-**UPDATE 8/2/2016**-: Starting with this chapter, details and extra scenes have been added that I seemed to have looked over. While re-reading this, I determined that some of my grammar was absolutely atrocious. It's been some time since this story has been updated, as I've been focus on my other RWBY fic, Lightforge. I feel like that story became my priority because it suited my style of writing and gave me a chance to grow. While the two stories have nothing to do with each other, I feel it helped me to figure out how I want to approach this one. For those who have already read Fear: Reap, I strongly encourage re-reading it both as a refresher and because some key information has either changed or been added; however, I don't believe this chapter has changed much, if at all! Thank you for sticking with me! - Insolent
Dreams – a peaceful place when one could retreat into rest and let the creative side of their mind take over. To Weiss, they were a place to reflect on how she had grown in her time with Team RWBY… but tonight… was not one of those nights. Tonight was a night for remembering the things she had consciously chosen to ignore - a night for the resurfacing of thoughts that pestered the back of her mind about one such leader known as Ruby. Tonight, she thought back to the time she had met the overly excitable leader who had quite literally exploded into her life. The heiress had given her quite the lecture regarding her lack of awareness to her surroundings. As most others would remember it, Blake had showed up to distract her, but Weiss would always remember three things she had noticed before turning to Blake. It was well-known that their fearless leader was a prodigy of sorts, being two years younger. The second was a virtually unknown problem with what Weiss would later find out was the younger girl's dominant arm.
At first glance, Ruby's long sleeves covered most of her arms, save for her hands. After that day, the girl had gone great lengths to keep them from plain sight, though no one else thought anything of the act. Black gloves had been added to her attire, with the explanation that they improved her grip on Crescent Rose. Yang often stood on guard while her sister changed, though as odd as it was, that was easily chalked up to Ruby being self-conscious and Yang being an overprotective big sister.
Lastly, it hadn't entirely been Blake who had cut off Weiss. In an effort to demonstrate her superiority, Weiss focused her icy gaze onto the seemingly timid girl's eyes. Most others backed down from the pressure of Schnee's gaze, but not this girl. Weiss felt herself being swallowed in what had been a well-disguised ocean of darkness. The red girl's initial charisma was quickly doused by the darkness that stained her once lively eyes - almost as quick as the Schnee girl's temper. In those eyes, Weiss had felt herself choking through the horrors that lurked within and found the faunus' intrusion to be a timely breath of fresh air. With the arrival of Blake, Ruby instantly morphed back into that overwhelmingly happy dolt she was famed for.
Everyone on Team RWBY had a less-than-savory past, especially when it came to Blake's history with the White Fang. The faunus had driven herself into an almost bottomless despair, but even the most feral look Blake had worn failed to give the blackness of Ruby Rose's soul a run for its money. To the heiress, this realization had brought about a new meaning to the phrase "the eyes are the windows to the soul" and this meant that Ruby's darkness was so hidden that no one would expect it when the time came to reveal her true colors… but how could Yang not see it? It seemed the siblings exuded far different personalities on the outside from what lay within... Maybe... Dare she think it?… Ruby was the Yin to her sister's… Yang? She mental kicked herself at that last thought. Clearly, she had been around the older sister for far too long.
Weiss' stomach rumbled with a nervous upset, leading her on a pilgrimage through the darkness toward the bathroom. Sweet relief cooled her mind as water splashed against her face. In her current content, she leaned against the sink and watched the water swirl down the drain. The gurgle of the water became almost hypnotizing, lulling the sleepless heiress' tired mind into a relaxed state.
"We…i..ss," a groggy voice called. Weiss' eyes shot open as her body jolted and the top of her head rammed against the faucet. Pain immediately throbbed through her head as she hastily applied pressure in an effort to sooth the pain. As she leaned against the wall for support, she barely realized she slid to the ground. A presence knelt down in front of her, followed by the touch of soft fingers against her own as they gently pulled her hands away. She winced and partially opened one eye to see the concern ridden face of a slightly more wake Ruby. "Are you okay?" Weiss felt her leader's fingers part her hair, careful to avoid touching her scalp - primarily the tender spot.
"Mmm," Weiss whimpered a favorable response. "Just hurts a little." The ivory girl focused on the floor hoping the stars would soon reduce in number. It was then that Weiss became aware of Ruby's left hand, as it supported the younger girl's weight. This was probably the closest Weiss had been to be able to see it – real shame she had to virtually knock her own lights out to do it. Ruby had leaned down to get a better look at Weiss' condition. Her partner seemed a bit listless, with all her attention focused elsewhere. Following Weiss' line of sight, she came upon her own hand. She gulped loudly and slowly removed it from view. With this simple action, Weiss' eyes came up to meet the sadness mirrored in her leader's eyes. It felt like time between them stood still, leaving a simple question hanging in the air, but Ruby broke contact to look away in shame. "Ruby, what happ-"
"You should get some sleep," Ruby cut her off quickly. The red girl rose to her feet, and despite her visible upset, offered a hand to guide her partner back to bed. Uncharacteristically for the two, Ruby tucked Weiss in and the heiress allowed the younger girl to run a hand through her hair once more. The older girl relished the comfort of this feeling until the hand ran across a sore spot, eliciting a sharp hiss as a dull headache set in. Rather than retracting her hand, Ruby simply opted to run a cool thumb down the heiress' scarred lid, closing the eye with it and ending at her lips. "Shhh… You'll probably have a bump in the morning, but I don't think it'll be noticeable…" Ruby paused in thought and pulled the chair from the desk and sat next to her partner. With a wink, she whispered, "I'll keep an eye on you, just in case!" There were times that Weiss had to remind herself that there was darkness somewhere inside that girl. She was just too damn caring sometimes. Weiss felt herself drifting off under her partner's watchful gaze. As everything faded, she remembered a softening look of adoration in Ruby's eyes before her smile faded.
"I saw all of that." Ruby spun around to meet a pair of intense eyes.
A/N: Short chapter. I plan for the others to be around 2K+. Let me know what you think. Please don't flame me too hard. I'll be introducing a lot of things as we go. I realize I've kept Ruby's arm thing rather vague. Yes, this is on purpose. It will be explained - soon actually. Just, Weiss isn't going to label something without facts. That and Weiss might have some light symptoms of a concussion. I DID say she slammed her head into the faucet, which by the way, REALLY hurts O_O... Anyway, Ruby is still left-handed, she just favors her right hand when it comes to people. Fear: Reap is loosely based on a story I had been writing and incorporate some ideas from it. Again, please be gentle. *Tries to put out flames with full gas canister*