A/N: Alright, another chapter up. I wasn't too happy with this one, but hopefully I make it up to you guys with a little bit of fluff!

Thanks again for following/favouriting and an extra thank you to those of you kind enough to leave reviews!

Weiss groaned as she woke up from what had been a very restful sleep. Something about being back in the warehouse where everything started made her feel safe. Granted she felt safe whenever she was around Red, but being in this place reminded her of all the young woman had done for her and how they had come since that day they bumped into each other in a rundown restaurant in New York.

How far she had come.

Her 'room' had been converted from what she could only assume was an old managerial office. There was still a desk sitting in the corner against the wall, but other than that the room was remarkably bare.

There were no windows, so the only light came from under the door and soft red glow of the alarm clock next to her telling her it was just before dawn.

She remembered hearing Yang tease Red about how the room she was staying in was the brunette's, and after getting over the initial embarrassment, that gave way to even more questions about the mysterious girl.

It seemed that everything Weiss learned about Red simply revealed more questions and contradictions than answers. At first this had annoyed and scared her, how could she possibly trust someone who quite literally made a living off pretending to be other people?

But then they had talked, and spent time together; and she found herself opening up to the brunette in ways that she never had for anyone else.

Red didn't push, or try to get any information out of her that Weiss wasn't comfortable sharing. Instead she simply let the former heiress know that she was there for her. And in return she told Weiss things that not about Red but about the girl underneath the career criminal.

So when Weiss found herself wondering why Red's room was so barren when the rest of her warehouse was littered with trophies and various paraphernalia from her countless adventures, instead of feeling trepidation towards the questions this raised, she allowed herself to feel privileged knowing another small thing about her partner in crime.

She smiled softly to herself and yawned as she opened the door, squinting at the harsh fluorescent light that flooded her room. She walked down the narrow hallway to the kitchen, eager to get herself a nice steaming cup of coffee before going down and meeting Red.

She was halfway to the counter when a soft voice from behind her made her jump.

"Good morning, Weiss."

She turned and saw Blake sitting near the window overlooking the rest of the warehouse, eyes fixed on something below them.

"Must you always sneak up on people like that?" She asked. This was far from the first time the raven-haired woman had seemingly appeared behind her, startling her much to the amusement of her golden-haired girlfriend. She had a hunch that Yang was putting Blake up to it, but Red had simply laughed and told her that it was just how Blake was.

The cat-burglar smirked. "Sorry," she said unapologetically, her eyes never leaving the window.

"What are you looking at?" Weiss asked.

"See for yourself."

Weiss sighed and took a seat next to Blake. She looked out the window and her eyes fell upon a familiar brunette wailing on a punching bag while her sister held it for her.

She didn't think there was anything unusual about the sight below them; she had seen Red work out on more than one occasion, the brunette seemed to exercise whenever she could and it usually happened around when Weiss woke up –though the exaggerated movements and teasing winks Red sent her made Weiss think that the brunette's timing may not be wholly unintentional –and she was about to ask when Blake started speaking.

"Yang is probably one of the most caring people I have ever met. She's taken her role as Red's older sister very seriously from the day they met, and she didn't even think twice about being there for me when I got in trouble with the White Fang.

"I had been a part of the With Fang for as long as I could remember. They trained me, taught me, gave me a place to live, I thought they were my family and I honestly believed that what we were doing was right, and we were making a difference." Blake sighed, her amber eyes flickering with a far-off sadness. "I had even chosen to look the other way when my partner started taking money from people who were less than honest in their intentions. All he had to do was spin a little rhetoric and remind me that all the horrible things we did were for the greater good and I would immediately fall in line.

"Eventually, though, I was unable to look past the bombings and the riots and the other atrocities all done in the name of this so-called 'greater good', so I ran. I started taking jobs as a regular cat-burglar, and on one of them I met Yang."

Blake chuckled and shook her head as memories of the past came to the surface.

"She annoyed the hell out of me at first, but we soon found out just how well we worked together. Pretty soon, one job became two, two became five, and before I knew it I had a new partner, but more importantly, I had a friend. I was able to almost forget about my past and the horrors I had helped commit, and even when I couldn't Yang never left my side once. She never pushed, she simply let me know that she was there for me if I needed her. I told her that she wouldn't be if she knew what I had done, and she simply laughed and said 'then don't tell me 'til you know I'm not going anywhere.'

"We started dating after that, and eventually I told her I was involved with the White Fang. She simply shrugged and told me I wasn't anymore, so it didn't matter." Blake smiled into her mug before turning Weiss. "I didn't even meet Red until much later; she saved me from making a huge mistake and finally cut all ties with the White Fang. I saw the love between those two straight away and knew right away that both of them would do anything for the other."

"What does this all have to do with me?" Weiss asked. She was curious as to why Blake had chosen to tell her so much without any prompting.

"Because," Blake said, turning back to the window. "You've seen the protective older sister in Yang, but I wanted you to see how much she cares for people who are close to her, even you. Red's going through a lot right now, and even though Yang wants to be there for her sister, she knows that she can only help so much, and that's a hard thing to accept. You and Red are right at the middle of everything, you can understand what she's going through better than either of us, and Yang gets that. She doesn't like it, but she understands."

"I'm still not sure I'm following."

Blake sighed and stood up. Weiss followed her down the stairs to the main warehouse and watched as she waved to Yang before pointing at the door.

Yang looked between the two of them, eyeing Weiss in an appraising manner before nodding to her girlfriend.

"I'll see you in a bit, sis." She said softly, frowning when her sister showed no signs of hearing her, and followed her girlfriend out the door.

Weiss watched them go before approaching Red carefully. She paused as she watched the sweat drip down the taller girl's back, her muscles rippling with each explosive punch she dealt to the bag, and gasped when she saw the blood dripping down her hands and leg.

She walked up behind the brunette and softly wrapped her arms around her middle. She felt the muscles in Red's back stiffen as she reached up to pull her hands down, swallowing the sadness that lumped in her throat at the sight of the brunette's torn up knuckles. She followed Red to the ground as the taller girl's knees gave out from under her and simply sat there holding her, hoping that she was able to give as much comfort as she felt when she was in Red's arms.

They sat there for several minutes before she tried gently pulling Red to her feet. The brunette allowed herself to be guided to her feet.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

She smiled when Red nodded and guided her to the bathroom where she could shower. She sat down in one of the comfortable chairs that littered the warehouse floor and listened to the sound of the shower behind her, wondering what she was going to do now.

*(OoO)*

Twenty minutes later and Weiss was sitting with a first-aid kit, watching Red limp out of the bathroom, a towel draped around her shoulders, and join her on the plush, leather loveseat. She grabbed the first-aid kit and scooted closer to the brunette, watching as the other girl stiffened and shifted away from her slightly.

She paused briefly before gathering her resolve and glaring at Red until she acquiesced and allowed the former heiress to tend to her.

Satisfied that she had gotten her way, Weiss reached down and grabbed Red's leg –absentmindedly marveling at the muscles like steel cords pulsing beneath her fingers –and gently guided it onto her lap. Their breaths were the only sound between them as she cleaned and dressed the leg beneath her.

Once she was done wrapping her leg, Weiss allowed her gaze to fall on her partner's face; taking in the thousand-yard look in her eyes, the furrow of her brow and the tension in her shoulders. It was clear the recent developments were causing the young brunette quite a bit of stress.

Weiss frowned and sighed as she looked down at her hands. Red had done so much for her in so many ways, and now that it was her turn to return the favour, she had no idea what to do.

No, she thought to herself. This is no time to be thinking like that. She needs me to be there for her, not wallowing in self-pity.

She shook her head slightly before raising her head and reaching out to take Red's hands in her own. She allowed herself to smile softly when she noticed twin pools of mercury watching her curiously as she leaned in closer to the brunette and brought their arms together around her waist. She felt the other girl stiffen next to her and paused, sitting still with their fingers tangled together over her stomach, until the arms around her relaxed. Once she was sure Red wasn't going to go anywhere, she let go of the slightly calloused hands to reach for the first-aid kit, smiling when she felt the arms around her tighten reflexively.

There still weren't any words exchanged while Weiss cleaned and bandaged Red's hands, but she could feel the young criminal's eyes on her, watching her every movement, and she rejoiced internally at the fact that she had successfully drawn the brunette's attention elsewhere.

After she finished, she set the first-aid kit aside and brought Red's hands up to her lips. She kissed each knuckle softly, then leaned back against her partner's chest. Her smile grew when she felt the small sigh of contentment ruffle her hair as soft lips came down to press against the top of her head.

"Thanks," Red murmured against her scalp.

She tightened her grip on the arms around her in response, and they sat there in silence, each taking comfort in the other's presence, for several minutes before Weiss turned her head slightly and spoke softly.

"Tell me what you need."

Red seemed to consider her words for a few minutes before answering.

"I'd like to show you something."