Around two hours earlier…
Despite her suggestion to talk in order to occupy themselves, Yang found that her mind was filled with only one possible topic of discussion- things she actively didn't want to talk about any more in order to avoid working herself up once again. Instead of taking her own advice of passing time by filling the silence, she opted to close her eyes as she kept her head nestled into Corsac's lap. Much to her annoyance, the man had said nothing at all while she rested. Corsac seemed entirely content to sit there in silence, one arm trapped beneath Yang's back and the other atop the armrest of the couch. Yang wasn't sure how long the deafening quiet had lasted, but she was sure that she was nowhere even close to being able to fall asleep. She finally opened her eyes to find Corsac looking down at her. For whatever reason, Yang had expected him to be staring straight ahead or silently meditating while she pretended to nap.
"…what's up?" Yang asked awkwardly as she raised a brow and shifted her position on the couch.
"Nothing much," Corsac said calmly. "Simply… observing. You're very expressive with your emotions, even when you believe you have no audience. It's refreshing."
"What does that even mean?" Yang asked, her head pounding with a stress-induced headache.
"…you've been making many different facial expressions over the past twenty minutes," Corsac explained. "Every time I look down, you're wearing a different one."
"Sorry," Yang said with a roll of her eyes as she finally leaned up and away from the faunus and brought her natural hand up to rub at her forehead. "Not really something I can control… or something I feel like giving enough of a fuck to control, I guess."
"It is by no means a bad thing," Corsac said softly. "You are straightforward in both your emotions and words. It never feels like a guessing game to work out what you are feeling. I enjoy that quality of yours, Yang. So many of the others try to keep their thoughts to themselves, while you wear yours on your sleeve."
Yang gave Corsac a quizzical look, though she couldn't help but smirk at his earnestness.
"You know, I've gotten a lot of shit about that over the years. Some people just don't like it when others are direct, I guess."
"Some people struggle to deal with the truth," Corsac replied with a shrug. "I would rather have it presented to me in no uncertain terms, that I might figure out the best approach. Whether or not the truth is comfortable to deal with is irrelevant, if it is something that will affect me in any way. Best to handle things as they come rather than remain frozen and pretending that everything will resolve itself."
"Damned right," Yang agreed as she stood up into an overhead stretch and rose onto her tiptoes with a grunt. "You make a lot of sense, man. I can see why Jaune likes you so much."
Corsac couldn't help but raise a brow at the statement as Yang turned around to face him with a hand on her hip.
"…perhaps… Jaune is something we should discuss together," Corsac said slowly. "I would rather not have any uncertainty or unpleasantness within the group due to a lack of communication."
"What do you mean?" Yang asked as she transitioned her arms to fold them across her chest. "I mean, I might know what you mean, but like you said… let's not mince words and make things awkward. Our group's dynamic is pretty great, and I don't want it to get messy over anything… especially if it's something we can work out as mature adults. Is something wrong?"
"Not wrong, no," Corsac reassured as he made small gesture to the couch cushion beside him. "But Jaune did initiate a conversation about both of us before he left to deal with Ruby. I think you should know what was said."
Yang blinked and sat down once again, giving Corsac her full attention. For the first time since she had met him, the man seemed somewhat nervous. The tip of his tail flicked subtly, as though he was putting forth great effort to keep it still.
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Jaune asked me about my desire to… offer him physical comfort," Corsac said slowly.
Yang's eyes widened immediately, and their mischievous glint gave Corsac a warning of her thought process.
"Oh my gods, are the two of you f-"
"No, Jaune and I are not sexually involved," Corsac interrupted, keeping his eyes well away from Yang's and on the coffee table instead. "He meant… my tendency to take his hand or touch his shoulder. Things like that. Those events have been increasing in frequency, and in truth, it is not something that I had noticed until he pointed it out to me."
"I'm pretty sure everyone else has," Yang teased with a grin. "Not gonna lie- it's really cute, Corsac. You two are so pure it's nauseating… and fun to watch."
"…I am that obvious?" Corsac asked as he turned to face Yang with an uneasy look upon his face.
"Lately? Yeah," Yang confirmed. "You used to be a lot more subtle about it, but as tension keeps ramping up, you seem to be 'checking in' on Jaune a lot more. It's good. He needs that."
"And you are very much enjoying the show," Corsac muttered, sounding almost resentful in his embarrassment. "I wish you… or anyone else would have said something so I could avoid making a fool of myself, but then again, that is not your responsibility. I'm… I am talking in circles at this point, aren't I?"
"Yeah, you are," Yang agreed as she laid her natural fingers upon Corsac's shoulder. "Calm down, man. I'm more intrigued by all this than anything. Were you thinking I'd be pissed off or something?"
"In truth? Somewhat," Corsac admitted. "It is not a secret that you and Jaune are sexually involved with each other, and I don't wish to tread upon that in any way. Jaune did say that the two of you are not… I believe the word he used was 'exclusive'?"
"If that's what he said, he's not wrong," Yang clarified. "But I'll be totally honest with you- I have no idea where things are going with him and I. It's something I've tried to avoid thinking about… but I've been thinking about it a lot. It did start out as just casual sex every now and then, since I started to feel for him and his anxiety back when we all had that big talk about our insecurities. Jaune was so worried about missing out on important things in life given what's coming for us, and when he included the idea of getting laid… I mean, we all haven't really had much time for shit like that with everything going on, and Jaune's cute. I didn't mind helping him fulfill that wish at all."
"A surprisingly… 'pure' motivation for physical intimacy," Corsac pointed out. "You were looking after him and helping to ease his anxieties, much like he did for mine after the events in Kuo Kuana and Argus."
"…and I was horny," Yang added without even a hint of shame. "I mean, yeah, you're not wrong, but I'm not going to pretend I was doing it for 100% altruistic reasons. Sure, Ilia and I made out a little when we first got here, but sometimes, I just need a man, you know?"
"…I might," Corsac admitted. "I will not pretend my affections toward Jaune have been 100% 'pure', either. That being said, I had no intentions of acting upon them, especially when the pair of you seem to be having a comforting effect on each other. It would be wrong to intrude, especially with you beginning to feel more than lust… if that is what you meant by your burgeoning feelings of uncertainty toward Jaune."
"I'm not gonna sugar coat things with you, because I don't think I have to," Yang began, though she wore a guilty look. "That's…exactly what I mean. It started as just sex. That's what we both agreed to. Then, somehow, it turned into sex and cuddling with small talk afterward, and lately… sometimes it's just cuddling and talking. Those nights almost feel more intimate than the alternative, and I think it's something Jaune and I just… we both need that. Total honesty and vulnerability without any inhibitions or embarrassment."
"I… see," Corsac replied, sounding as though he was trying to hide his disappointment. The faunus looked down into his lap and let out a breath through his nose as he folded his hands over themselves. "I cannot say that I am surprised, despite Jaune's insistence otherwise. I suspect he was simply trying to avoid upsetting me by bringing up your emotional connection. I often get the feeling that he may be afraid that I could slip backward into feeling what I felt when you all pulled me out of the ocean, rather than what I feel now."
"What do you feel now?" Yang asked as she scooted closer to Corsac, letting her arm snake behind his neck and around his opposite shoulder. "Actually… what do you feel for Jaune? Help me understand what's going on in your head. You're not easy to read, despite everything."
The corner of Corsac's mouth twitched. For once, remaining calm and entirely honest became difficult. It wasn't even a matter of wanting to mislead his companion or run from the truth- it was the fact that even he didn't understand what he was feeling. Putting it into words was even more difficult.
"…he saved my life," Corsac started. "That isn't a secret, but I do not think I truly realized what that did to me beyond setting me back on track until recently. It gave me purpose, and that much was obvious, but it also established a… a tether between us, I would say. One that I do not mind following, and one that I feel compelled to check for damage regularly. Lately, that tether feels as though it is getting shorter, and the closer I get to him, the more I feel… different."
Yang paused, a question at the tip of her tongue. In any other situation, speaking to anyone else in her circle of friends, she would have reconsidered asking it. Knowing what she knew about Corsac, however, and trusting his words at face value, she instead decided to simply let it fly.
"Corsac… are you exclusively attracted to men?"
The inquiry was sudden enough that the faunus looked back up at Yang in surprise. Try as he might, he couldn't figure out the motivation behind the question, though he also felt no inclination to lie.
"…no. In fact, Jaune is the first one I have ever felt an attraction to. Before him, there have been… a few women better left in the past."
"Gotcha," Yang confirmed with a nod. "Can we agree that love triangles suck ass?"
"…I was hoping to avoid the use of the word love, as that is… I do not know if that is what I'm feeling," Corsac muttered as he leaned his head down to run his hands across it. "But… I suppose it is unavoidable, at this point. Yes, love triangles… suck, especially among friends. We're not doing this, Yang. I won't allow it to happen. I… I will find another, a-"
Yang placed her mechanical hand on Corsac's thigh and gave it a squeeze, pulling the man's attention back up to her as she spoke. Her expression was deadly serious, lacking any sort of mirth or teasing quality at all.
"Stop. This isn't a matter of 'I got to Jaune first' or any stupid bullshit like that. I'm not that petty, and despite the fact that Jaune might be awkward and avoid suggesting something like this, I don't think he is, either. You clearly care a lot about him, so do I, he cares about both of us, and I care about you a lot as a friend. Based on everything you've said tonight, I'd hazard a guess that connection goes both ways between you and I, yeah?"
"…it does," Corsac confirmed. "But… what do you mean Jaune wouldn't 'suggest something like this?' Suggest something like what, Yang?"
Yang took a quick inhale and exhale through her nose as she removed her hand from Corsac's leg.
"What if none of us have to choose to walk away just to maintain the status quo? We're all feeling complicated things, we're all adults, the fucking world is ending, and I feel like we're all good for each other. Why not all get involved in a relationship?"
All Corsac could think to do was blink several times. Though Yang didn't seem to be leading him on, he found that he couldn't quite come to grips with what she was suggesting.
"What?" the faunus asked. "You mean to say… you, Jaune, and I all…?"
"Yeah," Yang confirmed. "Give me a reason we shouldn't… unless Jaune isn't up for it. If he says no, then we'll all talk this out rationally as adults, together. But if he's interested in the idea… are you?"
Corsac swallowed hard as his eyes remained frozen on Yang's face.
"…you feel for me in such a way?"
"…okay, full honesty?" Yang asked rhetorically. "You and I don't hang out alone much, and I don't know you as well as I'd like to. But every time you open your mouth when we're in a crisis situation or someone needs advice, you've always got it on lock. Intelligence- and emotional intelligence- is sexy as hell, and this whole warrior-monk vibe you've got going on is seriously doing it for me physically. You and I would definitely need to get as close as each of us are with Jaune to keep it going and keep it tight between the three of us, but I'd absolutely be willing to give it a shot. Wouldn't that awkward leap be a more fun one to take for everyone involved than just jumping away from your feelings for Jaune, or me leaving mine behind?"
Corsac couldn't help but give Yang an awkward smile at her description of him, and he reached up to rub at the back of his shaved head.
"I will admit, you are… also very physically attractive, and stimulating mentally as well. I… I've not thought of you in such a way before, but… Yang, I am older than both of you…"
Yang rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
"Jaune and I are both pushing 20, and it's not like you're that much farther. What, something ten years at most? Maybe one or two more? We're all adults here, Corsac, and this is pending Jaune's approval... and all of us surviving the evacuation. I don't mind the idea at all. Who cares what anyone else thinks about it?"
"You make it all sound so easy…" Corsac pointed out. "…do you truly believe that Jaune would agree to this idea?"
"As someone who has known Jaune for something like two years now… what Jaune's best at is surprising the hell out of me when I least expect it," Yang offered with a shrug. "He is a lot more adventurous than I initially thought in more ways than one. So… how about it? You in?"
Corsac closed his eyes and rubbed at his chin. As much as he wanted to feel as though Yang's proposal was somehow wrong, he couldn't quite figure out any good reason why it would be.
Nor could he think of a good reason to deny her.
"…pending a successful conversation with Jaune once we find a moment of stability…" Corsac said before pausing to give himself one final opportunity to convince himself otherwise. "I… would be interested in such an arrangement. A… threesome?"
"…polycule," Yang corrected as she lightly touched a finger to the tip of Corsac's nose. "A threesome is just sex. A polycule is a three-way relationship."
"…oh," Corsac said with an embarrassed twitch of the corner of his mouth. "I see."
"Though a threesome would happen afterward, I'd imagine," Yang said with a grin. "And keep happening."
"…in… indeed," Corsac agreed as Yang moved a hand down into his lap to rest atop his. "Why does this feel so… potentially… liberating? It is a thought that has never crossed my mind even once before."
"Because it could be, if the three of us are honest with each other about our feelings and boundaries," Yang said simply as she once again laid her head against Corsac's shoulder. "If it all works out… maybe this is something all three of us need. If that ends up being true, then fuck whatever anyone else thinks of it. As long as the three of us are happy, it's all good."
"Mm," Corsac offered as he closed his eyes and leaned his head into the back of the couch. "You have such a way with words, Yang. I wish I could one day become as articulate as you."
"Go fuck yourself, old man," Yang offered as she continued to rub at Corsac's knuckles. "How about you and I take this opport-…"
Crimson light filled the room in an immediate burst as a portal tore itself open through the space behind the coffee table. A gentle torrent of snow came forth and dusted Yang and Corsac over as a cat-eared figure leapt through the opening, her hand gripped upon the ribbon-wrapped hilt of the sword upon her back. Neptune was close behind her, followed by Qrow, Daisuke, and finally, Raven before the portal closed.
"Blake!" Yang cried as she leapt up off the couch with Corsac in tow. "You made it!"
Author's Note:
This has been building for a long, long time, and is also why I've been hesitant to confirm the Yang/Jaune (or Dragonslayer) ship in response to the times it's been brought up in reviews. We're going somewhat unconventional, but in a way that I hope people will appreciate as these three get closer to each other over the course of the rest of the story. If the timing of skipping backward a few hours seems a little weird, it's specifically because I didn't want this Jaune/Yang/Corsac relationship development to detract from Sun and Blake's big moment. I decided to get Blake's return out of the way first, and then backtrack a bit in order to give Blacksun their moment in the… sun.
Next chapter will be a direct continuation of this one… and also cover the fact that Cinnamon doesn't even know that Daisuke was on his way to Atlas and turned over the White Fang to Kali. Once that's all taken care of… the meeting at dawn begins.
-RD