Sugar Rush

"I'm telling you, you need to let go of that... thing you have with Crescent Rose. It's not healthy," Yang berated.

Ruby gasped. "But I love her, Yang. You can't break true love. And you can't lecture me about this when you've started carrying Ember Celica everywhere just because I took them that one time," Ruby replied, struggling to keep pace with her sister's long strides as they walked down the dormitory halls towards the common area.

"I do not carry Ember Celica everywhere," Yang denied, fingers twitching. Her forehead creased a little as she fought against the instinct to brush her finger pads against her wristlets.

Noticing the blonde's struggles, Ruby smirked.

"Oh shut up," Yang barked.

"I didn't say anything," Ruby replied innocently, jauntily skipping ahead of the mildly agitated blonde.

The older teen growled as she hastened her pace. "Ru–"

"–by, Ruby, Ruby!" Jaune Arc yelled as he careened around a corner. "You won't believe what just happened!"

"Jaune?" Ruby murmured, slowing to a stop. This allowed Yang to catch up with her little sister. Turning her head to look at the crimson-cloaked female, she asked, "What's the deal with vomit boy?"

Ruby shrugged. Her eyebrows furrowed when Jaune – in his haste – tripped over his own feet and skidded to a stop in front of the two girls. Glancing up, he was met with the faces of an unamused blonde and her bemused little sister.

He pushed himself hurriedly to his feet, sweeping off the grime that adhered to his garb. Jaune cleared his throat into a closed fist sheepishly.

"What's up, Jaune?" Ruby prompted.

"O-oh, right!" he stuttered, shrinking away a little at the burning stare he received from Yang. "You'll never guess what I got!"

"What?"

He took a deep breath to try and collect himself, but could only release it in a rush, too ecstatic with the news he had to share. "How does a year's supply of free Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes sound?!"

Ruby's demeanour perked up as her eyes shone with childish glee. "No way," she whispered.

Jaune's chest swelled up as his close friend gazed at him in rapture. Meanwhile, Yang groaned and spun around on her heel. "Nope. I'm out of here. Not dealing with this again, sis. Call me when you're sober," she called out, never once turning back.

However, neither Jaune nor Ruby heard her. Despite being well into their teens, the duo shared – if nothing else – one common trait: their mind construct being that of a young child's.

"No way. How did you get that?!" Ruby squealed.

The male blew on his knuckles and rubbed them on his chest, a cocky smirk etched on his face. "You know, schmoozed a girl or two. No biggie," he replied nonchalantly.

The grey-eyed girl slugged him on his arm, sending the boy stumbling back. He clutched his now numb limb as Ruby laughed. "You're hilarious, Jaune. But seriously, how?"

He chortled reluctantly alongside his boisterous friend, ego bruised. 'Does she really think I can't chat with the ladies?' he thought with a wince. Straighten up from his defensive posture, he responded. "Pyrrha gave it to me. You know how she used to be on the cover of the boxes?"

Ruby nodded vigorously.

"Well, the contract came along with a year's supply of their cereal. Since she's a health nut, she didn't have any use for the stuff and left it to collect dust in a warehouse..." Jaune's face broke into a grin. "Until she met me, that is! Convinced her to send it all to Beacon so nothing would go to waste."

He ran a hand through his tousled hair, trying to pull off a rakish look but failing miserably. "If you wanted to, I suppose I could... hook a friend up. Because as a friend of Jaune Arc, 'tis only fair I allow you a share of my spoils, no?"

Ruby engulfed Jaune in a hug, lifting him up and twirling him around effortlessly. "Thank you thank you thank you! You're the best friend ever!"

Ruby squeezed her arms even tighter as her mind drifted off, each thought getting her more pumped than the last. 'How many boxes would be a 'year's worth' anyway? There has to be at least ten cartons of the stuff. Ooh ooh, and imagine all the toys! This is the best day ever. Even better than the day I discovered boo- well..." Ruby's internal rambling was interrupted by her friend's wheezing.

"Ruby," Jaune croaked, "you're... crushing... me."

"Oh!" she yelled, abashed at her behaviour. "Sorry about that, Jaune."

The blonde hunched over, carefully feeling his rib cage. "It's no problem," he rasped. "So... how about those marshmallow flakes?"

He yelped as his arm – and hence, body – was tugged violently by the feverish girl towards the dining hall.

Ruby was bouncing in her seat. Moments ago, Jaune had darted off to get a hold of some of 'the goods', as he had aptly named them, leaving Ruby alone in the dining hall to stew in her excitement.

Her eyes brightened when she saw the blonde bumble in with boxes stacked precariously in his arms. Approaching the boy, she snagged them and walked back towards the table she had claimed without missing a beat. "Do you mind getting the milk? I don't know where they store it."

At the sight of Ruby so nimbly handling the task, Jaune sighed wearily. "Yeah, don't worry. I've got it."

Trudging back in the direction he came from, he muttered, "Always the sidekick."

When Jaune finally returned to the hall, two jugs of milk in hand, he was welcomed by Ruby gorging herself with cereal. "Hey, you could've waited!"

A sheepish smile was all he got in return before Ruby went back to demolishing her first box of sugary processed wheat.

Sitting himself across her, he went to work assembling his own bowl of marshmallow flakes.

Ruby swallowed the mouthful of cereal she had stuffed herself with. "So, where did they keep all this stuff?"

Jaune pointed a thumb at the direction he came from. "There's a huge pantry over that-a-way stocked with everything you could possibly imagine. They usually only allow the fourth-years access to it – something about maturity and responsibility and them never being around or whatever – but..." he leaned over and spoke softly, "I found out about it when I trailed the truck guys."

"Everything, huh?" Ruby murmured. Now slightly sated, she leisurely ate a spoonful of cereal, chewing slowly as a dastardly idea formed in her head. 'I should tell Yang about this.'

"Mhm, everything," Jaune replied through a mouthful of his own slurry of flakes and milk.

The duo continued to mow through box upon box of the saccharine breakfast food, with idle chatter in-between bites.

Ruby reached for another box – their last that Jaune had brought – of cereal and shook it out, only to find nothing remained. Eyes shifting around, she took in the tattered boxes and array of little toys. She glanced at Jaune, forehead wrinkled. "We're all out."

A smug grin made its way on his face. "Not if I – and the gianormous pantry – have anything to say about it."

Ruby adopted a similar expression.

Weiss Schnee was in her and Ruby's room, diligently completing her Strategy Theory assignment. It was due next week – hence her roommate's absence – but never let it be said that Weiss was not on top of everything. She did have a standard to uphold, after all, and this particular piece of work was worth twenty percent of their theory grade.

She grumbled tiredly at the thought of Ruby badgering her the day – no, night – before submission for help. 'Maybe after I'm done, I can get some extra sleep.'

The room's door swung open, slamming into the back wall. There was only one person who could be so reckless – technically two but she didn't think Yang would barge into their room – as to exert more force than necessary into opening a door.

Ruby.

Weiss sighed. 'So much for that.'

"Ruby, what did I tell you about–"

"Sshnow angel!" Ruby slurred. "You... you're here!" She stumbled towards Weiss.

"S-snow angel?" Weiss stuttered in disbelief. Observing the way her teammate staggered towards her, Weiss's eyes narrowed. "Are you... drunk?"

"Nooo," Ruby dragged out with a vacuous smile. "I'm just sooo happy to see you, Weiss-y." The cloaked teen pounced on and embraced her confused partner. Weiss stiffened.

Being in such close proximity to Ruby allowed the scents that clung to Ruby waft into Weiss's nostrils.

'Roses... and sugar?' Her brows furrowed.

When Ruby pulled back, the ivory-haired teen managed to get a glimpse of her partner's glazed over eyes. Her own orbs widened as she recalled a story Yang had regaled the team with one night, during their first 'bonding session'.

The four girls found themselves in Ruby and Weiss's room, as mandated by the Academy, so that they "bond and work more effectively as a cohesive unit".

With Ruby swivelling herself around in her revolving chair, Blake sat on a bed with her back against the wall engrossed in reading, and Weiss busy scribbling something at her table, Yang grew restless. She never liked silence. It was... awkward. She didn't do awkward.

"So!" Yang shouted in hopes of attracting everyone's attention. "How's about someone tell a story?"

The suggestion went unheeded as Ruby and Weiss – the only two who had bothered to look up – swiftly turned away to resume their task.

Yang huffed. 'I expected that of the princess, but certainly not you, dear little sister. How dare you ignore me.' Continuing along that train of thought, Yang's glum expression turned into a smirk.

"Y'know," she drawled, "there was that one time Ruby trashed our home, the neighbour's front and back yard, as well as a couple of convenience stores near our place before passing out in the central's fountain."

Weiss's head shot up. Whirling around, she asked, now intrigued, "Do tell."

Blake's head also perked. She shot an amused sidelong glance at Ruby, whose head fell back against her chair's back support with a thud. The crimson-cloaked teen groaned as she covered her face with her arms, before slouching and contorting her body in such a way that she was curled up into a small ball on her seat.

The blonde grinned. "Gather 'round, children. It's story time. Once upon a time, not long ago–"

"You've contradicted yourself," Blake interrupted. Her partner shot her a glare.

"Hey, who's telling the story here?" When Blake didn't reply, Yang continued. "There lived a young girl named Ruby. She was adored by everyone in her town. They would shower her with all sorts of gifts, for she was the apple of their eye. However, there was one thing they never dared to give her... sugar."

One of Blake's eyebrows quirked, while Weiss's face scrunched at the strange twist. Yang nodded sagely, ignoring their responses. "Yes, that's right. Sugar. For you see, whenever the lovely dame had enough in her system, she would change. And not for the better, mind you, oh no. Her eyes would glaze over, much like the donuts she stuffed herself with, the pig," her last sentence devolved into a hiss, before Yang cleared her throat and continued more neutrally, "and she would begin to act tipsy... which could be argued that she was. Inebriated, that is. Because sugar was a drug to the young child... A psychedelic, mind-altering drug..."

Weiss snapped out of her reverie.

Glazed eyes, check. Impaired speech and motor skills, check. Psychotic grin– wait a minute. Weiss didn't recall that being part of the story.

The heiress paled. "What did you eat, Ruby."

"Y'know, marshmallow flakes. They were soooo good, Weiss, you shoulda been there. Jaune was there, and I was there, and man, it was a party."

"... How much did you have?" Weiss asked hesitantly.

Ruby's face scrunched in thought. "Iunno. … Ten...?"

"Bowls?!"

Ruby shook her head. "Nuh uh."

Ice-blue eyes widened. "... Boxes?!"

"Mhmmm." A goofy grin made its way onto Ruby's face.

"Jaune, that idiot," Weiss spat.

She was screwed. She couldn't lock Ruby alone in the dorm room because they had inspection later that night, and she couldn't – wouldn't – risk a hyper Ruby decimating their quarters and ruining her spotless reputation. There was also a twinge of worry that Ruby would wreck her way out and cause trouble while injuring herself in the process, but she brushed that niggling feeling aside. Her? Worried about Ruby's safety? Never.

She just didn't want the girl to destroy her good name. That was it.

Ruby released her partner and bolted around to leap on her bed. As Weiss watched the grey-eyed female bounce frenetically on the mattress, she sighed, already feeling exhausted.

It was going to be a long day.

Weiss groaned. "Get out from under my desk, Ruby."

The other girl whimpered from her hiding place. Ruby curled up into an even tighter ball and continued rocking.

The ivory-haired female sighed. "Ruby..."

Her head shot up. "Do you hear that," she stage whispered.

"No."

Ruby crawled out from under the table. "It's coming."

"Wha–"

"WE MUST GET TO HIGHER GROUND!" she yelled, flipping her hood up. Unfolding Crescent Rose, the girl pointed it downwards and shot at the ground, propelling herself towards the ceiling and manoeuvring to grip onto the lights.

Weiss stared at the hole in their floor and cringed. 'I probably should've taken Crescent Rose.'

"Ruby, get down from the ceiling!" Weiss shouted, her hands on her hips.

"Who is this Ruby?! I AM THE CRIMSON AVENGER." Releasing her hold on the ceiling lights, she fell and action rolled into a crouch. Perking her head, she gruffly said, "I sense trouble."

"You are trouble."

Ruby ignored the retort. "Beacon needs me, princess. I must bid you adieu." She walked up to Weiss and lifted her hand, pressing a gentle kiss upon it. Weiss was rendered dumbstruck. "Our time together was short, but sweet. Never forget me, snow angel."

Ruby turned and strode gallantly towards their window. Pulling herself onto the ledge, she inhaled and closed her eyes, ready to take the leap. To return to her mantle as Beacon's silent guardian. Their watchful protector. The Dark Kn–

Recovering from her stunned state, Weiss lurched forward and grabbed Ruby by the scruff of her cloak. The older teen wrenched her partner back into the room, who landed on her butt with a grunt.

Looking up at her irate partner, Ruby grinned and wriggled her eyebrows. "Oh ho, did the fair maiden wish for more of summa this? I suppose I have some time to spare, for a gorgeous thing such as yourself..."

Weiss stared back at her with a vacant expression. Her hand snapped forward and ripped Crescent Rose from its place on Ruby's back. "Consider this confiscated."

"My baby!"

"You can get it back when you're less... less." Weiss huffed and spun around on her heel, stomping back towards her desk.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Weiss twisted to see the hooded figure approach her at a breakneck speed. She only had time to steel herself before Ruby tackled her onto a mattress. Weiss grunted from the impact, dropping Crescent Rose on the floor. Ruby, taking advantage of her position, squirmed and wrapped her arms and legs around the momentarily stunned heiress in a death grip.

Ruby nuzzled her companion's neck.

"Get off of me!"

"No," Ruby murmured. "Soft."

Weiss sighed in exasperation. 'So this is what my life has come to. Relegated to being a fifteen-year old's oversized bolster." The heiress glanced down at her partner, eyes softening just a touch.

Those same eyes narrowed when Weiss heard faint snoring. 'Did she...'

She snaked an arm out of the tight hold she had been put in, using it to angle the younger girl's head. Weiss was met with the face of a slumbering Ruby.

Weiss groaned. 'She did.'

Her forehead creased as she mentally debated about whether or not to leave Ruby's embrace. She could risk jostling the girl and provoking a second round of chaos if she did move...

As she weighed the pros and cons, Weiss's hand subconsciously moved to brush the hair out of Ruby's face. A gentle smile graced both their lips.

The door slammed open for the second time that day. Weiss tensed, turning her head so quickly she almost gave herself a whiplash. Yang strutted into the room with her arms folded behind her head. "Yo Ruby, you feeling better no–"

She stared at the surprised girl in her sister's arms. Weiss stared back, looking like a deer in headlights.

Yang smirked devilishly, slowly inching out of the room. The heiress slipped out of Ruby's grasp and scrambled to her feet.

"N-No wait, I can explain, it's not what you think," Weiss stuttered, waving her hands in front of her frantically.

Lilac eyes darted between the two with an impish glint. "That's what they all say," Yang teased from the doorway. The sly expression stayed plastered on her face as she gently shut the door.

Weiss stared open-mouthed at the closed door for a few beats. Dropping her arms and shaking her head in resignation, the heiress plodded to her own bed. She flopped onto the mattress face down, moaning into the pillow.

'Stupid blondes.'

AN: Ruby wasn't the only one high. What the hell was I on, writing this? (Cold meds.)

Headcanon: Ruby hates strategy class. Why bother when she can just go 'pew pew POW' and win (almost) every time? Episode 6 practically made this CANON. Also, PPMF are ladened with sugar, hence Ruby getting messed up. Plates of cookies have nothing on several boxes of that stuff.

Blake was busy on 'Blake Belladonna's Wily Adventures'. … Not a real thing, but someone should make that spin-off. (I swear, there's more Blake in the next chapter.)

Thanks for everything, as always. Critiques are welcomed.

P.S: Just want to bring attention to what reviewer Rocfang50 said. Go on, find and read it. I'll wait.

... Yes. Please.

I feel bad not replying to the guests, but I don't want to bog down my ANs. Make accounts pls.