Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
A long time ago, in a land whose name is lost to time …
"Take care of your sister!"
"Of course," the slightly shrill voice called back, resigned to the inevitable responsibility.
The golden-haired widow beamed at her two daughters as they scampered off into the woods that ringed their cottage. The family lived deep in the woods, far away from any prying eyes, for that was how the widow liked it. Every day, the girls would play in the forest and every day the widow would go hunting. She finished strapping on her gauntlets as her eldest chased the youngest, lip pouting as the girl stomped her foot in anger.
The widow had loved and loved young, and she had been gifted with two beautiful daughters. One was as red and lively as a summer's rose, the other as pale and brittle as the winter's frost. Both were beautiful in their way, as different as the moon and the stars, yet still they loved each other dearly.
Their mother watched as Ruby finally let Weiss catch her, grabbing the pale hand before dragging her older sister down the path. Ruby had always been the lively one, running before she could walk, practicing until she could climb every tree she saw. Weiss had been born with a scowl, disapproving of the entire process by which she had come into the world.
The widow grinned. She had reason to be happy. Her daughters were nearly grown, proud young women in her eyes, and yet even now they held the other's hand as they braved the world around them. She watched as they vanished into the trees, hands clasped together, as they always were.
Just as the day before – and the day before that – when night fell, the two girls emerged from the darkness. Ruby's knees soiled and scabbed beneath her skirt, Weiss' patience clearly frayed. Yet one pale hand still kept the death grip on her sister's, and the widow had to pry them apart to eat their dinner.
That night, as every night, she sat her daughters before the roaring fire and read to them, spectacles perched on the tip of her nose as she spun tales for her children. Just before they fell asleep, she told them what she had always told them.
"One day you will be grown, and you will go out into the world. Eventually, you will find a path you both can't walk down. You will find others to love, you will marry, and you will have daughters of your own."
That night, as every night, Ruby pouted, her hand reaching for her sister's. Clutching the older girl to her side, Ruby would glare up at her mother, hard and defiant, before turning to her sister.
"I will never leave you."
As always, Weiss tried not to meet her sister's stare, mumbling off into the corner.
"Who said I'd let you go?"
The widow smiled, her blonde tresses falling across her daughters as she hugged them, ignoring the gasps and flailing arms as they fought to escape her crushing arms.
She saw them into bed, Ruby happily snuggling under the covers. Only after she was sure her little sister was asleep would Weiss wrap her arms around the younger girl, holding her as she dreamed.
One night, in the dead of winter, the widow called for her girls to join her before the fire. The expected sigh came as Weiss rose from her books, perching on the loveseat with her chin resting on her hand. Never one to waste an opportunity, Ruby leapt over the leather arm, legs kicking lazily in the air as her head landed in her sister's lap.
The beautiful widow began to read, her words summoning images of heroes long dead, of villains justly vanquished, and of loves that would never end. Weiss' hand absently stroked her sister's hair as Ruby's eyes slid shut, dreaming of grand conquests and adventures.
A knock intruded on their domestic bliss, repeating as someone hammered at on their door. The widow closed her book with a snap as she rose, knuckles cracking.
"I'll get it!" cheered Ruby, head popping off the pillow of her sister's legs, vaulting over the couch to unbolt the door.
The door swung open, and a young woman collapsed into Ruby's arms. Blood dripped from beneath her black locks, sliding down her face and staining Ruby's shirt.
"Please..." she croaked, before falling into unconsciousness.
"Mom!" Ruby cried, struggling to hold the larger girl.
"Weiss, go get the first-aid kit," the widow ordered, hands already rolling up her sleeves.
"No."
Ruby stared at her sister, the word failing to make sense in her mind.
"Weiss, we have to help her."
"You don't help an injured monster. You put them down."
"That's enough," the widow said, voice flat and calm. Weiss heard the disappointment, storming off towards the fire as mother and daughter cared for their new charge. The widow took needle and thread to the poor Faunus' wounds as Ruby stood by, playing her role as nurse only a little too seriously. Every touch of the needle caused the injured woman to flinch, eyes moving frantically behind closed lids. A hand grabbed Ruby's, crushing it to relieve some of the pain. The little girl in red bit her lip and squeezed back, doing what little she could to help.
Finally, the widow wiped her brow, the raven-haired Faunus no longer in immediate danger. Ruby still sat by the girl's side, eyes wide with worry. The widow patted her daughter' head, doing what she could to console her. Ruby brushed stray hairs out of their patient's face as the widow left, closing the door behind her.
Weiss stood ramrod-straight before the hearth, her white clothes glowing against the fiery glow.
"Why would you help her? Why would you care what happened to a filthy Faunus!"
"I said that's enough, Weiss."
"They killed dad! Ruby might be too young to remember, but you expect me to just forget what they did?"
The widow looked into her elder daughter's eyes, distraught at the lack of compassion that met her gaze.
"Not every Faunus is a killer, and not every human is a saint."
Weiss glared back, her anger useless against the widow's calm. Huffing, she whirled on her heel, skirt swishing behind her as she turned. The angry young woman stalked into the other room, plopping herself down in the corner, her most disapproving scowl burned into her face. There she sat, keeping her silent vigil throughout the night, determined to keep her little sister safe.
The young woman woke with a start, her vision swimming as blood rushed to her head. Small hands pushed her back down, wiping her face before stroking her hair. She blinked, trying to see who was
A girl stared back, her chopped black hair streaked with red, grey eyes staring down at her. The worried face splint into a grin as the Faunus forced her eyes to focus, looking up at the person who was holding her down.
"It's okay," Ruby said, her hand stroking the Faunus' head again, "You're safe."
"Where am I?"
"Our house," the little red girl said unhelpfully, "I'm Ruby." The Faunus groaned, resigned to her helplessness.
Ruby's hand accidentally brushed Blake's ears, and the Faunus jerked out of reach, her head reeling from the sudden movement.
"I'm so sorry," the young girl apologized immediately, her hands snapping back to her lap. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's okay," Blake forced out. It wasn't the girl' s fault, and snapping at her wouldn't do any good. "They're just touchy."
Ruby nodded emphatically, her hands reach out to hold Blake's. The Faunus forced herself to still. It was probably meant to be comforting. The girl clearly wasn't about to hurt her. Blake gave the fingers a squeeze before pulling hers free, struggling to force herself to rise. Ruby immediately moved to help, hands safely on blood-smeared shoulders as she pulled the Faunus upright. Blake sagged back against the couch, head pounding, legs aching. She ran through her injuries, surprised to find they hurt less than they had the previous night. Either the little red girl was an accomplished nurse, or there was someone else here.
"How is she?"
The new voice made the hairs on Blake's neck stand on end, and she whipped her head around to find the newcomer. Fighting the urge to vomit, Blake found herself staring at a tall, blonde woman, a scowling girl in white standing not far behind her. Blake gulped. The blonde was built like a tank, abs showing beneath the hem of her shirt, muscles rippling in her arms when she moved. The other girl had her hand firmly set on the hilt that rode against her hip, her eyes narrowed threateningly at the Faunus.
"Sorry about the blood," Blake managed to
"Don't worry about it," the blond woman waved her hand dismissively, "It'll come out."
Ruby's head dipped as she fought to keep her eyes open
"Ruby, you need to rest."
The little red girl pouted, her attempt at stubbornness ruined by a mammoth yawn.
"Weiss, take your sister to bed."
The older sister balked, her eyes snapping to her mother before coming back to glare at Blake. "I'm not leaving you alone with her."
The blonde turned her head to look at Weiss, one eyebrow raised.
"You really think she's a threat to me?"
Weiss blushed, then nodded sleepily. Pale arms wrapped around the red cloak as she dragged her sister off to bed.
The woman sighed as the door shut behind them, flopping down onto the arm of the couch before looking over at Blake.
"You can call me Yang."
"Blake."
"Any pain?"
"Some."
Yang nodded, and pulled a small flask out of her pocket. She handed it to the Faunus, knowing better than to try and make her drink.
Blake sniffed the flask, the sharp-sweet smell of brandy flooding the overly sensitive nose. Bringing the alcohol to her lips, she drank, the liquid burning its way down her throat. She coughed lightly, the motion making her side ache.
"Don't tell the girls," the blonde winked, pulling the bottle from Blake's fingers and sliding the bottle back into her jeans.
"What happened to the older girl?" Blake asked impulsively, the alcohol and the head wound destroying what tact she had.
"Why do you ask?"
"If you hated Faunus, I wouldn't be here, and Ruby probably wouldn't be so worried about me," "That means something happened to her."
Yang sighed, her head lolling back onto the soft leather.
"The White Fang killed their father." Blake felt what little remained of her stomach churn. It explained by Weiss was so nervous around her and why she shot daggers at Blake whenever Ruby got close.
The widow continued, her voice barely showing the old wounds Blake had re-opened. "Ruby barely remembers him, but Weiss adored him. She was her father's daughter, through and through."
"And she blames all of us for his death." Blake finished. Of the reasons she'd heard for anti-Faunus prejudice, the loss of a loved one was among the few she could understand.
The young mother sighed again, slipping to flask out of her pocket for a hefty swig.
"We're not responsible for every member of our species. I'm sure plenty of Faunus see humans the same way, and not without reason."
Blake nodded silently, the blonde's words cutting just a little too close. She sighed, the wound in her side twinging as she breathed.
"Thank you. I'll leave tomorrow when the storm lets up."
"I doubt Ruby would let you get farther than the front door," Yang rolled her eyes, the skepticism on her face as plain as day. "Even if she did, you wouldn't make it more than a mile or two with those wounds." Yang patted her good leg, smiling reassuringly. "You can stay here as long as you need."
"Thanks."
The widow stood, her blonde hair flowing behind her as she straightened. "I wouldn't worry too much about Weiss. She'll come around eventually, even if she is kicking and screaming."
Blake nodded wordlessly, not nearly as confident in the daughter's ability to forgive.
Chapter End Notes
Decided to take a short break from Premium Well so I could get more of the plot set down. In the meantime, I give you this little piece of work. The story is derived from the fairy tale Snow-White and Rose-Red. As always, any and all characters from RWBY are the property of RoosterTeeth Productions and Monty Oum.