Waiting (on You) - Chapter 14 (Patreon)
Content
The first thing Yang noticed the next morning was that her head hurt - a lot. Waking up with a pounding headache usually meant the night before included too much to drink, but that didn’t explain her throbbing shoulder and achiness in just about every other part of her body. Opening her eyes only caused more confusion, closely followed by realization when she recognized Blake’s bedroom.
Closing her eyes and lying motionless in Blake’s bed, she waited for the memories of last night to fall into place. Meeting Avery at the bar for a drink, chatting for a bit before walking outside. Saying goodbye and hopping onto Bumblebee, then the headlights, a jumble of flashbacks that might or might not be accurate, and the hospital. Blake showing up, taking her home, helping her change, then…
Yang’s eyes snapped open when the last memory arrived. If she couldn't remember it so clearly, she would assume it was just a dream. But it wasn’t just a dream.
She kissed Blake. Right before falling asleep, she’d been so overcome with gratitude and love that...she kissed Blake. On the lips. A real, honest-to-goodness kiss. She hadn’t made a big deal about it - she hadn’t even explained herself - she just did it.
It felt so natural at the time, like she was supposed to do that. As if kissing Blake goodnight was just something they did. Some friends texted; they kissed - that was fine, right?
But they’d never kissed before. At least, not like that. Sure, they kissed each other on the cheek every once in a while. Or on the forehead, nose, hands...but never on the lips.
Not that Yang never wanted to. The urge appeared from time to time, but she worried about what that might do to their relationship. Maintaining the boundary of ‘just friends’ became harder to do when kissing got involved. Plus, she didn’t trust herself not to get too into it. It was Blake, after all.
Closing her eyes made her headache stronger but the memory clearer, letting Yang dwell on the details she’d overlooked at the time. The outpouring of love...Blake’s soft lips on hers...and the resulting sparks running through her veins.
That was an amazing kiss, but what did Blake think? She was just being a good friend and Yang ambushed her with a kiss. That wasn’t a good thing to do under any circumstances, so how had Blake taken it? Was she upset? Annoyed? Surprised?
Yang needed to find out, explain herself, then profusely apologize. Again.
With that goal in mind, she opened her eyes and, after some silent encouragement, rolled onto her good side. Spotting a little care package on the nightstand, she grabbed the note leaning against a glass of water. There, in Blake’s elegant, swirling handwriting, were instructions to take the two white pills if needed. Considering her head pounded and every other inch of her groaned at the slightest movement, with her shoulder protesting loudest of all, they were needed.
Propping herself up was a bit of a challenge, but she managed to scoot herself back against the headboard while keeping her injured arm tucked close to her chest. Once situated, she popped the pills into her mouth and chased them with several gulps of water. Hopeful that the medicine started working soon, she returned the glass to the nightstand and looked around the room.
Blake’s room fit Blake’s personality perfectly: neat, clean, and coordinated with complementary colors and furniture. Yang never spent much time here before because...well, she didn’t have much of a reason to. Mostly, she was in here helping Blake choose something to wear, though she doubted she was much help when Blake had superior fashion sense.
If Yang wasn’t so worried about the repercussions of last night, she wouldn’t get up. Being surrounded by Blake’s things and snuggled in Blake’s bed was comforting, especially when the covers were soft, warm, and smelled like Blake. It was almost like being enveloped in a big, amazing hug.
Bringing the blanket up to her nose, Yang took one long, blissful inhale before releasing it in a sigh. That would have to do for now, as she needed to pull herself together, find the source of that happiness, and hope she hadn’t been a total idiot once again.
After swinging her legs out of bed, she tried...and failed...to put the sling around her shoulder by herself. As it turned out, that was impossible to do without using both arms, and her left shoulder screamed at all but the smallest movements. Giving up on that, she set the sling aside, gingerly stood up, and groaned when all of her muscles complained at the same time. The doctors hadn’t put her in a body cast, but they might as well have from how stiff she felt. Her back, her knees…even her feet felt bruised and sore.
Despite the achiness, she dragged herself into the attached bathroom and splashed some water on her face. Her reflection confirmed that she was a bit of a mess. Fortunately, a few swipes through her hair brought it under control, and a quick wash left her feeling refreshed and less bedraggled. Understanding that a shower or changing were luxuries her shoulder wouldn’t allow right now, she grabbed the sling and headed to the living room in search of Blake.
Blake was easy to find - she was curled up in her favorite chair reading a book. Just seeing her, and the intent expression that only came along with a good read, Yang’s heart stuttered. Then Blake looked up, caught Yang’s gaze, and, for just a few seconds, time seemed to slow.
“There you are…” Blake eventually said, setting the book aside and walking over. “How do you feel?”
“Kind of like I got hit by a car…” Yang joked while Blake took the sling from her good hand and helped her slide it into place.
“Did you take the medicine?”
“Yeah, I did. Thank you.”
“It should kick in soon.”
“I hope so,” Yang admitted, tenderly lifting her arm when Blake motioned for her to. “Feels like I have the world’s worst hangover.”
“Not surprised. The doctor said you’d be hurting this morning.”
Once the sling was securely fashioned, Blake touched the back of her hand to Yang’s forehead. Her cool skin provided some solace from the ache, but Yang was far more focused on her eyes - attentive, thoughtful, comforting pools of amber.
“If it gets really bad, let me know.”
“I will.”
The ensuing silence frayed Yang’s nerves as the memory of last night returned to the forefront of her mind. It felt like there was a giant elephant in the room, but Blake didn’t mention it. She just nodded and dropped her hand to her side, looking and behaving every bit like normal with some additional concern thrown in.
Would Blake bring up the kiss? It felt like everything was fine, but shouldn’t they talk about it? It was kind of a big deal. At least, Yang thought it was. But maybe Blake had written it off due to the circumstances. Or...maybe she didn’t want to talk about it?
That last thought made it impossible for Yang to let it go and move on. Once upon a time, she might have. Or she might have joked about it. But promising to be more open and honest meant not sweeping things under the rug, even when it was uncomfortable and scary to bring up such strong, confusing emotions.
“Um, Blake?” When Blake’s brow rose, Yang nearly lost her resolve. But determination, worry, and a fair amount of curiosity won out. “Last night...did I...kiss you?”
Blake’s averted gaze and soft blush answered the question, so Yang immediately switched to damage-control mode.
“Oh, wow, I’m so sorry -”
“It’s ok.” Quickly finding her words, Blake shook her head and offered a fleeting smile. “It’s fine, really. You were pretty out of it and it just...kind of happened.”
“Still, I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Yang, it’s fine -”
“Especially when you were so sweet and took care of me! Then I do that and...” At a loss for words, Yang sighed and hung her head. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable or upset or something.”
“Why would it make me any of those things?”
Yang could think of plenty of reasons why that would make someone upset - beginning with how it hadn’t been solicited or requested in any way - but she just waved her hand as if that answered everything. Blake, however, shook her head and touched Yang’s elbow. She had a lot to say - Yang could almost read the emotions in her eyes - but she didn’t seem to know where to start.
“Would it make you feel better if I made it even?” she eventually asked, but Yang frowned.
“How would you do that?”
When Blake stepped closer, Yang suddenly had a pretty good idea of how. Her heart had a pretty good idea too, as it started racing well before Blake set a hand on her cheek, the other on her shoulder, and looked into her eyes.
There was a moment - a crystal clear, well-defined moment - when Yang could have moved away. But she didn’t move. Her heart thundered in her ears instead as she watched Blake roll onto the balls of her feet, lean in, and kiss her.
The hesitant, soft touch sent sparks through Yang’s veins, prompting her to press forward and chase that feeling as far as possible. But she hardly had the chance to reciprocate, to taste and feel Blake’s lips, before Blake pulled away. Cheeks flushed, she cleared her throat and tucked her hair behind one ear.
“There...” she whispered before finally meeting Yang’s eyes. “Are we even now?”
Yang opened her mouth but no words came out. Her heart pounded like a drum instead, threatening to break right out of her chest, and a large part of her wanted to pull Blake into another kiss.
“Y-yeah,” she stammered when she realized she had to say something. “I - I mean...yes, we are.”
A flood of sentence fragments followed that disjointed response, but Yang shut her mouth and stared at Blake instead. That hadn’t been just a kiss - that was a good kiss. Possibly even a great kiss. And it hadn’t lasted long enough.
“Good.” Blake nodded once before holding Yang’s gaze - reading her eyes for every bit of emotion she was willing to offer. Eventually, Blake sighed and hugged her. “I’m just glad you’re ok...”
Hearing the relief in Blake’s voice, Yang relaxed and wrapped her good arm around Blake’s waist. Her heart still beat like crazy though, and she was pretty sure she was experiencing every positive emotion at once. Thrilled, surprised, over the moon - everything made even better by Blake holding her so close.
Apparently, she didn’t need to worry about Blake being upset about last night’s kiss, which was a good thing. A great thing. But that second kiss...was it only her imagination that it was better than the first? And that Blake actually...wanted it, too? Yang didn’t dare ask those questions right now, especially when Blake pulled away, brushed her hair behind her ear, and smiled.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yeah, that sounds -” When her gaze dipped to Blake’s lips, Yang cleared her throat and refocused. “Uh, yes. I can eat.”
“Why don’t you sit down? I’ll make some eggs.”
“I can help -”
“You can help by sitting.”
Blake pulled out one of the barstools at the island, patted the cushion, and waited for Yang to do as instructed. The gesture left little room for argument, so Yang gave up the idea of helping and sat down. Satisfied with the obedient response, Blake hummed and went to the refrigerator.
“How’d you sleep?” she asked while setting a carton of eggs on the counter. Her gaze flitted to Yang with the question before searching for a pan and bowl.
“Like a rock. Don’t think I moved until I woke up.”
“Good. You need the rest.”
“Apparently,” Yang replied, chuckling softly while watching Blake flit around the kitchen.
Blake worked with confident, purposeful movements. Setting a pan on the stove, adding a dash of oil, turning on the flame - all done in the time Yang would have spent deciding what she wanted to eat. The scrambled eggs hardly hit the pan before Blake collected a plate to hold the final product.
“How close was I to getting breakfast in bed?”
Smiling at the joke, Blake stirred the eggs and glanced Yang’s way.
“About half an hour,” she admitted, her smile brightening when Yang snapped her fingers.
“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have gotten up.”
“Which is exactly why you didn’t know,” Blake teased right back.
Smiling and leaning back in the chair - a moderately painful experience with her body aching everywhere - Yang imagined that alternate version of this morning. Blake gently waking her up...breakfast already ready...the two of them sitting on Blake’s bed to start the day - with Yang in a bit of pain while trying very, very hard not to spill anything on Blake’s bed.
That would have been amazing, but this moment was special, too. At least, that was how Yang felt when Blake piled scrambled eggs onto a plate, grabbed a fork from the silverware drawer, and set both in front of her. The salt and pepper shakers joined the meal before Blake walked around the island and took the seat beside her.
“Are you still capable of eating?”
“If I say no, are you going to feed me?”
For a split second, Blake entertained the idea. Or she entertained the idea of entertaining the idea. Either way, there was a short pause before she shook her head.
“Let’s see you try first.”
Chuckling, Yang picked up the fork and started eating. Thankfully, her right arm had escaped much of the damage, and her appetite was completely unscathed.
“This is so good,” she immediately said, pointing her fork at the plate. “What do I have to do to get you to cook for me every morning? Is getting hit by a car the only option?”
When Blake’s smile fell, Yang realized the joke was too soon. That became all the more evident when Blake sighed and shook her head.
“I told you to be careful on Bumblebee…”
“I wasn’t even driving,” Yang pointed out.
“And you weren’t wearing a helmet.”
“I was going to!” Yang protested, but she gave up as soon as she saw the look in Blake’s eyes. Blake was upset, and arguing wouldn’t make her feel any better.
“Ok,” Yang acquiesced instead. “I’m sorry. I know how you feel about me wearing a helmet, and I’m trying to be better about it, promise.”
Whether it was the apology, the promise, or that Blake knew the situation just had horrible timing, she looked at Yang for several seconds before sighing again. But this time her shoulders slouched and her gaze fell to the floor, briefly projecting an aura of defeat before she collected herself.
“I believe you,” she replied with a small, reassuring smile. “But you’re still not riding for the foreseeable future.”
“Why?” Sensing that Blake wanted to leave those emotions behind, Yang speared another bite of eggs and smiled. “You taking my keys?”
“I would if I had to,” Blake said, much to Yang’s amusement. “But no. You won’t be driving because Bumblebee...needs some repairs. I called the mechanic this morning, and it’ll be a while before she’s ready.”
“Do I even want to know what she looks like?” When Blake forced a neutral expression, Yang cringed. “Poor girl…”
“She’ll be fine. Even if she wasn’t, I’m just glad you’re ok.”
“I knew you were jealous of Bumblebee…” Yang mused before sending Blake a playful grin. “Don’t like another woman in my life?”
“There are plenty of other women in your life, Yang. Have I ever been jealous?”
The blunt response erased Yang’s grin, but Blake brushed past the moment with a nonchalant wave.
“What happened to your date?”
The question sounded natural enough. At the same time...it felt like a dig at the fact that there were other women in Yang’s life. But those girls were only dalliances. Temporary friends and temporary company. Blake knew that...didn’t she?
“She decided we should just be friends,” Yang answered, shrugging when Blake’s brow furrowed. “It’s fine. I would’ve made the same decision anyway. She just beat me to it.”
Blake seemed satisfied by the response, but Yang studied her a little closer.
“Blake...you aren’t actually jealous, are you? Because you’re more important than any of them. Than all of them. They can’t even hold a candle to you.”
To Yang, that was the most obvious truth in the world. Blake, however, mulled over the words before responding.
“No, I’m not,” she said, much to Yang’s relief. “Because we have something none of them ever will.”
“Exactly -”
“At the same time, they have something I refuse to give you.”
In the midst of nodding, Yang stopped and frowned.
“What do you refuse to give me?”
Yang couldn’t even begin to guess, but Blake held her gaze for a long time before smiling.
“A pass for your reckless behavior.”
“I was going to wear the helmet, I swear!” Yang whined. Blake, however, just laughed and nodded to the empty plate.
“Done?”
“Yeah. It was great, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
While Blake took the dishes to the sink, Yang watched her turn on the faucet and grab a sponge. The prior subject would fade away if they let it, but Yang didn’t know if she wanted to. If they were talking about it, why wouldn’t she put the truth out there?
“I was trying to be better.” When Blake shot her a curious look, she motioned one hand. “About my...commitment issues. I wanted to give her a decent shot - that’s why I went out with her again. Then this happened.” Yang waved at the sling and shook her head. “Guess the universe is telling me something.”
After setting the dishes aside and turning off the water, Blake slowly dried her hands and studied Yang at the same time. It looked like she had something to say, or something to ask, but she hung up the towel and walked back to Yang first.
“What brought that on?” she asked while gently weaving her fingers through Yang’s hair. The effect was so calming that Yang’s eyes fluttered and she briefly forgot all about her headache, but the relief dissipated when Blake’s hand slowed waiting for a response.
“I was just thinking about everything we’ve talked about,” Yang explained. “And I wanted to prove to you that I could do it. Or that I could be better, at least. Maybe make it past four dates?”
“Yang…”
When Yang looked down at her hands, Blake lifted her chin so that their eyes met.
“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” Blake said, her eyes begging Yang to believe her. “Please don’t force yourself to date someone because you think that’s what I want. That’s not what I want. I love who you are and I don’t want you to change. I just want you to be...happy.”
Yang smiled at the honesty. At the same time, she felt even more foolish for the way she had gone about things. Somehow, she convinced herself that holding onto a relationship would prove that she was taking her ‘issues’ seriously, just like she promised she would. Instead, she had regretted not checking if Blake was free, cut the date off early, and - in a stroke of cosmic misfortune - ended up in the hospital.
“Guess I should run these things by you first, huh…”
“Maybe,” Blake teased. Fortunately, she didn’t seem at all upset by the news. Instead, she squeezed Yang’s good shoulder and smiled. “Which reminds me...I’m your emergency contact?”
“Oh. Uh...yeah, of course you are.”
“Not Ruby? Or your dad?”
“Ruby would probably talk so fast that I'd end up with the wrong blood type,” Yang replied with a laugh. “And my dad would go all dad-mode about everything - that would just stress me out even more.”
Pausing, Yang thought about the reasons why she listed Blake as her emergency contact. It had been a no-brainer at the time, just like it would be a no-brainer now.
“I guess...when I think about being in a hospital...you’re the one I want there.” Seeing the tenderness in Blake’s eyes, Yang cleared her throat and looked at her hands. “Sorry, I should’ve told you.”
“Don’t be. You’re mine, too.”
When Yang looked up, Blake smiled and nodded.
“Really?” Yang asked anyway, a smile of her own appearing when Blake nodded again.
“Yes. So if you ever get a call from the hospital, please answer.”
“Because I usually ignore those,” Yang joked before grinning at Blake for another few seconds. That small gesture meant that Blake trusted Yang to be there for her, just like Yang trusted her to do the same. And Blake wouldn't give such a responsibility to just anyone.
“Ok, I need you to write down your entire medical history.” When Blake laughed, Yang gave her a serious look. “You think I’m joking?” she added, much to Blake’s delight. “Because I’m not! If something happens to you, I want to be able to recite your entire life at the drop of a hat. Blood type, allergies, every cut and scrape you ever got as a child - you name it.”
Still thinking Yang was joking - she only half was - Blake smiled and shook her head.
“I’ll make some notes. Just give me a few days.”
“How about I give you until this weekend?” Yang bartered before another realization struck her. “Wait - isn’t it Thursday?”
“It is.”
“Don’t you have work?”
“Called off.” Blake shrugged and lightly touched Yang’s temple. The tenderness of her touch and caring in her eyes made Yang’s heart respond with a content, happy hum. “Figured I’d spend the day with you instead. Is that ok?”
“More than ok,” Yang replied before another thought interrupted her joy. “Wait. I’m supposed to be at work.”
“I already told Pyrrha what happened,” Blake said before Yang scrambled to find her phone. “She said she hopes you feel better and not to worry about work. She’ll let your boss know.”
Crisis averted, Yang leaned back in her seat and smiled at Blake.
“You thought of everything.”
“Take notes, emergency contact.”
When Blake winked, Yang laughed and filed away that knowledge in case she ever needed it. She hoped beyond hope that she didn’t, but if she did...she would be there for Blake just like Blake was here for her.
Before Yang could express her gratitude, however, Blake’s phone rang. She flinched at the noise - both because it was unexpected but also because it made her headache pulse painfully. Blake quickly pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
“Oh,” she said before handing it to Yang. “You should talk to Ruby. She’s probably wondering if you’re up.”
Spotting Ruby’s name, Yang took the phone and answered before it rang again.
“Hey kiddo.”
“Yang? Is that you? Oh my god are you ok?? How’re you feeling? You got hit by a car! And had to go to the hospital and almost broke your shoulder and -”
“Ruby,” Yang interrupted, holding the phone away from her ear. “Please whisper. I have a huge headache.”
“Oh. Sorry. Are you ok?”
With Ruby using the softest voice possible, Yang brought the phone back to her ear.
“Besides the headache? Yeah, I feel ok. Really stiff and have some new bumps and bruises, but I’ll survive.”
“Thank god,” Ruby sighed. “Do you need anything? I can bring you food or something?”
“Thanks, but I just ate.” Yang glanced at Blake and smiled when Blake snuck a tiny look her way. “I think I’m just going to hang out with Blake today.”
“Ok, good. Do that.” After a brief pause, Ruby sighed again. “I’m really glad she was there...”
“Yeah, me too.” Yang didn’t want to think about how stressful that situation would have been without Blake. Luckily, she didn’t need to. “Oh, uh, how’d it go with Weiss?” she asked, vaguely remembering her and Ruby’s conversation from the day prior. “Did you tell her?”
“I did!”
“And…?”
“And she loves me, too!”
Ruby giggled upon delivering the news, the sound so infectiously happy that Yang smiled.
“That’s great, Ruby. Good for you.”
“Thanks! I was so nervous, then so happy, then Blake called and said you got hit by a car.”
“Ouch,” Yang said, grimacing at that sequence of events. “Sorry for ruining your moment…”
“It’s alright, I’m just glad you’re ok. Let me know if you need anything? Like anything at all - I’ll get it for you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Yang replied with a laugh. “Thanks, Ruby.”
“No problem. I should get back to work though - text later?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
“Awesome. Feel better!”
Still smiling, Yang ended the call and looked at Blake’s phone for an extra second before setting it down. The background was a picture the two of them took last year at the carnival while on the ferris wheel. Her hair was a little crazy from the wind, but Blake looked amazing. Most importantly, they both seemed so carefree and happy, smiling at the camera as if there was nowhere else they would rather be than with each other.
Yang would rather be with Blake than anyone else. She knew that was true. She felt that was true almost every single day. Which reminded her of Ruby’s question...why was she out with Avery last night instead of Blake? Blake was the one she wanted there at the bar, sharing a drink and some laughs. Blake was the one who had been there for her when she needed it. And Blake was the one she wanted to be with now.
“She blew up my phone last night.” Drawn away from those thoughts, Yang looked up as Blake tapped the phone. “I didn’t know it was possible to text so fast.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t barge in here.”
“She did,” Blake said, much to Yang’s surprise. “She and Weiss came over, but you were already asleep so they just checked on you before leaving.”
“Wow...I missed an eventful night.”
“You did.” After several thoughtful seconds, Blake met Yang’s gaze. “I was so worried…” she whispered. “When they said you got hit by a car, I thought -”
When that sentence trailed off, Yang stood up and set her hand on Blake’s shoulder.
“I thought -” Blake tried again before biting her lip and shaking her head. Yang’s heart clenched at the emotions swimming through amber eyes, and she thought nothing of pulling Blake into a tight hug - or as tight as she could manage with one good arm. Blake wrapped her arms around Yang’s waist in return and burrowed her face into Yang’s shoulder, burying those tears before they spilled over.
“I know it’s not your fault…but please don’t scare me like that again.”
Yang’s heart ached knowing that she was the source of Blake’s anguish. She prided herself on making Blake happy, but this...this was the opposite of happy. Remnants of grief...narrowly escaping a close call...whatever they wanted to call it, Blake was dealing with it now.
“I promise to do my best not to get hit by drunk drivers in parking lots anymore,” Yang whispered while rubbing Blake’s back. Blake quietly laughed at the joke but pulled Yang closer at the same time.
“I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you...”
Resting her cheek on top of Blake’s head, Yang knew that the feeling was mutual. Her heart burned at the mere thought of Blake being hurt or no longer being around. She didn’t even want to think about it, or think about what she would do if it ever came to pass.
“Don’t worry,” she assured Blake instead. “I’m not going anywhere. Promise.”
The only way she left Blake’s side was if the grim reaper himself pried her away. Even then, she would fight tooth and nail for every last second, and she wouldn’t give up until she spent every bit of herself in the process.
Blake didn’t need those details right now though. What she needed was for Yang to be there for her and let her work through the fear of loss she’d experienced last night. So Yang did exactly that. Her head still pounded and her shoulder had begun to ache, but all that mattered was holding Blake close, running a hand up and down Blake’s back, and being there for as long as needed.
Eventually, Blake pulled away - though Yang didn’t let her get too far.
“Sorry,” she muttered while rubbing her eyes, where tears glistened at the ends of her lashes. “I know you hate when girls cry over you.”
“And you know you’re the exception to every rule.”
Yang gently wiped Blake’s tears away with her thumb and smiled. She then leaned forward and kissed Blake’s forehead, lingering long enough to savor Blake’s warmth before pulling away. In the moment that followed - a soft, quiet moment neither of them wanted to break - Blake didn’t shy away from Yang’s gaze. Rather, she searched Yang’s eyes for the answers to unspoken questions before finally smiling.
Reassured by that smile, Yang relaxed into one of her own and dropped her hand to the crook of Blake’s elbow. Blake’s gaze lowered in response but snapped back to Yang’s eyes so fast that another realization struck her.
“I’m, uh, suddenly very aware that I’m not wearing a bra…”
While Blake looked amused by the comment, Yang’s cheeks warmed.
“Do you need help changing?”
The offer deepened Yang’s blush, and she shook her head both to decline and fight the embarrassment away. She usually wasn’t shy around Blake - hell, she’d changed in front of Blake hundreds of times before - but she suddenly felt extremely self-conscious.
“I can wear pajamas all day, right?” she joked, hoping the humor covered her unexpected modesty.
“You can do whatever you want,” Blake replied with a bemused smile. “You know I won’t judge. Plus...you look cute in my pajamas.”
The compliment unleashed a fire across Yang’s cheeks and dragged her thoughts back to their morning kiss. The moment her gaze flitted to Blake’s lips, however, she grabbed the first subject change her mind landed upon.
“Um, so I was wondering,” she began, shuffling her feet under Blake’s curious gaze. “If I’d invited you out last night...would you have checked out a new place with me?”
“Of course.”
“Even though you were busy?” she clarified, but Blake frowned.
“I wasn’t even busy. Where did you get this idea that I’m always too busy for you?”
“I…I don’t know. You just…have so many goals. I don’t want to distract you.”
“Yang.” Setting one hand on Yang’s shoulder and the other lightly on Yang’s cheek, Blake held Yang’s gaze with a serious one of her own. “Are you listening to me right now?”
“...yes?”
“And are you mentally sound?”
“Well, I probably have a concussion so...sure. Mostly.”
“Ok,” Blake said, briefly smiling before her expression grew sincere. “Then for the last time...Yang, I’m not as busy as you think I am. Even if I was, I’d make time for you because I love spending time with you. You’re not bothering me, you’re not distracting me - I would spend every day with you if you wanted.”
Yang’s heart felt like it might burst from hearing those words out loud. Not only that Blake loved spending time together, but that she would spend every day together. That sounded too good to be true - something Yang couldn’t have even wished for without feeling like the greediest person in the world.
“Did that stick?” Blake finally asked, so Yang nodded.
“I think so.”
“Good.”
“So...how would you feel if I texted you more?” Yang asked as Blake dropped her arms but stayed close. “And we could hang out if you’re not busy? But no pressure if you want to stay in and read - I don’t want to take away from your recharge time. But like…if you’re free and I’m free then...we could see each other more?”
Yang tried to sound nonchalant but managed to brighten Blake’s smile the longer she rambled. By the time she shut up, Blake nodded once and said, “I’d love that.”
“Yeah?” Now Yang was beaming too, hardly able to believe her good fortune. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Ok, that’s...awesome.” As a short, elated laugh slipped through Yang’s lips, Blake smiled right back at her. “Then, uh, I’ll do that. I’ll text you whenever I’m thinking about going out.”
“Please do,” Blake replied - the ‘please’ making Yang even happier - before glancing at the clock. “Now, how bad’s your headache?”
“Um…” Yang didn’t feel the pounding too much when distracted. As soon as she focused on it, however, she wanted to close her eyes and bury her head under a pillow. “A solid eight.”
“Want to watch a movie with no sound and no subtitles?”
Yang’s instinct was to laugh at the suggestion but, knowing Blake was completely serious, nodded at the same time. “Sounds fun,” she added, smiling when Blake took her by the hand and led her into the living room.
“Do you need water or anything?”
“I’m good for now,” Yang said before groaning as she sat down. Fortunately, the pain was temporary, and she forgot all about it when Blake sat on the sofa beside her.
“Anything you want to watch?” Blake asked while turning on the television and navigating through menus filled with movies.
“Your choice.”
Humming at the responsibility, Blake picked the first title in her ‘recommended’ queue, set the remote aside, and leaned closer to Yang. Yang understood the subtle, unspoken request loud and clear so, without hesitation, wrapped her good arm around Blake’s shoulders and smiled when Blake practically melted into her side. The soft sigh accompanying the motion only made Yang happier, and she thought nothing of kissing the top of Blake’s head as the movie began.
“They must be brother and sister,” Blake mused when a handsome young man and gorgeous young woman appeared on the screen, having a heated conversation about something. “They’re arguing about...the family business.”
When the actors started kissing not even a second later, Yang burst out laughing.
“Some siblings,” she joked while Blake chuckled and the movie continued.
This was exactly what Yang needed right now. Last night might have been a total disaster with repercussions she would be feeling for a while, but it hardly mattered anymore. That was what made Blake so special, and why Yang went to such great lengths to protect what they had.
But having Blake snuggled into her side was…different today. She was acutely aware of every inch of contact and of how nice Blake’s warmth felt as it spread across her skin. Her heart fluttered when Blake leaned against her shoulder and jumped when Blake’s hand rested on her thigh.
She always loved having Blake so close, but today it filled her with a scary-yet-wonderful feeling she couldn’t quite describe. As if her entire body held its breath, rejoiced, or sighed with every motion Blake made, all while her heart stuttered and flipped and fluttered like crazy.
Whatever it was, she didn’t want to let it go. Instead, she pulled Blake closer, took a deep, shaky breath, and savored a feeling she’d never shared with anyone else.
Maybe her issue wasn’t that she couldn’t hold onto a relationship. Maybe her issue was that she shouldn’t be looking for a relationship at all. Why did she need a relationship when she already had this?