Proposal

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY HIGHER-PLEDGING PATRONS! THANK YOU!

P-atreon reward for Mitchell Shepherd! They wanted to see Blake asking Winter's permission to marry Weiss! The title is a play on the word; it's a proposal for a proposal.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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														Chapter 65. Proposal

Four years.

For four years, Blake and Weiss have been teammates.

They've fought many battles – some in the form of hunts against Grimm, others in the form of arguments with each other – but they'd all ended with Weiss and Blake overcoming all else.

They've laughed, cried, lazed around, worked frantically. They've done everything together.

Four years.

And for three of those years, they've been together, in exactly the way the rest of the world never would have approved of.

They've been ridiculed, persecuted, threatened.

But they've also been applauded, supported, celebrated.

They've been through it all together.

And now, on the morning of their graduation from Beacon Academy, Blake has made a decision.

Naturally, the entire school is bustling with activity. There are last-minute preparations being made and tended to. Everyone seems to be busy with something or looking for someone.

This doesn't exclude Blake. She's looking for someone, too. But for once, it isn't her girlfriend of three years.

Weiss is with Ruby, Yang, and all their other classmates who will be graduating at today's enormous ceremony.

There is still some time left before Ozpin begins addressing the crowds with his speeches and calling the names of his students to receive their documents as official huntsmen and huntresses of Vale. Blake has managed to slip away for the sole purpose of finding someone in particular, for a very important reason.

She'd checked and re-checked with Weiss multiple times that Winter would be in attendance today, and Weiss had assured her each time.

Finding a single person amongst a crowd of hundreds would've been no simple task for just anyone. But with Blake's keen eyes and exceptional perception, she finds Winter in a matter of minutes.

Of course, being the successful military sergeant she is, Winter is not simply sitting idly by in the cushioned seats like the rest of the audience. Rather, she and her soldiers are standing guard as security on the day of this momentous occasion, lining the sides of the massive auditorium and verifying peoples' identities at the doorways.

Blake sets her eyes on Winter and heads straight for her.

At first, their relationship had been rough. Winter hadn't thought Blake was good enough for her little sister. Not because she was a Faunus, but simply because Winter would've felt that way about anyone who was dating Weiss.

Because at the time, she'd felt no one was good enough for her. It was simply the big sister mentality, which Blake had seen plenty of times with Yang and Ruby, and therefore, she hadn't taken offense.

In actuality, Winter had been surprisingly accepting of Weiss' and Blake's relationship. Because unlike some other people in the Schnee family, Winter trusted Weiss' judgement and respected the decisions she made about her personal life.

Blake has always liked Winter, if not been slightly intimidated by her.

But now, as she makes her way toward her, weaving through the crowds, Blake is downright terrified. She's been jittery all morning, all week, all month about this.

But she'd been planning it for a while now, she'd even consulted with Yang and Ruby already. Winter is the only person left who needs to have knowledge of the matter, and a say in it as well.

Blake's not even halfway across the room when Winter spots her approaching and cracks a confident smile. Blake's ears go flat as she curses herself for being too careless. She'd wanted a bit more time to steel herself for this, but now that Winter's on to her, she needs to get straight to the heart of the matter.

Winter shares a few words with the soldier beside her, then vacates her post temporarily as she begins making her way toward Blake. Even past the din of the boisterous crowd, Blake hears her greeting clearly.

"Blake. It's so good to see you."

Winter reaches her a few seconds later. She's typically very skilled when it comes to controlling her emotions, but just for today it appears she's letting her air of pride leak freely.

Blake tries to feed off of her confidence.

"Hello, Winter. How have you been?"

"Very well. But we aren't here to discuss me today, are we now? Tell me, why have you come to seek me out right before the ceremony begins? Is there something you need, Blake?"

Blake almost flinches at just how quickly Winter is getting to the point. Like Weiss, she never had been one for pussyfooting.

Blake squares her shoulders and faces her with whatever ounces of determination she can manage to scrape up. She feels she is giving off a rather calm appearance externally. But internally, Blake's an absolute mess. She just does her damnedest not to let it show, not now, not in front of her.

"Winter... there's something I need to ask you..."

And it's in the way she says it, in the way her eyes sparkle and water, in the way her body language becomes a mix of timid and fierce at the same time.

Winter's always been an expert at reading people. It was part of her job after all. She knows exactly where this is going.

She takes the moment of silence to prepare herself as well, but waits patiently for Blake to continue with what she needs to say.

"Anything, Blake," she prompts. "Of course I will hear you out."

Blake's ear flicks, and something tells her Winter's already caught on. But she still needs to say it clearly, so there is no room for misunderstandings or miscommunications. She draws in a deep breath.

"Winter... Weiss and I have... been together for three years now."

"Yes." Winter hopes she isn't sounding as eager as she's feeling. "Yes, indeed you have been."

Blake continues.

"We've been through a lot, and we've overcome it all. We've made it so far together. I just... want to keep going. With her..."

At this point, Blake reaches into her short's pocket. Winter follows the motion with her eyes. She keeps her hands folded professionally behind her back so Blake can't see the way she curls her fingers in anticipation.

Slowly, Blake reveals a small, dark blue box, covered in soft velvet. Winter's lips tug upward at the corners as a feeling of sheer delight sweeps through her. But still, she keeps quiet and listens intently to Blake.

"Winter..." The Faunus girl straightens up, and makes sure her voice doesn't waver anymore. "I want to ask you for your blessing. I want to ask your sister for her hand."

And at last she's said it.

It's a weight off of Winter's shoulders as much as it is Blake's.

Until now, there'd always been the possibility that Blake might've intended to address something else. But now it's unmistakable.

Winter uncrosses her hands from behind her back and reaches forward, now cupping both palms around Blake's hand, and that precious little box in her palm.

"Blake..." Her voice becomes soft, as do her eyes. "I cannot give you my blessing quickly enough. Of course. I won't hesitate to approve of your intentions. Not for a second. Not when I'm certain you are going to make my little sister the happiest person alive."

Blake's jaw parts just a little bit.

"R... Really? Even though I-"

"Even though you were once part of a formerly peaceful organization that has only in recent years become corrupt? Blake, you know as well as I do that you were never a part of the White Fang when they condoned such treasonous things as they do now. You were clever and brave enough to get out when you could, and you did. There is nothing for you to be ashamed of, Blake."

"But I... I know what this... could do to your family name... to Weiss' reputation-"

"Balderdash!" Winter laughs. "Do you honestly still think Weiss gives a damn about her reputation? About what other people think of her? Blake, she was never one to care about those things. Our father just tried to make her appear that way. Weiss doesn't care for what happens to his Schnee family name. She only cares for our grandfather's, and for her own."

With a smile, she reaches out and rests a hand on Blake's shoulder.

"Though the two of you may not be getting every last person's support on Remnant for this, you'll be getting the better majority. And I am confident that you both will be able to overcome whatever the world throws at you. You'll have each other, won't you?"

Blake's ears lift up all the way, and an appreciative smile curls on her lips.

"Yes. You're absolutely right." With this, she slips the ring box back into her pocket. "Thank you, Winter. I'll... I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make Weiss happy. For the rest of our lives."

"I have no doubt that you will."

Winter withdraws her hand and brings it behind her back once more, returning to her militant posture. With a smile still sitting on her lips, she lifts her chin.

"Now then, you'd best prepare for the graduation ceremony, Blake. I can't wait to watch you make my sister the happiest girl on Remnant."

Blake dips her head, excitement pulsing off of her. She can't stop herself from stepping in to give Winter a brief hug.

"Thank you, Winter!"

Winter chuckles and pats her back.

"Off you go now."

And Blake hurries off into the crowds, keeping her hand on the box in her pocket.

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A/N: Of course stories about actual proposals are always nice, but there's a certain charm about the "before" part. When the person is asking for a relative's blessing as a jittery mess.