Stuff and things. Things and stuff. I'm in the work office today, which means air conditioning – thank god. All the people here are like "How hot does it have to be before we're allowed to go home?"

Are you serious…? Hotter than 18 degrees Celsius, that's for sure! It's wonderfully cold!

Chapter 30

"I'm still not a little annoyed…"

Yang laughed, even if there was a note of exasperation in it. "I already told you, we were fine. Nothing went wrong."

"You were chased through Vale by a huge robot…"

"Which I punched into a wall," Yang countered. "Seriously, that was awesome."

Jaune growled, "Yang…"

"Oh come on…" She laughed and slapped his arm, dancing out of his reach before he could retaliate. For good measure, or just because she could be that childish, she stuck her tongue out at him. "It's not like it would have made a difference if you were there anyway. Did you want to be my knight in shining armour?" She made a cooing noise. "That's so sweet! Well, it would be if you could have fought it off. I'd have probably had to save you too."

He glared at her for that, and upped the intensity when she laughed. He didn't appreciate having his weakness tossed in his face like that, even if it wasn't really that big a deal. He'd continued to improve in leaps and bounds, entering the top half of the class in terms of ability, but that still didn't translate to knocking out a robot that must have weight a tonne or more with one fist.

His girlfriend was an absolute monster.

And he supposed she was his girlfriend in a way, even if neither of them felt the need to put such titles on it. The two had been dating for three weeks now, even if that only consisted of six or seven actual dates. That was where they were now, off in one of Vale's many parks, this one being a wide and open expanse of grass where various kids and teenagers played football, and people walked their dogs. It was more of a playing field really, albeit with some gardens and a climbing frame on one end.

"If I were there, I could have at least told you all to be careful. I mean, you ran it down the highway."

"No one was hurt…"

"Which was a miracle," he interrupted. "It's not like Torchwick gave a damn for road laws when he was driving that thing. Nor, I might add, did you apparently."

Yang laughed nervously. "Ah, so you saw my driving, huh?"

"Yes."

And for what it was worth, there was no way she was convincing him to get on the back of that thing.

"Hmm… is this the part where you're waiting for me to apologise?"

He sighed. "No. Only because I know better than to waste my time hoping you'll learn something from all this."

"Aww, you do know me!" She flicked a finger against his nose, then laughed and crossed her arms beneath her breasts, challenging him to dare try the same.

He knew better than to.

The whole debacle between Team RWBY and Torchwick had been plastered on the news, and while he'd been afraid for them at the time, it wasn't like she was wrong. He couldn't have offered too much in terms of combat ability, and Yang's decision not to inform him had probably been from the suddenness of the situation more than any ill-will.

That didn't mean he wasn't bothered, but it did mean he'd have to leave it be. There was no point picking a fight there, not when he knew she wouldn't feel apologetic, even if she decided to apologise just to keep the peace. In a way, it was the fight outside of the club all over again, except that this time he didn't want to make the same mistake. Yang was a huntress. Getting involved fighting bad guys was just what she did, and what she wanted to do moving on from here.

He changed the topic instead. "How is Blake taking it?"

"A little bit of good, a little bit of bad." Yang said.

They moved on again, walking side by side through the park. They didn't hold hands, nor make any overt signs of being together, but their shoulders touched and their hips would occasionally brush against one another's. To anyone watching, there could have been no doubt as to their relationship, but it was never as obvious – or as dramatic – as those couples who walked hand in hand, pausing to stare into one another's eyes and rub faces every ten minutes.

"I think she's happy we did something, even if it probably won't change much. She's not thrilled about the White Fang and Torchwick being involved of course," Yang went on. "You've seen what she's like. She gets worked up whenever she thinks the authorities aren't doing anything."

"Ignoring the fact they might well be, and are just waiting for the right moment…"

Yang shrugged. "Pretty much… it's Blake," she added, as though that explained everything. It kind of did. "She doesn't really have any respect for them. Thinks she has to do everything herself and stuff. It's silly, but there's no changing her mind."

"And that was important enough to risk your lives for?" he asked, incredulous. "I mean, couldn't you have just let Blake wear herself out, then be there to catch her when she crashed?"

"Ah, but we had a deadline!"

Jaune wracked his mind to figure out what she meant with that, but came up blank. "Meaning…?"

"The dance," Yang said. She tapped her forehead. "Blake was so focused on the White Fang that she was basically going to skip the dance if we didn't do something. "

"And that was worth the risk?"

"A young maiden's heart is a delicate thing," Yang whispered. "To see it broken… we could not allow that."

"I don't think Blake's heart would break from that."

"I meant Sun's," Yang said, laughing.

He snorted. "Cute. Do you think this'll change anything then? Do you think she'll go?"

"Eh, it's fifty-fifty to be honest. I offered her a dance, so she'd better show up for that. I'm very delicate, so I'll be upset if she stands me up." Yang wiped away an imaginary tear, even if the toothy smile she wore ruined it a bit. "Other than that, who knows? I had to try though. I don't like not doing something. A dance is a big deal for people our age. It only comes round once. It's important."

Jaune hummed, even if he'd never really thought the same himself. Then again, maybe that was to be expected. He'd never really been to a normal school, so things like this were out of his comfort zone. It wasn't for Yang though, and his eyes shifted to her.

She smiled and hummed as they walked across the grass. She was content just to be here, and despite the topic, she didn't make mention of the Goliath in the room. He decided to instead. "What about us?" he asked.

"Huh? What about us?"

"The dance," he explained. "What are your plans?"

"Well I thought we could share a dance if you wanted," she said. "I was going to go alone of course, but it's not like I'd be the only one. Ruby is, along with Blake as well if she doesn't decide to accept Sun's offer. It's not a big deal."

"Really?" he asked, "I thought you just said how a dance is a big deal for people our age."

"It is, but… well…" Yang trailed off, shrugging helplessly. "It's not like we can go together, is it? People would notice."

Jaune nodded, eyes coming back to look ahead. People definitely would, and the fact they were dating would get out all across Beacon. He had a feeling Blake already knew, judging from the looks she sent the two of them. Yang assured him she hadn't told anyone, and he trusted her on that. Blake was just crazily perceptive. Other than that though, no one else knew.

Yang had proved as good as her word. In Beacon, she didn't act different at all.

That wasn't to say things hadn't changed, because they clearly had. To everyone else, they were the closest of friends in Beacon, but even between them there was a degree of comfortableness that had been missing before. Maybe it was the fact that things were out in the open now. He no longer had to worry about her feelings for him, and she didn't have to worry he would reject her in kind. They could relax and lower their guards, and it showed.

There were moments where things became awkward, of course. One of the things Yang used to do – and still did at times – was sit in his lap. Usually, it was only if all the seats were taken, and it wasn't like there was anything sexual about it. There shouldn't have been, anyway. Now with their relationship a little murkier, he'd found it impossible not to notice how shapely her derriere was, or how it felt against his legs. Even when he linked his hands around her waist, an action which had before just been a casual show of close friendship, he couldn't miss how she shivered, or how warm her skin was. How enticing she felt.

Outside of school, the two of them snuck out on weekends, and the occasional weekday. They'd spend time together, sometimes see a movie, other times just walk around and chat. The dates always took a long time, often going on all day. How the others hadn't noticed, he had no idea, but he was thankful for it. He genuinely enjoyed them. They were fun. They were comfortable.

They were slow…

His eyes flicked towards her. Yang hadn't ever tried to initiate any more contact during them. He'd been prepared for something, whether it be holding hands, or a kiss to mark the end of one. He'd been prepared for it – willing too. Was her reluctance a sign of something wrong, or was it her being afraid to rush him?

Was that a bad or a good thing?

I never really intended to have a girlfriend, not until I was finished with the Oyster. That said, Yang hasn't visited it since we started dating and it's not like our time together hasn't been fun. Do I want to continue waiting and maybe miss an opportunity?

What if he waited until he graduated only to find Yang had moved on? What if he never found someone he connected with so easily ever again? It felt foolish to suggest what they had now would last for the rest of their lives. That kind of nonsense was for clichéd movies. That didn't mean it was something worth throwing away or ignoring, however. The big question remained.

Do I love her?

Honestly… he had no idea. He enjoyed hanging out with her, found her sexually attractive, and more importantly – he found her personality attractive, even if she was brusque and reckless. It was all a part of her charm. It was what made Yang the woman she was.

His heart didn't beat at a thousand miles a minute, however, nor did his hands feel clammy, his stomach like a roller coaster or his world like it was flipped upside down. There was no angelic chorus, no parting of the clouds and no fanfare… just a happy weightlessness interspersed with laughter, teasing and a general sense of contentment. It was something he didn't want to let go of.

"Maybe… maybe we should go together," he said.

Yang paused. It took him a second to realise and turn back to her, at which point he noticed her wide eyes. "Uh… wouldn't that ruin the whole point of us dating in secret?" Her eyes widened. "Oh, you mean as friends, right? Saying we're two dateless people banding together." She laughed, not meeting his eyes. "I get it."

Yeah, that was an option… Jaune hummed to himself, eyes closing. This was what Yang had been like all the time they were dating, and while it was good for him, he couldn't help but think it wasn't for her. She went out of her way to avoid any overt show of romance, and to keep it a secret, not because she wanted to – but because he did. If he wanted this to work, if it was to mean anything at all, then maybe it was about time he stopped being so selfish.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"How did you mean it?" Yang's voice was calm, neutral. Her eyes were anything but.

"Maybe I mean we should go together. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if people knew we were dating."

"Maybe…?" She crossed her arms. "Can you, I don't know, work in something a little more definite? Please don't mess around with me here, Jaune."

"Definitely," he amended. "I'm sorry. I was just…" He shrugged. "No, I think we should go together, as a couple." He hesitated. "If that's what you want, I mean. I didn't mean to sugges-"

"Do I want to?" Yang burst into laughter. The volume of it shocked some passers-by, not that she cared. "Hells yes, I'd love to!" She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him. It was probably the first time she'd ever been that touchy on one of their dates.

Jaune was surprised to find he didn't mind it. More than that, he hugged her back, a small smile on his face. A part of him couldn't believe she'd be so thrilled, especially for someone like him. While Crimson was ever the catch with women, he hadn't expected his normal personality would ever land someone like her. Most people loved the mystery of Crimson; the danger and the edge.

Yang seemed to realise what she was doing a moment later, for she balked and moved away. "Whoops, sorry. I uh… I guess I was excited."

Why was she so apologetic? Jaune tilted his head as he watched her scratch her cheek, an awkward but not quite embarrassed look on her face. "Yang, I know I wanted this to be secret, but that doesn't mean I'm against all contact or something. You can hug me if you want. I didn't mean to make you think you couldn't."

"I know." Yang sighed and shrugged one shoulder. "I guess I'm just trying to not scare you off by coming on too hard."

Yeah, and sacrificing more on his behalf. He hadn't even noticed, and that sent a wave of guilt through him. Here he'd been enjoying their dates, while she had to hold herself back. Jaune sighed, shaking his head.

He reached out to take her hand, interlacing their fingers.

Yang stared at him.

"I'm serious about trying this," he said, cursing his darkening cheeks. How could someone who stripped for money find holding hands embarrassing? This was ridiculous. "I'm not saying it'll work, but… well, I'm not afraid to try."

Yang didn't answer. Her thumb did rub against his hand, however, her fingers curling around his.

"I guess the others will be surprised," she eventually said, hiding a snigger. "Who do you think will have the biggest reaction?"

"Ruby, I imagine."

He hoped so anyway. Pyrrha had been a lot better recently. Their friendship was back in form, and in a form that was different to how it had been before. He'd have called it better, though whether she agreed was unknown. She was stronger though, and did things not to earn his favour, but because she wanted to. He couldn't help but feel that was healthier. "Do you want to tell them?" he asked.

Yang shook her head. "Nah, let's wait until the day. It'll be funnier that way."

That and it would let them avoid any interrogations. Jaune caught on quickly, smiling at her sneakiness. Well, there wasn't anything he could say to that. His attention instead fell to their hands, and the feeling of her fingers meshed with his.

There'd been some clients who liked to hold his hands as they cuddled, talked or when he danced for them. Those felt different, usually a strong grip, demanding and aggressive. Yang's was soft and warm, one that he could have pulled his fingers from at any moment. He didn't though.

He actually quite liked it.

"I'll have to get a better dress," Yang said randomly. "I had a simple one but it's a bit boring. Still, I'm looking forward to it. Do you have any idea what it would have been like seeing Weiss of all people with a date when I didn't have one?"

"Weiss is a nice girl."

Yang didn't look impressed.

"Okay, okay," he laughed. "If it bothered you that much, why didn't you say something?"

Yang shrugged. "It's not that big a deal. I'd have been fine going with my friends. I'd have grabbed you for a dance and that would have been enough. This is better… but I'd have been okay."

Okay, but not happy. Jaune felt a pang of guilt. He'd just need to do better in future. Maybe the two of them coming out about this would be a good first step. It would be complicated… but he was willing to try and make it work."

"Do you want to celebrate our impending doom tonight?" Yang asked. "We could catch a bite to eat at the mall."

It sounded like an idea, but Jaune shook his head. "Sorry. I can't. Reg needs me in for work tonight. I've missed out too much since we started dating. Not your fault," he added when she opened her mouth. "I guess I was having too much fun and neglected work."

Some of his regulars must have complained as a result.

Yang's face fell and rebounded so fast he would have missed it if he hadn't been looking for it. She recovered and laughed, looking ahead. "Ah, never mind then. I wouldn't want to get in the way of work."

"I can cancel if it's important…"

She shook her head. "It's not. I was just going to suggest we eat out. You go do your thing. I'll be fine with the girls." She didn't meet his eyes, suddenly swinging their joined hands back and forth. He could feel her squeeze a little tighter.

She hadn't been to the Golden Oyster since he'd turned her away. She never even brought it up anymore, nor used her VIP pass. Reg and Nina had asked after her, both with stern looks in his direction. It was clear they'd mind their minds up who was responsible, and they weren't wrong.

He wished it could have been different, but Crimson couldn't stay in the picture. What was done was done. He would make it up to her like this.

"So, are your team looking forward to the festival?"

Yang's eyes lit up, delighted for the chance to escape the previous conversation. "Are they ever," Yang crowed. "Weiss won't shut up about it, and don't get me started on Rubes!"

Jaune listened and nodded as his fri- his girlfriend carried on. She became more animated, as she often did, waving her other arm about for emphasis and rolling her eyes whenever she talked about what latest silliness Ruby had gotten up to. With her voice and jokes, her bad puns and their shared laughter, he almost forgot about their joined hands entirely.

He was dating Yang Xiao-Long… and thinks looked good.

/-/

It hadn't taken Blake long to notice something was up. To be fair, Yang wasn't normally a terrible liar or easy to read, but after she'd come back from yet another outing into Vale practically vibrating with excitement, Blake had known something was up. Ruby and Weiss had too, of course, which was why Blake had made some excuse about asking Yang to check something for her and dragged her partner away.

"Thanks for the save," Yang said once they had some privacy. The common room was empty for the most part, it being late in the afternoon.

"No problem. I take it your date went well?"

"Who said it was a date?" Yang asked. She took one look at Blake's raised eyebrow and sighed. "Okay yeah, it was a date. Ugh. I hate how you are sometimes."

"Nosey?"

"Perceptive."

Blake smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment. I'd ask what happened but I'm somewhat afraid of the answer…"

"Nothing like that happened," Yang stammered. She punched Blake's arm lightly. "Geez, get your head out of those books of yours. We only just started holding hands. Eep! Yang covered her lips but the damage was already done.

"Holding hands…?" Blake repeated, rolling her eyes. "Yang, if you tell me holding hands turns you into Ruby on a sugar rush then I'm going to be disappointed, and then worried for your sanity. The two of you have been dating for weeks."

"Not so loud!" Yang hissed, holding a hand to Blake's lips. "Do you want someone to hear?"

Blake rolled her eyes.

"Okay, so there's more than that…"

"Thank god."

"Shut it, you." Yang growled, and quickly looked around to see if anyone was nearby. "Okay, so maybe there was something a little more. We were just talking randomly about stuff as we walked around a park, when he started asking about the dance." She looked like she wanted to continue but couldn't quite manage it. In the end, she shook her head and blurted out, "He's asked me go to the dance with him."

Blake waited for more, and then sighed when it didn't come. "And?" she asked. "Yang, I repeat, the two of you have been dating for weeks. Asking you to the dance shouldn't be a thing. It should be a formality. Who else would he take?"

"Well excuse me, little miss sarcasm. I didn't realise you were in such a mood."

"I'm not. I'm just being driven insane because my partner has turned into that person who has a new boyfriend, the type that has to let you know every fifteen seconds."

"Uh, this was supposed to be a secret. You're the one who butted in." Yang grinned. "Don't be so nosey."

"I thought you said I was perceptive."

"Yeah, but I didn't deny the nosey part."

Blake shook her head. "We're really getting off topic here. I don't understand why you're so amazed by this. Did he intend to go with someone else?"

"Nooo…" Yang dragged the word out, as if talking to a particularly dumb child. "He intended to go on his own, as did I. Going together would have drawn attention."

Blake caught on quickly. Her eyes widened. "You mean the two of you are going to let everyone know?"

"Yep!"

"Oh…" Blake trailed off. Now she understood Yang's sudden change. It was a good sign, she supposed. She hadn't really approved of the whole secret relationship thing, but neither of them were hurting one another, so she'd let it be. This would be better.

It would also be ridiculously complicated.

"You realise Ruby is going to flip," Blake sighed. "Especially if she finds out her sister was dating her best friend and never told her. She'll be happy, but she won't be pleased it was kept a secret."

"I'm more worried about Pyrrha," Yang said.

Ah, yeah… that was a can of worms waiting to explode in someone's face. She didn't envy Yang the awkwardness there. Still, for all the times Yang had done it to her, she figured the blonde deserved some teasing. "My, to think that you go from friends to holding hands within three weeks, and then to a dance… I'd ask you to name your first child after me, but I'm afraid I'll have died of old age before it happens."

Yang laughed. "Not bad. I'll give it a seven out of ten. Needs more puns."

No. It really didn't.

"Where's Jaune now?" she asked. "I half-expected you'd still be out together. You normally spend a lot longer on your `shopping trips`." Blake made sure to throw on an extra dollop of sarcasm there, especially since Yang's shopping trips never seemed to end in her buying anything.

Weiss and Ruby were already making up their own rumours.

"He's at work," Yang said. Blake didn't fail to note her frown.

"You've not been back to that club in a while…"

"Yeah." Yang shrugged. "Been busy, I guess. Picked up a boyfriend."

What, and going out to a club with him wasn't a good option? The whole team knew she and Jaune occasionally went drinking together, which would have been a much more believable excuse than what she was currently using. "That's not the only reason you've been avoiding that place, is it?"

"Dunno."

"Yang…"

Yang sighed. "Just leave it be, okay? Something came up. Something happened. I don't want to talk about it."

"Was it something Jaune did?"

"No," Yang said, and then spared her a little glare. "Didn't I just say I didn't want to talk about it?"

Blake rolled her eyes, thinking on how that excuse hadn't worked much against Yang when she'd been cornered over her White Fang research. Not wanting to talk about it hadn't gotten Blake any peace. It got her a one-way dragging to a classroom and a guilt trip she could still feel several days later.

"Hey Blake," Yang whispered. "Have you ever… have you ever had a friend, and then you lost them because of something you didn't really understand?"

I thought you didn't want to talk about it? Blake felt like saying. Yang could be complicated like that at times. "I have," she said. "Why?"

"No reason."

And the most bold-faced lie of the year award goes to Yang Xiao-Long. Congratulations. Blake kept the sarcasm in, however, waiting for her friend to continue. Luckily, it didn't take too long.

"How did it happen?" she asked. "What made you lose them?"

"He tried to blow up a train of innocent people." she said nonchalantly. It took her a second to notice Yang's horrified expression. "Okay, I'll quickly point out that my friends weren't exactly what you'd have called normal people, Yang. Try to remember where I was before this."

"Yeah, right… yikes." Yang shook her head. "Okay, wow. That kind of puts my case in perspective."

"What happened with yours?"

"He… he just decided that he disliked me one day. He told me he didn't want to see me anymore."

Blake waited for more but it didn't come. "Just like that?" she asked, earning a nod in response. "That sounds… odd, to be honest. Was there something wrong with him?"

"Coming from the girl whose friend tried to blow up a train?"

"Yeah, but there was definitely something wrong with mine." Years of anger, battle and loss, not to mention a whole boat load of anger she wished she could have seen earlier. If she had, then maybe she could have done something about it.

Maybe there would have been a way to save him as well. She sighed and pushed the thought away. That was neither here nor there.

"I don't know if there was anything wrong with Crimson," Yang said. "I just… I thought we were close friends. No, we were close friends. I know it. Then one day he just up and tells me to leave. Says that he doesn't want to see me again." Yang drew her feet up onto the couch, resting her chin atop her knees. "I don't understand why."

Crimson, huh? She wasn't sure Yang had even notice the slip, but it wasn't like it helped in any way. Blake had never heard of someone with the name. It wasn't like she knew everyone in Vale though, less so any friends Yang might have had from before.

Still, Yang wanted her help – that much was clear. She wasn't a professional, or even someone used to having friends, but she would try her best either way. "Did something happen between you?" she asked. "Something different or unusual?"

"Not that I can figure out."

"There has to be something. People don't suddenly decide you're not their friend, Yang." Blake leaned forward, stressing the point. "There's always a reason, even if that reason is something you can't understand."

"I know that… I know. That's why I've been busting my ass trying to figure it out." Yang waved a hand limply. It flopped onto the couch. "As you can see, I've got nothing to show for it other than a headache and a bad mood."

"And a boyfriend…"

"And that," Yang added, smiling for the first time. "I just wish he was still around to know. I used to go to him for advice, you know? He knew about Jaune and how I felt. Every now and then I feel like going and telling him how it's going. I imagine us sitting down and drinking, listening to me with a patient smile while I prattle on about random trash." She sighed. "Then I remember that he hates me and well… things suck."

It sounded more complicated than her situation. Adam's change had been subtle and slow, but her realisation of it had been the opposite. Cutting their ties was the only way she could have continued, and although she wished things could have been different, she didn't want to go back.

Yang did.

"Then maybe you need to find out why."

"Huh?" Yang raised her head.

"Find out why he suddenly hates you," Blake repeated. "If this is bothering you – and it is – then maybe what you need is closure. At least then, you'll understand why things had to work out this way."

"Closure, huh?" Yang opened and closed her fist, staring down at it. "Is it really that simple?"

"I've no idea," Blake said, and then shrugged when Yang stared at her. "Friend wanted to blow up a train, remember? I'm probably not the best person to offer advice on this."

"Then why offer it?"

"Because I want to help you," she said. "Because you're my friend as well as my partner…"

Yang had no answer to that. She looked away and down, but there was a tiny curl to her lips, and that felt enough for Blake. She rose to her feet.

"I'll leave you to think about it. Good work on convincing Jaune to take you to the dance, and on holding his hand," she added impishly, earning a snort. "I'll be around if you need me, Yang. You know that, right?"

"I need help finding a new dress."

Blake balked. "I was thinking more for emotional support…"

"Too late, partner. You volunteered. We'll grab you something sexy for Sun too."

"I didn't say I was going with him!"

"Then we'll grab you something sexy for your dance with me," Yang amended, rolling her eyes. "No date of mine is going to look anything less than hot."

"You already have a date," she growled.

"Eh, I like to keep my options open."

Blake shook her head, biting down her growl, and the frustration that came with it. This was what you got for trying to help people out. Really, there was no justice in the world. She sighed and skulked away, shaking her head.

"Hey Blake," Yang called, right before she could escape.

"Yes?"

"Thanks…"

Blake smiled, closing her eyes. "What are friends for?"

"We'll go dress shopping tomorrow."

Damn it, Yang.

/-/

Yang smiled as she watched Blake sulk off, not that her partner would have ever accepted it was that. Oh no, Blake Belladonna didn't sulk – she brooded. She didn't pout, she frowned. Heh, she was adorable. She was also a great partner, as well as a great friend.

Her eyes fell to her hand.

It opened and closed reflexively.

"Closure, huh?"

It tightened into a fist.

I wanted to include a little snippet here about my future fics, since this one approaches the end. My profile hasn't been updated in forever, and I've decided to fix that now – meaning that it's fully updated with what fics will come next.

I'm aware that some people will be dispirited to see fics they wanted to see be pushed back, and new ones taking their place. All I can say is that I've had to try and plan these things, and sometimes that means ideas don't work out. I've tried to include a reason why on the ones which were delayed.

Next Chapter: 27th June

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur