"-e're los..ng-"
It was so dark.
Where was Weiss?
She…
"-too fast. We ne… use du-"
It hurt. Everything hurt. She can't- Fuck. She can't breathe. She can barely feel the cold air but something was pressing down on her - constricting her.
She tried to fight. She had to get up. He would hurt Weiss. She can't let him. Dust- why can't she move?!
"-ing down… Apply m… pre.."
She felt tired. So tired… but…
No, she had to get up. He would hurt Weiss.
But you're weak. You can't protect her. You can't protect anyone.
No! She can't-
"We're losing her!"
Shut up!
Weiss will die because of you.
SHUT UP!
You can't protect her-
She can't give up. She had to… get up!
-because you're weak.
Then she knew nothing more.
×RWBY×
"We love life, not because we're used to living but because we are used to loving." - Friedrich Nietzsche
×RWBY×
The city of Corin wasn't really as large as Vale nor was it as protected as the capital, but it has its harbours; it has a healthy trade relationship with Vale itself and Vacuo. Even if it has no walls and very few outposts, it was still a safe place against the Grimm as the city was huge enough for Grimm to stay clear of it.
That did not mean a few young packs wouldn't try to get close to its borders.
The forest was thick by the northern east borders of the city. It was the usual hunting grounds of beowolves and ursas. There was an old trade route there that leads both to Vale and Mountain Glenn but was barely used now for the past decades. Although there were some smugglers dumb or greedy enough to try their luck on the route.
As luck would have it however, a pack of beowolves had gotten close enough to get sighted by the northern outpost. The officials of Corin had already issued a warning to its citizens to avoid the northern borders and had evacuated some of the residents living close to the woods. They had also reported the sightings to Huntsmen Mission Board. It was only a matter of time before a Hunter or Huntress arrive to deal with the problem
It was this specific mission that Ruby Rose had accepted.
It wasn't all that hard to track down the pack. Heck, Ruby had been doing it since she was a short kid with a scythe twice her size. The pack was gathering at a clearing and she saw four- no wait, eight beowolves. Ruby was glad of the space, she rather not cleave some of the trees. The pack were a ways off from the trade route and it would had just taken a few seconds for them to attack anyone stupid enough to use the path.
She had yet to see the alpha so she waited for a few moments more to see where it was. A sharp glint across the clearing caught her eye, her lips curving upwards into a smirk. A few seconds later, a howl by the left side of the clearing revealed the alpha's location. Its pack answered its call.
"Show time," a grin tugged Ruby's lips. Pulling out her sniper-rifle scythe - which she lovingly calls Sweetheart - Ruby readied Crescent Rose, extending it into its rifle form.
A loud bang resonated throughout the clearing, then one of the beowolves lost its head. Literally. Its headless corpse dropped onto the ground, already dissolving.
Alarmed, the pack immediately tried to find the threat. In their confusion, three more fell the same fate. Snarling, the alpha turned towards Ruby's location, having felt her excitement.
A burst of rose petals surrounded the pack, confusing them even more. They followed the petals as it slowly formed into a swirling mass at the middle of the clearing. As the roses dissipated, the redheaded huntress stood in its place. The alpha roared as it found its prey, directing its pack to attack.
With a wide grin, Ruby extended Crescent Rose into its scythe form.
A beowolf closest to her left leapt at her. Twirling Crescent Rose, the blade cleaved the beowolf in its midsection. The remaining beowolves hesitated as they watched another packmate die, stopping themselves into mindlessly jumping on their prey. While the beowolves would have continued attacking, the alpha was intelligent enough to know their prey was dangerous.
Ruby dug her scythe's blade in front of her and watched at the corner of her eyes as the beowolves slowly circled around her. The grimm had surrounded her at all sides, Ruby waited to see what they would do.
Behind her, the beowolf jumped to attack. She jumped, her boots on the scythe's shaft, then she pulled the trigger with her foot while directing the scythe nearly perpendicular to the ground. The sudden burst of dirt blinded the grimm. Along with her semblance, the recoil of the scythe propelled her upward. Ruby wrapped her legs around the weapon and twisted mid-air with another boost of her semblance. The blade caught the beowolf right below its chin, passing right through its snout. With another pull of the trigger, the beowolf was thrown backwards while Ruby increased more height.
Kicking up her weapon, the huntress caught Crescent Rose. Two more beowolves and the alpha remained. Ruby felt her momentum reach its height. In her usual move, Ruby accelerated her fall with her sniper rounds. In a great swing, she beheaded one beowolf. As the blade passed, she pulled the trigger once more and hit the last of the beowolves right in the head.
The alpha snarled in anger, hackles raised as its pack was decimated in the span of a few seconds. Ruby hefted her scythe to her shoulder, cocking her head in an almost arrogant manner.
"Only you and me now, big guy," Ruby said, a confident smirk on her face.
The alpha roared at her challenge, the large spikes on its back bristling menacingly. Ruby waited for its attack. Her tight grip on Crescent Rose betrayed her anticipation despite her lose stance. The alpha reared, towering over her. It raised its claws with a roar, trying to cleave the huntress in half.
In a swift motion, Ruby blocked the attack with the scythe's shaft. She pushed against its claw which nearly overbalanced the grimm. Ruby swung her blade, but scraped against bone-white armor as the alpha raised its arms in defense. Continuing the motion, Ruby pulled the sniper's trigger. The bullet smashed against the thick armor covering its head but not enough to pierce through. The head snapped backward at the force, staggering back.
Ruby grinned, she twirled Crescent Rose around her form and waited for the grimm to orient itself. The alpha scrapped its claws against its mask, saliva and blood dripping from its snarling mouth. It shook its head, bits of shattered bone flying everywhere. The alpha regained its focus, its red eyes honing in on the amused huntress.
As Ruby readied, a white form dropped behind the alpha. With a loud hiss, sharp shards of ice erupted from the ground and pierced the unsuspecting form of the grimm, completely mutilating it. The grimm gurgled in its death throes as it dropped to the ground. Ruby watched its dissolving form. Slowly, she looked up to see her frowning partner.
"Hi," Ruby greeted cheerily, flicking her fingers to a sloppy salute.
"Honestly you dunce! Must you play every time we are on a mission?" Weiss walked towards her, pointing her finger right on Ruby's face.
Ruby backed away, raising her free hand in a placating manner. "A-ah! I'm sorry, it's been a boring morning and-" she trailed off.
Ruby could've finished the whole pack with a few strokes and less theatrics, but where's the fun in that?
But Weiss didn't seem to be amused of Ruby's antics.
Weiss groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. With her eyes closed, the scar over her left eye was a stark contrast against her skin and it never failed to attract Ruby's attention. She wanted to shower that face with small kisses. Maybe that frowning lips too. Those lips make the most beautiful of sounds.
"Are you even listening to me?"
Silver-eyes blinked. "Can I kiss you now?"
"Ugh! I swear you are worse than Yang!"
"I'll take that as a compliment!" Ruby grinned. Activating her semblance, the redhead swooped down and carried a shrieking Weiss back to Corin.
×RWBY×
The mission started like how they usually do; Ruby insisting Weiss to sit down and relax while she dealt with the grimm. On the other hand, Weiss would argue that her presence was still needed 'just in case' and successfully convince Ruby to tag her along. So the pair went off to track the pack; and when they located them, Weiss acted as lookout while Ruby 'deals with them'. As any mission goes, it went off without a hitch.
Except for maybe a few hits to the head and a lot of slaps to the shoulder.
But it was worth, if that plate of cookies was anything to go by.
Weiss watched as Ruby practically inhaled the sweets. It was quite a sight; a full-grown woman - a slayer of Grimm and a deadly huntress no less - was enjoying a plate of cookies and a mug of milk. Weiss wondered if she looked at a dictionary, she would find Ruby's face under 'unthreatening'; and maybe under 'puppy' too.
Shaking her head, Weiss's lips quirked into a small smile. If she had told her seventeen year old self that seven years later her fifteen year old partner would turn out to be her lover, she might have laughed and called for the nearest mental hospital. But here they were, partners and lovers.
Ruby had felt her stare and shot her a smile, completely oblivious to her thoughts. She offered the blonde a cookie which Weiss refused, it didn't take long for her to go back to devouring her sweets.
Weiss glanced at her scroll. She had already sent the report of their mission; it hadn't been long and had ran along the lines of "one less pack of grimm to worry about" to "it's so easy, we might have done it with blindfolds" - only politely. The city council would send some scouts out to check and it would probably take a day or two for them to receive their payment. They still have plenty of lien from their last mission (dispatching a pair of old Nevermores) and Ruby could probably indulge to another plate. If she begged Weiss first, of course.
Corin wasn't facing any grimm attacks or infestation; no rowdy gangs or terrorists. It was almost peaceful even. The pair wouldn't probably be here if they didn't have business to attend to in the city.
Weiss picked up her scroll and stared at the opened message once more.
She shouldn't had come here.
Nothing good ever comes from the name Schnee.
It has come to my attention…
...your father destroyed…
..our name…
Sincerely, Schwarz Schnee.
Weiss stared at the name. She hadn't seen that name for a long time, only having heard that name from her mother's lips… before the drunkenness… before her father took over.
Schwarz Schnee was her uncle, and he's asking to meet her in this city. He hadn't asked for a reply, and her presence - or absence - would've been answer enough. He was offering a chance; a chance to fix a mistake and Weiss was a fool to try and believe it was possible.
They really shouldn't have come here.
"..Weiss?" Weiss looked up to see inquisitive silver eyes staring at her. "You okay?"
Weiss bit her lip, what should she say? That she was having doubts? That she should just let the Schnee name burn down to the ground? That she was and had always been a fool…
Her silence must have been telling because Ruby inched closer, a frown on her face. "Is it them again? 'Cuz I swear I'll-"
Weiss placed a hand on Ruby's arm, her partner had always been protective of her; even more now after she saw that some assholes had been sending the blonde threatening messages. But right now her anger was a little misplaced, although it was a tad cute. "It's nothing, I'm just thinking about my uncle," she placated, calming the redhead.
Ruby sipped at her milk, thinking of what to ask. "Do you really think he would help?" she asked softly. The worry on her face plus the crumbs on her lips was quite an endearing sight. Weiss chuckled, taking a napkin to wipe her lover's face. "H-hey! Weiss!"
Her embarrassed face was even cuter.
Would her uncle really help? She didn't know. But she had been sure at the time. It seemed that as the moment arrives, she found she had doubts. "Perhaps," she answered instead, lowering the napkin to her lap. "He is family after all," the words felt hollow in her mouth. Family barely meant anything to her now. 'Family' failed her for as long as she knows. She hoped that her uncle won't fail her.
Ruby squeezed her hand, shooting her a soft smile. Weiss could see the question in her eyes but was glad that she hadn't continued to ask.
They fell into comfortable silence, the soft din of the other diners was a welcomed distraction.
It wasn't long before Ruby ordered her second plate - after some begging and pouting.
After their late, albeit un-healthy lunch, Weiss decided she wanted to see what Corin had to offer. She had time to spare until her meeting with her uncle - and as of the moment she really needed to take her mind off things. So with Ruby in tow, the pair were out checking different clothing stores.
While Weiss wasn't a fashion expert as Coco Adel, she did know what looked good and what looked absolutely terrible - and the frilly dress Ruby has her eyes on was a little too frilly for her tastes. That did not dissuade her partner from insisting that Weiss should try it, with the added power of her pout and shiny eyes.
Weiss indulged a few of Ruby's request in exchanged that her lover would try anything the blonde suggests. They had a fun time modeling for each other. One three-piece suit Ruby tried was absolutely dashing that Weiss was salivating, and as was the next dress Weiss had in line for her - the plunging neckline gave the blonde huntress quite a view that Ruby had turned as red as ger namesake under her gaze.
In the end, the pair had opted for a new pair of pants for Weiss, a chic leather jacket for Ruby and matching red scarves reminiscent of Ruby's old cloak. Ruby looked absolutely thrilled to see her colors on the blonde and had rewarded Weiss with a rather heated kiss.
Their little trip ended up at Corin's main courtyard. Their sight-seeing had taken a few hours and the skies were turning a fiery orange as dusk slowly approached. Weiss had taken a seat on a bench facing the courtyard's monument. It was depicting a battle between an Ursa and a huntress wielding a two-hander sword.
There was a bronze plate on the side of the monument. "Their lives for our lives," it said.
It was a strange thought - being a huntress - romantic, even. Sacrificing one's life for the safety of others. Weiss knew that was the reason Ruby became a huntress. She had proudly told the Schnee that her own mother inspired her. The stories that Summer and Yang had told her helped deepen her resolve, and that her Badass Uncle was an inspiration too.
Ruby's determination to do what was right had drawn people to her. Her genuine kindness and need to protect the weak had pulled the others to follow in her path. She was the epitome of what every Hunter and Huntress should be. Weiss can barely believe her Rose was real. It was fitting that Ruby had been a part of the group who had stopped Salem. But Ruby had shown back then that she was every bit human that Weiss was - that she has her own fears and doubts. That time was a chapter in their life they were very glad to close.
"Thinking about me, I hope," a voice chimed. Weiss looked up to see the person of her thoughts standing before her, an ice cream cone in each hand.
"Keep hoping, Rose," Weiss teased with a smirk on her lips, graciously accepting the cold treat.
Ruby gasped dramatically, clutching her free hand to her chest. "That was Weiss cold!"
Weiss rolled her eyes. "I'd kill you for that, you know."
Ruby plopped down next to her, a huge grin on her face. "But you love me too much," she said.
Weiss hummed, a thoughtful look on her face. She then turned to the redhead with a smile. "I suppose I do," she pecked Ruby on the lips. The redhead stared at her for a moment before bursting out laughing. Thinking about their small exchange, Weiss thought it was a bit cheesy before joining her lover in laughter.
A lull came between them, the small treat in their hands slowly being devoured. Ruby shifted closer to Weiss, placing her arm around the Schnee's shoulder. The redhead had grown over the years, standing taller than Weiss now even with the added height of her heels. Yang had been unbearable about it with her non-stop teasing. But Ruby had described Weiss's height as perfect - before swooping down to give Weiss a deep kiss. The look on Yang's face had been hilarious.
The sky was rapidly turning to dusk, the lights around the courtyard blinking into life. Weiss felt at peace, half wondering if she should just forget about the meeting and just spend the night away with Ruby.
But I can't, Weiss thought, fumbling with her new bought scarf, I need to fix everything.
I have to try.
"Ruby."
"Hmm?" Ruby jerked awake, having been halfway to sleep.
"Do you-" Weiss paused.
"Do I what?" Ruby tilted her head, raising a brow.
Weiss chewed on her lip, a bad habit. "Do you… Do you think it was right to come here? To my uncle?"
Ruby's face turned serious, her lips in a firm line. "I honestly don't know Weiss," she said softly. "But we should, you know, see what he has to offer, right?" Ruby added, quirking her lips in an encouraging smile.
Weiss nodded, fingers twisting against each other. "Right," she repeated.
"Right! Now come on! We should get back to the hotel and go meet your uncle!" Ruby stood up, smiling brightly as she pulled Weiss up with her. "He's family after all!"
"You dunce," Weiss snapped, "I haven't even met him yet!"
"Well now's your chance!"
"Ruby don't you dare use your semblance!"
"Too late!"
"RUBY!"
Ruby's tinkling laughter rang in her ear. The stores turning into a blur of colors and trailing rose petals as the pair zipped from street to street, people drifting by like abstract paint. While Weiss won't admit it, she very much enjoys the feeling of the world rushing by, and with her redheaded dolt she loves it even more. Her semblance was a true reflection of Ruby's carefree soul, a trait she had envied when she had first met her lover. Having been shackled by rules, expectations, and a father who only wanted results and not reason, Ruby was a breath of fresh air. And right now, being carried by the one she loves, she can't help but feel at the top of the world.
"Ruby."
"Weiss?"
"Don't ever change."
A laugh, "I'll try."
