Writer's Note: All of the characters are of the age of majority in this work, for obvious reasons.

As a reminder, uncut versions of my stories are posted on my account at AO3, where they won't violate FF's content restrictions. Also, I have a tumblr as RedSuitWriter, where I'll post updates for this story, as well as general thoughts on RWBY and other assorted stuff. If you can, please take a moment to shoot out a review - they're very helpful in letting me see what readers liked and what they didn't, and I really appreciate critiques.

Disclaimer: RWBY is the property of Roosterteeth and the creation of Monty Oum.

Prelude

March 23rd, 2014 - Weiss

Weiss was struck by how small she felt, balanced atop the brawler's knees. The hem of her nightdress pressed against her skin, showing off the thin lines of muscle in her legs, bare arms tense by her sides. Yang was holding her, hands clasped around her waist, the simple act of touching sending the allegro beat of Weiss' heart well into ... something faster. Stringendo?

No ... prestissimo. How could she forget that? She'd lived and breathed music for years, the Italian phrases drilled into her brain by her father's tutor. That was the beat, that fast pace, that tempo when frantic fingers flew across monochrome keys, desperate to keep up with her pounding heart-

What is wrong with me? she thought, shaking her head free of musical notation. Yang's fingers were moving against the thin dress, thumbs running along the tight skin at the curve of her hip. The simple touch was as terrifying as it was intoxicating, panic rushing through her while a steady need slowly built, tugging, pooling in her-

"he ... eiss. ... rth to Weiss?"

She blinked, eyes refocused on the blonde seated beneath her. "... sorry?"

"Weiss, come on. Look at me." Yang cocked her head to the side, angling up so she could look the heiress in the face. "If you don't want to do this-"

"I do," Weiss cut her off in an instant, glaring furiously and thoroughly hating the trembling in her legs.

"Then can ya tell me why you're so freaked out?"

"I am not 'freaked out,' Yang."

"Right, 'cause I'm barely touching you, and already your breathing's shallow and just slightly shy of hyperventilating, there's a lot of rapid eye movement, plus I can feel you shaking ..."

"Fine," Weiss snapped, and immediately regretted it. This wasn't Yang's fault ... mostly. "Sorry. I may be ... just a little nervous."

Even in the dark confines of the room, she could still make out that familiar, crooked, infuriating little smile. The one she'd seen on the blonde's face countless times in the years she'd known her.

"About little old me?"

"No, you ass," Weiss growled, and socked her in the shoulder. It hit harder than she'd meant, but Yang just kept grinning, insufferably pleased at the effect she was having on the other girl.

"Good," the blonde said, arms wrapping around Weiss' waist. For second, Weiss nearly panicked, thinking Yang was about to ... start. Then the blonde lifted the smaller woman off her lap, setting her on the edge of the bed before shifting back to give her room.

"Considering that you're the CEO of a multinational company and I'm living in your house, I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be the nervous one."

"Cute." Weiss let out one long, shaky breath. Trust Yang to try for a joke now, of all times. Even just sitting next to her, having Yang this close was ... distracting. Especially since this needed saying, whether she wanted to or not. Yang had a right to know the truth, no matter how humiliating it was.

"Yang, have you ... thought about us being together?"

"Recently? Yeah. Maybe more than I should have." The grin slipped a little as Yang reached for the heiress' hands, covering thin fingers with her calloused ones. "Look, Weiss, it's going to be a little awkward going from best friends to ... whatever we're gonna be. But I really think it's worth the risk. That you're worth the risk."

Weiss bit the inside of her cheek. Yang would insist on making this entire process more difficult. And on doing it simultaneously in the nicest and most obnoxious way.

"I have liked you for a long time, Yang Xiao Long."

"I know." The blonde finally had the grace to look sheepish. "I am sorry I didn't notice sooner."

"That's not the poin-" Weiss cut herself off mid-retort. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Deep breath, she told herself. You're not actually angry with her at the moment, and it's your failure to communicate that's frustrating you.

"For a long time, you dolt."

"Yeah, I ... oh," Yang trailed off as realization hit her. The normally unflappable blonde actually looked stunned, finally shocked into speechlessness. Then her grin returned, wider than ever, malevolent and playful and promising things far too sinful to contemplate.

Oh, she will never let me live this down.

"So," Yang purred, lips still split in that amazing, irritating grin. "When you were thinking about 'us,' exactly how much clothing was I wearing?"

Weiss flat-out refused to answer, although she had a feel that, given how red she was, it was fairly obvious.

If anything, Yang's grin grew wider, a cheshire half-circle of teeth that gleamed in the dark bedroom. "That's an interesting mental image. Not an entirely unwelcome one, either."

"Shut up, Yang."

"Come on, we've all been there. You had a long night, needed to burn off some stress, you felt lonely ..."

"You're enjoying watching me squirm."

"I plan to, but you're kinda missing the point here." Ignoring Weiss' twitching, Yang knelt down by the side of the bed, staring up at her. Even in the unlit room, Weiss could see the lavender curves of her eyes, their open, honest look completely at odds with the words coming out of her mouth.

"I, the object of your oh-so sordid fantasies, am right in front of you, and I doubt there's anything you can come up with that I won't be ready for. So," she smiled, hands rubbing gently against Weiss' skin. "If you can bring yourself to be honest with me, I will make your wildest dreams come true."

She swallowed, nerves making her already dry throat even tighter. "... how about an old favorite first? Then we work up to the wild ones."

Yang beamed. "Good to see you're finally starting to relax."

As if Weiss was some startled animal, ready to scamper away at any moment, the blonde slowly leaned forward. Cautiously, her eyes locked on Weiss' all the while, her hands shifted to either side of Weiss' knees, pressing into the bed as she moved forward and met the heiress' mouth with her own.

For about a split second, Weiss panicked, wondering what to do with her nose, her hands, if Yang was planning on using tongue, or if she wouldn't want Weiss to try the same. There were a million things to take into account, a thousand worries running through her head, convincing her that she would find some way to screw this up. That Yang would pull away and this would all be over. Then Yang pressed a little deeper and Weiss was gone, lost in oblivion, in the feeling of those lips, soft and warm against her.

The kiss broke for a second, long enough for Weiss to breathe. The blonde paused, eyes searching Weiss' face, hesitating just long enough for the heiress to wrap her arms behind Yang's neck. With one fast yank, they were pinned together, Yang's lip managing to curl up in a smile despite the mouth desperately jammed against her own. Their second kiss went on for a lot longer, hands sliding up into Weiss' hair, long fingers twisting through pale strands until they cupped the back of her head, holding her tenderly in the kiss. Weiss, to her chagrin, was not as gentle, arms twined behind Yang's neck and shoulders, desperate to trap the taller blonde against her.

Eventually, Yang pulled away, untangling herself from Weiss' arms, her face flushed and grinning that impossible grin. Slowly, achingly slowly, she pushed Weiss back against the sheets, pale legs now just barely dangling over the edge of the bed. Fingers ran along the edges of her nightdress, playing with the hem before inching upward, pulling the thin cloth up until they ran across the bare skin of her hips. Those hands were electric against her, Weiss' chest shaking with baited breath, fighting to keep her hips from rolling. Finally, Yang knelt and leaned forward, lips just barely brushing against the inside of Weiss' thigh, kissing their way up until finally, thankfully, she–

Weiss woke with a gasp.

It took her a second to remember where she was, her mind twisting and tangling as she fought with the sheets. Finally triumphant, she threw the blankets off, pupils blown wide, her braid a tangled mess. Her breath was fast and frantic, coming in short gasps until her eyes made out the posts of her bed, the lines of the dresser set against the wall. My room, she reminded herself, noting the disturbed sheets and how cold the other half of the queen-sized bed had become.

She was alone. Horribly, blessedly alone.

Flopping back onto the bed, she grabbed the pillow, pulling over her mouth before letting out one long muffled scream. Rage and frustration ripped up her throat, until she had no more breath to give, and she let it fall away with a half-choked sob.

Just a little longer, she thought. For the love of god, this one time, why couldn't it have lasted just a little longer?

Opening her eyes, Weiss realized one side of her bed was brighter than the other. She rolled onto her side, glaring over at the little flashing square of light. Her phone. The little rectangle sat into its charging dock, shining innocently, completely oblivious in its atrocious betrayal.

Seriously considering the method by which she was going to brutally murder whoever had woken her, Weiss reached for the little white plastic case. Squinting, she tried to make out the name currently blinking in the little notification.

Yang.

Of course it was. The name flashed above the message, apologizing if she'd woken Weiss and saying she had just boarded her flight.

Letting the anger slip away, Weiss checked the time. Four in the morning - her plane must have been delayed. Cursing, she laid the phone flat on the nightstand and rolled over on her side, covers tucked up under her chin and trying desperately to ignore how completely and utterly wound up she was. Two more hours, she thought,just let me get those two. She had a full day ahead of her - more so, since she'd decided to take the afternoon off and help Yang get settled.

This time, she thought. This time, I will tell her.

If she's not with anyone already, some traitorous part of her whispered.She probably would have mentioned it, but there's always the chance ...

No. She's not. She would have told me. Which means that there's no one. No issue of me not wanting to make her life any more complicated. No worries over seeming like I'm trying to steal her away from someone. All I have to do is tell her.

Fine. Doesn't mean that she'll actually feel the same way you do.

Wondering what exactly she had to do to kill the hissing doubts swirling in her head, Weiss buried herself under her pillows and waited for sleep.