Blake set her bag on the first available counter space she found and scanned the large, disheveled room. The meeting table had become a collection of odds and ends needing a home. The sofa faced a still-boxed television across a box-strewn coffee table. Stacks of boxes sat everywhere but never where they should be, and a pile of discarded packing materials had emerged by the back door.
Sighing at the mess, she ran a box cutter across another seam of tape and flipped open the box flaps. Not seeing what she was looking for, she shifted the box aside and opened the one beneath it.
"Where the hell is Emerald?" she muttered when the second box also failed to provide what she was after.
"Said she was busy with something."
"'Busy' my ass…" she grumbled while scouring through a third box. "She'll show up as soon as everything's unpacked."
"Probably." Blake rolled her eyes, but Ilia seemed untroubled as she started unpacking the two boxes that Blake had abandoned. "At least it's nicer here," Ilia added as she pulled out a stack of plates. "And bigger."
The optimism deflated the frustration in Blake's chest, which she sighed out before offering Ilia a grateful smile.
"That's true. I want to try that little deli around the corner."
"Maybe we can go sometime?"
"Sure. Let's do that."
Ilia beamed at the response before pulling a bundle of silverware from the box and setting it on the kitchen counter. Their new hideout was both larger and nicer - Adam had used Mercury's arrest as an opportunity to upgrade their working situation. Blake hadn't particularly minded the old building, but she wouldn't turn down a nicer neighborhood and already had plenty of ideas for the extra space.
"Vale Credit Union…" she began as her most pressing plan popped into her mind. "Have you ever worked at a bank before?" When Ilia shook her head, Blake nodded and said, "Good. I want you to apply for a teller position. Then you'll be our eyes and ears, a source of inside information."
"Kind of like what you're doing with the detective?"
"Exactly."
Blake didn't mention that the situation with Yang was what gave her the idea. She focused instead on the uncertain way Ilia clutched her elbow with one hand and slowly shook her head.
"I don't know…maybe Emerald should do it."
"Can you imagine her working at a bank? Pretty sure she'd get fired her first day."
"True." Ilia chuckled for a second before mulling over the idea and eventually nodding. "Ok. I'll do my best."
"Don't worry. I wouldn't ask you to do something I don't think you can do, and this will be a huge help. If you're there, I won't have to keep going back."
"Right." Ilia nodded once, fell silent for several moments, then smiled. "I haven't had a 'real' job in a while. It might be nice to try something new."
"That's the spirit." The two of them shared a smile before Blake returned to digging through boxes. "Finally," she sighed when she found a small black bag stashed at the bottom. It clanked and rattled as she pulled it out then crossed the room to set them in her new 'practice' area. The safe had yet to be delivered, but she wanted to get back to work as soon as possible.
"Shoot." Spotting the time, she hurried back to Ilia and grabbed a black blazer from the back of a chair. "I gotta go."
"Another date?" Ilia asked while Blake shrugged into the jacket.
"Meeting Adam first, then yeah. I set up another meeting with Yang."
"Where are you going this time?"
"No idea…she just said 'wear workout gear' and sent me an address."
"Maybe she's taking you on a hike?"
"Maybe." Blake wrinkled her nose before ultimately shaking her head and backing away. "We'll see, I guess."
"Good luck!" Ilia called after her, so she waved while leaving their new office behind. The building was located in a much nicer part of Vale, stuck between two highrises with plenty of lunch options for the area's office workers. She had initially questioned Adam's decision but, admittedly, sticking to Vale's shadows was more suspicious than operating out of the heart of the city.
Selfishly, she loved that there was a train station just across the street. She boarded the next one in a matter of minutes and tapped her thigh as it sped to her destination.
Ilia kept calling it a 'date,' but Blake refused to use that term. It wasn't a date to her. It was a strategic move. A scheme that kept them out of prison and forwarded their goals. Yang was a valuable source of information - she'd proven as much over just one dinner. She could, and should, call it a date. Which she did when Blake had called to set up another ill-advised adventure.
Blake shook the memory from her head as she walked to a row of businesses in the more 'industrial' part of Vale. Stuck between a window framer and a home finishings store sat one of her favorite shops: Vaultex Security Solutions. The slogan plastered across the front window - 'Security You Can Bank On' - never failed to make her smile.
Her smile disappeared when she saw Adam and Cinder already speaking to one of the salesmen inside. Adam looked almost dashing in a slick black suit and Cinder could have passed as a socialite in her short black skirt, heels, and glittering pearls. After a deep breath, Blake pulled her glasses from her bag, slipped them on, and joined the conversation.
"Sorry, I'm late," she greeted them before extending a hand to the salesman. "Sarah."
"Todd," he replied. "You're an art dealer, too?"
"I consider myself more of an…art protector."
He chuckled at the response and she held her polite smile even as Cinder rolled her eyes.
"Well, your partners were explaining what you're looking for and I think we've got just the safe for you." Todd motioned the three of them further into the store, chatting the entire way about the company's commitment to security. Blake's gaze wandered as they walked, taking in the various models on display.
"Here we are." Todd only regained her attention by gesturing to a mammoth safe occupying the most premium position in the store. "Meet the Vanguard 9000 - our newest and safest product. It's pretty much uncrackable."
"'Pretty much?'" Adam asked while Blake touched the glossy black surface.
"I mean, I'd love to meet someone who could do it," Todd replied. "It has a physical key, a ten-digit combination, and a biometric scan." He pointed out the three security features as he spoke. "If that's not enough, there are seismic and thermal sensors, timelocks, and, if someone happens to get inside…" He swung open the door to reveal smaller safes inside. "Each compartment can be set with its own key and combination."
"What about the door?" Blake asked, taking a closer look at the hinges.
"Ah, glad you asked." Todd motioned her over to a side view of a safe door cut down the middle. "Sixteen inches of the best money can buy," he explained before pointing to individual layers. "Drill-resistant plating, ceramic, and a glass relocker encased in layers of chromium, boron, and hardened steel."
Todd beamed at the result. Blake stared at the feat of engineering while Cinder and Adam waited for her verdict.
"Wow," she concluded with an appreciative nod. "That's a good door."
"Best in the business."
"Who else uses something like this?" Cinder asked, her tone so innocent that Todd ate it up like candy.
"The biggest banks and wealthiest investors in Vale. Goldspire Casino, Luminaire Diamonds, Sapphire Bank - pretty much everyone. Your group would be in good company. Plus, it can all be temperature controlled to protect your artwork."
"Really?"
Blake's brow rose as he nodded and led them back to the working model.
"We retrofit it through the steel casing. You can pick the temperature, humidity - everything."
"Huh."
Blake couldn't manage a more thoughtful response as her mind raced through scenarios and possibilities.
"Any more questions?" Adam prodded. Once she shook her head, he and Cinder pulled Todd off to the side to discuss prices and logistics. While they did that, she scoured every inch of the Vanguard 9000 before returning to the cutout and doing the same. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a black box. Within those steel walls, however, a labyrinth of challenges waited to be solved.
As soon as Adam motioned that it was time to go, however, she politely dipped her chin to Todd and headed outside. Rather than stop and chat outside Vaultex, Adam kept walking, forcing Blake and Cinder to match his quick pace.
"Think you can get in?" he asked while Blake returned her glasses to her bag.
"With a year of planning, maybe. And if someone figures out the biometrics."
"I have someone to take care of that," Cinder replied.
"This isn't our priority right now," Blake pointed out, though Cinder just rolled her eyes and Adam pursed his lips. "We're supposed to be prepping for the CU, not - whatever this is."
"Planning ahead." Adam finally stopped walking and turned toward her, forcing her to quickly stop and back up. "We can't keep moving one target at a time. We need to keep our options open."
Blake scowled but bit back her argument. Adam would only respond with some high-and-mighty rant, Cinder would take his side, and Blake wasn't in the mood to be pissed off right now.
"Well, whatever," she grumbled, checking the time. "I have to go. I have another horribly ill-advised meeting with a detective."
"Like you hate it," Cinder drawled. "I've seen her photos. And that arm…"
"Shut up," Blake snapped, but Cinder just smirked and leaned closer.
"The detective and the thief…that's a story I'd read."
"I didn't realize you could read."
"Oh…kitty's got claws, hmm?"
Cinder drew herself up to deliver another verbal blow, but Adam stepped between them.
"You shouldn't be late."
Blake glared at Cinder for another second before scowling at Adam.
"For the record, I hate using people like this."
"She's a cop. She doesn't get to have feelings."
Blake's lip curled at the dismissive response. She nearly pointed out how heartless that sounded; she shook her head and walked away instead.
"Be convincing," he shot after her.
"Like I have any other choice…" she mumbled while hurrying home.
Fortunately, she had just enough time to ditch the business suit for a set of workout attire. She owned more comfortable clothes but, after much deliberation, picked an outfit that was functional as well as appealing. Yang expected this to be a date, and anyone with an iota of interest would be looking their best for her.
Blake left her apartment just as her neighbor returned home. The young woman looked worn out but, thankfully, less downtrodden. There was a small pep in her step, and she smiled at Blake as they crossed paths in the hall. She must have used the money to catch up on rent - that was the only reason Marie would have decamped from the lobby.
It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Didn't the ends justify the means? A young, hardworking mother had been granted a reprieve, and what had been lost? Some multimillionaire's bank shares fell in value? An insurance company worth billions had to pay out on the bank's policy?
Neither of those were victims, so Blake savored the knowledge that she had made a small difference in someone's life and looked forward to doing it again, for more people each time.
As a bus ferried her to the address Yang had provided, however, her focus shifted to the upcoming meeting and how it factored into her goal. She hated the situation and her role in it, but she did enjoy Yang's company. For a few hours, she could be Blake Belladonna, accountant and crime novel enthusiast. It sounded boring and mundane compared to a police detective, yet Yang acted as if Blake was the most interesting person in the world.
Plus, she wanted to know more about what Yang thought about the White Fang. Obviously, not everyone - and especially not a detective - would agree with their methods. Few would turn to crime as a solution, but Yang had seemed almost willing to hear it…yet didn't believe that they were helping anything. Why was that? What would change her mind?
Absent a clear objective other than 'find out what she knows,' Blake wasn't sure how to approach this meeting. Maybe that was for the best. Maybe she could, unlike at dinner, learn more about Yang as a person and see what doorways opened.
With that vague objective in mind, she stepped off the bus, glanced across the street, then frowned and double-checked Yang's message. The address matched, so she crossed the street and peeked through the tinted windows of a neighborhood gym before tentatively ducking inside.
Cold air and the smell of rubber padding greeted her along with a young man standing behind a reception desk, who looked at her expectantly. She opened her mouth to explain that she was supposed to meet someone then spotted Yang and all other thoughts flew from her mind.
Yang was working at one of the punching bags, throwing quick, powerful blows into the heavy, swinging bag. Spandex shorts clung to her muscular thighs, a tank top fit snugly across her chest and stomach, her gorgeous blonde hair had been pulled up in a ponytail, and her skin glistened with perspiration.
Something tightened in Blake's stomach as her eyes roved over Yang's many, many muscles. Her gaze lingered on the cuff where Yang's prosthetic arm reached her skin, wondering what it felt like to slide her fingers over that smooth metal just as much as imagining what Yang looked like without it.
She was so pretty that, if she wasn't a detective, Blake would be actively recruiting her just for the chance to genuinely date. 'You're beautiful, why don't you help me rob rich people and redistribute wealth' was a desperately underutilized pickup line.
Yang caught sight of her then and lit up as if she just learned it was her birthday.
"Hey!" After stilling the punching bag, she jogged over, lightly set her hands on Blake's shoulders, and kissed Blake's cheek. Her lips left a small blush behind, but she seemed to think nothing of it - too busy beaming as if Blake made her day just by existing. "So glad you could make it."
"Me, too." The words flowed easily, but Blake turned away from Yang's bright smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What're we doing here, exactly?"
"I thought I'd teach you some self-defense! Or, you know, some pointers on how to defend yourself."
Blake's brow briefly rose, and then a sly smile snuck onto her lips.
"What makes you think I can't defend myself?"
"Oh. I, uh, I don't know. I guess I just assumed that, you know, not many people do?"
While Yang grimaced, Blake chuckled and nonchalantly shrugged one shoulder.
"I've taken a class or two…"
"Then you can show me what you've got!"
Yang bounced on her toes and looked so excited that Blake couldn't possibly say no.
"Sure," she agreed despite the unconventional idea. Yang's smile, impossibly, brightened, as she waved Blake into the main gym.
"Where is everyone?" Blake asked while Yang led her to one of the thick padded mats out on the floor.
"This place is basically for the department only. Well, the department plus visitors." Yang winked at Blake. "I like coming here before day patrol clocks out."
"Oh. That's, um, cool."
Blake's suddenly elevated pulse suggested the opposite of cool, but she tried to maintain her composure even after realizing that she was in a cop gym. On a 'date' with a cop…in a cop gym.
"I can wear a glove if you want?"
Yang held up a boxing glove and tapped her metal fingers, dragging Blake away from those thoughts and prompting a frown.
"Why would you do that?"
"Oh." Yang's brow adorably furrowed. "Uh, some people are just weird about it. It's metal, you know…so…"
Yang trailed off and curled those metal fingers into a loose fist. Blake, emboldened - or with nothing to lose - set her hand over Yang's. The metal was smooth and cool to the touch, kind of like the pristine, perfect surface of a vault door. Yang's eyes, however, were warm yet wide with surprise.
"If I had this…" Blake slid her fingers up that smooth wrist before arching her brow at Yang. "Would you make me take it off?"
As soon as the question sank in, Yang chuckled and said, "No, I wouldn't." When Blake motioned that that should be the end of it, Yang tossed the glove aside and met Blake in the center of the mat.
"I figured that restaurant was a little pretentious and probably not your style," Yang explained as they set up. When Blake wrinkled her nose and subtly nodded, Yang blew out a breath. "That's what I get for taking suggestions…but I know better now. I know you better."
"And what do you think you know?"
"I know that you read the news, and you might be a closet romantic, and I'm about to find out what you can do in a fight."
When Yang motioned for Blake to turn around, Blake arched a brow but slowly did as instructed. For a brief second, she thought that Yang might arrest her - how easy would that be? - but the foolish thought disappeared when Yang carefully grabbed her from behind, holding her tightly but not uncomfortably so. The 'closet romantic' in Blake unintentionally melted into the embrace, wondering why she'd stayed away from relationships so long while appreciating the strength of Yang's arms.
"Give me your best shot, ok?" Yang said, her breath tickling Blake's ear and stirring butterflies in Blake's stomach.
"Sure you can handle that?" she replied, then kicked herself for how breathless she already sounded.
"Oh, yeah. I can handle it."
Yang's bravado prompted another smile. "Ok…" Blake muttered before squaring up in Yang's hold. As much as she wanted to enjoy that moment for a little longer, she also wanted to impress Yang. So she took a deep breath and slammed an elbow into Yang's stomach, earning a satisfying 'oomph' as Yang's grasp weakened enough for her to grab Yang's wrist, spin, and twist her arm behind her back.
"How was that?" Blake breathed in Yang's ear this time, careful not to pull Yang's arm too tight but still firm enough to keep her in place.
"Uh…really, really hot?"
Blake's cheeks burned as she quickly released Yang and stepped back. Yang, meanwhile, stared at Blake in wide-eyed wonder.
"'One or two classes,' huh?"
"Give or take." Blake shrugged but smiled when Yang laughed. "My dad ran a martial arts studio."
"No shit. Really?"
Blake nodded, already questioning whether she should have volunteered the information, but Yang beamed and said, "Alright, we're taking this up a notch." Any regret Blake felt disintegrated when Yang grabbed a padded helmet.
"Pads?" Yang offered, gesturing to a pile of gloves and gear that would take the sting out of any real fight.
"I won't need it."
"Damn," Yang huffed before laughing again. "I never knew accountants were such badasses."
Blake's smile faltered, but Yang was already shoving the pads into the corner with one foot.
"Ok, winner buys dinner."
"That's fair. I owe you for paying last time."
Blake was smiling by the time Yang laughed.
"You're feisty - I like that." Yang returned to Blake, set her feet, and raised her fists to chin level. "I'll like buying you dinner even more."
"You enjoy eating words, Detective?" Blake teased while mirroring Yang's pose. "Because I'm sure we can find someplace that serves a good humble pie."
"Bring it on, Belladonna."
The name - her name - hardly registered before Yang launched forward with surprising speed. She spun out of the way just in time, narrowly avoiding the fist grazing her shoulder, and prepared for a follow-up.
Yang was bigger than her, and stronger, and clearly well-trained. A false hook followed by a quick jab nearly caught her flat-footed, but she slammed her arms down to block the blow. A slight pain reverberated through her fists from hitting Yang's wrists, but she ignored it in favor of a swift kick at Yang's knee that Yang narrowly sidestepped.
They locked eyes for a brief second, and then a smile flitted across Yang's lips as she dove back in for more. Despite being out of practice, Blake blocked a spinning backhand before finding nothing but air with her responding jab. The space between them narrowed, leaving hardly enough room for more than short attacks while fending off grapples.
Yang grabbed Blake's wrist - smooth metal clutching warmed skin - but Blake pulled herself free and spun away.
"Holding back on me?" she huffed, trying to catch her breath during the brief pause.
Yang, on the other hand, looked none the worse for wear. If anything, her grin suggested the invisible gloves had just come off. "Wouldn't dream of it," she quipped before rapidly closing the gap between them.
Blake aimed a fist into Yang's side - the blow landed but accomplished nothing. She realized Yang's plan too late; a strong grip had already latched around her wrist. In a flash, Yang twisted and Blake's balance disappeared. Yang grabbed the back of her shirt to slow her fall, but a yelp still slipped through her lips as she met the floor face first. Two knees appeared on either side of her before an unmovable weight pinned her to the mat.
"Slippery, aren't you?" Yang asked, her voice breathless and close to Blake's ear. Blake would have responded with something witty, but she was too busy sucking in air while trying to focus on anything other than Yang's chest pressed into her back and Yang's hips coming down right on her ass.
If there was anything better than being pinned to the floor by a beautiful, busty blonde, Blake had yet to experience it. Fire burned in her belly and spread throughout her veins the longer Yang kept her there, subdued and overpowered.
A few seconds before Yang pushed herself up onto her arms, and Blake spun onto her back to find lilac eyes dancing with humor while a long, blonde ponytail created a one-sided curtain to their suddenly intimate moment.
"You're good."
"So are you," Blake admitted. Then she made another mistake - she glanced down and, in doing so, looked right down Yang's top. Yang grinned.
"Like what you see?" she teased, bringing her elbows in so that they pushed her perfect, perfect breasts together. It was unfair how pretty she was, especially as a playful smile lit on her lips. Blake's gaze lingered on those lips for longer than she intended, faintly wondering what they would feel like against hers.
Yang noticed. Her smile faded ever so slightly and her eyes studied Blake with an intensity that Blake hadn't seen before. Neither of them moved, frozen to the mat as if someone just paused the scene. Just when Blake wondered whether or not she should make the first move, that invisible thread snapped. Yang's lips met hers - or hers met Yang's - in a tender kiss.
Yang tasted like orange lip balm.
And she was a good kisser. Not that Blake had much to compare it to, but the way her skin tingled told her it was true. Soft and tender at first, then firmer, exploratory, desirous.
A fire ignited in Blake's stomach. Suddenly, all she wanted to know was what else Yang was good at. And how good. If she was putting her livelihood on the line, she might as well find those answers and then some.
A door chime swiftly brought her back to the floor in the middle of a cop gym. Voices approached, prompting a furious blush when she considered their compromising position. Yang, however, grinned down at her before hopping up and pulling her to her feet. After dusting herself off, she glanced at the pair of cops walking over, wearing matching Vale PD t-shirts and carrying Vale PD duffel bags.
"Hey, Yang!" The tall young man with spiky blonde hair slapped hands with Yang. "Need a partner?"
"Thanks, but I've already got more than I can handle." Yang dipped her chin to the second cop - a gorgeous redhead - before smiling at Blake. "Blake, this is Jaune and Pyrrha."
Jaune waved while Pyrrha studied Blake for several thoughtful seconds.
"I was wondering what pulled you out of your office," Pyrrha eventually replied. "Should've guessed it was a 'who.'"
Pyrrha's knowing smile sparked a blush on Blake's cheeks in no time, a feeling only compounded by Yang chuckling and running a hand through her ponytail.
"Yeah…well…oh, are you going to practice?"
Yang motioned to the mat, so Pyrrha and Jaune exchanged glances before Pyrrha nodded.
"If you're done?" Jaune added.
"Yeah, we're good. Go ahead." Yang gestured for them to have at it before leading Blake to one of the benches along the wall. "We can go again when they're done if you want?" Yang offered while the two officers prepared for their own training.
"I don't know if my pride can take another round…"
"Oh, please." Yang laughed and nudged Blake's shoulder, easily prompting a smile. "If anyone should be embarrassed, it's me. I thought I could teach you a thing or two, then you nearly knocked my lights out."
"You're being nice." Blake wanted to roll her eyes, but it was a kind thing to say - and maybe that fight hadn't been as one-sided as it felt. Besides, she was rustier than she'd like to admit. "What'd you train in?"
"I boxed all through school then took basically every self-defense class in existence."
"Does the department make you learn all that just to look for bank robbers?" Blake asked, throwing in a chuckle for innocence.
"I worked patrol for a few years, actually. Getting roughed up by a drug dealer encourages you to learn real quick."
"Oh." Blake hadn't considered Yang as anything but a detective. "Have you ever gotten hurt?"
"Nothing major. Scratches, bruises, pulled muscles and the like." Yang paused and, so quick that Blake almost missed it, frowned at her prosthetic arm. "I'm glad you can take care of yourself though," she added. "I mean, I want everyone to be able to take care of themselves, but…"
"'But' what?"
"I didn't want to say anything…" Yang sighed. "But your office is in a pretty shady part of town. I've arrested at least a dozen dealers within a few blocks of there."
Yang's expression was wholly apologetic, but Blake nodded and said, "I know. But don't worry. I've got it handled."
"Learned that firsthand today."
Yang gestured to the mat, beaming again, but her concern left an unfamiliar warmth in Blake's chest. Blake couldn't remember the last time someone worried for her wellbeing. And no one besides her parents or teachers had ever been so concerned that they actually took steps to help.
"How was work?" Blake asked before the moment slipped by.
"Eh, the usual. I spent most of it waiting to see you."
The sweet remark coupled with Yang's earnest little smile almost derailed Blake entirely.
"Whatever happened to that guy?" she mustered. "The…uh, White Fang one."
"DA decided to charge him, so he's still in lock-up." Yang leaned back and exhaled. "Unfortunately, he seems happy to stay there. Doubt we'll get anything out of him."
Thank god, Blake thought while forcing a sympathetic, "I'm sorry."
"Part of the job." Yang shrugged and regained her smile in no time. "Back to the drawing board!"
What Yang meant was back to trying to find Blake, who sat right beside her trying not to act too relieved that Mercury clammed up. Searching for a distraction, she grimaced when Pyrrha unceremoniously tossed Jaune to the mat. The redhead then easily grabbed his leg, flipped him onto his stomach, twisted his arm behind his back and lowered her elbow between his shoulder blades. In a matter of seconds, the tall, lanky officer could do nothing more than tap the mat so that she released him.
"He's not very good," Blake whispered to Yang as Pyrrha helped Jaune up.
"He knows," Yang whispered back. "That doesn't stop him from coming here every day trying to get better." A soft laugh slipped through Yang's lips when Pyrrha easily deflected Jaune's punch and tapped the side of his head with an open palm.
"She's good," Blake added, watching Pyrrha seamlessly counter and parry everything Jaune threw at her.
"One of the best in the department. Definitely not someone you want to pick a fight with if you're being arrested."
"Noted…"
Blake watched the two officers spar until the chime announced more new arrivals. Two young women entered the gym this time, each wearing tight shorts revealing long, well-toned legs and enviable calves. Their fitted tees read "SWAT" in large, blocky font, marking them as more worrisome in Blake's eyes. They hardly seemed to notice her though, seeing as how their gazes locked onto Yang.
"Hey, Yang," one of them said as they dropped their bags nearby. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Gotta stay in shape somehow."
Yang chuckled and ran her metal fingers through her hair, but the comment prompted both of them to check her out.
"You look like you're in perfect shape from where I'm standing," the second one replied as a smile slipped onto her lips. Blake frowned, but Yang chuckled again.
"I'll be in even better shape if I can convince this one to train with me again." Yang grinned and bumped Blake's shoulder while two curious sets of eyes flitted to her.
"And you are?"
"Blake."
Internally, Blake cringed at handing out her name to so many cops, but she vaguely enjoyed the thought of putting these two beauties in their place.
"She had me fighting for my life a few seconds ago," Yang tagged on. "Made me look like Jaune."
All of them glanced at Jaune, who was struggling to get out of the headlock Pyrrha had him in. The two SWAT members chuckled, clearly disbelieving that anyone could make Yang look that bad.
"We're going to practice if you want to join," the first girl offered. "Maybe get a few rounds in."
"Oh, uh -"
Yang glanced at Blake and Blake, sensing the opportunity to make a quick escape, grabbed it.
"I should go, actually." She stood up before anyone questioned otherwise. She nearly thanked Yang for the 'date' right there, but Yang had hopped to her feet, too.
"I'll walk you out!"
Blake smiled at Yang before dipping her chin to the two SWAT members, who watched Yang's hand lightly come to rest on the small of Blake's back as they walked outside.
"So…when can I buy you that dinner?" Yang asked as they traded the gym's artificial chill for warm sunshine. "Maybe this weekend?"
How many times did Blake have to do this? With no plan and no real objective, she was flying blind - and she hated flying blind.
"Um, sure," she found herself saying regardless. "I'm free this weekend."
"Awesome." Again, Yang lit up as if that was the best news she'd received all day, and Blake tried to ignore how fast her heart raced at such an open display of emotion. "Any chance we could make it a combo deal? Dinner and something special you want to do?"
"Why don't you pick? Since you've done so well so far."
"I have?"
God, Yang's smile could power the entire city. If Blake could bottle and sell it, the White Fang wouldn't even be needed anymore.
Unfortunately, the only thing Blake could do was soak it in and nod, prompting Yang to lightly bounce on her toes.
"Alright, then, yeah. I'll think of something." Yang's eyes briefly unfocused as that task settled in, but then her gaze fell to the sidewalk and she gently cleared her throat. "And, uh, maybe I can text you sometime? Just to chat and, uh, see how the accounting's going? Or talk about anything good you're reading?"
No one had ever asked about Blake's reading - a stunning revelation to have while saying, "I'd like that."
"Great. Then…I'll do that sometime." Yang's excited yet bashful response drew another smile from Blake, then Yang glanced at the road and started. "Oh, uh, I can drive you home?"
"I actually need to run a few errands then head to the office for a bit."
In reality, she couldn't fathom letting Yang know where she lived. If this went sideways, she didn't want to have to move on top of everything else. Fortunately, Yang didn't question the lie - she just squinted and asked, "You work a lot, don't you?"
"It's something to do. I guess I don't have much else taking up my time."
"Until now?"
"...until now."
There was no other right response to the hope in Yang's eyes, yet Blake didn't regret it when Yang's eyes flitted to her lips. The next second, Yang kissed her and fireworks burst in Blake's chest as she pressed closer. She could feel that Yang liked her, and wanted her, as tender fingers clutched her sides, drawing her in. It was like being tucked into a warm, safe void where nothing else mattered, and Blake had half a mind never to leave. She might not have if Yang hadn't pulled away first, beaming like the sun.
"I'll see you soon then," Yang said, words soft as silk.
"Not if I see you first."
The corner of Yang's eyes crinkled as she laughed. Blake smiled while moving out of Yang's space and, after some silent cajoling, walked away. Her smile lingered even as she made it to the crosswalk, but she hardly made it across the street before her phone buzzed. When she saw the message on her screen, her heart tried to flutter out of her chest.
'Read any good books recently? The spicier the better.'
Looking over her shoulder, she found Yang still standing outside the gym, watching her.
'I have a few suggestions,' she sent back, then watched Yang light up as the message appeared on her phone. Blake waved and walked away, wondering how or why or what was happening.
There was no plan. No strategy. No step-by-step instructions to get her from Point A to Point B - there wasn't even a Point A or Point B. This kind of freewheeling improvisation was Adam's specialty, not hers. Yet…
This was the third time they'd met and she walked away free as a bird. Even more alarmingly, she enjoyed Yang's company. She enjoyed their conversations. She really enjoyed those kisses.
Maybe she was fine with figuring out things as she went. After all, Yang still suspected nothing. Blake didn't plan on changing that anytime soon.