The rain outside the grassy town inn was relentless and cold. The thunder was yawning, as if it had just woken up from a long and restful slumber. *ding dong* came the sound of the doorbell slowly opening. In walked a group of four, just in time to avoid the ruthless weather and take shelter for the night.
Ruby briskly stepped up to the counter. "Hi, umm, a room for four please." she said.
"Certainly, I'll bill you shortly, you all look exhausted." replied the inn keeper. "Take a seat and I'll bring your key over to you."
All of team RNJR sat down at a wooden table, resting their equipment down at the side of each other.
"Ahh finally a chance to rest." came Jaune, stretching his arms in the air, his seat positioned near a log fire. This was the first time the heroes had a warm place to sit and recover from a long and tiring trek.
"Ooooh I could sleep for decades!" claimed Nora, raising her hands in the air and then slowly letting herself slump forward as she crossed them into a makeshift pillow.
Ren simply looked at Nora and shook his head.
"Relax Ren" chuckled Jaune, "Now we can actually have a nice quiet talk without random bursts of singing, laughter and long, rambling chit chat."
"Heeeeyy!" Nora raising an eyebrow up to look at Jaune in utter distaste before closing her eyes gently to sleep.
Ruby smiled and gave a complimentary chuckle. The Inn keeper brought over the key for their rooms. Four beds, just as they had asked. "Thank you" said Ruby as she extended her right hand and took the key.
"Wow you are freezing sweetie, go and warm your hands by the fire if you are cold." smiled the Inn keeper slowly making his way back to the counter.
Ruby smiled in response before looking down at her hand, imagining the spirited fiery blaze heating up her entire body. Attempting to move her fingers was proving to be a difficult. Then, all too abruptly, she stopped smiling. Her eyes staring stone cold at her right arm, she began frowning.
"Ruby?" asked Jaune. "Is everything okay?"
"It's...it's nothing really, just been thinking a lot lately about home and Yang and Dad and everything." her attempt at sounding normal withering into dullness and sadness in her voice. "Well..mainly Yang"
"Your sister is tough" replied Jaune. "She won't let this get her down...I'm sure of it"
For a split second Ruby smiled before hearing Ren speak.
"I actually agree with Jaune" Ruby looked over. "Even with one hand she could still more than handle anything put in front of her." he said matter-of-factly as only Ren could.
"Well..not everything.." said Ruby averting the gaze of Ren and Jaune as they looked at each other before looking back at Ruby.
"What do you mean?" asked Jaune
The 3 sat in silence as Ruby was contemplating bringing up the subject. Subject's name? Yang's personal feelings. Ruby has been with Yang most of her life. She knows her like the back of her hand. To peer into her thoughts and feelings were not too difficult - mostly because she was an open book. However Ruby always seemed to understand what was going through Yang's mind even if her blonde sibling herself didn't have a clue.
The little red-hooded girl sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. Nothing in Yang's world ever is.
"Guess I should start at the beginning then" spoke Ruby as Jaune and Ren intently listened on.
-FlashBack-
"Aww that's sooo cuttteeee!" teased past Yang, receiving a face full of pillow from her baby sister.
"Shut up!" barked past Ruby "I didn't get to take my friends with me to school, it's weird not knowing anyone here."
"What about..Jaune?" past Yang asked sheepishly "He seems...uh..nice.." in a barely qualifying tone of voice.
Present Jaune " Wait a second sorry to butt in here but..that's what she said!?...she said that about me?!REALLY!?"
Present Ruby "QUIET JAUNE I'M TELLING A STORY!...ahem."
Ruby continued on her story of how Yang continued to tease her about friends and enemies until she spotted..her.
"That girl.." peeped Ruby looking up from her bed.
"You know her?" Yang asked suddenly her face lighting up.
"Not really, she kind of saw what happened this morning and left before I could say anything."
Yang sensed an opportunity and took it. "Well now's your chance!" rhapsodized Yang, bringing herself and her little sister to their feet. Ruby never saw her big sis move fast enough from one location to another, her social awkwardness beginning to make animations across her own face. gulp
"Hellloooo!" came cheerfully from Yang as Ruby saw the raven-haired girl peep up from her book. Ruby could do anything but look her in the eyes. Instead she focused on being awkward before eventually turning to face the new girl.
Throughout the conversation Ruby noticed something strange about her sister conversing with this particular stranger. It wasn't her socializing or getting to know someone - Yang is very social enough as it is - it was more why she decided to try and hold the conversation the way she did. Yang never compliments girls that way at least not the way Yang did this evening. She went overboard. To Ruby something seemed different yetshe couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
After the lights went out Ruby and Yang went back to their beds and crashed down onto them.
"You know, I can sock that little white haired brat in the mouth next time if you want." grumbled Yang as she set her head down to sleep on the pillow.
"Shhh" shushed Ruby "You're only making things worse this evening."
"Like making Miss sunshine and rainbows over there your new friend?" said Yang, yawning and stretching herself to sleep.
"Pretty sure she hates me too now. Thank you very much" Ruby pouted. One awkward and docile friend, two enemies and an annoying big sister who snores way too loud - great start Ruby
Silence came from both of them before Ruby finally decided to ask Yang about what she noticed earlier.
"Yang?" she asked quietly not to disturb everyone around her.
"Zzzzz..snk...snk...yes sis..what is it?" she groaned.
"Why did you make me go over and speak with her?"
"Hmm..why not?" replied Yang
"You never speak to other girls that way, the way you spoke, the things you said about her. They were just too nice." she faintly said "Also your face was glowing the whole time, like it was lighting up the entire room."
"..."
"..Yang?" notice Ruby.
"..I..just go to sleep Ruby, it's late" said Yang.