RWBY Files

Hyperhidrosis

Blake watched helplessly as her leader shook and writhed. Ruby had been having nightmares for weeks now and it concerned Blake. Ruby had these night terrors like clockwork, every night from 12 am to 4 am. Yang and Weiss didn't seem to be bothered by Ruby's thrashing but Blake was a light sleeper and it woke her up every time.

Blake sighed and she kneeled beside Ruby. The curtains were drawn shut and not a single light was on but Blake could see her just fine. In her pajamas and without her Crescent Rose, Ruby somehow looked smaller and more like a child. Her short black hair was splayed out behind her head as she twisted and grimaced.

Blake didn't know what to do. Every night, she'd watch and watch and hope Ruby would pull through on her own. She didn't. It had gotten progressively worse and at this point, Ruby would break into fine sweat and spread it to her sheets. Blake hated watching people she couldn't help. True, she kept to herself but her teammates had a special place in her heart, like a second family or something more.

Ruby whimpered softly and clawed her blanket. Her face paled and her breathing activity increased. Blake cringed and posed a wary hand to wake the girl. If Ruby was to wake, there were possibilities ranging from good and horrible in play. Letting her suffer through her nightmares wasn't ethically sound but it gave Blake pause.

If she woke Ruby, the scenario boiled down to her not facing her fear and burying it with guilt. Ruby was that kind of person, Blake figured that out early. As childlike as she seemed, the girl carried a lot of burdens, a lot of luggage. She fought it with a good heart and inspiring others.

The faunus smiled to herself but it wasn't a particularly happy one. It was sickly bittersweet. If she let Ruby fight it out, she would emerge stronger and happier but at the chance of losing herself if she failed. Blake didn't like those choices but she had to trust Ruby. At the same time, Blake knew she had to do something, anything, to support the girl who never once wavered in their friendship.

Ruby let out a muffled cry and curled into a ball. Pain was written all over her face and Blake could hear her heart pounding. It was looked painful, it sound painful, and it no doubt felt twice as bad. Night terrors weren't something to just move on from and ignore. Ruby's hands suddenly clenched and she grabbed her hair. Blake was worried she might pull but breathed a sigh of relief when the tension left Ruby's hands.

Instinct overrode reason and Blake reached over and grabbed one of Ruby's hands. It was sweaty and small. Blake gripped it gently but applied a firm pressure of reassurance. It was the most she could do without over stepping her bounds. Quiet reassurance.

A quiet sound escaped Ruby's lips. It wasn't one of anguish like before. It was more like a soft grunt that resounded renewed spirit. Or, that's how it sounded to Blake and she hoped she affected Ruby in some way.

Through the night, Ruby continued to thrash about but there was something different. Her palms were still sweaty and the occasional groan would escape but there was no fear, no sense of despair. Blake's eyelids felt heavy but she was determined to hold on. It was the least she could do for a leader who'd given so much. The night continued on and the darkness in the corner of her eyes. It got to the point where she felt her hands slacken. A few hard blinks drove it away but it was getting harder to stay awake.

Ruby finally stabilized into a quiet slumber when Blake felt dawn was approaching. Felt rather than seen because the air felt light and the night didn't seem as bleak. Blake allowed her hand to be withdrawn but she didn't want to leave Ruby's side. It was probably her protective nature that caused her to stay put. She placed her back to the side of Ruby's bed and crossed her arms. She settled in to stay until dawn finally broke but sleep was relentless and took her the moment her amber eyes shut.

Ruby awoke with a smile. For the first time in weeks, she'd had a good night's sleep. Dawn was trickling into her room. She yawned and stretched as sat up and rolled out of bed. She didn't mean to but it felt like the right thing to do; goofy, but necessary.

Unfortunately, she rolled onto something solid. She grunt and heard groaning from beneath her.

"Blake?" she mumbled.

"Oh," Blake stood up quickly, shaking off her weariness. "Good morning Ruby."

Her amber eyes seemed frantic like she got caught in a lie. Ruby tilted her head and smiled.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. How about you?"

"I feel great," Ruby's smile grew, "Best night's sleep in a while."

"Good."

That was all Blake said before pausing. Her eyes were searching for something and it frankly weirded Ruby out. It was okay though, teammates were just as good as family. And family wasn't perfect until you accepted them for who they were and what they did for and to each other. Ruby got to her feet and hugged Blake. Though she was shorter, she managed to wrap her arms around Blake's upper back. Blake hesitated before returning the gesture.

"If you're tired," Ruby said, "You can sleep. I'll sneak you for food."

"I-,"Blake looked to her side and smiled, "I'm fine, but thank you for the offer."

"Okay," Ruby laughed. "I'm gonna wake up Yang now. You wanna help?"

A mischievous grin had crossed the younger girl's face and Blake suddenly felt implicated in a trouble making. Being no stranger to getting in trouble, Blake nodded and followed Ruby to Yang's bed. Ruby scurried off before returning with a bucket of water. Blake raised an eyebrow but couldn't help the small smile appearing on her face.

Yang was sprawled out on her mattress snoring quietly with her hair in a million directions.

"Ready?" Ruby whispered.

"Ahuh, I'll slow her down." Blake whispered back. "And remember, don't stop running."

"3" Ruby poised the bucket.

"2" Blake rubbed her hands together in preparation.

"1" they yelled in unison as the water began to fall.

A/N: Well, that was something. Justa short drabble about nothing and yet everything. A tad verbose, yes but something mundane yet magical. I'm, of course, low on sleep so it helps clear up the mental fog. Until we meet again...