Chapter 5: Confession

"Did you tell her?" Ruby asked, as soon as they were back in their hotel room. She bounced on the balls of her feet, hands clasped together, shining eyes fixed on Blake's. "We didn't walk in on you kissing, just holding hands. But you told her, right? You two were just keeping it quiet because it's too soon for Dad to know."

Blake winced. "No. I thought about it, I just…"

Ruby stopped bouncing, face falling. "Blake, we cut short our visiting time with Yang so you could tell her! You even said you should."

Blake looked away, guilt mingling unpleasantly with defensiveness. "I know what I said. When it came down to it I wasn't ready. Sorry. I needed Yang to respond freely, and she can't do that when mostly restricted to a hospital bed."

Weiss tutted. "Blake, stop hiding behind excuses. You know being in bed doesn't stop Yang from talking."

Blake glared at her. "It's not just an excuse! What if telling her sends her heart racing? That could get me kicked out before she said a word, and I don't want her to have to resort to doing it over a scroll."

Ruby sighed. "I guess you have a point. You do make Yang nervous, and that probably makes her heart race at the best of times."

Weiss waved a warning finger in front of Blake's face. "If you don't tell her after she's out of hospital, I'll lock you into the same room using a glyph. Maybe on the airship back to Beacon."

"I'll tell her when I'm ready, not when you want me to do it. This isn't about you. Either of you." Blake realised she was baring her teeth. She didn't like that, so close to losing her temper with her friends.

Blake took a deep breath. It didn't help, so she stormed off to take a walk around the city to try to calm down. It didn't work terribly well when it was so hot out there.

When she returned to the hotel she was met by a contrite pair. They each took one of her hands.

Ruby cleared her throat. "Sorry, Blake. We just want you to be happy. Yang too. And we think you could be happier together."

Blake swallowed hard. "What if you're wrong? What if this tears us apart? What if—"

Weiss squeezed her hand. "Shh. Instead of worrying about 'what ifs,' focus on one question: is Yang worth the risk?"

Well, when she put it like that… Blake nodded.

"Then you know what to do. Take that risk, and go get your girl!" Weiss pointed towards the hospital.

Ruby poked Weiss.

"Ow! What was that for?"

Ruby gave Weiss a meaningful look, which Weiss somehow caught the gist of with no words between them.

Weiss coughed. "I mean, go get your girl when you're ready, of course. We don't mean to pressure you."

Blake gently twisted free of their hands, but only to pull them both into a hug. "Thanks. And I will tell her. When she's recovered, before we're back at Beacon. You can hold me to that."

"Go Blake! We're proud of you," Ruby said.

"So does that mean I can lock you in a room with Yang to make sure you keep your word?" Weiss asked.

Blake almost objected on principle before she considered it. The things she could get up to with Yang in private… "Please do."

"I'm sure there will be somewhere suitable on the airship if all else fails. Speaking of which…" Weiss grimaced. "I know what I told Raven, but chartering an airship isn't actually so simple. I need to get clearance from my father before spending that much."

Blake exchanged a look and a wince with Ruby.

"There's got to be airships already going to Vale. Maybe we can go as passengers on one?" Ruby suggested.

Weiss shook her head, ponytail brushing against Blake. "It would be much cheaper, but it would also be an opportunity for someone to try kidnapping me. We don't want to have to fight our way out of that sort of trouble while up in the air, especially when only Yang will have her weapons. Chartering is safer."

"What's to stop a chartered airship crew from attempting a kidnapping?" Blake asked.

Weiss smiled tightly. "Paperwork. Far more evidence that I was on board. And in theory there won't be anyone else apart from us and the crew. A random airship could have anyone." She groaned. "Which means I have to call my father."

"Do you want us to be here?" Blake asked.

"I'd rather you didn't have to see his picture or hear his voice. Go, have another wander around Vacuo city. I'll be fine. I know how to handle my father. You go with Blake, Ruby."

"But—" Ruby protested.

"You know what Tai said last night. Vacuo isn't safe. And you walked around it alone." Weiss pointed an accusing finger at Blake. "We were worried."

"Sorry. I didn't think about that. Come on, let me show you a place selling cookies I found." Blake led Ruby into temptation. And abruptly remembered Ruby had no lien. Blake cringed, remembering all of the books she wanted to buy, and how limited her funds were. But it'd be cruel not to get Ruby at least one cookie. In fact a single cookie was cruelty to Ruby. Damn it, better make it two. The sacrifices she made for her team…

She'd have to make sure Ruby used her best puppy eyes to make Tai cough up some lien. Ruby was still underage and his responsibility. That and he'd clearly failed to raise Ruby with some restraint when it came to cookies. Maybe Blake should bring that up with Yang, as the one who had apparently done most of raising Ruby. While Ruby chose her cookies, Blake sent Yang a message.

Blake in Vacuo: Thanks to your sister you owe me lien.

Definitely Not Yang: New number, who's this?

Blake pursed her lips at the change in contact name. She wondered at her chances of getting Yang to pay up. Of course if it failed she could still try Tai, or maybe even Weiss.

Blake in Vacuo: Yang. We found a cookie stand. Ruby has no lien. Your sister is a cookie fiend, and that has to be down to how she was raised. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you did more raising of Ruby than your father. Right? That makes her cookie addiction your fault. I'm getting her two. They're expensive.

Yang's contact name changed back. Maybe that was a promising sign for some lien…

Temporarily Yang: Shake down Weiss for lien, Ruby's her partner, her problem.

Blake in Vacuo: Weiss isn't with us right now. She's organising travel back to Vale for when you've recovered.

Temporarily Yang: Then get her to repay you later. She's a Schnee, she has more lien than she knows what to do with.

Blake in Vacuo: Fine, but she'll realise the same thing I did. You're ultimately behind Ruby's cookie problem.

Temporarily Yang: Are you trying to joke about this? I honestly can't tell without seeing you or at least hearing you. Also important question: what sort of cookies?

Blake in Vacuo: I do need my lien for books, but this does amuse me. Damn it, send help, she's begging for more than two choc chip cookies, and two is already pushing what lien I can spare.

Temporarily Yang: Much as I like it when you laugh, you need to know that choc chip cookies are a comfort thing for Ruby. Remember how I told you about what made Summer a super-mom? That's one of the only things Ruby can remember about her: baking choc chip cookies. The more of those Ruby needs, the more in need of comfort she is. Do me a favour and hug her. Preferably a bear hug, ignore any attempts to get away. It's what she needs. If she really wants out you'll be holding petals.

'Oh.'

Blake blinked back tears. Ruby didn't talk much about it, which made it all too easy to forget that she'd lost her mother at far too young an age.

Blake in Vacuo: Of course, I'm sorry for bringing up a painful subject. I should've realised from what you said about Summer and baking cookies being part of why she was a super-mom.

Temporarily Yang: Don't be. You couldn't know just from that. I'm not upset. And now you know to hug my sister when she needs it.

Blake in Vacuo: Cookies to buy, hugging duty to do. Talk to you later.

Blake rolled up her scroll, and handed Ruby her lien card. "Get as many as Tai will pay me back for later." She somehow kept her voice steady.

"As many as… Wow, thanks, Blake! You're the best." Ruby beamed.

Blake waited until the cookies were safely in a box, and after the first had been devoured, before pulling Ruby in for a tight hug.

Ruby squeaked. She tensed for a moment, then relaxed and hugged Blake back as best as she could while holding the cookies. "I'm not complaining, but why the hug?"

Blake squeezed Ruby, attempting a bear hug. "Request from Yang. She thought you could do with a hug."

Ruby didn't struggle to escape. "Oh. Typical Yang. I think she needs the hugs more than I do."

"I'd agree, but that doesn't mean you couldn't do with one." Blake squeezed as hard as she could. She suspected it couldn't match up to Yang's bear hugs.

Sure enough Ruby only patted Blake's back. "So could you. And Weiss. Let's hug Weiss when we go back. And Dad."

Blake loosened her arms and drew away. "I think I'll leave hugging your dad to you."

Ruby shrugged. "Your loss, he's good at hugging. I think Yang gets it from him."

"I'll take your word for it," Blake said.

Ruby's scroll vibrated. She fumbled for it and almost dropped her cookies. Blake took the box from her with a sigh.

Ruby unrolled her scroll. "Weiss says her father's sending an SDC airship take us back to Beacon, and that the trickiest part of talking to him was insisting that we don't need to return right away, that she has a duty to stay with an injured teammate. Which means…" She groaned. "We have to do as much schoolwork as possible before we go back."

Blake snorted. "Are you surprised? I figured Weiss would be pushing for us to do everything the professors sent to us."

Ruby pouted. She rolled her scroll back up and pocketed it, snatching back her box of cookies. "I can dream. They never told me being a huntress involved so much homework!"

"You have a selective memory. Yang's told you every time you bring that up: it's because Ozpin snapped you up before you could be warned about it at Signal. She knew, it comes up around the time students apply to Huntsman Academies."

Ruby's pout deepened. "Then why didn't she tell me?"

"She tried. Many times. You always get distracted and forget about it," Blake said, keeping her tone gentle.

"Oh wow, look Blake!" Ruby pointed. "A stall full of knives! And some of them are guns too! Gun-knives! Come on, I've got to see this."

"…Exactly like that." Blake heaved a sigh. She pulled out her scroll to send a message to Weiss, warning her that Ruby had spotted a weapon stall. Weiss would know that meant it'd take them longer to get back. She also sent another message to Yang.

Blake in Vacuo: Ruby's a joy, but she must have been a terror to try to raise.

Temporarily Yang: You have no idea, especially after her Semblance unlocked but before she learned how to control it. Why?

Blake in Vacuo: The usual thing where she complained she wasn't warned about how much schoolwork there is to do at Beacon, and then gets distracted. Chances are she'll forget what I told her. Namely repeating what you've told her. Several times.

Temporarily Yang: That's Ruby, my baby sis. At least she pays attention when it really matters. What distracted her?

Blake in Vacuo: Weapon stall.

Temporarily Yang: Should've bet it was. But there's a few other things that'll distract Rubes. Strawberries. Dogs. Comics. Some books. Video games. Technology.

Blake in Vacuo: I'd better warn Weiss we may be some time. There's stalls around with every one of those things.

Blake curled her lip in distaste at the stall with a few large cages with dogs in them. She wasn't exactly a fan of dogs, and she didn't like cages. Faunus would be threatened with cages in places that weren't Vacuo.

Temporarily Yang: Good luck with that. May be slow to reply. Dozy. Think nurse slipped me somefhimf

Blake stared at her scroll. Yang was usually pretty good at avoiding typos. What if…

"Ruby? I'd like to check on Yang."

Ruby looked up from the gun-knife she was examining. "Hmm?"

Blake showed her the last message from Yang.

"Yeah," Ruby drawled. "Nope. I don't like that. Let's go." She shot off into a burst of petals, dragging Blake with her.

Blake couldn't think anything while split apart into whirling petals. It wasn't too bad while it lasted. But after she found herself back in one nauseated piece in front of the door to Yang's room, Blake staggered and fell against the wall. She took a few deep breaths, eyes wide open, ears pinned under her bow.

Ruby burst into Yang's room. "Yang?"

Blake pulled herself together and followed Ruby. It was a relief of sorts to see Yang in her bed, but she didn't respond to Ruby's call, or to Ruby shaking her.

Blake wasn't aware of closing the distance, only that she stood over Yang with her fingers against the pulse in Yang's neck. A sigh of relief escaped her. Yang's heart still beat and her chest rose and fell with shallow slow breaths.

"Yang?" Ruby shook her again, a little harder.

"Hey, visiting hours are over," the first nurse they'd met spoke up from the doorway.

Blake reluctantly turned away from Yang. "We know, we just… Panicked."

The nurse's stern expression softened. "Understandable. Your… sister… nearly died. She finally admitted her wounds were paining her more than they should be. The doctor prescribed better painkillers, but they have a sedative effect. She'll only need to be on them a short while, until her Aura heals her enough that she's in less pain."

Blake exchanged a resigned look with Ruby. It made sense that Yang would take her sweet time admitting she was in pain, and that she wouldn't mention it to her team. The nurse did sound like she was telling the truth. So this almost certainly wasn't some sort of plot to kidnap or hurt Yang. Blake felt a little ridiculously paranoid for thinking there was still any risk at all.

"Let me have your scroll details, and I'll try to keep you better informed. As much as I can with patient confidentiality." The nurse held out her scroll.

Ruby exchanged details with her, and they allowed the nurse to escort them back to the hospital entrance.

Weiss wasn't best pleased when they finally returned to the hotel room. "No argument, Ruby Rose. We're doing schoolwork for the rest of the day."

Ruby groaned, but otherwise didn't complain.

Blake reluctantly got out her own scroll and accessed the message Goodwitch had sent with the details needed for the assigned essay. This week was going to be so much more boring if Yang slept most of it away in a drugged stupor. Blake mentally slapped herself for the thought. It should help Yang recover faster: Aura recovered gradually while awake and faster during sleep. It was just… Blake would miss her. She already did. At least it had a silver lining: she couldn't confess to Yang while she was impersonating Sleeping Beauty.

Damn it, she really shouldn't have thought of Yang as that fairy tale princess. Now she had to get the thought of kissing her awake out of her head. She wanted a consensual kiss. Yang couldn't give that while asleep. So stop thinking of it already! Blake barely resisted the urge to smack her scroll against her forehead.

'Don't think about kissing Yang. Do your essay. Easy. Right?'

The doctor took Yang off the sedative painkiller the next day. While it meant Blake wasn't as bored with Yang to entertain, it took away Blake's latest excuse not to tell Yang. Over the next few days she visited Yang as much as possible, persuading Weiss that they could do schoolwork while visiting.

Weiss and Ruby made sure to leave Blake alone with Yang every day, giving her a daily opportunity to confess. Every time, Blake tried her best to muster the courage. Every time, Yang noticed something was up, and kept asking what was wrong, concerned lilac eyes holding hers. Giving Blake the perfect chance to explain, time after time.

'Just. Say. It.'

The crucial words didn't escape. Blake froze up every time she tried. But at least if all else failed she could tell Yang when Weiss locked them up together. She had time. It's not like she could forget she needed to do it, not with Weiss and Ruby giving her pointed looks every time they left her with Yang, dragging Tai with them. Not that she needed any reminder when nightmares kept plaguing her every night, making it all too clear to her why Yang needed to know.

Besides doing what schoolwork they could and visiting Yang, they explored what they could reach in Vacuo. Which wasn't much, even when Tai hired a truck, because they could never do enough homework to satisfy Weiss. Despite the fact their professors assured them they'd have time after returning to Beacon, due to extenuating circumstances. They didn't need to do any schoolwork if they didn't want to. But Blake and Ruby agreed in private messages that Weiss would be impossible if they refused to do homework.

It didn't help that Yang was getting on Weiss's nerves. Wherever they did schoolwork, whether in the hotel room, or in a cafe, or while visiting Yang, one of them had to be available to entertain an easily bored Yang. Blake would have happily volunteered to keep Yang occupied all the time, but then Weiss would expect her to do her homework instead of sleeping. That and Ruby wouldn't let Blake escape schoolwork when Ruby wanted the same thing. Weiss got grumpy when she thought either of them was slacking.

Tai could help a bit with Operation Distract Yang, but not for long. Much to his chagrin, he couldn't hold Yang's attention as much as her sister or partner could. He insisted it'd be a different story if he had Zwei.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Well, duh. Whoever had Zwei would get Yang's full focus, no offence Blake."

"Plenty taken," Blake grumbled. It didn't exactly fill her with confidence that Yang really returned her feelings, if a slobbery dog could steal her attention away. She didn't know how many days of this she could stand.

Fortunately Yang recovered sooner than the doctor estimated. She was cleared to leave the hospital after five nights, the day nurse sending Ruby a message about Yang's Aura being demonstrably stronger than average, and healing her faster than expected. It had to be stronger for it to take the hits for her Semblance. In fact with how Yang's fighting style and Semblance worked, Blake had her doubts Yang's Aura lasted any longer than her own.

Ruby paced around the hotel room, shedding petals. "Can we go get Yang now? We could all fit in this room, I could share my bed with her."

"No, we still have homework to do," Weiss said. "Leaving earlier than expected means we have less time to finish what we were sent. The airship won't be long now, I sent a message to the captain to summon it. He said it was within Vacuan airspace."

"But that means Yang needs to be here!" Ruby objected.

"It means Yang needs her outfit. Here." Weiss shoved a bundle into Blake's arms.

Blake blinked. "Thanks?"

Weiss sighed. "Yang's outfit. Get it to her. And have Tai escort you, remember Vacuo isn't safe enough to walk alone, especially with your arms full."

"Why can't I take it to her?" Ruby asked, her tone not far off from a whine.

"Because Blake's done more of her schoolwork than you have. And it gives Blake one last chance to confess before I lock her into a room with Yang on the airship."

"I guess you have a point, but I'm team leader, I should call the shots," Ruby grumbled.

Weiss tutted. "That means you should care more about our schoolwork."

"You care enough for all of us." Ruby groaned. "Fine. Get my sister dressed and out of the hospital, Blake. And tell her this time, if you can. I promise she won't bite."

'But what if I want—No, don't go there, Blake. Don't make yourself blush.'

"Actually stay there until I come to get you," Weiss said. "I'll give you half an hour or so to get there and be ready for collection."

Blake shrugged. "Sure." She tried not to sound as nervous as she felt. The thought of actually telling Yang this time was… She took a deep breath and tightened her arms around the bundle of clothing, hugging it to herself. Best not to think about it and just do it. She'd open her mouth and let Yang hear whatever came from her heart. After Yang was dressed. Blake didn't think she could cope if Yang hugged her while only wearing a hospital gown. She certainly wouldn't know where to put her hands. Or rather she'd know all too well where she wanted to put them, but really shouldn't, even after a confession of love.

Weiss let her out of the hotel room, and Blake wandered along the corridors until she came to Tai's door. She kicked it, relatively gently, knocking with her foot rather than freeing a hand.

The door opened, revealing Tai. Blake glimpsed his bed covered with more clothes than she knew he had with him.

"Blake, hi. What can I do for you?" Tai asked.

Blake hefted the bundle in her arms to draw his attention to it. "Special delivery for Yang. Weiss reminded me not to go alone, are you free to walk with me?"

"Sure, I can spare long enough for a short escort mission. I have packing to finish, so I'll have to leave you to come back with Yang, can you promise you'll stay with her?" Tai gave her a look almost as stern as the ones he sometimes levelled at Ruby.

"That's an easy promise to make. Weiss will be coming to collect us anyway, apparently."

Tai briefly clapped his hands to the sides of his head in dismay. "That means I have even less time to pack than I thought. We'd better hurry!"

Blake found Yang sitting on the edge of her bed, swinging her bare legs. Weiss must have let her know someone would bring her clothes. That or she was overheating in the bed, a healthy Yang did run hotter than most.

"Hey, Blake! Whatcha got there?"

Blake dragged her eyes away from Yang's legs and up to her face. It was worth it for the grin she found waiting for her. Yang looked so happy to see her. Blake really hoped that would remain the case after she told her the truth.

"Your replacement combat outfit, courtesy of Weiss." Blake moved closer and held out the bundle for Yang to take.

Yang unwrapped it, pulling out the clothes. "Oh wow, she's all bark and no bite. It's fairly close to what the medics cut off me, right down to the colours. No pink or white anywhere, apart from where it's supposed to be." She fingered the white veily stuff lining her half belt skirt or whatever Yang called it.

"Well, time to see if it fits." Yang slid off the bed and reached behind her neck to untie her gown, then pulled it—

Blake buried her face in her hands, hiding her burning cheeks. She turned away from Yang and her usual brazen display of her utter lack of modesty.

"There's nothing wrong with looking, you know. You've seen it all before. And the only things you have that I don't are the cat ears." Yang said over rustling of cloth, far too conversationally for Blake's comfort. How could she be so casual about this if she returned Blake's feelings?

Blake shook her head. Her lower ears were burning too, so chances were Yang knew she was blushing. Unless her hair obscured them? She didn't know. She didn't want to know.

"Or don't. Whatever you prefer. If you'd rather not look, you don't have to." Something rattled, and then clinked. "It's safe to look now anyway."

Blake cautiously lowered her hands, took a few deep breaths in the hopes that her flush would subside, then glanced back over her shoulder. Yang hadn't lied. She was fully dressed, adjusting Ember Celica in bracelet form around her wrists.

Yang picked up her borrowed scroll. "Gotta thank Weiss for the clothes." That done, she pocketed the scroll and stretched. "Nothing like being in bed for most of a few days to make a girl stiff."

Blake stifled a groan as she watched Yang's muscles flex. "At least your Aura will have kept you in better shape than someone without theirs unlocked." As far as Blake could tell Yang was in the same great shape as she always was. Too much so for her own comfort. She struggled to tear her eyes away.

Even when she managed to look away from Yang's shapely form, her eyes were drawn to other places. Namely the new scars on Yang's exposed skin, where that bastard's arrows had struck. Blake spotted them just below Yang's collarbone, above her hip, on her left thigh, and what must have pierced her right knee. No wonder Yang had mentioned she'd needed surgery there, knees were tricky joints. Sickened, Blake wondered how many other scars were hidden under Yang's clothing. All of them were reminders she'd almost lost her partner.

Blake opened her mouth and finally let the truth spill out: "I love you."

Yang stared, wide eyed. She sat down heavily, almost missing the bed.

"I wanted you to know," Blake said.

Yang opened and closed her mouth a few times. "You love me? Like… Uh. What kind of love?"

'Oh.' Blake supposed she could have been more specific. The love Yang would be most familiar with was her own love for Ruby. She swallowed hard and forced herself to meet Yang's gaze. "I'm in love with you. Romantically."

Yang froze for a moment, not even breathing.

'Oh no… Ruby, it's not making her smile. Help, I've made a terrible mistake. She's going to hate me for making things awkward!'

Blake spun on her heel and lunged for the door. She had to get out of here. She couldn't bear to see disgust in Yang's eyes.

"Wait wait wait, Blake!" Yang's boots thudded on the floor. "I…"

Blake stopped, hand on the door. "Yes?" Her ears twitched under her bow, listening as hard as she could for Yang's movements. She didn't dare turn around.

Yang's hands closed around her shoulders, gently tugging her until Blake faced her. Blake didn't find what she feared on Yang's face, lilac eyes shining with something Blake didn't dare interpret.

Yang stepped closer, leaning her head down slowly, eyes flicking between Blake's eyes and lips and back again. She didn't need to ask, she made it perfectly clear what her intentions were, and gave Blake time to avoid her. Not that Blake would ever want to. Instead Blake stretched up on tiptoe and tilted her head to the side, allowing their lips to meet without noses clashing.

Yang's lips were the softest Blake had ever kissed. Their first kiss came with a possessive thrill for Blake: it was likely Yang's first with anyone, the telltale being her movements were a little hesitant and uncertain. It wasn't a bad kiss despite Yang's apparent inexperience, far from it. Blake could happily spend eternity kissing Yang just like this.

Blake had no idea how long it had been when they mutually drew apart a little to catch their breath, still holding each other close. Blake blinked. She hadn't been aware of putting her arms around Yang. Now she wondered how she'd missed slipping her hands under Yang's jacket, palms against her back, feeling the heat of Yang's skin against hers.

Yang cupped Blake's cheek, stroking a thumb against it. "I love you too."

"What sort of love do you mean?" Blake almost felt bad, considering how shy Yang sounded for once. She still couldn't resist asking.

"Seriously?" Yang raised an eyebrow. "You really need to ask? How about I show you, clear up any doubt you have." Bold words were slightly undercut by a fierce blush.

Blake let a brief smirk cross her lips as she stretched up to meet Yang halfway again. Yang made a valiant if clumsy attempt to deepen the kiss. She was definitely new to this, and it showed. It appealed to a possessive side Blake didn't care for in herself, but for once she'd let herself be selfish. Yang was hers, but that wasn't a bad thing when she was Yang's just as much.

Blake angled her head and showed Yang what to do, demonstrating on her. Yang rapidly became more sure of herself, but then she'd always been a quick learner.

Yang's arms tightened around Blake, lifting her until her toes left the ground, their difference in height more obvious with Blake not wearing heels. She'd have to thank Weiss, she found she loved being picked up, something that might not have happened if she'd been in her normal footwear.

Blake shifted one hand from Yang's back, extracting it from under her jacket and speared her fingers into Yang's hair, cupping the back of her head. She gently scratched Yang's scalp with her nails.

Yang moaned, the sound deliciously muffled, devoured in part by Blake. Yang pulled Blake even closer. It was Blake's turn to moan, delighting in the feel of Yang's torso against hers, the perfect mix of softness of her breasts and firmness of muscles lower down.

"Oh!" Weiss's shocked gasp abruptly registered.

Blake's brain belatedly caught up with what her ears had relayed: footsteps approaching and the door creaking open.

Yang almost dropped Blake, only just managing to lower her gently onto her feet at the last moment. They both turned to look, out of breath. Weiss and the day nurse stood in the doorway.

The nurse looked between Blake and Yang. "So. Sisters, your 'dad' said?"

Weiss sighed heavily. "Tai lied, although he really is Yang and Ruby's father. Blake and I are their friends. Technically we have the sisters-in-arms bond from being a team of student—"

"Sure, kid. Glad you're doing so much better, Yang. Do whatever. I don't care, I'm not paid enough for this." The nurse waved at Yang and walked off.

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm very happy you've recovered, Yang, really I am. And good for you both. Congratulations. But can you not do that in front of me?"

"The door's there. Put it between you and us." Yang pointed, her arm above Weiss. Blake winced, Yang rubbing in that she was taller than Weiss never went down well.

Weiss scowled. "This isn't the time for canoodling. I came to tell you that the Bullhead to get us to the airship is here. Literally. On the rooftop landing pad."

"In a minute—"

Weiss cut Yang off. "Now." She turned on her heel and stalked off, yelling over her shoulder, "You'd better follow me if you don't want to find your own way back to Beacon!"

Blake exchanged a look with Yang, slipped a hand into hers and hurried after Weiss, hand in hand. With their longer legs they soon caught up. Blake couldn't help but dwell on what Yang might have done with that extra minute she'd wanted with Blake. Kiss again? Talk? But if it was to talk, what about? Blake took a deep breath, forcing her mind away from that topic. She'd find out soon enough. She'd find somewhere private on the airship to take Yang.

Weiss led them through corridors and into a lift, taking them up to where they found the Bullhead waiting. Ruby and Tai waved from where they stood inside the open door. Weiss jumped aboard, impatiently beckoning to Blake and Yang. Blake rolled her eyes; they were already vaulting aboard.

"You complained when you lost 'rock paper scissors' to fetch them, but you really won," Weiss grumbled, probably too quietly for Tai or Yang to hear. Blake had no such problems even while wearing her bow.

Ruby gave Weiss a puzzled look. "Huh?"

"I caught them fraternising," Weiss hissed.

Ruby squeaked, clapping a hand over her mouth when Tai raised an eyebrow at her. She sidled close to Blake. "You told her?"

Blake nodded.

Ruby stared at Yang, who was occupied with looking down at the view, shielding her eyes from the sun.

"So this is Vacuo," Yang said. "Cool architecture, but is there anything but sand outside the city walls?"

Tai shrugged. "Plenty of Grimm. More than enough for huntsmen from other kingdoms to take missions here. Which you must have figured out by now, you know I've taken some here."

Ruby was all but vibrating with the effort of withholding her reaction until she could get Yang's attention. It was too much for her. She appeared next to Yang in a shower of petals and dragged her off into a corner.

Blake had hoped to overhear. Instead Weiss tugged her into a different corner, leaving Tai looking between the corners with a bemused expression on his face.

Weiss jabbed a finger at her. "Blake Belladonna, I will never be able to unsee—"

Blake brushed that sharp finger aside. "Seriously, Weiss? You wanted me to tell Yang. You agreed with Ruby that she liked me back. What did you expect to happen?"

Weiss scowled. "Somehow I thought you'd save it for when you were in private, silly me. I should have expected to see you fraternising together." Clearly she'd rather they kept their affections private, or at least didn't do anything in front of her. She seemed uncomfortable with it, and not because she wasn't happy for them. Maybe she'd been raised to be reserved. Not that there was much doubt about that.

"Is kissing so bad? At least we're not about to get naked in front of you."

Weiss gave her a long suffering look. "Yang already does."

"I meant together. 'Fraternising' naked. We'll be sure to do that in private." Blake made a mental note to talk about that with Yang when the time seemed right. She shouldn't assume anything when it came to Yang.

Pale blue eyes narrowed. "You'd better."

Blake pressed a hand over her heart. "Promise."

Weiss eyed her. Her gaze softened. "I did say congratulations, didn't I?" She asked.

"I think so."

Weiss smiled at her. "Just in case I didn't, congratulations. I'm happy for you both. Really. Even if I don't want to see you doing… things I don't see my parents doing."

"Thanks, I think," Blake said. She wasn't surprised it was really to do with Weiss's parents.

Weiss looked behind Blake. "Should we hug? The sisters are."

Blake glanced over her shoulder and saw Ruby with her arms wrapped around Yang's neck, feet dangling off the floor. She shrugged. "Why not?" She hugged Weiss.

There were two clicks in short succession. Blake turned and spotted Tai holding his scroll up, grinning. "You girls are so cute. That's two I'll get printed off for the album at home. How about a group hug? That'd be even better."

Weiss sighed, but walked over to join Ruby and Yang. Blake followed. She had no idea how she'd keep her feelings for Yang from being obvious. It wasn't her place to inadvertently leak the news to Tai, damn it—

The breath rushed out of Blake's lungs. Yang had grabbed them all in a bear hug. That was one way to keep things quiet for now. Tai's scroll camera clicked again.

"Yang, can't breathe," Ruby wheezed.

"Brute," Weiss choked.

Blake resorted to one of her shadow clones to escape. That gave Ruby and Weiss the chance to escape too, before Yang's arms could tighten around them. Fortunately the Bullhead landed on the airship before Yang could try to recapture them.

Blake had her doubts her… girlfriend? Were they girlfriends now? They should talk about that, but Blake didn't want to pressure Yang. What had she been thinking? Oh, right. She had her doubts Yang considered that a long enough hug. She'd make sure Yang was suitably distracted on the airship.

They soon stood on the airship. Ugh. The SDC airship. Blake more or less associated the snowflake emblem with Weiss after they became friends, but the company logo initials were another matter. She still saw them branded onto Adam's face, despite not seeing him unmasked often. She shuddered. Distraction was what she needed too. Blake grabbed Yang's hand and hurried off, tugging Yang behind her until she moved fast enough to keep up.

Blake found a room otherwise empty apart from some crates. She avoided looking at the logo on them, focusing on Yang instead. She reached up, wrapping her arms around Yang's neck. Yang's hands rested on her hips, thumbs stroking. For a moment they just exchanged an equally besotted look.

Eventually Yang cleared her throat. "So… Any doubts about what sort of love I meant?"

Blake hummed. "Maybe I need you to show me again." She looked hungrily at Yang's lips. "Although for future reference, that will always be my answer."

Yang shook her head, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're insatiable."

Blake pouted. "You don't want to kiss me?"

"I didn't say that!" Yang's words came out as fast as Oobleck spoke. It took Blake a moment to decipher them, just like with him. "Of course I do. I can't get enough of you." She blushed, satisfyingly hard.

"Then we're equally insatiable." Blake stretched up and pulled Yang's head closer.

Yang took the hint and kissed her, but pulled away sooner than Blake would have liked.

"Yes, but…" Yang bit her lip. Her own, unfortunately, much as Blake would have loved it to be hers instead. "We should talk about stuff, and we can't do that if all we do is kiss."

Blake sighed. She disentangled her arms from Yang and took a step back, hoping it'd allow them slightly clearer thinking if they needed it. "You have a good point. What do you want to talk about?"

"Want? More like I think we need to. What little I know about relationships is that they fall apart without good communication. But I'm getting ahead of myself. What are we? Friends with benefits? Girlfriends?" Yang rubbed at the back of her head. She was clearly nervous.

Blake wondered how best to reassure her. Take charge, or give Yang control? "What do you want us to be?"

Yang folded her arms and frowned. "Blake… It has to be what you want too. Look, how about we set a timer, type what we want us to be on our scrolls, and send it when the timer goes off. No saying what we think the other wants to hear."

Blake took a moment to mull it over. It seemed a sound plan, if a little strange to communicate by scroll when in the same room. "All right."

They turned away from each other. Blake got out her scroll, set the timer agreed upon, and typed the message. She had to stop herself from sending it right away out of habit.

"This is kind of ridiculous, isn't it?" Yang muttered. "Like we should be able to just say it."

Blake leaned back, pressing against Yang. "It does feel that way, but if we did that, how would you know I wasn't just saying what I thought you wanted? Especially if you said it first. Or vice versa. This plan makes sense."

"Yeah… Yeah, it does. We're doing the right thing." Yang's voice became progressively more certain.

The alarm went off. Blake heard Yang tap her scroll at the same time as her, and then again to silence the alarm. Their messages appeared at the same time.

Blake smiled. "Girlfriends it is," She murmured, and pocketed her scroll, turned and wrapped her arms around Yang, stretching up to accept her kiss.

Again, Blake could have happily stayed kissing Yang until the end of time. But this time, instead of deepening the kiss, she moved down. She trailed kisses from Yang's lips to her jaw, paused to nip, then kissed her way down Yang's neck. She barely resisted the temptation to suck a mark into Yang's skin. Another time, when it wouldn't out them to Yang's father.

Blake kissed her way over Yang's collarbone, and hesitated before her lips reached the scar under it.

"Blake?" Yang sounded breathless.

"Can I…" Blake found herself equally breathless. She hadn't realised until she spoke. Maybe a little break to catch her breath was in order.

"Can you…?" Yang asked.

Blake glanced at the scar and back up at Yang.

Yang blinked "You want to kiss it better?" She blushed, maybe afraid she'd been presumptuous and guessed wrong.

Blake nodded.

Yang smiled, her blush deepening. "Feel free to kiss me anywhere you want to."

Blake swallowed hard, her bow twitching, face burning. "Did you really mean that? Anywhere?"

Yang's blush extended below her collarbone. "I mean… If you needed me naked to kiss where you want to, I'd strip for you, but… Um. I really don't want anyone to walk in on us, and I've never—"

Blake kissed her, stealing the rest of her words. She drew back. "I got the impression that this is new to you. When—if—I take you to bed, it'll be with guaranteed privacy, and only when you're sure you're ready. Not just because it's what you think I want."

Yang looked a little dazed. She blinked rapidly, and shook her head until her eyes focused on Blake properly. "I appreciate it. But, uh, is it that obvious I'm new at this? Am I bad at kissing?"

Blake barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Yang needed reassurance, not exasperation. "I can't get enough of your kisses. What does that tell you? You're already good at it, and you'll only get even better."

Yang breathed a sigh of relief and grinned. "Oh, good. Great! You're a fantastic kisser, of course."

"Speaking of kissing…" Blake tentatively stroked a finger over the scar she'd been eyeing.

Yang shrugged, attempting nonchalance but it didn't work terribly well when Blake heard her heart skip a beat. "Be my guest."

Blake lowered her head again and pressed a gentle kiss to the scar.

"Want to do the rest too?" Yang sounded more breathless than she had after being punched through a concrete pillar.

"Yes." It came out far more sultrily than Blake intended. Yang shivered in response, her breath catching. Blake started to drop to her knees to reach the scars lower down.

Yang caught her shoulders. "Hang on, you haven't finished up here." She let Blake go, and took off her jacket and top.

Blake's eyes roamed over the exposed pale skin, covered only by Yang's bra. Yang slowly turned around, showing Blake her sides and back, pulling her hair out of the way over her shoulder. Blake covered her mouth with a shaking hand as she spotted scar after scar, almost all left by puncture wounds. By arrows.

That. Bastard.

Yang pulled Blake into her arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Hey, I'm fine now."

Blake clung to her. "I have a lot of kissing better to do."

The door opened behind Yang, revealing Weiss and Ruby in the doorway.

"There you two are—Blake Belladonna! You promised me!" Weiss pointed an accusing finger, then swept it towards the ground. A glyph blossomed under Yang, forcing Blake back.

"Hey!" Yang spun on her heel, but couldn't move beyond the glyph. She crossed her arms.

Blake staggered. She held up her hands, palm outwards. "I—We—Wait, it's not what you think!"

"Yang is half naked—"

"I'm wearing my bra!" Yang protested.

"Nearly half naked," Weiss conceded. "What do you have to say for yourself, Blake?"

"I wanted to kiss her scars better," Blake muttered, blush spreading to her ears.

Yang spread her arms to make her scars more obvious.

Ruby's face fell. She'd already been looking a bit uncomfortable, as well she might when, like Weiss, she'd probably thought they'd walked in on some 'fraternising.'

"Oh," Weiss murmured, wincing. "My mistake. I'm sorry." She dropped the glyph.

"Raven wasn't exaggerating when she said he tried to turn you into a pincushion." Ruby darted closer and hugged Yang, seemingly unbothered by her sister's state of undress when Blake wasn't involved.

"She said that?" Yang groaned. "Of course she did."

"Such a charming way to refer to her own daughter." Weiss shook her head. "Anyway, we were sent to find you. Tai wants to take a photo of you both for your family album. He's already captured us on camera." She indicated herself and Ruby.

"Do you mind?" Yang asked, looking to Blake.

"Not at all." Blake hoped she sounded like she meant it. She was still a little worried that being captured on camera with Yang would reveal the truth to Tai. She picked up Yang's clothes and handed them to her.

Ruby released Yang, her movements slow as if reluctant to let go.

After Yang redressed, Weiss and Ruby led the way back to Tai.

"All right! Let's have the final partner hug." Tai held his scroll ready.

Blake tried to keep her eyes on the scroll's camera. But her gaze was inexorably drawn to Yang when a strong arm wrapped around her. Tai's scroll clicked. Blake jerked back to face him, eyes wide.

Tai looked down at his scroll and smiled. He lifted his eyes and glanced between them, a knowing look on his face. Blake fought the urge to bury her face against Yang's shoulder, her face burning. Tai mercifully said nothing.

Ruby bounded up to her father to have a look at the photo. "That's a great pic! Send it to me!"

While Tai was distracted, Blake took Yang's hand and hurried them away. She heard Weiss sigh heavily before they were out of earshot.

Once they were alone again in the same mostly private room, Blake turned to Yang. "I'm sorry, I think your dad might know about us."

"I don't mind. It's a little early for him to know, but I'm not ashamed of you. I love you and I don't care who knows." Yang sounded defiant, and kept her eyes on Blake's.

"I'm not ashamed of you either," Blake hastened to reassure her. "I just thought it should be your place to let your dad know when you wanted to."

Yang stroked Blake's cheek, cupping it. "I figured. What were we doing?" There was no way Yang had forgotten. Certainly not going by the glint in her eyes. No, Yang was just being coy.

Blake smiled. "I have scars to kiss better."

"Well…" Yang grinned, cheeks flushing. "I'd better strip. Unless you want to undress me?"

Blake blushed hard. She reached up and pulled Yang's jacket down until it caught on her raised arm. Yang caught the hint and lowered her arm, stroking Blake's neck in the process.

Blake accidentally copped a feel or two in the process of stripping Yang, not that either of them minded, Yang's grin widening even as her blush deepened. Blake almost took Yang's bra off automatically, freezing when she found her fingers fumbling with the catch. It seemed wearing a bra herself did not make her an expert at removing someone else's; the angle was awkward.

"Sorry!" Blake snatched her hands away.

"I mean, if you really want it off…" Yang reached for the bra's fastening herself, her face crimson.

Blake caught Yang's arms. It was far from easy to want to stop her. She also felt the temptation to hunt down Weiss and try to get her to lock them in the room. Unfortunately Weiss wasn't likely to agree, knowing that they'd already confessed. "Not when we can't guarantee no one will walk in on us. Again. You didn't want that earlier. Have you really changed your mind?"

Yang gave her a sheepish look. "If you wanted me completely topless I wouldn't say no."

Blake stepped back, arms folded, and gave Yang a hard stare. "I need you to be able to say no to me."

Yang held her eyes steadily. "Okay. I just don't want to disappoint you."

"You could never. Now, where were we…"

AN: Thanks for reading, comments appreciated.

So about this definitely being the last chapter… I tempted fate by saying it would be. It happened again, it got too long so I split it. Next chapter is the last for real, it's within a couple of scenes of being finished, so it shouldn't spawn yet another chapter.

This took longer to write than I'd intended because I forgot how hard I find kisses to write. This chapter reminded me. I hope you enjoyed them.

One of the strangest things about writing from Blake's POV is whenever her dislike of Zwei and dogs in general comes into it. I like dogs, so it's a challenge to get into Blake's mindset.