It was stuffy in the backroom where bodies pressed against bodies and instruments bumped, leaving an echoing note with even the slightest movement. The only fresh air that entered the crowded room was when the next band went onto the stage and the previous band was returning. This did not set Ruby at ease at all. Honestly, this was the first time she came to this part of town at night. During the day it wasn't so scary.
Ruby squeaked as a hand landed on her shoulder. Spinning in place to punch whoever it was that decided to invade her personal space (even though she knew that she wouldn't be able to do much damage), she relaxed when Yang's encouraging smile appeared.
"Relax, we don't want to be tense when we get up there, do we?" Yang asked, calming Ruby down as she slings her arm around Ruby's shoulders.
"We'll be fine," Blake added with a small smile, appearing by Yang's other side.
"You hear that, Ruby?" Yang nearly yelled as another wave of applause travelled into the backroom, drowning out her voice. "Just relax and we should be fine."
Ruby gave them a small smile to show that she had listened but the nerves were too much. She shuffled her feet on the spot as Yang's arm dropped from her shoulders. Ruby reached for her hair but realised that it wasn't as long as it used to be. She looked around the room again, counting the groups left before them. Two more groups then it's them. Ruby spun around to face the wall opposite the door that lead to the stage, focusing on anything but the huge crowd outside the room.
But her mind drew to the music and the audience's reaction. The band that just went on wasn't doing so well. The guitarist was muting most of the notes and- Is that a violin? It sounded more like a screeching tyre.
Ruby only hopes that they weren't that bad...
Ruby shook her head vigorously. Think positive... Think positive...
"We're up next, Sis!"
Wait, what? Now?
Ruby walked behind Yang as she led the group up to the stage. The noise from the crowd instantly made Ruby freeze in her tracks, Blake almost bumped into her.
Ruby could clearly remember the moment when she was told that they were in a competition. Not any small competition where you hand in something and they judge it, a few days later you get your results via email or SMS. Either way, it didn't require you to stand in front of them while they judge your project.
Ruby didn't expect this.
A week ago, Yang came bounding into the lounge, disrupting the tutoring lesson Blake was giving Ruby (just to up her marks in English by 10% at least). "Hello, you beautiful people!"
Yang practically sang as she plonked herself down next to Blake. "You won't believe what I just did."
Ruby narrowed her eyes at her sister. The only time Yang had this big of a smile was when she was teasing Blake or when she had done something Ruby would regret later on. Breathing out a sigh and putting down her pencil (she is never going to get learning done with Yang here); she studied Yang as the blonde fiddled with a rolled up piece of paper. She didn't appear to have gotten in a fight so that is not it.
Ruby could only remember that Yang had gone to the store to get milk. What could have happened on the way to the store?
"What happened?" Blake asked and smiled at Yang, putting down the poetry book that Ruby was learning from.
Yang practically bounced on the spot as she nearly knocked all of Ruby's learning utensils when she slammed the paper into the table, flattening it out so all could see.
It was upside down so it took a second or two longer than Blake to read. Ruby's eyes widened slightly. "Yang? Please tell me you didn't sign us all up for this."
Yang's grin faltered a bit and Ruby started to feel guilty for it. "Well, of course, silly. I signed all three of us up. I'll do drums, Blake can do base and you can sing and play guitar... What?"
Ruby was glaring at her and Blake's ears were flat against her head. "Yang, you know that I don't do well with crowds," Ruby moaned, not believing that Yang could betray her this way.
Yang shrugged her shoulders and looked down towards the table, no trace of the grin from a few seconds before. "I just thought that if you could get on stage and realise that it isn't so bad, you might get over your fear. If you don't get over this now, you will have a hard time interacting in the future. And I don't want you to struggle to make friends," Yang's voice was quiet at the end. Ruby twirled her fingers around a strand of her dark hair that rested on the front of her shirt.
She was just looking out for Ruby, trying to help her. Like throwing her into the pool and telling her to learn how to swim. But it was true. She struggled to make friends now as it is. Heck, it took her longer than a week to have a full conversation with Blake when she first met the Faunus.
Yang was right.
"Fine."
That single word lit Yang up like a light bulb. Yang leaned over the table and tackled Ruby into a hug, completely knocking all of the things off of the table between them (Blake removed her tea from the table just in time).
They scheduled to practise the next day and that is where they found out that Blake never knew how to play the bass. Ruby tried to teach her as best as she could and three days after that, Blake had been able to carry through a song flawlessly. At the time, Yang let out a low whistle, commenting with a wink, "Kitty is a quick learner." The sisters were quite impressed.
They were completely ready by the end of the week, although they could only play one song with a few mistakes on Ruby's part. She didn't know that singing and playing at the same time could be this difficult!
Blake nudged her back and Yang grabbed her biceps, bringing Ruby back to the present where cheers and announcements of the next group can be heard. Ruby blinked twice before registering that Yang's face was really close to hers and she was saying something. Without a second thought, Ruby pushed Yang's face away from hers and muttered a small, "I'm fine." She walked past her sister and stood by the curtains that shielded her from the crowd. Does my hair look okay? Does it look stupid with just the tips dyed? She patted her hair down making sure that it wasn't sticking up all over the place. Why did they have to cut my hair this short?
Ruby's knees started to bounce and her heart raced as soon as she took a peak at the audience. Too many people... Way too many people!
She instead focused on Yang who went up to the announcer and whispered something into his ear. The announcer pulled back and looked at her quizzically to which Yang answered with a firm nod and a thumbs up. Yang walked back to them with a mischievous smile and a wink in Blake's direction. What did she do now? Ruby fiddled with her leather jacket. Why do I have to wear all leather? I know that you have to look the part, but this much leather is ridiculous. It's too hot! I need out! Why did I ever listen to Yang? I should've listened to Blake; she is the more sensible of the two!
"Alright, calm down people," the announcer's voice carried over the crowd. "The next group is up and they will be knocking your socks off." Wait! "Give it up for..." the announcer yelled, pausing for dramatic effect and in this moment, Ruby realised what Yang did as she spun to her sister. We didn't decide on a group name!
"Ruby and the Yang Bangers!"
If Ruby's eyes could go any wider, her eyes would pop out of their sockets. Blake just faced palmed and Yang had a shit eating grin on her face as they all walked onto the stage.
Is my eyeliner okay? Did I put too much on?
Ruby was last to each her spot and she looked out towards the crowd. It wasn't so bad. The lights shining on them blocked her view of the audience, for that she was grateful for. Glancing at Yang behind her, Ruby saw Yang settle into her seat, drumsticks at the ready. They exchanged nods of encouragement before Ruby looked over at Blake, who just plugged the cord into her bass guitar. Blake nodded and pointed at her feet, the bow on her head twitching from the murmurs created by the audience. Why was Blake pointing at my feet?
Ruby looked down and found nothing wrong with her shoes. Her shoelaces were tied.
She looked back up at Blake who continued to point at her feet. Am I not standing right? Ruby adjusted her stance and looked at Blake for confirmation. Blake rolled her eyes and covered her face with her hand.
"Psst, Ruby..." Ruby looked to Yang who pointed at the amp behind her. Oh.
Oh...
Smiling sheepishly at the crowd that she couldn't see, she plugged in her guitar and stood ready at the mic.
Yang counted them in and they played their song to the best of their ability. Ruby was too nervous to keep a steady voice and Yang seemed to be more pumped than usual. She was struggling to keep up with the blond and still sing to the beat. Ruby could hear the bass quite fine. Seems like Blake could match Yang, why can't I?
When the last verse came, Ruby put all her effort in to match her voice with all the instruments. After the last note, she waited and breathed. There was no one that cheered during the song but no one jeered, so that's always a plus.
She tried to calm her rising heart beat as she continued to wait for a reaction from the audience. A few seconds later, a small applause took over the room.
I am never doing this again. Ruby's heart felt heavy at the lack of cheers. The other groups had way better responses then they did.
The announcer reappeared from the side of the stage as the applause calmed down to nothing. "Alright folks, that was the last band of the night. I am your host, Flynt Coal, and I wish you a goodnight!"
They were the last band? Ruby felt relieved having to not rush out. She could actually take her time in reassuring herself that one foot goes in front of the other.
She slowly stepped away from her mic as Flynt came walking towards them. "Mind taking the drum kit down? It's like tradition for the last group who played," Flynt requested and Ruby could only look at the floor and nod, not trusting her voice at all at this moment. "Cool, enjoy the rest of your night." He tipped his hat at the group and disappeared into the crowd.
"Welp, let's get started," Yang announced and started with the drum kit. Blake and Ruby helped out once they packed their own instruments away.
Ruby didn't hear her coming so when she spoke, Ruby almost dropped one of the cymbals. "You need a vocalist. And a manager, and a choreographer, and better clothes and equipment." The voice was so confident, it made Ruby nervous. I hope that she didn't see me sing and make a fool of myself...
Yang leaves the cymbal stands and crosses her arms over her chest, sizing the girl up. "Yeah, so?" Ruby hears Yang say from where she is sitting. Yang, please don't do anything.
Ruby stands up and turns to the girl. Why would someone want white hair? It just makes you look old or very stressed.
She takes in a breath. I just sang in front of a crowd, talking to her cannot be any worse than that. Come on, Ruby. You can do this. Show Yang that you can talk to people and make friends.
"We don't really have the means to get that kind of stuff," Ruby replied softly but kept her voice steady. She had to show Yang that she could do this. Say something nice, right? Isn't that how you make friends? "But we appreciate you coming tonight."
They don't have the money for any of those things. Ruby was using her mom's guitar and Blake picked up her bass at a second-hand store a few years back while Yang used one of her friend's drum kits. Heck, they didn't even know that they were going to be in this competition a week ago. They just don't have the means for anything at this moment.
Ruby realised that Blake and Yang were quiet. Were they letting her handle this interaction? Bad idea...
The girl in front of Ruby lifted her chin in confidence as she stated, "I sing. I've been trained by Atlas' best for my entire life." Ruby's eyes widened. Her entire life? Then she must be excellent, right? And is she offering to sing for them? After what had just happened a few minutes ago, Ruby would gladly let the girl be the lead singer. It was too traumatising for her.
Ruby almost jumped in fright when Blake spoke up. "Miss Schnee, while we appreciate the offer, opera isn't exactly the sound we're going for." Blake, always the voice of reason. Ruby almost giggled at the girl's name (It was quite funny, okay?), but stopped. Opera? Isn't that almost like screaming that only rich people can understand?
Miss Schnee looked taken aback for a moment before covering it up. "Are you open to an audition?" she asked and Ruby hoped that she didn't start screaming. Ruby had had enough embarrassment to last her a lifetime. She looked to Blake and Yang as the girl dropped her guitar case and took out a beat up and dirty guitar with the white shining through. It was a very nice guitar and Ruby found herself staring at it for too long. She looked at the girl and nodded. It looked like the girl was serious about this.
The girl plugged her guitar into the amp and fiddled with the knobs. She smiled and left the knobs when she was satisfied with the results. Ruby watched her take a breath and braced herself. Please don't scream!
Ruby watched as the girl played a simple song, tapping her foot to the rhythm. At least she isn't screaming. And her voice sounds so light and controlled.
Close to the chorus, she looked up at the other three girls and furrowed her eyebrows and Ruby took a step back, afraid of what she is about to do.
In one swift movement that Ruby couldn't follow, the girl switches her playing style to a rough and raw power chord that Ruby struggles to learn to this day. It was powerful and the girl's singing changed as well, this time making the performance way better than how she started out. The girl played a wrong note here and there but it didn't really make a difference. Ruby watched in awe as the girl put all her feeling into this. Her fingers moved so quickly over the fret board it was almost a blur and for some reason, Ruby got the feeling that this is what the girl has wanted to do for a long time.
A squeal wanted to escape Ruby's throat once the girl finished her performance, but she just covered her mouth with both hands. She didn't want to scare the girl off with her outrageous fangirling ways. Not after the performance that she just gave, they need her and Ruby is pretty sure that the others would agree judging on their grins.
The girl glanced up at each of their faces, studying them before nodding.
She reaches into her purse and pulls out a small blue card, the bars lights glinting into off it. She smirks, "I think I have the next day until they deactivate this. You think we can hit the limit before then?"
Hey, there. So this story will be based off of a post made by sweeetangerine on Tumblr. Please check out his posts, he is awesome. The post that this was based on is in Weiss' point of view. We accept constructive criticism for this story and we are sorry for any spelling mistakes. Please look out for the next chapter. :D