Chapter Text
"And this isn't a party? There won't be a bunch of people I don't know?" Weiss asked cautiously, clutching her coffee cup with both hands as she looked across the small table at Pyrrha. The two had met for another of their semi-regular coffee outings they tried to keep going since finishing college.
"Oh, no, it's nothing like that," Pyrrha explained and took a sip from her coffee. She knew Weiss wasn't a fan of some of Nora's events and it's not like she could blame her. Some of her girlfriend's work friends were… a lot. Even for her sometimes. "Plans for movie night this month didn't quite line up for everyone this weekend. The boys are out of town, and Ren said Yang and her sister had family visiting from out of the country." She could see her friend loosen up and relax at the words.
Weiss hummed a moment before speaking again. "Who—"
"It'll just be the four of us if you come," Pyrrha reassured, almost too quickly.
In truth, there was also another reason for inviting Weiss over. It was something that had been thoroughly discussed by Nora and Ren before even being brought up with her. But Pyrrha was getting ahead of herself; that was a topic to discuss later. As a group… if Weiss agreed to come over. There was a tiny little sprout of a worry in her head that this would permanently alter the friendship she had with her best friend. No, she stopped herself. She wouldn't get worked up over that.
"I suppose that could be fun. Maybe. You said this Saturday?" Weiss' expression appeared worried. Pyrrha could already guess where her mind was going.
"I wanted to grab snacks at the store before we started and thought we could go together?" she asked. "Ren should be home from work by four, but I've got the whole day off," she added warmly.
No longer having a car hurt Weiss a lot, and Pyrrha was still pissed at her father for doing that to her. Reporting the car Weiss used as stolen right after she moved out was low, even if he didn't press criminal charges against her after taking it back. Clipped her wings before kicking her out to fly. It broke Pyrrha's heart to see how cruel Weiss' family treated her, and it hurt to watch her close herself off again, but she didn't give up on her. She wouldn't. She couldn't. She found herself clenching her fist and had to bring herself back to the present.
"I think I'm off at noon?" Weiss said and grabbed her phone to check. "Actually, looks like eleven. I've got a shorter shift," she sighed and set her phone down again, facedown.
"Why don't I pick you up around noon and we can get lunch before the store?" Pyrrha offered, trying to keep her need to smother Weiss with affection tempered.
She had it bad. Ren was the first to notice. They saw her fall for the girl sitting before her from the very beginning and never said anything in that maddeningly polite way they minded their own business, though Ren later admitted they found it cute and didn't want to interfere. They were sure she would realize it in her own time.
It wasn't until Nora caught on and began teasing that Pyrrha herself realized that she liked Weiss in way that left her wanting more. And one drunken discussion with Nora about how amazing Weiss was taught her Nora also liked her which eased her own mixed feelings about the previous revelation.
"I'd like that," Weiss spoke softly with a soft blush across her cheeks. "Um… what, uh, what movie were you thinking of watching?" Weiss asked, clearing her throat and looked up at her.
Pyrrha grinned, already feeling relief at the break in her thought train. "Since it's just us, each of us were going to pick one from the house collection of unwatched movies. If you had one you wanted to watch, you should bring it, or you can pick from what we have. Doesn't even have to be from the unwatched drawer."
The way Weiss perked up at that knowledge kept Pyrrha smiling. It was common knowledge in their friend group that Nora prided herself on having the best hangout place ever, and that included the small home theater setup. Really, it wasn't just Nora's setup. It was the house setup because all of them contributed to it, helped personalize it.
"Saturday at noon," Weiss smiled.
"Saturday at noon," Pyrrha confirmed.
&&&&&
"Want me to braid your hair before I head out?" Blake asked as they exited the bathroom, shaking their damp hair out with their fingers after a shower.
Weiss looked up from her phone surprised from her thoughts. "Yes, please," she smiled and turned around on the couch as Blake settled behind her. She was fully prepared to keep her ponytail because it was easier, and her braids always came out lopsided when she tried to do them herself.
"Pyrrha's picking you up for a date soon? Want me to get your makeup, too?"
She could hear the genuine undertone in the teasing question they asked. It wasn't a date. Definitely not a date because Pyrrha already had two partners. And they were just friends. Not that she didn't like Pyrrha or think she was pretty and have a crush on her best friend of several years, especially after seeing her in those heels, but that was also something of a problem for her. She ended up getting crushes on most people who were nice to her after not exactly being allowed friends growing up. If Blake's fingers weren't threading through her hair at that moment she would have tried to argue, but… she also didn't exactly have time to mess with things too long if they didn't go right the first time doing her makeup. The pressure to get it right herself always sat behind her thoughts. Stubborn independence that was instilled in her. But that wasn't who she was trying to be anymore. Being that person felt isolating. The offer felt like a huge relief, especially since she didn't want to ask Blake before they had to run out for work. Weiss lightly nodded under the attention.
"Alright, we'll finish this and then put your war paint on," Blake said while beginning to braid.
Weiss swore she only closed her eyes for a second before Blake announced they were done, but she got up to follow them into the bathroom to take her usual seat on the edge of the tub for her makeover.
"Okay, tilt up this way," Blake spoke softly and gentle angled Weiss' face. "Perfect."
Weiss felt Blake work and tilted her head where they needed, her thoughts a mix of several other anxieties now her hair and makeup weren't the most immediate concerns, such as if she remembered her meds (already packed her travel pill sorter in her purse), her wallet (in her purse too), her keys (same as the others, in her purse), phone charger (yep, in the purse), and clothes to sleep in (sitting in the dryer, oh no)."
"What is the event this time and who all are we impressing with this?" Blake asked after finishing Weiss' lips and sat back. "Wanna take a look?"
"It's a movie night, but…" Weiss trailed off after seeing herself in the mirror. She almost didn't recognize herself. Compared to her own rudimentary skills, Blake was a master. "When we have time, please show me how to do this," she requested and turned to face them with hopeful eyes.
Blake laughed and agreed. "Alright, promise. Enjoy movie night, text me if you need anything, and lemme know if you need a ride tomorrow, yeah?"
"I will, take care," Weiss called after them. As soon as she heard the door shut, she pulled her phone out to take a series of selfies.
&&&&&
Pyrrha couldn't stop looking across the table at Weiss as the two of them waited for their food. When she first came out of the apartment, she couldn't help the blush that burned her ears, the telltale sign of Pyrrha feeling flustered. Her cheeks could redden naturally from many things, but when it spread to her ears it was from being flustered.
It wasn't her fault, though. Anyone who saw Weiss then would understand, she reasoned. She was just so… Weiss was always beautiful, but damn. And it wasn't the makeup, though it could be excused if someone got caught up in how pretty she was. It was how she carried herself. It was the confidence the makeup gave her that made her feel so flustered. If she wasn't careful, Weiss was sure to think she was acting strangely.
Pyrrha took a sip from her iced tea to unstick the words in her throat. "Any thought to what movie you wanted to watch tonight?"
Weiss' attention was pulled from whatever she was thinking. "Um, I'm not sure yet," she spoke thoughtfully. "I really want to look through what all you have first. Do you know what you're gonna pick?"
"Not yet," she shook her head. "Nora is updating the unwatched drawer with some recent finds. I think she's actually the only one who has their movie picked already." Pyrrha watched the way Weiss watched her speak and was happy she had her hair down over her ears. How was she going to even bring things up later that night without becoming a mess?
&&&&&
"Did you ask her yet?" Nora's voice carried through the kitchen and into the living room despite her attempts at whispering.
Weiss didn't know what it was about, but the way Pyrrha smacked Nora, and how red her cheeks got, she had no idea what it could be, and it put her on edge. Wasn't this supposed to be a normal movie night? Why was Nora looking at her like that? What did she do wrong now?
She turned her attention back to the drawers of the dresser-turned-TV-stand. There were almost too many options knowing they also had four baskets pulled out nearby, the bookshelf in their room, and storage tubs in one of the closets with more. She could spend hours trying to go through them all and be more unsure of any decision she's ever made trying to pick just one, but she limited herself to only the dresser drawers this time. Pyrrha promised more movie nights like this if she was up for it, and that made that decision much easier.
Weiss tried to ignore whatever was being talked about in the kitchen. She only got bits and pieces because Pyrrha actually knew how to whisper, but she caught her name in there. Whatever it was, she wasn't going to let it ruin the night. Especially when she found her movie pick for the night, she thought to herself pulling out a copy of Come Drink With Me.
&&&&&
The evening progressed smoothly after the awkward start from Nora pressuring her. Once Ren got back and the group started dinner, everyone felt more at ease.
It wasn't until the first movie got over that Nora began to pester Pyrrha again. The unsubtle elbow in the side and nod towards Weiss was very clear, but she shook her head feeling put on the spot.
"If you don't, I will," Nora tried to whisper.
Pyrrha's eyes widened in panic and she sat up straighter as she caught movement of Weiss turning to look at them.
"Is something wrong?" Weiss asked, looking worried.
Cutting off both Nora and Pyrrha, Ren reassured Weiss. "Nothing's wrong. Nora is just impatient when it comes to letting others handle things themselves," they pointedly explained, turning to look at their partners.
"Weiss, she thinks y—"
Nora was cut off by Pyrrha covering her mouth and tackling her over onto Ren's lap before the two of them fell to the floor.
Weiss stood up looking more worried and confused as the pair scrambled and fell towards her.
"Stop it!" Ren said sternly and Nora and Pyrrha separated, both looking equally embarrassed and apologetic. "Nora, let's get the blankets and pillows from the room."
"Riiiight," Nora grinned.
Pyrrha only shook her head as the two left the room and sighed. Her attention turned back to Weiss who looked to be very concerned. "I'm sorry."
Weiss crossed her arms over her stomach and her breathing quickened. "What was she trying to say?" she asked.
Why did she let Nora talk her into this? Pyrrha tucked her stray hair from the scuffle back behind her ears and ran her hands down her face to clear her nerves. She got up from the floor and sat on the couch where Weiss previously sat and patted the cushion next to her. "It's nothing bad, I promise."
That seemed to calm her friend some as she took the seat. There was a thud from the bedroom, and if Pyrrha had to guess, it was mostly likely from Ren pulling Nora back from the door. The distraction made her lose her train of thought momentarily and she stared at her lap to reorient herself.
"Weiss, you're my best friend. You're important to me, and—"
"Pyrrha, what's wrong?" Weiss' voice was small. Concerned. Scared.
Pyrrha looked up immediately, shaken, and reached a hand out. "No, thing's wrong! Oh, no, no, no, everything's okay! I just, I don't know how to start and wanted you to know that part first so you know I wasn't— that I don't—" she sighed and could tell her ears were burning hotter than when they were at lunch.
Weiss took her hand and gently squeezed it.
She finally settled on words and some of the blocks in her mind disappeared. Before Weiss could say anything, she continued. "You're sweet, and caring, thoughtful, and so many more things that I can't remember right now."
Pyrrha watched Weiss' cheeks progressively redden.
"I like—" Pyrrha stopped and chewed her bottom lip a second. "I love you, Weiss."
"You did it!" Nora shouted as she fell against the bedroom door and flung it open. She scrambled to her feet again and leaned over the arm of the couch. "Pyrrha!" she scolded. "You broke her!"
A quick glance back showed Weiss staring at nothing in the middle distance.
&&&&&
Weiss froze. She had to process what Pyrrha just told her. It was so far from what she was expecting that she couldn't comprehend for a long moment. Not even Nora's abrupt entrance shook her.
"Pyrrha! You broke her!" Nora shouted, and the words started to bring her back.
She looked between Pyrrha and Nora, the words still being processed. Love? Was her crush actually requited? But, what did that even mean? More confusion set in as she frowned.
"Nora! Time out," Ren scolded as they emerged in the doorway.
"But!"
Ren scowled and Nora caved with a pout and went into the kitchen.
"Thank you," Pyrrha whispered at her partner.
"It's fine. Did you want any help? You seem a little tongue-tied getting everything out." They looked up to Weiss and gave a sympathetic smile.
"Maybe," Pyrrha sighed.
"Alright, just a sec." They walked into the kitchen and Weiss couldn't hear what exactly they said but she heard a defeated "Fiiiiine" from Nora before they came back. Behind Ren, Weiss could see Nora take a seat at the dining table with a box of cookies and her phone.
Weiss tried to keep her nerves calmed as everything played out. Part of her wanted to message Blake to pick her up. Run from this confusion until it makes sense again, if it ever does. But it's Pyrrha, and she can't do that to Pyrrha. When Ren took a seat on the arm of the couch behind Pyrrha, they placed a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder and it seemed to calm her down a lot, which eased Weiss' own anxieties about the immediate situation. Everything was fine. She was just excitable.
"The short and simple of things is this: we're inviting you into our relationship. Pyrrha adores you, Nora likes you, I enjoy you being around," Ren explained.
Things began to take more shape in her mind, but it still left a number of questions, and didn't really answer if this was really happening or not.
"If you don't feel the same, that's okay, too!" Pyrrha added nervously.
"It's— that's not," Weiss stammered and felt her whole face redden. "What does this mean? Like, I mean…" Weiss sighed.
To their credit, both Pyrrha and Ren patiently let her find her words.
"What would joining the relationship even mean?"
"If you wanted to just bang Pyrrha, maybe make out with me and Ren, and throw me a bone once in a while, that's cool, too!" Nora called out from kitchen, not looking up from her phone.
"Nora!" Pyrrha shouted.
"What?! You're the one who—"
"NORA!" Pyrrha shouted.
"Whaaaat, want me to go outside or something? Jeez." Nora complained, getting up from the chair and exiting via the sliding door behind her to the back porch.
"Happy?" came a muffled shout through the closed window.
Weiss couldn't feel her face with how red it had to be. She felt her heartbeat in her ears trying to push the thoughts Nora gave her out of mind or lest the situation become more awkward with biology.
"I'm sorry," Pyrrha sighed, and Weiss noticed she looked about as red as she felt. Ren seemed to be the level headed one right then.
"As crude as she was," Ren turned back with a shrug. "Nora's not exactly wrong." Pyrrha elbowed them and had a look of betrayal. "I was kidding. Sorta. Really, it can mean whatever we want it to. There's already been talk of moving you in and sharing the bed with us," Ren continued and braced for another elbow from their girlfriend with a chuckle.
"Will you stop? Ugh," Pyrrha groaned and Weiss couldn't help but laugh. A small chuckle at first, but it grew into a fit of giggles.
"All this time," Weiss mumbled and flopped back on the couch. "I thought—"
She was so sure she was a nuisance with her feelings. The teasing from Blake, and also Ilia. From Ezra. Did they all see it before she did? She tilted her head to look up at Pyrrha and realized she looked as anxious as she felt earlier. Shit. She didn't say anything in response yet. Not really. Weiss pushed herself back up to sit more properly.
"I, I like you too," Weiss admitted, feeling a bit calmer. "Um, I think I might be…" How to word what she wanted to say. "Yes? I mean, I don't know about moving in right away since it's not exactly walking distance to work, but, I don't know? I'm not, just… ugh," she sighed. "Can I have a hug?" She looked up at Pyrrha and started to open her arms when Pyrrha scooped her up in her arms into a tight hug.
"You don't have to move in if you don't want to, but the offer is there," Ren chuckled leaned down and wrapped an arm around them as well.
"Can I come in yet?" Nora shouted through the window.
"Yes," Weiss tried to call out but her voice cracked and was hoarse as she tried not to cry. She heard the door open and shut followed by a series of running footsteps before feeling herself and Pyrrha get tackled into Ren in a giant hug that squeezed the air put of her momentarily. "Nora," she croaked.
"Sorry."
"Does this mean lunch earlier was a date?" Weiss wondered aloud.
After a long pause, Pyrrha finally answered. "I suppose it was."
&&&&&
Blake's attention was pulled from their book to their phone when they heard the notification. Grabbing the device, they saw it was from Weiss.
'Lunch was a date'
Blake smirked as they typed out a reply.
'Told you'