What can I say? Nothing. My hands are empty, you are so far away… it has been so long. I just can't feel you… wherever you are please be happy.
Weiss turned around just as her maid instructed her. It was at utmost importance to have a wedding dress put on properly, but the heiress couldn't find it in her to care. Wedding is happiest day in woman's life right?
It's not like she wanted for it to happen. It was not her decision. But could she really go against her family? She had not even reached adulthood yet but her parents insisted. "It's for family's sake so stop being selfish. Everyone has to sacrifice something for greater good." is what her mother told her. Once, before Beacon, she would have believed it. Now she was not so sure. Scratch that, I hate it, the inability to do what I want, to do something that will make me happy. Still she had no chance to escape.
"Ruby" … the name she promised to herself she would never thing of, never say aloud. The girl that changed her, that changed everything. Maybe it would be saner to join White Fang than this…
Sadly the insanity she has been waking up to for last month didn't change. She almost wished for something to happen, to end her suffering. What's worst is that they let me taste freedom, let me fall in love and after a few months they just took it all away. She knew there was no escape.
Maids finished putting on that accused wedding dress. She wanted to rip it to shreds and run. Run as fast as she could as far as her body allows her to. But she also knew that it would not change anything.
Her father entered the room ready to fulfill his duty to take his daughter to her soon to be husband. She didn't want to leave. Why I was so horrible to her when we met? Why I didn't kiss her when I had the chance? Why I had to yell at her, to hurt her so much? Weiss already had an apology ready. Because I didn't want to be hurt anymore, because I didn't want to hurt her. But it still happened. In those days before she had to leave Beacon she had seen Ruby crying in her sister's arms, Blake trying to sooth the pain inside her leader. So young and already she had lost so much… She felt like another breath, another step were more than she could take, breaking her.
Her father apparently noticed that his daughter was not herself. As he gazed on her during their short route towards her future he couldn't help himself but feel like this was the last day seeing his daughter alive. But he promised all those years ago that this wedding would happen. And he was taught that promises are not something he could afford to break. At least not easily, without good reason.
Only few minutes till the ceremony begins. Only few minutes till her life was over, till she would be reduced to a marionette, a doll.
It took only a few seconds to cross the distance between the place where she stood and the door of a ceremony hall. But it took all she had to step over the threshold. Ruby please! Please save me! No one was there to stop all this pain. No one was ever there. No one was there because I have never allowed anyone. And the one who actually could was far far away. Even if it was one door next it would be too far away because it was her decision to push that person away.
For the alabaster haired girl the walk to the front of the hall was similar to the paths those sentenced to death took. One walks in a slow pace, not looking left or right because it does not matter, you will be dead before the hour pass. What you did in your life does not matter you don't regret anything. But you painfully regret what you didn't do. You didn't stop your hand from taking that life. You didn't tell her that you love her and she is the one that might save you from what lurks in your troubled, shattered heart. Weiss regretted may things but what stood out was Ruby. Yet she did not regret meeting her, becoming her partner or falling in love with her. These were the best moments of her life.
The man near the altar where the Priest of All Gods was waiting was not familiar. Her future husband. She had never seen his face yet she hated him. She hated him so much because he was the reason everything she was dreaming about was taken away from her. She didn't consider the possibility that he wanted to be here even less than she did. Why would she? After all everyone wanted a piece of Schnee wealth.
She didn't want to look at him, tears already clouding her vision. Thinking about past, about what she had told Ruby made it all worse. I truly am broken beyond repair. Not even my pride, my sense of duty would stop my tears …
Those who bothered to look closer at the Schnee heiress must've seen in how bad shape she was. Dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, all swollen from crying. But those who bothered to look didn't or couldn't care.
Only a few steps remained but for her they were like million miles to cross. She was so tired. Tonight I'll end it all. Nothing matters anymore. With newfound resolve she managed to overcome the remaining distance.
She didn't bother to look at that man. She thought she had seen him before but it was not important. At least not now. The priest began reciting words of the ancient marriage rite. Weiss spared him a look, wondering why he even bother. For show most likely. Let the mob have fun and full belly and they will let you do what ever you want. No class was different, not even the nobility. The priest stopped talking. It was the moment when she was supposed to say her agreement with this whole farce.
"STOP!" a clear, familiar voice commanded. Weiss stood frozen in front of the altar, not daring to believe what was happening. Quick footsteps echoed through the hall. No one dared to breathe. Suddenly her vision swayed and she was facing a person she never dared to dream to see ever again.
"Ruby?" Disbelief was apparent in her voice. The remains of her mask still held. She felt like someone who saw sunlight after a lot of long, long years of imprisonment. The dream almost forgotten, the daydream she never dared to dream. And yet there she was, doing exactly what Weiss couldn't. Putting stop to this all. Maybe the real strength is not abut swinging the sword or killing Grimm, maybe it's something entirely different from physical power.
"I'm sorry that I took so long but I'm there so please don't be afraid. Everything will be all right." Ruby's countenance was even, her voice confident. With unmistakable click she locked off her weapon and addressed Weiss' future husband. "I think your part is over. Time to go home and forget this ever happened."
The heiress turned her head to watch what was happening. Through the corner of her eye she saw her father smiling. A sight unseen in long years.
That so called future husband of hers twirled around and seeing no support, not even anyone objecting made his way to the nearest exit. No one paid attention to him.
But the surprises didn't end here. Ruby, in Weiss' eyes proud like god properly faced the priest and placed her weapon on the altar. Only those who knew how fast and how skilled she was with Crescent Rose remained alert. Others relaxed like everything that was happening in front of them was a theater performance. The heiress wanted to look in her father's eyes, curious whether he was aware that the threat has yet to pass. The cloak wearing girl ordered the priest to continue.
At first he had no idea what she meant but the moment she took her partner's hand he realized what she meant. The priest began reciting the rite again, only stopping to let her companion to tell him her name. Weiss felt strangely detached, the whole event so surreal. Why was no one stopping them? Why was her father smiling?
Of course this time she agreed. With "yes, of course I want to marry you Ruby Rose" it was clear where her heart was. And when Ruby bent down to kiss her wife she didn't hesitate to reciprocate. I wonder how many girls are able to give her first kiss to their true love during their wedding ceremony. It was a dream after all wasn't it? It had to be. Because only in dreams something like this happened.
Weiss woke up. There was nothing special, nothing was different from the way she always wake up. At least that was what she told to herself before she opened her eyes.
The ceiling was wrong, this was neither her room nor her dorm room in Beacon. This kind of ceiling was, as far as her memory served her, only in quarters for most important guests. Another thing that she realized was that she could hear someone's breathing. She was not alone. That scared her, but quick look at its source relieved her. It was no one else than her partner, Ruby. Softly caressing her features with her eyes she sighed. Maybe I'm in heaven, because waking by her side was something I would dream about only in my most daring dreams. Closing her eyes the heiress tried to remember what happened prior the morning but her memory was still clouded from sleep.
Lost in the mazes her sleepy mind was trying to catch her in she failed to pay attention to her surrounding. Suddenly a weight of a human body was pressing her to the mattress. It was unmistakable a female body, close to her size. Before she could even start panicking one look into deep silver pools confirmed to her who it was. Gaze at Ruby's slightly sleepy face took away all her thoughts but one. Gods she is so beautiful. So strong, so kind. Weiss' heart swelled with love.
"Ruby is that real? Are you really there?" was all she could ask, all that her confused mind wanted to know.
Ruby took time with her reply, good morning kiss was more important. So she took time to deliver a long, good one, that kind of kiss that left the other person breathless and in absolute bliss. Exactly like those Ruby always imagined giving to her beloved first love. And maybe the kiss was better answer than all the words in the world.
"Yes everything is real, I've hijacked the wedding, married you and here we are, Weiss and Ruby Rose-Schnee. Though for some really crazy reason it all happened thanks to your father. He gave us security clearance, time plan and even sent an airship to pick us at Beacon yesterday."
Ruby's words left the snowy haired teen confused, she knew she will have to talk to her father later, there was so much she didn't understand. But that could wait, it was too early, the bed was comfortable and her wife's embrace warm and safe.
"I don't know Ruby. I gave up on understanding him long time ago. We will ask him later, but for now let's sleep. I love you, Ruby."
Said red loving girl shifted her weight from the heiress to her side and pulled her close. "I love you Weiss and yes, it's way too early. Good night and sweet dreams." Ruby whispered lovingly to her wife.
It didn't take long before the Sandman welcomed them back to his realms.
AN: Normally I don't do these things but now I think I have to. I have not abandoned Eternal Horizon, but thanks to my family, university and generally shitty life I didn't have the right kind of motivation to write. I will not abandon it. I have part of next chapter written and general outline of the story is somewhat finished so there is plan. It may take me some time though.
For writing this I blame machinekey's (tumblr) fic Company Woman. Thanks for inspiration.
Thank you for your support.