Blake ignored the Vanguard 9000 mostly out of spite but also because she had never tackled a vault of that magnitude. Her targets were older, less-expensive models for legitimate reasons: their security measures had been figured out by now, and the people or companies owning them often let their other security lapse just like the vault door.
Buying a safe was just the beginning of deterring thieves. Secure institutions understood that. Criminals understood that. Yang understood that.
A tingle raced down Blake's spine as thoughts of Yang briefly invaded her mind. Her fingers stalled, lock picks perfectly still with two pins to go, and the clear cut-out of a lock that she'd been working on all afternoon blurred at the edges. The distraction lingered as long as their most recent parting kiss, which had been soft, sweet, and filled with something more.
Yang understood Blake's work better than anyone in the White Fang, albeit from the opposing side. Of course, even Yang had some knowledge gaps, which Blake sometimes wanted to fill but knew not to. Her hands started moving again instead, silently explaining her process as if Yang sat beside her.
Use the tension wrench to apply pressure as if a key is in the lock. Use the hook to push up the pins. Start from the back and move forward. Feel gently and be patient. The pins are springy, and you only need to move them until you feel a slight give or hear a little click - did you hear that? That means the pin is set. Now, we just repeat with the last one and…
The lock popped open and she quickly checked the stopwatch.
Despite the distraction, her time improved. With more practice, she would have them through Vale Credit Union's flimsy barred door in a matter of seconds. The vault door would be handled later today, meaning her plan was nearly complete. She had a way into the building. She could get them into the employee-only section. She already had experience with the bank's cash-hoarding safe. She had their escape route. With just a few more pieces of the puzzle and plenty of test runs, they would be ready.
When Yang popped into her mind this time, she shook her head and set her tools aside. Adam and the new guy, Yuma, arrived just in time to distract her, though she first watched the two men exchange words in low voices. Yuma wore a permanent smirk at whatever they discussed and Adam's posture remained imposing until he received a nod. Yuma then made himself at home, flipping on the TV, while Adam zeroed in on Blake.
"Update?" he demanded as he strode over to her.
"Couple of weeks, maybe. Everything's nearly done."
He nodded, vaguely pleased by the answer.
"I need you to do something. Using the detective."
Blake's heart started racing at the mere mention of Yang, but she stood up and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'm already getting whatever I can from her."
"And now I need you to get into her computer."
She froze for a second, unsure she heard him correctly, before shaking her head and saying, "What?"
"You said she works from home," he began slowly, as if spelling it out for her. "She must have remote access to the department. You need to figure out how to get in."
"Who do you think I am - a hacker?"
"No," he said before a sinister smirk tugged at his mouth. "You're her girlfriend."
The word burned like a poisoned blade.
"What are you looking for?" she got out through clenched teeth.
"Just something Cinder and Yuma are working on. And your…connection…will be useful."
Anger and frustration seared through Blake's veins while she processed the request. She didn't want to help Cinder or Yuma with anything, least of all by 'using' Yang. Yang was…not hers, but still hers. She was the one putting her identity on the line. She was the one taking the risk every time she met Yang, whether that be for a night out or a night in.
"I can't keep doing this," she said, shaking her head as the cruel reality set in. "It'll break her heart."
"She's a big girl. She'll get over it."
Would she? Blake thought the same at first, but now…now, she wanted to tell Adam where he could shove his suggestions. But she was supposed to be committed to the cause, to the White Fang, and if Cinder actually had a plan…something good…then she should help them however she could.
"Fine," she muttered while rubbing her heart. "I'll try. No promises though - she keeps her work pretty secure."
"Then you need to work on your pillow talk."
"You need to work on your talk in general," she hissed back, hating his smug smile so much that she briefly considered smacking it off his face.
She stalked to the far corner of the room instead, where she sat in front of her practice safe and shoved earphones into her ears. Her blood boiled and her heart pounded so loudly that she could hardly concentrate on the dial in her grasp. She spun it mindlessly for several seconds until the steady, comforting clicking calmed her nerves. From there, she took a deep breath and started the timer. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Adam exchange more words with Yuma, who shot her a triumphant smirk, before leaving.
Focusing on the dial was impossible with her mind in turmoil over this new 'request.' She was Yang's girlfriend in every sense of the word except loyalty. Yang trusted Blake in her home, at her work, in her bed, and Adam wanted Blake to use that trust to twist the knife that Yang didn't even realize was in her back.
It would crush her. And, instead of seeing a future of equality, Blake saw only Yang, broken and mistrusting. Bright smile faded. Guard up. Unwavering faith in the goodness of people…gone.
The safe opened, but no excitement accompanied it. Blake unlocked it a dozen more times, each less satisfying than the last, before giving up. Cracking a lock used to be a surefire way to soothe her mind, but it wasn't the only way any longer. Her phone flew into her hand as soon as she made it outside, and the words flowed easily from her thoughts to the screen.
'Any chance you're free later?'
She kept her phone in her hand while making her way to the nearest bus stop. Her salvation arrived with a soft chime at the same time the bus rumbled down the street.
'I'm free now. Just doing some chores.'
Thank god, Blake internally sighed as she boarded the bus. 'Can I come over?' she asked Yang after claiming a seat. 'I just need to run an errand first.'
'I'll be waiting. With cookies. Because I'm going to bake some for you.'
A laugh slipped through Blake's lips as she read and re-read the message several times. The youngest detective in Vale P.D.'s history…wearing an apron and baking cookies for her.
'You're sweet enough for me,' she replied before glancing out the bus window and adding a quick, 'See you soon.' She shoved her phone in her bag and buried her excitement to see Yang along with it. Knowing that they would be together soon was good enough. She just needed to survive the next few minutes and then she could finally decompress.
Unfortunately, the next few minutes involved two of her least favorite people. Cinder and Emerald already waited outside Vale Credit Union, engaged in quiet conversation until Blake joined them.
"Finally," Emerald griped even though their agreed-upon meeting time had yet to arrive. "Are we doing this or what?"
"You know what to do?" Blake asked in return. Emerald rolled her eyes, but Cinder replied first.
"Of course we do. Not all of us have been as…distracted…as you."
A smirk slipped onto Emerald's lips as a scowl found Blake's.
"How's it going with Detective Hot Stuff? Sleep with her yet?"
"None of your business."
"Already?" Cinder replied, smirking as Emerald cackled. "And I thought you were a prude. Apparently, you're more committed to the cause than I thought."
"Considering I've been here longer than you, that shouldn't be a surprise," Blake shot back.
"Did you let her use that hand on you?"
"I bet she did," Emerald teased. "She's got a hard-on for gimps."
Emerald yelped when Blake grabbed the front of her shirt and dragged her forward.
"Don't use that word again," Blake hissed, scowling in the face of Emerald's wide eyes before releasing her with a light shove.
"Someone's touchy…" Cinder loudly whispered as Blake yanked the door open and stormed into the lobby. She ignored their snickers and headed over to the tellers on the far side of the room. A familiar face caught her eye - Ilia stood at one of the teller stations with another young man, listening while he pointed to the piece of paper in front of him - but she carried on as if they'd never met. Instead, she dug into her bag for a small key, which she took with her to the first open teller.
"Welcome to Vale Credit Union," the young girl greeted her. "What can I help with?"
"I'm just here to get in my safe deposit box." Blake noticed the manager, Brandon, behind the counter at the same time he saw her. When she held up the key, he nodded and waved her over to him.
"Need to get in your box again?"
"Yeah, sorry…I forgot to grab a paper I need for an interview." Blake glanced to her side when Cinder and Emerald joined her. "These are my friends," she explained as they politely smiled. "They can come with me, right?"
"Of course! Of course."
He spared Cinder a second glance - she batted her eyes - before leading them through the flimsy security door with the same lock that Blake had spent the morning mastering. From there, it was down the hall to the open vault door, then inside to the walls of security boxes and the glistening, soon-to-be-theirs safe.
"Oh…that looks official," Cinder remarked as they entered the room.
"Top of the line!" Brandon claimed, hardly paying attention as he unlocked Blake's deposit box and practically threw himself into Cinder's expertly woven web. "Do you bank here?"
"I don't. But maybe I should consider it…"
Blake rolled her eyes when Brandon launched into all of the reasons why Cinder should definitely open an account at this branch. She would get superior service and definitely not regret it.
Blake didn't understand why men fell so easily for Cinder, but she would admit that it was a thing. Whether it was the smirk or the hair or the overwhelming arrogance, something convinced them to make downright fools of themselves hoping for her attention.
Brandon was so focused on Cinder that he didn't notice Blake grab a piece of paper from the box and then slip a thin wire into the keyhole below her key. She then shut the deposit box door and tried to remove her key, to no avail. She then grabbed it with both hands, wiggled it a bit, and in general made a commotion big enough to earn Brandon's confused glance.
"It won't lock," she explained, twisting her key to no effect.
"Here, let me help."
Blake stepped back so that Brandon could take her spot in front of the box, where he proceeded to repeat what she just did.
"Oh, no…is it stuck?" Cinder asked, leaning close to the young man while he struggled.
"Just…a bit. Don't worry. I'll get it."
While he wiggled the key, Emerald calmly swiped the keyring from his belt, found the one belonging to the vault door, and made an imprint in a small case hidden in the palm of her hand. The keyring snapped back to Brandon's belt seconds later, and Blake pushed her way back to the box.
"Let me try one more time," she suggested while Cinder subtly moved Brandon out of the way. With Cinder briefly blocking his line of sight, Blake removed the wire and, with a bit of jolt, yanked the key out of the wall. "There," she said before exhaling and dropping the key and wire into her bag.
"Sorry about that…" Brandon inspected the box before lightly shaking his head and removing the master key. "Do you want to switch to another one?"
"No, that's fine. I like this one. It has character."
When Blake smiled, he chuckled and led them out.
"If it gives you issues again, we'll get someone to look at it."
Blake hummed at the solution while her gaze swept the back of the bank, searching for anything new but finding nothing. Ilia spotted her this time and almost smiled, but Blake quickly looked away. The last thing they needed was anyone suspecting that they knew each other.
"Feel free to come back anytime," Brandon told them once the metal security gate clanked shut behind them. "And if you actually want to open that account…"
"I'll think about it." Cinder winked before turning around, rolling her eyes but leaving him smiling. Emerald snickered as she and Blake followed Cinder outside, trading artificially cooled air for downtown Vale's humidity and exhaust.
"Piece of cake," Emerald told Blake once they made it several steps from the door. "I'll have a copy in no time."
"Perfect."
"Off to fuck your girlfriend now?" Cinder added, shattering Blake's mood like taking a sledgehammer to fine china.
Clenching her jaw, Blake flipped them off and stormed away. Their laughter followed her around the corner, and she stewed all the way to the bus stop and then to Yang's building. Cinder knew how to get under her skin, and Emerald had taken to being Cinder's sidekick like a fish in water. Add Adam to the mix and it was a recipe for some cracked teeth.
But she took a deep breath when she reached Yang's floor, which smelled overwhelmingly like freshly baked cookies, and felt some of her agitation slip away. She couldn't be Shroud here, pissed off about Cinder and Emerald and Adam's ridiculous demand. She needed to be Yang's girlfriend, Blake. And Blake had no problem ringing the bell to Yang's door.
"Be right there!" Footsteps hurried over and the door flew open seconds later. "I hope you like chocolate chip," Yang said, already smiling, only to take one look at Blake and frown. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." When Yang's frown deepened, Blake sighed and let her shoulders slouch. "I just had an annoying day…"
"You know what cures annoying days?" Yang's gentle touch on Blake's elbow led Blake to the dining table, where a plate of chocolate chip cookies waited. "Cookies!" Yang announced, proudly gesturing to the plate before handing one to Blake. "Now, eat that and tell Dr. Yang all your problems."
Blake bit into the cookie first and groaned.
"These are incredible. Are you good at everything you do?"
"Not everything." Yang shook her head and then trapped Blake in a tender, caring gaze. "Now that you have one of the most delicious cookies in the world…want to tell me what's up?"
Blake took another bite, which was just as good as the first, and contemplated how much she should say. Talking about work seemed risky, but if she only talked about people…
"My coworkers can just be such assholes sometimes..."
"What'd they do?"
Blake sighed, but with one of Yang's hands trailing up and down her arm and the other settling on her waist, she felt…safe. And she felt like venting.
"Well, two of them are bitches about everything. They're either complaining or 'teasing,' but are just mean. And the other one…" Blake thought about Adam and the latest 'task' he gave her, and scowled. "He's always pushing me to do things that are...well, he just doesn't seem to care a lot about other people's feelings."
"What's this guy's name?"
"Adam," she grumbled.
"Last name?"
Blake opened her mouth only to stop and laugh at Yang's intent gaze.
"I feel like I shouldn't give you his full name…"
"Why not?" Yang whined while Blake laughed and leaned against her, feeling lighter already. "Come on," Yang added as she wrapped both arms around Blake's waist and pulled their hips together. "I won't do anything bad. I'd just run a few searches on him. Make sure he's not a psychopath."
"Is that what you did with me?"
"Nope." Yang beamed and kissed Blake on the lips before contemplating her more closely. "Ok, that's kind of a lie. I only searched for you like a normal person though."
"Really?" Blake's heart hammered at the disclosure even though she'd suspected it would happen. Logic told her to change the topic as quickly as possible, but she polished off the cookie and found herself asking, "Find anything interesting?"
"Lots." Yang kissed Blake again, slower this time, before scrunching up her nose in that adorable way she did whenever trying to recall something. "Like you were on your elementary school's checkers team," she eventually said. "And you won an award for a book report when you were in middle school. The picture with that was especially cute."
Blake would be alarmed if anyone else knew those moments in her past. She didn't feel alarmed with Yang. If anything, she remembered those days, back when the world was bright and everything seemed happy, and felt sad.
"I'm not that girl anymore…"
"I think you are." When Blake subtly shook her head, Yang nodded. "You are! You've still got this smart, driven sweetness about you. Like you can change the world if you want to. All you have to do is put your mind to it and you'll do it - no matter how hard it is."
Yang squeezed Blake's sides and smiled as if she believed every word with every fiber of her being. She believed in Blake - something Blake hadn't had since her parents passed away.
"Thanks, Yang," she sighed, meaning it more than Yang might ever know.
"Don't mention it." Yang kissed Blake's cheek and then smiled mischievously. "Although if you really want to thank me…I can think of a way that we'd both enjoy."
Yang winked and then laughed when Blake playfully slapped her shoulder.
"Do you have zero self-control?"
"Me?" Yang asked, openly laughing now. "You're the one who used my handcuffs to -"
Blake covered Yang's mouth.
"I remember perfectly," she said, her voice dropping dangerously low as the memories flooded back. If either of them lacked self-control, it was her. Her skin warmed and her pulse rose as she drank Yang in, knowing now what waited beneath the attractive outfits: perfection. Tightly corded muscles, soft skin, freckles hidden in intimate places, extremely capable hands…
Off to fuck your girlfriend?
Despite the darkness in Yang's eyes, Blake cleared her throat and backed away. Yang didn't let her get too far though. An arm wrapped around her waist to hold her close, increasing the temperature while she tried to clear her mind.
"What do you want to do tonight?" she asked. Yang tilted her head.
"We said we'd get dinner with Weiss and Ruby, remember? Some of those cookies are technically for Ruby."
"Oh…right." Blake frowned at the thought of spending the evening fending off Weiss' barbed suspicion. "Do you think we can reschedule? I don't think I have the energy to deal with Weiss right now…"
"She takes a certain kind of energy, doesn't she," Yang agreed before concern filled her eyes. "What's up though? You sure it's just work?"
"Yeah, just work." Blake glanced at Yang's laptop, sitting on the desk like normal, and felt her pulse rocket skyward. "Hopefully, it'll slow down soon."
"I hope so, too." Yang kissed Blake again, soft and slow like an unspoken apology, before pulling away. "I'll text Ruby and let her know."
While Yang grabbed her phone, Blake glanced at the computer again before shaking the thought from her mind. "Done," Yang added seconds later, quickly returning to Blake's orbit. "Now it's just you and me tonight."
"Thank you…"
"Of course." Yang held Blake's hands and pecked her on the lips. "Believe it or not though, Weiss has changed a lot since they started dating." As soon as Blake scrunched up her nose, Yang smiled and tapped the tip of it. "I'm serious! As much as I didn't want to admit it, Ruby's good for her. She knows it, too."
Blake's nose remained scrunched, unable to imagine a worse version of Weiss, but Yang glanced into the kitchen and then squeezed her hands.
"I should probably feed you something other than cookies."
The second Yang started pulling away, Blake held on tighter. She hadn't even realized she had done it until Yang stopped and gave her a curious look.
"Can we sit down for a bit first? I'm not very hungry right now and just…want to sit with you."
Yang's expression was so understanding that Blake ducked the gaze, hoping her cheeks weren't as red as they felt.
"Yeah, of course."
Taking Blake by one hand and grabbing the plate of cookies with the other, Yang led them over to the sofa. As soon as Blake sat down, Yang pulled her legs up over her lap, encouraging Blake to lean back against the arm of the sofa and sigh. She had so much to hide from Yang yet didn't feel on edge here like she did around Adam or Cinder. Like she could just be, and they could talk about anything as long as it didn't stray too close to her day-to-day activities.
"I still don't get how that works," she commented, staring at the bookcase. "Jacques Schnee's daughter marrying a police officer…"
"Honestly, me neither." Yang shook her head while casually running one hand up and down Blake's leg, leaving a trail of warmth in her wake. "It's easy to judge her because of her dad, and because she can be a massive bitch, but in private, she's…different. Nice, even. You probably don't believe it now, but when she's more comfortable, she might let you see."
Blake hummed but internally doubted that Weiss would ever treat her as anything more than an intruder.
"I just think…" Yang paused, brow furrowing, before shaking her head. "I think when you're in a certain life for too long, you start to…lose perspective. It takes someone pretty special to bring you back to the real world, and that's what she found in Ruby. Someone who reminded her that life isn't all…whatever her family's got going on. There are good, kind people in the world. People worth being around."
Yang paused for a second before smiling at Blake.
"Like you."
Blake's heart stopped and her gaze flew to Yang's, discovering that Yang was deathly sincere - she wholeheartedly believed that Blake was a good person. Someone worth being around. Being with, even. Would Yang still think that if she knew what Blake actually did? Blake believed in her purpose - she devoted her skill to a worthy cause - but would Yang see it that way or would she only see a criminal deserving of a jail cell?
"That reminds me…" Yang's hand briefly stopped, resting on Blake's knee while Blake wrestled with that question. "Their wedding's in a couple of months. Will you come with me?"
"Will Weiss even let me?" Blake asked, struggling to keep up with the conversation.
"She gave me a plus one, so I'll invite whoever I want. And I want to go with you." The definitive response sent Blake's heart into flutters, but Yang grinned and waggled her brow. "So what do you think? Big fancy party at Schnee Manor with free food and cake that probably costs more than I make in a year?"
"If you're sure it's alright…"
"Weiss doesn't hate you," Yang assured her. "Well, not more than she hates everyone. And she expects you to be there. I'm supposed to tell her what color dress you'll wear."
"Why does she need to know what color dress I'll wear?"
"Pretty sure the wedding gifts are coordinated by color." When Blake's brow rose, Yang nodded. "I know. It'll be excessive beyond our wildest dreams."
"Perfect." Blake scoffed just thinking about what Weiss Schnee's wedding might look like. "It'll be a nice reminder of how Vale's elite horde everything for themselves."
Yang paused, tilted her head, and then squinted.
"Sounds like something the White Fang would say."
"Oh, no, I just meant -"
"I'm kidding." Yang tapped Blake's elbow and laughed. "Of course that stuff bothers you. It bothers me, too. Not a whole lot we can do about it though. At least, nothing legal."
"Right…" Blake glanced at Yang out of the corner of her eye while Yang chuckled to herself and resumed sliding her hand up and down Blake's leg. "How's that going?" she tentatively asked. "The whole…investigation."
"Nowhere, fast." Yang sighed and tapped her fingers along Blake's shin. "I know they're planning something though, and it'll probably happen soon. I just have no idea where…"
"Not even a clue?"
"It'll be one of the smaller banks or a rich person with poor security." Yang blew a breath through her lips and smiled wryly. "That only leaves thousands of possibilities."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Blake assured her.
How was it possible to want something so greatly for Yang, knowing that Yang worked hard and deserved it, while also never wanting to see it come to fruition? It left a rotten feeling in Blake's stomach, like she'd just eaten spoiled food, especially when Yang smiled as if that encouragement was everything she needed to hear.
"I'll try my best," she said before sliding her arm under Blake's legs and pulling Blake practically onto her lip. "Know what I was thinking the other day though? Maybe Wilt and Shroud have a thing going on. You know, like a couple."
"No way." Blake had already shaken her head before noticing Yang's brow rise. "I mean, what makes you think that?"
"Isn't that how it usually works? Girl meets guy, girl falls for guy, guy convinces girl to rob banks with him. It's 'romantic.'"
Blake made a face but kept her mouth shut. Once upon a time, she might have considered it, but her attraction to Adam had always been rooted in their shared desire for a better world. She only needed to witness a handful of instances of manipulation or anger to learn to keep her heart far, far away.
"Let's not talk about them anymore," she suggested.
"You're right. Let's talk about you."
"Me?"
"And us." Yang wrapped an arm around Blake's back and pulled her closer. "Would you rob a bank with me?"
Staring into those sparkling lilac eyes, Blake felt a smile creep onto her lips.
"In a heartbeat," she admitted. "But I'd rather protect one with you."
"I like the sound of that…"
"Upgrade their security cameras…add backup power supplies…"
"I love it when you talk dirty," Yang teased before planting a kiss on Blake's lips. "I think we'd make a great team."
"Me too."
Blake smiled at Yang, knowing without a doubt that they would make an incredible team. Between Blake's practical experience and Yang's knowledge from the other side of the wall, any target would become a viable one. Even Jacque Schnee's fabled safe stuffed with stolen artifacts.
As amazing as it sounded, Blake didn't want Yang involved in anything like that. Yang was righteous. Honorable. And what Blake did was…a little less than honorable, but for a good cause. Did that matter?
The existential quandary faded when Yang's arm disappeared from around her back. She frowned when Yang grimaced and rubbed the spot where her prosthetic attached to her arm.
"Do you want to take that off?" she asked, but Yang bit her lip and then shook her head.
"It's ok. I'm fine."
"Yang." Before Yang moved on, Blake gently turned Yang's gaze back to hers. "If it's uncomfortable, you should take it off."
Yang opened her mouth but said nothing, her eyes searching Blake's. Blake understood the hesitation - she had never seen Yang without her arm. Without clothes was one thing, but…this was a piece of Yang. The one thing letting her live a 'normal' life.
"Whatever you want," Blake added. "I just…don't want you to think I mind."
Yang studied Blake even longer, weighing her honesty, before sighing.
"Maybe…I've just been wearing it too much…"
When Yang didn't move, however, Blake reached out and tenderly touched the smooth metal of Yang's upper arm.
"Can I?"
"Uh, sure…if you want." Yang leaned back to give Blake more space and rolled up her sleeve. "Just press right there then twist."
Yang pointed out a small clasp along her outer arm before holding still, eyes watching Blake's every move. Blake held down the button and twisted the cuff, watching, feeling, and hearing metal softly grind against metal. Then a slight rumble, followed by an even softer click, and the arm released. Blake held it in both hands, marveling at the weight of it, before laying it across her lap and sliding her fingers along it, searching out every scratch and seam.
"Weird, huh?"
"Not weird," Blake remarked while running her hand across the fingers - Yang's fingers. Unattached to her, they didn't curl around Blake's hand like they usually did. They remained lifeless yet so familiar. "Incredible," she concluded before gently setting it on the table.
When she turned around, her gaze fell upon the stump of Yang's arm that ended just below the shoulder. Yang averted her gaze and subtly shifted it out of view, but Blake set a hand on Yang's cheek to turn Yang back to her.
"You're beautiful," she said, slowly sliding her hand from Yang's cheek, down Yang's shoulder, before reaching the point where Yang's arm abruptly ended. She stopped the instant Yang tensed at the touch. "Sorry."
"No, it's ok. You can. I'm just…not used to it."
Warmth spread from Blake's heart to her cheeks at the admission and the soft blush accompanying it. Emboldened by the permission, however, her fingers returned to Yang's arm and tentatively explored every inch of it.
"Does it hurt?" she asked while watching her fingers graze across scarred skin.
"Sometimes."
"Can you still feel it?"
"Yeah, I can."
Blake hummed and lightly poked and prodded, gently massaging the muscles lingering in Yang's upper arm. She was so focused that her entire world screeched to a halt when a soft moan slipped through Yang's lips. Yang froze too and, by the time Blake looked at her, was rampantly blushing.
"Oh?" Blake asked, arching a brow and pressing her fingers deeper into those muscles.
"It feels good," Yang admitted, a sigh slipping through her lips when Blake massaged a particular spot.
"Well, now I know what I'm doing tonight," Blake teased, straddling Yang's lap and continuing to knead her arm. Yang briefly closed her eyes, expression blissful, so Blake hummed and continued.
Yang then opened her eyes, seeking Blake's.
"It's not weird?" she asked again, her voice a whisper.
"God, no." Blake kissed Yang's shoulder and then her lips, long and hard. When she broke away, she smiled down at Yang and said, "You're perfect. I don't know what I ever did to deserve you."
Before Yang lavished Blake with a string of compliments, Blake cut her off with another kiss. She knew what she did to end up with Yang: she lied, she lied again, and she lied some more. Those lies convinced Yang to open up, to be vulnerable like she was right now, and Blake…Blake would drive the knife in deeper and twist it right through Yang's heart.
She's a big girl. She can handle it.
Maybe Yang could…but could Blake? With every kiss, every touch, it only became harder to imagine returning to a world where the White Fang was all she had.