#uhoooh

But then Yang’s huge golden tail lashed in a way that was far too agitated for the normally enthusiastic lion, and she didn’t kiss Weiss back.

And it definitely wasn’t any lack of need; their heat cycles had matched up from month one, and it was why they’d come to their little arrangement, one that would have Kalt Schnee shutting down all of Beacon if he’d known.

No, Yang was definitely in heat, and her muscles were shuddering and claws flicking in and out of her desk in one of the strongest displays of willpower Weiss had ever witnessed.  The wolf was honestly impressed.  And a little put out.

Then she noticed the outfit, noticed that Yang wasn’t dressed for school, nor for the gym, nor for bed.  She was dressed to go out.

"Hey, Weiss," she said softly, almost sheepishly.  Her ears were still twitching nearly uncontrollably, a side effect of her heat.

"Hey," the wolf replied, expression guarded.  She wanted nothing more than to sink her fangs into warm skin and firm lips, to rip Yang from her clothes and feel her fingers pounding in and out and in and out.

"Going somewhere?"

Yang tugged at the collar of her shirt, no longer meeting the wolf’s gaze.  ”Uh - I kinda have a date?  Sorry to flake out last minute, but-“

Weiss’s insides melted, her jaw felt like it was collapsing, and she couldn’t see anything for a moment, couldn’t focus her eyes.  ”No you don’t,” she insisted, crossing her arms tight over her chest, so tight it hurt.  ”You’re in heat.”

Yang’s shoulders rolled, and her huge, sweeping tail suddenly curled tightly around her own waist.  Not something the wolf had ever seen from the lion before.

"The two aren’t mutually exclusive, I’m afraid," Yang managed, chuckling nervously.  "I uh - have a date with Blake, actually."

Weiss froze.  Absolutely froze.  ”What?”

Of all people - Blake actually knew about their deal with each other, she knew Yang was screwing Weiss every month when her heat hit her, unbearable and scorching.  It wasn’t that they’d told the feline, but it had been impossible to hide the smell.  Blake knew, had never said anything about it, to Weiss at least.

"Yeah, she uh - she asked me about it, and I told her what we talked about.  You know, with it not really meaning anything to either of us.  She doesn’t care about it, as long as it stops if we end up…official…"

Really this conversation should not have been so awkward.  Yang was right, of course.  They’d agreed that this little…contract of theirs was in no part based on any existing feelings either of them had for the other.  It was simply a way to cope with a heat that would otherwise have Yang all but humping every piece of furniture in the room, and Weiss unable to sleep for days at a time.

It was a good arrangement, a nice, uncomplicated, no-strings-attached arrangement.

So this really, really should not have hurt.  Weiss didn’t have the right to say anything.  Yang could do what she wanted with her feelings, share them with who she wanted to.

"Oh."  Weiss hated herself for the disinterest in her tone, for the blatant disgust in that one word.  She tried, she really did, but that just wasn’t enough.  "Do you…think it will go anywhere?"

Yang shrugged, and her ears twitched.  ”It could.  She’s pretty cool if she’s okay with what we’ve been doing and still wants to give me a chance.  I’m actually - a little excited.”

Weiss’s shoulders sagged.  ”You don’t have to sound so nervous telling me.  I’m not going to bite your head off.  You deserve a fun night.  Really.”

A large hand came up, rubbed the back of the lion’s neck.  ”Yeah, I guess.  And, you know, who knows?  Might not even work out, so-“

Weiss smiled, softly, leaned forward and kissed Yang.  The lion made no move to stop her, so she pressed firmer, moved tenderly along her jaw, careful to leave no marks.  ”You aren’t dating her yet,” she murmured, resting her cheek under the blonde’s chin.

"I’m not," Yang agreed with a quiet laugh, big thumbs kneading at soft wolf ears, kissing Weiss’s hair.  "We aren’t dating yet.  But I’d like to be a little courteous.  No sex, okay?  That’d just be rude.”

Weiss grimaced.  She wasn’t certain whether this was her heat or something else pushing her to throw herself at Yang, to remind her of what they had together and how much they both enjoyed it, and that scared her just a little bit.

"No, we - I can leave.  I shouldn’t have done that.  Enjoy your night, Yang."

The brawler’s shoulders rolled again, less restless this time.  She was even smiling.  ”You’ve got nothing to apologize for, wolfy.  You enjoy your night too, okay?  Nothing’s official yet, might come crawling back to you.”

Weiss whined, claws sinking in to the brawler’s shoulders.

But a swift knock at the door broke them apart, and Weiss didn’t have to look back to know it was Blake.  Yang’s smile had changed to something brighter, and then that dry voice that made Weiss shiver in her state cut through the tension.

"Not interrupting something, am I?"  Blake had paused, some way away from the two, golden eyes unwavering.

"Sorry if I’m stealing your chew toy for the night, Weiss, but at least you’ll have the room to yourself."

The canine growled, claws extending.  God, why did Yang seem to have a thing for girls with sharp tongues?  Weiss’s stomach curled uncomfortably.

"You picked tonight on purpose," Weiss muttered, glaring.

Blake shrugged.  ”Not my fault you have your ‘date nights’ marked on the calendar.”

Another growl, louder this time.

"Okay, we’re leaving now," Yang said quickly, her hand dropping down to Blake’s waist, Weiss noticed, a pain stabbing through her side.  Damn, touching already, and Blake seemed fine with it.  Didn’t even flinch.

The heiress and her darker feline teammate still had their issues to work through, and that had never been more apparent till now.  She hadn’t realized quite how severely Blake still held her outburst against her, but the sound of Yang laughing down the hall when she asked the cat, “Did you really plan that?” only confirmed it.

Yang laughed again at Blake’s playful response.  ”Please, me, sabotaging her?  Never.  The restaurant was obviously overbooked every other night this week.”

"You’re awful.”

"You love it."  The cat’s jab was so warm it was nearly a purr.  Then their voices disappeared down a stairwell, out of Weiss’s range of hearing.

This was not okay.  And it wasn’t her heat telling her that.  She felt miserable enough that that particular lust had faded to an irritating distraction.