Thanks so much for the support on chapter 1! I never expected such a response! I can't thank you all enough!
A/N: A comment from now after I've seen volume 2, this story was written before then, so there is no mention of Winter here.
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Chapter 2.
I'm so happy just to have you here. Smiles bringing sunshine, worries disappear.
All throughout middle school, they never really changed.
Ruby and Yang would be sure to walk on the opposite side of the street, always running to where Blake and Weiss stood waiting for them. They had been inseparable since their elementary days, and therefore were even more so by their high school years.
When Yang, Blake, and Weiss were fourteen, they moved on to their respective high schools; Yang attended Beacon High whereas the other two headed for Signal. It was tough for Yang to have to leave Ruby behind in middle school, but the campus for the high school was only a several-minute walk away.
Although Blake and Weiss had to go a bit more out of their way in order to meet up with the other sisters on their way to their own school, they had gotten into the routine of waking up earlier so that they may do so and still get to class on time.
Shroud – the once-tiny black kitten who had more or less brought the bunch together – was no longer so tiny. Over the years of generous feeding thanks to the group of girls, the cat had grown into a fine animal, lithe and agile while still being plump enough to be notably healthy for a stray.
The girls continued to pass the days, Ruby trying to catch up to Yang as the blonde told her to stop growing up so quickly.
"Though, I think the princess could do with a little more growing, if you ask me," Yang teased.
Weiss had hit her on the head with the textbook she was carrying.
For a time, everything was normal, and they were happy.
Almost as if it was all too perfect.
It was halfway through Yang's sixteenth year and Ruby's fourteenth when the younger sister's behavior notably changed.
They were going to the same high school now, so Ruby was able to see her sister again during the class-time hours and her best friends on the ways to and from school.
But Yang started to notice some things, probably even before Ruby did.
Her little sister always walked to school in between Weiss and herself, and Blake would often stick close to her adoptive sister's other side or occasionally sneak over to Yang if Weiss was lecturing Ruby too loudly.
The youngest of the group would always pout or whimper whenever Weiss yelled at her, but she almost never yelled back – on the few occasions that she did, she realized her mistakes without Yang having to address the issue, and always apologized the next time they met.
Weiss only ever yelled if she was exasperated or worried; in either case it was only when she was concerned for Ruby.
They had never had a fight like most teenage friends did, and there was very little drama between them, save for the scolding if Ruby forgot her homework or performed poorly on an exam. Weiss had become her personal tutor, it seemed, keeping the brunette in line and remarkably in one of the top positions in her class, grade-wise.
But she was also a good friend.
Yang noted how Weiss always made it a point to wait for Ruby if she needed to stay after school. If Ruby had to stay home sick, Weiss would demand that Yang take better care of her so that she could see her again as soon as possible.
Her role in Ruby's life was like that of a mentor and a companion all in one, and Yang could tell this girl cared for her sister deeply.
But one morning, she started to notice how Ruby would purposefully keep some distance between Weiss and herself.
When Weiss tried to help her study verbally, the "uhh" and "um" responses on Ruby's part were less from uncertainty of the answer, and more from discomfort.
Whenever Weiss asked a more casual question, like if Ruby had been to the new sweets shop in her town, the reply was short and with forced enthusiasm.
It went on for several days, and each time, Yang grew a bit more concerned. Blake kept sending her worried looks as well; their sisters had always had a sturdy relationship, so what was amiss so suddenly?
It was clearly having an effect on Weiss as well.
When Ruby started keeping her physical distance, Weiss had pointedly moved closer until she realized the expanding space between them was intentional. When it was clear Ruby did not want to be next to her anymore, Weiss allowed the distance – begrudgingly at first – but soon it became more troubling to her.
It was when Ruby started keeping the emotional distance that Weiss began to change as well. Ruby was becoming more unresponsive, therefore Weiss became more discouraged to ask her things.
At first, the white-haired girl had been defiant, complaining that Ruby was speaking to her less often. But once she realized it was evidently a serious matter for the brunette, Weiss became quieter. The last thing she wanted to do was chase Ruby away, and if her loud, accusing words were a part of what did that, then she would stop speaking altogether if need be.
Blake had even voiced her fears to Yang, telling her how Weiss had started acting differently at home and in school.
Once it had been going on for a week, Weiss seriously started to worry something was wrong with Ruby. She pulled Yang aside after school one day when their sisters were feeding the cat. Yang expected what was coming, and yet she had no idea how to respond.
"What's wrong with her?" Weiss demanded, her mist-blue eyes sharp and piercing as she glared up at Yang. But the blonde could tell the anger in her eyes was only a barrier that masked her anxiety. Even Weiss could not keep the scowl on her face for very long, and her fists soon unclenched, posture slumping as she took a step back, lowering her voice and her gaze. "She's not acting normal. Something must have happened that I don't know about. Are you hiding things from me?" she growled.
"Of course not!" Yang said defensively. Weiss continued to glare up at her with eyes that threatened tears. "Well..." Yang grunted. "I actually... might have an idea of what's happening, but it's nothing you should be worried about. Not at all."
Weiss inhaled a sharp breath before swallowing thickly. Yang could tell she was doing her best not to cry now out of sheer frustration. Seeing that she was about to break, Yang quickly wrapped her arms around her.
In any other situation, Weiss probably would have shoved her away in embarrassment. But for now, she allowed the contact, well-aware that if she pulled away now, the others would see her crying, and that was not something she could allow.
Yang understood; as the big sister figure, they were not allowed to cry in front of the other two; if they cried, what were Ruby and Blake supposed to do?
Yang patted Weiss' shoulders as the girl let out her frustrated sobs into her shoulder. "What did I... What did I do wrong?" she choked.
Yang's heart went out to her; this girl truly cared for her sister.
It irked her a bit that Weiss was crying in her arms now without a clear cause. She bent down slightly, drawing a tissue from her pocket and dabbing it over Weiss' cheeks.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Weiss. I'll talk to Ruby, okay? Try not to worry."
The smaller girl sniffed once before nodding simply.
Yang gave her back a pat just as Blake noticed what was happening, she left Ruby – who was unaware of what was going on – to feed the cat before rushing over to Weiss.
"What's wrong?" she fretted. Technically-speaking, Blake was older than Weiss by a few months, and Yang could tell she had the "big sister" gene in her as well.
"It's nothing!" Weiss snapped. But her expression instantly changed when she realized she had spoken harshly again. "I'm... I'm sorry..."
"Why are you sorry?" Blake looked down at her before her fearful golden eyes met Yang's and then fell back to Weiss.
"I just... I don't want to scare you away, too..." she whispered.
"Scare me...?" Blake looked from Weiss back over her shoulder to Ruby, then helplessly to Yang, and back to Weiss. The last time Weiss had shown any of them tears was nearly six years ago when Blake had almost been hit by the car.
Clearly, if she was this distraught now, she was truly hurting.
"Hey," Yang murmured. "You're not scaring anyone away. Like I said, I'll talk to Ruby. You just go home and rest. Whatever it is, it's not your fault." She then turned to Blake who glanced up at her imploringly. "Take her home. And don't sweat it. I have a feeling there's nothing to worry about."
"Okay..." Blake appeared to relax a bit now in knowing Yang intended to address the matter with Ruby.
Blake eased Weiss slowly toward where the sidewalk split for them to take their path home. But before they left, Weiss turned back to face Yang and murmured, "Tell her I said goodnight..."
She was too upset to do it herself, Yang guessed, too worried Ruby might ignore her.
Yang gave a small smile to both girls before they headed off.
When they were out of sight, Ruby stood up.
"Okay Blake, Shroud's done eat-! Blake?" She looked around curiously. "Where did she go?"
"They both went home," Yang said slowly. "You didn't notice?"
"Not really..." Ruby saw the look in Yang's eyes and knew something was coming. Evidently, the cat sensed the tension on the air as well and dashed off into the garden.
Yang checked her cell phone for the time, decided they had enough to spare before their parents would start asking questions, and then motioned for Ruby to sit down on the rock wall. Her sister regarded her warily but obeyed, and Yang sat beside her.
"What is it?" Ruby asked.
"You know what."
"I don't! That's why I'm asking!"
Yang gave her a hard stare. "Why are you avoiding Weiss?"
At the mention of the white-haired girl, Ruby's composure was shattered.
"W-What? I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not avoiding her!"
"Is it because she lectures you?"
"No! I know she only yells because she cares about me."
"Then why are you avoiding her?"
"I'm not avoiding her!"
"Ruby..."
"What?! I don't know what you're talking about!"
She did seem confused, but Yang was not sure it was for the same reasons she thought it was.
"So you mean to tell me you didn't notice how she was feeling recently?"
"...What?"
Yang sighed. "You're not talking to her like you used to. And whenever we walk to school, you move away from her. When she asks you about your day, you've pretty much been ignoring her."
"I... I have? I didn't realize..." Ruby trailed off guiltily, eyes downcast. Judging by her reaction, Yang could tell she honestly had not been aware of what she was doing. Ruby could mope at times, but she was not one to hurt others intentionally, especially not Weiss.
The older sister continued in a gentler tone:
"Blake told me how depressed Weiss has been recently because you weren't talking to her."
"Depressed?!" Ruby cried.
"The past few nights, she hasn't been doing her homework properly. She got her worst grade ever on an exam, and she keeps skipping dinner to hide away in her room."
"And... And this is all because I wasn't talking to her?"
"Yes." Yang looked at her seriously. "That's what happens when you love someone. You worry about them constantly, and if they start to change and won't open up to you, you worry more and eventually shut down."
"But-! But we all love each other!" Ruby's eyebrows furrowed. "Remember the name we made when we were little? We're team RWBY! We're always gonna be together." Her tone lowered as she cast her eyes to the ground once more. "She's... she's that worried about me?"
"Yes. And you never text her, either. I think you should talk to her tomorrow. She just went home crying..."
"C-Crying?!" Ruby shrieked. She jumped up, making a move to dash after Weiss and Blake, but Yang grabbed her sleeve.
"Whoa, whoa, there Speedster!" She dragged Ruby back to her seat. "Instead of going after her and embarrassing her when you see her crying-" she searched Ruby's silver eyes and smiled a bit knowingly. "-how about you tell Big Sister Yang what's really going on here, hm?"
Ruby fell silent and started to fidget, twiddling her fingers in her trademark habit of nervousness. Yang waited patiently for what she knew was coming.
At last, Ruby looked up at her with a fierceness in her eyes that had never quite been there before.
"Yang... I think I... like Weiss."
Yang's lips broke out into a wide smile.
"Like, huh? Like how you like that Juaney boy?"
"No... he's just a friend," Ruby mumbled. "I think I... I like Weiss how Jaune likes Pyrrha."
"Only you have a much better shot."
"What?"
"Nothing!" Yang chirped. "So you mean you... like-like Weiss?"
"I..." Ruby fell silent. She had seen all the movies, heard all the lessons in health class, heard from other people about their relationships...
But Ruby had never felt this way toward anyone else. In fact, none of the four of them – as old as they were now – had ever dated anyone before, not even Yang.
"I don't know..." Ruby muttered. "I mean, we've been friends for so long and she's always looking out for me and helping me with everything and she always worries about me for the stupidest little things and I've just been so nervous around her lately and apparently that made her upset enough to cry and now I feel bad and I just really wanna go talk to her and-"
"Okay, lil sis. I think I get the point," Yang smirked. "You're head-over-heels in love with the princess~"
"I-I'm-!"
"Don't try to deny it! I kind of assumed that was the case, anyway."
"But... what if she doesn't like me back?"
Yang nearly fell off the rock wall.
"Ruby. Ruuuuby, Ruby, Ruby," she chuckled. "I think, of alllll the things to worry about in your fourteen-year-old life right now, Weiss liking you back is the last thing on the list."
"R... Really?" She looked up hopefully.
"Um, yes?! You might not notice the way she looks at you Ruby, but believe me, eeeeverybody else does. She likes you just as much as you like her, if not more. And you can take my word for it. Why else do you think you're the first one she speaks to whenever we meet up? Why do you think she rushes to you after school and asks about your day? Why do you think she tries to help you out with every little thing you do? Why do you think she worries so much and just went home crying? She cares about you a lot, Ruby. More than just friends do."
"...Then... Then you think-?"
"Ruby, I know," Yang reassured her. "So just... talk to her, okay? You don't need to confess right away, or anything like that. But just clear things up a bit. Let her know you're not mad at her and that she doesn't have to worry. And then, when the right time comes, you'll figure things out together about where to go from there."
Her words seemed to put Ruby at ease a bit.
"O...Okay. I'll do that." She nodded in determination. "You... You really think she likes me, too?"
"Trust me," she said, slinging an arm around her sister's shoulders. A moment passed as Ruby contemplated, long enough for an airplane's roar to pass by overhead before she nodded.
Yang grinned. "Now then, let's head on home, shall we?"
"Right!"
They jumped down to the sidewalk and began to walk as the twilight crept in around them.
Weiss was panicked all the next morning.
Ruby had sent her a text message the night before that read, "I need to talk to you tomorrow. In person."
Blake assumed Weiss was worried Ruby would be upset with her, and needed to coax Weiss out of the house, promising everything would be fine.
In the sixteen years she had been living under the Schnee's roof, Blake had never seen her adoptive sister so flustered before in all her life.
Presently, they were walking toward the usual meeting spot, Blake encouraging Weiss to lean on her for support as she rambled. "All I ever do is yell at her... What if they're moving away? What if I'll never get to see her again?"
Another thing that had never changed in the years she had known Weiss was how the white-haired girl loved to jump to conclusions of the worst-case scenario.
Blake thought it would have been a bit comical if Weiss had not been so truthfully unsettled by it all.
"Weiss, that's not what's happening. Everything's going to be fine. I promise." Blake believed in Yang's words enough to confirm them.
Weiss fell silent, trying to straighten her posture as they neared the garden. Shroud sat on the rock wall, tail swishing eagerly when she saw them approach. Ruby and Yang had yet to arrive, so Blake had Weiss sit down and feed the cat the scraps they had taken from last night's dinner.
"So carefree..." Weiss sighed, scratching beneath Shroud's chin. "If you had a house to stay in, you'd have the best life. You don't have to worry about your friends being dolts..."
Blake sat on the cat's other side and petted her as they waited.
A few minutes later, she looked up to see the other sisters approaching, and Weiss got to her feet slowly. Ruby was playing with the hem of her skirt, finding the fuzz there fascinating as she avoided all eye contact.
"Good... Good morning," Weiss said cautiously.
Ruby bowed her head lower as she felt an arm around her shoulders.
"Like I said," Yang muttered to her. "It's not like you have to confess. Just talk to her."
Yang gave her a push forward, leaving Ruby and Weiss a foot away from one another. Weiss fought off her nervousness and brought two fingers beneath the younger girl's chin, lifting her face to look her in the eyes.
"W-Well?" she demanded. "What is it you... wanted to speak to me about?"
Ruby could tell Weiss was scared – probably because she thought Ruby was mad at her – and the brunette felt even stupider for acting so odd around her recently.
Weiss' fingers left her chin and Ruby glanced quickly back at Yang. Her elder sister mouthed the words "just relax!" and yet Ruby was finding that harder and harder to do. Weiss' heart was obviously much more delicate than she ever cared to let on, and the last thing Ruby wanted to do was hurt her again.
She did not want any misunderstandings. She needed to be clear.
Which was why she decided to ignore Yang's advice of "not having to confess right away" and confessed loudly in the middle of the neighborhood instead:
"WEISS, I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU!"
Her voice echoed off the rock walls and fences of property around them.
Shroud scurried from where she had previously sat in Blake's lap.
Blake was left dumbfounded, jaw agape and eyes unblinking in disbelief as a thin sound escaped her lips.
Yang's knees had buckled and she had very nearly fallen over, barely managing to grab onto a street light to support herself.
Ruby's face was redder than the apples Weiss used to take to her teachers in kindergarten.
But Weiss...
Weiss was speechless. Her lips quivered, mouth hanging open, eyes wide as small blue puddles. Her countenance told that she did not believe her ears were working properly. Her shoulders were stiff and posture rigid, and Yang wondered if she was about to faint and if her heart was still beating.
There was a moment of heavy silence, pregnant with something, but no one was quite sure what it was.
Ruby also looked like she was about to fall over; she was shaking just as much as Weiss was, but for different reasons. Even after a minute, she had still received no reply. So Ruby peeked her eyes open and looked at Weiss.
Her mist-blue eyes were wavering, struggling to fight back tears.
Dismay twisted a knot within her chest, and Ruby suddenly felt the urge to move, to run.
"I-I'm sorry-!" She took a step backward but stumbled.
Thankfully, Weiss was not letting her get away. The older girl grasped Ruby's sleeve and pulled her forward just as the tears started to fall down both of their cheeks.
"You dunce!" she screamed. She had been so worried, so nervous-
-so delightfully surprised.
Weiss cupped her hands around Ruby's cheeks and kissed her.
From that day forward, Ruby and Weiss were even more inseparable than they had been in their previous years of friendship.
Yang teased them mercilessly about their confessions and first kiss, always resulting in both of them blushing and clamming up.
But they started holding hands, embracing one another freely, and kissing one another good morning and goodnight. Their teasing of one another became more frequent, but their protectiveness and their unconditional affection also became much more prominent.
It was wonderful to see them both so complete and in love.
It made Yang smile every day, made Blake's eyes light up happily–
–made Yang wonder when the two of them would start seeking out their own happiness.
It would not be long now.
A/N: From here on out we focus more on the main relationship of the story; Bumblebee. Though there is still White Rose and sisterly relationships.
Ch 3 preview: Yang really wanted to ask how Blake felt about her, but something in her heart held her back.
Perhaps she did not really want to know the answer. There easily could have been someone else.
Yang wished she could be special to Blake, more so than anyone else. But she was a coward who could not even bring herself to walk an inch closer to her.
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