Only hours after their teammates had left, the mood in their dorm had grown morose.
Yang didn't know what happened, but it was like a switch had been flicked. The heiress hadn't said a word to her, instead choosing to bury her nose in textbooks. Far from unusual, not like they were the best of friends, but as the time dragged on Weiss started to look like she was on the verge of tears. She supposed the frustrations of the last couple weeks must have really worn down on the fencer, and their team leaving must have allowed it to surface.
So, she did what any good partner would do; fetched coffee and a three cheese pizza.
Weiss would never admit it, but the greasy food the sisters often brought in had practically become an addiction. So, whenever the heiress seemed a bit down in the dumps, Yang would grab something completely unhealthy and threaten to feed the girl if she didn't eat. Usually worked.
"Hey." She said, placing a plate and a foam cup on the desk. "You look like you need a break."
Weiss blinked at her confusedly a few times, then relaxed back in her chair. "...Thank you."
"Sure thing. Anything you need to talk about?"
"Why do you care?"
Not quite what Yang was expecting. "Whaddya mean?"
"I am not exactly kind to you. Why care about my problems?"
"...I'm not even sure how to answer that. Just because we don't always get along I can't care about you?"
The heiress let out an exasperated sigh. "You...I don't..." Her hands gestured aimlessly as she struggled for words. "I don't deserve it."
"Whoa, where is this coming from? Figured Rubes was keeping the self loathing at bay."
"Ruby is...spending her time with Blake. She's happy."
"Well, sure. You know you can still talk to her, right?"
Weiss stayed silence for some time, debating how much she should say. A single tear started to roll down her cheek, but she wiped it away, hoping it Yang wouldn't notice.
Yang noticed. "And you can talk to me, too. About whatever you need, okay?"
"...I can't talk to Ruby. Not about this. She's my best friend, and I want her to stay happy."
"Okay, sure. But I'm not your best friend, so lay it on me."
The heiress sat up a bit straighter, blinking the moisture out of her eyes and clearing her throat. "You won't tell anyone about this?"
"Not a peep. Promise."
Icy blue eyes looked into her own, flooded with emotions she couldn't place. As silence filled the room, Yang found her heart start to speed up. It was tense, a pressure in the air that seemed to push on her spine.
"I'm not gay, Yang."
"Uh, okay? And?"
"I'm not gay, because my father told me I couldn't be."
"Oh, Weiss..."
"Now, I know how foolish that really is. But...it took me too long. No matter how many of his rules I freed myself of, I could still hear his voice telling me not to be a...deviant."
Yang placed a comforting hand on her partners shoulder, wishing she could just grab her and ease it all away. Weiss stiffened, but didn't move away.
"I stopped being able to lie to myself. Couldn't, not with the way she made me feel."
Oh. It suddenly made sense.
"You're in love with Ruby."
Tears rolled down Weiss' face, and her body shook with a sob. Yang bent down, wrapping her arms around the girls shoulders.
"I-it's so hard. I want her to be happy, but why couldn't she be happy with me?"
Yang said nothing, slowly rubbing circles on the heiress' back. They would have to have a long talk after this, but for now she would just provide whatever comfort she could.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Night had fallen, and they sat quietly on Yang's bed while slowly working through the lukewarm food. Weiss' eyes were red, but she seemed to be doing better. Well, as better as she could be.
"Can I ask you something" Yang asked, keeping her voice soft.
The heiress looked up at her, but didn't say anything.
"If you felt this way, why did you help Blake?"
Setting down her plate, Weiss took a moment before replying. "There would be a fight, no matter who I was with. My father will try to arrange a marriage, and I may lose the company when I refuse. A part of me didn't want to bring anyone into that."
"You know she wouldn't care."
"Of course I do, but that isn't the end of it. Blake did in two weeks what I couldn't in two years. If I tried to break them up, what kind of person would I be? And for what, the off chance Ruby would actually be able to love someone like me?"
"Someone like you?"
"A bitch, Yang."
Her brow furrowed. "You aren't a bitch, Weiss. Even if you can be bitchy, that's not who you are. Besides, its not like the rest of us are perfect. Shit, I'm dreading they day those two start arguing."
The heiress quirked an eyebrow. "Really? Have you seen them?"
"Yeah, but more than that I know them. Blake'll do something stupid without telling anyone, and Ruby's gonna get hurt. Now we're spending the next two weeks with a team half filled with emos 'till they make up. Can see it comin' a mile away."
"...I'll take that bet."
Yang grinned. "Oh, yeah? Hundred lien."
"Fine. Anything other than that scenario and I win, yes?"
"Sure, I know I'll be right."
Weiss rolled her eyes, a barely noticeable smile on her face, and picked up her cup to grimace through some of the cold coffee...
"You know what? We should start going out."
...Only to immediately choke on it.
"Excuse me?"
"It would help keep your mind off things."
"How is that the solution? What part of 'I'm in love with your sister' didn't you understand?"
"Well it's not like I'm in love with you, either. Aint even really talking about dating, just hanging out with only two of us."
Weiss glared. "If you meant hanging out you would have said hanging out. Why would a relationship with no feelings behind it be a good idea?"
Yang raised her hands in surrender. "Hey, this aint as half-baked as you think. I can't even get a date around here anymore, the moment I show any interest they start acting like they're better than me or some shit. All high and mighty, as if I couldn't kick their ass any day. So, getting a chance to have some fun with someone who I know I can trust is a pretty good deal, y'know?"
"I suppose I can concede that, but how would this help me?"
"You're going to need the distraction. They probably aren't going to break up any time soon, and you keep up the this unrequited thing too long you'll end up in an early grave. So, let me distract you."
"This doesn't seem as well thought out as you claimed."
"Point number two! You don't want Ruby to find out about this, so you need to make sure you won't reveal anything. If she knows we're dating, you wont be able to say anything contrary without messing with your image."
"...And you know how important that is to me."
Yang nodded. "Not only that, but going out will keep you away from them and out of this dorm. Gonna need the space if you want to start moving on. And, hey, being taken will mean less people hitting on you all the time."
"I can't believe I'm actually considering this."
"Look, I know it sound stupid, but it's not like we'd have to do it forever or be anything past platonic."
"Do you expect it to go past platonic? I'm sure I don't have to remind you of the fact that this isn't based on feelings."
The blonde shrugged. "And? Not like the dorks are in love yet, even if they act like it. Maybe I'm not your type, but I think you're pretty foxy and you aren't a total jerk. Enough for a few dates in my book."
Weiss' cheeks went rather red. "Attraction is far from the issue. So, what, if I asked you to kiss me you would?"
"Yeah, pretty much. You want one?"
"No, that's not- it's- Why?"
"Who knows? Maybe I just want to kiss you."
"...Huh?"
Yang didn't offer a reply. Instead, she leaned forward to plant her lips on the heiress'. A hand grabbed at her jacket, and she heard a muffled moan from the shorter girl. Weiss pushed back into her with vigor, and the blonde knew she'd have to do this again. Unfortunately, they had to part eventually. Pulling away for air, the couldn't help but pant for a moment.
"Let me take you out to dinner." Yang said, once her breathing became even. "Tomorrow night, at seven."
Weiss' looked up at her, piercing blue eyes and pale skin contrasting against the red flush in her cheeks.
"...Okay."