"Where are we?" Blake asked, tensed and still. Her eyes kept darting left and right. There were so many people here. She'd never make it out alive if they found out she was a Faunus. Nervously, she lifted the black scarf around her neck, tightening it like a noose. It hid her collar — something that Blake was oddly ashamed of. She liked her collar, she liked Weiss' emblem.
"Chill, we won't go very far," Yang reassured, dragging Blake around the block. "The food stand should be right around— ah, there!" Yang tugged Blake harder. "Welcome to the best food you'll ever eat under ten lien in Vale." Yang beamed, gesturing at the stand. The sign read "A Simple Wok".
"Okay?" Blake said hesitantly, taking a seat nonetheless.
Yang took the seat beside Blake's. "I phoned a couple other people, they'll be joining us too."
Blake's eyes widened. "What? Why?" As far as Blake was concerned, the less people, the better.
"Yang," a familiar hyper-active voice sang.
Blake turned to see Nora and two other male figures she didn't recognize.
"Nora!" Yang stood up to high five her red-haired friend. Then she stepped back, "Wait, wait," she said, gesturing to Blake. "Ren," she pointed to the black-haired quiet boy, "Jaune," she pointed to the grinning blond-haired boy, "This is Blake," Yang introduced. "Blake, these are my classmates from back when Weiss and I actually went to school."
"Sup," Ren greeted, nodding at Blake curtly and then sitting down.
"Hey," Jaune nodded, scratching his head. "So like, I like the bow. It looks good," he said conversationally, taking the seat beside Blake.
Blake's heart jumped out of her chest. He didn't… know, did he? Forget him, Blake shut her eyes, even if he doesn't know, Nora certainly does.
"Heya," Nora greeted, smiling widely, "Do you think they serve pancakes here?"
"Nora, we've been through this seventy-times already. They don't have pancakes here." Ren groaned, shaking his head.
Blake blinked. That was anti-climatic.
They ordered. Blake relishing in the moment when the shop-owner had asked her to state what she wanted. Normally, merchants never spared her a glance, always deferring to her Master. Faunus couldn't make decisions for themselves.
But she wasn't a Faunus today, Blake realized, resisting the urge to touch the bow on her head.
"So like, where are you from?" Jaune asked, putting his elbow on the table and leaning his head on his fist. "I think I'd remember seeing someone like you around," Jaune flirted, albeit rather badly.
"Smooth, Jaune, smooth," Yang cut in, saving Blake from actually having to answer. "She's Weiss' new bodyguard."
"Oh yes, the snow angel," Jaune smiled wider. "How is she anyways? I haven't seen her since she rejected my proposal," Jaune winked at Blake, putting his arms behind his head. "She doesn't know what she gave up," Jaune said in fake swagger.
"Jaune, cut it out, will you?" Ren scolded, leaning over so he could be seen.
"Aw fine," Jaune whined. "Thanks for ruining my first impression!" he yelled at Ren. Turning back to Blake, he smiled sheepishly, "I am a cool person okay? Just so you know."
Blake blinked.
"Yeah, super cool," Nora cut in. "Can we tell Blake about the time he tried to serenade Weiss and then forgot all the words?" Nora grinned deviously.
"And then he remembered the words and actually sang? God," Yang laughed, nudging Blake. "He's terrible at singing."
"Haha, laugh it up." Jaune retorted. "You've also done some pretty embarrassing things."
"Not as bad as anything that you've done," Yang shot back.
"You freaking started a food fight with the ice princess! That was pretty bad." Jaune named.
"That wasn't embarrassing. That was just plain idiotic," Ren piped in, smirking as well.
"Not to mention the fact that Yang lost," Nora giggled. "Who knew Weiss could be that good with a swordfish?"
Yang laughed along with them. "Hey! You can't make fun of me for losing! You guys were all on my team!" Yang turned puppy eyes to Blake.
Jaune huffed. "Well, what were we supposed to do? We couldn't just abandon you. You need to thank us for not leaving you to Weiss' mercy!"
"Especially when Pyrrha took Weiss' side? God, at that point, we were all surely screwed. Fates were sealed." Ren explained sagely.
"Blake," Yang whined, "Get the story straight okay? They were the ones who dared me to do it!"
"She's lying," Ren called out to Blake.
"Definitely lying," Jaune repeated, also turning to Blake.
"Oh my god, pancakes!" Nora exclaimed as the shopkeeper sat a dish full of pancakes down in front of her, winking. "Thank you so much!" Nora shrieked, casting an indignant look at Ren. "See! I told you they had pancakes!"
Ren face-palmed. "Guys, help me out here? Tell her this isn't normal?"
Blake watched as the banter continued, smiling to herself. She could imagine little Weiss running around with a scowl after Yang and her friends. Blake took a bite out of her noodles and waited for the next Weiss story.
This could be a fun night after all.
"That was fun right?" Yang asked, walking leisurely beside Blake on route home. "These kids weren't that terrible right?" Yang teased, nudging Jaune and glancing at Ren.
Blake nodded. "It was nice meeting you guys," she responded genuinely. She really did enjoy the outing but it seemed being around such active people was mentally draining for her at least. Yang, however, seemed to thrive off it.
"We turn here," Ren stated, stopping Nora from continuing to walk.
"We should do this again!" Jaune beamed. "Bring the snow angel too next time!"
"So you can be rejected by her again?" Blake joined in, comfortable with teasing Jaune. He was one of those people that were just too easy.
"Hey! Don't you start too! It's possible! I'm a pretty cool guy!" Jaune exclaimed indignantly, though he was smiling.
Nora pounced up to Blake and bopped Blake's nose. "Boop!" she sang before twirling off with a wave.
"Okay cool!" Yang grinned, walking slightly away from Blake to trail after Jaune, Ren and Nora. "When's the next outing? When are you guys available?"
Blake watched as the old friends chatted and made new plans. Blake was slightly antsy. It was only seven but Blake wanted to be sure she'd be back before Weiss' meetings were over. I mean, this was fun. Blake had so many images of baby Weiss running around and nagging at the older kids like she owned the place. Blake was endeared by the visions. Weiss was so cute.
"Miss me?"
It was something that Yang would say, only the voice was definitely not Yang's. It was distinctly male — deep, smooth and somewhat familiar.
Blake looked behind her. At first, she couldn't find anyone in the midst of several other people on the busy evening street. Then, she saw the flash of spiky red hair disappearing behind the corner of a building. A flutter of a black coat followed suit.
Adam.
Oh my god, Adam.
Blake cast a look back at Yang and her gang. They were laughing about something or another. Blake's hand touched Gambol Shroud at her side. Yeah, she'd be fine for a minute on her own. Telling Yang would require explaining herself which required talking and frankly, even though Blake hadn't talked that much today, she was already all talked out.
With light steps, Blake followed after Adam.
Weiss stared at her reflection in the mirror. Sighing, she took off the earrings she had put on and reached for the makeup remover, having already changed into regular battle-gear. Weiss looked at the time. It was still too early to call to check up on Blake. Weiss wasn't going to be the clingy, controlling girlfriend. Nope, not her. Weiss fingered her necklace — the one with Blake's emblem engraved on it. She'd be the understanding, caring girlfriend who trusted her significant other. Blake was level-headed and stubborn when she needed to be. She could hold her own against Yang.
Weiss glanced at the clock again.
But still, Weiss couldn't help but feel nervous. It had taken months for Weiss to get Blake to stop flinching whenever Weiss spoke or went near her and then Yang just shows up and Blake and Yang are already best buddies after a freaking day. Weiss tapped her fingers against the glass.
Maybe she could just sneak out and follow them?
Great, now she was acting like a stalker.
Besides, it wasn't like Weiss cared that Blake would rather go on an outing with Yang than her. If Blake liked Yang more than her then fine, Weiss would break up with her, no big deal. It hadn't escaped Weiss' attention that Blake had never admitted to having feelings for Weiss. Actually, 'admitting' is the wrong verb. It implies that Blake does have feelings for Weiss, which might not necessarily be true. But that was fine because Weiss only liked Blake a little bit. A tiny tiny tiny bit. She wasn't going to die if Blake didn't like her back or if Blake liked someone else. Weiss was always capable of taking care of herself. She never needed anyone.
Who was she trying to kid?
"I love her?" Weiss tested out the words on her lips, her heart racing. No, not yet. But she was on her way.
Weiss glanced at the clock again. It was becoming an unhealthy compulsion. Thirty more minutes, Weiss decided, then she'd check up on Blake. Check up in a friendly, not controlling way.
Just trust her, Weiss breathed slowly. Blake's loyal to a fault. Nothing would happen.
The phone rang and Weiss picked up immediately.
Weiss cleared her throat. "Hello?" she said, hoping her voice was indifferent. She probably shouldn't have picked up so quickly, she was supposed to be in meetings.
"Weiss?" Yang exclaimed, somewhat breathless. She laughed nervously. "Funny story…"
Weiss sighed. "You don't have to feel bad Yang, I know you took Blake out. It's fine, I'm not her keeper."
Yang forced out a restless chuckle. Weiss could feel Yang fidgeting. "Yeah… about that…" Yang spoke anxiously, her tension masked in a facade of amusement. "I kinda lost her."
"What?" Weiss snapped at the phone. "Define lost for me."
"I looked everywhere, I swear," Yang rambled, squeaking a bit. "She was right behind me. I don't know where she could have gone?"
"Where are you?" Weiss clutched her hand to her heart, willing it to calm down. Blake was smart. She'd be fine.
She'd be absolutely fine.
Please be fine.