Moving Forward (ch5)

FINAL FIC FOR THESE WEEK! THANKS AGAIN TO ALL PATRONS~!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY

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					Chapter 5. Roommates, And Perhaps More

When morning came, Blake felt she'd slept better than she had in years, and that very well may have been the case.

The warmth Yang had shared with her throughout the night had served to fend off any possible bit of chills that may have posed a threat; even curled beneath piles of blankets wouldn't have provided the same comfort.

She didn't open her eyes right away, not wanting to lose these final precious moments of rest and closeness.

They'd shifted a bit in the night, but Yang's arms were still loosely around her, a soft snore breathing over her ear. Blake dared to squeeze her a little tighter, seeking the pulse that had been her lullaby. There was a solace like no other that came with being able to hear such a sound, and it was calming enough to allow Blake to doze again for a while.

When Yang's body stiffened a while later and Blake could feel her trying to push herself up, she had half a mind to drag the blonde back down. But when she remembered she was only a guest here and realized her sleepy mind was making her think unreasonable thoughts, she quickly relented and let Yang move as she pleased.

The blonde groaned and stretched her arms out in front of her like a cat, jaws parting in a huge yawn. Blake watched her, chuckling a bit at the frazzled bedhead that resulted from having such thick, long hair.

At last, Yang opened her eyes and looked to her companion with a crooked smile.

"Mornin'. How'd ya sleep?"

"Wonderfully," Blake replied.

"Mm, same here~"

Yang reached out a hand slowly, and when Blake didn't pull away, the former fixed a bit of her dark hair for her. Blake smirked and did the same, smoothing Yang's bangs out as best she could with just her hands.

Yang announced that she needed to shower because she had a party to attend tonight, and invited Blake to watch some TV as she waited for her. Blake made the bed first but ultimately ended up doing just that.

She always got a bit nervous for Yang whenever she had a party to go to, and she had to remind herself that Yang was entirely capable of handling the people there. Despite the fact that she made drinks for other partygoers, Yang herself never drank, and Blake was glad for that.

Her friend emerged from the shower a while later, dressed casually and with a towel around her dripping hair. She invited Blake to freshen up as well, and once they were ready headed down to breakfast.

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By 7PM, the two girls had eaten dinner together and retreated back to the room for Yang to prepare herself for the party.

Since the heating in Blake's side of the building had yet to be fixed that afternoon, Yang invited her to stay as long as she needed to.

"Yer more than welcome to stay another night," she said. "Only thing is I'll be gone till 'bout 3 or 4AM. But I promise to be super quiet when I come back so I don't wake ya."

Blake thanked her profusely for allowing her to stay for an extended amount of time and to sleep here even when Yang was away. But the blonde just shook her head and smiled.

"Yer special, Blake!" she reminded her.

Yang went to her dresser and pulled out a small notepad, looking something over before she headed to the door.

"Welp, I'm off! If anythin' happens, you can call me on my cell anytime, ya hear?"

"Right," Blake said. "You too, Yang. I'll always pick up."

Yang smiled and winked.

"Thanks. And don't go stayin' up waitin' fer me. Just go ta sleep whenever ya feel tired, kay?"

Blake nodded again.

"Good luck. Be safe."

Yang hid a blush at that as she stepped out into the hallway. It was more than a little flattering to know that Blake was concerned for her safety enough to mention it out loud.

"Yeah..." Yang murmured to the closed door. "I will be."

And with that, she started walking.

Blake sat on the bed, staring after her friend until the door had closed on her. A bubble of anxiety had risen up in her stomach, and she felt that she suddenly knew what it was like to be a dog awaiting the return of her master.

"No..." she corrected herself. "Not a dog. We're equals. It feels like... Like I'm just waiting for her to come home from work or something. Like she's my..."

She didn't finish the thought – not out loud anyway.

Of all the things Yang made her feel, Blake wasn't sure if romantic attraction was one of them. Then again, she'd never experienced such a thing before, so she wouldn't really know what it was like.

Part of her was curious as to what it might be like, but even more of her simply enjoyed the friendship she and Yang were currently kindling. Even if they wanted to be, they didn't need to be anything more. Not right now.

Blake did her best to be at least somewhat productive and opened her notebook, grabbing her pencil from the spine and jotting down a few lines of work. It was quiet, and she felt she should've been used to working in such an environment from doing so for over two years now.

But even after a few hours, she couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness. She just wished this party would be cancelled and that Yang would come back as soon as possible.

Blake was thankful for the heating and opted to put her notebook aside and bundle up in bed, though she kept the lamp on.

It was only midnight now, and she was torn between sleeping or waiting for Yang after all. But she knew that even if she did manage to fall asleep, it would be an uneasy one.

She kept her phone on the pillow, resisting the urge to text Yang for fear of distracting her.

Blake closed her eyes and dozed on and off for another hour, feeling that the silence and warmth of the room was a dire contrast to the loudness and rowdiness Yang must've been experiencing right now.

She played a few puzzle games on her phone, and went online to read a few stories.

At about 1:30AM, Blake jolted as her phone vibrated, and the swiftness with which she swiped it to unlock it and locate Yang's message was almost inhuman.

Blake was initially relieved just that she was hearing from Yang at all, but when she actually read the content of the message, her stomach twisted:

/Heya, Blake. Sorry for the late-night text. I know ur probably asleep rn and thats fine. You dont have to reply back. Im just feelin a little uncomfortable here and some of the guys r buggin me so im telling them that im texting my bf. (I dont actually have one haha im just sayin that so theyll leave me alone)./

Blake felt her heart pound a little harder. In the two weeks they'd known one another, Yang had gone to several parties, but never once had she texted Blake during one.

Blake was about to type a reply asking if Yang was alright when she received another message:

/Jeez theyre so persistent. Sorry bout all this Blake. In the morning youll wake up and I'll be there with ya so this'll all sound pretty silly. Im just a lil nervous rn but it'll pass./

The mention of Yang feeling nervous was more than enough to put Blake into action.

She tossed the blankets off herself and got out of bed. She was about to call Yang and demand to know where she was, but paused. Blake hurried to the dresser where Yang's notepad was and found the top sheet of paper had an address and yesterday's date written on it. Blake recognized the street name; it was about a twenty-minute walk from the apartment complex.

She'd come to Yang's room in only her slippers, so Blake was forced to go through the girl's closet and find a pair of boots that fit her, mumbling apologies for taking and wearing Yang's things. She also pulled on one of Yang's brown trench coats as well before grabbing her notebook and her phone and rushing out of the room.

The hallways seemed bright as opposed to the darkness of the world outside, and Blake squinted as she hurried down the single flight of stairs to the exit of the building; her key card would permit her entry upon her return.

And she refused to return unless Yang was with her.

The night air was frigid, colder than two weeks ago when the fire alarms had gone off. But it was clear, and the moonlight allowed Blake to see easier in the spaces where the street lights didn't provide their orange glow.

She kept her notebook under one arm and her phone in the other hand, running too quickly to type a message, but she hoped Yang was taking care of herself.

Blake ran at top speed, her body fueled by adrenaline and a bit of fear. She'd never been much of a runner or one for physical activity, but she often took walks around the apartments and to the convenience stores, and she was thanking herself for that now.

She saw her phone light up again and Blake paused for breath as she read the message:

/God, theyre so annoying. I'd leave the place early but I dont get paid till the end and I really need this cash.../

Blake's heart was thundering now, less from the run and more from the fact that Yang was purposefully keeping herself in a potentially-dangerous situation for the sake of a necessary paycheck. She could understand that Yang was more or less trapped, but Blake didn't care if Yang walked away from this with money or not. She just needed Yang to walk away from it safely.

Hurrying onward, Blake raced as fast as her legs could carry her along the quiet streets.

It was only a few minutes later when she started hearing the distant sounds of blaring music and lots of voices. The only house on the block with lights coming from it was her destination, and Blake made for it with a final burst of speed.

There was a light outside the house for her to see by, along with a boy, likely on the lookout for police.

Blake caught her breath as best she could before fixing up her appearance, smoothing out Yang's coat and adjusting her hair. She composed herself as best she could before walking up to him.

She rarely talked to others unless it was out of necessity, and all things considered, this definitely was.

The boy looked up when he noticed her.

"Little late, aren't'cha? Party started hours ago, but if ya wanna get in now it'll be ten bucks."

"No thanks," Blake declined. "I'm not looking to get in. I'm looking to take someone out."

The boy raised an eyebrow.

"What, you someone's mom or somethin'?"

"Not at all. She's... my roommate." With last night taken into account, it wasn't a lie. "So sorry, but I need to get her back."

The boy looked her over.

"I'm gonna need a name."

Blake stiffened when she realized she didn't even know Yang's last name, but she figured just her first name would suffice.

"Yang," she said. "She makes the drinks. I know I'm dragging her away early, but I'd appreciate it if she could get paid for tonight."

The boy was silent for a minute as he held her gaze. Blake kept up the act of a concerned roommate, trying to look innocent and expectant. At last, the boy shrugged.

"Wait here." He opened the door and slipped into the house.

Anxiously, Blake looked to her phone. The last time Yang had contacted her had been over ten minutes ago. Blake knew a lot could happen in ten minutes at a party swarming with drunken college students. Even from outside, she could see the silhouettes of people on top of each other, be it against the walls or the couches.

She felt sick.

Forcing the awful images away, her attention returned to the door just as it clicked.

Instant relief washed over her when she saw Yang standing before her, understandably shocked, and perhaps a bit frazzled, but seemingly unhurt.

"Blake?" she gaped. "W-What are you-"

"We need to go," Blake said, cutting her off. She didn't want the boy at the door to grow suspicious of them. Blake looked to him, silently asking if Yang had been paid as promised. He nodded and leaned back against the house.

Blake slipped her phone into her pocket and took Yang's hand instead, leading her down the house's front steps. "Come on. We're going home."

Yang followed behind her clumsily, still baffled by what was happening. She'd been slipping through the crowds of people to avoid a particular trio of guys when suddenly the host of the party had appeared before her. He'd thanked Yang for coming over to make drinks and had paid her for the hours she'd worked before informing her that her roommate was waiting for her and taking her to the door.

She was still confused and flabbergasted to actually see for herself that Blake had come here for her in the middle of the night. As far as she knew, Blake wasn't good in social situations, especially with crowds and people she didn't know.

And yet, she'd just come all the way here and braved all of those things for Yang's sake...

Even after they'd reached the sidewalk and were away from the house, Blake hadn't stopped tugging on her wrist. Yang couldn't see her face, but she gently stopped her.

"Blake..." she said, voice faltering a bit. Blake could feel she was shivering a bit, but assumed it wasn't from the cold. Yang took a deep breath before continuing. "You... You were up all this time? Crap, I'm sorry. Ya probably saw all those stupid texts and-"

"Are you okay?" Blake demanded. She whipped around and looked up at Yang sternly and with worry. "Did they... did they do anything? If they did, we can report them right now. I mean it Yang."

The blonde was taken aback by her vehemence.

"Whoa, easy," she soothed. There were frustrated tears in Blake's eyes, and Yang rubbed the back of her hand. "Those guys were just comin' off a little strong, that's all. I always deal with 'em tryin' ta smooth talk me 'n all that. It's just... there's usually only one and tonight there were three. That's all."

Blake blinked, her eyes still scanning Yang's person, searching for any signs of disturbed clothing or things like that, but could find nothing.

"They..." she swallowed. "Did they touch you or anything?"

"No!" Yang blurted, and if not for the honesty in her tone, Blake might've grown suspicious Yang was hiding something. But the blonde shook her head quickly. "Believe me, if they'd'a laid a hand on me, I would'a given 'em a push or two and told 'em ta back off. I always make sure I'm not goin' ta those kinda parties. If I found myself at one by accident, I'd fight my way out, cash or no cash. It was just verbal stuff, Blake. Just words. Promise."

"...Words can still be bad," Blake muttered.

"Blake, I'm fine. I swear it," Yang insisted.

She slid her pinky finger around Blake's and squeezed gently. The dark-haired girl still had tears shimmering in her eyes, and Yang knew they were for her. The blonde opened her arms a little.

"Need a hug?"

Blake took a deep breath and nodded. She laid her notebook down at her feet and closed the distance between them, sighing as she buried her face in Yang's shirt.

"Sorry..." she mumbled. "I just... got really worried..."

"Hey, ya don't have ta apologize," Yang murmured, stroking her hair. "I'm sorry fer makin' ya worry. I didn't expect you ta be awake, honestly. But... the fact that ya came all the way here just ta check 'n make sure I was okay... I'm really happy about that. Thank you." She squeezed Blake a little tighter. "Till now I... never really had someone who'd worry about me. Not enough ta come all this way 'n take me home when I wasn't feelin' alright. Yer really somethin' else, Blake."

The writer sighed again, losing herself in Yang's warmth. Her clothes smelled of alcohol and perfume that wasn't hers, but she wasn't shaking anymore. Blake was more than glad for that.

"I'm just relieved that you're okay..." she whispered. "I was scared..." She felt Yang's arms tighten around her.

"Thanks, Blake. That means a lot ta me. Really, it does."

It was a strange hour of the morning, just like the first time they'd met.

Yang was tired, so she wasn't thinking too clearly when she pressed a small kiss to the girl's temple.

But Blake didn't mind. She responded by nuzzling into the other girl's neck, staying there for a moment longer.

Only when she felt a mutual shiver run through their bodies did they part. Blake picked up her notebook and Yang took her hand.

Together, they made their way back to the apartment complex, enjoying the tranquility of the still night. Stars were winking above them, the moonlight and street lamps illuminating their path and guiding them back.

Their breaths billowed up in white puffs as they pressed close to one another's sides. Not a single car passed them, and the only sounds were their own footsteps as they gradually made their way back to the apartment complex. When it was in sight, Blake was about to reach for her notebook to extract her key, but Yang beat her to it.

"I remembered to bring it this time!" she said proudly, giving a wink. Blake smiled and congratulated her teasingly.

They slipped inside before quietly making their way up the stairs and back to Yang's room. Blake put her notebook on the desk and removed the coat she'd borrowed, hanging it up in the closet where she'd found it. They both removed their shoes, and Yang changed her clothes, commenting that she "didn't wanna smell like booze and bimbos" as she slept.

By the time she'd brushed her teeth and crawled into bed beside Blake, it was 2:15AM. She turned off the lamp and sighed, pulling Blake in without hesitance this time, and the writer eagerly complied.

Yang slid down a little, reversing their positions from last night and urging Blake to hold her instead. Again, the writer complied without complaint, rubbing her hands over Yang's shoulders, glad to have her back. She knew she could sleep easily now with Yang beside her.

The feeling was mutual, and Yang pressed close, listening for Blake's pulse. It was the first time the writer had ever shared it with someone else, but there'd been lots of "firsts" with the blonde girl over the past two weeks.

But if it was Yang, Blake didn't mind giving her all of them.

She was certain of it now, that no one else could ever make her feel quite the same way.

No one could make her worry as much.

No one could make her smile as much.

No one else could make her feel this warm and comfortable.

She'd first met Yang by total coincidence, standing out in the cold in nothing but her underwear. If someone had told Blake two weeks ago that she'd be here holding this girl tonight, she surely would have laughed.

Of all the people that had come and gone in Blake's life – passed through or unwillingly lingered – she didn't want Yang to be one who left.

This was the first person Blake was willing to go through hell for to keep in her life.

She wished Yang goodnight, hearing the same murmured back to her.

The tranquil, quiet night settled over them both, blanketing them in a familiar darkness.

They slept peacefully that night, blissfully unaware of the cruel morning that awaited them.

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A/N: Chapter 6 will be coming a little while later!