Hey, alligators! I know it's been a while since I touched this one, but I'm doing my RWBY fics one at a time now to ensure maximum best content. This one was next one the list! Hope you enjoy the chapter and hold throwing your tomatoes for the lateness until the end please and thank you!
The next morning, Blake awoke with a small hint of excitement. It was Sunday so there were no classes scheduled, so there was no reason to wake up early either. The team leader and her fiery sister both tended to sleep in on days like this, but both Weiss and Blake preferred the routine of waking early every day. But today was different. Today, Velvet was taking Blake on a date after Blake's accidental screw up the night before.
I wonder where she's taking me. Blake wondered absently as she saw Weiss beginning to stir. Wherever it is, it will never make up for last night. I've got to do something special. The brunette's lip curled at the thought of the Faunus massacre she and Velvet had witnessed. I may have to fall back on my White Fang days sometime soon to take care of that horrible place. Shaking the thoughts clear, Blake grabbed up her clothes and headed toward the bathroom, wanting to be ready for when it was time to meet Velvet out front.
Showering quickly so Weiss could get in, Blake used a towel to dry her hair instead of her usual electronic method and slipped into her clothes. While brushing her teeth, the cat-Faunus took a moment to examine her appearance before wrapping her ears up in her bow and exiting the bathroom. Weiss nodded to her and disappeared inside as Blake made her way over to her bed. Blake grabbed one of her books and lounged back against her pillow, immersing herself in the pages until her scroll buzzed to signal the time.
Grabbing her jacket, Blake waved to Weiss, who had begun her homework, and made her way out to the front of the dorm. On the way, she pondered over the possibilities of where Velvet could be taking her. There was the possibility they might be going to another museum, or perhaps even deeper in the kingdom. The city of Vale was large, so there were plenty of places she and Velvet could explore.
As she emerged from the entrance of the building, Blake spotted Velvet waiting for her and smiled at the other Faunus. Velvet's ears perked upon hearing Blake's approach and she waved welcomingly to the darker brunette. Stopping in front of Velvet, the ninja cocked her head. "So, where are we heading?"
"Just a little place in Vale that I wanted to check out." Velvet responded, reaching for Blake's hand hesitantly. Blake waited for her hand to make contact before wrapping her fingers around Velvet's. The rabbit-Faunus smiled in relief and began leading her date to the airships.
Climbing into an airship, Blake stayed close to Velvet, remembering the events of the day before. The last thing she wanted was someone possibly posing a threat to her girlfriend after something as stressful as the Faunus Fights. Thankfully, the ride passed with no incident and the two trainees stepped from the airship into an area that Blake hadn't been to since arriving.
Once free of the docks, Velvet took the lead again and guided Blake through the streets. It relieved Blake that Velvet seemed to know where she was going. Unfamiliar areas, while not always unwelcome, tended to put the darker brunette on edge. Trailing after Velvet, Blake stopped when the rabbit-Faunus came to a halt. A quick glance around assured Blake that she had no idea where they were, so the ninja turned her gaze to the building in front of them.
Blake stared up at the sign in confusion. The sign reading "Paws and Claws" hung proudly on the front of the building, feathers, paw prints and eggs decorating it to emphasize its purpose. Looking to Velvet, the black-clad girl asked, "An animal shelter?"
Velvet nodded, her ears standing at attention. "I've been wanting to check it out for some time. I enjoy being around animals, but things have been busy at Beacon so I haven't been able to come and visit this place. Is it okay?"
"I haven't frequented many shelters." Blake shrugged, walking forward cautiously. "It could be fun."
Velvet laughed and led the way into the building, moving to the front counter and ringing the bell. A red-haired Faunus sporting a dog's tail walked from the back and smiled at them. She set the box of toys she was carrying onto the counter and turned fully to face the visitors. "Hi, my name's Amelia. How can I help you two?"
"We're the volunteers coming in today." Velvet stated calmly, the slightest twitch of her ears the only indication of her nervousness. "I'm Velvet and this is my friend, Blake."
"Wonderful!" Amelia chirped, glancing between the two. "Well, are there any animals you would like to work with specifically, today?"
"I wanted to start off with the rabbits." Velvet said as she turned to Blake. "Any animal in particular?"
Blake ducked her head with a slight blush over her cheeks as she murmured, "I like rabbits."
"Rabbits it is!" Amelia gestured for them to follow her and she led them to one of the rooms in the back. "We keep the animals separate from each other for obvious reasons. The cats and dogs have rooms across from one another, but the rodents are kept further back so that they're safer and the reptiles are down in the basement." Stopping in front of a door marked by a guinea pig, Amelia opened it and guided the volunteers inside. "The rabbits will be happy to receive some visitors. Their bowls have already been refilled, so the most you'll be needed to do is clean their cages and then you can play with them for a while."
"Thank you." Velvet stepped inside and looked around at all of the cages. Guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, baby capybaras and other rodents were inside. Blake followed her and listened intently to Amelia explaining where to find the cleaning supplies and how to properly clean the cages. The dog-Faunus left them with a wave and the two Huntresses-in-training shrugged to one another.
"Any animals in particular you want to take?" Blake asked.
"I'll take the rabbits, rats, and mice if you want." Velvet responded, heading to the supply closet in the room.
"Then I've got the ferrets, capys, and chinchillas." The ninja agreed.
"And we'll split the hamsters and guniea pigs." Her friend finished, handing her a pair of gloves.
Blake accepted her half of the cleaning supplies and went about her task. Velvet cooed to the animals to soothe them before opening their cages, stroking their fur to keep them calm as she emptied their homes. Blake watched in fascination as the animals accepted the soothing ministrations with little hesitation. Considering they were shelter animals, Blake had expected them to be more frightened or hostile to strangers, but Velvet seemed to know just how to ease their nerves.
A small smile sliding onto her lips, Blake went back to her task, her cat ears listening to Velvet's soft voice as she did. The two of them worked diligently with each cage, clearing away the bad mulch and setting down the new chips. It was relatively quiet aside from Velvet speaking to the animals. Blake wondered how often the other woman had been around animals to be able to keep them so calm in her presence.
Once finished with the last cage, Velvet straightened up as Blake put their supplies away. Looking to each of the cages with interest, the rabbit-Faunus opened a cage with a black baby bunny inside and gently lifted the tiny ball of fur. Cuddling it in her arms, Velvet set it on the ground and allowed it to roam as she released a few of the other rabbits from their cages as well.
Blake leaned against the wall and watched the balls of fluff hop around her friend. They sniffed her hesitantly before moving closer and Velvet knelt to the ground to receive them happily, touching their noses gently and stroking their ears. Perhaps Velvet had wanted to play with the rabbits first because she knew them a little better than any other animal due to her heritage? Blake certainly couldn't blame her, remembering her own affinity for cats, both large and small.
Content to just let her friend play with the rabbits, Blake stayed by the wall, watching. The happiness in the large brown eyes was almost palpable and it made Blake's heart swell to know she could see Velvet like this. The other woman was often so timid and rarely the center of attention unless she was being bullied, so the fact that she could be the focus of something that made her smile was a gift in Blake's eyes.
Thinking a moment, Blake had an idea. Slipping from the room as quietly as she could, the black-haired girl went off in search of Amelia. Hearing the sound of tails wagging, Blake moved to the room with a dog on it and cautiously glanced inside. There, petting a happy Labrador, was their supervisor. Blake cleared her throat, stepping into the room cautiously so as not to provoke the dogs. Amelia glanced up and smiled at her, standing.
"Hey, Blake. What can I help you with?"
"Do you know a place I can buy stuffed animals?" Blake asked softly, not wanting Velvet to somehow hear.
Large green eyes narrowed in thought before Amelia snapped her fingers. "There's a pet store across the street. They have plenty of stuffed animals to placate children that can't take animals home with them."
"Thanks." Blake turned quickly and made her way to the pet store. She wanted to be as quick as possible so that Velvet didn't get worried about her lack of presence. Searching the shelves, Blake came across the perfect gift and took it up to the counter, slipping the cashier a few lien and heading back to the shelter.
Nodding to the person at the counter, Blake made her way into the back and found Velvet looking around in confusion. When she heard the door open, Velvet turned and smiled at seeing Blake standing in front of her. Large brown eyes lowered to what was in Blake's hands and Velvet cocked her head curiously. Walking forward, the black-clad girl held out the large stuffed rabbit for the lighter brunette to take.
"Blake…" Velvet grasped the rabbit and hugged it close. "You didn't have to get this."
"I know." Blake said, rubbing her neck awkwardly. "I just thought you would like it since we're not allowed to have pets in the dorm."
Velvet's cheeks warmed at the sentiment and she whispered, "Thank you."
There was silence for a few moments as the pair tried to think of something to say. Blake cleared her throat and asked, "Are you… ready to go home?"
"Y-yes." Velvet nodded. "We should be getting back. With it being Sunday, we've got classes tomorrow."
Blake held out her hand and Velvet took it easily, the two of them waving to Amelia and leaving the shelter. Walking in idle silence, the trainees boarded one of the airships heading for Beacon. Just as before, Blake made sure to keep a lookout for danger or hostile situations until they had landed safely at the docks.
"Thank you so much for coming with me today, Blake." Velvet finally broke the silence as they walked across the campus. "No one has ever done anything like that with me before."
"We can go again next week if you want." The darker brunette told her softly.
"Really?" The rabbit-Faunus gasped.
"We can go anytime you want." Blake told her. "It's obvious the rabbits like you and it's not hard to see why. You're a wonderful person to know, Velvet."
"You don't have to say that." Velvet blushed, hiding it behind the large rabbit Blake had bought her.
"But I did because I wanted to. And it's something you need to know." Blake stopped them before they entered the dormitories. "People like Cardin aren't the only people out there, Velvet. They don't know what they're talking about when they say things about you. You're better than they could ever be."
Velvet stared up at her in shock at the words she was saying and the sincerity in the large amber eyes. Without thinking about the ramifications, Velvet leaned up and pressed her lips to Blake's. Blake's eyes widened in shock as she comprehended the fact that Velvet was kissing her. With a slight shrug and a small smile, she let herself fall into the kiss, wrapping her arms around Velvet's waist. Nimble fingers tangled in shadow black hair as Velvet moved closer. Blake's embrace made her feel something she hadn't felt in a long time, not even with her teammates.
Complete and utter acceptance.
Blake completely accepted her for who she was without pretending her ears didn't exist or making fun of them every now and then or every day. She wasn't nasty or mean or distant about the lighter brunette's Faunus heritage and seemed to want her to embrace it.
This thought alone brought happiness to Velvet's heart and she beamed as she pulled back, a blush coloring her cheeks. Blake's face remained blank for a moment and Velvet grew anxious that she had ruined their friendship. She was about to apologize and make up an excuse about instincts or hormones when she saw the largest smile thus far bloom on the darker brunette's face.
"Well, at least I didn't have to figure out a gentle way to make the first move." Blake grinned, beginning to lead Velvet into the dormitories.
"W-what?" Velvet stammered in confusion.
"I've wanted to kiss you for a while, but I know how timid you are and kept doubting myself and imagining bad reactions you could have to me kissing you." Blake chuckled as she stopped outside of Team Vole's room. "At least now I know that you won't shy away every time I press my face to yours. Good night, Velvet." Darting forward quickly, Blake pecked the smaller girl's lips and began making her way down the hall.
Velvet touched her lips and smiled, turning and making her way into her dormroom, the goofiest smile she could imagine spread across her face.
Down the hall, right outside Team Ruby's room, Blake touched her lips and glanced at the corner around which Velvet's room was located. She smiled slightly at the thought of the brown-haired girl before schooling her face and stepping into the dorm room.
As soon as she entered, Weiss moved forward quickly and studied her face, eyes narrowed in concentration. Blake stared back at her, baffled by this sudden... whatever this was.
Weiss pulled back with a triumphant grin and turned to the other two inhabitants of the room victoriously. "They kissed." She announced.
"What?" Ruby shouted, leaping to her feet.
"Seriously?" Yang exclaimed jubilantly.
"Yup." Weiss confirmed. "My guess is at least once outside her dorm room, probably brief since our Blake isn't one for public affection."
"Blake, that's so cute!" Yang cooed, moving to hug the black-clad girl, which Blake deftly avoided.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" The ninja snapped, a blush coloring her cheeks, similar to the one Velvet sported earlier.
"Oh Blake, just admit it." Weiss scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Fine." The brunette mumbled. "She may have kissed me outside the dormitories."
Her team stared at her until Yang asked, "Wait... she kissed you?"
"Is there something strange about that?" Blake huffed.
"Well, we just thought, you being a cat and all, much more dominant than a rabbit, you would kiss her first." Ruby blushed as she finished her jumbled sentence.
"I didn't know how to kiss her." Blake admitted with a shrug. "She's a bit shy. I didn't want to scare her off. So I guess I waited long enough for her to be completely comfortable with initiating it and all I had to do was respond."
"Aw, that's so sweet." Yang cooed, beaming at her partner.
"So, where are you taking her for your next date?" Ruby asked.
"I don't know, really." The Faunus replied. "I just thought I would give her a few days to get used to the idea that we had kissed and then begin planning another date."
All of her teammates looked to her before glancing between themselves. "My friends, I do believe we missed out on one of the most thoughtful spouses we could possibly have chosen." Yang stated.
"How on earth could we have been so dim-witted?" Weiss inquired, a hand to her forehead.
"Pity we've lost our chance now." Ruby sighed piteously, shaking her head dramatically.
"What fools we humans be." Yang agreed, getting strange looks from all the girls. "What? I read too!"
Blake chuckled at the antics of her friends and slipped onto her bed, grabbing one of her numerous books. Thinking back to the kiss, Blake gently touched her lips, a blush coloring her cheeks as she smiled at the memory. Her teammates noticed and Weiss gave Yang a reproachful glare as the brawler raised her scroll to take a picture. Yang pouted at missing this golden opportunity and sulked over to her sister, both of them whispering happily about Blake.
Velvet stared at her teammates as they all stared at her hard, even Eyelet. Rabbit ears twitched nervously as Velvet waited for one of her teammates to say something. Finally, Organza stepped back and turned to Loden. The pink-haired boy nodded to her with a soft smirk, crossing his arms proudly. Eyelet simply allowed a small smile for Velvet.
"W-what's going on?" Velvet inquired, large brown eyes darting around her team curiously.
"Nothing." Organza smirked. "Just that you and Blake kissed, didn't you?"
"W-what?"
"Yup." Loden chuckled, going back to brushing his hair. "They definitely kissed. How was it, Velvet?"
"W-well, uh-."
"Loden, stop being invasive." Eyelet ordered, continuing with her drawings. "It's rude."
"You're no fun, Eyelet." Loden pouted.
"I'm plenty fun, but you need to know your manners. Velvet, please take a seat and relax, it must have been a wonderful day for you." Velvet let out a breath of relief and sank onto her bed.
"So, what spurred on the kiss?" Organza asked curiously.
"She…" Velvet's ears flattened to her head as the feelings welled up in her chest again and another goofy smile crept onto her face as she hugged her rabbit close. "She made me feel completely accepted and wanted, Ganza."
"Don't we?" Loden asked, turning to her in confusion.
"W-well, yes." Velvet stroked one of her ears sheepishly. "But the way Blake makes me feel… she doesn't ignore my ears, she doesn't mock my heritage, she doesn't treat me like I'm to be kept at arm's length. Blake told me that people like Cardin aren't the only people out there and it… it was just too much, so I kissed her."
Eyelet glanced up and cocked her head, her mass of red hair falling to the side slightly. "I'm sorry we could never make you feel like that Velvet. However, I think it's a wonderful thing that you found that feeling with Blake. I believe it connects the pair of you even closer now."
"Thanks, Eyelet." Velvet beamed, removing her shoes and tossing her jacket to the chair on her desk. "I think so too."
Eyelet glanced down at her notepad before smiling over at her teammate. Velvet… I'm so happy for you. Casting a swift glance to her other two teammates, she frowned slightly as her fingers twitched to draw something else. Looks like I'm going to be busy for the rest of the day. At least Velvet was happy on her date. Hopefully, she can hold onto the happiness even through her hardships. A thought of Team Cardinal came to mind and Eyelet growled softly. Especially that one.
And there's your next chapter. Sorry again that it's been a while, but I hope you enjoyed reading nonetheless! Drop me a review and tell me what you think!