Yang stood in the closet and stared at the wall dedicated to 'her' clothes. Tops of nearly every cut, style, and color hung from metal rods. Stacks of folded jeans, slacks, and shorts sat on wooden shelves. Shoes stuffed a floor-to-ceiling 'bookcase.' Closed drawers concealed necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and any other accessory she could wish for.
The options in front of her could create an endless number of outfits. Usually, she loved the challenge of coming up with something new and flattering. Today, however, she pulled a random shirt off of its hanger and grabbed the first pair of jeans her hand landed upon. The only reason she bothered looking presentable at all was in case she ran into fans while out in public. If an underground passageway linked her apartment and work, however, she would show up in sweatpants.
That was a lie. She liked looking nice - hence all of the clothing she owned. In recent days though, changing had been a literal pain. Determined to make the best of it, she trudged out of the closet and dropped her selections onto the bed.
"Yang?" Blake poked her head into the room seconds later and, as soon as she saw the clothing, rushed over. "Let me help," she said before picking up the top - a tight, form-fitting, yellow pullover - and pausing.
"Really?" she eventually asked, one brow perfectly arching in disbelief. "You're going to wear this?"
"It's flattering!" Yang argued even though she understood Blake's incredulity. With the current state of her ribs, the top would be torture putting on, and taking off, and probably wearing too. "Plus, it's revealing," she added regardless. "And I know you love when I wear revealing tops."
Yang grinned and gently nudged Blake's side, careful not to move her arm too much, but Blake shook her head at the pair of skinny jeans that had accompanied the pullover out of the closet.
"I love when you wear revealing tops at home," Blake clarified before holding up the shirt. "I'm going to pick something else, ok?"
"You're picking my outfit today?" Yang teased, so Blake playfully rolled her eyes and headed into the closet. "Can't wait to see what it is," Yang called after her. "Will you go for ultra revealing or button me up like a nun?"
"You could use more nun-like qualities," Blake quipped before emerging with a different outfit in her hands. The plain, white button-up would be much easier to get into, as would the looser-fitting dark jeans. She set both on the bed and motioned for Yang to raise her arms, which Yang did - wincing and grimacing all the while.
"I can't believe they're making you go in today…" Blake grumbled while carefully lifting Yang's oversized tee over her head.
"It's the last day," Yang pointed out, but Blake just huffed and tossed the shirt aside. "And it's just one scene. No action, no stunts, just some dialogue while I bask in my adventuring glory."
"Your ribs are broken," Blake replied, tenderly touching the bruises still covering Yang's right side.
"They were broken, but they're healing now!"
"And while they're healing, what are they?"
Hearing the no-nonsense tone, Yang shut her mouth and silently watched Blake undo the buttons on the new shirt. In most situations, she could erase Blake's unamused expression with a joke or a kiss, but she knew better than to try that right now. Blake had been exceptionally affectionate ever since they got home from the hospital, but her mood had soured when Yang broke the news that work needed her to come in.
It was just one scene though. Just one day spouting some lines, then they had everything they needed to wrap. Production had already waited a week for her to heal - an eternity in the film universe. Now, they wanted to finish and get everything to post-production before the final release got delayed.
Would Yang rather stay at home being pampered by her gorgeous girlfriend? Of course. But the sooner she got this over with, the sooner she could be done filming, and the sooner she could return to planning certain life-changing events without that same gorgeous girlfriend hovering nearby.
"I'll be extra careful," she promised in the meantime. "And I won't move much."
Blake's brow remained furrowed, but she didn't respond. Instead, she raised the button-up and helped Yang slide her arms through the sleeves. Then she fitted it around Yang's shoulders and fastened the buttons.
"They're the ones who weren't careful last time..." she muttered while her fingers slid each button into place. Once finished, she smoothed her hands across Yang's collar, let them linger on Yang's shoulders, and frowned. "I'm not happy with them."
"I'll be fine," Yang assured her, gently lifting her chin to see those beautiful amber eyes. "But hey, you could always come with me. Then you can punch anyone who tries to make me lift my own bottle of water."
Finally, Blake smiled, and Yang grinned at her joke's success.
"Maybe…"
"Yeah?" Yang glanced down and undid the top button on her shirt, earning an arched brow in the process. "What?" she asked with an innocent shrug. "Gotta let 'em breathe!"
This time, Blake chuckled and kissed Yang's cheek.
"You're lucky you're cute," she said before pulling away and crossing her arms. "And maybe I will come with you."
Blake's furrowed brow and pursed lips suggested she wanted to accompany Yang to work, but she also didn't want to seem too overprotective. Which was a shame because Yang loved how protective Blake had been over the past few days. It was adorable, sweet, and incredibly sexy at the same time.
"I'd love it if you came with me," Yang admitted. "Don't you have writing to do though?"
"Nothing I can't put off for a day."
"In that case…" Yang set her hands on Blake's waist and pecked her on the lips. "You should definitely come with me. That'd make my day way better."
Whether responding to Yang's sincerity, their proximity, or both, Blake considered the request for little more than a second before saying, "Then I will." She nodded at the decision before sliding her thumbs under the elastic of Yang's sweatpants and pressing closer. "But you need an actual pair of pants first..."
The low, sultry tone jumpstarted Yang's heart, but the way Blake tugged off Yang's sweatpants sent it into overdrive.
Blake didn't have to trail her hands down Yang's hips and thighs while sliding the pants off. She also didn't have to kneel on the floor to pull them from around Yang's ankles. And she absolutely didn't have to look up and smirk before setting the new pair of jeans on the floor and motioning for Yang to step into them.
Blake's thumbs slid across Yang's skin while she pulled the jeans into place. Then, before zipping them up, she ran her hands around the hem to straighten it, tantalizingly and teasingly slipping beneath the band of Yang's underwear before disappearing for good.
Nothing happened. Nothing except Blake zipping and buttoning the jeans before giving Yang a triumphant look.
"Ready?"
"I'm ready alright…" Yang replied, wetting her lips and lightly squeezing Blake's hips.
"Will Cinder be there?"
The question dumped a bucket of water on Yang's sparking desires, and she sighed while Blake slipped out of her grasp.
"Her scenes are done, so I don't know why she'd bother gracing us with her presence. Should be just me and 'The Professor' today." Yang couldn't tell if Blake was happy or disappointed based on her soft hum. Personally, Yang was ecstatic; the less time with Cinder, the better. "She'll probably be at our wrap party though."
"Oh, I know…"
Yang wished she could read Blake's mind after that response. What thoughts prompted the slightly smug smile and lost-in-thought gaze? Before Yang could ask, Blake snapped back to their bedroom, smiled, and extended her hand. Letting that curiosity go for now, Yang gladly accepted Blake's hand and followed her out of the room.
"Need anything else?" Blake asked once they reached the living room.
"Just my phone, I guess." Yang motioned toward her phone on the kitchen island, but Blake had already set out to collect it.
"Should you take some medicine before we go?" she asked, but Yang shook her head.
"I think I'm good."
"Are you sure?"
Blake was already reaching for the bottle of pain relievers on the counter, but she studied Yang's posture and nod before withdrawing. She returned with just Yang's phone instead and slipped it into Yang's front pocket before retaking her hand.
"They'll have some there if you need it, right?"
"Of course! The producer eats them like candy."
Yang grinned at Blake as they walked to the door, but Blake just hummed. Her expression remained thoughtful, as if searching for all the potential ways this brief endeavor could go wrong, while they left the apartment and caught the first elevator to the lobby.
Yang let Blake dwell on those thoughts until they stepped into the mid-morning sun, where the smell of exhaust and obnoxious sounds of trucks rumbling through crowded streets greeted them. Seeing as how Yang's pace had been cut in half due to recent events and the studio was a hefty trek away on a good day, they both flagged down a taxi at the same time. Yang glanced at Blake and, seeing the sparkle in her amber eyes, laughed at the coincidence while a taxi pulled over to the curb.
Blake opened the door before Yang could even attempt to be genial. Having learned not to protest this abrupt switch in their relationship, she sent Blake a grateful smile before steeling her ribs and ducking into the cab. Blake's hand brushed across her back while she did so, erasing some of the sharp protest coming from her abdomen. Regardless, she blew a long breath through her lips and resisted the urge to grimace while Blake closed the door, walked around the car, and got in on the opposite side.
"Where're you headed?"
The driver's gaze stuck on Yang in the rearview mirror for several extra seconds, but he looked away once Blake said, "Crescent Productions." One nod later and the taxi joined the rest of Vale going about their day.
"It shouldn't take long," Yang quietly assured Blake while shops and office buildings slid past. "I only have like three lines or something."
"I'm not in a hurry."
Blake reached over for Yang's hand and smiled when Yang intertwined their fingers. Right when Yang opened her mouth to explain more of the day, however, her phone started ringing.
"Maybe they're wondering where I am," she joked while reaching for her phone with her free hand. As soon as she fished it out of her pocket and saw the unknown number on the screen, she accepted the call, raised the phone to her ear, and said, "Hello?"
"Hey, Yang!"
Ruby's light, cheerful voice made Yang relax into a smile in no time. "Hey, Ruby," she replied, glancing over when Blake nodded at the name. "What's going on?"
"Not much…just wondering what you're up to."
"Heading to work, actually."
"Already?" Ruby squeaked in surprise. "But your ribs are broken!"
"Now you sound like Blake." Yang grinned at Blake but quickly dropped the humor and cleared her throat when she saw Blake's unamused expression. "I'll be fine," she assured Ruby instead. "All I have to do is walk across a room and say a few lines."
"I guess that doesn't sound so bad…" A brief pause followed before Ruby added, "Guess you can't hang out then?"
"Not for a little while, at least. And I'm pretty sure Blake will put me on bedrest as soon as we get home." When Yang grinned at Blake this time, Blake playfully shrugged and mouthed, 'Maybe.'
"You're bored though?" Yang asked Ruby. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Blake sit up a little straighter and watch the conversation with more interest. "Why don't you see if Pyrrha's free?"
"She's not. Already checked."
"Wow. I'll try not to be too hurt that you called Pyrrha before me."
"You're injured!" Ruby pointed out. "You can't do anything besides sit around, and that's…kinda boring."
"Insult to injury. Literally."
"You know what I mean," Ruby whined, so Yang chuckled and lightly shook her head. Blake tapped on her shoulder and, when she looked over, mouthed 'Weiss' to her.
"Oh yeah," Yang said before returning her attention to the call. "Maybe Weiss can hang out. Did you check with her?"
The silence on the other end of the line extended so long that Yang looked at her phone to make sure the call hadn't disconnected. "You still there?" she eventually asked.
"Yeah! Sorry. I just…don't want to bother her. She's probably busy anyway."
"Maybe." Yang shrugged, then cringed at the accompanying stab of pain. The cringe caught Blake's attention, so Yang mustered a grimace before adding, "You never know if you don't ask. Besides, I bet she'd be happy that you wanted to hang out, even if she's busy."
"I guess…" Another uncharacteristic silence followed the lackluster response, but Ruby eventually cleared her throat and said, "But might as well try. I'll talk to you later! Oh, and please don't break anything else at work."
"Pretty sure Blake will kill me if I do." Yang smiled while Blake playfully mulled over the action. "Good luck though! Let me know how it goes."
"Sure, sure, maybe," Ruby replied before the call disconnected. Yang gave the screen a miffed look before setting her phone in her lap.
"Ruby's bored."
"Is she going to call Weiss?"
"Sounds like it." Blake hummed and looked out the window until Yang squeezed her hand to bring that amber gaze back. "You're so smart," Yang said, nodding as soon as Blake smiled and shook her head. "You are! That was a great idea. Maybe Weiss is free and they can hang out again. Wouldn't that be awesome?"
Blake's eyes searched Yang's for a split second before a warm smile spread across her lips.
"That would be," she agreed. After sharing that smile with Yang for a moment longer, Blake nodded to the taxi window. Crescent Productions had just come into view, separated from the rest of Vale by tall fences, tall gates, and a towering archway that looked like something out of a movie.
"Where should I drop you off?" the cab driver asked after passing under the archway. The buildings beyond ranged from standard offices to the many, many studio domes constructed between.
"That building right up there."
Yang pointed at one of the studios separated from them by several stop signs and crosswalks. Golf carts ferrying employees, VIPs, and a random assortment of supplies zoomed everywhere, oftentimes ignoring standard rules of the road even with vehicles present, but the taxicab stopped in front of the studio doors before long. Yang patted her empty pocket at the same moment Blake paid the fare and got out of the backseat with a polite, "Thank you."
"Thanks for the ride," Yang added while opening her door and sliding out of the vehicle. Blake's hand settled on the small of her back almost immediately, offering subtle support until Yang gained her footing. Then Blake's hand seamlessly slipped into Yang's and the two of them headed to the front doors at a slow, almost lackadaisical pace that put zero stress on Yang's ribcage.
When Blake again held the door, Yang chuckled and shook her head.
"As soon as I'm better, you're never opening a door again."
"That's quite a promise," Blake teased while following Yang into the cavernous building. "What happens if you're at work and I need to go somewhere?"
"Remote-controlled doors. I push a button on my phone and it'll pop right open for you."
"Genius," Blake replied, chuckling at the idea while Yang beamed at her. Before Yang could double down on even more detail, however, one of the cameramen waved for her attention.
"Hey Yang! Heard today's scene is pretty intense. Hope you don't crack under the pressure."
He grinned when Yang laughed, but his good cheer disappeared when Blake cleared her throat and crossed her arms over her chest. His eyes immediately widened, either recognizing who Blake was or recognizing her obvious dislike of his joke, but Yang chuckled.
"As if cracking into this industry isn't hard enough," she said while gently prying one of Blake's hands free and weaving their fingers back together. "Now they want my ribs cracking, too."
Under ordinary circumstances, the response deserved more than his nervous chuckle. Unfortunately, Yang only got that and a sidelong glance at Blake before he scurried over to one of the cameras standing at the far corner of the large, raised stage taking up the center of the building. Blake watched him go, and Yang watched Blake watch him go before laughing.
"Blake! You totally just scared him back to work!"
"Good. Hopefully he's better at his job than he is at making jokes."
"You have to admit it was a little funny."
"You and your horrible puns…" Blake sighed while Yang wrapped her arms around Blake's waist and nuzzled into Blake's hair.
"You're adorable when you're all protective," she murmured before ghosting her lips over Blake's ear. "Makes me want to scoop you up and kiss you all over."
Yang felt Blake's small shudder under her fingertips but proceeded to pepper Blake's ear, nose, and cheek with kisses. Before long, Blake was laughing and trying to wriggle out of Yang's grasp. Unfortunately for Blake, she couldn't push against Yang for fear of jostling those poor, broken ribs - a fact that Yang might be using to her advantage.
Blake squirmed a little harder when Yang gently nibbled her ear, but a soft gasp slipped through her lips when Yang's tongue grazed her skin. "Yang…" she finally breathed out. "You're going to cause a scene…"
"That's kind of my job…" Yang teased but, sensing more than a little attention shifting their way, willingly pulled back. She beamed at the flush on Blake's cheeks, but Blake attempted, for a split second, to look annoyed. The attempt quickly failed, so Blake shook her head instead.
"You're unbelievable."
"You're pretty unbelievable yourself," Yang purred. The instant hunger flashed in Blake's eyes, however, Yang cleared her throat and gestured at a long folding table covered in refreshments. "Want some tea?"
"I am thirsty now…" Blake mused but, the moment Yang tried to move forward, set a hand on Yang's arm. "I'll get it though."
"When can I do things for you again?" Yang whined while Blake grabbed an empty cup.
"When your ribs aren't broken."
"They aren't completely broken. They have to be somewhat fused together by now."
While Blake shook her head at the response and perused the flavors of tea, Yang touched two fingers to her side and pressed down until her ribs protested. She winced away from the pain before sighing and leaning against the table. She was healing, but bear hugs and tickle wars weren't in her immediate future.
A frown tugged at her lips with the thought, knowing that Blake would worry about her for as long as she was hurt, but she pushed the feeling away when a young woman with a nice smile and a shockingly blue pixie cut walked over.
"There's our shining star."
"Hey Jane," Yang greeted her. "You miss me?"
"You know I did," she laughed before holding up the yellow top and black shorts on the hanger she carried with her. "Your new outfit for the day. What do you think?"
"Uh…I think it looks a little slutty."
"Yeah, that's what they were going for." Jane looked at how low the top was cut and how short the shorts were before shooting Yang a smile. "Do you need help changing because of - you know." She motioned to Yang's ribs. "Because you're probably not getting into this without an extra hand or two."
"Uh, actually…"
Yang glanced at Blake, who chose that moment to spin around with her cup of tea now in hand. "I'll handle that," she said while taking the outfit, hanger and all. "Thank you."
"Oh, Blake! I didn't realize you were here, but…yeah." Jane looked between Blake and Yang and wisely backed away. "Let me know if you need any help."
"We will."
As soon as Jane ducked out of the conversation, Blake gave Yang a disbelieving look.
"Is this how it always goes?"
"I swear it's not," Yang said, though she couldn't hold back her laughter at Blake's disgruntled headshake. "You just need to come to work with me more often."
"Maybe I do. Think I could be your personal assistant?"
Blake smirked at the non-platonic use of the phrase, but Yang chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Uh…I want to say yes…but she just got here and I really don't want you to get the wrong idea…"
When Blake's brow rose, Yang nodded toward the front of the studio. There, a peppy young girl with a pretty brown braid spotted them and flounced over.
"You're back!"
As soon as the girl raised her arms for a hug, Yang shook her head and stepped back. "Woah, woah, hold up. Broken ribs and hugs don't mix."
"Oh. That's right." A brief pout turned back into a smile in no time. "I'm so happy you're back! You're feeling better, right? Are you still in pain? Do you need anything for it?"
"I'm good. Just going to get changed." Yang motioned to the outfit in Blake's hands, which garnered a quick look. "This is Blake, by the way," Yang added before the young girl found a way to put her foot in her mouth. "She's my better half."
"That's saying something since you're perfect," she laughed before extending a hand to Blake. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Lana, Yang's assistant, in charge of getting her anything she wants."
"What I want is for Blake to have everything she needs today," Yang said while the two of them shook hands. "Then she'll love it here so much that she comes back."
"I'm sure you being here is more than enough for that." Another quick laugh, this time as Blake's brow knit together, before a dutiful nod to Yang. "But your wish is my command. Which means your wish is my command."
Lana bowed forward to Blake, who mustered a bemused smile. "Looks like they'll be ready soon," Lana added, glancing at the props being placed around the stage. "I should probably help. Let me know if you need anything? Like, anything at all."
Yang couldn't tell if Lana was talking to her or Blake, but she nodded and said, "We will." Lana beamed and practically skipped over to the stage, where the props department currently filled several tall, wooden bookcases with books.
"She's…peppy," Blake remarked once Lana joined the work at hand.
"Harmless though, right?"
"It's sweet how you think everyone is so innocent," Blake mused while Yang led the way to the changing room.
Racks of clothing stored along one wall gave the small room a 'closet' vibe, but there was ample room for both of them plus floor-length mirrors and a small sofa to help with the most difficult of outfits. At least it was private - something Yang acutely noticed the moment she heard a lock click into place.
"I like giving people the benefit of the doubt," she said while Blake hung the outfit on the back of the door and set her cup of tea on the floor.
"And I love that about you." Blake walked over and set her hands on the collar of Yang's shirt, none-too-subtly pulling it further apart and looking down. A sly smile soon crept onto her lips, and she met Yang's eyes with an enamored gaze that sent a tingle down Yang's spine. "But I doubt many people look at you and have innocent intentions…"
Blake unfastened the top button as she said the word, successfully sending Yang's heart off to the races. Her fingers moved deftly and purposefully, sliding from one button down to the next without shying away from Yang's gaze.
She knew exactly what she was doing. She knew that her fingers would have Yang's full, undivided attention. She knew that Yang would shiver in anticipation when the last button came undone. She knew that Yang would lick her lips and lean forward when the shirt was pushed off of her shoulders.
But then Blake caught sight of the purple and blue bruises on Yang's side, and a sigh slipped through her lips. "As soon as you're better, I need you to clear your schedule for a few days…" she mumbled while gently tugging the sleeves off of Yang's arms.
"How about a whole week? We can go to Vacuo or something. Make a trip of it."
"That sounds nice."
After pressing a chaste kiss to Yang's lips, Blake helped her into her 'adventure' clothes. The tight, revealing top matched her character's persona, but lifting her arms above her head and tugging the form-fitting shirt into place elicited more than a few grimaces and muffled groans. The shorts weren't as bad, thankfully, though having Blake's hands slide up her thighs was a different kind of painful.
Their privacy felt like a waste if they couldn't do anything with it. That mounting regret only grew when Blake stepped back and let her gaze rove over Yang's new outfit, subconsciously biting her bottom lip while hunger sparked in her eyes.
"Can you take this home?" she asked, her fingers lightly tracing the sharp v-cut. Yang looked down at herself and grinned.
"If they won't let me, I'm stealing it."
Humming at the positive response, Blake trailed a finger all the way down Yang's chest and stomach before looking up.
"'World's Sexiest Adventurer' doesn't do you justice…"
"What about 'World's Best Girlfriend?'"
Blake paused at the question, then smiled and kissed Yang on the lips. "Is that the title you want?" she asked after pulling away, her hands still on Yang's arms and her eyes never straying away. Yang's heart started racing, but she searched Blake's expression for everything left unsaid before responding.
"Only for now," she said, and Blake nodded.
"Good. Because I think you're due for a new one."
Before those words sank in, Blake kissed Yang again. Slower yet deeper this time. One of those kisses filled with love and passion and desire that could easily become more if they let it. But Blake savored Yang's lips at an unhurried, deliberate pace, never giving in to the flames she surely felt just like Yang did.
Yang could only imagine where that kiss might have led if she wasn't injured. But, still being cautious, Blake pulled away too soon. She rested her forehead against Yang's for several seconds, their mouths tantalizingly close while their breaths so easily mixed.
"Long overdue," she added, the words falling from her lips to Yang's like an untouched sigh.
Yang wanted to say that she was working on it but some broken ribs and Blake's slightly hover-y, yet still very welcome, presence made it hard to plan anything. She'd brainstormed plenty of ideas, none of which she'd written down for fear that Blake might find the notes scattered around somewhere, but she still had no idea how to ask. She didn't even have the ring yet!
She had the most important part though - the perfect girl. Right when she leaned in to express as much, however, someone knocked on the door.
"Yang? They're ready for makeup now."
Sighing at the interruption, Yang called out, "Be right there," before pouting at Blake. Chuckling at the response, Blake picked up her cup of tea, took Yang's hand, and led her out of the changing room with a playful, "Come on, superstar."
The rest of the building had come alive during the short time Yang spent donning her adventuring attire. The camera and sound crew swarmed all over the set - a life-like, tastefully decorated office with a mess of wires hidden in the background. The director stood in front of the commotion, pointing out where cameras should be placed. His assistant caught sight of Yang and offered a small nod before the director abruptly pulled her into the conversation.
Fortunately, Yang didn't have to join the fray yet. She and Blake walked over to the hair and makeup department next, where several tall stools stood in front of a wall of mirrors and countertops covered in every cosmetic imaginable.
"Hey Bobbi," Yang greeted the young brunette organizing some of those cosmetics.
"Oh, Yang!" Bobbi raised one arm and looked like she might lean in for a hug but thought better of it at the last second. "It's good to have you back," she said instead, opting for a nod before glancing at Blake.
"You remember my girlfriend, don't you?" Yang asked, and Bobbi nodded.
"Of course. Blake, right?" Once Blake dipped her chin, Bobbi smiled and motioned to two of the chairs in front of them. "Why don't you take a seat while I get Yang all dolled up?"
"Bobbi's the best makeup artist we have," Yang added, claiming one of the chairs while Blake sat in the other. "She makes sure I don't look like a clown."
"Please. Your makeup is simple because you're unfairly gorgeous." Bobbi grabbed a soft makeup brush and motioned to Blake. "She knows what I mean."
"I do," Blake replied, sipping her tea and meeting Yang's gaze in the mirror.
"You don't even need makeup," Bobbi mused while brushing foundation on Yang's cheeks.
"Then how come I spend half of my life in this chair?"
When Bobbi arched a brow at Yang in the mirror and lifted her long mane of blonde hair, Yang laughed and said, "Ah. Forgot about that. Maybe I should chop it off?"
"Oh, god no," Bobbi said at the same time Blake shook her head. "Your fans would cry if you did that."
Yang heaved a dramatic sigh at that response but then snuck a grin Blake's way. Blake hid a smile behind her cup of tea but didn't voice her opinion one way or the other. She'd made it clear how much she loved Yang's hair, but she'd made it equally clear that she would give her full support to whatever fad or style Yang preferred. Of course, as the revealing outfit confirmed, Yang had much less control over her style at work.
"How were things while I was out?" she asked while Bobbi returned to the counter for different brushes and clasps of makeup. "Anything fun happen?"
"Not really." Bobbi tilted Yang's chin up and motioned for her to close her eyes. "Oh, Cinder kept saying you were 'on vacation.' Anytime someone brought you up, she'd said, 'I don't know why everyone cares so much. She's just faking so she doesn't have to work.'"
"Yes, because being hardly able to move is a vacation…" Blake responded dryly.
"That's what everyone wanted to say, but…well, it's Cinder."
Bobbi moved away with the response, so Yang opened her eyes and shrugged at Blake. Blake, however, bit back several responses that Yang would have killed to hear. Snappy, annoyed Blake didn't appear very often after all, but it was always a treat when it did.
But Blake sought solace in her cup of tea instead, leaving Yang to obey Bobbi's silent cues as her makeup and hair were done. Once finished, Bobbi stepped back and regarded her work with a pleased nod.
"There we go," she said before directing Yang's gaze to the mirror. "How do you feel? Ready for an adventure?"
"If I say yes, Blake will kill me." Yang grinned at Blake, who held back a smile while shrugging, before taking a good look at her reflection. "I look ready, at least."
"That's the second-best answer."
Bobbi smiled at Yang, but that smile disappeared when her gaze landed over Yang's shoulder.
"Oh my god," Lana gasped while sweeping between them, turning her back to Bobbi, and gaping at Yang. "You look gorgeous."
Bobbi rolled her eyes and returned to the makeup counter, so Yang nervously chuckled and said, "Thanks, Lana. Bobbi does great work, doesn't she?"
"Right. Of course." Lana waved a hand and hardly glanced at Bobbi before beaming at Yang. "You make her job so much easier though."
"At least I don't make her job harder," Yang replied while pushing herself out of the chair. Her ribs protested as her foot moved towards the floor, but she grimaced and subtly motioned Blake over to her. "Are they ready yet?" she asked Lana, who shook her head.
"Just about," she added though.
"How about you let me know when they're ready? Blake and I will wait right over there." Yang pointed at a small round table and chairs used during mealtimes and waited for Lana's dutiful nod before waving to Bobbi. "Thanks, Bobbi. You're the best."
When Bobbi beamed and Lana snuck her a distasteful look, an amused huff slipped through Blake's lips. Knowing better than to linger, however, Yang took Blake's hand and led her over to the table.
"Are you trying to make them hate each other?" Blake whispered as soon as they were out of earshot.
"I'm trying to establish the pecking order," Yang replied just as quietly. "Lana's new, and Bobbi's great at her job - she deserves more respect."
"That's very perceptive of you."
"Eh." Yang reached for one of the chairs, but Blake beat her to it and pulled it out for her. She kissed Blake's cheek instead before sitting down with a sigh. "It's just how things work here," she explained while Blake moved another chair closer and sat so that their knees brushed. "Everything's a commodity, especially time with 'the talent' or the bosses."
On cue, Yang watched Lana rush off to help the director's assistant unravel some tangled microphone cables. Then she noticed a tall gentleman in a tweed suit and thick glasses sit down at Bobbi's station. "Oh, here's 'The Professor,'" she whispered, leaning closer to Blake as the older man proudly occupied the chair she recently vacated. "I swear, he's dense as molasses."
"His glasses make him look smart though."
"The costume department works wonders…" Yang mused. As soon as Blake smiled, Yang chuckled and added, "Did I ever tell you about the time he dunked his head in the punch bowl at the Christmas party?"
"No," Blake replied, scoffing softly as her gaze flitted his way. "Why'd he do that?"
"He thought it was an apple bobbing station."
Blake's brow rose at the explanation, so Yang feigned a solemn nod. When Blake finally shook her head and laughed, Yang grinned and gently nudged Blake's shoulder. The action earned a small stab of protest from her side, but it was more than worth it.
"This is fun," she added, still smiling as Blake's pleasantly entertained gaze fell upon her. "You should come to work with me every day."
"I'd love to, but I have that thing called my own job to take care of…"
"Right. That job you're kind of good at and should probably keep doing." Yang wistfully sighed and slouched in the chair until her ribs prompted her to sit up. "I just love spending time with you."
"You wouldn't get bored if we spent all day, every day, together?"
"Are you kidding me? That'd be a dream come true!" When Blake smiled and shook her head, Yang reached over and squeezed one of her hands. "I don't just want to work together though. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Admitting that desire was as simple and easy as breathing, but Blake smiled at Yang for several long moments, her eyes sparkling all the while, before she leaned in and pressed a soft, adoring kiss to Yang's lips. "I love you," she whispered, her fingertips tenderly lingering on Yang's cheek before her gaze eventually snuck off to the side. "As do a handful of other people here, it seems…"
Yang glanced in the direction Blake looked right as one of the production assistants, who had been overly friendly lately, turned away. How Blake picked up on it from just a look baffled Yang, but she'd learned to trust Blake's incredible intuition.
"You aren't worried, are you?"
"Of course not." Another soft kiss assured Yang that the answer was true. Immediately after, however, a sly smile crept onto Blake's lips. "But I wouldn't mind if you were one of those demanding, self-centered actresses that no one wants to work with."
"Yes, you would," Yang replied with a laugh. "You'd tell me I should be nicer and more caring."
While Blake grumbled something that sounded an awful lot like, "Maybe…" Yang kissed her cheek. In the back of Yang's mind, however, she resolved to find even more ways to prove that she loved Blake more than anything or anyone else. An engagement ring would be a great start…
"Set's ready!" the director's assistant called out before locking eyes with Yang and motioning to the stage.
"Alright," Yang sighed while tentatively pushing herself to her feet. "Time to shine." Before Blake had a chance to stand or respond, Yang leaned down and stole a kiss.
"For good luck," she said, winking for good measure before making her way to the stage. She snuck a glance over her shoulder before leaving the moment fully behind, finding Blake watching her with all the intentness and intensity she'd come to crave.
"Yang," the director greeted her, his typical rapid-fire energy already at full power. "How're you feeling?"
"Kinda like my ribs got snapped in half a few days ago."
"Ouch," he replied, though he didn't sound like he understood exactly how much that hurt. He moved on instead, motioning to several small blue 'X's taped to the floor. "Here's where you start. You got your lines, right?"
"Of course."
"Good. Let's wrap this up as painlessly as possible."
He slapped the back of her shoulder while walking away, making her draw in a sharp breath and hold it for several seconds before exhaling. She risked a glance at Blake after her grimace faded, but it did no good - Blake had witnessed the interaction and looked ready to storm over and give the man a pointed reminder about the state of Yang's ribs.
Fortunately for him, Blake remained seated. Her eyes followed Yang's every move though, searching for any sign of discomfort or excessive pain. Yang didn't know what would happen if Blake determined that this was too much stress, too soon, but she didn't want to find out.
Well, she kind of did, but she also kind of didn't - for Blake's sake, mostly, since causing a scene would decrease her willingness to come back.
Hoping that scenario didn't happen, Yang stood on the first 'X' taped to the floor and studied the path marked for her. She would walk across the wooden floor, stop behind one of the two chairs placed in front of the mahogany desk, probably set her hands on the back of it, then move right up to the front of the desk to deliver her last line.
"Morning, Yang," her counterpart for the day drawled while joining her on the stage.
"Hey Chris. One take today, right?"
His laugh boded well for no one, but Yang suppressed a sigh as he sat behind the desk and experimented with several poses. Eventually, he settled on one that looked appropriately academic yet arrogant, but Yang caught Blake's gaze and playfully rolled her eyes. She was rewarded with a smile, which she held onto while focusing on the only thing she could control - her individual effort.
She usually tried her best at work, but her determination doubled with Blake in attendance. Ironically though, her concentration suffered as it flitted between the director's instructions and the amber gaze locked onto her like a hawk.
By the time they finished several walkthroughs, Blake probably could have taken Yang's place. Instead, she watched silently as they moved into filming. Her eyes narrowed whenever the director made any adjustments requiring Yang to move - especially his ill-fated suggestion that Yang throw one arm out to the side with an emphatic nonchalance that she couldn't muster. Once he accepted that her ribs were broken and she couldn't do those types of things, the rest of the scene progressed smoothly.
Stroll across the office. Recount the adventure she'd experienced throughout the film. Point out how horribly wrong The Professor's information had been. Lean against the desk, grin, and ask what he had for her next.
All in all, it was as simple a scene as Yang promised. It would have been quick and simple if the actor sharing a stage with her hadn't done everything in his power to steal a bit more screen time. Fortunately, despite his best efforts, they reached the end of one take and the director mercifully called out, "That's a wrap!"
"Great job, everyone," he added while the crew started speaking excitedly amongst themselves and packing away their equipment. He then intercepted Yang as soon as she stepped off the stage. "Thanks for toughing it out today, Yang. Looks like we'll hit that release window, after all."
"Wouldn't want to miss that."
"Costs us thousands of dollars a day."
He chuckled and slapped the back of her shoulder again - she winced again, too - before heading over to the producer. He remained oblivious to the glare following him, but the unhappy look softened as soon as Yang snuggled into Blake for a hug. Long, slender fingers trailed through her hair as she nuzzled against Blake's neck and took a deep, relaxing breath.
"I'm starting a list," Blake grumbled, making Yang chuckle when she finally pulled away. She didn't move far though, as one of Blake's hands settled upon her waist and the other lingered in her hair. "How do you feel?"
Blake searched Yang's eyes for the answer, leaving Yang no choice but to sigh and admit the truth.
"Tired and pretty sore. Who knew that we used our ribs so much?"
Yang tried to laugh it off, but Blake didn't even crack a smile. "Can we go home now?" she asked instead, the beseeching edge in her tone pulling at Yang's heart. "We can order takeout and watch a movie - whatever you want."
"You'll let me choose?" Yang feigned disbelief, finally earning a small smile, before kissing Blake's cheek. "There's nothing I'd rather do," she said before pausing and chuckling to herself. "Well…there's one other thing I'd rather do."
"You might get it if you're lucky…"
"Oh yeah?"
The flames in Yang's chest reignited at the thought, but Blake placed a hand on her chest when she tried to move closer.
"I'll take care of everything though. You won't lift a finger."
"Not even one?" Yang asked, but a shiver ran down her spine when Blake's eyes raked over her outfit. "Ok, we should go home. Like, now."
"We really should," Blake mused while trailing her fingers along the hem of Yang's shirt, stoking Yang's growing desire for immediate privacy.
"I should just…change first…"
Yang gestured to the changing room, where she'd left her normal clothes, but Blake merely glanced that way before smirking up at her.
"Why don't you just wear this home? Then I can help you out of it in private…to protect your ribs, of course."
"Of course…" Yang repeated, her voice breathless as her body picked up every suggestion Blake put out. "Anything to protect my ribs."
Pleased with the answer, or with Yang's overly eager response to the mere hint of their future plans, Blake hummed and slipped her hand into Yang's. "You did great today," she added with a quick kiss on Yang's cheek. "I love watching you work."
"Yeah?" When Blake nodded, Yang beamed. "Does that mean you'll come back?"
"Whenever you want me to." As soon as Yang lit up, Blake added, "Within reason."
Yang's excitement escaped in a breath of joyous laughter. "You know me too well," she said as they walked outside, leaving the studio's controlled climate for Vale's balmy mid-afternoon. While Blake hummed and searched for a taxi to take them home, Yang smiled at her for a moment longer.
Impossible as it may seem, she was still discovering new reasons to love the smart, kind-hearted, protective girl beside her. She would've thought that by now she would know every reason that existed, but maybe there was no limit. Maybe she would fall more and more in love until her heart wouldn't fit in her chest anymore, or it would burst at the seams when Blake did something particularly sweet or adorable.
They had to get married before that happened. Yang wanted that more now than ever before. Which meant she needed her ribs to heal. Then she had to buy a ring. And come up with a plan. And, the scariest part of all, actually ask.
But first things first - let her incredible, incredibly sexy girlfriend take her home and pamper her in every way imaginable. Nothing beat that after a hard, or at least mildly taxing, day of work.