Take Your Time – Sam Hunt

Present Day

Alert eyes were open wide while they stared at the darkness.

To her left, Blake took note of her girlfriend, Iliya, who slept soundly. To her right, she took note of the time that seemed to mock her.

2:39 AM

She couldn't get back to sleep.

She looked about the cozy room; her excellent night vision was greatly attributed to her Faunus heritage. Amber eyes caught sight of some of the picture frames that lined the shelves.

The TV that sat on top of the dresser at the other end of the room.

The big mirror that was hung up on the wall.

The few potted plants that sat on their windowsill.

The shirt she wore that once belonged to Yang.

Blake stared down at the shirt, maybe this was why she couldn't get back to sleep – her thoughts kept racing back to that rambunctious blond and her impeding arrival in the early morning.

It's been a year and a half since the two saw each other in person. Blake rolled her eyes when she got word that Yang had chosen to extend her contract with the Huntsman for an extra six months.

Blake also remembers smiling in relief when she heard that the knucklehead finally had enough of life out in the desert and wanted to come home.

The Faunus looked back over at the sleeping form next to her.

Yang never had to say it, but Blake knew why she left Vale for the desert.

I don't know if you were looking at me or not. You probably smile like that all the time.

Present Day

A certain blond smiles to herself while she browses through some old photos on her scroll.

A goofy photo of her and Ruby attempting to eat 150 chicken wings in 30 minutes at their favorite pub in downtown Vale.

Weiss getting pushed into the pool by Yang with Ruby in the background attempting to bite back a laugh.

Blake and Yang taking their first photo together after the former Agent moves back to Vale.

A group picture of everyone together at Nora's birthday party, Blake and Iliya clearly seen beaming with something else – the two had announced to the group their new relationship status just moments before the picture. Yang already knew before they broke the news since she watched the moment unfold… but she kept that to herself and wore a happy face for the new couple.

Yang stops on the next photo.

She discretely snapped a photo of Blake sleeping (passed out drunk from Nora's party) on the couch. To most others who would look at this picture, they wouldn't see anything except for a sleeping Faunus. But to Yang, it was there, that thing Blake does that captivates the blond no matter what the circumstance or situation is. That slight upward twitch on the Faunus' lips – that content smile.

Oum, she'll always look stunning when she smiles.

The old boxer was glad that the two had managed to re-connect and rebuild their friendship.

Your eyes are so intimidating, my heart is pounding but it's just a conversation.

2 years and 2 months ago

Her hands kept shaking – so she clenched them into a tight fist.

It still didn't help the shaking.

She takes a deep breathe in, shuts her eyes, and then counts to five.

Blake Belladonna's thumb hovered over the call icon on her Scroll. It's dark outside, but she doesn't bother to turn the lights on in her new apartment. The glow from her screen is like a firefly against the night sky.

Yang Xiao Long's name is labeled clearly next to the number.

A tense ringing fills the room; each ring is like a jackhammer that matches the pace of Blake's heart.

"H-Hello?"

Blake bit back a squeak, she hasn't heard this voice in so long.

"Hello?" The hesitation's gone.

"Hey." Blake forces out before Yang could hang up.

"Is… Why- What's up?" The worlds fumble through the speaker.

"I… I wanted to talk." Blake leans her head back on the wall she's sitting up against.

An exasperated breathe echoes out, "Talk?"

"Yeah."

"It's… do you know how long it's been?"

Blake stares up at the dark ceiling, "10 months."

"Yeah…"

"I'm sorry."

The voice remains silent.

"I shouldn't have cut you out like that, I don't expect much after this phone call, but I just… I just needed to tell you that I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry." Blake closed her eyes, she let the one small lie escape from her lips.

It's still silent. Blake grows worried that the line is dead.

"I'm still here."

She let's out a breathe of relief that she didn't she was holding, a small chuckle could be heard on the line – Yang heard it.

"Blake… I accept your apology."

"Thank you."

Down her cheeks ran tears of relief.

"I'm sorry, too."

"For what?" Blake's voice is tight, but she forces herself to not let it be heard. The back of her hand wipes at her cheek, but it's all for naught.

The tears keep coming.

"For everything."

I don't want to steal your freedom. I don't want to change your mind.

1 year, 11 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days ago

Yang sips her drink while watching the scene in front of her.

Her and Blake had been together non-stop since she landed in Vale two days ago.

And with that, Yang picked up on something else – Iliya Amitola.

"Just wanted to drop this off before I forget completely." Iliya hands over the crockpot; apparently Blake had left it at Iliya's apartment a few days ago. "I wanted to drop it off last night, but you were busy."

Blake looks over at Yang, the blonde's currently sitting at the kitchen bar while nursing a cup of tea. The two were out all night at the Vale over look point. After wards, Blake took Yang back to her apartment – the two were absolutely exhausted from staying up all night. The blonde slept on her couch while Blake promptly knocked out on her bed.

They spent the whole night having a much-needed conversation.

"Yeah, we had a lot of catching up to do."

Watching the corner of her lips tug into that small grin, it was better than any Christmas gift Yang had ever opened.

"We did." Yang smiles back at her friend.

Yang Xiao Long made a decision.

No matter what happens, she will always be glad that Blake is back in her life.

Even if she has to watch Iliya make those damn eyes at Blake.

I don't have to take your heart. I just wanna take your time.

1 year, 11 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days ago

"Thank you… for coming back." Blake's voice is quiet.

"I can't throw away this friendship, no matter what happens." Yang responds in a low whisper, "You mean a lot to me, you always will."

"You mean a lot to me, too."

Their words blend in with the soft chirping that surrounds them on that over look point, the city painted against the Valesian mountain has this ethereal glow that takes these soft whispers and locks it away safely some where – to some place where promises are always kept.

Soft hues from the early morning sun frame the skyline – all Blake can see are the color of her lilac eyes and suddenly she's unable to look away from the view. That beautiful color of amethyst unique to two things: this sunrise and the woman next to her.

The warmth of that first ray's light hit their faces and the sky sets ablaze in a dull orange color. Yang closes her eyes to feel what she thinks is the city's caress on her cheeks, the first Valesian sunrise she's felt in a year. But as soon as her gaze flutters open, she see's gold – piercing amber that chases away the remaining traces of the night sky.

For a moment, Yang craves the caress of Blake, but just as quickly as the moment came she buries the feeling.

"Yang…" Blake's heart felt light and within her a tidal wave of courage washed through, "Adam was a mistake."

The former Agent looks over at her friend, Yang didn't want to bring up the topic herself, so she felt such relief when Blake initiated the subject, "How?" The old boxer had a hunch of what was going on, Ruby's a shit liar.

The Faunus took a deep breath to steady herself, "He… hit me… and his words… Oum… I hate his words…" The swell of courage washed away, "He… I let him take… so much… from me… and it's- I –" Blake gripped the railing even harder, going through every ounce of power she had left to keep going.

Cinnamon - The smell of her safe haven.

Those strong arms envelope her whole body and for that moment Blake can feel how complete everything is. The writer presses closer to Yang, erasing the lines where her body ended and the boxer's began. She buries her nose into the crook of Yang's shoulder, nuzzling further into the feeling of security and relief.

Yang can feel the growing dampness on her shirt; she clenches her jaw and rubs her hand on Blake's back – taking special care to rub the spot between her shoulder blades because that area helps soothe the weeping Faunus the best.

"I'm sorry for not being here when you needed me." Yang didn't notice the lone tear until she heard her own voice crack.

"No…" Blake's tight voice comes out in a choked whisper, "You're right where I need you to be… which is with me right now."

A/N

I'm sure most of you have noticed by now that a common theme in this story is whether or not you stay in someone's life after breaking up with them. I personally think it's possible, it's just going to be a little bit rough for a bit before you hit a sense of normal. I also think it makes for good story telling when trying to explore that dynamic - I haven't seen too many RWBY fics that go down these angsty roads so I figured I'd try my hand at it.

GrnDrgnZrd - Thanks for letting me know that :)

Purplemusicnote - I'm here for you at the end of the day, I mean it when I say that I want to tell good stories for those that want to listen :D

Hope you enjoyed this update!

Cheers,

DevilRed