AN: Hey, know what's cool? Disclaimers! Which I may or may not have forgotten to add to the first three chapters…So to make up for that let me just say that I am not Monty Oum, nor do I have any affiliation with the amazing company that is Rooster Teeth…despite that one dream I had…
So here is part four. Before we get started I just want to take the time to once again thank everyone for all of the reviews, favorites, and follows. It is truly humbling. If it weren't for you guys this probably would have remained a oneshot.
I just sincerely hope that I can do the characters and the story I've cooked up justice.
Anyway, here's the chapter. Enjoy!
Blake gave herself a quick once over in the mirror that hung off the back of her door. She wore a white-blouse that she had tucked into the top of the form-fitting black-slacks that covered her legs. To top it all off she threw on the black-blazer Weiss had gotten her for Christmas last year.
While her first instinct had been to go for her combat attire, upon given it more than a seconds thought she decided against it. She wasn't about to go out and fight Grimm, no what she was about to do was something she considered far more dangerous. She was going to meet with a potential client.
That just so happens to be one of the most respected hunters alive...and our former mentor…
Taking that into consideration she had decided to go with a more formal look. Well, as formal as her wardrobe would allow. I need to go shopping, maybe Yang would he-
"Blake, are you ready?" Yang asked as she opened the door, disrupting Blake from her thoughts.
Speak of the devil… "Yeah just give me a second."
Turning around Blake made her way over to her desk that sat underneath the room's sole window. The smooth wooden surface was littered with books, several of which she had yet to even open. But those weren't what she was after at the moment. No what she was after was far more deadly than even the most killer of her beloved novels.
Coming to a stop behind her chair she carefully picked Gambol Shroud up from the desk. The weapon's weight was all too familiar to her as she slung it over her shoulder; the sword-pistol fell to its normal resting spot on her back.
"You know this is in all likely-hood just a consultation, right? Not to mention the fact that Ozpin more than knows what we're capable of."
Her partner had a point, but then so did she. She didn't even bother to turn around as she replied. "Didn't stop you from getting Ember out, and besides," She now turned to face Yang who had taken to leaning up against her doorframe. "In the future we'll have clients who don't know what we can do. We might as well get into the practice of showing off the hardware."
"Fair enough," Yang shrugged as she kicked off from the doorframe and into the hall. "Come on, we had better get down there before Weiss has a heart attack."
Blake took a moment to examine Yang as she stood in the hall. It seemed that, like her, Yang had decided to forgo her normal clothing choices of tank-tops and short-shorts for something far more fitting for a business meeting.
Yang was wearing an orange knee-length skirt that hugged tightly to the contours of her hips, along with a bright red blouse. Combined with her long-wild-golden-locks it gave her the appearance of being aflame.
Fitting, Blake smirked as she followed her partner out of her room. Once she was in the hall she turned to head for the stairs. She hadn't made it so far as a foot before her partner had her against the wall.
Dusting the shock off quickly she looked at Yang, her amber eyes quickly met lilac. What she saw made her heart stop. Yang's eyes were clouded with regret and something else.
Before she could ask what was going on Yang had lowered her mouth to hers, pulling her in for a heated kiss. Lust, that's what it was.
Blake could feel her heart pound at the sudden contact as Yang forced her further into the wall, her hand rose up to gently cradle her head against the hard surface. Snapping back to her senses she closed her eyes and let out a small moan as she pushed back against Yang, their clothed bodies meshing together perfectly, she rested her hands on the blonde's hips as she returned the kiss with as much passion as she could muster.
She could feel Yang smile into the kiss at the same time that the blonde snaked her free arm around her waist. She was in complete sensory overload, unable to tell where her body ended and Yang's began. Her entire world was made up of nothing more than the scent of lavender and what were, in her opinion, the softest pars of lips in all of Remnant. Most important though was the warmth that had come to surround her.
Blake couldn't tell if she was jealous of or if she pitied the people who hadn't experienced the warmth supplied by the fiery woman's Aura. On the one hand they would never know what true warmth was. On the other they could still enjoy the heat provided by a blanket or the sun and not know that there was a much better source of warmth out there in the world.
After what felt like an all too short eternity of bliss, Yang pulled away. Blake opened her eyes halfway and was greeted with a very smug looking Yang.
"Wow," she huskily whispered the word as the high from the kiss wore off. Yang just smiled at her.
"That was for last night."
"You didn't have to tha-" Yang removed her hand from her back and placed it over her mouth, silencing her.
"Yes, I did." Yang said the regret that was in her eyes earlier now evident in her voice. "I broke the promise that we made, then I took it a step further and lied to you about it."
Blake wanted to shake her hand off and tell her that it was okay and that it didn't matter. But she couldn't, because she knew that she'd be lying to herself and more importantly to Yang. It wasn't okay that she had lied to her, and it most certainly did matter.
"I know you said we could talk about all of that stuff later," Yang paused as she chewed on her lip seemingly pensive about what she was about to say. "How about we make, later, tonight…and talk about it over dinner?"
Is…she?
"Yang, are you asking me out?"
Yang grinned shyly. "Well we've kinda been unofficial since Saturday…I figured it was time, especially after last night, to make it…official?" She asked, looking every bit like a nervous school girl.
She is!
Blake could barely contain her jubilation as she answered her partner.
No, her girlfriend.
"I'd like that, Yang. I'd like it a lot."
Yang beamed as she hoisted the Faunus up and spun her around in the air. Blake let out a joyous laugh at the blonde's antics. She couldn't ever remember seeing Yang happier. She liked that she could bring a smile to the blonde's face. No, that wasn't right, she loved it.
Blake would have loved nothing more than to allow the moment to continue, but they had business to attend to. And out of the two of them, she had to be the responsible one. Just like old times…
"Yang, put me down!" She commanded the other girl with a small laugh. "We need to get downstairs."
"Fine," Yang said as she returned the Faunus to her feet. "I'm never allowed to have any fun…"
Blake shook her head as Yang pouted at her like a kicked puppy. She's definitely Ruby's sister.
She playfully smacked her shoulder, "You're allowed to have fun," Blake couldn't help but take the opportunity to tease Yang just a little bit further. "Just not when it might cause Weiss to kill us."
Blake turned and headed for the stairs, leaving Yang alone in the middle of the hall.
"Where's the fun in that!"
Blake stared across the table at Professor Ozpin. The esteemed headmaster of Beacon Academy sat with his spine straight and his hands clasped in front of him on the table. He looked just the same as he did when she had first met him over four years ago at the team's initiation. If it were possible though, he appeared even more intimidating now.
Our livelihood wasn't on the line then.
His short grey hair fell in loose strands down into his chestnut colored eyes. His always present glasses rested precariously on the tip of his nose. The green and black suit that he wore was, as far as Blake could tell, completely immaculate. And most importantly his cane, which rested against the table to his left, was as inconspicuous as ever.
She eyed the weapon, while concealable weapons were legal and not uncommon in Vale. She couldn't help but wonder if that law would be repelled if more people knew just exactly what his 'cane' was capable of.
Her train of thought was ruined as Ozpin spoke.
"It's quite the nice residence you four have here." He said as his eyes quickly darted around the room, "This space in particular."
Blake could all but feel the pride that wafted off of Weiss at the comment. It had been her idea after all that they should use the dining room to vet their clients.
The room was, much like the rest of the house, decorated with some of the finest wood paneling that lien could buy. The smooth hardwood floor was covered here and there with decorative rugs. As far as furnishings there was an old-style grandfather clock that resided peacefully in the back left corner, and a china cabinet that stood proud next to the door that connected the room to the kitchen. What really stole the show though was the mural that was ever so strategically placed behind where the girls were currently sitting.
The picture still managed to draw her eye, even after she had spent the better part of the team's first day in the house committing it to memory. The painting beautifully depicted several different scenes of the girls taking on all of the different varieties of Grimm, and in spectacular fashion, killing them.
Last but not least was the table that they currently sat at. The table, which was crafted from only the purest of oaks, could easily sit up to eight people four on either of its sides. RWBY sat in order on one side, while Ozpin sat opposite Weiss on the other.
Blake spared a glance out of the corner of her eye at the white-haired girl who sat to her right. Weiss sat ramrod straight with a posture that was as ridged as concrete as her piercing ice-blue eyes stared directly at their former mentor. A small bead of sweat quickly rolled down past her ear where it was absorbed into the collar of her white-polyester suit. Her alabaster hair, which she normally wore in a sideways ponytail, was pulled back and allowed to fall freely down her back.
Blake had to admire just how quickly Weiss had shifted mindsets. Gone was the girl who just a few short minutes ago, was panicking about the prospect of their mentor arriving. In her place was a woman who was there for the sole purpose of conducting business, and she was not to be trifled with. I guess there's still some of the 'Ice Queen,' in there.
Beyond her was Ruby who, as far as Blake could tell, was doing everything that she could not to fidget in her seat. Ruby wore a suit that appeared to be a carbon copy of the one Weiss was wearing. Save for the color, which instead was a deep crimson.
She glanced over at Yang, who like her sister was doing her best to sit still. Albeit for a completely different reason, Ruby was obviously nervous. Yang, she could tell, was just bored.
Weiss cleared her throat, "While we thank you for the compliment, your call made it sound like you were coming to discuss a possible venture?"
Even her voice sounds cold. Blake looked back to Ozpin, who seemed to be struggling to hold back a smirk.
"Straight to the point as always Miss. Schnee," he finally let the smirk out. "Yes, I am here to discuss a, venture, as you so called it."
Weiss gave a small nod, "And what are the particulars?"
"It's all simple enough. There have been reports of a pack of Beowolves roaming around the edge of Forever Fall. I was hoping that you could scout the area, and if need be…deal with any Beowolves unfortunate enough to cross your path."
Blake felt a shiver crawl down her spine at the mention of that place. Despite its innate beauty she had come to hate the red forest. Largely due to the fact that it seemed like every time she went there all that came of it was nothing but pain and suffering for the young woman.
She was snapped back to the situation at hand as Weiss spoke.
"That's it?"
Ozpin paused, catching the Faunus's attention immediately. While she would never make the mistake of calling herself the man's friend, she did know him well enough to know that pregnant pauses almost never meant anything good.
"It is." He finally answered.
It was Weiss's turn to be silent for a few moments. Blake was sure the tension in the air could be cut with a knife as Weiss did her best to stare down the man in front of her. The only sound in the room came from their breathing and the monotonous ticking action of the grandfather clock as it painstakingly counted away the seconds.
They're not all going to be truthful, Weiss. We might as well start off that way.
After several more tense seconds Weiss broke the silence. "Okay. Now as for payment…"
"Ah, yes." Ozpin reached into his coat and pulled out a small envelope. Placing it on the table he slid it to Weiss. "I trust that that is enough?"
Blake watched as Weiss picked up the envelope, taking a peek inside. Whatever it was that she saw, it caused her to choke.
"I see that it is." Ozpin grabbed his cane as he stood from the table. He bowed to them all. "It's been a pleasure to see you all again."
Returning to his full height Ozpin pushed his glasses up his nose and took his leave.
None of the girls moved until they heard the front door close. Ruby was on top of Weiss in an instant.
"Weiss, are you alright?" Ruby asked her girlfriend as she pulled the envelope from Weiss's smaller hands. "How much is-oh dust!"
Blake smiled at hearing Ruby use Weiss's trademarked exclamation. I swear they rub off on each other more and more every day…
Yang was the next one to grab the envelope, having left her seat she quickly ripped it from her sister's stunned hands she looked inside and pulled out a check. "Huh, ten grand…"
Blake felt the color drain from her face at the sound of the number. It certainly wasn't unheard of for more well know hunter's and huntresses to get paid well over a hundred-thousand lien for some of their more dangerous commissions, but a group of fresh graduates making ten-thousand on their very first? Blake was pretty sure they had a better chance of winning the lottery.
She watched as Yang fussed with the envelope. She's not even effected by th-
"Hey wait there's something else in here!" The blonde exclaimed as she pulled a folded piece of paper out from within the envelope.
Weiss finally seemed to return to reality as she went to snap whatever it was away from Yang. Being the taller of the two, especially when Weiss was sitting, it was simple for Yang to keep the letter away from the white-haired girl.
"Let me see it you brute!" Weiss huffed, clearly more than a little annoyed at Yang's antics.
"Chill your horses princess and I'll read it to you." Yang replied sticking her tongue out at Weiss.
Weiss growled, which caused Blake to grab onto her shoulder. Normally she wouldn't interfere when Weiss wanted to throttle Yang, but, Yang had promised to take her to dinner tonight. And while it wasn't necessary, she would prefer that Yang actually be conscious for their date.
Blake turned her gaze to Yang, who seemed to be enjoying herself all too much as she slowly unfolded the paper.
"Yang." Blake warned her girlfriend, she flicked her feline-ears for added emphasis. While she wasn't like Weiss, she had to admit that her curiosity had gotten the better of her. The brawler upon hearing the Faunus's disapproving voice, finally lamented. Blake had to fight to keep the smirk off her face as she heard Yang mumble something about 'having fun.'
Yang cleared her throat, "Dear Team RWBY." She began, "I hope that this lien and this mission will help you in your quest to become the huntresses that you were born to be. P.S. Please contact me once you have finished your sweep."
"Huh," Yang blinked.
"What is it now?"
"Nothing, there's just a map of Forever Fall with a circle on it on the back of this note." Yang civilly handed the page to Weiss.
"Yes, well," Weiss stared at the papers in her hands, a thoughtful look on her face, before she looked to the clock. "It's just past eleven, the scouting area doesn't appear all that large," She looked to Ruby and then to Blake, "If you two get ready and leave now you can be to Forever Fall by noon and done by four."
Yang frowned, "Who said anything about doing it today? And why just Ruby and Blake, why don't we all go?" She challenged Weiss.
"Because, while it didn't seem to have any effect on you ten-grand is a big deal, especially for a first commission!" Weiss stood and turned on Yang. The former heiress did everything she could to appear larger than the blonde girl. "Yes, Ozpin never mentioned a timeframe, but the sooner we get it done the better. As for why I suggested Ruby and Blake do it, it's really quite simple. They're the fastest! They could cover that ground five times over in the time it took you and me to do it once!"
Blake had to admit that Weiss did have a point. She and Ruby were the fastest members of the team and they had done several scouting missions together before during their time at Beacon. So it was only logical that they go.
And Yang knows that, so why does it seem like that she's so against it?
Yang exhaled sharply drawing Blake's attention to where she stood locked in a stare down with Weiss. There was anger in her eyes, but beneath that there was something more, she just couldn't put her finger on it. Was it…concern?
"I don't care if there the fastest we can still go and hel-"
It was.
"We'd only slow them down, Yang!"
"I don't care!" Yang's eyes flashed red for the briefest of moments as she raged on. "Think about who gave us this! Ozpin hasn't always been completely truthful with us! For all we know they could go out there and find a whole den of Beowolves!"
"Yang, we've both taken out full dens before." Ruby spoke up from her position beside Weiss. She earned a heated red-glare from her sister for her trouble.
"I don't care. I'm going with you and that's final."
Yang turned and Blake found herself under Yang's gaze; the concern within her eyes now full blown. She had a flash back to the night before.
"What if I can't keep Ruby, Weiss, and you safe?"
Yang's words burned in her ears. So that's what this is. She was just about to say something when Yang looked away and quickly left the room.
Weiss placed her elbows on the table as she retook her seat; her delicate fingers rubbed slow circles around her temples. "I swear that girl…"
"Don't worry; I'll go talk to her." Ruby said as she gently patted Weiss on the shoulder.
"No," Blake finally rose from her chair, she locked eyes with Ruby. "Let me talk to her, I'm pretty sure I know what this is."
Ruby seemed hesitant.
Ruby, please! I know she's your sister but it has to be me this time!
She silently begged through her eyes for the red haired girl to understand. Whatever Ruby saw she must have liked because she finally spoke.
"Okay," Ruby nodded, and looked down at Weiss who met her gaze, a small smile gracing her lips.
Blake wasn't sure why, but in that moment, she knew that Ruby and Weiss knew. Though she was pretty sure that the white-themed girl had suspected something was up between her and her partner since their last morning at Beacon. Ruby she was certain had known for a while, perhaps even from the onset of Yang's feelings, given how close the two sisters were.
Then there was this morning…
Silver met amber for a second time. "What are you waiting for?"
After her brief discussion with Ruby, Blake made a b-line for Yang's room. She arrived just in time to see Yang pulling on her customary tank-top. The blonde was mumbling incoherently as she grabbed her boots from their position in the corner, she sat down and quickly went about putting them on. Blake watched on in silence as the blonde laced up her boots.
"Dammit," Yang muttered as she messed up a knot, she watched on as Yang's normally precise fingers clumsily failed to fix the mistake. "God dam…"
She cleared her throat.
"Blake?" Yang stopped in her tracks, her gaze shooting up to the door. The aforementioned girl could feel Yang's eyes examine her from head to toe.
"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be getting ready?" Yang asked the questions with a raised eyebrow.
"Not yet," She said as moved into Yang's room, she was sure to close the door behind her. Not for privacy she was sure Ruby and Weiss would remain downstairs and give her the chance to talk to with Yang privately. No, she wanted to feel closed off, like she and Yang were the only ones at home. The only ones in all of Vale.
She walked over to the queen-sized bed and promptly took a seat on its end beside Yang, whose eyes, she noted, never left her.
Getting comfortable she glanced over at her partner; she had to admit that she was amazed with the speed that Yang had managed to get changed into her combat attire. The only thing she was missing was her leather coat that was hanging limply against the back of her door.
"Blake, look…"
Blake, in a mirror of earlier events, silenced her partner by placing her hand over her mouth. She had come up here to talk, not to listen.
"I know that you're scared Yang." She looked deep into her partner's beautiful lilac eyes, "You're not alone though."
Yang's eyes asked the question her voice couldn't.
Blake took a deep breath to steel her resolve. Her idea had to work.
"Do you remember that night on the roof?"
Yang gave a short nod.
"I…I lied when I told you that I had gone up there to just reminisce." She sighed, here goes nothing. "That was only part of the reason. I went to the roof because I was afraid."
She could feel tears start to sting her eyes as she continued.
"I was terrified that I was about to lose the only home I had ever known." Her throat closed in on itself. "The only fam…"
She closed her eyes. You can do this, she told herself. Do it for her.
Blake opened her eyes again, surprised to find that Yang's eyes had become glassy with unshed tears.
"The only real family that I ever had," a stray tear rolled down her face. She flinched as she felt a calloused finger gently brush it away.
"I was so scared that I'd wind up alone again." She found she was unable to continue to meet Yang's gaze, not when it appeared that the blonde was on the verge of her own tears. She looked to the hardwood of the floor; her hand also fell away from the blonde's mouth. She was sure Yang wouldn't interrupt her until she was finished now.
She gave a watery laugh, "You might not believe it but last night was the best night's sleep I've had since we've got here. Every night before I was terrified to close my eyes for fear that I'd wake up and find out that this was all just one big dream."
Blake felt Yang cup her chin as the blonde gently turned her face up, amber met lilac. She could see the unspoken question in her partner's endless lilac pools. The Faunus nodded her consent. Hearing Yang's emotion filled voice clog her ears a moment later really made her wish that she hadn't.
"Why?"
She didn't hesitate.
"I could feel your heartbeat." She let out a shuddering breath, "I knew that it wasn't a dream."
Hardly a second passed before she was crushed against the blonde's chest. Blake buried her face admits the familiar golden curls that covered the crook of Yang's neck. She brought her arms up and wrapped them around Yang's back. She allowed herself to get lost in the warm comfort that Yang provided.
She held on tight, as the second's ticked away in silence. She knew that Yang was afraid that she and Ruby would go off and get themselves injured or worse. She did her best to repress a shudder at the thought. Another one soon took its place.
Am I trying to assure her or myself?
When she had first started the conversation that answer had been simple, now though…she really didn't know.
"Not to sound…uncaring," Yang started, breaking Blake away from her thoughts. "But why are you telling me this?"
Taking a deep breath of Yang's scent, Blake pulled back to look into her eyes. Tears in Yang's eyes or not she needed to be sure she got the message across.
"To show you that you aren't alone, we're all scared of things right now Yang. The reasons for those fears may be different but it's still something we're all feeling." She pleaded for Yang to understand. "None of us knows how this is going to work out and it's terrifying."
Yang was silent for a long while after she had finished. Blake couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not. Her partner's face had become unreadable. She just hoped that she had gotten through to her.
"Guess I…" Yang started as she released Blake from her grip, her hands dropping down to either side of her in order to brace herself against the bed. "I guess I never thought of it like that."
Blake smiled in relief; it appeared that she had gotten through to her. At least a little bit, anyway. She bumped her shoulder against Yang's. "That's why I'm here you big oaf."
Yang looked at her.
"I guess this is the part where you tell me I should stay here?"
She nodded, "We'll be fine Yang. Beowolves have never given either of us trouble, and if we run into more than we can chew we'll make a break for it."
"What if you can't get away though?"
She grabbed Yang's face and forced the brawler to look her in the eye. Both of their tears long since dry.
"We will be fine, okay?" She enunciated the words slowly in her best attempt to reassure her partner and herself. No sense in arguing that anymore. Yang still seemed unconvinced.
"Look I know you don't trust Ozpin, but I need you to trust me." That got the reaction she was looking for.
"I do trust you."
Blake smiled.
"Then it's settled then, Ruby and I will go take care of this while you stay here and assist Weiss."
Yang's brow furrowed, "Wait, assist Weiss with what?"
"The paperwork!"
Yang's expression deflated into a pout, "Are you sure I shouldn't go with you?"
Blake brought her in for a quick kiss, "No, you're staying here."
With that Blake stood and walked to the door, leaving a disgruntled Yang behind her. Opening the door she paused and turned back to her teammate.
"By the way Yang," She started, unable to keep the playful mirth out of her voice. She waited until Yang looked at her to continue, "I seem to remember you promising to take me to dinner tonight. I expect to be impressed when I get back."
She shot the blonde girl a wink and promptly left the room, re-closing the door behind her as she went.
Blake leaned back against the door as she heaved a heavy sigh. Her shoulders slumped. She knew having that talk with Yang would be taxing, but she didn't expect it to physically wear on her. She allowed herself a few moments of rest there against the solid wood of the door.
Taking one last breath she stood up straight and turned to head for her room, a determined aura surrounding her.
Time to get this done, she thought to herself before a small smile overcame her lips. Then I have a date.
AN: Well I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please let me know why, and if you didn't please feel free to do the same.
I will try and have the next chapter up by next Monday, but I make no promises. Especially considering that, while not giving anything away, the next chapter is it. No, not the end, that's much later, but it is when a very large and important plot point will be introduced. I will promise this, however, you won't go fifteen days without an update, that's all I can really say.
So, until next time, have a good night!