Renegades (Act X)

2-DAY EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

May be updating this fic every other week or so depending on the other RWBY fics I need to post. Either way, I'll still be updating Renegades until it's done, so don't worry about that. It's waited too long for its turn.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

-----------

															Act X.

The following morning was a mess of coiled tensions. They went over finalized plans, packed quickly, and headed out just before dawn.

It was quiet out in town, the early-morning workers filing tiredly through to work and transportation, leaving them a hassle-free trip to the station.

That didn't lessen the anxiety; the last few steps over to the display of the railway system felt like the air had all been sucked from the station, and Blake's eyes darted over the clutter of lines stringing towns together. She saw Belmere, and the web of railways extending from its center had her exhaling a sigh of relief.

Seeing didn't make understanding the options any easier though, but at least they had options.

Blake rummaged through her pocket for the page they had torn from the text book, unfolding it with unsteady hands. Their notes were scribbled in the margins and potential towns were circled for quick reference, and after a brief survey of both maps, the next step was clear. It was just a matter of buying the tickets and boarding the train. She looked to Weiss.

"Are you ready to go?"

...

At first, every person in the congested station seemed to be boring suspicious glares into them, each of them about to break into a run to chase them down.

Or at least, that was how it had initially felt to Weiss.

She wasn't sure how well their outfits were serving to conceal their identities; there was only so much a sweatshirt and a ribbon could do when their faces were on every newspaper and telephone pole in town, after all.

But as they walked there was a sureness that trickled into Blake's person that was contagious, and it spread to Weiss bit by bit. Fueled by stomachs pleasantly full of milk and bread, the two of them bested the anxieties to some degree, enough so that they could move forward through the crowds with heads held high, eager to depart.

Weiss observed the various maps posted on the walls, listening to the announcements and hearing the name of their destination every once in a while.

Belmere.

She loved the sound of it. It called out to them, seeming to invite them in. It was a new future. It was hope.

She looked up to meet Blake's eyes and offered a smile, sturdy and reassuring.

"I think I was born ready for this."

...

There was a certain sensation to traveling. A series of highs scattered along a path, punctuated by a thrill that was hard to define as either good or bad. They were on the run, and as a result the constant threat prickling their heels left them with little opportunity to stop and catch their breath.

It was a constant motion that left them delirious, and before they knew it, they had gotten lost.

Well, more like mixed up the train platforms in the rush of things after an unavoidable delay a few cities over, which sent them in the entirely wrong direction.

It would have been a quick fix had it not been for the hours and hours wasted traveling there and back. Nearly a day had been lost trying to fix the mess up, but after finally setting things in order, it was more than obvious that proper rest was not only nice, but more importantly, essential.

They had the money, quite enough of it as a matter of fact, and so deciding on a small motel room to spend the night seemed like the best decision they had made since leaving.

It was cozy, if a bit musty. There was a bathroom, a fridge, and a bed, among a few other things. Blake doubted the television on the bureau had more than three noteworthy channels, and the rest were probably just a reminder of their current situation.

So after they shuffled into the room, set their bags on the small table squeezed in between the bed and the counter, Blake collapsed onto the bed. The softness was heaven after so many hours sitting slouched on a cramped train, and when she exhaled, the smile that surfaced was seconds away from turning into a laugh, the beginnings of a purr rising unbidden from her throat.

...

In the scheme of things, the day they'd lost wasn't a terrible setback. After all, even if the trains did, the two of them didn't exactly have a set schedule.

They'd heard whispers and tidbits in the news every now and again about their pursuers, but through whatever bouts of luck and miracles had managed to evade capture thus far.

They were smart about moving, never leaving tracks, not even so much as a hair behind that could possibly identify them. And even if they did get thrown off course, it wasn't by much - at least, it was a fixable amount.

After the hectic mornings of being shuffled onto crowded train platforms, having a room to themselves was nothing short of heaven.

Once Weiss set her things down, she checked the fridge, finding two bottles of cold water. There was a notice that said they were a courtesy of the motel, and Weiss sent silent thanks to the manager. She left the water there and put their own little bottles and canteen inside, as well as the bit of milk that remained. They could get cheap food and more drinks from the vending machines in the morning.

Weiss shed Blake's sweatshirt that she hadn't removed in a while, taking it and all of the other clothes they weren't currently wearing into the bathroom. She washed them all in the sink, taking full advantage of the soap and warm water before hanging the articles over the shower to let them dry. She splashed some water onto her face and buried it in one of the half-dozen clean towels; perhaps the motel wouldn't notice if one went missing when they left.

With the chores finished, she retreated to their bags, extracting the small blanket Tukson had given them; the bed had its own comforters, but this one had seen them through everything thus far, and it smelled faintly of the book store Blake adored so much.

She took it to the bed where her companion had already splayed herself out. The unmistakable sound of a purr was filling the air, and Weiss fixed her dress as she sat down on the mattress to listen.

It felt natural to gently pull Blake up, having the Faunus girl rest her head on her knees. Weiss let out a sigh, content to listen to that beautiful purr, draping the blanket over Blake's stomach. Her fingers tugged carefully at the bow to release the girl's ears after so many hours of being bound.

Weiss ran her fingers gently over the fur to un-ruffle it, nails combing through onyx bangs. The pads of her fingers traced down the sides of Blake's face, and the purr got a little louder.

Blake's smile was contagious, and when Weiss spoke it was content.

"We've come a long way."

...

Blake almost thought Weiss had disappeared down the bathroom drain, the sound of rushing water from the faucet in the bathroom drowning out the seeming ever-present buzz that had taken residency in her head over the past few days.

Not that she was sad to find it gone.

That lingering rattle of the train on its tracks had pounded a rhythm into her skull, and the stillness she found spread out over the mattress was a heaven second to none. It was their first real break in days - weeks even - and savoring every last second was something Blake planned to exploit to the fullest.

Though something was off, and Blake didn't realize what it was until the bed sunk beside her. She opened her eyes just as Weiss gently pulled her into her lap, and the rumbling in her throat grew subconsciously.

Even Weiss seemed more relaxed, a smile splitting her lips, and that more than anything helped put Blake's mind at ease. And well - the fingers combing through her hair was certainly an added bonus. She tugged the blanket to her chest, her smile widening.

"Just a little bit further," Blake said, and the mere thought had her heart racing. She had half a mind to call it a dream. "Just a little bit further and we'll be there."

...

Just seeing Blake's smile had her heart fluttering anew, and Weiss' lips curved higher. The droning sound of the motel's heating system had faded into a constant residency in the back of her mind, but even more powerful than that was the purring.

Blake had opened up to her so much since they'd first met, and Weiss was beyond enthralled to see her smiling, to hear her joy firsthand.

"Right," Weiss murmured. "Just a little bit further… We can make it."

Her chest deflated as she exhaled a long breath, weary yet calm. Her eyes closed for a moment of mild relaxation, her ears catching Blake's purr even louder now.

Gingerly, she leaned herself forward a bit toward the source of that lovely sound, her hands trailing down to either side of Blake's collar to rub lightly. When she stilled her fingers, she could just make out the activity of the pulse beneath them.

Ever so gently, Weiss hunched forward until her forehead was pressed to Blake's, their mismatch-colored bangs mixing in a soft harmony against their skin. Weiss kept her eyes closed and simply breathed for a moment, savoring Blake's presence for everything it was worth - and its worth was far beyond explanation.

Maybe she shouldn't be doing this. Maybe she was putting herself in a position she never should have intruded into. Maybe she was just fooling herself.

But she couldn't deny the elated rapid beat of her heart, and somewhere within it, she couldn't help but believe that Blake wasn't opposed to this either.

...

The fringe of Weiss' bangs tickled her forehead, and a faint heat rushed to her cheeks at the closeness. Blake found she didn't mind, even if her breath rose in her throat, stuck somewhere in her mouth like words left unsaid. She wondered if she needed to let it out.

When everything settled, the comfort she found with Weiss was something she wanted melded between muscle and bone. To breathe it in and never exhale.

Blake wondered if that was weird, but the seconds spread between them were too fleeting to make much sense of anything besides the warmth Blake felt spreading through her limbs, her fingers and toes. She wanted it to stay.

"Weiss, I-"

But after a moment Bake trailed off, unsure of what exactly she wanted to say as she curled her fingers into the blanket to stop them from reaching out to touch.

In the calmness of the motel room, it almost seemed like too much.

...

Weiss savored every moment, every beat of her heart, every one of Blake's soft breaths.

She wanted this night of peace engraved into her soul - she wanted it to be a part of her. Their entire journey thus far already was; it had sculpted her into the girl she was now - stronger, happier, and free, all things considered.

But there was something about this night that was… different.

She couldn't explain it. Not yet.

The sound of Blake's voice had her ears focusing, her eyes opening as she heard the purr fade into a hesitant rumble, losing its fervor. Sensing something was amiss, Weiss pulled her face away a few inches, looking down into Blake's deep amber eyes. They'd always been able to captivate her so easily, but right now Weiss wouldn't let that happen. There was something in Blake's gaze that sent a pang of worry through her chest, and Weiss bit her lip, her smile disappearing.

Maybe she really was being too foolish after all. She shouldn't be doing this…

She felt a knot form in her stomach, not realizing her own overreaction.

"Blake?" she asked softly, her hands clutching slightly to the Faunus girl's shirt. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

...

The blush only deepened at Weiss' concern, but the disappearance of that smile had Blake scrambling to provide reassurance.

"N-No, I'm fine." A hand scrounged for Weiss', finding where slender fingers had curled into her shirt. "I'm fine. Honest. It's just that I… uh…"

Had a feeling. Too many feelings, actually, and lying there staring up at Weiss, it was hard not to get lost in them. Her ears folded back, and Blake could feel the heat in her cheeks travel to the tips of her ears.

Blue. A clear, crystal blue Blake had perhaps grown too accustomed to in the short amount of time they'd spent together. It felt longer, and yet not long enough.

Glancing away did little to soothe the embarrassment. There wasn't anything else to hold her attention long enough.

Weiss was all around her, white locks of hair a curtain from the rest of the world, and when her breath caught in her throat, the pieces fell into place. But looking back, they had probably always been there.

Blake cleared her throat, trying her best not to shrink under the pressure.

"Weiss, can I ask you something...?"

...

The silence was unsettling initially, or at least she thought it should've been. But with Blake so close to her like this, it was difficult even to be slightly worried about much of anything.

As she watched Blake closely, Weiss could tell she was struggling with something. Perhaps words, perhaps feelings, perhaps both. Weiss could understand; she'd felt that way around the Faunus girl multiple times throughout their weeks together as well.

She wondered when it had first started. Perhaps when they'd laid on the roof together and watched the stars? Or perhaps it had been that very first night when they'd tumbled down onto the beach?

She couldn't be sure, but now that she was dwelling on it, she realized just how long it had been there, whatever it might've been. It tickled her lungs with every breath, and a faint warmth wreathed around every heartbeat…

Those had started to quicken as soon as Blake made her request. Weiss' chest was throbbing, uncertain of her own thoughts and feelings, and worried of what Blake's might've entailed.

But she felt Blake's hand over her own, steadying her. Weiss calmed her breathing as best she could, realizing it'd become a bit quick due to the creeping anxiety. She blinked a few times, sometimes catching Blake's gaze and sometimes missing it. She waited until she'd found it again before replying.

"Of course," she murmured. "Anything."

...

And a part of her knew she could. The openness Weiss displayed with her was something Blake cherished after drifting further away from Adam over the years.

But that didn't make asking any easier.

Taking into account their circumstances, it wasn't just a matter of confidence. They were both young, and if they made it through the coming months, their entire lives were ahead of them.

The here and now – the highs felt and experienced from a life on the run only lasted for so long, and Blake had seen firsthand in White Fang how fleeting the ties of a relationship could be.

If relationship was even the right word for this – for them. They were close by necessity, and Blake was hesitant to make it more than she hoped it was. It just wouldn't be right.

"How do you–" She stopped, swallowing past the lump in her throat as she forced herself to hold Weiss' stare. "…feel… about me?"

The last two words were nearly silent, pushed past her lips before she could think to take them back.

...

Of all the possible things she might've been expecting Blake to ask her, this was probably toward the bottom of the list.

Well, actually, when she thought about it honestly, it was probably nearer to the middle… or possibly the top. It certainly would've had to come up sooner or later.

Either way, Weiss was stunned into silence for a moment, unsure if this was a time she should answer immediately and with every shred of heartfelt emotion, or if she should think her answer through.

She stopped breathing for a moment, her lips slightly parted, though nothing was coming into or going out of her lungs. Her fingers curled subconsciously tighter into Blake's shirt in an effort to stop her arms from trembling, which was to no avail in the end. Her mind seemed blank and simultaneously swarmed with thoughts.

This bond of theirs was built on trust and honesty - that much had been proven time and again over the weeks. The foundation of their once-tentative relationship had been strengthened by every demonstration of their loyalty to one another, their selflessness and their closeness.

Weiss intended to answer honestly, though she feared it might not come out in words the way it sounded in her mind.

She realized Blake wouldn't be asking if the Faunus girl herself hadn't harbored some kind of feelings for Weiss - even if they weren't the same kinds Weiss had, they were something.

And that was more than enough for Weiss. Even if it was one-sided, if Blake stayed beside her, Weiss could live with just that much.

At last, her breath returned and she found her voice, soft and scared as it was.

"I… I really like you, Blake. I really… really like you…"

She didn't know why the tears had started flowing then, but it happened so quickly she had no hopes of even attempting to hold them back. All kinds of emotions swelled within her chest at that moment - pure affection for Blake, uncertainty of her response, guilt in case this wasn't what Weiss had thought it was…

"Sorry…" she whimpered, blinking a few tears away. They fell and landed on the sides of Blake's face. Weiss closed her eyes, bowing her head slightly. "Sorry…"

She didn't know why she was apologizing, but it was suddenly the only word she could say.

...

"I really like you."

The words didn't register right away, her mind running a mile a minute as it tried to put actions and words together.

There were tears, and Blake's heart swelled to the point of bursting. It was almost like being beat to the punch, and the words left unsaid on the back her tongue ached to be released.

Weiss deserved more. Years caged in that house - it must have been poisoning, aching, and it was about time someone showed her there was so much more to the world than chains and some falsely begotten excuse for happiness. Out here the world was at their fingertips, and the realization that perhaps this journey would be one made together was all Blake needed in the end.

It was a simple thing to push herself up those mere inches, capturing Weiss' lips in a hesitant kiss. The angle was awkward, and noses bumped against chins despite the gentleness, but the softness that remained even after she pulled back had Blake wishing it hadn't stopped.

"Sorry," Blake said gently, and she couldn't help the cheeky curl to her lips. "I really like you, too."

...

The ache in her chest was throbbing in time with every beat of her heart, a manifestation of the nervousness that coupled with Blake's potential dismissal of her feelings.

But that never happened.

Her eyes went wide seconds later when she felt a soft pressure on her lips. Whatever fears had been kindling inside of her were now dashed, doused by a gentle wave of affection.

Blake's affection. For her.

Weiss' mind brought her back to that first night on the beach, the nights they'd shared together on the rooftop, the time they'd ventured out into town for an apple turnover…

And then the agonizing worry of thinking they'd never see one another again, the thrill of running from her own wedding, and the excitement of dashing toward a new beginning together.

It had all led to this moment.

"I really like you, too."

When Blake pulled away, Weiss' eyes went instantly to hers - golden, like so many sunrises they'd watched together. And her smile sent a warmth like no other wreathing around the heiress' heart. So many emotions were swirling within her chest, the knot in her stomach unfurling and being replaced with a jittery swarm of butterflies.

Blake laid her head back down on Weiss' lap. Slowly, the heiress slipped her hands up from the Faunus girl's collar, trailing them up until her palms were cupping the sides of her face with a gentle fondness, caressing - as though she were handling a precious treasure.

And she was.

The tears were for a different reason now - a better reason - and Weiss leaned down again, aiming not for Blake's forehead this time, but her lips.

This one was a little longer, and despite her inexperience in the romance department, she hoped to convey everything she couldn't put into words.

...

Blake wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all - at the joy rising high in her chest, wanting to escape until there was nothing left but this buzz letting her know she was still alive.

It was hard to think of much besides the warmth pressed against her lips, and the smile she felt surface was impossible to stop. She hoped she'd never have to stop smiling, as long as Weiss was here smiling with her. She'd do anything to keep it there, and that meant the first thing that needed doing was putting an end to those tears.

Which was easier said than done, of course. Especially when any coherent thought was drowned out by the utter feeling of happiness at the softness of Weiss' skin, and a hum worked itself up the back of her throat.

Breaking away was harder than she thought, her mind unable to resist the idea of leaning up for a brief, clumsy kiss before retreating completely, and the urge to close the distance again - indulge in that little bit of bliss for a second longer - was a thought she never dreamed could be true. And yet the heavy thud of her heart said otherwise.

"I really, really like you," she repeated, wiping away the remaining tears that trailed down Weiss' cheeks.

...

She could feel it in Blake's lips that she was enjoying this just as much as Weiss herself was. Her mouth moved with the same uncertainty, but when their lips touched, it always became firmer - surer. And to know that Blake wanted this too was almost more than Weiss could bear.

When they parted, their breaths fanned out and overlapped, Blake's tickling the underside of her chin. But Weiss was suddenly ridden with an awful guilt, and her fingers slid back down to Blake's shirt so her nails could curl into the fabrics rather than skin.

She shouldn't have done this-

Blake's second confession had her sobbing a little harder, and the twisting feeling in Weiss' stomach only made the softness of the other girl's hands send a red flag flaring in the heiress' mind.

The emotion she'd confessed - the "like" that Blake supposedly returned…

Weiss couldn't believe it. Not when she had memories of someone else Blake had clearly shown affection toward.

Weiss blinked again, and more tears slipped through Blake's fingers. The smile on the Faunus girl's face faded, and Weiss hated herself for being the cause of all of this. She shook her head slowly and inhaled a shaky breath, her eyes miserable and voice wobbling.

"But… what about Tukson…?"

...

"What about Tukson?" Blake repeated, oblivious, but it was difficult to push away the uncertainty when the tears resurfaced and Weiss inhaled a shaky breath.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't a little bit lost, wondering what she had done wrong. It seemed cut and dry to Blake, and the fact that the sincerity to her words and the confession that she had been subconsciously mulling over since these feelings manifested were put into question was disheartening to say the least.

She sat up, twisting to face Weiss. Her posture crumbled and she tried to catch Weiss' attention - tried to understand through the mess of emotions swirling in her head.

And then it made sense.

"Wait a minute, you think Tukson and I are…" She couldn't help the laugh that escaped, a soft amused sound as she sidled up to Weiss to press a kiss to her cheek. "You think I like Tukson." It was a deliberate tease, and her lips found Weiss' again, and then again before Blake could find the wherewithal to stop. "Which isn't wrong, but believe me, that is far from the truth."

...

It was oddly reassuring to hear the confusion in Blake's tone as she spoke those words. It made Weiss doubt her own fears, and as far as the twisting in her chest was concerned, that was a good thing.

Blake sat up so they were on the same level now, making it next to impossible for Weiss to avoid her eyes. When she looked, there was a bit of amusement there, but it wasn't mean at all. Rather, it was relieved, serving to let the heiress know that her assumptions had been mistaken all this time.

The kisses were without a shred of hesitance, though Weiss instantly regretted her negligence in returning them. But at least the tears were stopping, as was the pain in her stomach. When she next found her voice, it was a bit sturdier as well.

"So… you like him, but… not like that…"

She sighed, and it was nothing but relief. All these weeks, she'd been pushing these feelings down, having long-ago convinced herself that Blake's heart already belonged to another. But when she thought about it now, Weiss realized just how ridiculous her thoughts had been.

Perhaps what had initially attracted them together hadn't been this kind of emotion, but it certainly had been responsible for keeping them connected along the way. Through all the perilous twists and turns they'd gone through within the past month, there had to be something stronger than just an initial curiosity for one another that held them together.

Weiss wiped her eyes and fixed a few locks of her hair behind her ear. She realized she'd just put Blake through a lot of pain and longed to make up for it.

"I'm glad," she breathed. "Because…" Reaching up, she cupped Blake's face once more, eyelids drooping. "I don't plan to share you."

She kissed her again, taking all she wanted and giving all she could.

...

An idle hum grew in her throat, and whether it was an acknowledgement or an acceptance, Blake couldn't quite tell, but the curl to her lips seemed intent on staying.

She had just enough time to close her eyes before she felt the soft press of Weiss' mouth against her own. It had her smiling clumsily against Weiss' lips, bumping teeth as she leaned forward slightly, a hand braced by Weiss' hip to compensate for the dip in height. She was too happy to care about performance; the simple delight in the touch of skin was enough.

It was warmer than Blake thought it would be and it sent her heart aflutter, a sense of anticipation and wonder coiled into one.

Pulling away lasted only a moment, enough to breathe in, before she returned to pepper kisses over Weiss' face. Her hands were restless, and she settled them lightly on Weiss' waist in an attempt at some sense of stillness, but treacherous thumbs traced circles in the cloth of her dress.

"The feeling's mutual," Blake muttered, and the elation she felt at being able to say those words was second to none.

...

All uncertainties on this matter were promptly shredded and tossed to the wind as Blake returned the kiss, and Weiss felt hands reach out to hold her sides, steadying her when she felt she might tremble. The heiress wrapped her arms loosely around Blake's shoulders, holding onto the back of her shirt to keep her near for as long as possible.

The elation that came with all of this now - after those heavy moments of dread just seconds earlier - was almost too much for her to handle. Even with her eyes closed, more tears gathered, but Weiss didn't let them slip, not this time. She was far too happy and didn't want Blake to get the wrong idea.

And yet, with what they were doing now… it would've been difficult for anyone to get the wrong idea, let alone the person kissing her.

When they parted, Weiss ended up giggling softly, both from the light tender kisses Blake sprinkled all over her cheeks and forehead, and from the thumbs circling lightly over her sides. Weiss reciprocated a few of the kisses as well, brushing their noses together with a fondness she never knew she possessed until now; she'd never had a reason to discover it until now.

It was when Blake's fingers pressed in a little harder - unintentionally, no doubt, but it didn't make the ticklish sensation any less severe - when Weiss jolted a little. She let out a very small squeak, a tiny "eep!" that she quickly covered with her palm before casting bashful eyes up at the Faunus girl.

"S-Sorry," she mumbled, though she was still smiling. Weiss leaned forward and dipped her head into Blake's shoulder, nuzzling softly.

...

Blake's ears perked forward at the small squeak, hands going still as Weiss leaned into her, nuzzled into her shoulder. It was an echo of the giggle that had escaped just moments earlier, and the bashful look thrown her way as a result only had her wanting more.

Curiosity. That's what Blake blamed it on in the end, her hands seeming to move on their own, pressing lightly to Weiss' side. Like an accident - testing the waters before jumping in completely.

She couldn't help it, and the rumble growing in her chest was one she didn't bother to control. She wanted to hear that laugh, as foreign as it was given the circumstances, held back by things they couldn't see, but by no means any less dangerous.

Here, they could let loose a little. Here, the threat of time seemed to still, and perhaps what remained in its silent wake was their own slice of happiness.

...

She'd been planning on simply resting there for a while now, holding Blake and in turn being held by her, feeling her warmth, breathing her in…

Evidently, Blake had other ideas.

"Ah-!" Weiss squeaked a second time, louder now when the fingers at her sides started moving deliberately. It had started out accidental, and then turned experimental, and now it was just-

"Aha-" Weiss giggled again, clinging tightly to Blake's shoulders, her feet curling beneath her legs as the bubbly sensation traveled up her sides and through her stomach. "B-Blake! Blake- eheehee!"

She shivered a little, burying her face deeper into the other girl's shoulder, stifling her laughter as best she could. She slipped one hand down to try and stop Blake's attack, but Weiss was too consumed by so many emotions - joy, elation, love - and she could do little to defend herself.

So she gave in to the little motions of Blake's fingers and laughed - louder and fuller and more merrily than she ever had before in all her life. It was a sound that was foreign even to herself, but she knew it was what Blake wanted to hear, and now that she was actually letting it out after eighteen years, Weiss discovered just how good it felt.

Her laughter filled the room, mixed with chirps of Blake's name in between as she wiggled a bit, trying to evade the girl's fingers, but never succeeding. The smile on her face was so wide that it gave a strange feeling to her cheeks, which were rising up high. Her heart was thumping quickly, her breath a little short, and her giggles relentless.

She'd never known anything like this before.

This was bliss.

...

Laughter filled the air and Blake wanted nothing more than to drown in it. Surround herself in that feather-light embrace.

She chased, unwilling to let go of the hold she had, fingers fluttering over Weiss' sides and stomach. It was infectious, a goofy smile surfacing on her face as the onslaught of laughs continued, and a well-placed surprise attack just below Weiss' ribs allowed Blake to surpass the last remaining defense, pushing forward to pin Weiss beneath her.

Weiss' cheeks were flushed, and every mention of her name that fell from Weiss' mouth had her falling all over again.

So she pressed closer, sought to erase what little chill remained of the days spent worried about things far from their control.

And it was such a state that it was a miracle the declaration waiting behind her lips, stumbling about in her head like a broken record - just love, love, love on endless repeat - remained unsaid.

Maybe she was scared - of too much too soon and the potential disaster just waiting to happen, but there was no denying it. She was far beyond that point, and had no desire to turn back.

...

A particularly strong tickle had her falling softly onto her back, losing her grip on the Faunus girl's shoulders as she bounced once against the mattress. Weiss squeaked again, making efforts to cover her sides, but she was weak from the laughter. She couldn't roll over due to Blake's knees trapping her at the hips, and the heiress eventually accepted the fact that she was at her mercy.

Of all the things that had preyed upon her in the past - fear, sorrow, her own father - gentle, straying hands were hardly the worst of them. In fact, Weiss was rather glad to succumb to this, if that's how things were going to be.

Still, she wasn't about to go down without a fight. She tried not to thrash too much, for fear of accidentally hurting Blake or worse throwing her off the bed. But she did attempt to flail her arms and paw at the air, tossing her head and hair from side to side until her face was covered with white strands.

In the end, she should've known she'd be no match for Blake. That touch, those feelings - they were like nothing Weiss had ever known before. And when she listened past the sounds of her own merriment, she could hear Blake's soft chuckles as well.

After a few minutes had passed, the unbridled excitement began to take its toll on her. There were small tears clinging to her lashes, and the smile persisted, even as she curled her hands at her shoulders with a small plea tumbling past her lips.

"B-Blake…" she gasped, giggling and cracking one eye open. "Y-You win… Come here…"

She opened her arms invitingly, beaming pure affection as she waited for what was to come.

...

Her heart was a mess in her chest, erratic and thudding from the physical exertion she never knew tickling could be, and Weiss' surrender moments later was a win for the both of them. Even if the sound of laughter slowly dwindled as a result.

At least Blake knew now it was a simple thing to encourage. And was something Weiss had no defense for - at least at the moment, and Blake found no fault in exploiting such weaknesses. Especially if retaliation was almost guaranteed to be avoidable.

Blake could only hope her just rewards wouldn't come back to haunt her in the future, but if that was the worst of her worries in the coming weeks, then she was obviously doing something right.

So accepting Weiss' invitation was a simple thing to do in the end, gently brushing away the hair from Weiss' face, tucking the strands behind an ear before placing a small kiss to her lips.

"Sorry," she said, sinking down next to Weiss, though the remains of the smile still etched onto her face said otherwise.

...

"No you're not," Weiss huffed and pouted, though she was anything but angry. The kiss had almost been apologetic though, so she opted to accept it nonetheless.

The tickling had served to chase away everything she'd never wanted, all of the coils and tangles in her chest, the nervousness and the uncertainties. Only the good things remained now - joy, bliss, and a pleasantly bearable breathlessness - and something told her so long as Blake was by her side, good things would continue to be present.

Especially after tonight.

Weiss caught her breath, wrapping her arms around Blake as she pulled the girl nearer, feeling a very full purr vibrating and rolling against her chest. It was a sensation she never wanted to have to live without ever again, a soft, grounding pressure against her collar that kept her racing heart within its cage.

She closed her eyes and sighed, breathing Blake in, hands rubbing random patterns over her back, lips kissing whatever they could reach.

Little laughs were still slipping out on occasion, wordless declarations of disbelief that this was real. She could hardly believe it, but the pulse over her own was nothing she could hope to ignore, nor did she want to.

She wanted it to stay there forever.

...

Weiss pulled her close and Blake didn't resist, resting comfortably half-draped over the girl's chest, the thud of Weiss' heart filling her ear with a soft beat. She stretched slightly after a moment, curling an arm around Weiss' stomach. Drumming her fingers teasingly, Blake muttered, "Not in the slightest."

But she would be lying if what had settled afterward wasn't something she enjoyed just as much, and under the gentle motions of Weiss' hands rubbing up and down her back, the simple act of keeping her eyes open was getting harder by the second.

First the drumming of her fingers stopped, arm going limp, and then her eyes drifted shut, the purr rumbling in her chest amplifying to near embarrassing levels - she was just too content to care. It was a weakness Weiss was hopefully unaware she had stumbled across, but if it meant feeling like this, then maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

...

"I knew it…" Weiss mumbled, smiling all the while.

When Blake relaxed against her, Weiss followed her lead, letting the last bits of tension drain away to be replaced by a calming warmth; it was like being slowly submerged in warm water after years of being so awfully cold.

A small thought crossed her mind when she felt Blake start to go limp against her, the purr only strengthening as the rest of her body stilled. Weiss doubted it could do any harm to try.

She kept one hand at the small of Blake's back and slowly moved the other up to pet through her hair gently, letting her fingernails comb through the long, dark locks. She played with Blake's tresses for a few moments, savoring that purr, that indescribable warmth.

And then she dared to move up a bit more, carefully curling her fingers around those soft Faunus ears.

Slowly - so Blake could stop her if she wanted to - Weiss trailed her fingers over her ears, scratching softly through the ruffled fur to smooth it. She dragged her nails lightly up and down the back of one and then at the base before tending to the other, all the while both hearing and feeling Blake's reaction.

By this time Weiss had calmed down, and she closed her eyes, continuing her ministrations and pressing a kiss to Blake's temple.

"Is this all right?"

...

The first hesitant touch to her ears caused them to twitch, flicking away from Weiss' fingers. It was an impulse after a life of dealing with the humans in Vale, and unlearning habits after years of built-in reinforcement was a bit more difficult than she imagined.

But Weiss was gentle, and the amount of hours spent in each other's company only helped solidify that truth. Blake was more than confident in the fact that if she asked Weiss to stop she would, and without a moment's hesitation.

It was simply that Blake didn't want her to.

This feeling was a comfort Blake hadn't felt in years, and she wasn't going to let it slip idly away. So she nudged closer, breathed in that little bit of sunshine that seemed to follow Weiss wherever she went.

"It's fine, trust me," she mumbled against Weiss' collar, all remaining cognitive thought slipping through her fingers like grains of sand.

...

Weiss let out a small hum, content that Blake wasn't opposed to this. She rather liked it herself; their first night together in a sizable, warm room, and now having established their relationship without question…

After a few moments, Weiss gradually stopped her gentle stroking of Blake's ears and simply held her close, allowing the purrs like rolling combers to lull them both into the beginnings of slumber. But Weiss didn't reach out to turn off the bedside lamp - she wasn't quite finished yet.

She waited for another minute, feeling the energy drain from Blake's muscles as she tiptoed toward the realm of sleep. Weiss encouraged her, ensuring her own breathing was slow and relaxed and would consequently have a calming effect on the Faunus girl.

Now she could enact her plan.

Weiss opened her eyes lazily as she moved her hands with purpose, locking her arms around Blake's shoulders and bracing herself for what was to come.

"Blake…" she murmured softly. Her words were so calm and casual that it easily caught the other girl off guard. "Time for revenge."

Before Blake could even register her words Weiss had flipped them both over, reversing their positions in one swift motion and pinning Blake beneath her. But Weiss was a novice when it came to tickling, so she wasn't quite sure what to do. She just knew she wanted to hear Blake laugh without a care in the world.

Therefore, she merely settled for grabbing Blake's shoulders and wiggling her fingers, producing a poor excuse at kneading. Despite the weak, amateurish actions of her hands, her voice was a proud, confident, and playful declaration:

"Take that!"

...

Blake didn't think anything of it when Weiss softly muttered her name, and an incoherent mumble of her own slipped from her mouth as she pressed closer, fully intending to make the most of the comfort at her disposal.

But that was all she was able to comprehend before Weiss - through a rather impressive feat of physicality - managed to turn the tables, pinning her securely to the bed. Steeling herself for the worst, she attempted to wriggle away from insistent fingers, revenge only seconds away, but it took her only a moment to realize there was no need to.

Weiss' movements were weak and haphazard, and yet the mix of proud and playful that danced through her voice made Blake's lips crack into a smile.

She'd take all Weiss could give, there really was no question about it. Not in her mind.

...

Weiss' smirked widened when she saw Blake's, and her fingers continued to wiggle over her companion's shoulders.

"You're laughing, Blake! I can see you smiling. Don't try to deny it!"

It was probably the most she'd ever said before all at once with a smile on her face. Determinedly, she hunched over Blake, brushing her fingers over the girl's shoulders and neck, pinning her hips with her knees.

It took her a moment to realize Blake wasn't the one who was laughing out loud and breathless right now.

"Haa…" Weiss huffed. "Come now, Blake. D-Don't hold back. You can laugh, it's okay. You… You can laugh, don't be so stoic! You're too cool for your own good!"

...

Blake scrunched up her shoulders, a meager attempt at protection she was sure she didn't need. Weiss was smiling, the mere sight infectious, and it was astonishing that anything beyond the word 'cute' was able to form in her mind.

She was either incredibly lucky or in far over her head.

And quite honestly, she'd be fine with either.

Still, telling Weiss she needed to work on her tickling technique didn't seem like the best course of action at the moment. The grip of Weiss' knees kept her from moving, and while escape would be a simple feat, Blake found she liked exactly where she was pressed under Weiss' weight, the fingers fluttering over her shoulders and neck coaxing a blush to her cheeks and a purr from her throat.

It wasn't long before trickles of laughter fell from her lips, bubbling forth at the overwhelming sense of happiness she didn't bother to contain.

...

Weiss had been getting admittedly a bit flustered for a moment there, considering Blake wasn't the type to burst into hysterics like she herself might've been. But the Faunus girl's lips were carved into a constant smile, her golden eyes shining and full of amusement and a few other things. There was a rosy tint to her cheeks as she shrugged her shoulders comfortably beneath Weiss' grasp.

And then the giggles happened. Small and soft, but undoubtedly without regret or remorse. Blake wasn't embarrassed or put-off by any of this, and to know she was truly enjoying it with every fiber of her being was enough to make Weiss' eyes tear up with unbridled joy.

She paused for a moment, stilling her hands on Blake's shoulders and simply massaging now, rubbing softly and kneading her fingers.

"You're finally laughing," she purred. "Guess I was just… too much for you to handle, hm?"

She leaned down, her hair falling softly over both shoulders and pooling onto Blake's as Weiss rested their foreheads together, as she was the one who needed to catch her breath right now. Her hands pressed little circles over Blake's collar, where a pleasant sound rumbled just underneath her skin.

Weiss smirked a bit to herself.

"So…" she panted. "Does this mean I win?"

It hadn't been a competition to begin with, but still, she needed to know.

...

The confidence in Weiss' voice had her mouth curling into a grin, fingertips idly brushing Weiss' legs that kept her pinned to the bed. She could still feel the heat flooding her cheeks, and the purr had all but become permanent, but Blake was never one to back down from a challenge. Especially one she had practically already won.

Well, that was if she could get the words out before the bliss got the better of her as Weiss' forehead came to rest lightly against her own.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Blake muttered, amused. She let out a breath, her eyes slipping closed. It hadn't been long, but over the past few days, the staleness and stagnancy that had surrounded Weiss had washed away, and in its place was a vibrancy that embedded itself into the spaces left in between. It was hard not to get lost in.

...

Blake's words were something she could accept, if only for the fact that she herself was so exhausted now. The purr didn't fail to fill her ears for more than a second, and Weiss was beginning to imagine how strange the world would be once it stopped. She didn't want it to, not ever.

Weeks ago, when they'd first met, Blake had been an enigma, rather stiff and understandably secretive - wary. But Weiss was more than happy to have had the pleasure of watching her unwind and open up, bit by bit. The heart that had once been adamantly hidden behind lock and key was now right there on Blake's sleeve, a display for Weiss, and Weiss alone.

She intended to cherish that.

"Very well," Weiss murmured, easing herself down. "It's a truce."

She moved her legs to one side of the Faunus girl's body, though kept her hands at her shoulders and her heart just above Blake's. She leaned down for another small kiss, smiling warmly into it.

Pulling away was more essential than it was effortless, and Weiss gently laid herself down over Blake's body, just as she had done on those first few nights they'd shared.

She did, however, think they should at least utilize the temporary luxury of the bed to the fullest, so she pulled the blankets over them both, wrapping them snugly beneath the covers. She sighed happily and laid herself back down once more, relaxing fully now. Blake had the pillow, but Weiss was more than willing to simply have the girl's pulse and purr as her headrest.

She listened, entirely content to commit those sounds to memory - as if she hadn't already - but that didn't mean to say she didn't adore hearing them again and again.

...

Blake chuckled softly at Weiss' declaration, but the weight pressed against her a moment later cut off any need to voice her opinions on a potential reconsideration of the ruling.

The kiss was light, a smile against the curve of her lips, and she spent the following seconds memorizing it. The sensation and the feeling it produced, only to realize that perhaps she didn't have to. As long as it never left.

And if it did, well, maybe that for was the best, but until that if came to pass, she wouldn't waste time worrying about it. She would give the here and now everything she was and more, and hope it was enough. She would make sure it was enough.

...

Weiss' rest that night was an easy one, easier than any up until this point. Perhaps it was the fact that they were as financially stable as they were going to get anytime soon, and because they were within the sturdy protection of the hotel's quiet walls. Or perhaps it was because of the tentative romance that had been allowed to start blossoming between them.

Although the purr she fell asleep listening to was absent when she woke the next morning, the soft thump of Blake's heartbeat remained. Arms were wrapped loosely around shoulders and draping over stomachs, their legs entangled beneath the blankets, white and black hair mixing together across the pillows.

When she opened her eyes, Weiss found sunrise slipping through the curtains that covered the windows, illuminating the room in a soft, pale yellow glow. The white sheets were dyed golden with traces of orange rimming the wrinkles. Still, there was a golden color she loved even more.

For a while, she didn't stir, but simply continued to enjoy Blake's presence, listen to her breathing. They'd set off again today on what would hopefully be their last train ride to Belmare, and once there, Weiss would get to see the neighborhood where Blake grew up. It was the first part of this journey where the two of them had a set destination in mind, and with any luck, it would take them far enough away to evade pursuit - for good.

Weiss couldn't wait. She wanted to know more of Blake's childhood, wanted to see the sparkle in her eyes when they arrived there at long last.

But for now, she was content to rest a moment longer, to keep listening to that steady heartbeat, her hand sliding idly up and down Blake's side, and the smile refusing to leave her lips.

-----------

A/N: At last, the long-awaited and well-deserved confession!

Preview for act XI: Weiss took all of their spoils and packed them away into their bags. She checked their funds and was satisfied to see that even after paying for the room, they'd have more than enough to last them for a while yet.

Hopefully enough to get them off to a wonderful start in Belmare.