What is Love?
Moment VIII: Morning After
(Continuation of Moment IV).
Weiss felt the lull of sleep fade, as her face was met with the comfortable warmth and the glow of the early morning sun. What made it slightly annoying to the snoozing Heiress is that the sunlight never hits the right side of her face. Something doesn't feel quite right, but no matter, groaning in displeasure, she turned around fitfully and hid her face to what feels like a pillow.
Too bad her pillows never smelled like lavender. Or ever made her feel this warm.
She slowly opened her eyes, happy that the sunlight was behind her. But her eyes looked up to see the snoozing face of Blake.
Her normal instinct is to scream Atlesian profanities and jump out of bed, but right now she felt that there was no need.
Obviously there was nothing wrong about it definitely not. Blake appeared to be in deep sleep, as her ears moved up in down every so often, possibly intrigued with whatever she was dreaming about. It was kind of adorable. Her lips were parted slightly, and thankfully unlike Yang, the Faunus doesn't snore.
She tried not to jostle so much, lest she wants Blake to wake up. After all she did vaguely remember that she did in fact asked to bunk with Blake last night to watch movies with her. She probably fell asleep first and on top of Blake. It probably explains why she was still in Blake's bed, all wrapped up in her arms.
Heat rose to her cheeks, deeply aware of what kind of position she was in but force the thought out of her mind. It was much too early to be worrying over something like this.
'We just fell asleep.'
She reached up with her left hand to gently rub the dust out of her eyes, till she felt soft fabric rub against her skin.
When her eyes felt ready, she opened them again to see that there was ribbon wrapped around her wrist. It was one of the interwoven bracelets that she saw yesterday on Blair's booth, but as she vaguely remembered each bracelet was handmade and unique to the buyer.
And it was beautiful. Purple and blue ribbons interwoven in a plaits encircling a small blue bird gemstone, while bordered by smaller plaits of black and white ribbons.
She looked up to see that Blake was still blissfully asleep, but the hat returned to her cheeks in full force. Her mouth parted in shock.
'Blake had this handmade…for me?'
Weiss tried to wrap around her mind around it. And then blinked in realization, 'When she told me she had to go back…she was picking this up.'
The gift was gorgeous yes and she's being entirely too sweet…but this was too much!
'But why would Blake give this to me? And not while I was awake?'
Weiss slowly sat up from the bed and let the sheets pool around her waist, she gently pried Blake's loose arm away and stood up to get some much needed air. If it wasn't for her troubling thoughts, she'd crawl back into bed. She made her way into the bathroom and slowly paced back and forth after she locked the door behind her.
'What was the point behind it?'
Gratitude? For staying with Blake for spring break, when she could be at Atlas in an empty home for two weeks? Doubtful…
Blake already profusely showed her gratitude in anyway, but a gift this expensive, doesn't seem to fit for that occasion. She wracked her brain for some sort of answer. It doesn't make any sense!
'This gift, I could only see this happening if someone was giving this to their…'
And that's when it hit her.
"Lover?"
She unlocked the door, and looked over to the bed, Blake was still asleep, but seemed slightly upset in her dream-like state. Weiss bit her lip, and closed the door once more.
Was Blake…enamored by her?
That can't possibly be it…They…they're not close like that. Weiss denied. They did work out their differences, and over the course of their first semester, Weiss did put her best effort to be more accommodating to Blake's Faunus nature. And as always Blake was reciprocal with the gestures. Probably with more subtlety and grace than what Weiss can do. She recalled, brief but possible fleeting moments of the two of them, just being side by side, flashing rare smiles that only seem to happen without the presence of their respective partners.
The feeling of warm amber eyes, whenever she wasn't looking. There used to be hesitation in those eyes, but never hostility, never predatory. Just gentle caution, even loving warmth.
She could've not be so blind, but in those moments, maybe she did want to enjoy it. Weiss felt stupefied when she remembered that she did in fact went out of her way to get Blake a book that the Faunus might enjoy. And it was one of her favorite classics.
Not to mention her…daring choice to stay in Beacon with Blake, just on a whim. Weiss shook her head and huffed. It's not on a whim anymore, considering that she's still here, when instead what she could've done is just called Blake everyday while she was at Atlas, instead of keeping her company. That was probably the most acceptable solution.
But Weiss knew better, she wanted to be a better teammate, and a better friend. Leaving a teammate alone for two weeks, that is unacceptable.
Of course, what else can it look like from afar? And she can't deny that she did had one of the most restful sleep in her life. She could deny it and say it was because it was because the lack of snoring from Yang, and the muttering of Ruby at night.
No, she had to admit it was because of the warmth of Blake's arms, keeping her tucked gently on top of Blake's chest.
The heat was rising to her cheeks, she squeezed her eyes shut, to force the thoughts away. It's so damning, and nerve-wracking and it's entirely too early to think about this. And mostly certainly…she doubt it work out…
She looked down to the ribbon on her wrist, suddenly feeling the weight of the gift on her left wrist.
'I can't accept this…'
Weiss steeled herself, and opened the door once more and slowly made her way back to the bed. Weiss had to find out of it was true of not. From the slightly shaking of the bed, Blake was bound to wake up soon. She gingerly sat on the edge of the bed, and waited silently for Faunus to wake.
Thankfully it wasn't too long, Blake woke up with a big yawn, showing the slighted pointed canines in the morning sun. She sat up to rub her eyes, and saw that Weiss was awake.
When Weiss saw the Faunus stretch, there was a brief moment where Blake flashed her a very sleepy smile; it was pretty rare of the Faunus to look so relaxed. There was actually more times that Blake woke up alarmed, on her feet with her hands raised in a fight; or woken up straight from a nightmare.
Is it merely a coincidence that Blake is calmer around her? Or on the other hand is she that much of a sadist that she needs to prod her friend to fill her insatiable need for answers?
Blake looked up sleepily at her, "Weiss… you okay? Did you have a bad dream?"
'How many did you have, but I didn't dare to ask?' Weiss thought, feeling waves of guilt overwhelm her for the briefest moment. 'This I exactly why I shouldn't have this conversation with her right now…'
Instead she smiled and patted the top of Blake's head while being mindful of her ears, "I slept fine, but your hair right now resembles a hedgehog."
Blake gave a half-hearted glare, "If you're going to compare me to an animal at least make it cat related like a lion at least, and my hair is not as bad as Yang's."
"Ah, but Yang isn't here now is she?"
More grumbling from the grumpy Faunus, Weiss pried the sheets off of Blake to get her moving. While the Faunus moped her way to the bathroom, Weiss finally got to let out the breath she was holding. When she glanced at the mirror, she noticed she was smiling affectionately. Shaking her head, she smacked her cheeks lightly to wake herself up from this stupor she was under.
"I must be going mental." She reasoned. "And I need to get dressed."
The hiss of the shower was enough to know that Blake was unlikely to be listening in to her crazed ramblings. At least in her mind, it sounded like crazed ramblings. Weiss showered and dressed quickly and was currently in the process of tying her hair when Blake smoothly came out of the bathroom dressed and ready the day. She was looking at Weiss with a cat-like gin from the mirror. Weiss blushed but did not admonish the Faunus, eyeing her but it wasn't predatory.
"Your hair."
"What about it?"
"It's still not dressed." Blake appeared right behind her, her own hand ready to touch Weiss's alabaster hair. "Would you like me to dress your hair again?"
Blake pulled back immediately when she caught Weiss's slight pained expression. A slight flinch away from the touch. Faunus ears swiveled back and forth in confusion, but nonetheless gave Weiss a bit of space. Despite being allowed to dress the Heiress's hair yesterday for the festival, of course doesn't mean she earned the right to do it every day.
"I'm sorry."
Weiss cursed at herself. "No I'm sorry. I didn't mention it before…I'm…sensitive about my hair."
Blake cracked a smile, "So you do have something in common with Yang."
Then, just as the tension arrived it disappeared with Weiss's indignant scowl, "You will not speak of this in front of her."
"Of course. Do you want me to head down to the cafeteria first then?"
Weiss breathed, "That would be for the best for now."
Blake nodded and retreated to the hall way. Weiss stopped her before she was just out of earshot.
"Blake?"
"Weiss, it's the same with my Faunus ears. I don't hold it against you, now hurry up before they run out of Tuna Melt." She replied smoothly.
"And thank you Blake, for the bracelet I mean."
And there was a sight that Weiss though she would never see, Blake was blushing. Her Faunus ears that was concealed by the bow was perked up in surprise, and her feet stumbled awkwardly like she was pushed back by the gratitude.
"I uh- of course. I just…wanted to thank you for being here with me. It means a lot to me." Blake said pulling her scarf over her mouth to hide the smile that appeared on her lips.
Weiss felt satisfied with the answer as Blake walked away. However, when she disappeared, Weiss felt a wave of disappointment.
Why was she disappointed at Blake's response?
Weiss looked at the mirror and stared at her reflection, she noticed her expression was troubled almost frustrated. Pursed lips, deeply knitted eyebrows. She knows that she only looks like that when things don't ever go her way.
'Is it because I heard what I needed to hear, but not what I truly want to hear?'
Weiss forced herself to finish getting dressed, and walked briskly toward the cafeteria where Blake was waiting for her.
'I'll just keep an eye on her if anything changes. But for now, why ruin such good thing on just an assumption? I care for her, and she cares for me, just like a team…'
"So what should we do today?"
Blake looked up from her sandwich and cocked her head to the side, "I'm really not sure. If you weren't here, I was going to just read, sleep, and repeat. I just needed to get more books."
Weiss hummed in reply, understanding that Blake's likes and dislikes are very small in comparison to her own.
"Do you like sweets?"
"I'm…yeah when I can."
"When you can?"
"I didn't steal Dust for sweets Weiss," Blake joked, but seeing the glare made her rescind her statement, "Sorry, I just mean, I don't always have the time to enjoy sweets. I don't mean to bring down the mood, but why is that important if I like sweets or not?"
"I didn't have the time to eat sweets either…I was thinking if we can try something…new together."
Blake tried to swallow down the tuna that was threatening to lodge in her throat, but came out like a weak cough, "Like what?"
"How about trying to make a cake together?"
Blake burst out laughing, "But why a cake?"
"I never baked, or made anything that wasn't served to me. And I'm guessing it's the same for you." A sharp eyebrow raised.
Blake shrugged, "…You're right. We can try to make it, I can't guarantee its going to taste great."
Luckily, the cafeteria lady was kind enough to spare some cake supplies for the two girls. Apparently, Ozpin pulled some string to have a caring staff to stay to keep an eye to the sparse amount of student that are attending Beacon for Spring Break. Blake and Weiss thanked the kind lady for her time, and trudged off to the nearest common room. There was a common room that was empty with a stove and all the kitchen supplies that they needed.
Weiss insisted that they try a strawberry cake, Blake insisted something far simpler, like a chocolate cake. But because Blake was a sucker for Weiss, she relented the choice in Weiss's favor.
Turns out baking was such a difficult feat.
"Are you sure it's supposed to be this much?"
"Blake, I load fire Dust in my rapier every day, I think I know how much sugar is needed for a cake!"
Blake rolled her eyes, "I mean, but you already broke like 4 eggs, we only have so much."
"And you keep drinking the milk we are supposed to use for the cake. And the cream Blake!"
Blake had nerve to at least look guilty. Her ears were flat against her scalp and she bit her lip under the long canine of hers.
"It's good quality." She pouted. Her pink lips jutted out slightly, and amber eyes flickered back from Weiss and to the ground. Weiss then felt invisible hands squeeze her heart. But it wasn't painful, it was something else she can't describe at all… but she had to look away because that was just too cute.
"I…just don't drink all of it, at least save a cup or two." Weiss muttered trying to do everything in her power to not blush, and went back to adjusting the amount of sugar she was adding. And Blake was right, she did add a little too much into the bowl. She peered over her shoulder to see Blake going back to her nth cup of milk and had a serene smile on her face.
Weiss muttered a silent thanks to the Maidens that Blake didn't catch her lingering gaze. She quickly finished setting up the dry ingredients for the cake, and handed Blake the bowl and instructed her to mix it gently while prepped the cake pan and to preheat the oven.
The Faunus wordlessly started her task, letting her tongue stick out in focus. But she was borderline spilling it all over the kitchen counter. Weiss rolled her eyes and fell into step behind Blake's body. She reached over and paused Blake's now cake-batter covered hands, and told her to stop he messy mixing.
"Do you mix a bowl like how you cut an Ursa?" The Heiress quipped.
Dubious, Blake averted her gaze while casually licking her finer clean of the cake batter, "Isn't that what we're supposed to do?"
"Insufferable dunce! Okay, scoot over so I can try it then!"
She bumped hips with Blake to move her over, and seized control of the mixing bowl and stared the task of turning the cake batter over and over to get the consistency right. Blake didn't move far from her original position.
Instead she chose to peer over Weiss's shoulders and watched her work. So much for a lack of personal space. Not that Weiss was complaining, she welcomed it by prattling on "proper" mixing technique to Blake as she stirred. Of course the Faunus was only half-listening, but only keening in just to hear Weiss's voice for what it was. Prissy, demanding, but soft and light when she was kind and calm.
If she had it her way right now, she'd wrap her arms around Weiss's petite waist and pull her close to her front. She would enjoy the feel the silk of her white hair against her cheeks, the scent of her shampoo, and the very subtle thumps of her heart beat against her corset. Weiss would giggle and try to resume her work, but no Blake wanted to be selfish and hold her right here. Tickle her with her purrs, and just be in the moment with her.
Just seeing the bracelet she bought for her on her wrist at the current moment, was enough to make her smile giddily. She knew her feeble lie, is passable at best. It's a small comfort though, at least in the smallest way possible, she can show her feelings for Weiss.
Maybe if she dared. She'd kiss her even though they were both sticky with cake-batter, wouldn't it make it all so much sweeter?
But she can't.
Blake pulled her self away so that she was pressed against the opposite counter, in order to stop herself from acting on her imaginations. Her jaw was clenched and her hands were curled over the edge, and she could feel her nails scrape against the granite.
"-lake?"
'Have you no self-control Blake? Are you that deprived?'
Self-loathing the obvious fall back. It won't happen. And it could never happen. She can't be selfish, not when there's already a good thing going right now.
It wouldn't be fair for Weiss. Ultimately it wouldn't be fair for her to cling on to false hope when she doesn't even know Weiss's preferences. Tall, strong, and possibly a male.
'Am I doomed to love the wrong person for the rest of my life? Is that what this will come to?'
"Blake?"
She perked up at the sound of her name, she met Weiss's gaze and noticed that the look was concerned.
"You look like someone killed your favorite character of your love novels in the worst way possible." Weiss said plainly, "Are you okay? I already finished putting the cake into the oven, all we have to do is just wait for about an hour."
"Sorry, thinking about how it's a shame that it took so much time to make it and it'll be gone in like minutes.
Weiss observed her friend's gestures. Her posture wasn't relaxed as it was moments ago. Her ears were swiveling back and forth, but it appeared that she didn't hear Weiss calling out to her before. Her hands were tight against the countertop judging by taught muscles under her ribbons.
And her lips-
'Wait why was she staring at them?'
It was getting nibbled on too tightly by Blake's fangs.
"Blake!" Weiss stepped closer to wave a hand in front of her face.
Blake blinked and realized how strange she looked by her posture and behavior. She needed to push her away before Weiss can find out. And she needed to do it quick.
"The cake is going to take forever." Such a pathetic lie.
Weiss rolled her eyes, but something seemed to wash over them just briefly but Blake couldn't catch it. "It's only for an hour, I'm going to go back and get cleaned up, are you going to stay here?"
Amber eyes look at the dirty dishes and then back to Weiss, "I'll go ahead and clean up here, since you did most of the work."
Weiss opened her mouth more to retort, but looking at the state of the kitchen, she really just wanted to shower and lounge on the couch for the cake.
"Fine. We are talking about this later."
With a turn of a hip, she walked off leaving Blake alone gratefully for the moment.
Inside the shower, Weiss let the water wash over her, as she took several deep breaths, willing her mind to wrap around what ever happened just moments ago.
She did promised herself that she would look into Blake's impossible behavior that has her mind going in circles all morning.
Weiss gently tapped her forehead against the wall. Blake had her moments of complete tenderness; that she didn't know that a Faunus could ever had. All Blake did that morning was stand in a room with her baking cake for Maiden's sake. But even then, when Blake looked at her with a gentle smile, or with her insufferable amused grin, it was enough to make Weiss's heartbeat race and at the same time make her heart beat calm.
When she pulls away, her face clenched in inner torment, it sent daggers through Weiss's heart.
"She's driving me mad."
'Why must you be so difficult Blake? Why must you make it harder on yourself?'
And Blake Belladona better say what's on her mind soon, otherwise Weiss herself might just blurt out more stuff that she won't mean.
After Weiss left the shower, Blake smoothly went inside, avoiding all possibility of having a conversation with the girl for just a little while longer.
By the time Blake came out, the cake was already finished, and the pair reconvened in the small kitchen to try out their creation.
The already wary Faunus opted to take the first bite, and immediately regretted her decision.
Absolutely horrid. Weiss too tried their creation and had a similar reaction. They spat out and raced to wash their tongues with water. For huntresses how would they fair if they had to be stuck in the Emerald forest and had to forage for food?
Survival aside from fighting Grimm, the pair hoped it would never come to that case. So instead they settled for ordering one to be shipped to Beacon Academy (of course not canon) as quickly as possible to satiate their disturbed taste buds.
But all the while they giggled. Much like their food fight war with Team JNPR, Weiss really wouldn't settle for anything perfect, but when friends are thrown in the mix, she finds joy in the messy adventures that come with.
"Can't believe we have to resort to buying cake, just to eat cake." Blake mumbled as she spooned another mouthful of proper cake into her mouth. "Why didn't we think of this a while ago?"
"I think combat practice was easier than baking." Weiss added, as she ate from the same plate as Blake. They didn't want to wash more dishes for two sets of plates and cutlery. At least that's what Weiss surmised, when Blake only brought one plate with two forks.
"What are the odds that Yang and Ruby are better cooks or bakers than us?" The black-haired girl jested lightly.
With a mournful groan, Weiss buried her head in her hands, "Perish the thought. Yang and Ruby would never let us live it down."
Blake only laughed and continued to munch on their treat. They ate silently while the TV made background noises, completely content to eating their reward after toiling away in the kitchen for only about 2 hours.
Every once in a while, she looked over to see Weiss fiddling with the bracelet every so often. As if to check if it was still there. Other times Weiss would be smiling while she touched it, but that could just be coincidence.
The Faunus promised herself … and technically Blair that if she just enjoyed herself and stopped worrying things will be okay. She just has to trust that.
"Don't think I forgot about the conversation Blake."
'Straight to the point aren't we Weiss?'
Blake cleared her throat and looked up to Weiss, her eyes hopefully having some semblance of calm. She smoothly tried to maintain her distance by putting the table in between them, sliding the dirty dishes in the sink. And when she was done, her nails by default went straight for the edge to keep her grounded.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Why do you keep walking away from me like that? Is this about me staying here?" Weiss demanded sharply. She stood up quick enough to push the chair back, enough to alarm the Faunus.
"It's not that..." Blake reminded, trying to keep her voice even.
"Then why do you keep pulling away from me? What did I do that was wrong?"
Guilt.
Weiss stepped closer, while Blake took a step back. But she still kept walking forward, until a wall stopped Blake from retreating any further.
"What happened with being honest with me Blake? We agreed that we would talk about any issues that was underlying between us."
"Weiss, it's nothing to be concerned about."
"Then why do you look absolutely tortured sometimes when I'm the only one around? And then next time I look, you look at peace?" Weiss said, "What am I supposed to think?"
Blake threw her hands in the air and completely exasperated, "Maidens Weiss, what do you want me to say? I'm trying here! You're here and I'm fine with that!"
"Then..."
"Weiss. Please." She begged, and she never beg. The shorter girl said no more, seeing that she was pushing Blake too far. The last time that happened, the Faunus ended up running off for about 12 hours with Sun. Not that she was happy about it. Not one bit.
Her inner musings about that significant day was broken, when she felt a warm hand on her cheek. Mindful of her nails, Blake traced the outside of her face gently, and by any means trying to convey her feelings through touch alone. Weiss stiffened but did not pull away from the feather-like touch. Her azure orbs tried to read any fleeting emotion in the taller woman's own amber orbs.
The Faunus eyes glowed with warning, danger and a bit of something else that Weiss could no describe. It was exhilarating being this close to her. Her line of sight aimed toward Blake's now swollen lip. No doubt from being bitten over and over again.
"I want to know Blake. I wouldn't be here I didn't care…"
"And that's just the problem."
Honestly this chapter took awhile, and I still don't think it's the best one I could've done. But I tried.
And sorry for the hiatus for the summer, because I do have to go back on hiatus because I have school again next week. Yay me.
So any questions, comments, concerns, feelings, thoughts, issues, let me know!
-Okaami-chin