaf pile before offering to catch me."

"Hmm, I'm not the best at catching… but I can try!"

It was the truth. One of their favorite childhood games had been Fruit Ninjas, wherein they would take turns throwing fruits at each other and they would deflect them using a stick they found in the woods. One time, Yang threw an apple at her and it hit her straight in the eye. Ever since then, Ruby shuddered when someone would say, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away!' That was definitely a scam. Apples did not keep medical professionals away.

There was also the watermelon incident…

There was a reason why they stopped playing games that required hand and eye coordination. She couldn't imagine catching an entire person.

But if it made Weiss more comfortable, she stationed herself next to the railing with open arms.

Realizing it was too late to dodge the bullet, Weiss readied herself for a trip to the ambulance. "Running start," she announced, taking a few steps back. She figured saying them out loud as she did so would give her some good luck and better chances of survival.

"Running start!" Ruby repeated.

"Jump! And slide dAAAAAAHHH —"

In a flash of movement, Ruby crashed into the leaves with Weiss in her arms. When the girl remained unresponsive, Ruby's slight nudges on her shoulder became more frantic as she cried out, "Weiss? Weiss, don't leave me. NOOOOOO!"

From the swings, Blake bolted up from her seat, only to return when she saw Weiss had only been acting and was now flicking Ruby's forehead.

"What are those two doing…?" Yang asked, face scrunched up as she tried to comprehend the sequence of events. There was a girl screaming bloody murder and by the time they turned around, Ruby was holding Weiss' limp body.

"I don't know, but it looks like they're having fun," Blake commented after Ruby sped up the stairs with Weiss in tow for round two.

"Look at those kids having the time of their life." Yang straightened her pose on the swings in hopes of carrying an air of maturity around her. "Couldn't be us adults, am I right?"

"Uhuh." Blake had a playful smirk. Something about Yang made her doubt her words, and said doubts were reinforced when a kid approached Yang.

Out of nowhere, a kid stumbled over. "Help! We need help!"

Yang crouched down and helped the kid up, worry in her voice. "Hey, it's okay. What do you need help with?"

"My shipmates - they're about to drown!" He pointed at two more kids holding their breath next to the jungle gym, one of them on their knees and holding their neck to show the universal 'I can't breathe!' gesture.

Yang visibly relaxed upon realizing that the situation wasn't as serious as she'd imagined, but now she was given an important task.

"Looks like you have to help them out," Blake teased, ready for the theatrical show that was about to unravel.

"Be right back," Yang said with a grin before jogging to the pirates in need of desperate saving. In front of her were three youngins, eyes wide as they marvelled at her full height. It was times like this she appreciated being taller than average; kids thought she was a giant, so she'd get assigned the coolest roles — a humongous robot destroying the city, an angry T-rex chasing nosy scientists out of her nest. Naturally, she played along.

"Alright, captain goes first." She lifted the first kid to the top of the jungle gym. "Can't be a captain without a crew, so up we go!" Two more kids were now safely placed on top.

The small kid gasped for air. "I almost drowned… Thanks for saving us, Bing Bong!"

"...who?"

"Bing Bong!" the captain beamed. "The giant gorilla that fights the sea monster."

Another kid from the slides screeched.

"There he is!"

He ran to Yang before growling as he pretended to claw at her legs.

"Nooooo! Have mercy!" Clenching her stomach, she waited for the final blow that was soon to come. When he did a slow mo punch on the side of her face, she flopped onto the grass and stuck her tongue out.

He then bellowed, "Now, I'm king of the jungle and the seas! Long live the king!"

Yang's eyebrow twitched when the rest of the kids cheered for her downfall right after she'd just helped them, but she kept quiet. Seconds went by and she realized it was too quiet. As she cracked open her eyes, she saw Blake looking down at her, her dark hair falling effortlessly on her shoulders.

"An ice cream truck passed by."

"Ah." Yang laughed. "They totally haven't seen any of the movies."

"Maybe so, but you just made their afternoon."

Yang sat up casually, brushing off any blades of grass on her legs. "Well, Blake, if there's one thing you need to know about me, it's that I'm the typa gal that takes m' job seriously.'' When Blake laughed, she hugged her knees and continued. "What about you? What do I need to learn about Blake Belladonna?"

Blake was happy to hear her name from Yang; it somehow sounded sweeter. Crossing her legs, she sat next to the girl and began thoughtfully, "Hmm, I don't know…"

While waiting for a response, Yang remembered the book shelf and how it contained tons of books neatly organized by genre. She then gave Blake a little push to start off their conversation.

"I hear you're into books?"

Hearing that, Blake's eyes lit up and her head rose, like she'd been asked her favorite question.

"Yes. Reading's all I do if I'm not boxing. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it." Yang rested her chin on her hand and leaned forward, showing her attention was all Blake's. "I love reading, especially if it's raining. The raindrops go so well with soft music."

"Oh, you love music?"

"What's not to love about it? It only makes soft scenes more tender, and sad scenes more heart-wrenching. I'd love to give it a try one day."

"Well, lucky for you, I just so happen to know guitar," Yang disclosed casually, and Blake's eyebrow rose.

"Really now?"

"Dad taught me and Ruby when we were little." Yang's smile dropped for a fraction of a second as she revisited the past. "He... stopped a long time ago. But I picked it up again, and it's... it's really soothing."

Soothing was one way to describe it. Holding the neck with one hand, grazing the strings with another — she was brought back to simpler days. With each chord that would play, she felt the cool night air and heard the crackling of fire. Crickets would join her family for the chorus, until she opened her eyes and realized she wasn't there anymore.

She wasn't there.

"Yang?"

Blinking away stray tears, Yang watched concern grow in Blake's eyes.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh... oh! Well, it's..." Yang chuckled and brushed off the pricks in her heart as if she'd brushed nothing more than dirt on her shoes. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Blake insisted, still worried about her friend.

"Just got a bit nostalgic." She forced a smile, and to prevent Blake from questioning her further, she changed the topic. "I could teach you some basic chords if you'd like."

Taking the hint and not wanting to pressure Yang into opening up, Blake allowed the conversation to drift. "Maybe I could lend you some of my books afterwards?"

"Oh, that would be awesome! I haven't read in a while." She scooched in closer. "You wouldn't happen to have the Wildfire series, would you...?"

"All six books." Blake whispered, and Yang gasped.

"No way! I was obsessed with that series as a kid! I only ever got to read the first book, though. And it was such a cliffhanger!"

Blake giggled at her sudden outrage, but it was so annoying! It sucked even more because she couldn't afford the next book. She had to make do with reading the synopsis at the back, but it could never replace the feeling of trying to read the whole thing in one go until she fell asleep. She'd missed that.

Unfortunately, she had more important responsibilities that called for her attention. And as her dad said, money didn't grow from trees. It was a lesson ingrained into her mind. Years passed, and she'd almost forgotten about the book in the first place. She hardly bought anything that was outside of necessities either. That was just... how it's always been.

"Like I said, I'll lend you the rest," Blake said, watching a growing smile from Yang. "Maybe with a bonus recommendation, too. I found a new book and I could hardly put it down."

"Well, if you say it's good, then it sounds like another book for me to read. Maybe we could even read it together sometime." The invitation had slipped out before she realized how forward it must've sounded, but she was relieved when Blake seemed unbothered by it.

"Really?" she asked excitedly. "You'll love it."

Softly, Yang replied, "I know."

For a moment, they lingered in the comforting aura around them, as though they'd just discovered how many more adventures they'll have in the near future. It wasn't hard to picture when they got along so well and had a lot in common. Blake in particular was fond of the idea of spending more time with Yang at her place. Or maybe she could visit Yang's.

Once they realized they'd been staring, their smiles broke and they looked in opposite directions. Luckily, the awkward air was instantly interrupted by a certain coach.

Weiss — with green and yellow leaves sticking out from her hair — crawled to her best friend.

"Blake… Blake, switch with me," she croaked.

Lifting her gaze from Weiss, she saw Ruby waiting for her at the railings, then she turned to Yang. "I have to, um…"

"No worries!" she said. "Weiss here is gonna keep me company."

"Ew."

"Don't say that so plainly!"

"Alright." Blake chuckled before meeting up with Ruby.

Slumping down with her back against the grass, Weiss endured the silence. Even from the first time they met, she had no interest in Yang whatsoever. It was only Blake who was insistent in sticking around. Now that they were alone together, she didn't mind if neither of them spoke up, but she figured she had to say something after today.

"You're still a big oaf."

"That's a great way to start a conversation."

"But… I think I can tolerate you now. Somewhat," she said, sitting up straight.

"Aww, that warms my heart," Yang said in an overly mocking tone as she held a hand against her chest. "I think I can tolerate you, too."

The two shared a laugh.

"This is never gonna change, is it?" Weiss asked with a lop-sided grin as she rested her chin on her hand.

"Nope!" was Yang's quick answer. "And I don't mind. It's like our own little thing."

People had different dynamics with each other, like how you'd call your best friend a bitch but in a loving way. Usually, those were the best kinds of friendships — comfortable enough to throw a few jabs, but never taking them to heart, and sincere enough to have meaningful talks every once in a while. It was all about the balance.

"On a serious note, I'm glad you proved me wrong," Weiss admitted, and that was saying something since she hated the idea of being anything other than right.

"About what?" Yang tilted her head, surprised by the sudden shift in Weiss' mood, but wanting to hear her out.

"At first, I thought you only befriended Blake to use her for your advantage. I never thought it would feel so great to be wrong..." She twirled the grass with her finger, not wanting to look up at her, because she knew if she looked up—

Yang had a cheeky smirk.

"Don't make me regret that," Weiss warned.

Yang would never dream of it, but she was fairly certain that's exactly what got them to this point in the first place. She'd wanted to see Blake in action from a closer look, and she sensed Blake wanted to be seen around her for a boost in her reputation. Both were competitors with their eyes on the prize, but she was happy something more meaningful blossomed from their initial hidden agendas.

Yang opened her arms.

"What are you doing?"

"Offering you a one-in-a-million hug! Come on, you know you wanna."

"I really don't," she declined, but when Yang made a pout, she glanced over to check if Ruby and Blake were still occupied. And yes, they were busy rolling on the leaves together, so Weiss sighed and awkwardly embraced Yang, offering subtle pats.

A few seconds passed, and she found herself enjoying the hug, almost melting in Yang's arms as she breathed in the scent of fresh strawberries. She'd only meant to have the embrace last for about three seconds, but it was hard to pull away now that she'd been captured by the feeling of how their body temperatures matched, with Yang providing warmth and Weiss balancing it out with her cool skin. Her hair, too, was so fluffy it kept brushing against her cheek. It reminded her of a giant teddy bear… if teddy bears had heartbeats, because this one sure did. And being held like that was so soothing.

Yang's hugs were so warm...

She hadn't recognized it at first. It was unfamiliar and strange. Years of hiding behind her walls... scared of what? This?

She felt Yang brush her thumb against the back of her head in a silent display of affection. The alleviating aura was practically flowing endlessly from Yang and reaching out to Weiss. Blake and Winter gave her hugs, but they were brief and never this relaxing. It was almost as if she was speaking to Weiss in her own way.

It's okay, it's okay.

For a long time, she's had to wonder about that. What was going to happen to her and Blake? Was she comfortable in her new home? Does Blake need anything?

All those questions and attention focused on her best friend, because as of now, she mattered the most to Weiss. That's why she'd been skeptical of Yang in the first place. She was protective when it came to her friends. Why wouldn't she be when there were so few of them? And yet, Blake was a constant target of hostility and resentment. As her coach, Weiss recognized it as her duty to be her number one supporter. If Blake were to ever fall, she would be the friend who pulls her up.

She hadn't realized she might've needed the same, too… more friends…

By baring her teeth, she'd nearly chased off Ruby and Yang. What a waste that would've been? Probably one of the biggest regrets she'd ever have. She was lucky this big oaf was so stubborn. It was annoying, sure, but it paid off in the end. Oftentimes, Blake had a twinkle in her eyes and a laugh she could hardly contain.

Anyone who made Blake happy like that… that person was a-okay in her book.

When Yang pulled away, Weiss smiled at her, genuinely this time.

"Thank you."

"You're wel —"

"Bing Bong!" a voice behind them shouted.

"Oh boy."

"The fighter jets are about to arrive; you have to keep you and your girl safe on top of the building!"

"My what?"

"Her what?"

They weren't given enough time to assess the situation when two kids were already running towards them at high speeds.

Weiss gave Yang a look. "Really?"

Yang whispered just enough for the two of them to hear, "Think of the children Weiss!"

With a roll of her eyes, she prayed her ancestors were busy at some afterlife reunion and not watching her make a fool of herself. Dropping to her knees, she let out one of those blood curdling screams.

"BING BONG, THEY'RE AFTER US! HURRY!"

Carrying Weiss over her shoulder, Yang began climbing the jungle gym as she mumbled, "Yeah, okay, maybe you could tone it down."

"What do you take me for, an amateur?"

Over at the railings, Blake could only stare at what appeared to be Yang carrying Weiss like a sack of potatoes while kids flocked around them at the bottom.

"I leave for five minutes…"

"Yang's always had a soft spot for kids," Ruby quipped, ruffling stray leaves off of her hair.

Once more, Blake found herself smiling. "She does, doesn't she?"

When the kids' parents arrived to pick them up, they'd asked if it was okay to take pictures, then apologized for the trouble, but Weiss and Yang insisted they enjoyed the playtime.

"Did you two have fun?" Blake asked, despite the answer being obvious.

"Lots of it! And I'm sure my girl had some, too." she nudged Weiss with her elbow.

"Gods, you're still infuriating…" she said as she covered her reddening cheeks. It was the same shade as the sky while the sun began to sink in the horizon.

"I guess we should be heading home?" Yang said.

"It was nice seeing you both." Blake smiled.

Before they could turn around, Ruby squeaked, "Weiss, wait!" Shuffling her feet until she was in front of the confused girl, she handed her a folded tissue paper. "Now, you can go."

Weiss opened it up to see a sketch of herself with some delicate roses embellishing the background. Inside was a piece of candy that was definitely going to give her cavities if she hadn't already gotten it from today's events.

"That's… sweet of you, Ruby."

When Blake caught Yang's gaze, she mouthed her own little 'thank you' and she received a wide, happy grin in return.

There was a lot she could say, but for now, she left it at that.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for being our friends.

Thank you for being just what we needed.

A/N: I'm really loving how the girls are getting along better with each chapter. I hope you guys are too!