Disclaimer: RWBY and all affiliated characters/titles belong to Rooster Teeth, those wonderful geniuses.
Yang burst into the room carrying Nora bridal style. Their laughter thundered off the walls of the small room and the bang of the door closing resounded in the previously quiet sleeping area. Yang spun around to face the interior and was immediately faced with the rather perturbed face of her Faunus partner.
"Oh hey Blake," Yang lifted the still giggling Nora a little to indicate her presence, "Look who's back." Blake nodded her head and gave them a slight smile. Yang set Nora down and hugged her hard, "I'm so glad you're back." She leaned down and gave Nora a slow kiss and then resigned to just holding her hands.
"Of course I'm back, I was only gone one night silly." Nora poked Yang in the forehead playfully and looked at the beds for the first time since entering the room, "Yang?"
"Yeah?" Yang was still just watching her, not noticing where she was looking.
"This is the best." Nora let go of Yang's hands and ran towards Ruby and Weiss's bunks. She jumped and threw herself spread eagle at the hanging mattress, landing in a giggling heap on the bed and rolling around playfully wrapping herself up in the covers. Yang laughed and made her way over to the bed, but didn't climb in to join her.
"Oh yeah, that was Ruby's idea on our first night here." Nora stopped rolling and found Yang's violet eyes with a smile, "Pretty great right?"
"Are you kidding? This is awesome!" Nora leaned forward and kissed Yang's forehead, "I don't think Ren and Pyrrha would ever be okay with it though."
"Well that's their loss," Yang held out her arms to Nora, "Now come on, that's Ruby's bed." Nora smiled and flung her arms and legs outward, disentangling herself from the covers and swung herself out into Yang's waiting arms. Yang caught her around waist, holding her so that her face was pressed into Nora's midsection. She nuzzled her nose against Nora's firm abs before setting the giggling girl down.
"So Blake, anything happen with Sun while I was gone?" Blake looked slowly up from her book at the two, a nervous look on her face.
"Well, uhh," she toyed with corner of her hardback, "not really," her head fell, "no." Nora's smile fell slightly and she walked over to Blake's bed.
"Can I sit?" Nora held her hand out towards the large amount of empty bed, Blake nodded and coiled her legs in closer to herself to make way for the redhead. Nora plopped herself down on the mattress and put a hand on Blake's knees, Yang followed her over and sat at the end of the bunk. Blake closed her book completely and set it on the shelf next to her. "So what happened?" Nora gave her a reassuring smile.
"Nothing really," Blake looked off to the side of the room as she continued, "I sent him a message like you said, that I wanted to hang out and go do something." Nora giggled and Blake looked back to her, worried.
"You didn't wait long," Nora gave her a reassuring smile.
"Blake? Wait around? No that's not really her thing. She's an action girl." Yang smiled at her partner.
"Should I have waited?" worry was in Blake's voice now.
"No, no it's fine. So did you two hang out?" Nora turned sideways and crossed her legs on Blake's bed, putting her back to Yang.
"Yeah, he said okay and met me here at school. We went down to town together and had some drinks. Then we-" Blake began to blush at the memory of spending time with Sun but fell back to her usual neutrality when Yang interrupted.
"Woah oh, Blakey, you two went out for drinks?" Yang leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Nora's middle and resting her chin on the redhead's shoulder.
"No, no no no we didn't get drinks." Blake pulled her knees up to her chest and put her hands out in front of herself, trying to physically ward off her partner's implications, "I meant that we got tea at this little rooftop cafe." Yang's smile fell and she slumped into Nora's back.
"It's okay, just ignore her." Nora smiled and Blake eased a little.
"Trust me I try," Blake let her knees slide back down a little and gave Nora a nervous smile, "So we went to get tea and just sat and talked for a long time. I tried to say things about us, I tried to talk about us doing things together or going places and he was really excited about what I said. But, he never did anything about it. He never asked to actually do one of the things or made ideas of his own." Blake's smile faded and she looked off to the side, "We came back on the airbus and walked back to the dorms, he didn't even walk me all the way to the room, he left after we got to the building and just went jogging off." Blake turned back to Nora with a resigned look in her eyes, "Maybe he doesn't actually like me?"
"Blake don't think like that," Nora playfully pushed at her knee. Yang laughed and moved around the side so she was lying on the bed with her head by Blake, propped up on the pillows.
"Yeah Blake, we told you, you're beautiful, you're crazy talented and super smart, you're so driven to become a huntress," Yang smiled at her partner, "He should feel lucky you're even interested in him."
"But maybe he just isn't." she trailed off and looked back and forth between her friends, slowly a look of horror and fear crept its way onto her face, "Oh no, what if he has a girlfriend back home? And I've been making all these advances on him and he's already seeing someone." Blake dropped her face into her hands, "Oh I feel so dumb."
"There's no way he has a girlfriend," Yang made a pfft noise, "If he did he wouldn't have wanted to go to the dance with you right?" Blake picked her head up out of her hands and met Yang's confident gaze.
"Yeah see, if he wasn't into you then he wouldn't have put on that tie and buttoned up his shirt for the first time ever." Nora laughed, trying to ease Blake's tension a little.
"I guess, but he could have changed his mind." Blake shook her head back and forth in frustrated confusion, "This is so hard." Nora rested a hand on Blake's leg.
"Blake, Blake it's okay." Blake stopped shaking her head and raised her eyes to Nora's this time, "How do you think I felt after Yang and I went to the bar and she didn't say anything?" Nora glanced across to Yang and then back to the brunette. "When I kissed her, it was probably like, mostly that awesome Mistralian drink that even let me do it. The next day when I woke up I couldn't believe what I'd done. I didn't even know if Yang was gay or anything and I just went for it. I felt dumb too." Yang reached forward and rubbed Nora's knee reassuringly, Nora gave her a smile and kept going, "But, I talked to Ren and he told me to just wait and see. He said I had put myself out there really blatantly and that either Yang would get the hint and respond or she wouldn't. So that's what I did, I just waited and look what happened." Nora smiled and picked up Yang's hand, kissing the knuckles gently. Blake's worried expression faded to an easy smile, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, centering herself.
"Okay, but how do I make it that obvious? I'm not gonna kiss him." Blake's face flushed and she fidgeted with the blanket under her. Nora and Yang both laughed, neither could imagine Blake doing something as spontaneous as Nora had done to Yang.
"Well you just have to show him that that's the kind of relationship you're looking for. That you wanna be more than friends you know?" Nora stifled her giggle and tried to be serious for her friend, but Blake didn't look convinced.
"You could always just ask him out, I know he'll say yeah." Yang put on her familiar ear to ear smile, trying to lend her shy partner even a piece of her confidence, "It's not like the guy has to be the one to ask right?" Blake fidgeted with the blanket again, running the hem between her thumb and finger.
"But, I want him to put himself out there, not me," she looked down at her lap, "I guess I'm kind of scared." Yang recoiled in playful but real surprise.
"Why are you scared Blake? He already knows your a Faunus right? And he's a Faunus too. You know he isn't with the White Fang or anything, you know he likes girls, you know he's pretty cute." Yang gave her partner a devious smile.
"Yeah, but he's so confident all the time and he is really cute. What if he doesn't like me because I'm so shy, or because he already has so many other girls coming after him? What if I'm not good enough for him?"
"You're so much more than good enough for him, you're better than he deserves. You just ask him out and he'll fall all over himself trying to yes fast enough." Yang's playful smile become a look of determination.
"What if we were there to support you? Like, so you knew that we had your back?" Nora tried to cheer her back up, giving her knee a gentle squeeze.
"How would you do that? I can't very well meet him on the roof with you two waiting in the background."
"Blake, you have to stop reading all those romance novels." Yang laughed gently.
"Well what's your idea then?" Blake turned on Yang, frustration in her voice now.
"Why don't we do a double date?" the blonde completely ignored Blake's rising anger and flashed a convincing smile.
"That's a great idea." Nora bounced in her spot, "Being out with another couple would show him what you're looking for and it would be kinda obvious what the whole point is. You probably won't even have to ask him at that point. If he doesn't pick up on that signal then he's worse than Jaune." They all laughed and Blake's anger cooled.
"Do you think he'll want to go out again though? We just went out yesterday." Blake looked worriedly between the two on her bed.
"Oh yeah, if you ask him then there's no way he'll say no." Yang jabbed Blake in the shoulder playfully.
"This is so exciting," Nora jumped up from her seat, "I'm gonna go shower, I'm still all gross from my mission." Blake looked down at where Nora had been sitting on her bed and then back to the redhead.
"Did you just get back?" Blake asked in surprise.
"Oh yeah, I met them at the landing and carried her right back here." Yang slid around Blake to get off the bed.
"She practically jumped up on the airship to grab me." Nora giggled and Yang finally managed to wiggle her way off the bed. She immediately swept Nora up in her arms, burying her nose in the girl's hair. They both laughed and Yang eased Nora back down.
"Okay, do you want Sun to meet us there or should we all ride down together?" Nora asked Blake who was still sitting on her bed.
"Well, we can't all fit on my bike…" Yang faded off in confusion.
"We don't have to ride your bike everywhere Yang." Nora stuck her tongue out at her girlfriend.
"Yeah I guess." Yang said regretfully, disappointed to be missing a chance to ride her bike with Nora, "Why don't we all just ride the airship down together then?" Yang looked back to her partner.
"Actually, I think it would be better if you two met Sun and I there. That way if uhh…" Blake fell silent, not able to vocalize wanting time alone with the boy.
"Oh yeah, so you guys can make out after the date. Totally." Yang leaned over and kissed Nora on the forehead. Blake blushed hard at Yang's suggestion but said nothing to deny it.
"Alright I'll go clean up. You let Sun know already." Nora gave Yang another kiss on the cheek and disappeared out the door. Blake picked up her scroll from beside her book on the shelf and began messaging the Faunus boy.
"I'm just gonna go wash my face real quick," Yang made for the bathroom.
"Oh no," Blake lifted her hand away from her scroll, extending a single finger that halted Yang in her place, "You are going to wash this blanket because your girlfriend just rubbed all over my bed in her dirty Grimm fighting, travel stained clothes." Yang laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her head.
"I guess I should probably wash Rube's stuff too huh?" Blake just leveled a knowing look at her and returned to her scroll.
Yang swung the bike in alongside some other vehicles parked outside the little bistro. She looked at the muted exterior and the little garden boxes hanging from the windows, not really her type of place but this wasn't about her and Nora, they were here for Blake. Yang smiled as she felt Nora's hand slide off of her torso, the redhead easing herself of the bike behind her. Yang stood and kicked the legs out to hold the bike upright and removed her helmet. She watched as Nora did the same, lightly shaking her short bob of hair out, trying to correct the damage the helmet had done. Yang laughed and checked herself in one of the bike's mirrors, doing her best to fix her hair and make herself into something Nora would want to look at. She heard Nora laugh behind her and then felt those strong little hands snake their way back around her waist.
"You look great, stop fussing," Nora gently kissed the back of her ear and Yang fell to pieces.
"Do you think they're here yet?" Yang turned and put her arms around Nora as well.
"With how long you took, they're probably done eating already." Nora laughed and pulled easily out of Yang's grip towards the door, "C'mon." Nora beckoned Yang forward with a finger but the blonde had to turn and secure their helmets first.
"I'm comin', I'm comin'," Yang locked the storage area and hurried after her girlfriend.
They entered the small store, a few tables sat pushed most of the way to the edges of the room with lots of space in between. There were no waiters or waitresses, just a counter at the front with a display of different lunch meats and breads and single cashier.
"Do you see them anywhere?" Yang looked quickly around the store and couldn't find her stealthy partner or the obnoxious monkey boy she was fawning over.
"Nope, I wonder if they have outside seats or something." Nora walked over to the counter and Yang followed easily behind. They asked the cashier if there were any other seats, which he said there were not and if anyone that looked like Blake or Sun had come in which he said they had not.
"Well I guess they aren't here yet." Yang gave Nora an easy smile, "And you thought I took too long." Nora gave her a joking shove and a playful smirk.
"Maybe it's because you drove so fast, we definitely shouldn't have beat the airship here." Yang smirked back and feigned innocence.
"Well, I just didn't want us to be late." Nora slid in beside Yang and put her arm around her.
"And we aren't. Mission accomplished." Nora gave Yang's waist a tight squeeze. The couple headed outside to wait for Blake and Sun but were stopped by the door when it came swinging suddenly inward. Yang reeled backwards away from the entry and caught herself a few steps back, eyes locked on another tall, muscled blonde.
"Oh sorry Yang," Sun held the door open for Blake, "We were late and it's kinda my fault so I was in a hurry." Sun laughed easily and whipped his tail about lazily behind him. Blake nodded to Yang and Nora, hands clenched nervously in front of her.
"Why were you late? Doing anything you shouldn't be?" Nora gave Sun a mischievous smirk.
"What? No, definitely not." Sun looked back and forth between Nora and Blake, "I don't steal stuff anymore really," he shook his head defensively.
"I don't think that what she meant buddy," Yang shook her head, maybe he was as dense as Jaune, "But you're here now so come on, I'm starving." Yang walked away, towards the counter, tugging Nora along behind her. Sun shook his head in confusion and swept his hands toward the counter, wanting Blake to go first. Blake bowed her head ever so slightly in gratitude and walked slowly forward, giving Sun a chance to fall in next to her.
The four ordered their food, two entrees each for Yang and Nora, a small healthy sandwich and a tea for Blake and long sub for Sun. They found the one of the restaurant's few four person tables and sat in the chairs around the small circle. Yang had been hoping that the place had booths, that would force Sun and Blake next to each other across from her and Nora, making the whole double date, two couples thing much more obvious for the foolish boy, but this would have to do. Nora scooted her chair over closer to Yang, putting them right next one another and separating the other pair from them by a little.
"So how was your mission Nora?" Sun set his tray down and started unwrapping the sub.
"It was pretty great, we got to fight these King Taijitus together. They aren't that tough really, just when there's a bunch of them it gets pretty crazy." Yang dug into her food, happy to let Nora babble, "So we got a bunch of them and made sure the perimeter defenses were still up and just headed back. It was pretty fun though." Nora grinned and dug into her own food. Sun seemed taken aback by her nonchalant attitude, King Taijitus were no pushovers but Yang knew that JNPR wasn't either. She liked to know that other people thought her girlfriend was just as impressive as she did.
"Wow, that's pretty crazy. Did you have a professor go with you?" Sun was really stunned by all this.
"No, not this time. It was just one day, not a huge deal." Nora waved a dismissive hand at him and returned to her food.
"So what have you been up to Sun? Liking Vale?" Yang had to try and get this back on track for Blake.
"Oh yeah it's great here. The food is so good and everyone's so nice." Sun laughed and smiled over at Blake for a moment.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it." Blake spoke for the first time since arriving.
"Well I wouldn't be if you weren't showing me around." Sun looked over to the other Faunus, "You really know how to show a guy a good time." he smiled.
"What have you two been up to?" Nora gave them that devious smirk again. Blake blushed and Sun laughed it off.
"Nothing like that Nora come on. But I mean, on like my second day here Blake took me to the docks and got me in the middle of some huge terrorist plot, then I got to break up a White Fang rally and fight a giant robot on the freeway and," he stretched the 'and' to indicate how much more there was to Blake than breaking up terrorist plots, "she knows all the best restaurants too. I mean, I didn't even realize this place was a store," he waved his hands around to indicate the restaurant they were in, "I thought it was like a little cottage or something." Blake smiled and took a sip of her tea, trying to hide the heat on her face.
"Yang why do we never go on super fun adventures like that?" Nora turned a peeved look on her blonde, "See that's what fun couples do."
"What? You got to knock someone out the very first time we hung out. We weren't even dating yet." Yang spat out defensively, "It's your turn to take me on an adventure." Nora's mock anger faded to a contemplative look.
"Alright then, I'll think of something just you wait." she tapped her finger on her chin thoughtfully, "But if I do, then you have to give me pancakes after."
"Does pancakes mean something else?" Sun quirked an eyebrow at the pair.
"No," Yang sighed and shook her head in defeat, "She means actual pancakes." Nora laughed triumphantly and Yang returned to her food.
"Well I for one-" Sun was cut off by the sound of Nora's scroll ringing.
"I'm sorry, gimme just one second, it's Ren." Nora scooted her chair back and dashed outside to take the call.
"So Sun, how long are you here? Are you going home after the Vytal Festival?" Yang took a bite of her sandwich to try and make her question seem as innocent as possible.
"I don't know really. It depends how the tournament goes. The ones who do really well get to stay here for a little to train with all of you. Apparently Beacon's a pretty big deal." Sun smiled and Yang leaned back in her chair, happy to take the praise.
"I mean, look at us. It is training some of the most talented, responsible Huntresses in the world." she pointed to Blake, "Just look at my partner, have you ever seen someone fight like her?" Blake coughed a little and tried not to choke on her sandwich. Nora chose that moment to come barging back into the restaurant.
"Oohhh, I'm so sorry guys. We've gotta go." Yang looked to her with concern, "I totally totally forgot, I have to go to the mission debriefing meeting thing with Professor Goodwitch and my team." she clenched her fists and stamped a foot in frustration, "Stupid meetings." Yang laughed and shook her head, standing up from the table.
"Okay, well some of us are super responsible," Yang laughed and wrapped their food back up. Sun went to stand but she put a hand out to stop him, "No, no you sit. You two stay, I'll just drive Nora back, no biggy. We drug you all the way down here, you might as well enjoy it." Blake exhaled in relief, trying her best to hide it from Sun.
"Oh okay, are you sure? I mean the whole point was to catch up wasn't it?" Sun looked very confused.
"Yeah but you barely got here, we can catch up later. I'm so sorry I forgot." Nora giggled nervously and took the food from Yang. The big blonde girl ran over to the counter and grabbed a bag for them to put the sandwiches in and helped Nora fit all the food in.
"We'll see you two back at school." Yang gave them a wave and headed for the door.
"Yeah, don't stay out too late." Nora winked and followed Yang out. They got outside and closed the door behind them and Nora ran over to the bike, "Oh I can't believe I forgot, and we were supposed to be here for Blake too."
"Relax, I'll get you back in time," Yang accepted her helmet from Nora and swung a leg over the bike, "and we did plenty for Blake, she's gotta handle this one on her own." Nora wrapped her arms around Yang's waist once she had secured her helmet.
"Okay, okay, now hurry. I can't have Goodwitch, Pyrrha and Ren made at me." Nora squeezed Yang hard as the blonde backed the bike out and revved the engine hard. A sharp squeal of tire on pavement and a roar of the engine echoed off the walls of the surrounding businesses and they were gone.
A/N - The three day weekend for Memorial Day here in the States really threw me off on the publication schedule. I completely forgot today was Tuesday but thankfully remembered in time to post today's chapter. That's what I get for spending the entire holiday playing table top RPGs. Oh well, I remembered in the end so it's all good right?
I hope you all enjoyed the double chapter weekend, I really like both of those chapters and it was just great that they got to come out together like that. There was a little glitch posting to AO3 and it got Sunday's chapter a day late, but other than that everything went great for posting two in a row like that. I really hope you're all enjoying where the story is going so far and that it continues to be tons of fun to read.
Also, FanFiction has been giving me some formatting issues lately so if anything doesn't look right please let me know so I can fix it.
Thanks so much for reading.
Zach