Right after the party

"Find them! Now! I swear to god, if anything happens to them…" Weiss was furious. And with good reason. Blake couldn't believe this was happening. Everything was going according to the plan and suddenly, this…Weiss was going to kill her. The silence caused by Weiss' angry orders was suddenly broken by a female voice.

"Um, boss? I found them. I…I don't know how to say this."

Nine days before the party.

Blake finished explaining the details of her plan. Weiss had interrupted her with a million questions, but she had been prepared for all of them. Weiss kept going over the papers and blueprints, as if expecting to find something. She wouldn't. Blake had made sure of it: it was the perfect plan, exactly what Weiss wanted. It didn't mean it was the one Blake was going to use, just close enough. It felt wrong, lying to her. But Blake knew it was the only way: Weiss could act tough all she wanted, Blake knew that deep down, she was too…good to make the necessary sacrifices.

Weiss looked up from the papers and met her eyes for the first time since she had started explaining.

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"No."

"Let me rephrase that: is there anything else that I would consider I should know?"

"No Weiss. You know as much about this plan as I do." The second of silence was eternal. Blake had been in life or death situations before, and this was just as scary. If Weiss didn't believe her, this was it. She had no doubts her boss would follow through with her threat to fire her.

"Ok then. I'm still not convinced about Jaune and Coco."

"Having them bring in elite security as their 'plus one' is key to guarantee the security of other attendants. It probably won't even be necessary, if everything goes according to the plan…"

"It never does. You taught me that."

"…we won't even need them there." Blake finished, but Weiss didn't seem very convinced.

"They are important Blake. We can't just risk-"

"We won't. The whole point is to make the people around them safer. It's not really essential for your security. I…I thought you'd appreciate that."

"I do. But still…"

"Won't it be good for them? They'll have to get used to all of this eventually."

"I know, I just hope this doesn't scare them away. Or worse." Blake was about to reply, but Weiss stopped her. "Fine. I trust you. Keep them safe." And that was it.

Seven days before the party.

"Yo, Jaune!" Coco said as she walked into his shop. "Did the Ice Queen send you an-woah. Damn. Who is this handsome young man and what has he done with my old buddy Jaune?" Jaune was standing in front of the mirror he usually used when helping customers. He was trying on a Tuxedo

"Ha ha. Very funny. I have a mirror right here you know." Jaune said.

"I guess that answers my question. She invited you too, huh?"

"Yup, and apparently 'escort will be provided'. Not that I could get a date anyway, but still. Ouch, Weiss."

"Actually…Mine says the same thing." Coco had assumed the 'escort' was meant to be a babysitter for her. Weiss knew how she was at parties. But if Jaune had one too, then there was something else going on. "What do you think she's up to?" Jaune shrugged.

"No idea. I've been to a couple of SDC parties before – I do kinda make half of the clothes they wear to these things after all- but this is the first time that happens."

"Well, whatever she's planning, we could always ditch our escorts and show those snobs what a proper party is like."

"I am suddenly afraid for my life."

"You better be. First, the party. Then, the SDC. And then, the world! You and me Jauney boy, we're gonna show them who's boss!" And if she finally got Jaune to loosen up and have some fun for once, then that was just a bonus.

"Your cheerfulness terrifies me." He said. But for a second Coco was sure she saw him smile. She rolled her eyes.

"Are you gonna keep complaining, or are going to help me get a proper dress?"

The Party.

Weiss was not having fun. Anything could go wrong at any second. She glanced at Blake. The faunus was standing right next to her, looking gorgeous in her tuxedo. Just looking at her made Weiss calm down. And then it happened. A voice came from the entrance of the ball room announcing the most recent arrivals.

"Mr. Jaune Arc and Ms. Yang Xiao Long." It said.

"What? No. No no no no! Blake for the love of all that is good and holy tell me you didn't!" She looked at her bodyguard and the confused expression in those golden eyes told her everything was lost.

"I…I tried to get Ruby like we talked about, but she was on a mission. I managed to contact her though, and she recommend this woman."

"Of course she did!" Weiss looked over her shoulder and saw the mane of golden hair approaching them.

"Is she…not a good choice?"

"I don't really know her that well, but…let's just say that she's not exactly one for subtlety."

"HEY! HEY SCHNEE! THERE YOU ARE!" Yang's voice was heard all over the room. Blake paled.

"Oh." She said.

"Yes. Oh." Yang and Jaune reached them. It was immediately evident that the woman wasn't stopping. Just as she was about to pull Weiss into what would probably had been a suffocating bear hug, Blake stopped her.

"That's close enough, Miss Xiao Long." Yang just smiled at her.

"You must be Blake! Ruby wouldn't shut up about you!" Next to her, Jaune gave them a small wave. He didn't seem very pleased with his companion. "I gotta say Schnee, I'm surprised you picked me for the job. If I remember correctly, the last time we saw each other you said you'd, and I quote, 'shove those gauntlets-'"

"Yes! Yes, I remember too Yang, thank you very much." Weiss said as she looked around making sure that they wasn't make as much of a scene as she felt they were. "However I had little to do with the planning of the security of this event. You have Blake to thank for that."

"Well then, Blakey, I gotta say, as a huntress it's not often you get to dress up as nice as this. How about I buy you a drink as a thank you."

"I'm working, miss Xiao Long."

"Ruby did say you liked to pretend you hated fun."

"Ruby also said you were 'totally perfect for undercover work'" Blake said in a whisper.

"I am!" Yang replied effusively "Who would suspect a hottie like me is actually…"

"Yes?"

"Nevermind." At least the girl looked mildly embarrassed now. There was a second of awkward silence, followed by a small cough behind the blonde couple. They turned around and saw Coco.

"Uh…wow" Jaune managed to say after a few second of staring. Coco raised an eyebrow.

"You made the dress. You sold it to me." Jaune gave his usual shrug.

"I stand by my previous statement"

Coco's arrival (along with her escort, who thankfully had not been recommended by Ruby) managed to break the tension. Eventually, she dragged Jaune to 'get some booze' and their escorts went along with them.

"That could have been worse" Weiss said. "I just hope she doesn't end up fighting. Things tend to explode when she does."

"Again, I'm sorry. But if Ruby recommended her…"

"Yes, yes. I know. She's not a bad choice. And we can certainly trust her to do the right thing. She's just…" The sound of broken glass reached them, quickly followed by Yang's laughter "…not subtle." This was too much. Weiss needed…chess. Sparring. Something. But her options were limited. "I want to dance." She said before she could even think about it.

"That's not a good idea Weiss. We talked about minimizing physical contact, remember?"

"I meant with you."

"Oh." Blake said, her expression blank. For a second, Weiss feared she'd hear the words 'Miss Schnee'. Instead, Blake leaned in and whispered in her ear. "The shift change that's supposed to be perceived as a vulnerability by the White Fang won't happen for another hour. We've got some time." It was not exactly romantic, but just the feeling of Blake's breath on her ear was enough to make Weiss blush. It didn't help that the faunus didn't wait for an answer before grabbing her hand and leading her to the dance floor. And the instinctive attempt to hide the blush by leaning into the other woman's shoulder only made it worse.

They had been dancing for about two minutes now. In that time, the mantra 'you will not smell your boss' hair' had attempted to settle in Blake's head, but had been quickly expelled. Now she was just enjoying herself. It was a problem, and she knew it. She was supposed to be the one making sure absolutely no harm could possibly come to Weiss. Instead, she was just dancing. It was not a good idea. But her feet were not getting the message.

She looked down and saw Weiss looking at her. There was a faint blush on her pale cheeks. Her blue eyes were fixed on her. Her mouth showed a beautiful smile. Blake had never seen her smile so much. Suddenly, she realized she had been starring at Weiss lips. She had no idea for how long. And she was still doing it. It was like her eyes had joined her legs' rebellion against her brain, which wasn't exactly being that rational anyway.

The music slowed down, and Weiss leaned in again. Blake leaned too, in a not-so-subtle attempt to catch the fragrance from the white hair again. Weiss let out a soft, pleased sigh. Blake's heart skip a beat. Her hand reached for the other girl's face, gently turning it so their eyes would meet again. She saw them looking at her and in that instant she knew. She knew exactly what she felt. She knew exactly what Weiss felt. She knew that Weiss knew.

And because she knew, because that was the most perfect moment in her entire life, it was also the exact moment in which she heard static coming from her earpiece, letting her know someone was about to tell her it was time to get to work.

Right after the party.

Everything had gone according to the plan, which meant Yang had barely done anything, since she was supposed to be there as the very last in a long line of contingencies. All in all, it had been a fairly dull affair. Then she turned around and realized Jaune and Coco were nowhere to be seen. That can't be good. She saw Coco's escort talking to Weiss. She saw a flash of fear in the girl's expression, quickly followed by pure anger. That's when she heard a noise coming from behind her. She turned around and saw the door to what was supposed to be a broom closet. Ignoring Weiss' furious shouts, she opened it.

"Um, boss?" she said, trying to get Weiss' attentions. A small yelp came from inside the closet. "I found them. I…I don't know how to say this."

Weiss run towards Yang. She could hear Blake, always a few steps behind. She reached the huntress and looked into the closet. What saw her there would haunt her forever.

"JAUNE ARC! Pants on, now! Or I swear on my life, I will have you hanged with them. And Coco, you…you. UGH. My brain just can't handle this right now." She turned around, fully aware that her face was completely red. Behind her, she could hear Coco laughing, Jaune apologizing and Blake…giggling? Blake giggled? That was new. But right now, it was not acceptable "Blake! This is not funny."

"Oh, come on, it's totally funny!" Yang said, now laughing too.

"It's not! No one asked you! Shut up!"

"I'm sorry Weiss." Blake said, but her voice said otherwise.

"I don't care! Just…just get me out of here!"

It was late at night. Things had gone according to plan and now Blake had a few White Fang prisoners in a secure location, waiting to be interrogated. But that could wait. Right now, after a much needed shower and a change of clothes, she was watching over Weiss. It still surprised Blake how frail the girl could look when sleeping on her nightgown. It was a stark contrast with the strong woman she saw every day. The fact that she was so small and her bed was so huge helped.

Later that night

Blake walked over to the bed. Weiss was sleeping on one side, facing the center of the bed. She looked like she was deep in her sleep. Hesitant, Blake lied on the opposite side of the bed facing her.

Ever since their argument, things had been tense between them. But tonight…tonight had been different. Perfect. Too perfect. It things had only gone a little different, if she had had a few more seconds, she would have done something really, really stupid. She couldn't keep doing this. Weiss needed a protector, not a dance partner. She couldn't be both.

Blake decided not sleeping in the same room would be a good start. She sat up. So did Weiss. Blake looked at her. She expected confusion, maybe even anger, at finding Blake there. Instead, Weiss pulled her into a kiss. Every single thing she had just thought was suddenly replaced by the need to kiss her back.

"It's been a long day" Weiss whispered, her lips almost touching Blake's. "You need proper rest." And just like that, they were cuddling in bed.

"Weiss, I don't sleep in beds, you know that." Blake said, her tone of voice not at all matching the complaint in her words.

"Well, I do. So you better start getting used to it."

It was the best night of sleep Blake had ever had.

A.N:

So...the good news is that I'm done with the weird Beta Couple that doesn't even have a ship name in the spreadsheet. They're still characters in this, but their Arc (heh) is kinda over.

The bad news, if you're still into this, is that I don't know how much of anything else there will be. I'm writing this for the fluff, not the plot. I got a bit carried away with the whole politics thing, but mostly to create tension between the characters and things like that. Thing is, I sort of hit all the fluff milestones I had, so I need to come up with new stuff. I will write more. I really want to find out what happens when they wake up, where they go from there and all that. But like I said in chapter 1, try not to expect some huge story out of this.

Finally, in a weirdly placed captatio benevolentiae, it's 3 AM, and this chapter went through a few rewrites. I'm still not satisfied with the final version of some of the scenes, but I've done what I could and I need some rest. Last time I uploaded something this late it turned out to be a mess and I had to fix it the next day (chapter 5?). I hope it's not the same with this one.