"So, you've been in a really great mood today," Ruby mentions from her seat opposite her. "Did something happen?"
"Can't I just be happy to see my little sister?" Her voice sounds fake, too chipper, even to her own ears.
Weiss grunts from the chair beside Ruby, but doesn't verbalize her disbelief.
It's their end of the quarter review and Weiss is nose-deep in a report, one of many covering every square inch of Yang's desk.
"And why couldn't we just use the conference room for this meeting?" Yang asks, flicking a report with her finger, watching it soar half-across the desk, settling on a random pile. With a lift of her shoulder, she places her coffee mug down in the cleared space, not finding it in her to care if the paper gets overlooked or not. It doesn't appear to be for her department.
"I hate that room." Weiss looks up from the paper in her hand, lip curling in disgust. For a moment Yang thinks she's upset with her, but clearly Weiss hasn't noticed her filing adjustments. "There is no privacy in there."
"Weren't you the one that said it needed to be glass-walled in the first place?" Ruby questions after sharing a look with Yang.
"Well, yeah. But that was so I can make sure it's being used for what it was intended."
"So," Yang presses. "You want to know what everyone else is doing in there but don't want everyone to know what you are doing in there?"
"Why would they need to know what I'm doing?" Her response comes nonchalant as she rolls eyes, tired of the distractions from the job at hand.
"You're such a hypocrite!"
Ruby continues to laugh while Weiss' steely glare finds Yang across the expanse of her desk. "I'm the boss, I don't have to explain myself to you."
"When you commandeer my office space, I think it's only fair you do." Yang returns, waving a hand over the stacks of papers and folders between them.
She's fully intent on winning this staring contest, but her phone suddenly interrupts. All three jolt at the sound and Yang forces her eyes from the other's icy glare. She reaches for the phone as it vibrates on her desk, but finds it's buried beneath a precariously stacked mound of papers. When she finally extracts it from its paper tomb, her anxiety at possibly missing the call forces her to answer, seeing too late that it's from an unknown number.
"Hello?" Her tone is tentative as the phone presses to the shell of her ear.
"Yang?"
"Yeah," She looks at the caller ID again, recognizing the voice, but not quite placing it, Unknown flashes back at her across the screen and the number isn't familiar. Pressing the speaker back to her ear, "who—"
"It's Blake."
"Oh, hey." She stands, back turning to Weiss and Ruby as a telltale smile tugs at her lips. "I'm glad you called."
Blake's nervous titter comes through the line. Yang pictures her curled in a comfortable chair, picking at the frayed corner of a blanket resting on her lap. She wishes she could see her right now but that's nothing new.
"I know we kind of agreed I would only call if I didn't have work tonight—"
"Flynt's not still sick is he?" Her caregiver personality kicks in, having practically raised Ruby it's almost second nature for Yang to shift into that role. "Does he need anything? I can bring soup and—"
Blake's clipped laugh cuts her off mid-sentence. "That's sweet, but he's doing better. I just wanted to confirm with you that I do work tonight."
"Oh, okay." Yang nods, though she knows Blake can't see. "I'll meet you there then?"
"Sounds good." Silence follows her words. The moments are filled only with Blake's steady breathing. "And Yang?"
"Yeah." Another pause. Yang distracts herself by running her fingers over the dust coating one of her awards on the wall length hutch behind her desk.
"It's nice hearing your voice."
Though Yang's heart soars at the revelation, something in the other's tone chains her elation. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah." The immediate response only confirms her concerns. The words fall, too quick, from Blake's mouth. "Everything's fine."
"You sure?" Yang spares a look at her two silent interlopers. Weiss at least has the decency to look as if she's focused on the reports in front of her; Ruby, on the other hand, is leaning so far across her desk eavesdropping she's practically lying on it.
"It's just…" The speaker blares with an agitated release of breath, then goes silent.
"I don't want to push." Yang clarifies, turning to rest her hip on the dark oak counter of the hutch. Hoping that her relaxed stance will somehow transfer through the call. "I just want to make sure you're okay."
"I am now." Yang hears movement through the speaker and a faint background whistle grows louder. There's the unmistakable trickle of water being poured and Yang smiles, knowing Blake's making tea. "I just had a not so great afternoon, and wanted to hear your voice." Blake grunts softly. "Is that too weird?"
"Not at all," Yang assures. Her smile widens as her heartbeat flutters sporadically beneath her ribcage. "Feel free to call me whenever you want."
"Okay." Her answer is breathy and unconvincing.
At the uneasy drop in conversation, Yang looks over at Weiss and Ruby still waiting for her to finish.
"Is there anything I can do about whatever happened this afternoon?" she asks, because there's nothing else she can say, not yet, and certainly not with others in earshot.
"No, this..." She practically feels Blake's apprehensive laugh through the speaker. "You've already helped."
"I'm glad," Yang rolls her eyes, catching Weiss' impatience as she waves a report in the air. "Look, I have to go. I'm supposed to be in a meeting."
"Yang, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—"
"Stop right there." Yang interjects, anticipating her back-pedal. The last thing she wants is for Blake to question calling her again. "It's like the most useless meeting of my life, so you saved me from it for a few minutes at least. But Weiss is glaring at me to come explain these reports a five year old could figure out so…"
Ruby chokes back a laugh as Weiss throws the reports aggressively onto the desk, speaking loud enough Blake's sure to hear, "I don't like you when you're this smitten with someone. You turn mean."
"Smitten?" Blake softly teases accompanied by an airy chuckle.
"Ignore her, she's not important," Yang dismisses, but shoots Weiss a soft smile. Even if the comment was meant to embarrass her, the result of putting Blake in a better mood garners her gratitude.
"I'll let you go then," Blake says slowly, just above a whisper, resigning herself to cut the call short..
"I'll see you tonight, and I was serious," Yang tries to convey her earnestness through her tone. "Call me whenever you want, or need."
"I will." And Yang almost believes her. "See you tonight."
With that the line goes dead. She adds Blake's number to her contact list, trying to ignore the double stares from watchful eyes still studying her.
"So you guys are on calling terms now?" Ruby smirks teasingly when Yang finally looks up from her phone.
"I… That was the first time she's called."
"And I got to share it with you?" Ruby squeals.
"You didn't share anything, Ruby." Weiss points out flatley. "You just so happened to be in the same room."
"Oh, don't pretend you aren't as happy for her as I am." Ruby reaches over to pinch Weiss' arm.
"Ow," she exclaims, flashing a threatening look Ruby's way before fixing Yang with a softer stare. "Fine, I am very happy for this development in your relationship."
"I'm not sure relationship is quite accurate." Yang muses, mind wandering to the hours spent in nothing but silence with Blake. The weeks spent wishing for the smallest crumb of more. How both frustrating and fascinating Blake's constant aloofness was. How pathetic it was that even the smallest smirk or grin from Blake could make her entire day, or how her laugh could sustain Yang in good spirits for a week. Then the memory of the night before forces its way into her questioning mind: the feeling of Blake's soft lips on hers, the strength with which Blake pulled her closer, as if she wanted Yang as much as Yang craved her, and the flush that blossomed over Blake's skin after their lips detached; it all has Yang's skin burning once again.
"I don't want to know the ugly details," Weiss says with a repulsed lift of her nose, "but that look doesn't fully give off the impression you are completely platonic."
Ruby snickers as Yang ducks her head, defeated.
"Can we stop dissecting my feelings and get back to the reports please?"
Ruby doesn't want to drop the subject, but one pointed look from Weiss has her backing down to pick up the report she's supposed to be highlighting.
Yang's eyes find her phone once more, feeling the now familiar pull at the corner of her mouth, and another pull, somewhere in her gut, she hasn't quite put words to yet. She can't wait to get to the bar tonight. She can't wait to see Blake.
Even with her back-to-back meetings, Yang's day ends relatively early. She's sure Ruby has something to do with it when her sister waves at her as she walks by the conference room full of managers—a meeting she's been conveniently excluded from. She shakes her fist in mock anger at being tricked out of something she in all honesty should be attending, but finds she doesn't care enough to change her course to join them.
Yang runs home to change, something time doesn't always afford her before making her way to Mantle, to Blake. Throwing on a simple T-shirt and jeans, she pulls the elastic from her hair letting the tresses cascade around her shoulders in wild golden waves.
The airships are nearly empty, not quite being rush hour and the trip down to Mantle is thankfully uneventful. The closer she gets, the more impatient her strides become, to the point she nearly knocks a man over as she skips throigh the door. Her eyes instantly take in the space behind the dark-stained bar as she mumbles an apology.
Blake looks up from pouring a draft as if sensing her arrival. The corner of her eyes crease, a sure sign of her delight at Yang's early arrival. Yang's sure that her return smile comes off dopey instead of endearing, but she can't bring herself to care, not with Blake's eyes following her progress across the room as if she's the most important person to walk through that door.
"Hey," she says as she takes her regular seat.
"Hey, yourself." Blake finally looks away to place the two drafts she's done pouring on the bartop. She stakes the paper receipt on the spike beside the register, before swiping the next order in the long line of papers filling the rack behind the bar.
Yang can see she's fallen behind and her eyes sweep the area, looking for Flynt. Blake anticipates her question and answers before Yang voices her concerns. "He's dealing with something in the back." Her glance to the swinging door behind her is filled with concern.
The look forces a knot to form in Yang's throat, but she doesn't know if it's her place to question what's gotten her so upset. She'd like to think that anything causing Blake this much unease would be fair game for her, but their situation has changed so recently she's unwilling to risk it.
"Do you need any help?" she asks, trying the distraction tactic instead.
Blake grumbles softly as her eyes take in the lined up orders, but shakes her head. "I'll be fine." Quickly, she grabs four bottles from the fridge behind her and stakes another receipt. "I'm less panicked than I was a few minutes ago."
Yang watches as she completes another order before asking, "what happened a few minutes ago?"
A secretive smile etches Blake's mouth as she tips a bottle of Vodka up and finds it empty. Removing the pour spout, she tosses it gently into a bin of other empty bottles before disappearing quickly into the back room. She returns, ripping the cap off the new bottle, and pours more than the ounce she's supposed to over the ice, topping it with cranberry juice. It doesn't seem to bother her that she's slightly over-poured, but the pour spout is quickly popped onto the bottle as soon as she stakes the next receipt.
Blake avoids Yang's eye as she grabs two more beers from the fridge and gives them directly to a server who appears out of nowhere. "Someone may have walked in a few minutes ago that may or may not be having a positive influence on my mood."
Yang's taken aback by her declaration, but can't help but goad her for more details. "Really? Should I be worried about this person?" Her eyes sweep the bar looking for an alleged other.
Blake chokes on a stifled laugh. "You prone to jealousy?" Her eyes question impishly, as she twirls to grab two coolers from the fridge behind her.
Yang twists side-to-side on her stool, enjoying their lively banter, and enjoying even more the open playfulness Blake is displaying. When Blake pauses at the bar to scan the orders she has left, Yang finally answers. "I can be, I suppose," she says honestly, "but only when the girl's worth it."
Blake ignores the implication of whether or not she fits the criteria and instead asks, "was the last girl worth it?"
"Hardly." The word spits out spitefully over her tongue before Yang can swallow it. Amber eyes swing back to her as Blake's hand pauses over the draft lever she's supposed to be pouring. "Sorry." Yang runs a hand through her hair in obvious agitation. "Ruby will tell you it was a doomed relationship from the start."
Slowly, Blake's eyes move back to her task at hand. "Were you together long?" she asks, angling the glass under the tap as she pours.
"Two years?" Yang moans, looking back on the calamitous relationship. It's not something she's proud of.
"And you didn't think to get out if it was doomed from the start?" Her tone carries no judgment, just curiosity and that more than anything calms Yang's frazzled nerves.
"Honestly," Yang leans over the bar, "I wasn't in the best place mentally, and I naively figured being miserable with someone might be better than being miserable alone."
Blake simply nods, but their conversation stalls as her focus turns to getting orders out.
Flynt finally emerges from the back and already has his palm raised before Blake has time to turn to him. Her questions die in her throat with his frigid countenance. Even Yang flinches when he rips five of Blake's nine waiting orders off the rack to take to his side of the bar. A few servers approach when they realize he's returned. Yang overhears enough to know there are multiple patrons getting free rounds for something, and whatever it is Flynt is furious over it.
A frown covers Yang's features as she observes him. His body is tense and there's more than one furious vein protruding from his neck. She knows it's not her business, but him being in direct contact with customers tonight… it's going to turn to disaster; the question isn't if, but when will he explode.
"Don't judge him too harshly," Blake murmurs under her breath, enough for Yang to hear, but she makes sure the sound doesn't carry to Flynt's ears. "It's coming out of his pay."
Not being privy to the entire situation, she's forced to take Blake's word for it and stops looking at him like he's a ticking time bomb. When the orders slow and they've finally caught up, his eyes find Yang for the first time. They shift from her to Blake and back with strong scrutiny. It causes a wave of unease to sweep her body.
Blake must sense it as well because she's quick to set a beer in front of Yang and rattle off a total. Yang pulls the money from her pocket and throws it on the bar. With the transaction complete, Flynt turns and continues to ignore them. Blake's eyes are all apologies, but the smile she sends is full of promises Yang can't wait to unravel. It's a compromise; for Yang to play the part of a simple paying customer to placate Flynt, and Blake might just have a reward for her after.
Being able to stay is all the payment Yang needs.
It's a long night with Flynt in the mood he's in. It's obvious he's still not fully recovered and Yang would feel more sympathy for him if he'd stop barking angry orders at the servers. Her sympathy goes out to them and to Blake, who flinches every time his angered tone reaches her ears. Yang helps in the only way she knows how; she sits and waits patiently. Whenever Blake's eyes gravitate to her, which is every few minutes and after every outburst from Flynt, Yang smiles, or makes a goofy face to pull something more pleasant from Blake than the cowering anxious state Flynt has made of her.
Yang is only thankful that Blake has skirted his displeasure. She pays closer attention to detail than other nights, not giving him a single reason to turn on her. Besides their shared looks, they haven't been able to communicate since he showed up. It's not exactly how Yang pictured the night going, but Blake's eyes continue to find her, to seek the security Yang offers, and that gained trust means everything to her.
Everything.
It takes three full hours for her to notice Blake disappears into the back more often than other nights. She's hauling the tubs back and forth that other faunus have done previously. When she returns to heave a tub stacked with clean glassware onto the counter with a grunt, Yang gives her a questioning look.
Blake's quick eyes find Flynt occupied with a customer before breathing quietly, "they're scared to come out here."
"I wouldn't mind—"
"Wouldn't mind what?" Flynt's harsh tone cuts her off. She hadn't meant to speak so loudly and is surprised to find his attention fully on them.
Blake's back is to him, but Yang can clearly see the warning in her eyes, and doesn't miss the frigid way Blake's body tenses. Her ears are pinned to her scalp, either listening for Flynt's next move or in fear. Yang has to believe it's the former, she can't trust her actions if she were to believe the latter.
He's been looking for a fight all night and there is nothing she would like more than to tell him he's being a complete ass and to check himself. Unfortunately she knows that would only make things worse for Blake, and in turn would result in her exile from the bar. It's the last thing she wants so she quickly tips the remaining liquid in her beer down her throat, placing the empty bottle back on the bar.
"I wouldn't mind another." She smiles sweetly and holds out enough money to cover three of them. "Keep the change, big guy." She winks flirtatiously at him, knowing it's her best chance at calming him now that he's on the warpath.
Her response isn't what he expects and it takes him aback. His features lose the hardened undertones he's been presenting all night. She holds the smile, as a charming laugh slips past her lips. "Not going to keep a lady waiting are you?"
A slight tilt of her head and she can see the telltale signs of attraction she's so used to seeing in the opposite sex when they look at her. She's not sure if he's refrained before now, or if her own obsession with Blake has made her oblivious. Either way it's working, and if she has an added job of brushing his advances off another night, she will deal with that at a later time.
He mumbles something and Yang leans over the bar in pretense of hearing him better. "What was that?"
His eyes lower, expectantly, before he turns away, failing to hide his leering of her chest.
"Wouldn't want to keep you waiting," he says more clearly, but barely looks at her as he places a beer in front of her.
"Hey," Yang calls amused when he turns away. She holds up her money again. He smiles, embarrassed at forgetting her payment, and he reaches for the money. She strengthens her hold as he tries to pull it from her and repeats, "keep the change," before finally releasing it.
He nods and rushes to put space between them.
She holds off rolling her eyes until his back is fully turned. Only when her eyes find the other occupant behind the bar does the realization hit her that Blake's had a front row seat to her flirting with her boss. Blake's eyes sweep her body and Yang falls sheepishly back into her seat, arms crossing over her chest to block the judgemental stare in an attempt to regain her lost dignity.
Blake turns, but keeps her eyes on Yang as she pours a draft. Her mouth opens to comment, but decides against it with a shake of her head. Eventually settling on rolling her eyes, she throws a bar cloth at Yang, an amused smirk playing on her lips. Yang catches it mid-air. Tossing her hair over her shoulder with a flick of her wrist, she gives Blake a smug look. Blake's eyes narrow as if wanting to comment on her arrogance, but knows she can't; not with Flynt within hearing distance. With a defeated huff, Blake grabs the full tub of empty bottles and disappears into the back.
Flynt's shamed enough to leave them in peace and is even in a better mood towards the servers. Not wanting to push their luck, Yang remains a silent statue until Flynt finally tells Blake to go home. She carries the rest of the dirty glassware into the back for the faunus that are still too terrified to cross the swinging barrier. How many reassuring words from Blake will it take for them to feel safe enough to take up their small duties out front again? It's painfully obvious Blake will be doing it for the foreseeable future.
Yang jumps from her stool when Blake ducks under the bar wedge and they both scurry to the exit, only getting a few blocks before Blake turns on her.
"What was that?" she asks, waving an arm behind them. Her eyes are wide and wild and incredulous.
Yang can't hold back her amusement any longer. Her whoop of laughter pulls the same from Blake and they end up leaning against the wall of a closed convenience store, both wheezing. It feels like they've gotten away with something scandalous.
"It was the only hand I had to play." Yang finally answers between gasping breaths. "It worked didn't it?"
Blake's hand rubs soothing circles over her stomach, calming burning muscles while focussing on filling her lungs. "If you call getting to watch my boss trip over himself while ogling my…"
Yang sobers at her words, sharp eyes turning to her. Blake's jaw hangs slack, as if her own words surprise her. "Your?" Yang urges.
One second Blake's side is pressed pleasantly against hers, the next she's gone, already ten steps ahead. Yang rushes to catch up, but Blake refuses to acknowledge her. Yang cuts her off, skipping backwards in front of her. "What were you about to say?" she asks, feigning innocence.
Blake glares at her the same way she did in the bar, as if wanting to answer Yang's challenge, and Yang waits patiently for her to decide.
A frustrated growl leaves her throat as she turns from Yang to cross the street. Deja vu hits as Yang's stopped once more by a car Blake easily maneuvers.
"Can you stop doing that?" Yang calls across the road as she jumps back from the oncoming traffic. Blake halts, waiting for her on the other side. "I'm going to get run over one of these days."
"Sorry," Blake winces, tucking hair behind her ear, she gives Yang a small smile as she catches up. "It's a habit I think."
"What is? Playing chicken with cars, or running away?" Yang snorts and rolls her eyes playfully.
Blake flinches at her words but shakes it off when they start moving again. Blake's ears swivel and Yang's observed her long enough now to know she's searching for distractions more than dangers.
It's only when they reach Blake's door that she speaks.
"You don't have to come to the bar every night if you don't want to."
Yang weighs her words, recognizing it as a way to change their one-sided arrangement. It's always Yang making the time and concessions, but Blake knows, has known for a long time, that Yang hasn't come to scout talent since the first night. She knows Yang comes for her, even if it's only watching her work, even if Blake can only say two words to her all night. And now Blake is offering her a way out. Swap possible dates on Blake's nights off for the hours of Yang sitting across the bar from her.
"I like walking you home."
Blake meets her eye. "I like you walking me home too. I just don't want you to feel obligated."
"I don't."
"You're sure? Because if—"
Yang closes the distance between them. It's become all too much, having exchanged looks all night, just for Blake to start questioning her intentions. She doesn't ask permission this time, just wraps her arm around Blake's hips and brings her in to connect their lips. It's only been 24 hours since she last felt this, but it's been torture to keep her distance from Blake all night.
Blake sighs into her mouth, as she returns the kiss eagerly. Only when Blake goes soft in her arms does Yang pull back.
"I want to be here. I like watching you work. I like knowing you've made it home safe from your shifts." She punctuates each statement with a soft kiss. "And if it allows me more chances to kiss you," she smirks, "all the better."
When she next leans in, Blake pulls back, just enough that Yang's lips graze her chin instead. Yang looks down, wondering if she's said something wrong, but Blake doesn't look upset.
"I paused earlier because I guess I don't know what you are." Her words are barely a whisper but Yang can hear every one as if it were being shouted into her very soul. "Because I don't really know what we are. So, I didn't know what to call you."
Yang shrugs easily. "What were you going to say? What did you want to say?"
Blake picks at the collar of Yang's shirt, unsure eyes glaring at the same spot. Yang holds her breath.
"I was going to say girlfriend." Blake sighs, flattening her palm against Yang's shoulder to stop her restless digits. Finally she looks up, eyes connecting and Yang can't wipe the smile off her face at the thought of Blake being her girlfriend, of Blake wanting to be her girlfriend.
"Is that what you want?" Yang's voice is careful, just as it was that first night when Blake looked as fragile as she does now.
"I—" Blake's mouth pulls into a tight line and Yang's racing heart stutters, tripping over its own erratic beats. The pained reaction awash on Blake's features gives Yang pause. Blake backs away, it's only a half-step, but to Yang, it might as well be a chasm. "I don't want— no, I can't be just one of…" Blake bites her lip, eyes averting to the side, to her door, to her escape.
"Blake?" Yang's voice strains as her fingers dig into Blake's hips. She doesn't understand; they've been good, right?
Cold hands come to cover hers, but they don't push them away. It gives Yang a sliver of hope. Blake blinks once, twice, three times before taking a deep breath and turning to study Yang, head tilted.
"I can't just be one of…"
"One of what?" Yang pleads.
"Are there others?" Her jaw sets, teeth clench as her eyes narrow, daring Yang to answer the question.
"Other what?" Yang shakes her head, trying to clear the cobwebs, has she missed something? Was she just not paying attention?
"Boyfriends? Girlfriends?"
"What?" Her voice raises, it's pitch surprised even her, so she isn't surprised when Blake jumps. Meeting Blake's serious glare, she can't help the sardonic rumble of laughter that comes up. "When do you think I would have any time for even one other person, when I'm here all the time?"
Blake scoffs, features shifting as she cocks her hip, affronted. She looks away, glaring at the shadows. "You wouldn't be the first."
Yang sobers at her words. Her eyes roam over Blake's features and she instantly regrets laughing. To her it's a ridiculous assumption, but to Blake, who is new to her life… it's a valid question to her, and Yang should treat it as such.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have laughed." Stepping closer she clasps her hands at the small of Blake's back as she rests her forehead against Blake's temple. "There is absolutely no one else I'm seeing."
I don't want anyone else but you, is what she would like to add, but she's not sure if that's too deep of a confession.
"Why would you think there would be?" Worry grips her, had she not been clear? Was she portraying some kind of… Bimbo personality she was unaware of? It hurt, thinking Blake would be back to thinking so little of her. "Did I do something, say something, to make you think there were others?"
Blake heaves a sigh, shifting so their foreheads graze. "No, you haven't," she admits. "I just…" Yang tightens her hold, hoping to squeeze the words out of her. "Just, look at you!" Blake finally exclaims, pulling away to sweep scrutinizing eyes across her face. "How could you be single, and interested in me?" Her final words are mumbled as if she couldn't quite decide if she wanted Yang to hear.
Yang scoffs, dipping her head to keep Blake's eye as she tries to withdraw. "Funny, because for the past month or more I've been thinking the same about you."
"Right."
"It's true!" Placing a gentle kiss to Blake's forehead, she waits for Blake to relax again in her arms. Once she's less on the defensive, Yang tries again. "Do you want to be my one and only girlfriend?" She pauses only long enough to find Blake's amber eyes. "Because that's where I'd like to see this go."
Blake's eyes flit between hers when she hears her sincerity. "I think so, yes," she breathes.
"So, you didn't like watching your boss…" Yang leaves the words hanging, swaying both their bodies lazily from side to side.
"I didn't like him ogling my girlfriend, even if it did stop his rampage." Blake eventually relents, a soft smile forming.
"Is that why you're suggesting I not come back to the bar?" Blake looks away, a frustrated glare pointed over Yang's shoulder. Yang thinks her jealousy's adorable.
"Not completely, but I'm not looking forward to seeing if he fell for your seduction."
Yang scoffs amusedly as she closes the distance between them again. "That was not seduction." Her hand moves, pressing into the dip of Blake's back. Fingers slide easily under the fabric of Blake's loose top, pressing warmly into her skin. Blake gasps.
Blake considers her words. "Fine," she whispers, leaning forward to just graze their lips together, so Yang wonders if she feels the words instead of hearing them. "Come to the bar all you like, but tomorrow is Saturday, you don't work?" Yang shakes her head. "Let me take you out for a coffee before my shift then?"
She nods. She would spend all day in Mantle if it meant spending it in Blake's company. She would sleep in this very alley if it meant an earlier start to their second date.
Blake's the one that initiates the next kiss; it's slow and exploratory. Yang kisses her girlfriend back. Girlfriend. Yang's elation causes her lips to pull tight, trying to suppress the smile that threatens to spread. Blake notices. Yang feels her huff of annoyance through their connection. Yang snorts absurdly and it sobers Blake's attempts to deepen the kiss.
"Ow," Yang mumbles, sucking her lip into her mouth. The sharp metallic taste on her tongue tells her she's not mistaken. Her eyes go wide. "Did you bite me?"
"You were laughing at me." Blake shrugs casually. "You deserved it."
"I wasn't laughing," Yang pouts, swiping her tongue over her injury. It's already stopped bleeding. "I was just really happy you asked me out."
"In that case," Blake's voice is low, sensual as she leans up once more, nails scratching gently at the back of Yang's neck. "I guess I owe you an apology."
Yang would be lying if the back and forth in Blake's actions didn't thrill and arouse her. It just strengthened the need Yang had to understand the mysterious girl in her arms.
This time when Blake kisses her, Yang returns it, just as fervently. Blake sucks on her injured lip and the twinge of pain causes a pleasant shock to travel down Yang's spine. And when her tongue swipes soothingly over the swollen skin, Yang's whole body shudders in pleasure.
"Better?" Blake asks when she pulls back a moment later.
"Much." Yang places a grateful kiss on the corner of Blake's mouth. "Now who's seducing who?''
They separate reluctantly.
"Tomorrow?" Yang asks.
"I'll call you when I wake up, to make plans."
Blake takes a step back. She waves before stepping into her building. Yang raises one hand in return as she backs up, only turning when Blake has disappeared.