Weiss paced outside the door to her room. She had sent Blake upstairs to wait in her room as soon as they had returned. Then, Pyrrha and Weiss had an emergency discussion about the politics of the events that took much longer than Weiss had anticipated. By the time Weiss had finally asked Neptune to escort Pyrrha home, Blake had been left alone for four hours.

Weiss had to apologize. She knew that. But apologies didn't come easy for her.

There was a moment, the moment when Blake had jumped between her and a dagger, where Weiss heart had almost stopped in fear. And then there was the image of Blake charging at a Faunus twice her size holding a chainsaw! And then Blake had to go attack a few other gun-wielding, dangerous criminals, throwing herself into danger like that.

Weiss would have nightmares about those moments for weeks to come.

Then, there was the look on Blake's face at the end. That look of disbelief and shattered hopes. That wasn't what Weiss wanted for Blake. She wanted that wishful, carefree Blake that was shy and oh so adorably cute. Weiss had killed that Blake because of a few past demons.

She just needed to apologize. It was fine. Everything was fine. Weiss fingered the necklace in her hand. It was fine. She could do this. Resolute, she put the necklace on.

Weiss put a hand over her heart. It was beating faster than it ever had.

Breathe.

At last, Weiss opened the door.

She was greeted by the sight of Blake kneeling on the ground, head bowed, facing the door.

"Lady Weiss," Blake greeted, her voice trembling slightly.

Weiss deflated at the address. She didn't... she wasn't Blake's mistress.

But then, Blake continued.

"I didn't steal anything," Blake blurted out, her words slurring in their tumble out of her mouth. "Well I sort of did but it was because— it was for a good reason. I heard someone pulling a trigger and suddenly the sword was in my hand. I was just borrowing it. I didn't attack anyone — well, I didn't attack that shopkeeper at least and I really honestly cross my heart didn't know anything about the attack." Blake inhaled and exhaled sharply. "I swear."

It was nothing Weiss didn't already know.

"Get up," Weiss said softly, not able to bear the image of Blake kneeling to her any longer.

Blake scrambled to her feet, but kept her head bowed.

Weiss stepped forward and pushed Blake slightly until the Faunus was sitting on the edge of the bed. Then, Weiss sat herself on Blake's lap and slowly enveloped her arms around the stiff, trembling girl, resting her own chin on Blake's shoulders and twirling the ends of Blake's black hair around her fingers.

"Hush," Weiss soothed, "I know. I'm s— "

I'm sorry.

But she couldn't say it. The words were stolen from her the moment they tried to leave her lips. Her heart grabbed the words by their tails, pulling them back down her throat. As much as they wanted to leave, as much as she wanted to sooth, she couldn't say it.

Not without cutting away a piece of herself and gifting it to Blake. And she couldn't do that.

Not yet.

"I trust you." Weiss said instead into Blake's ear.

Blake had saved her life.

At that, Weiss felt something wet drop onto her shoulder. She froze, a sharp pain stabbing her heart. She pulled back quickly to look at the girl.

Blake was crying.

"Hey hey— why are you crying?" Weiss exclaimed, using her thumb to brush away Blake's tears as best as she could while they kept falling. "I'm not going to hurt you— I'm not punishing you."

"Oh, no," Blake blinked, using her own sleeves to dab away at her tears furiously. "I'm sorry," she spoke between gasps. "I'm just so relieved."

"Hush," Weiss whispered, sinking her body back into Blake's. It felt so comfortable— holding the Faunus. "It's alright now."

"Alright," Blake mewed, still wiping away at the corners of her eyes.

"Hey, seriously, don't cry." Weiss laughed slightly, "You crybaby," Weiss added fondly.

"I'm sorry," Blake repeated, pulling back from Weiss slightly. That was when Blake's sharp eyes caught the glimmer of silver dangling on a chain around Weiss' neck.

Wait, that symbol looked familiar.

Was that?

"Is that…" Blake's voice trailed off and her hand moved Weiss' neck, grabbing the charm in her fingers to maneuver it for better visibility. "That's— that's my emblem."

Weiss blushed and looked away. "Oh is it? Really? What a coincidence. I just bought it today in the village since it looked nice."

Blake blinked. "You're wearing my emblem."

"Yeah well," Weiss coughed, "It was actually pretty cheap, so if you want it…" Weiss' voice trailed off, her eyes still looking anywhere but at Blake.

"Really?" Blake's voice exuded her excitement but then she deflated, her ears flattening against her head. "Faunus aren't allowed to wear jewellery."

Faunus weren't allowed to have possessions period.

Weiss' eyes widened, revealing her surprise momentarily. Weiss had forgotten about that bit of information. "It's alright. You can wear it. If anyone says otherwise I'll just tell them I'll punish you for stealing or something." Weiss reassured quickly.

"No," Blake declined, smiling. "It's alright. It would clash with my collar anyways." Blake explained, fingering the tag with Weiss' emblem on it.

"But—" Weiss started protesting. That would defy the purpose. She bought the damn thing for Blake to wear in the first place!

"It's alright," Blake interrupted, surprised at her own moment of impulsiveness. She just interrupted her own mistress. But at the playful look in Weiss eyes, she continued. "I kinda like seeing you wear it, for some odd reason." Blake explained, sporting a blush of her own.

"Oh," Weiss responded, staring at Blake.

Oh.

Weiss decided Blake wearing a blush was Weiss' favourite expression. The blush brought out Blake's features — her bright eyes, her long eyelashes, the wisps of hair just brushing the contours of her face, her full, perfect lips…

Weiss was all at once overwhelmed with the urge to kiss the Faunus, to kiss Blake.

She couldn't kiss Blake. That— no, she was nothing like Cardin.

And Blake, Blake was far too precious.

With extreme self-control, Weiss pulled herself off Blake, moving away from the bed. Blake's expression muted, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Sorry," Blake apologized without really knowing what she was apologizing for. "Was that weird? Pretend I didn't say that. You don't have to wear it if you don't want to."

"Blake," Weiss said, trying to focus.

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow, you're training with Neptune."

"Training?"

"Yeah, Gambol Shroud, you were ridiculously good with it. It'd be foolish not to nourish your abilities."

"Oh, wait what?" Blake questioned. "Slaves aren't allowed even touching weapons!"

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Blake, you don't have to pretend to be so righteous. I know you've definitely broken that rule before. There's no way you were that good at fighting without ever having handled a weapon before."

Blake's figure visibly shrunk. "I never broke that rule."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Then how did you learn? You can't convince me that you're just some genius." Weiss crossed her arms. "I can't possibly meet two geniuses in one lifetime," she muttered under her breath.

"I learned before I was taken." Blake responded.

"Oh," Weiss felt foolish. "Right," Weiss coughed. "Well, now you get to learn again. Just don't go around telling people I supply my slaves with weapons, alright?"

"Al— alright." Blake stammered, shifting her gaze.

"What?" Weiss commented.

"Nothing," Blake replied.

Weiss' expression fell. "Please don't lie to me, not when I trust you as much as I do."

Blake sharpened. "I just meant that it was nothing of importance, Lady Weiss." At Weiss' second crestfallen expression, Blake amended, "Weiss."

"Well I want to know what it was," Weiss prodded.

Blake fidgeted.

"Am I your slave?" she asked finally.

"Technically yes, but effectively no." Weiss answered honestly. "I won't force you to do things you don't want to do and you can leave any time you want to, just tell me so that I can remove your collar."

"Okay," Blake said thoughtfully. "Am I your pet then?"

Weiss winced. "I've never thought of you as my pet. But I guess I am sort of taking care of you and stuff."

"I see," Blake said. "Can I think of you as my friend then?" she asked finally, after a moment's silence.

Weiss' heart swelled with emotion and Weiss had to bite her lip to force down tears. Cocking her head to the side, she smiled.

"Of course you can."