Last Night Last

Yang stretched and yawned as she watched the dishes. A glance at the microwave clock showed 1130. Mira wasn’t back yet, so she assumed she was staying out for the night. Saturday nights did tend to have her out at bars doing one-night stands quite often. They could be nice sometimes, but Yang really would rather find a consistent partner. It was a lot nicer to be able to have that fluid consistency with somebody rather than hash things out anew each and every time she wanted to get laid. However, she blinked when she heard a knock on the door. Who would be here so late? It couldn’t be Mira; she wouldn’t be knocking on her own dorm room door. Unless she forgot her scroll again… It wouldn’t be the first time she’d done that despite not even being drunk upon leaving. Mira was absolutely insufferable at ties. “Coming!” Yang dried her hands on the towel and answered the door. “Weiss, wha—” The other woman didn’t bother to explain and walked in, a small bag slung over her shoulder. “Jerard invited his boyfriend over again.” Weiss’ tone was flat. Yang couldn’t help but fringe. They had to be fucking. Poor Weiss. How long had she been lying awake, listening to that through the paper-thin walls? That was the absolute worst. Mira t least had the consideration to not fuck people in the dorm. She was a good roommate as far as that went. “Can I sleep on your floor?” “I”ll do you one better: I”ll sleep on the floor and you can have my bed.” Yang smiled. It was fine. She didn’t mind taking one for the tema, so to speak. Weiss was always welcome in her room. She could still remember crawling into bed with the other girl as a young child to offer her comfort. Schnee manor hadn’t been kind to Weiss, but neither had adapting to Vale. Thankfully, it’d been many years since those childhood days. Weiss was doing so much better than when she’d first arrived from that horrible place. “Are you sure, Yang? It’s only one night. I’ll be fine for that long if you get me some blankets.” Yang grinned. “Nah, I don’t mind, Weiss. Don’t worry too much.” It was a chilly fall evening so she was pretty sure Weiss would prefer to be as snug as a bug in a rug tonight… Or a bed in this case, she supposed. Weiss hated the cold so sleeping on the floor would be chilly. The bed would be much warmer. “Want something to eat or drink?” “Not really. I mostly want to go to bed.” That…was entirely fair, she supposed. It was pretty late. Well, not too late by college student standards, but by Weiss Schnee standards. Weiss wasn’t a partier like Yang. She was still extremely straight laced even after living in Vale for nearly a decade and a half. Even the gap year in Menagerie with Blake hadn’t done much to loosen those lashes. The trauma from Atlas still ran pretty deep… Yang drained the sink and headed into her room with Weiss. Weiss didn’t waste any time in starting to disrobe. Yang caught a glance of her sun-kissed skin and looked away, starting to change into her own pajamas. Weiss was quite nicely toned and Yang couldn’t deny it. Between the archery, horseback riding, ballroom, and falconry, Weiss was pretty easy on the eyes. Even Yang couldn’t deny it. Weiss was incredibly attractive. She laid some blankets on the floor and grabbed a somewhat deflated pillow from the closet. “Night, Weiss. I hope you sleep well.” She really did. Weiss took fifteen credit hours every semester. That didn’t include all of the other stuff like falconry, archery, and Faunus rights. How Weiss didn’t crack under the pressure was beyond her.  “Night, Yang. You too.” Weiss flicked the lights off and the small room fell relatively quiet. She could hear some faint music thumping at the end of the hall, but it wasn’t anything too unusual for dorms. Despite everything, Yang found herself staring at the dark ceiling. It’d been years sine they’d shared a room like this. Weiss had been thirteen and she’d gotten back from her debutante ball in Atlas. She’d been so emotionally devastated by all of the creepy old men trying to get their hands on her. Atlas was such a disgusting place. How they could sell women off like property was beyond her. Weiss had every reason to be upset after that.  She knew she shouldn’t be thinking about Weiss like this. They were practically sisters. They’d rarely been apart since Weiss had arrived from Schnee manor when Weiss had been six. She’d spent the night with Weiss countless times in the intervening years. It was always for the other girl’s comfort. She’d practically become Weiss’ older sister despite Weiss being basically a year older than her. But she’d just been so emotionally devastated when she’d initially arrived from Atlas… But Weiss was incredibly attractive. Her cutting her hair from long to short had only made her that much more alluring to Yang. For some reason, that short hair framed her race in a way that made her a lot cuter. The power hair looked good on Weiss. She would command some serious attention and power once she went back to Atlas. Yang frowned at that. Weiss would go back to Atlas once she finished her conservation degree. She would work as an advisor to the SDC on mines and to try to reduce environmental impact.  Yang didn’t want that. She would miss the girl who had spent so much of her time with. Weiss was basically Valian at this point. She’d spent far more time in Vale than she had Atlas. Weiss knew that she wouldn’t do well in Atlas’ culture. Why couldn’t she stay here in Vale? Why? It was her home and nothing would change that. She knew she was being selfish by wanting ot keep Weiss close, but it would completely destroy the family. Would they even see each other again if Weiss completely moved back to Atlas? Huh? Yang touched her face and felt warmth rolling down from her eyes. She was crying. Damn it, she was better than this. She really shouldn’t be upset. Weiss would be moving on with her life. She would be fulfilled and happy and hopefully find somebody to spend the rest of her life with. She could carry on the Schnee family legacy in a way she saw fit. What was wrong with that? Weiss would be happy. That would be the most important thing. All she wanted was— Oh, who was she kidding? She wanted to be the one that made Weiss happy. She had been ever since that night Blake and Weiss met. Seeing Weiss so happy with somebody else… She wanted to be Mrs. Weiss Schnee if possible. Something about it felt right to her. They’d been together for so long that keepin Weiss close felt best. But she knew it was beyond selfish. If Weiss wanted to live her family legacy, who was Yang to stop her? She was being incredibly selfish. She knew it. It wasn’t right to want to trap somebody in a life they didn’t necessarily want to lead any longer… She blinked when she saw Weiss peeking over the side of the bed at her. “Geeze, Yang. Your aura isn’t even activated and I can feel it popping off like fireworks. What’s got you so worked up?” Her voice was quiet, obviously exhausted. She normally went to bed between nine thirty and ten, so this was pretty late for her. Yang couldn’t help but cringe though. “Sorry. Don’t worry about it.” Weiss had quickly climbed the ranks of advanced aura with Blake and Sienna as her coaches. She was only Grade Five with some touching into Grade Nine. For an inexperienced aura reader like Weiss to feel a completely locked aura like Yang’s, that meant she felt very strong emotions. At least it didn’t seem like Weiss had narrowed in on anything… Unfortunately, Weiss turned the lights on and sat next to Yang on the floor. “We both know you’re lying, Yang. If a pleb like me can feel your emotions, how much worse must you be feeling?” She reached up and wiped away some of the thears. “You only cry things are really serious. Please don’t push me away.” Yang looked away. “I…” What was she supposed to say? She would ruin Weiss’ Atlas dreams if they did get together. Weiss would be kicked out of Atlas for dating another woman. That was even assuming Weiss didn’t shut this down immediately. It was a bad idea. They were basically sisters! There was basically no way Weiss would accept this. She even called Summer Mom, Taiyang Dad, and Qrow Papa. Just like Yang and Ruby did. They were family. There was no way this would work out. It would tear the girls apart if Yang made any moves on Weiss. She was really attracted to her though… Serious rock and a hard place. Weiss took one of Yang’s hands between both of hers and Yang felt her throat tighten. She was getting way too close for Yang’s comfort. But she couldn’t pull away. If she did, Weiss would get suspicious. They were almost always physically close when they were upset. Summer, Qrow, and Taiyang ahd all had no real boundaries when it came to physical affection and that had passed onto all three girls. How much would it hurt Weiss if she rebuffed her? “Please, talk to me, Yang. You know you can talk to me about anything.” And how much would it hurt Weiss if she didn’t talk? There were basically no secrets between them. She was trapped. Legitimately trapped. Saying something to Weiss would potentially break their relationship. Saying nothing would hurt Weiss, possibly irrevocably.  Neither option was appealing. She would hurt Weiss almost no matter what happened. She had told herself a long time ago she would never hurt Weiss. Now she was in a situation she would hurt her no matter what she did. She just… What was she supposed to do? There was no way out of this really. She felt the tears welling in her eyes again. No. She couldn’t cry, not in front of Weiss. She was the strong pillar for the three of them, the rock that could weather any storm. She had seldom cried in front of Weiss. She couldn’t do it now. She couldn’t. Yang’s head lowered and rested on Weiss’ shoulder. There was no way out of this, was there? She either broke down sobbing or told Weiss the truth. She wasn’t one to run away from things. She hadn’t run away when she’d met Raven for the first time. She hadn’t run away from the Branwen tribe. She hadn’t run the first time she’d encountered a Grimm on Patch. And she sure as hell wouldn’t run from this. She let out a sigh and interlaced her fingers with Weiss’. “I love you. And I mean that in more than a familiar way. I’d like to date you if you’d give me a chance.” Her voice was quiet and shook. She felt the tears roll down her face. She wouldn’t run away, but it didn’t mean it was easy. She wanted to curl up and die. They weren’t adopted sisters, but they might as well be. They had lived together for a decade on Patch. The only time they hadn’t been together was if Weiss had to go to Schnee manor or the gap years she’d been in Menagerie with Blake. They were too close. Yang’s heart dropped through her stomach when Weiss pulled away wand went to the window. SHe watched the other woman as she stared outside. For a long time, silence reigned. The tears continued rolling down Yang’s cheeks. She couldn’t do anything about it. The cat was out of the bag and couldn’t go back in. What was she supposed to do? Weiss probably hated her now. Who wouldn’t after something so grossly inappropriate? “You want me?” The response was quiet. Yang almost didn’t hear it. She would be surprised if even Blake would’ve been able to hear it for how faint it was. Swallowing, king stood up and leaned against the windowsill with her. The campus was dark, the light of the shattered moon shining down. “I know I shouldn’t, but I do, Weiss. I want to make you happy, I want to hold you close. I want to make you smile. I want to wake up to you each morning.” She hesitated. “And I don’t want to see you leave Vale. You seem so happy here. I don’t understand why you’d want to go to Atlas permanently.” It made no sense. Atlas was so oppressive. Weiss wouldn’t want to marry an Atlassian upper-class man. All one of those would do would use and abuse her. Why go back to a place that would abuse her? She saw Weiss wrap her arms around herself. She wanted so badly to step over and hug Weiss. But doing so might upset Weiss further which wasn’t what she wanted. Being so physically affectionate definitely had its downsides. Or would holding her be best? Yang was good with people, but it wasn’t everyday one confessed their feelings to someone that was basically their sister. “You legitimately think I want to stay in Atlas?” The statement made Yang’s eyebrows rise. “Well, yeah. The way you always talk about the SDC and wanting to go work for it. It really seemed like you wanted to go live there with Winter.” How could she think otherwise? She wasn’t an aura reader like Blake, Sienna, Qrow, or a fair few members of the Branwen tribe. Weiss had given her no suggestion she wanted anything less than being with her biological sister and helping the SDC. Weiss shook her head. “I feel like Ihave no other choice. Winter needs help with the SDC. I may not know the company well, but I’m smart enough to learn. I know I’d be a great help to her.” That was it? That was why she wanted to go back to Atlas? When it was nothing but trauma for her? Hesitantly, Yang wrapped her arms around Weiss. That was all it took for Weiss to cling to her. And she was shaking… Weiss was really scared. She was trying to hide it but holding her like this, it was so obvious. She really didn’t want to go back to Atlas. Not that Yang could blame her. Yang wasn’t a polite little doll and had gotten in trouble more than once in the kingdom for causing a public ruckus over something. It was such a horrible place. “Weiss, you know that one reason Mom took you was so you weren’t trapped into a single path. If you don’t want to wok for the SDC, then don’t work for the SDC. Winter has your back regardless of anything and won’t cut you off just because you don’t want to work with her.” Winter wasn’t cruel for the sake of it like Gelé was. She wouldn’t cut her sister off of SDC funds for the hell of it. She gently tilted Weiss’ head up and saw tears in those blue eyes. Poor Weiss. She hadn’t known she was so conflicted over this. “Start that raptor rehab center you told me you dreamed of. Offer falconry experience days. Get horses. Build your own house. You don’t have to be trapped by your legacy.” Yang knew both sisters well enough by this point to understand what they would want.  Weiss wanted freedom. She was a country girl at heart. She loved animals and being away from the city. She so absolutely lit up when doing falconry.  Winter was reserved, calculated, and strove for perfection. But she also wanted the best for her sister. Weiss was happiest away from the city and people. Winter would want to support Weiss’ desires. Hell, she’d outright bought a baby aura goshawk to train and those ran 50,000 lien minimum! There was no way Winter would want Weiss to strap herself down to a job that would make her unhappy! Weiss sniffled and Yang wiped her tears away. “Stay where you’re happy, Weiss. Don’t lock yourself down into something that’ll traumatise you further. “ She kept her voice soft, trying to reassure her. Hopefully she would follow the advice. “How do I tell—” “Worry about it later. Let’s relax as much as we can for tonight.” Yang scooped Weiss into her arms and settled her on the bed. She did turn off the lights quickly. After that, though, she laid down and pulled Weiss to be next to her. Damn it, she really was adorable even when she was upset. Wait a minute, though. She looked at Weiss. “Your main worry is the SDC, not how I feel about you?” Had she gotten upset and worked up over nothing? Weiss’ eyes settled on Yang’s purple ones. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting it in the slightest. But no, I’m not too worried about it. I know families are different in Vale than Atlas, but I still had it pounded into me—quite literally—family is blood. I do see you and Ruby like sisters, but at the same time… I know you would care for me well. It is…awkward but I wouldn’t mind giving it a chance.” Yang blinked. It was that easy? She had torn herself apart for nothing. “But…why me?” Weiss looked away. She felt Weiss’ hands grip her pajamas. “I’m nothing like you. You’re tall, busty… You’re conventionally attractive. I’m not. I’m short, my hair makes me look like a granny, and i don’t really have any cleavage to speak of.” Wait… Weiss had body-image issues? That was certainly the last thing she expected. She took such good care of herself. She was a bombshell in her own way. She got plenty of people approaching he to want to date. How could she not see how attractive she was? Yang found her incredibly alluring…  Yang kissed her head. “Weiss, you’re gorgeous. If you don’t mind my asking, why do you think that…?” She wanted to understand. She didn’t want Weiss to feel like she wasn’t being heard. The last thing Yang ever wanted to do was invalidate Weiss’ emotions. She was so objectively wrong in this case, though… She was sure plenty of people found her attractive. Busty didn’t necessarily mean beautiful. Weiss buried her face in Yang’s shoulder. “You weren’t the one with Atlas’ messaging pounded into your head. Yes, I got more of Vale’s body positivity, but the sheer violence with which Atlas’ beauty standards and gender roles were put on me…” That did make some sense, she supposed. A little bit of negativity could drown out all the positivity in the world. Plus, Gelé did have a way of getting into people’s head. He’d been quite the good cold reader from the few interactions Yang had had with him. Yang rubbed Weiss’ back and kissed her head again. “Are you working on that with your therapist?” Weiss had had therapy since arriving in Vale. It’d been so much work to get her to a relatively healthy spot, but some things apparently still remained entrenched deeply in Weiss’ heart. She felt Weiss nod. “Yeah, it’s not easy to move past though…”  Yang gently tilted Weiss’ head up and kissed her nose. “I could show you how beautiful I think you are, Weiss.” Yeah, she was definitely more than a bit fired up right now. Weiss hadn’t rebuffed her. And with as close as they were right now… Weiss shook her head. “I’m willing to give you a chance, Yang, but I’m not going to jump so quickly.” “All right.” No need to push things. She was not going to force anything onto Weiss especially with as much trauma as she had. “Wanna head to sleep, then?” Weiss nodded and yawned. “Yeah. It’s late for me. Night, Yang.” Weiss kissed Yang’s nose and snuggled into her. It didn’t take long for Weiss’ breaths to steady and deepen. Yang really did wish they could’ve gone further, but it was entirely Weiss’ choice. Pushing really would destroy their relationship which she did not want. It would all be at Weiss’ pace…  She kissed Weiss’ head again and brought the covers up around them. Despite everything, it had been a good night…