Colour Blind

The Great Weiss Shark

Chapter One: Taken by This Feeling

Chaos was going to either be a girl's best friend or worst enemy when it comes to winning a competition. One small slip-up and it was bye-bye grand prize for that unfortunate soul; they may as well have handed the oversized cheque to the next hopeful candidate themselves.

Stress and all that accompanies a high stakes competition left everyone on their toes, holding their breaths, and desperately praying to whichever deities they worshipped in hopes that they would be flawless in that one crucial moment. However, that still wouldn't stop a slip of the tongue, a clothing malfunction, or even a misplaced banana peel from dashing away hopes and dreams.

Chaos was a finicky little devil that changed favourites on a whim. The girl in favour this time around was Ruby Rose, a bright and clever young woman who had just recently turned twenty last month. She was simply beautiful with a tomboyish appeal, a toned physique that supported her active lifestyle, and the most dazzling silver eyes one could ever behold. Her natural rosewood coloured hair went well past her shoulders, and was usually kept in a messy ponytail; today was no different. Her layered fringe was swept to the right, tucked underneath a lock of hair that framed her petite face. And while her hairstyling abilities stopped at wild-n-free and boring-office-lady, the same couldn't be said about her outfits of choice.

Ruby adored—no, she loved the colour red. Every ensemble she put together in her modest closet required two things to be deemed wearable in public: a splash of red, and a whole lot of black to make it pop. This was who she was, and not even the prissy hipsters sneering at her could make her say otherwise. They may have the glitter and glam on their side, but hard work and talent were on hers. Ruby didn't need to gussy herself up to outshine her competitors. The painting she entered was a top contender—the obvious favourite—destined to be sold for an insane amount of money, and that alone was enough.

But of course that didn't mean she stood on stage in a garbage bag dress; she wasn't that desperate for attention. While the other finalists put on fancy gowns and complex outfits to match their painting, Ruby decided to show up in what she felt most comfortable in. She confidently wore her lucky black work boots (which had never really seen any work), a pair of faded, ripped blue jeans that were splotched with dollops of dried paint, a form-fitting black tank top that showed her impressive midriff, and wrapped tightly around her slim waist was a large red and black plaid shirt she stole from her boyfriend to keep him close.

While the judges deliberated amongst themselves, Ruby took the opportunity to see who she was up against. She didn't spot anyone noteworthy, and found herself holding back a childish giggle when she got a good look at some of their entries. The competition's objective was to capture a single moment from a fast paced, unforgettable memory. The artist was to also infuse every bit of emotion they felt when it happened. This was an easy subject, but not for everyone it seemed.

The competitor next to Ruby, a young man named Marx, painted an image of a woman, from the neck down, wearing a gaudy green dress at a dinner table with a guest whose face was obscured by a floral centerpiece. The point of view was done as if the artist had reverted back to adolescence and was curiously staring over her shoulder. Jealousy was poignant in the piece, and so was the feeling of hate, but those emotions were drowned out by the gargantuan flowers he used to fill the upper right corner of the canvas.

The person next to Marx took a similar approach and painted a fruit basket that was arranged rather salaciously. The next had a waterfall. And it just got worse the further down she stared. Ruby didn't even bother looking to her left knowing it was going to be just as bad. Sure this was a small time competition with a fairly modest cash prize, but it was still an opportunity to be seen and noticed. It made her feel sick to see these lackwits in the finals with her.

The head judge Don Juteau, a famous art collector and fashion designer, motioned for the other two judges to hush. In his hand was a sheet of paper naming everyone and their piece on stage. There were ten people all together with Ruby standing near the middle of the pack. Don's unnerving stare cut through the other contestants like a hot knife through butter, and one-by-one Ruby could feel her turn coming up.

It hadn't taken him long to pass over the cheesy waterfall, the sexy fruit basket, and the green lady. Don was looking bored and unimpressed when he landed on Ruby. She expected him to pass her over like he did the others, but instead, to her surprise and many others, he called her to step forward.

"Hi?" Ruby squeaked in a sudden panic. She hadn't been this nervous since her first year in highschool when her first friend there asked her out.

"Love Forever Falls," he said out loud, reading from his paper. "Interesting setting."

"There's a forest to the north of Beacon Academy—"

Don held his hand up. "I'm aware of that. What makes this place so special though? And why did it impact you enough to wage 35,000 lien on?"

"This was my first and last real memory with my mother," Ruby answered honestly. "Red is... Red is sort of my thing—Ruby Rose, heh—so when I see it or wear it, I can sort of feel her with me."

"I see..." Don hummed to himself as he and his fellow judges scribbled down some notes.

The judge to Don's right was a portly man with a handlebar mustache and center parted hair. He watched Ruby carefully with an all knowing smile and asked, "Why did you join this competition? Surely a bright young lass like yourself is already well on her way to greatness!"

"Thanks for that, but I'm kind of going through a thing..." Ruby said, rubbing her left arm shyly. "I didn't know what I really wanted to do when I was in school and messed up real bad. Now I'm kind of living paycheque to paycheque with my boyfriend in a tiny one bedroom apartment."

"Have you made any progress on finding your path?"

"I realized it a little too late," she explained. "When I was at my lowest, I lost my temper at the sandwich I was making and threw ketchup on the wall. I saw something and suddenly felt the urge to spread it around—I made a mess."

"What did you create?" Don asked.

"Forever Falls," Ruby answered with a half smile. "My mother was an artist, and up until that point I couldn't even draw a stick figure. It was like BAM! Insta-inspiration."

"But here you are now, a finalist!" Don cheered. "Your name, Rose, it sounds oddly familiar."

"My mom's name was Summer Rose."

Don's charming smile slowly faded away. "She was an amazing woman... I have a few of her pieces hanging up in my home. My favourite has got to be—"

"Vacuo Oasis," Ruby finishes with a giggle. "I keep tabs on all of my mom's work."

"Excellent idea," Don chuckled, his pen still gliding across the page in fluid motions. "I have one last question to ask, and this is only hypothetical, but what would you do if you won?"

The fire in Ruby's eyes burned even brighter than before. She had been waiting for this precise moment and was bursting at the seams with excitement. "I want to use a portion of that money so me and my boyfriend can finally get married. After that maybe put money down for an actual home, and eventually go back to school."

"Quite ambitious there," the head judge commented, "but a respectable answer nevertheless. Thank you, Ms. Rose. You may step back now."

Ruby felt a sense of pride and accomplishment wash over her like an unexpected heavy rain during a severe drought. She had wowed the judges with her story, swayed them with her charm, and got them to emotionally invest in her when she started to cry. The other competitors might aswell go home now, because Ruby definitely had this in the bag.

Unfortunately, Ruby took her victory lap a little too soon and tripped over a small hurdle. A really cute hurdle. With a really, really cute scowl.

It started with a judge gasping in surprise. And like cascading dominoes falling from opposite sides, all eyes collapsed in to a single piece. A young woman, two contestants down from Ruby, who stood poised and proud with her head held high. She had the visage of utter perfection, like a snowflake without match or equal. The beautiful artist looked so delicate and fragile in her simple white dress that a fleeting gaze from the corner of one's eye could make her vanish. And just like the blizzard raging violently in her painting, she too appeared to be made of ice with her snow-white hair, pearlescent pale sapphire eyes, and porcelain skin.

Ruby was rooted to the ground unable to tear her eyes away from the picturesque woman. Her heart thrashed wildly against her chest, threatening to break free and follow the other artist home. She had never felt this way before. It scared her, but at the same time she had never felt more alive. There was something special about this woman, something that made her standout on a metaphysical level that surpassed her gorgeous appearance. Destiny, that's what it was. Fate had tied her to this perfect stranger, and there wasn't a single ounce of doubt in her that said otherwise.

Don leaned forward, his elbows planted firmly on the table, and rested his chin over his folded over hands. He smiled at her warmly, but that quickly faded away when she looked back at him with cool indifference.

"Ms. Weiss Schnee, could you please step forward and tell us a little about your piece?"

Ruby's breath hitched at the sound of her angel's name—Weiss Schnee. She repeated it over and over again in her head, never once growing tired of it. And when Weiss pulled away from the row of hopeful winners, Ruby finally saw just how stunning she really was. She begged and pleaded for her heart to still, but it was no use. The sight of Weiss' unobscured lithe figure and sharp featured face had Ruby writhing on the inside begging for her to look her way.

It was absolute torture to keep staring at her now. Ruby had never been one to cave into her carnal desires, yet as of this moment that was all she wanted to do. She fantasized about how it would feel to touch and caress every inch of her, to map out that gorgeous body and find all the treasures it had hidden. The desire was so strong she wanted to grab her and kiss her until her knees gave in, then unravel her side-ponytail and watch it fall over her shoulders like a grand flurry of snow. There was so much she wanted to do, but Ruby was in full control and refused to let herself express anything other than a healthy curiosity. The salacious thoughts bubbling in her head were hers alone for now at least.

"This is Atlas," Weiss said in a soft bell-like voice, "my home."

"Ah, I am familiar with the chilly city!" the handlebar mustached judge exclaimed ecstatically. "It's a beautiful winter wonderland with so many unique attractions."

"Don't forget the mountains," the third judge said, finally breaking her silence.

"Weiss, my dear, I love how you made a scene like this pop!" Don said. "Snow covered trees and bushes all highlighted by a shade of blue that matches your eyes. And that wonderful use of red in those branches, I love it!"

"What do you call it?" asked the mustached judge.

The frosty woman tilted her head slightly to the right and clenched her jaw. "Nature's Wrath," she answered bluntly. "Nothing stronger or more fearsome than a force you cannot control."

"Impressive," Don hummed. "What exactly drew you to this competition? No pun intended."

"I just want my art to be seen. Any exposure is great exposure, and being around my fellow finalists is a refreshing sight for my stagnating muse."

"And what about the prize money? What would you do with it?"

"I don't need the money. I am here only for my art."

Don raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Good answer. Ladies and gentlemen, we have our winner."

"No deliberation?" the mustached judge asked.

"The only ones that have caught my eye are Ms. Rose and Ms. Schnee." Don quickly scanned the dejected contestants with a sweeping gaze. He watched their faces shift from surprised to angry, and laughed when two people walked off the stage. Don's wandering eyes return to Weiss' looking even more certain of his hasty decision. "While I enjoyed the heavy red palette Ms. Rose used, I am drawn more towards this howling storm of yours. And the splashes of red, so minute yet visually captivating; I can't get enough!"

"Thank you," Weiss said with a curtsy.

Three more people left the stage in a fit of rage.

"Excuse me, but how can these half-assed paintings be better than mine?" Marx seethed. "This bitch just slapped a shit ton of red paint on the canvas and calls it a forest. And that perfect little twat did the exact same, but in white! I mean look at it! There's nothing there!"

Angered by the audacity of the fledgling artist, Don leaned back into his chair and let out a booming laugh. "What gives you the right to criticize these young ladies? Have you seen the travesty you're so proud of?"

"T-Travesty?!" Marx screened in indignation.

"Yes, a travesty."

"Mister... I'm sorry, what was your name again?" the judge to Don's left asked.

"Marx Marquis."

"Yes, Mr. Marquis, how familiar are you with the concept 'less is more'?"

"What does that have to do with his decision?" Marx shouted, pointing at Don with a shaky finger.

"The reason why Love Forever Falls and Nature's Wrath were singled out was because of that," she clarified. "The leaves in Ms. Rose's painting were done one-by-one. And to put even more detail in, she added the veins running through each individual leaf."

"My painting is full of detail!"

"But all we see is a centerpiece," Don argued. "Anyway, my decision has been made. You may leave the stage now."

"You're making a mistake!" Marx screamed at the top of his lungs. "And you," he said snarling at Ruby and Weiss, his eyes burning with absolute hatred, "this won't be the last you'll hear of me."

"Hey, back off creep!" Ruby growled defensively. She didn't care if the immature artist spoke ill of her, but seeing the way he eyed Weiss made her beyond furious. "Weiss won this competition fair and square."

"Princess here probably bribed the judges," Marx sneered. "Wouldn't put it past her to bang 'em while she was at it."

"Alright that is enough!" Don bellowed angrily. "Leave now or I will have you escorted out!"

"Whatever," Marx said, flipping the judges off.

The auditorium remained silent until Marx left. The five people remaining let out a collective sigh of relief when the belligerent fool was out if sight.

"Well then," Don sighed, "congratulations to the both of you. Ms. Schnee, you've won the prize and my artistic heart. Your entry shall hang on my wall right next to Ms. Rose's if she'll be willing to part with it for a reasonable sum."

"Y-You want to buy this?" Ruby stammered, voice shakier than the finger she pointed at her art. She watched the wealthy collector for any sign of deceit, but found nothing other than genuine interest. "This has got to be dream..."

"This is no joke, I assure you."

"I'll be up there close to my mother's..."

"You will accept then?"

Ruby didn't hesitate a moment longer and accepted the generous offer. Having her work displayed in Don's home meant that the celebrities visiting him would see it. And that meant that the opportunities for exposure were positively endless if she could pique the interest of an A-lister.

Inspiration hit her like an epiphany .

Sketching wasn't enough to capture the beauty blossoming forth from her imagination. She needed a canvas. She needed to paint. She needed to get home.

The rush of inspiration had Ruby so worked up and distracted, she couldn't remember packing her bags that night or getting up early to check out of the hotel the following morning. It was only when an unforgettable bell-like voice called out for her did she regain her senses.

"Ruby Rose!"

The call was hard to ignore. Never before had she heard her boring old name sound so crisp and refreshing. It was almost as if she and everyone she knew had been saying it wrong all her life, and was now hearing it said properly for the first time. The way it rolled off of Weiss' tongue was akin to a roaring river surging through a glacier—powerful, pure, and confident. It made Ruby's knees weak imagining the snowy woman's breathy voice whispering her name in her ear between contented moans and sighs.

"Ruby Rose!" Weiss shouted again between labored breaths, snapping Ruby out of her fantasy. She had clearly sprinted from God knows where to catch her, but for what reason Ruby didn't know. "Do you know how difficult it was to find you?"

Ruby slowly backed away from the shorter woman making her way towards her. The way her clear blue eyes focused on her made Ruby feel like a doe being cornered by a ravenous wolf. Weiss' stare made her tremble. As delicate and fragile as the icy woman seemed on the outside, there was a predator within her that couldn't be ignored.

"U-Uh, can I help you?" Ruby stammered, her back pressed against a ceiling-high column.

"No," Weiss snarled, her face stopping mere inches away from Ruby's. Her breathing had finally evened, but Weiss still seemed angry for spending her time hunting Ruby down. People were beginning to stare, but the determination in Weiss' eyes did not waver.

Ruby gulped.

"I'm actually here to help you."

"Doesn't sound that way," Ruby muttered under her breath. She could have sworn Weiss was farther away, so how exactly did she get so close? But before Ruby could conjure up a plausible theory, a striking thought about their close proximity brought Weiss' delectable pink lips into view.

The young artist was drawn towards them, her eyes mesmerized by the way they moved as she spoke. Each syllable she eloquently pronounced added to the allure Ruby felt. And by the time she had finished talking, Ruby was more interested in how Weiss' lips remained so soft and inviting despite being being pulled into a thin scowl.

"Hello? Are you even listening to me?" the irresistible grump huffed.

"Yeah, sorry... My head tends to wander sometimes," Ruby fibbed through tightly gritted teeth. She couldn't tell this perfectly perfect stranger in front of her that she was fantasizing about kissing her until her knees buckled in—that would have been both rude and awkward—so she lied.

"I see..." Weiss hummed, buying Ruby's little white lie. "Allow me to repeat myself then."

"Okay?"

"Take the prize money. Go on, take it."

"Wait, back up—what?"

Weiss held a thick envelope up to Ruby and said, "I meant what I said on that stage. I'm not here for the money."

"Think about what you're saying for a sec!"

Weiss shifted her weight from her left foot to her right, sighing in aggravation. "Do you want it or not?"

Shaking her head, Ruby struggled to decline the life changing amount held in front of her. "That's thirty-five grand you're waving there."

"So?" Weiss deadpanned.

"'So'? That's all you can say? 'So'?!" The exasperated redhead smacked her forehead wondering if the woman was for real. "That's an insane amount! You can do so much with that."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "This? This is pocket money to me—'chump change' as you young people call it these days. Now you can either accept my generosity or I give this cheque to the next halfwit that walks past me. Oh, I see one coming. Excuse me, sir—"

"I'll take it! I'll take it, alright?" Ruby said finally giving in to temptation and taking the envelope. The triumphant huntress smirked. "But can you tell me why at least? Because there has to be a reason..."

"You deserve it," Weiss answered smoothly, her demeanor changing to a more inviting stance. "Your painting was beautiful. And I must begrudgingly admit that you should have won."

"Wow," Ruby gasped, a deep blush flourishing on her cheeks. "So are you—I mean so is yours, thank you... Ugh, why am I so awkward?"

"People tend to get tongue tied in my presence. I take it as a compliment." Weiss didn't wait for Ruby to comment. She smiled politely and bid her farewell. "My business with you is complete, so I shall be going now. Take care, Ruby Rose. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future."

"You take care of yourself, too."

The memory of Weiss walking away stayed with Ruby throughout her five hour flight home. While her trip as a whole was uneventful, meeting Weiss was something she could have never expected. She had stirred something slumbering deep within Ruby's subconscious. Something she never knew laid inside her until that day. It was a strange and mystifying sensation that was hard to describe. She supposed it was closest to the term "desire", mostly because she felt something remotely similar when she really wanted a sandwich. Or maybe that was a craving? Whatever the case was, Ruby was happy to feel it.

That joy, however, died the moment she walked into her apartment and found her boyfriend having breakfast with another woman—her friend and former mentor, Pyrrha Nikos.

Ruby couldn't believe her eyes. "Jaune, what's going on here?"

"Ruby, you're home early!" he gasped in surprise. "I-I wasn't expecting you home till later."

"Pyrrha...?" she said turning to the other woman with hurt in her eyes. "I was only gone for three days."

"I can explain!" Jaune said as he clambered to the door. He desperately grabbed her arm, but Ruby instinctively ripped it away with a strength she never knew she had and slapped him with just as much force.

"Don't you dare touch me!" Ruby screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Okay, I deserved that," Jaune groaned as he rubbed his throbbing cheek, tears lining the edges of his eyes. "Could you calm down? You're making a scene."

"Screw you! You don't get to tell me that," the scorned woman seethed. "After everything I've done for, all the things I put up with... You... How could you do this to me?"

"Please just let me explain," he said trying to quell her rage. "Let's just sit down and talk."

"Are you going to tell me you didn't mean to accidentally screw Pyrrha behind my back?!" Ruby shouted. "Or maybe you're going to drop the 'I never really loved you' line. Oh that's rich, you really had me going there."

"Ruby, I do love you!" Jaune professed. "I really do!"

"How could you, Jaune?" Ruby asked in a much quieter voice, her anger all but gone. "I trusted you. I-I thought..."

"Please, just let me explain!"

Ruby shot murderous glare at the woman sitting in her chair, wearing her robe, and drinking coffee out of her mug. It was obvious what happened during her absence, and it made her sick just thinking about it.

"There's nothing here that needs to be clarified," Ruby chuckled snidely. "I was finally out of the way, so you went out to play."

"No, that isn't what—"

"Save it, vomit boy." Ruby held her hand up to his face signaling the end of their conversation. "I wouldn't put out, so you found someone else who would. Good for you. Good for the both of you."

"Please listen, I—"

"I'll have someone come get my things within the week," she said, wiping her tears away. "You won't see me again. Don't contact me. Ever. I won't bother you, so don't bother me."

"Ruby, please!"

"I hope you two the best," the vexed redhead said with a sweet smile. She pushed Jaune back into the dingy apartment and slammed the door shut behind her. Hearing him curse her name made her recall a small, unimportant issue they tackled as a couple. Without notice, she reopened the door accidentally knocking Jaune back down when she poked her head in. "Forgot to mention something really important: I didn't pay the rent yet. Get a job, you hobo. Bye Pyrrha, he's your problem now."

Saying those final words may have been immature of her, but they felt far too satisfying for her to regret. She had been supporting them both for the past year and a half, working two part-time jobs and freelancing on the side. Jaune had quit his dead-end job on a belief that he would do better being his own boss. He had plans to start his own business, and Ruby had foolishly believed in him and his dreams like a naive girl in love would. She dropped out of University, took any job that would have her and went from there. But now she was free with more money in the bank than she knew what do with.

The first step she took as an independent woman felt great. Just like how she felt on the stage when Don offered to buy her painting, Ruby was ready for success to come her way. But the further away she drew from her old life and closer to her new one, the harder it was to breathe.

Ruby was an absolute mess by the time she exited the apartment complex. She sunk to her knees using her suitcase for support as she cried. She heaved and sputtered endlessly as she fumbled with her smartphone. The lock screen was a picture she took of Jaune sleeping soundly with his teddy bear the morning she left. Ruby thought it was adorable then, but now it was a memento that needed to burn.

"Come on you stupid piece of junk," Ruby hissed as she impatiently swiped her thumb across the screen. "Unlock! Unlock God damn you!"

After five failed attempts, Ruby managed to unlock her phone and navigate a trembling finger towards her contact list. She scrolled down to the bottom and called the one person she knew who would never let her down.

"Hey, Ruby! Are you finally back in town? Do you need a ride home?"

Ruby wiped away her tears feeling slightly better after hearing her sister's voice. "Y-Yeah, I'm back home. And I do need a ride, can you come get me?"

"Yeah. Sure. Definitely... Is everything alright?" Yang asked sounding worried. "Where are you?"

"I'm not alright," Ruby sobbed quietly. "I'm... I'm in front of my apartment. Please come quick."

"I'm already in the car. I'll be there in fifteen, sit tight."

"Thanks, sis."

"I'll stay on the—get out of my way, asshole! Yeah, yeah fuck you, too, kumquat—sorry about that, Rubes."

Ruby laughed at her sister's road rage and said, "If you get a ticket, I got it covered."

"Hah! The pigs actually have to catch me first!" Yang boasted proudly. "Hang tight, I'm almost there."

Between Yang's reassuring words and colourful roadside commentary, Ruby found herself feeling unnervingly serene after the shock subsided. In truth she knew her relationship was doomed for quite some time now. They didn't have much in common, could never agree on anything, and she was sure he secretly resented her for excelling in all the things he failed to accomplish during school. Ruby laughed at that last thought.

She had so many good memories of her time with Jaune before their romantic relationship started. He was her first friend in a scary new world, and she was eternally grateful for his patience and understanding. He was her best friend, her first love—was it really even love? Ruby thought abruptly. She scratched the top of her head trying to recall the truth, but nothing came to mind. Oddly enough, her thoughts quickly left her problematic relationship behind and gravitated towards a certain mysterious stranger with the haunting gaze.

True to her word, Yang was front of Ruby's apartment within fifteen minutes. The familiar yellow sports sedan with black racing stripes, aptly named "Bumblebee", was a sight for sore eyes; Ruby couldn't wait to get away. Yang got out of her car, her signature wild blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail, and charged towards Ruby, embracing her immediately.

"I missed you!" Yang said, throttling her little sister from side to side.

"I missed you, too." Ruby frantically clawed at her sister's shoulders, mindful of the older woman's treasured golden mane. "Yang, can't breathe! Can't breathe!"

"Oh, whoopies." Yang set Ruby down gently, and held her an arm's length away to get a proper look at her sibling. "You look like shit. What happened?" she asked completely serious.

"It's a long story," Ruby mumbled. "Can we get out of here please?"

Like the amazing sister she was, Yang didn't question Ruby and led her to the car. She insisted on putting Ruby's luggage in the trunk despite vehement opposition from the owner.

"I can do it!" Ruby said stubbornly.

Yang hoisted the large suitcase off the ground and pointed towards the empty front seat of her car. "Sit your butt down, I got this."

"But your back!"

"My back is fine," Yang said confidently. "Get in the car!"

"At least let me help you—"

"It's in the trunk already!" Yang proclaimed victoriously with a wide grin.

"You are impossible!"

Yang snickered at her sister's flustered face as she got into the driver's seat. "Impossibly awesome? Yeah, I know."

"Blake is going to kill you when she finds out," Ruby chided the stubborn as a mule woman. "Didn't you spend a week on the futon last time?"

"She won't know as long as you don't tell her!"

"I am so going to tell her."

"Ruby, no!" Yang desperately yelled.

The redhead's smirk widened. "Ruby, yes!"

Yang threw her hands up and seceded. She didn't like arguing with her sister, even more so when she made a valid point. Lifting that case was probably a bad idea—scratch that, it was definitely a bad idea. Yang winced as a sudden sharp sting sent violent ripples of pure agony down her spine. The dry, all-knowing look Ruby sent her way made the pain practically unbearable.

"Don't you dare say it," the prideful blonde groaned. Her fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Ruby clicked her tongue and looked away. "I'm not going to say anything. That face your making is going to do it for me."

There wasn't much Yang could say against her sister's claim. Everyone acquainted with her knew how prideful she was and how stubborn she could get. But those closest to her understood that the truth went deeper than that.

Yang had her reasons. She needed to be strong, to be invulnerable and undefeated, to become the rock everyone needed to stay grounded. It wasn't narcissism that pushed her to such lengths. She just to be someone who could protect her little sister. So when faced against Ruby, the mighty lioness reverted to a timid cub with no fight.

"But since you came to get me, I guess I could do you a solid and cover for you." Ruby sent her ecstatic sibling a sidelong glance. "Just take it easy, alright?"

"Who are you and what have you done with my baby sister?" Yang returned the look with suspicion.

Shrugging, Ruby went back to watching the scenery pass by.

They remained in a comfortable silence for the duration of the drive. Yang could tell by the far-off look on Ruby's face that the younger woman needed some space to think. Normally the drive back to her house would take twenty to thirty minutes, but Yang took extra turns to purposely drag out the time they spent on the road. Ruby noticed that they were closer to the city limits than the blonde's home and smiled. It was moments like these that made tolerating her sister's excessive overprotectiveness worthwhile.

Yang shut the radio and the air-conditioning off, and rolled down their windows. Startled by the wind suddenly whipping her hair back, Ruby instinctively looked to her big sister for answers. She opened her mouth to say something, but the way Yang looked forward without so much as a glance her way told Ruby all she needed to know. The heartbroken redhead went back to resting her head on her folded over arms, enjoying the fresh air rushing past her. She took in a deep breath to clear her head and free her of all thought. It worked for an astonishing two seconds before Jaune wormed his way back in.

She had spent the time waiting for Yang crying her heart out. She wasn't too sad their relationship was over. It surprised her how little she cared about that. In fact she was actually quite relieved. While Jaune didn't outright pressure her to take their intimacy further, she could tell the desire to was there. From the way he looked at her to the way he held onto a hug a couple seconds too long, she knew it was only a matter of time.

The thought of sleeping with Jaune left a sour taste in her mouth. She cared about him, he was also fairly attractive, so why didn't she feel that same desire? Desire. There it was again. Her thoughts involving Weiss were intense, and made the act she denied her former boyfriend sound so simple and natural. Kisses were no longer forced or used as a sign of gratitude. Instead they were done for her own pleasure and tasted sweeter than ambrosia. And the feather light touches that once made her skin crawl, were now sensual and enticing.

She was correct in her earlier assumption that what she felt was a craving. The things that came to mind when she thought of Weiss were like the scenes in romance movies where the protagonist was in bed with their love interest for the first time. There was a sense of apprehension when they stared into each other's eyes before they kissed, and then that first touch... Ruby wanted that. She wanted that with Weiss, a complete stranger she may never meet again. But that was more than enough to satisfy the question she had lingering in the back of her mind since junior high school.

"Yang," Ruby called quietly.

"Yeah?"

Ruby closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I think I'm interested in women."

"I know," Yang replied with a knowing smile.

"I also met someone," Ruby sadly continued, her voice trembling as she spoke. "But I don't think I'll ever see her again."

"Don't worry. If it's meant to be, I'm sure you'll see her again."

"I hope so, Yang..."

The sound of Ruby's sobs were carried away by the wind before they could reach Yang's ears. Yet despite Ruby's stillness, Yang could still tell her sister was crying. The young woman was finally growing up, and Yang couldn't be any prouder.

One Year Later

A lot had happened since Ruby said goodbye to Jaune. Some good, some bad, but overall she was happy. When the news spread about the break-up, people Ruby had lost contact with over the years were suddenly back giving their full support. Ruby was ecstatic to have someone other than Yang or Blake to talk to again. And thanks to the money from the competition, Ruby got to check off several items on her list of independence.

The first thing she invested on was a new-to-her car. She had relied on Jaune's rustbucket to get around before, but now she was cruising in style in a vehicle she had always dreamed of owning. It was amazing being behind the wheel. She could go anywhere whenever she wanted without having to ask permission or worry about wasting gas. Surprisingly, the activities she enjoyed the most were mundane, day-to-day things. Grocery shopping was probably her favourite.

Ruby had always dreaded it, because each trip would became all about Jaune's allergies and Pyrrha's latest health kick. But now it was as a breeze since she didn't have to listen to him whine for hours on end. It was a literal load off her back shopping by herself.

Sadly, the smell of freedom soon lost it's allure. After the first two months of being a single woman, Ruby was at a loss. Her passion for art had waned and lost its appeal, so she decided to quit pursuing it as a career. There were a number of reasons that contributed to this decision, two of which were out of her control. Even if her bank account was in the six digit range, painting materials were still expensive and required a lot space, space she no longer had since she now lived with her sister and her girlfriend, Blake.

So to keep her skills from rusting, Ruby pulled out her trusty sketchbook and pencils. Now this was a great compromise at first. Ruby got to continue being an artist, and at the same time didn't take up precious space. However, what she soon realized was that not even her art was safe from her infatuation with Weiss Schnee.

This was the final deciding factor that made her quit. Ruby needed to forget Weiss, not fall deeper in love with her. She couldn't keep torturing herself over a woman she would probably never meet again. But page after page, book after book—all filled with sketches of Weiss—it was becoming clear to Ruby that her heart was not willing to let this one go. So she let it be and stopped fighting. If her heart was happy keeping the futile feelings alive, then Ruby might as well make use of it.

Her flourishing social life came with many positive benefits that helped get her life back on track. She tried new things, talked to more people, and eventually found the courage to confront the crippling depression that voraciously sapped away her will to live and vanquished it—though this was only a passing comment from Blake during dinner. Ruby wasn't even aware of how miserable she seemed to those she cared about until that point. From there, she decided it was time to change and let go of all her emotional baggage. Sadly, the a horde of suitors suddenly vying for her attention did not count as "baggage".

Ruby had grown confident over this time and turned each person down, and when asked for a reason she would answer honestly. She was in love with someone else. However, not everyone got the message. One man was particularly persistent and refused to take "No" for an answer. Thankfully, Yang's fiery temper had him limping away in terror. Accepting her newly realized sexual identity was scary at first, but thanks to her friends' and family's support she wore it like a badge of courage.

Speaking of Yang and Blake, it was nice living with them. But Ruby couldn't shake the feeling that she was intruding. She needed something to keep her out of the house for long periods of time without offending her gracious hosts. Ruby thought long and hard, but decided that the best solution to her problem was to rectify the biggest mistake she had ever made: dropping out of school.

Between working her dead-end jobs and painting, Ruby always made sure to leave time to review her textbooks. She had it all memorized by heart now, and was itching to showcase her knowledge. She was so close to earning her bachelor's degree in engineering when she left. So Ruby figured that the obvious course of action for her was to finish what she started. But the problem now was if she was ready to.

The answer to Ruby's new dilemma was her old friend Penny, who coincidentally was also her youngest friend. Penny had recently graduated high school and was going to the same university this coming fall. It was a stroke of good luck for both young women since neither had any friends doing the same.

Ruby pulled her sleeve back to look at her wristwatch for the twentieth time that hour. She was standing outside of Tukson's Book Trade waiting for Penny's shift to end. The girl should have been done half an hour ago, but a couple of teenagers no older than her refused leave. They were looking for a specific series and had Tukson, the owner, scour the backroom for it. He couldn't leave the store unattended, so he asked if Penny wouldn't mind staying until the matter was settled. And Penny being the most dutiful of employees agreed without hesitation.

"So bored!" Ruby groaned loudly, dragging both hands down her face. She peeked into the store window to check up on the situation, but nothing had changed. Inside was a young man with silver hair. He was flipping through a comic book, laughing hysterically, while the green haired woman beside him berated Penny. "Oh come on! Just leave already!"

The one reading the comic book looked up and saw Ruby making weird face at them. He nudged the girl beside him to look back, but Ruby had quickly moved out of sight when she got spotted.

"That was way too close," Ruby breathed.

Ruby closed her eyes and sighed. She hated waiting. If she had known this was going to happen, she would have stayed in her car or something else—anything would have been a better use of her time than whatever it was she was currently doing.

With her patience officially drained, Ruby decided to go to the café across the street. She had passed it many times before, but never once went in. It had this high-class, sophisticated look to it that deterred Ruby whenever she set eyes on it. Maybe it was the fancy layered maroon brick exterior, or the pretentious window box planters growing red roses, or the snooty royal blue curtains, but the café "Fleur-de-lis" unsettled her. However, Ruby was thirsty and the only other option was an infamous coffee franchise. Ruby wasn't about to waste money on overpriced coffee. She was smarter than that.

"Snooty Café better have soda," she grumbled to herself as she looked both ways to cross the street.

And that was when she saw her.

"Weiss..." Ruby gasped. "It's Weiss..."

Sitting at the table closest to the cafe's large window, was the woman who had haunted her dreams for the past year. Ruby's thoughts and feelings had diminished slowly over the course of time, but she could never really forget about her.

Honk!

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