Chapter 36

"If you could have any other Faunus trait, what would it be?" Neon asked.

Sun popped another chip in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Lizard tongue, totally lizard tongue."

"Ooh, I like your style!" Neon smirked.

"Hey, maybe I just wanna' eat icecream easier." Sun noted. "Doesn't have to be dirty."

"But I'm sure you wouldn't shed a tear over the increased oral potential." Neon accused.

"If it was all about sex I would have gone for like a horse dick or something." Sun countered.

"Pfft, that'd be terrible." Neon scoffed. "No one would be able to handle it. Besides, I'm pretty sure horse Faunus don't get horse dicks."

"Look it up." Sun suggested.

"I am not looking up horse dicks." Neon refused.

"Why, you chicken?" Sun taunted.

"I'm cat thank you very much." Neon huffed. "I just don't want horse dicks in my search history."

"Oh boohoo." Sun rolled his eyes.

There was a knock at the door, Sun looked and Neon took advantage of the distraction to nail him in the face with a pillow. "We're decent!" Neon called before Sun could recover.

"I take it that's a no to the birthday orgy?" Coco asked, pushing through the door with Velvet in tow.

"No orgies on Saturdays." Sun declared.

"Boo!" Velvet pouted, before smirking. She flopped down on a pile of beanbags and Coco sat beside her, taking a sip from her beer.

"I tried guys." Neo threw up her hands. "Birthday boy just wanted to pick my brain." She poked Sun with her tail, and he swatted it away.

"For lack of other brains to pick." Sun scoffed.

"Didn't Blake and Ruby show?" Coco asked.

"Yeah, you missed 'em earlier." Sun confirmed. "They wanted to try the Sauce."

"Ooh, first timers?" Velvet perked up.

"Blake knew her stuff, but Ruby's gettin' her cherry popped!" Neon grinned. For emphasis, she imitated penetration with her fingers.

"Oh God." Coco laughed. "Have you been checking on them?"

Sun and Neon looked at one another. "We did...an hour ago?" Sun shrugged.

"We should probably check again." Neon advised. She stood, passing her drink to Sun and knocking aside a stray beanbag in her way.

"They're probably drooling on the carpet." Velvet chuckled.

"Not everyone's a lightweight like you Velvs." Coco teased.

"Hey, I was flaring." Velvet protested. "I had like, an hour long orgasm."

"Lucky." Neon pouted.

"Boring." Velvet corrected. "And after a while the carrots started chafing."

Laughing, Neon made her way out of the room and down the hall, pressing her ear against the door to Sun's room. Her hearing wasn't as sensitive as Blake's, but she could make out some murmuring, so she knocked. "Everything okay in there?" Given no response, she slowly opened the door to peek in. The first thing she saw was scattered and torn clothing, including the remains of some lacy red panties. A low growl drew her gaze upward, where she met the burning amber glare of one Blake Belladonna, hunched protectively over her mate, who's legs were wrapped around her waist.

"Mine!" Blake growled.

"Sorry!" Neon yelped, jumping back. "Yours!" She closed the door before bursting into a giggle fit. It had not been the freakiest thing she had ever walked in on, but definitely one of the hottest. Blake's glare sent all kinds of shivers down her spine. No wonder Weiss was in love with her. After taking a moment to compose herself, Neon returned to the Chiller. She took her drink back from Sun and flopped into his lap.

"They okay?" Sun asked.

"More than okay." Neon replied. "Blake's got a butt on her. Someone should hang a sock on the door or Blake'll rip someone's head off."

"Aw, we're missing out?" Velvet complained.

"There's always next time dear." Coco encouraged.

"But Neon got to see her but and I didn't." Velvet whined.

"I'll ask her to model with you." Coco declared. "You can touch her butt that way."

Velvet smiled. "Yay!"

"Blakey, what's wrong?" Ruby asked.

Blake turned back to her mate, who smiled dimly up at her, arms gently tugging her back down to nuzzle into her neck. "Nothing sweetie, I'm sorry." She licked Ruby affectionately, the salty sweat a delicacy to her tastebuds.

"Ah, it tickles!" Ruby giggled. "I feel like I'm melting!" Blake purred and continued licking Ruby. "Blakey...Blakey I'm melting! Nooooooo Blakey, I'm gonna' be all goopy. Goopy isn't cute, it's just goopy!"

Ruby's voice warbled and Blake tensed. Her mate was beautiful and cute and adorable, not goopy, dumpy maybe, but she loved that about her, sinking her teeth and claws into yielding flesh, it was bliss. "You're not melting, my love, and even if you were, you'll always be my goopy."

"Aw, maybe it's not so bad." Ruby sniffled. "I love you Blakey."

Blake kissed Ruby's forehead, intensifying her purr. "I love you too, my goopy."

A soft knocking jerked Weiss from her reading. She sighed. It was just getting good, with the main character having worked up the courage to confess her love to the anti-hero sidekick of the antagonist...or maybe it was just another tease. This book loved to do that, toying with her heart, making it race before stabbing it with a rusty nail. Still, it was past midnight. Blake and Ruby were due back...well, she was not sure. Blake had said they would be back when the party wound down, which could have been any time depending on how rowdy things got.

Flipping the covers back, Weiss slipped out of bed, laying the book down on her bed and retying her robe. A few knocks came before she opened the door.

"Yes, I'm awake...oh...hello Sun." Weiss greeted. "Happy birthday. I apologize for not attending."

"Eh, it's fine." Sun waved her off. "Thanks for the present by the way. Never really thought about the high end stuff before."

"Men should take as much care of their hair as women." Weiss declared. "Something society tends to forget at times. What's...Neon?" Weiss poked her head out the door to see Neon leaning against the wall. Blake and Ruby were at her side, making out furiously.

"H-hey Weiss, how've ya' been?" Neon asked.

Weiss gaped for a moment before plastering on a smile. "Well...apart from the sickness. And you?"

"I've been...living." Neon replied. "We uh...we brought back Ruby and Blake...they're still a little high."

"High on what?" Weiss sighed, leaning against the doorframe and rubbing her eyes.

"Ruby had some pot brownies, Blake shared some 'nip." Neon answered. "Then they decided they wanted to try some Secret Sauce."

"What?" Weiss demanded.

"It was all safe." Sun insisted. "We made sure to check on them every hour or so. Blake said she knew what she was doing."

"What the hell is secret sauce?" Weiss pressed.

"Legal LSD basically." Neon replied.

Oh that's just fucking lovely. Weiss thought. "Just...bring them inside. Maidens above…"

Neon chuckled, turning to try and coax the amorous couple into the room. Sun took up the rear, gently guiding them forward as Neon pulled, promising a warm bed and...what were they wearing? "They got a little excited at some point and...well, their clothes didn't survive." Neon explained, reading the look on Weiss' face.

"I lent them some of mine." Sun added. "They'll probably drop them off when-"

"Or they'll give them back right now!" Neon gasped. Sure enough, Blake had started stripping Ruby, shedding her own clothes in the process and pushing her mate onto the bed...Weiss' bed.

"Blake! Ruby no!" Weiss shouted. "That's...ugh…"

"Not lookin'." Sun announced. Averting his gaze, he set about picking up the discarded clothing.

Weiss felt a hand on her own and turned to meet Neon's nervous gaze. "Can we talk?" Neon pleaded.

Weiss bit her lip, a flare of anxiety bubbling in her chest, but nodded. "Sun, could we have a moment?"

Sun picked up the last of the clothes and stood. "Sure, I'll uh, wait at the stairs."

Sun left the room, Weiss and Neon following him out into the hall. Weiss closed the door over enough to block the sounds of her friends' intimacy. She and Neon stood there, staring at one another, Weiss' hands twitching, clasped as they were, Neon fretting with the hem of her top. "I...fuck it." Neon pulled Weiss into a hug, and Weiss did not fight back, burying her face into Neon's neck and clutching the back of her jacket like a lost child. "I'm sick of not seeing you, not talking to you, not knowing for real that you're okay."

"I'm sorr-" Weiss started.

"Don't." Neon cut her off. "Stop being sorry. None of this is your fault. I know you feel space will help, but I don't want us to be silent. I love talking to you...I love you, and I want us to stay close. Please, the silence is killing me."

All Weiss could do was nod into Neon's shoulder, letting her tears soak into the fabric. "I-I'm...okay...alright." She managed. "I just...frustrating."

"I know...and now they're banging in your bed." Neon sighed.

"What the hell did they do...Sauce for?" Weiss groaned.

"Ruby heard about it." Neon explained. "She ate the first pot brownie by accident, but the second two she knew about, and we were all chatting about stuff and I wanted to take some and play Twister, but Sun shot me down because apparently dots of color react badly and try to eat your hands. Anyway, Ruby started asking about it. An hour later I check on them and nearly get my head bitten off by an overprotective Blake."

Weiss could not help but laugh. "I've only been around her when she took 'nip during heat. No idea what Sauce would do to her."

"She just growled 'mine' and I noped the fuck out." Neon chuckled. "There's no way I'm getting in the way of a Faunus in drug-heat."

"Great, my bed with reek of sex." Weiss complained.

"Actually, I don't hear anything going on in there." Neon observed.

Weiss raised an eyebrow, then pulled away, pushing the door open a crack to see Ruby and Blake fast asleep, tucked into her bed, but still, asleep. "Well, that solves that problem."

"They're gonna' be really hungry when they wake up." Neon warned.

"I keep an emergency stash of food." Weiss noted. "Ruby is going to be even more of a vacuum than usual."

"I've got a stash in my room you can have." Neon offered. "I think I'm gonna' take a break from 'nip for a while."

"Why?" Weiss asked. "Are you okay?"

Neon pulled Weiss into another hug. "I'll be fine Weiss." She declared. "I just don't wanna' use it as a crutch. Just, message me, okay?"

Weiss smiled this time, pecking Neon on the cheek. "I promise."

Blake really, really hated the sun.

It was bright and intrusive, gave her tanlines, and hurt her eyes, no matter what time of day it was. She could wear sunglasses, but she had never found a pair she liked, instead staying indoors, or sticking to a shady tree. The only time she appreciated the sun was when it shone from Ruby's eyes, and currently they were buried in her neck, hiding from the morning rays. Blake, on the other hand, was stuck face up, bearing the brunt of the horrid radiation.

"Mnnnnng." Blake groaned.

"Good afternoon." Weiss said from her desk, putting aside her work and turning to face Blake.

Blake flinched. Weiss? "Blargh." Blake complained.

"Good afternoon to you too Weiss." Weiss did her best to mimic Blake's voice. "I apologize for stealing your bed to sleep nude with your roommate at one in the morning."

Blake squinted, trying to make out her surroundings without her eyes melting. She could just make out Weiss' figure, seated at the desk, before she was forced to give up and squeeze her eyes shut once more. The harsh rays were like fire. "Afternoon?" Blake asked.

"Yes Blake, afternoon." Weiss confirmed. "1:22 in the afternoon to be precise."

Blake groaned, disturbing Ruby. "Mmmmdon't take 'em away, bring me morenng…" Ruby mumbled.

Blake raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. Ruby often described her dreams, which varied wildly, though often centered around food, sex and family. Yang frequently starred, much to Ruby's occasional embarrassment. Regardless, Blake enjoyed listening to them, and Ruby loved talking about them, discussing the inspirations and possible meaning behind the imagery. It felt deeply personal, a window into her unfettered psyche, if not her soul...as crazy as it could be.

"She's probably dreaming of cupcakes again." Weiss suggested.

"Cupcakes?" Blake asked. "She tells me they're miniature cakes."

"If it's the size of a cup, it's a cupcake." Blake declared. "There are rules for heaven's sake."

"What if it's the exact shape as a cake?" Blake pressed.

"Fits into a cup, cupcake." Weiss insisted.

"But a cupcake is an iced muffin." Blake insisted.

"A muffin is typically larger, often filled with chocolate chips or berries, intended to be eaten as its own small meal." Weiss explained. "A cupcake is typically smaller, often plain, with icing and toppings, eaten as a treat."

"But can't you take a muffin, ice it, and have a cupcake?" Blake challenged.

"Yes, but you cannot take the icing from a cupcake and make it a muffin." Weiss countered. "It's much too small to be anything worthwhile."

"Guys, you are making me super hungry." Ruby whined.

"Then stop pretending to be asleep so we can get some lunch." Weiss suggested. "After you shower. You reek of sex, sweat and smoke."

"I like the way you smell." Ruby giggled.

"Mhmm, come on goopy, I'm hungry too." Blake chuckled. Blake threw off the covers, entirely exposing them to the frigid air. Ruby squealed, Weiss averted her gaze.

"Uh, when did this happen?" Blake asked.

"Blakey, it's cold!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Your clothes did not survive." Weiss noted.

"Rest in pieces, new undies." Ruby sighed.

Weiss groaned. "Get dressed!"

The rest of the day had been enjoyable, a large lunch followed by Weiss washing the sheets, then some light dozing. Ruby was ecstatic that Weiss had found her USB drive - lost just two days prior - as it contained certain images for which she had no other backups. Weiss advised Ruby to be more careful in the future, and to make other copies of her files just in case. After ordering more ladybug USB drives online, Ruby backed up her updated works and resumed snuggling with Blake, at least until her scroll rang.

"Weeeiiiiiissss, can you pass me my scroll?" Ruby whined.

"Nope." Weiss refused.

"Pleeeaaaase." Ruby beseeched.

"Busy." Weiss declared.

"You're reading a fanfic." Ruby huffed.

"I'm editing a paper, Ruby." Weiss protested. "Stop being a pest."

"Ugh...nerd." Ruby grumbled. She reluctantly pried herself from Blake's warm body, the latter murmuring sleepily, and moved to her desk, sitting in the chair and picking up her scroll. To her surprise, the contact was Winter, so she answered. "Hey Winter." Ruby saw Weiss look over in her peripheral vision.

"Hello Ruby, am I interrupting anything?" Winter asked.

"Not really." Ruby replied. "Blake and I are just getting some rest, and Weiss is editing her fanfiction." Weiss gave Ruby the finger, eliciting a giggle.

"How was the party?" Winter inquired.

"It was...interesting." Ruby answered.

"Hmm, I bet." Winter responded. Ruby could almost see her smirk.

"What have you been up to?" Ruby asked.

"A few things here and there." Winter replied. "I'm returning to Patch soon, but I need your help with something first."

"Oh, what can I help with?" Ruby asked.

"I need your opinion on something, maybe a few pointers." Winter answered. "I'm sending some pictures to your e-mail. Take a look."

Ruby opened her laptop - she always kept it on - and navigated to her inbox, finding the message in question. "So this is some sort of...project...oh wow...Winter…"

"Like I said, I just need a few pointers, some finishing touches." Winter reiterated.

Ruby smiled. "Yeah, yeah I can help with that."

"Yang's doing great lately, but I miss you so much." Summer declared. "I can't wait for you to come back."

"That's actually why I'm calling." Winter noted. "Unless something comes up, I'll be traveling to Patch at the end of next week."

"That's awesome!" Summer cheered. "I lo-...look forward to seeing you!"

But not everything about it was awesome. Once Summer hung up her scroll, her initial excitement faded, and she got to thinking, she realized there was something she had to do before Winter returned. It was something she had been putting off, something potentially painful, but something she could no longer avoid. She had to speak to Raven. There was simply no way around it. If Raven was feeling as betrayed as Summer feared, their very friendship was at stake. Even if Raven was only mildly annoyed, it was still a situation Summer could not allow to go unaddressed.

So Summer called Raven and asked if she could visit. Raven seemed a bit confused but agreed - Glynda was working late so Raven was alone and bored - and Summer headed right over. She paused before the door, trying to work up the courage she needed, but it was no use. Just as she was about to give up and flee, the door opened. Raven stood there, looking even more confused than she had sounded on the phone when Summer had spoken to her earlier. Flight was now impossible. Summer sighed and stepped inside as Raven waved her in.

"So, what brings you here?" Raven asked. "Yang fuckin' again?"

"No...well, maybe, probably actually, I got earplugs for that...but that's not why I'm here." Summer babbled. She took a deep breath, trying, and failing, to calm down. "There's something I needed to talk to you about."

"Alright…" Raven said. She got no response. "Out with it."

"I...think I'm in love with Winter." Summer blurted out.

"Oh...so Yang wasn't full of shit." Raven observed. "She said you two had a thing. But...uh...I thought you were straight."

"I thought so too...I really did." Summer insisted. "But...just...I don't know why Raven, but I'm...I've fallen for her, and it's freaking me out how fast it's been. I almost said it on the phone yesterday, and I think she knows, and she's coming back next week…"

"So...you're...bi now?" Raven asked. She was trying to hide it, but she clearly looked hurt. Summer could see it in her eyes.

"I think so." Summer confirmed. "I dunno', it's just Winter and...uh...well Winter's what matters-"

"Oh no, hold up a second." Raven cut her off. "Winter and? This is getting delicious."

"Shut up." Summer admonished. "It's nothing. It's stupid, Pyrrha and I got really close a while back and we sorta'...well we decided not to do anything. It would have been wrong. She's half my age."

"Winter isn't much older." Raven noted.

"Winter's...cool...and she really cares for me Raven...a-and I know you wer-ARE...you are cool, and you do care for me, and I know I said I wasn't interested in you because I was straight, and I know it doesn't seem true now, but I swear I wasn't lying." Summer rambled. "I just...I didn't love you that way Raven...I never wanted to hurt you...I still don't."

"Calm down Sum." Raven soothed. "I know, and yeah, it did hurt, but that was years ago. We were barely more than kids, and you were in love with Tai. Wasn't really the best situation for figuring out your sexuality...I just didn't do it for you, and I accept that."

"I'm sorry Raven." Summer sighed. "For then and now."

"Don't be, it's okay." Raven waved her off. "We've been through too much for this to drive a wedge between us. I always have, and always will, love you. And besides, I've got Glynda. It wouldn't be fair for me to get pissy now. She loves me, and I love her. As long as she's happy, as long as you're happy, I'm happy."

"Are you sure you're not angry?" Summer pressed.

"I'm not gonna' lie, I'm not thrilled." Raven admitted. "But I can't force you to love me, I can't force you to stop loving Winter. I'm not going to stop being your friend, I'm not going to stop loving you."

"Well...alright." Summer nodded. She looked up, meeting Raven's gaze. That look of pain was gone. Summer smiled. "I'm glad I got that off my chest."

"I'd like you to get something else of your chest…" Raven smirked.

"What would Glynda say?" Summer scoffed.

"Probably something along the lines of 'woo, threesome!'" Raven chuckled.

"I'm going home." Summer rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, stay a while." Raven suggested. "We'll watch some movies, eat some popcorn, have a real sleepover."

"I guess that would be fun." Summer allowed. "And I'm sure Yang and Pyrrha will be happy to have the house to themselves. I should call them."

"Text, they might be busy." Raven advised.

Summer blushed. "Good point."