Confessions (ch2)

2-DAY EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!!

I'm so mad at myself... I'd edited this chapter really nicely and then it got deleted by accident, so the second time around as the final version is probably crappy. Ugh...

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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														Chapter 2.

A melancholy air had been brought into the room now with both of their confessions. Weiss couldn't fully believe it - if Ruby were here, she'd probably suggest pinching her cheek.

But Blake's beautiful eyes convinced Weiss it was real, and her presence confirmed everything that had just transpired and been said between them. Weiss was finding it a bit hard to breathe; her heart was pounding, but Blake was probably the same way right now.

And the dark-haired girl was smiling, probably feeling as uncertain and yet elated as Weiss was. Before now, they'd both just wallowed in nervousness alone in their own minds, but now if they could be uncertain together, on top of being honest…

…Weiss thought that wouldn't be so bad.

Without really thinking, she reached up and carefully pulled Blake's ribbon out of her hair, revealing her Faunus ears. But she then realized she probably shouldn't have acted so rashly and hastily apologized.

"I-I'm sorry. I just… I wanted to see you, Blake. All of you."

There was a strange feeling curling in her chest now, thick and warm and it made her heart pound faster; she'd never seen Blake in this kind of light before, and Weiss was enamored.

. . .

She wouldn't call it shame, but her hands subconsciously reached up to cover her ears. It was a habit developed over the course of hiding who she was, and she knew it would take a while to break.

Even though Weiss had said it didn't matter, the inkling of doubt remained. The two of them were different - came from different places and different people, and her Faunus heritage only seemed to accentuate that fact. It wasn't shame, simply nervousness, but that didn't make this any easier.

It was fine - Weiss didn't see her like that, Blake told herself - and after a moment her hands returned to her lap. Her ears flicked this way and that, reveling in the new found freedom and sometimes she forgot just how good it felt.

'All of you,' Weiss had said, and Blake clung to those words - repeated them softly in her head.

"Sorry," she muttered with a nervous laugh, her hands fiddling with the hem of her pajamas. "Bad habit. I'll get use to it soon."

. . .

Weiss frowned when Blake shielded her ears from view, and she could instantly tell it was a habit; Blake hadn't hesitated a second. Weiss could picture it clearly, that almost every time Blake had removed her ribbon in the past, the immediate consequence had been shouting, cursing, hitting…

She shuddered, blue eyes tormented as she thought about it. But when Blake slowly lowered her hands, Weiss felt a bit better.

Now that Weiss could see them so closely, she realized just how charming Blake's Faunus ears were; the fur was as ebony as her tresses, understandably unkept due to how they always had to be concealed. But they also appeared soft and warm, and they were almost like a reflection of Blake herself.

A minute passed by in silence, and Weiss realized she needed to say something; now that they'd both confessed, she couldn't just let Blake go back to her bed and read for the rest of the evening like nothing had happened.

The heiress went with the first thing that came to mind.

"Why don't you… stay here for a while? I'll brush your hair for you."

Something, anything to keep Blake there beside her a little longer.

. . .

Her heart picked up running. She couldn't remember the last time anyone offered to brush her hair, let alone allow someone to get that close to her ears, and they flicked nervously.

"I, uh, sure…" She drawled, but she couldn't help the stiffening of her posture, her fingers lacing together in her lap. Habits could be broken, Blake told herself, and Weiss was only being considerate. They were together - and wouldn't that take a bit of getting use to. It was to be expected that they would grow closer.

And she wanted that. Really wanted that. One step at a time - that's all it would take.

"Just… go easy. It's been awhile."

. . .

"Of course."

Weiss was relieved Blake had opted to stay. The heiress reached over to the bedside table and opened the drawer, passing her hand over her own hair brush and pulling out Blake's instead. Weiss drew her legs up onto her bed and knelt down behind the other girl; this way they could each blush to their hearts' contentment and not have to worry about being seen.

Surely it was a win-win.

Weiss pressed one hand to Blake's back and used the other to slowly brush through the ends of her hair. She made absolutely certain to move with painstaking motions; if she felt even the slightest tug, she stopped immediately and lightened the pressure, refusing to snap so much as a single strand of her teammate's tresses.

"Just tell me if I'm hurting you at all."

She finished the ends at the small of Blake's back and gradually moved her way up to the middle of her back, and then the top of her shoulders, smoothing out the thick, velvety locks of her hair with great care.

Weiss hadn't realized it, but she'd started to hum somewhere along the way. She combed the brush through Blake's long hair smoothly, being sure to keep her free palm on her back, where she could occasionally feel the flutter of the other girl's pulse.

When Weiss lifted herself onto her knees, she paused, unsure of how to go about brushing the fur of her ears. Perhaps just using her nails would be better?

She combed through the hair atop Blake's head in short, slow motions, uncurling any tangles gently as her other hand petted down her back.

Then, she placed the brush at the base of Blake's right ear and lightly ran the bristles over her fur, using her free hand to steady herself on Blake's shoulder, occasionally curling her fingers through her hair. Weiss cut off her hum when she realized how still Blake was.

"Is this all right? Are you… are you okay?"

. . .

There was a moment of hesitation in the movement of Weiss' hands, but the slow, calculated motions and the hand at her back had her muscles relaxing. It was reassuring, a simple anchor that kept her tied to the here and now and out of the memories that clouded her head.

She focused on that feeling, on the brush running through her hair, and tenseness in her hands melted, the color rushing back into her skin. Her ears flicked back, catching the quiet hum that escaped her teammate, and the sound was a welcome distraction in the silent room.

The blush on her cheeks burned softly, an inconvenient but not entirely unpleasant warmth, and she was grateful for the fact that Weiss had decided to spare both of them the embarrassment. It was - dare she say it - calming, and Blake lost herself for a moment, eyes slipping closed and a silent rumble worked its way up her throat.

But when the bristles of the brush came into contact with the base of her ears, she stiffened, eyes snapping back open. Their dorm room was the same as always, the dim glow of the lamp setting the place alight in a soft yellow glow. Blake exhaled, a soft stream of breath through parted lips, willing herself to relax, but it was a bit to late for Weiss had already voiced her concern.

"Fine," was Blake's curt reply. It sounded a little too shaky even to her ears, and she cleared her throat, turning her head to offer Weiss a small smile. "I'm fine. Honest."

. . .

As she continued to comb through Blake's hair, Weiss wasn't entirely sure whether she felt the vibrations through the Faunus girl's back or if she was imagining them. Either way, the thought of her purring brought a small smile to the heiress' lips.

However, when Weiss asked if she was okay, it took Blake a second too long to answer, Weiss felt. And even when she did speak up, her voice wavered ever so slightly, but still enough for Weiss to hear it. Surely touching Blake's ears so quickly after they'd just established their new relationship wasn't the best option. There were plenty others.

Therefore, Weiss sat back down on her knees, putting the brush aside on the bed.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have touched them like that."

She could tell Blake was still tense, and Weiss didn't want that. She wrapped her arms loosely around Blake's stomach and pressed close to her back, resting her head sideways between her shoulder blades. Her soft, silky hair on top of the fabrics of her nightgown and Blake's body heat provided the best support for Weiss' head, and she leaned her weight onto her.

"We can take it slow," she murmured. "We've still got a week left until those two come back. And even then, we'll still have plenty of time to figure things out." She squeezed Blake a little and sighed, closing her eyes briefly to listen to the beat of her heart. If she focused hard enough, she thought she really could hear a slight rumble.

. . .

Blake wanted to retort, to tell Weiss that she was fine. Really. Nothing a little bit of time and effort wouldn't fix.

But Weiss was right. They had time, and the thought was more than enough to quell the nervousness that had started to bubble up in her gut. It was just the beginning and she slouched forward, Weiss' weight settling against her back.

"All the time in the world, actually," Blake whispered. There was a moment of hesitation, just a second really, but she pushed it away. Her fingers lightly brushed over the back of Weiss hand, the skin smooth and cool to the touch.

"Or as long as you're willing." She laced their fingers together, the hold neither loose nor tight, merely there - a promise.

. . .

Weiss thought she might be the one to start purring at this rate.

"Well, if it's a matter of how long I'm willing-" she squeezed Blake a bit tighter with a sigh. "Then that's a bit longer than all the time in the world."

She felt Blake curl her fingers through hers, and it felt strange and yet so fitting, like puzzle pieces that didn't quite match up but were close enough. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so close to another person, or if such an experience even existed at all.

She was a bit bashful to think of admitting it, but Weiss rather liked this proximity, Blake's warmth, her softness…

Before she knew it her eyes had closed and her jaws parted in a light yawn. She should probably lie down in her bed before she got too comfortable to move-

-but Weiss knew she was already past the point of no return.

In a feeble effort to rouse herself, Weiss mumbled.

"We should… try to get some rest for now."

. . .

Blake hummed, a noncommittal noise in the back of her throat that spread through her chest.

Honestly, she didn't feel like moving just yet. Weiss was warm - a rather welcome discovery that only fueled her decision to stay put. It was just Weiss' hands that held a subtle chill, and they would warm up soon, if Blake had anything to do with it.

After years on the streets, in between housing and the family that was the White Fang, Blake had almost forgotten what it meant to be close to someone - to be comfortable with someone - and she rested her head in her free hand, the other tightening gently around Weiss' fingers. She had missed this - this feeling - and she closed her eyes, tried to burn this memory and Weiss' warmth into her skin.

"We probably should," she said after a moment, but even as the words faded, she remained.

All the time in the world.

. . .

Weiss hadn't had contact in a long time. Growing up, her house was always too big, her bedroom too empty and quiet. Winter was rarely home once she'd started going to school, which had effectively eliminated Weiss' sole source of comfort.

And she could tell by the way Blake was responding that she wanted this too, the knowledge of which only encouraged Weiss to stay put. Blake's heartbeat was calm against her ear, and knowing she wasn't opposed to this made Weiss all the more eager for it. But they really should lie down; they couldn't afford sore backs on their vacation.

So with regret, Weiss pulled herself away, but not for long.

"Let's lay down," she offered, absently pulling at the covers. But just before she made a move to slip underneath, she paused, casting an uncertain look back to her teammate. "Would you… be terribly opposed to stay here the night? Of course I understand if you don't want to. I just figured it was a bit on the chilly side tonight and since we just-" She stopped herself before she could blabber too much.

Instead, she sat with her hands between her knees, waiting patiently for an answer, trying to tell herself she'd be fine with Blake leaving while simultaneously knowing that was a lie.

. . .

When Weiss moved, the warmth disappeared, her fingers slipping from Blake's grasp. She turned her head, gaze following Weiss as she pulled back the covers. Blake was staring, of that she was certain, but the haziness of creeping exhaustion kept her from caring.

A small content smile quirked the edges of her lips upward, lost in the feeling of calmness that only seemed to spread, and at Weiss' words.

Blake began to wonder if she was already dreaming. Her ears swiveled forward, intent on catching every word that fell from the heiress' lips. It was only after an awkward silence had settled that Blake realized sleep was still a little ways away. An embarrassed heat prickled to life, painting Blake's cheeks lightly pink, and she looked away - just for a moment.

"You don't mind?"

. . .

Weiss told herself she was prepared for Blake's quite-possible rejection of her offer. But when Blake spoke, Weiss perked up, finding her eyes.

"Of course not."

Slowly, as though frightened that moving too quickly would scare the other girl away, Weiss slipped her bare legs beneath the blankets, adjusting her nightgown accordingly so the ruffles weren't uncomfortable. She wasn't sure if she should be looking at Blake expectantly or invitingly, so she settled for a combination of both. Or at least, what she thought looked that way.

"Only if you're all right with it," she reiterated. "I know this might be… a bit much a bit quickly for you. It might be the same way for me." Her blue eyes hardened in determination then as she made room beside her. "But we've got to start somewhere, don't we? And with those two gone and everything out in the open… what better place to start?"

She looked at Blake hopefully, no longer trying to hide how badly she wanted this.

. . .

The look in Weiss' eyes hid nothing, and the ounce of hesitation she felt nearly vanished.

Blake wanted to - Weiss wanted to - and the only thing keeping her from acting on it was uncertainty - a snaking feeling that wound up her limbs, constricting.

Blake swallowed around the lump in her throat, breathing out, and without a word moved closer, taking the spot Weiss had offered.

The twin bed was small, intended only for one, and when she settled next to Weiss, their shoulders touched. Her limbs tensed and she felt so awkward that she was seconds away from apologizing and high-tailing it out of there, but Weiss was warm and welcoming.

It was comfort beyond belief. Her hands fiddled with the edge of the blanket.

"I'm not quite sure what to do, to be honest," she said softly, finding Weiss' eyes and offering a tiny sheepish grin.

. . .

To Weiss' relief, Blake settled in beside her after all. The heiress felt something lift in her chest and her lips curled up into a smile. Blake laid down beside her, and their shoulders touched clumsily, something that suggested the bed wasn't exactly made for two.

But neither was complaining.

"I'm… not quite sure how to go about it either," she muttered. "But it can't be that hard, can it?"

She turned onto her side to face her teammate, pulling the blankets up over the both of them to their ribs. Hesitantly, Weiss reached up to run her fingers through Blake's hair, making sure to avoid her ears, uncertain if she was still uncomfortable about them being touched.

"I still can't believe… this happened," she mused.

As her blue eyes met Blake's piercing golden ones, she felt her heart pound a little harder. She'd never been so close to her but Blake was…

…really something.

A sudden shiver ran through Weiss' body and she quickly turned her face into her shoulder as a petite sneeze surprised her: "Ah-choo!"

The mood was effectively ruined.

"Ah… Sorry... Gosh, I'm just a mess, aren't I? You should just go..."

. . .

Her smile widened and she stifled a laugh behind her hand, the serious atmosphere practically crumbling before her eyes.

"Can't say I haven't given it thought," she teased. "But you're not as cold as you think. I can handle it. Plus-" She squirmed closer, resting her forehead against Weiss'. "-it's a little late to leave now."

Her cheeks burned, but in the dim light she doubted that Weiss could actually see. A little blessing if there ever was one and if tonight was anything to go by, she'd be blushing quite a bit in the near future, and the thought didn't bother her as much as it probably should.

In fact, it was probably safe to say she was looking forward to it - in an odd, curious kind of way.

Her ears twitched as Weiss' hands combed through her hair and she draped an arm loosely around Weiss' shoulders, all too aware of the heiress' curiosity concerning her Faunus ears.

"It's fine - really," she said after a moment, butting their foreheads together softly. "Just make sure you warn me first."

. . .

Weiss sniffed once, blinking the water from her eyes after her sneeze. Blake was smiling at her, and at last, the weight in the air lifted fully so that all that remained was an elated atmosphere, innocent and curious.

Blake's arm went around her and Weiss shivered a little, her naturally lower body temperature adjusting slowly to Blake's higher one.

"Then… I should probably warn you now."

To be honest, Weiss was probably as eager to touch Blake's ears as Ruby was; the heiress just hid it much better.

Until now.

Carefully, she moved both hands up to Blake's ears, shifting closer to her. With slow, steady motions, she started to rub the soft fur at the the bases and move upward, making sure to avoid the insides. She let her nails brush over them briefly, waiting for Blake's reaction, if she should pause or continue.

"Let me know if you want me to stop."

Because Weiss probably wouldn't be able to stop on her own.

She was thankful for the darkness, but Blake's vision was much better in the night than her own. She could probably see Weiss' blush clearly on her cheeks. If not, she could probably hear the thumping of her heart, and the thought only served to make the heiress more self-conscious, and her pulse beat faster.

But this was so nice, and she wasn't about to stop anytime soon, no matter how embarrassed she might feel. Blake's presence felt so right beside her, and she wanted to keep it that way.

. . .

Her eye's drifted closed almost instantly, the light pressure against her ears felt like heaven, and she couldn't help the growing rumble in the back of her throat.

"You're fine. Trust me."

More than fine, actually. With each gentle pass, Blake felt herself slip closer and closer to unconsciousness. She tried to stay awake, taking an occasional peek at Weiss through half-lidded eyes, only for them to close tiredly seconds later, too content to notice the glowing blush across Weiss' cheeks.

She was fighting a losing battle, and the growing exhaustion made her body feel like jelly, but this feeling - Weiss' presence - she wouldn't trade it for the world.

"I could get use to this," she muttered, words drowned in a sleepy lisp as her head tilted into Weiss' touch.

. . .

"I'm glad to hear that."

Because honestly, Weiss could get used to this, too. Blake's smile was irresistible, and Weiss wanted to see more of it; and she would, every waking second of her life from now on, if she had any say in the matter.

She continued to scratch Blake's ears carefully, bringing the girl's head to her chest so she could reach more easily to her ears and still embrace her simultaneously.

Weiss still couldn't believe what had happened - what was happening that very moment. If she was honest with herself, she'd liked Blake much longer than she cared to admit aloud, and to have her here in her arms now hugging her back was a dream come true.

At last, Weiss began to feel a prickling in her arms and she slowed her motions, keeping one hand rubbing over Blake's ears as the other went to brush through her thick hair. She pulled Blake close, resting her chin atop the Faunus girl's head as she closed her eyes.

Weiss wasn't thinking when she spoke next. She was simply lost in the moment, lost in the euphoria of the experience she had longed for for so long, lost in Blake's mysterious scent like a warm autumn night-

"I love you."

. . .

It didn't register right away. To Blake in the haziness of sleep, the words sounded like white noise - meaningless in their content, but the warmth behind them, no matter what they were, was beyond compare.

Funny though, it sounded an awful lot like 'I love you.'

Blake opened her eyes, trying to blink away the dreariness. It wasn't a particularly easy task. Weiss was all she could see, her face buried into Weiss' shoulder.

The smell of her shampoo and soap only made Blake want to hold her closer, and Faunus ears swished back, brushing the heiress' cheek. It could have just been her imagination putting things where they had no right in being, but-

"Could you run that by me again?"

. . .

Weiss was still. She could still mend herself now. She could brush off what she had said as just a slip of the tongue, an unfortunate-sounding phrase of words that was merely a trick of the mind. There was no way she could say something with such gravity so early on in this relationship. It wasn't fair to Blake.

"It was… it was nothing…" she murmured. "I'm sorry. You should get some rest now."

Slowly, almost painfully, Weiss let Blake go, let her have her space again. She was rushing things - she knew she was. What if it was all too much for Blake? The last thing Weiss wanted was to overwhelm her because she was too eager for affection after so long without it.

"Get some sleep," she said again, plastering a smile. "Tomorrow we can… figure things out more."

She felt a stinging behind her eyes and hastily turned onto her other side, giving Blake her back now. She wanted to say more, so much more, but she bit her lip.

Weiss sniffed and closed her eyes, willing sleep to come. Just having Blake beside her was more than enough. She didn't need anything else.

That's what she told herself, anyway.

. . .

Weiss turned away without another word, and the sinking feeling Blake felt in the pit of her stomach as a result was almost unbearable. Something wasn't right, and her fingers curled into Weiss' nightgown.

She briefly considered turning Weiss around, but her hold loosened and she drew her hands back. Weiss just needed space - they both needed space - and Blake tore her eyes from the rise and fall of her teammate's shoulder, rolling onto her back.

Every now and then, Ruby's bed above them would creak, the ropes taxing under the weight of the bed's frame and mattress, but without its occupant there was no real threat and Blake couldn't help the sigh that escaped as she stared dazedly at the wood above.

She was happy, excited even, for what was to come. There was no doubt in her mind about that, but it would be stupid to think this would be a walk in the park. They would deal with it - sooner or later they'd have to.

"Weiss?"

She didn't know why she was talking, she had nothing in particular to say, but the sudden urge to hear Weiss' voice was impossible to ignore.

. . .

She thought she felt Blake try to move closer to her back, and a hopeful spark lit in her stomach.

But the presence faded, and Blake shifted away.

Weiss was frustrated. She knew she was sending mixed messages - being so close to Blake a moment ago and then suddenly putting distance between them. She didn't know what she was doing. Did she want Blake to come closer? Weiss wasn't even certain herself anymore.

Why did I say that? I don't know what I'm doing…

She was nervous now, almost to the extent of being scared. She really liked Blake, and now with the creeping silence and darkness upon them, Weiss was realizing that fact more clearly. She didn't want to mess this up.

A shudder ran through her. She was so nervous. God, it was embarrassing. Why did she feel like she was about to cry?

She sniffed again as Blake called her name. Weiss breathed in deeply, making sure her voice was steady.

"Yes?"

Was Blake already regretting all of this? Had Weiss' blatant confession just now dissuaded her from wanting to commence their relationship? The heiress didn't know if she could maintain her composure and clutched her sheets tightly as she waited.

. . .

It was a moment before Weiss' reply, but Blake didn't know just how much she missed it until Weiss' voice broke the silence. A little splash of light in the darkness, and Blake clung to it.

They were both a little lonely - both a little more than awkward - starved for contact that neither of them really had the experience to give properly.

Blake wanted to try. Despite it all, she was content with the fact that they were trying. After so many months with it bottled up inside, there was a certain relief with knowing that the scary part was over. Everything and anything else, they could deal with together. She wanted Weiss to know that.

"I just wanted to, uh-" She swallowed, ears flicking as she turned onto her side to face Weiss' back. It was imposing despite the heiress' size, almost irreproachable in its aloofness, but to Blake in that moment it was a constant, a point she could rely on, hold on to. "To let you know that I'm… happy." She smiled softly to herself. "Really happy."

. . .

She bit her lip, fingers curling around the sheets and uncurling, kneading in uncertainty.

"Happy…?" She repeated in a whisper to herself, as though speaking the word could validate its solidity, its realness.

Happiness. It's what everyone wanted in life, and she was… giving that to Blake? To think that was the case felt wonderful to Weiss. She chuckled softly, blinking back tears.

Slowly, she turned over onto her back and then her other side to face her teammate.

"You…" Her voice sounded too loud for such delicate silence. "You… you make me happy too, Blake. More than Ruby. More than Yang."

Slipping her arms from beneath the blankets, she suppressed a shiver as the cool night air hit the bare skin that her nightgown exposed. She opened her arms toward Blake hesitantly, wanting to feel her close again.

"So then, if you wouldn't mind… would you come closer? And I'll… repeat what I said earlier for you."

. . .

Weiss' small chuckle had Blake's heart skip a beat, the look on her teammate's face all but lighting the muscle in her chest aflame.

"I'm glad," she muttered, a tiny smile curling her lips.

It didn't take much thought for her to decide, slipping into Weiss' embrace. Her arms settled around Weiss' waist, a hold that was loose despite its closeness, fingers not quite touching, but Blake couldn't shake the feeling that she wanted to - even if she wasn't sure how to exactly go about it.

She pulled herself a bit closer, a hair's width separating their noses. Blake inhaled, Weiss' scent curling pleasantly around her head, and a contented sigh escaped her. It would have been a simple thing to fall asleep then and there, back in the cool embrace of Weiss' arms, but she kept herself awake. If only barely.

"Now, what was that you wanted to tell me?"

. . .

Despite the fact that she'd been the one to invite Blake closer, Weiss still stiffened a bit when she moved in so much, their faces mere millimeters apart. She could see almost clearly now due to this proximity; even in the darkness, Blake's piercing gold eyes were alight like the soft glows of candles.

She settled her arms around Blake's shoulders, loving the feeling of being in her embrace again, having Blake in her own. She'd almost forgotten that she needed to reiterate what she had said a few moments before.

Weiss was scared all over again. She didn't want to frighten Blake off. She could imagine it clearly in her head now, confessing her affections and then feeling Blake freeze up and slowly pull away from her, expression painfully uncomfortable as she pushed Weiss away, disbelieving.

Weiss tensed up, heart thrumming, pounding up against her ribcage so hard she wondered if Blake could hear it.

"I-I…"

She didn't want Blake to push her away. She couldn't calm down. Weiss closed her eyes and ducked her head, turning her face into her pillow, arms trembling as she tried to keep Blake close to her, but also not wanting to trap her. She just needed a moment…

. . .

Blake felt Weiss stiffen, her heartbeat a drum in her chest that echoed in Blake's ears. She pulled Weiss closer subconsciously, tucking her under her chin. She wondered if it was the dreariness that had made her so bold, but she wasn't in the state of mind to think deeply about things.

Another sigh, but somewhere along the way it developed into a yawn, her eyes watering. This was the second opportunity Blake had to remain close to Weiss, and with sleep not far off, she wasn't about to let it slip by her again.

Weiss stuttered and Blake's eyes closed, her fingers idly trailing up and down Weiss' back subconsciously. The heiress hadn't pushed her away, and she was feeling far too comfortable to rethink her actions. Comfort was a hard thing to come by, after all, and as long as Weiss was happy enough to stay, she was too.

"Don't force yourself," she hummed. "Slow and steady, remember?"

. . .

Blake didn't pull away from her. Perhaps it was Weiss' tiredness, but she realized just how unfair her thoughts from a moment ago had been. Blake wouldn't push her away, and deep down she'd known that all along.

She was pulled in, felt fingers trailing up and down her back, through her hair gently, and Weiss relaxed again.

Slow and steady, slow and steady…

She let Blake's words be a guide to her rapid pulse, waiting until it slowed and matched the other girl's.

She wanted to stay with Blake. She never wanted to let her go or to be let go of. She wanted to be the one Blake could rely on, put her trust in. And for that to happen, Weiss knew she needed to speak up.

Keeping her arms tightly around Blake, Weiss slowly lifted her head again, all but burrowing her face into the Faunus girl's collar. She was more than sure of herself now.

"I love you."

. . .

So it wasn't just her imagination, the words given life as they fluttered softly against her skin. It made her heart beat faster - made her hold Weiss a little tighter.

I love you.

Three words, that was all it was.

Three words she hadn't heard in what seemed like years.

Three words she wasn't sure she actually deserved - not after the things she'd done and had yet to fix.

She wondered if she ever could. Wondered if she could ever say those words to Weiss without feeling that she had no right to them.

Now wasn't the time - for her - but she hoped Weiss knew just how much it meant to hear those words.

She placed a small kiss to the crown of Weiss' head before she could doubt herself, and then another, misguided and fumbling in the dark just above Weiss' eye. Her lips lingered a moment, the seconds not long enough, and then settled her cheek atop Weiss' head.

"Getting a bit ahead of ourselves, are we?" Her words held no malcontent and yet were too soft to be a tease, merely a filler as Blake tried to regain any semblance of coherence.

Happy? What an understatement.

. . .

Weiss was still, feeling Blake pull her closer, listening to the thrumming of her heartbeat beneath her ear. The words she'd spoken were ones she couldn't recall ever saying to anyone before. She'd heard and read them a million times, but to be saying them herself-

-to be confessing to Blake-

-it was unreal.

A sense of elation washed over her, spreading through her stomach and chest and wrapping around her heart gently. Blake kissed her head before moving down and-

-her scar. She kissed right over Weiss' scar. The ugly mark that had ruined her image of personal perfection long ago. The mark that had caused her ridicule on her family's behalf.

She hated it.

She'd never said it aloud, but the thoughts plagued her mind every morning when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

She hated it.

But Blake was with her now, kissing it, accepting it.

Accepting her.

Weiss made a small sound and drew a breath between her teeth, unable to stop the warm flow of tears from dripping down her face and onto Blake's skin.

. . .

The rest of Blake's words withered on her tongue the moment she felt the tears on her skin.

Weiss cried quietly, punctuated only by soft gasps as she drew in shaking breaths. Blake wondered if it was a habit born from the circumstances surrounding her upbringing, but she didn't dwell on those thoughts for very long. The past was better off behind them.

Talking now seemed unnecessary, and Blake simply remained silent, her hands mapping meaningless patterns along Weiss' back. Comfort felt like the only thing she could give right now. She focused on that - on giving. Giving what she could until the tears stopped, and only the tiny hiccups remained. She lowered her head to nuzzle Weiss' cheek, ears flicking contentedly.

"All of you."

It was a whisper, an echo of Weiss' earlier words, but they were words that were more than worth repeating.

. . .

Blake's cajoling motions soothed her, and before long, Weiss had quieted her sobs. She wanted to do the same for Blake.

She pulled away slightly, enough to meet Blake's pretty eyes in the shadows. One arm remained draped across the Faunus girl's side as the other traveled slowly northbound until her fingertips ghosted over the soft fur of her ears. The time for their differences had passed, and Weiss' kindness unto her was long overdue.

She moved her fingers in slow stroking motions over Blake's ears, the ears she knew had caused her much pain in her past, enough for her to have to hide them, keep them concealed from her own team whom she was supposed to trust with her life.

Weiss kissed her cheek lightly, and she felt something curl within her chest, something delicate, fragile, and yet strong. Powerful.

"I love you," she said again. She didn't want the words to lose their meaning with frequency, but they were easier to repeat now, and she wanted Blake to believe her.

She knew Blake's heart was more breakable than she cared to let on, and Weiss wanted to treasure it. She pressed her lips to the hollow of Blake's throat, directly over her heart, and held her close.

Sleep came, and it was warm.

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A/N: Like I mentioned in the beginning, my original edit of this chapter got deleted, so I'm sorry if it doesn't read well or there are mistakes. I didn't have the energy to look it over as properly the second time...

I made a lot of edits from the original though (to my own writing, not my partner's). It was almost embarrassing to re-read what I'd written when she was so good.

Anyways, more to come!