Blake couldn't help but feel like time was passing a bit too quickly. Two weeks wasn't exactly a long amount of time, and it was meeting its end rapidly. They only had five days until they would be briefed, and the training their team was pushing through seemed to eat up every hour it could. Yang and Weiss were putting on quite the show as they tried for approval, though they had finally started training without being told to. Yang had taken to public displays of affection, forcing the heiress into hugs whenever Ruby was watching. Weiss was too worried about staying benched to fight her off, and just ended up standing there awkwardly while the blonde held her. Perhaps even better than that, was that they were almost always in front of other students. Other students who were not aware of why these interactions were happening. Of course, that could only lead to one thing.

Much of the school population now had a very different idea of their relationship.

Beacon may be a school for hunters, but it was still as much a rumor mill as any other facility stuffed with teenagers. Most of them being smart enough not to say anything too loudly, the pair remained oblivious to their new position. It didn't help that they were popular subjects already, their good looks having caught the eye of just about everyone. They were practically becoming a celebrity couple, one that didn't even know they were together. Blake often found herself having to find a quiet stop to laugh after some of the things people said, and she knew Ruby was faring no better. According to their peers, it wouldn't be long before Weiss runs off with Yang to elope. Apparently it was straight out of a romance novel, something Blake refused to confirm or deny.

Well, if she really thought about it...

Yang had a certain attitude about her, matching the motorcycle-riding brawler perfectly. Weiss was the opposite, of course. Her heiress status and sometimes royal-esque demeanor made her quite the foil for the blondes leather and free spirit. On that line of thought, they did have a certain appeal. Unfortunately for those hoping to see a ring, Weiss was straight. Or, Blake thought she was. She didn't really know her well enough to say. She knew Yang just liked pretty people in general, so that wasn't an issue.

...Was she actually thinking of playing matchmaker?

It was a stupid thought. They only just started getting along, and it was not a situation they were happy with. Trying to get them into some fantasy romance would probably just destroy whatever friendship they had.

Or it would go perfectly.

Either way, she had to talk to Ruby.

Finding Ruby wasn't the hard part, instead it was remembering what she wanted to talk about. She knew her partner had taken to the gym, but she hadn't known the details. Pyrrha stood out to her first, standing tall over the crowd. Ruby was on the bench below her, the older girl acting as her spotter. Surprisingly muscled arms kept the bar moving as the redhead counted. She knew her partner was fit, but apparently she had missed something. Still nowhere near Yang's status as a brick wall, her small frame had more going on then was obvious. Ruby's shirt rode up a bit, showing off a toned stomach.

Blake's mouth went dry.

Just nerves, of course. That was definitely it. Nerves. What was she here for? She couldn't just interrupt them with nothing. A bead of sweat rolled down feint abs. How long had she been standing there? How long had she been staring? There was no way this was still appropriate.

Pyrrha saw her.

The girl didn't stop her count, simply waving before looking back down. A normal gesture, but for Blake it only spelled out doom. She had been seen. Backing out now would be a disaster. Pyrrha would no doubt mention that she saw Blake, and then Ruby would ask about it later. What would she say? She could just make something up, but she didn't even know what she was doing originally. There was no way in hell she could be honest, tell her leader that she stared at her like a creep. Yang might literally kill her for it.

She'd have to think of something quick, because Ruby was finished and standing up.

Blake had to start moving. She couldn't be seen just standing there twice, and there wasn't much time to avoid that. Ruby had to wipe down the equipment and kept Pyrrha distracted while she did, but that would last a few seconds at most. She just forced her oddly non-compliant legs to start moving, relieved that she wasn't far away.

"Hello, Blake." Pyrrha greeted, a kind smile on her face.

Ruby shot up, towel in hand, and said "Blake! What's up?"

The faunas stopped, and rushed to find something to say. "Oh, sorry to interrupt. I was just... curious."

Her apology was dismissed with a hand wave before she got a reply, "Don't worry about it. What'd ya need to know?"

"I knew you were spending time here, but I hadn't seen it myself. Looks like it's working for you."

Ruby rubbed the back of her head shyly, but Pyrrha just laughed a bit. "Yes, she's doing quite well. Though, her motivation is not quite what I expected..."

Her leader turned red and sputtered a bit. More laughs came from the amazon, leaving Blake wondering what exactly she was missing. Ruby had to clear her throat before she could say anything.

"Well, um... Blake, how would you describe me? Like, when we first met, how did I look?"

When they first met? That suddenly felt hard to answer. She could think of some very colourful descriptions for how she looked right now, but those were not for polite company. When they met, Ruby was just 15, in a cloak a bit big on her and carrying a weapon bigger than her.

"In a word? Cute."

Ruby didn't seem very happy with that answer, letting out a sigh. "I know, that's what everyone said. I asked Pyrrha for help because I wanted to look... well, y'know. Attractive, for once."

Oh. That was certainly not what she was expecting. It was working for her, but she never really thought Ruby would worry about her appearance. Maybe it was inevitable, living with Yang for so long. Should she start complimenting her? She didn't want her partner to feel lacking, and if that was how she could help...

But that might not be appropriate. It's not like they were dating, regularly telling her she looked good would absolutely send the wrong message. Well, maybe if she just kept it occasional. Like right now, when her partner had just admitted a big insecurity. It would be awkward. There was no way she was good enough at social interaction to make a reassuring comment without it being awkward. But she couldn't let her leader go on thinking she wasn't something to gawk at. In a way that didn't involve telling her she had been the one gawking, of course.

"You are. Attractive, I mean. I-it's working for you. You look good. Great. I'm rambling..."

Ruby's smile was worth every awkward moment in the world.