Work Text:
Yang could feel a heat growing low in her belly as she shot through the final Beowulf, the beast collapsing to the ground dissipating into black flecks. She's worked up more than usual, feels like she could take two packs of Sabyr's by herself. It's a sure sign her rut will be coming in the next few days, which also means Blake's heat would arrive at about the same time.
Since Salem had been defeated, they'd gone off their suppressants, something helpful for war but could seriously mess with their biology if taken too long. It was curious though, Blake always took a couple days off before it started, leaving Yang to partner up with Weiss and Ruby. Yang had asked about it once, only to receive pinned ears and Blake shrinking in on herself.
After that she hadn't brought it up again, after all they'd been through she trusted Blake. Trusted if she needed something, she'd ask.
"Blake! I'm home!" Yang hollers into their house, hanging up her jacket and unlacing her boots. Oddly there was no response, she figures Blake ran out to get some last minute groceries before they started cycling. They definitely wouldn't be going anywhere once that happened.
Yang stretched with a groan, Huntress work was definitely not kind to their bodies, hers in particular always took a beating thanks to her fighting style. So first order of business she's definitely changing into more comfortable clothes, then she'll surprise Blake with dinner.
So she trots up the stairs to their room with a smile and a hum, opening the door to a sight that has her eyes widening.
Blake's gathered all of their bedding and pillows, pulling it on the floor, practically making a bed there. But that's not all she notices, her clothes are mixed into it, the sweatshirts she wears the most along with a few of Blake's. The way it's built and woven with high sides and a dip in the middle it practically looks like a nest.
That's when it clicks in Yang's head, a nest. Nesting, something some omega's do before they go into heat, gathering their mate's scent around them to make them feel more at ease. But she'd never seen Blake do this before?
Yang only realized she was staring wide eyed when she heard a quiet whimper, Blake curled up in the center of the nest absolutely shaking, tears in her eyes. It shattered Yang to see her like this, but the first step she took into the room had Blake speaking in a broken voice.
"Don't- Don't come in," It was weak and Yang wanted nothing more than to hold her mate close, wipe the tears from her eyes, it was something her instincts demanded. She couldn't though, not with the way Blake was looking at her, it's been years but she knew exactly who caused whatever this reaction was.
So Yang nodded, taking two steps back, just outside their room, "I'll be right here when you're ready, okay baby?" Blake just stares up at her, vulnerable eyes on display. It hurts to see, it hurts even more to close the door, sliding down the wall next to it.
Every fiber of her being is yelling to open that door and hold Blake, but she knows that won't help, not until Blake's ready. They've gotten better over the years, Yang gives Blake space when she feels overwhelmed, then when Blake's ready she comes back, curls up and let's Yang hold her close.
It goes against her every base instinct, especially this close to her rut and Blake's heat, but she's not going to force Blake. Even if it's hell she'll wait as long as she needs to.
She can still hear the faint sobs through the door, as she rests her head against the wall. She can't help but wonder what he did this time? A long dead shadow that still haunts them. A thought Yang's had a million times, why would the gods let someone as twisted as him hurt someone as perfect as Blake?
She's pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of fabric shuffling, then the door opens, showing a puffy eyed Blake. The sight is heartbreaking as she slowly walks to Yang, sliding down next to her, knees pulled to her chest.
"I'm sorry," Her words are broken, throat raw from crying, but she still lets her head fall to Yang's shoulder.
"Don't be," Yang mutters next to sensitive ears, "you have nothing to be sorry for." She can feel Blake's breath catch as she curls closer, letting Yang wrap her arm around her. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Blake just lets out a quiet noise, burying furthing into her neck. Yang doesn't say anything, just runs her hand through her hair, letting out that calming scent that always has Blake relaxing into her touch.
They stay like that for a long while until Blake's body finally slackens, muscle relaxing against her. When she lifts her head her eyes are noticeably less red, but still just as sad.
"Want me to go make dinner?" Yang offers, it's an easy out, one that Blake could take without making her feel too guilty, but she shakes her head,
"No, I want to tell you."
"You don't have to."
"I know, that's why I want to." Blake takes a breath, ears tilting ever so slightly, but Yang just holds her close, "I've only done it a few times," She starts, settling against Yang's side, intertwining their fingers, "I never had the need when we were on suppressants and..." She can feel Blake tense, so her thumb rubs soft circles over her hand. "I never felt safe enough with him." She manages to get it all out in a single breath, eyes staring off into a memory.
"It's okay Blake, you're here now." It's something they have to remind each other of, when the nightmares hit, or there's a flash of red. Sometimes all it takes is a few words to chase that ghost away, sometimes they have to hold each other through the night.
"I know, and I know you wouldn't care, but I just-" Her mouth hangs open for a moment, like she has something more she wants to say but can't find the words.
"I like it." Yang admits, she doesn't say why, not right now. Blake doesn't need to hear the fact that her feeling safe enough to do this fills Yang's chest with warmth, and maybe a little bit of pride. "And whenever you're ready, I'd love to see."
Blake finally turns to look at her, face so open and vulnerable, maybe it's just because her rut's coming but gods does she want to just hold Blake close. Give her every single thing she could ever want or need.
"You don't care that I hid it?" Blake asks tentatively, ears flicking.
"Of course not Blake, if anything I'm sorry I saw it before you were ready to show me."
That put a small smile on Blake's face, it looked so much better than the frown she'd been wearing. "You couldn't have known."
Yang hums, her own smile falling into place, "Doesn't matter."
"I want to show you." Blake says it so confidently, such a change from five minutes ago when she was trembling in Yang's arms.
"Yeah?" Maybe she sounds a bit happier than she meant to, a bit happier than the situation called for, but she's excited. This is something new, another step in their relationship, she's giddy to learn about it.
"Yeah." It's softer this time as Blake stands, holding an arm out for her, something Yang happily takes. Blake really is beautiful, her hair's still a mess, eyes puffy, but even still she's stunning. She always is.
Blake keeps their hands together as she pulls Yang to the doorway, "This is it." Blake says, voice wavering only for a moment before she slips away moving to the center and sitting down.
"Oh... Wow..." Yang hadn't meant to say that out loud, but there's something in her, a baser instinct, the alpha in her, that loves seeing Blake like this. She's staring, she knows it by the way Blake blushes, by the way she looks away, won't hold eye contact. Yang should say something, but her tongue feels heavy, like she's incapable of putting the sight into words. "You're amazing," Yang takes a single step into the room before pausing, unsure if she's allowed to come closer. "Can I- Is there something I should do?" She wasn't really taught much about nests, but she knew one thing, omega's took pride in them. She didn't want to fuck this up.
But Blake seemingly takes pity on her, all soft smiles and gentle eyes, the smell of lavender filling the room that calms her instantly. "Come here Yang,"
It's all Blake says and Yang does, carefully, she doesn't want to ruin whatever Blake has going on. Gentle steps, well as gentle as she can manage, land her in front of Blake, sinking until she's sitting beside her.
"So?" Blake tries to sound confident, but Yang knows Blake, she can hear the slight shake in her voice, the twitch of her ears.
"I love it Blake," Yang gently turned Blake's head, bringing vulnerable eyes to her own, "and I love you, no matter what."
Yang watched a few tears form in the corner of Blake's eyes, quickly brushing them away with her thumb. "I love you Yang, so much."
"Do you want my jacket?"
That makes Blake pull back, blinking a few times in confusion, "What?"
"Oh, uh," It was Yang's turn to look away, cheeks reddening as she picked at one of the stray threads on the comforter under them, "you had some of my sweatshirts, I didn't know if it was a scent thing but I always wear my jacket so..." She shrugs, the blanket's patterning suddenly very interesting.
"Gods you're perfect," It's quiet, Yang almost misses it, but when she looks up she sees nothing but love in those amber eyes. Before Yang can manage a response she's pulled into a kiss, it's soft, so so soft, she can't help but sigh against Blake's lips. "I'd love that."
Blake pulls back, head falling to Yang's shoulder, cheek nuzzling into her neck. It's all that happens for a moment, then warm lips press kisses against her throat, it sends a shot of heat through her.
"Blake," She tries to warn, but it tapers off into a groan as sharp teeth nip over her mating bite. "We should be resting... We only have a few more days"
Blake just hums against her throat, pulling back only to see blown pupils, "I think you triggered my heat early."
Yang wants to ask how? By doing something as simple as being accepting? Or maybe Blake also felt that odd instinct, that tug at seeing her mate in the nest she'd made.
The answer didn't matter right now, not as Yang tipped them back. If Blake was in heat it wouldn't take long for her to start her rut. Until then she'll satisfy Blake as many times as she needs.
Forever and always, she'll do whatever Blake needs, anything to make her feel safe and loved.