"Here, try it."
Carefully, Yang lifted the spoon to Blake's mouth. The faunus opened wide and swallowed the steaming yellow soup with a satisfied gulp. It was salty and creamy and tasted faintly of delectable mushrooms and honey mustard. An odd combination, but Blake was left shocked by how yummy it was.
"It's good!" Blake exclaimed as she licked her lips. "This is Tai's recipe?"
Glad that it was delicious, Yang set the spoon back in the pot continued to stir. The mustardy liquid was soft and silky as it whirled around in the pot.
"Yeah, he taught me how to make it when I was a kid," the blonde revealed. "You think Weiss'll eat it?"
"She's picky," Blake reminded, which earned a sigh. "But I think she'll like it."
Fondly, Yang leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "As long as I got your seal of approval, it's all good!"
From the peck, the faunus blushed. It was good to know that her opinion truly mattered to Yang. It was almost time to bring the soup upstairs to their sick teammate.
Outside, the sun was setting, so it was still a little light. Ruby and Weiss had been resting for most of the day. It was an on and off nap, with Ruby tending to her partner's needs whenever she awoke.
The bumblebee pair figured there was something they could do to help. That's when they realized their teammates hadn't eaten since lunch. For a sick person, the soup was the best option for dinner.
"You're the chef," Blake smirked. "I'm only the taste tester."
"The best taste tester around," Yang reminded. "Your taste buds are way more enhanced than mine."
"Enhanced for fish," Blake pointed out with a smug grin.
"Still enhanced," the blonde replied.
One of Blake's cat ears flicked from a sudden shuffling noise. It sounded like someone slapped the wall. Apparently, Yang heard it too and the pair whirled around.
From the sight, they let out surprised gasps. On the stairs was Weiss, who was using the wall to hold herself up. She was very red in the face and was slowly making her way down the steps.
"Weiss!" Yang yelped. "What're you doing? You're supposed to be in bed."
When Weiss made it to the floor, the two were by her side in a heartbeat. They took each side of their teammate and kept their hands on her back in concern.
"I wanted fresh air," Weiss mumbled. "Something smells good…"
Worried, Blake wrapped a hand around her waist. "You should've texted us."
"Mmm," Weiss acknowledged with a dismissive hum.
"Where's Ruby?" Yang asked, concerned. "She's supposed to be with you."
"Didn't want to wake her," Weiss was curt and sounded somewhat delirious. "She looked so beautiful. Like an angel."
That comment caught them off guard.
Yang's face shifted to pure worry for her friend. "You're definitely not right in the head."
"Brute…"
From the nickname, Yang smirked. "Nevermind."
Weiss was clearly tired, and her body was also very warm. Maybe that's why she wanted to get some air.
"Are you hungry?" the faunus asked.
"Hot…"
It was then that Weiss dipped her head groggily. This caused alarm bells to ring in the bumblebee pair's heads.
Gently, Blake set a hand on the back of her forehead. It was torrid and the faunus was left to recoil. "Geez, you feel like Yang."
"Let's cool you down, okay?" Yang used a nurturing tone. A tone Blake didn't hear often.
A weak nod. The bumblebee couple was left to wonder how she even made it down the stairs. It was obvious that Weiss was having trouble just standing.
"Okay," Yang said as she wrapped an arm around her waist. "First let's go up-"
"Weiss!"
At the top of the stairs was a frantic Ruby, whose hair was ruffled. Swiftly, she rushed down and took over. From her presence, her teammates allowed her to hold onto her partner. The leader wrapped her arms around Weiss' slim back and shoulders. The heat from her form wafted onto her.
"Ruby…"
"What're you doing, dummy?" Ruby whispered endearingly. "You should be in bed."
That earned a light smile from Weiss. "I've never been called a dummy before."
"We're going upstairs now, okay?" Ruby said softly. "Tell me if it's too much."
A light hum.
With great care, Ruby led Weiss upstairs. They took it slow with each step. On the way, Ruby made sure her partner wouldn't fall and kept a tight grip on her. In concern, Blake and Yang watched the two vanish around a corner.
"Such a worrisome princess," Yang said.
Blake's cat ears folded on top of her head. "I hope she gets better soon."
"She's being cared for by Ruby," the blonde pointed out. "She couldn't be in better hands."
"I guess…"
In the year that Blake had known Weiss, she'd never seen her in such a weak state. She was always so headstrong and confident. A skilled huntress. Not someone who struggled just to get up and down the stairs.
"Hey," Yang said and then pecked her on the cheek to comfort her. "She's gonna be fine. I bet she'll be the same scowly princess by morning."
From the kiss, Blake blushed. "Let's hope so."
"Oh," Yang chirped, remembering what they could do to help. "The soup should be ready by now."
The partners checked the inside of the bowl. Sure enough, the thick creamy liquid was prepared. It was on the verge of hot, but not quite. It was comfortably warm as a few air bubbles began to surface.
"They have to be hungry," Blake mentioned. "Let's give it to them now."
"Good thinkin', kitten," Yang sent her a wide grin.
After pouring the delicious soup into two bowls, they headed upstairs. When they reached Ruby's room, it was pleasantly dim. Ruby and Weiss were sitting on the mattress and leaning on the cupboard when the door creaked open. To cool Weiss down, Ruby was holding a cold cloth on her forehead. Weiss had her eyes closed and just enjoyed the pleasant feeling as the coolness battled the heat.
"Got some grub!" Yang announced.
The declaration caused Weiss to open her eyes. Carefully, Ruby pulled the cold cloth away, taking a mental note to cool her off again when they were done eating.
"Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy," Ruby was practically bouncing up and down on the mattress. "Is it Dad's?!"
"Yep!" Yang chirped.
From the news, Ruby's silver eyes sparkled even brighter. The giddy leader looked to her partner for a reaction.
"I'm not hungry," was all Weiss said.
Instantly, she regretted saying that because Ruby's ensuing expression was almost heartbreaking. She looked so dejected.
"Aw, come on, Weissy," Ruby encouraged in a bargaining tone. "A few bites will do you some good."
Eating would only help her get better. Because of that, Blake set the bowl in her friend's lap. "That's too bad."
Her comment elicited a light scowl.
"Just a couple of bites, Weiss," Ruby said with her puppy dog eyes. "Pleeeease?"
There was no way Weiss could say 'no' to that. She swore that Ruby somehow subconsciously mustered that adorable face. Any victim would fall prey to it instantly. Weiss was no exception.
"Fine."
"Yes!" Ruby cheered triumphantly.
Happily, Yang handed her sister a bowl of the steaming soup. "If ya need us, we'll be in my room."
With that, the bumblebee pair headed to the door. Before it shut, Yang called over her shoulder. "Get better, princess."
All the blonde received was a nod.
At last, they were gone and the door was left cracked open.
"You're gonna try Dad's soup and you're gonna like it," Ruby declared.
Hesitantly, Weiss brought the spoon to her mouth. The creamy liquid trickled down her parched throat. There was a light taste of mushrooms, which made the soup burst with flavor. There was a little salt mixed in as well. If she didn't feel warm before, she did now. After a sigh, Weiss set the spoon back in the bowl. It was true that it made her feel hotter, but the taste was actually really good.
"Well?" Ruby asked, expectant.
"It's not the worst thing I've had."
Ruby gave her a timid smile. "That's the best I'll get, huh?"
"It's good, dunce," Weiss reassured. "I'll eat it."
"Yes!" Ruby cheered. "You're eating something other than salad!"
"I eat other things, dolt," Weiss said after she swallowed another portion. "Not everyone eats only cookies."
Ruby brushed off the comment as she stared at her partner. She didn't understand how she was taking such dainty sips when the food was so delicious.
"Watch how it's done," Ruby stated.
Swiftly, Ruby discarded the spoon and tilted the bowl to her lips. She began to take large gulps while Weiss watched with eyes the size of dinner plates. After a few seconds, Ruby finished with a satisfied slurp, and she wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
"Ah," Ruby said in satisfaction. "You drink it like that. Like a pro."
"I'm not trying to drown," Weiss quipped. "Where are your manners?"
"This is my room. Who's gonna judge me?" Ruby teased. "My magazines?"
There was a pile of magazines on her desk. The papers were under the dim lamplight.
"They look pretty judgmental," Weiss joked.
"Take a good look, magazines!" Ruby exclaimed at the pile and licked her lips. "At least I have a mouth and can taste things!"
Used to her leader's goofy behavior, Weiss didn't comment and instead pointed to her cheek. "You have a little…"
When Ruby failed to wipe off the small yellow dot, Weiss brushed it off with her finger. She licked the spec of soup off her finger, which caused Ruby to blush.
"I-I guess it's off now," Ruby tried a laugh.
"It's very good," Weiss reassured with a timid smile.
That caused Ruby to blush even more. She was about to say something, but then her little corgi trotted into the room as the door creaked open.
"Zwei," Weiss cooed. "You're such a gooood boy."
A bark. That earned a squeal.
"He loves you," Ruby said heartily. "But I think he's here for the food."
In response, Zwei trotted up to the bed and leaped on top of the blankets. Instead of approaching Weiss, he plopped down and stared at her with curious eyes.
"Or not," Ruby corrected herself. "Wow, usually he just uses me for food."
After Weiss sipped the soup, she smirked. "We have a bond you wouldn't understand."
A calm yip.
"He agrees."
"The ultimate betrayal!" Ruby yelped in feign shock.
When she was done with the soup, Weiss set the bowl on the nightstand. It was over half empty, which was more than what Ruby was hoping for.
"You okay?" Ruby asked, noticing her partner was struggling to keep her eyes open.
"I'm so tired..."
Gradually, Weiss leaned onto her. Her head slid perfectly into the crook of Ruby's neck.
"Rest up, cuddlebug," Ruby murmured as she wrapped her arms around her, unable to stop a grin from forming. "I got you."
Slowly, Ruby positioned her partner to lay down. Somehow, Weiss didn't stir during the endeavor. Even when Ruby wrapped her in some cozy blankets. In her sleep, Weiss shivered several times. That was all Ruby needed to see before slipping next to her under the covers.
To keep their feet toasty warm, Zwei laid at the edge of the bed.
It was dark, but as Ruby gazed down, she noticed that Weiss adorned the tiniest of smiles as she slept soundly in her arms. The faint rise and fall of her chest was soothing and told Ruby that she was on the way to recovery.
Groggily, Ruby pulled her closer and tucked her protectively into her chest. Due to the close contact, her heart beat rapidly and a blush formed.
She wondered if Weiss minded this, but as Weiss curled into her, Ruby figured she wouldn't mind. Whether she liked it or not, Weiss Schnee was the biggest cuddlebug Ruby had ever encountered. Ruby savored the moment with the widest grin. This definitely didn't happen often.
Might as well enjoy it while it lasts, Ruby thought. Weiss is so cute...
Her partner had an iron grip on Ruby's waist. Turns out, Weiss was just as attached to her as Ruby was. Due to the close contact, Weiss no longer shivered. She absorbed Ruby's natural heat like a sponge.
As Ruby brushed through the white tresses, her heart fluttered.
Her stomach and heart were so full...
It didn't take Ruby long to join Weiss in the realm of slumber.
...
When Ruby woke, she didn't know how long she slept. It'd been a few hours at the very least. Since she spent most of the day napping and wasn't ill, she was wide awake.
To kill time, she watched a movie. The volume was muted so she didn't disturb her partner as she dozed. Sometimes, she read subtitles as Weiss was curled into her. Ruby kind of watched the movie, but found herself watching Weiss instead.
While Weiss slept, Ruby soothingly brushed through her silky hair. This was what her mom used to do to relax her. To rock her to sleep when she was a child. Every fifteen minutes, Ruby switched out the damp washcloth and re-wet it before placing it on her partner's forehead. Weiss was still feverish, but not nearly as bad as before.
She thought about how they've never been like this before. It gave her this warm, fuzzy feeling. Like bubbles drifted in the atmosphere. It felt so right as Ruby held her partner closely.
Quietly, Weiss stirred.
"Ruby?"
"Hey, sleepyhead," Ruby greeted sweetly. "Are you feeling any better?"
It felt so comforting to feel Ruby's gentle fingers trail through her white tresses. The combination of her silky-touches and the wet cloth was almost euphoric. To top it off, Ruby's body heat also made it difficult to shiver.
"I feel much better thanks to you," Weiss said as she slowly sat up.
To help coax her up, Ruby set a hand on her back. "Easy."
Gradually, the pair sat upright and leaned back on the pillows. In front of them, the television blared and emitted what little light that was in the red room.
"What're you watching?" Weiss asked, curious.
"I wasn't really watching it," Ruby revealed. "I was more focused on you."
That caused azure orbs to widen in surprise. Her friend sure was thoughtful.
Friend…
That word didn't feel right.
Especially when Ruby gazed at her like that. Like she was the most important person in her world. Especially when she kept brushing her gentle fingers through the white tresses. Especially when she held her like this.
This… this wasn't just friendship.
This was much more.
Weiss didn't know what she was thinking when she leaned in. Perhaps she wasn't thinking at all. Her mind was blank, and her body moved on its own. Naturally, Ruby leaned in as well. Their foreheads touched, and their lips were mere centimeters apart.
Before they realized, their lips ensnared.
The only thing that mattered right now was each other.
Ruby had waited for what seemed like forever for this moment, but she didn't mind. As long as she was with Weiss, she was happy.
Their hearts were racing as the kiss continued like waves crashing on a beach. Each pair of lips were soft.
Ruby almost couldn't believe that this was actually happening, but was reassured when she kept tasting Weiss. She tasted like sweet vanilla and it was intoxicating in the best way possible.
Weiss wasn't surprised at all to find that Ruby's lips tasted sweet like cookies.
This.
This was ethereal.
Weiss didn't realize it before, but as she was kissing Ruby, everything couldn't be clearer. The leader, her partner, was always there for her. She always had that adorable goofy grin and endearing puppy dog eyes. No matter what.
To Ruby, Weiss was hard to get to know at first. This past year, she learned a lot of things about her partner. That she was selfless despite her original icy exterior. That she'd go above and beyond for her teammates.
Their feelings had been bottled up this whole time, and finally overflowed.
After several moments, they hesitantly pulled apart. Both girls were flushed crimson as silver and azure remained fixed on each other's' affectionate gazes.
Flustered, Weiss cleared her throat. "Now you're going to get sick."
"Worth it!"
That was my attempt at white rose. Hope it was decent! Thanks for reading this little three-shot.
Remember to stay dandy,
~Toto