Author's note:

Just to be sure, I'll repeat. Weiss and Yang are friends, I'm not even hinting at any kind of freezerburn. I'm saying this JUUUUST in case. So please stop throwing bricks at my windows.

"Weiss! It was only a few days and I felt like it were months since the last time I saw you." The tall blonde girl grinned at the Schnee as she opened the door. "Come in, ho'boy, you look like you've seen better days."

"You could say I did, yes." Weiss smiled back, although not as cheerful as her friend. She entered Yang's apartment, looking around curiously. "Blake's not home?" She tilted her head as she looked at the other girl.

"Naw, she's on one of her evening slash night walks. You know how cat faunus are" The blonde shrugged, closing the door behind the Schnee. "Besides, she doesn't like alcohol, smell or taste, so she opted to give us some time alone. She said you sounded quite... distressed. That doggy girl giving you that much of a kick?" Yang lead her guest further into the small home she rented.

"It's not... exactly her fault, Yang. It's more the bureaucracy around it. You'd think that if you wanted to spare them having another faunus in the pound, they'd be more than glad to make it as simple as possible." Weiss sighed, even the word bureaucracy was annoying.

"Tell me about it, I still have nightmares about these endless lines I had to stand at to register Blake and all that." Yang snickered. "Get yourself comfortable, and I'll get us some glasses and some good wine!"

Weiss sat down just as offered, smirking. "Good wine?" She raised a brow.

"Yep! Just slightly above the cheapest!" Yang barked a laugh as she entered the kitchen.

"Well aren't we for a treat today." Weiss giggled, while a year and a half ago she would be disgusted with anything but the finest alcohol offered, she got used to it. Both her and Yang were earning just enough to survive, sadly not enough to really indulge in any kind of fancy pleasures, at least not while juggling education and part time jobs.

"Eh it's not that bad, fruity flavour and isn't that hard, but still kicks in after a few." Yang explained as she came back to the room, settling the two wine glasses and a bottle of wine on top of a coffee table.

"I'll take that over beer or other stuff anyday." Weiss smiled at Yang, reassuring her she was alright with her choice of beverage.

As the taller girl settled down herself on the couch, she suddenly raised a brow, as she stared at the white haired girl. "Uh, Weiss? What's in your pocket?" Damn it, the package, she forgot to put it in a less visible spot.

"It's nothing, Yang." Weiss placed a hand on top of her pocket, to cover the object inside of it.

"If it's nothing, why can't you tell me what it is." The blonde squinted as she leaned a bit towards the Schnee.

In return, Weiss leaned back and away from her friend. "Because it's none of your business." Her reply came off in a sharp, cold tone.

"Weiss, we both know that I already figured out what it is. So just hand over the package." Yang sent the other girl a stern look as she frowned. Her hand moving towards the girl.

"Yang I paid for it and I won't let you just take it away and throw it out." Weiss now grasped the package through her pants, as if protective over it.

"Then I'll buy it back from you." Yang answered, although all she received in return was silence. "Come on Weiss, we both know that I'll get it either way. Besides I thought you quit. And that you quitting it was like a big symbol of your new life. Away from you father and..." She was interrupted as a small package hit her. The small cardboard box filled with nicotine sticks bounced harmlessly off Yang's chest.

"Fine! Take it! To hell with it and everything else!" Came Weiss's sharp response. The white haired girl curled in her sitting position as she hid her head between her arms. Her hands reaching to grasp at her own hair.

She was so sick of all this. It took her a year and a half to get to where she was, to her own life. She had her own house, her own education and her own job. She lived from day to day, enjoying her routine, with at least a few perspectives ahead of her.

And now everything was getting complicated. She should just leave Yang's home, go back to her own appartement, take that dog girl to the pound and just get it over with. Who cares. She would get over her remorse. She would be back with her normal life. She would enjoy her own home. She would enjoy her own job. She would enjoy her own education. She... She...

She would become a monster.

Weiss felt a tickling sensation at her chin as tears already rolled down her cheeks, and meet at that point, falling off onto her lap.

"Hey, hey, hey! None of that, Weiss." The Schnee felt the strong arm of the blonde wrap around her.

Yang pulled the smaller girl towards herself with one arm, as her free hand pressed the white haired girl's head against her chest. She held the girl tightly, not wanting to let go of her, or in case she would wish to try and move away.

But Weiss didn't plan on that. Quite the opposite, as she pressed herself more against the taller girl, wrapping her arm and simply releasing all the frustration that managed to build up in her over these few days. As she sobbed into the other girl's shirt.

Yang remained silent, simply allowing her friend to let it all out, one of her hand rubbed her back, as she brushed the fingers of her other hand through the girl's hair.

It continued for a good ten to fifteen minutes, more or less, before Weiss moved away from Yang. Pulling her own sleeves to dry her cheeks and eyes.

"Feeling better?" Yang smiled, a soft, gentle smile, as she still kept a hand on the other girl's shoulder.

"I-I think so. I apologize Yang. F-For everything." The Schnee looked away from the blonde. She felt stupid, stupid and bad for what she said, did and thought. Perhaps especially for what she thought.

"It's alright, but you didn't answer me, feeling better?" Yang inquired once more, her eyes carefully watching the white haired girl and her reactions.

"In some way I… I do feel better, yes." Weiss answered honestly. She did feel relieved, but at the same time? At the same time her current behaviour, as well as her dark thoughts burdened her heart.

"So in what way do you not feel better? I'm afraid it's a confession Weiss, ain't letting you go till you spill the beans." The blonde nodded.

"Does that make you're a nun, Yang?" Weiss raised a brow. "Because if that's the case, I don't think it's believable if you're not wearing the full outfit." The Schnee let out a snicker.

"Ooo, someone like's to play dress up, this is turning extremely kinky Weiss, and we haven't even opened the wine." Yang waggled her eyebrows, to which the white haired girl couldn't help but blush.

"Y-Yang! Ugh, to turn it in such a direction." Weiss punched the other girl in the shoulder, although she couldn't help but smile at that, knowing that the blonde was merely teasing her.

"Ouch, hey you started it!" Yang grinned as she saw the other girl smile, her hand reaching to rub her arm as if Weiss's hit really did hurt her.

Yet soon the Schnee's smile got a hint of sadness, as the shorter girl let out a deep sigh. "I didn't mean to come here and be hissy at you, Yang. And then there's this voice inside my head that tells me these horrible things, and the worst is that sometimes I wonder if I should listen to it."

"Really Weiss, you think I'll get mad at you for something like that?" The blonde raised a brow as she smirked. "We're friends, or did you forget? And I clearly can see that this entire situation bugs you like crazy." Yang moved her arm to wrap it around the Schnee once more, although this time more loosely. "Now I'll keep my judgement on calling you crazy for having voices in your head, but you gotta be honest what they tell you."

Weiss rolled her eyes at that, although once more it did help keep a smile on her lips. "They aren't telling me to kill people, if that's what you're worrying over, Yang." The white haired girl let out a soft chuckle. "It's more like… Like these dark thoughts, you know. Like the smoking and… And if it wouldn't be better if I just put Ruby in a pound." The Schnee looked away at that, ashamed of what she just said.

"Pfft, So? Weiss you're acting like you're being under stress for the first time." Yang patted the other girl as she smiled, quite amused at the issue at hand. "Don't you remember whenever we have exams or tests, and you spend the entire night over books and just wonder if it wouldn't just be better to throw it all to hell?"

"...Not really Yang." Weiss raised her brow at such alien concept.

"Bad example, but you know what I mean. You had to have some stressful moment where you just wanted to give up. You're tired, exhausted. Be it physically or mentally, and it's natural to think this way." The blonde grinned at her friend and pulled her a bit closer.

"I understand what you're trying to say, Yang. But not studying for a test, and thinking about ruining some innocent beings life is… two different things." Weiss shook her head.

"When you focus on details, it sure is. But what I said still stands. These thoughts are there because you're tired. Once everything settles down? I'm sure you won't even remember about having these." Yang flashed her another grin.

"...About that." Weiss felt her throat tighten. "There are complications, and I'm not sure what to do about them." The white haired girl let out a soft, tired sigh.

"You… Don't mean the hand, right?" Yang inquired, to which Weiss couldn't help but blink, she completely forgot about that.

"N-No, no. It… It was an accident." The Schnee looked at her bandaged hand and shook her head, deciding to continue with the original topic before the blonde asked more questions. "I visited the doctor, that looked her over, because he was eager to help me adopt her and everything."

"Neat, sounds like a nice guy." The taller girl smiled.

"Perhaps… But he told me I'd have to pay a fee if I was to adopt her immediately. Otherwise she would stay at the pound, where she would wait for all the paperwork to be done, and my request accepted." The Schnee took a deep breath at that, calming herself down.

"Ouch, how… long? and how much." Smile was gone off of the blonde's face at Weiss's words.

"Time? He said a few months, but the more I thought about it, the more worried I got that he was trying to make it seem less than it really is. Like, the minimum amount of time you need to wait. Goodness knows how long Ruby would need to stay there though." The Schnee rested her head against the couch as she closed her eyes.

"And cash? How much?" Yang inquired further.

"Shouldn't you know? I mean... With Blake and everything?" Weiss raised a brow as she peered at her friend curiously.

"Erh..." The taller girl rubbed the back of her head. "You know it was a special case, in the end I guess it was too much of a hassle for them, so they opted to sign all papers at the spot. You know, if something happens, it would be on me." The blonde shrugged.

"Right, lucky you. Two hundred." Weiss finally answered the question.

"Ouch." Yang winced at that. "That's... A lot of money to spend on just paperwork."

After that both girls went silent. Weiss wasn't sure what else to add to that. It was expensive and there was nothing to do about it. She could get a loan but that could potentially turn out worse. Then again who would give her a loan? Bank? She isn't raising enough, and is just working part time. And reason being faunus adoption, that also didn't raise too much chances for that kind of solution.

There were the shady, barely legal loan offers that would expect her to give back like five times what she loaned, and that of course was out of question.

"What about your boss?" Yang finally broke the silence, making Weiss blink.

"What about my boss?" The Schnee frowned, she already didn't like where this was going.

"Couldn't you ask him? You know, to loan you some cash." The blonde looked hopefully at the Schnee.

"Yang! I won't ask my boss for a loan, are you crazy?" Weiss frowned, how would that even work. With a sigh the white haired girl shook her head.

"Well then I don't have any other ideas for now, Sorry." The taller girl shrugged. "When do you have to make the decision?"

"The doc said I have a week, so I guess friday is where I need to go register her as a stray faunus and either decide to pay the fee or…" Weiss couldn't finish that sentence, she once more felt her throat grew tight.

"Plenty of time to come up with a solution then!" Yang announced with determination. "Don't worry, Weiss, you're not alone in this, I got your back." She grinned to her friend. "Meanwhile we should try and relax a bit, starting from tomorrow we'll have plenty of brainstorming to do. But you deserve an evening off. Besides I already got us some wine, so no reason to waste it."

Weiss smiled at that, she wasn't sure which part made her smile. Was it the determination in the blonde's voice? Or the fact she no longer felt alone in this issue. There was also a chance that it was simply the idea of relaxing with some wine, as low quality as it might be. But truth be? She suspected that it was the mix of all of these. Mostly the first two, she didn't barely escape one of her previous addictions to jump into some brand new. And alcoholism of all of them was the worst. She wouldn't end up like her mother.

oooOOOooo

Three fourth of the bottle later, Weiss felt better. It wasn't of course just the drink, if she was to drink alone, she would most likely succumb to some form of crushing sadness. But Yang kept her spirit up.

"Yep, and then he's all like 'hold my beer' and went to do it." Yang finished her story with a grin. Weiss couldn't help but giggle at that.

"He did not, did he really?!" she shook her head, as if refusing to believe what the blonde just told her. Although as she did so, she noticed how dark it already was and reached towards her phone to check the time.

"Totally did, can ask… basicly anyone from our year… What's up Weiss?" The blonde inquired as she noticed her friend looking at the phone.

"Oh goodness it's so late already. I should get back." The Schnee attempted to get up, although she wobbled a bit as she felt the alcohol work on her balance.

"Erh, are you sure, Weiss? It's late and you're not exactly sober." Yang winced, as she looked worriedly over the white haired girl.

"I promised Ruby I wouldn't be out too long. She already has a lot on her mind, I don't want make her think I abandoned her." The Schnee was determined, and wouldn't let herself get convinced otherwise.

Yang wanted to retort with something, but at the same time the front doors opened and Blake entered the apartment. She looked at the two girls and smiled. "Hello." She offered a simple greeting and moved to a different room, not paying much attention to either of them after that.

"Since I'm in no better shape than you are, how about I send Blake with you? Just to make sure." The blonde offered with a smile.

That wasn't something Weiss was happy about. Sure, she didn't dislike Blake, but... An awkward walk with her through the night? That was most certainly not something she wished for right now. "I... Don't know Yang, I mean, I'll be fine. It's just a short walk to the bus stop, and from there I should be fine. Besides, it's late so what if something happens to Blake when she's coming back huh?"

"Nah, she loves her night walks, and can take care of herself more than any of us. Come on Weiss, You know I'll send her anyway, so she can go with you, or behind you. I just want to make sure you're safe. So how will it be." The blonde crossed her arms.

"You know, your tough love is getting annoying Yang." A grimace appeared on the Schnee's face.

Still the taller girl wasn't really minding that, as she grinned. "Hey, you take the whole package, or don't take it at all." She winked at her friend and stood up to move towards the room where Blake previously disappeared. "You can get ready and I'll talk to Blake." with that she disappeared inside the darkness of the second room.

Weiss rolled her eyes, although a small smile did creep on her lips. Full package, indeed. She decided to do as Yang told her, although sneaking out did cross her mind, she opted to simply have the awkward ride home with the black cat.

As Weiss was ready to leave, both Blake and Yang exited the room and approached the girl. "Oh right, here." The blonde suddenly pushed a bill into the confused Schnee's hand.

"...What?" Perhaps it was the alcohol, or she was tired, but that was all Weiss could muster.

"For the package, I told you earlier I'd pay you back." She then suddenly placed a finger on top of the white haired girl's lips. "Now stop whatever you're trying to say. You have a new pet, and you need all the money you need. So while I can't give you any, I can at least try to fix that little mistake you made."

Weiss looked at the bill, and then back at Yang. Once more she could blame the alcohol, as she lunged forward to hug the taller girl. "Yang I don't know what I would do without you." She felt the other girls arm wrap around her in a friendly hug.

It was Blake who broke the moment. "It's getting late, we should go."

The two girls parted, sharing one last smile. "Be safe, both of you!" Was the last thing Yang told them before closing the door behind them.

Weiss sighed. This will be a long walk home.

oooOOOooo

It was a quiet one, that's for sure. Weiss felt a bit nervous around Blake, and whenever the faunus saw that the Schnee was looking at her, she offered her a small smile, before looking back ahead

And it was that way up till they get off the bus, close to the white haired girl's apartment, as Blake surprisingly was the one to break the silence. "How is she?" She peered at the Schnee.

Weiss raised a brow at that. "Who do you mean?"

"Your faunus, Yang told me you got a dog one. How is she." The cat smiled softly as she inquired further.

Weiss opened her mouth to answer... But had to close it. She let out a soft sigh. "I don't know. Up till now she was miserable when I got her, because she was lost and confused. Then she got extremely hyped and happy because she thought that she'd go back to her owner and her old life." Weiss gulped at the memory of that day, shaking her head to try and clear her mind.

"And how is she now?" Blake's smile disappeared as she tilted her head curiously.

"Depressed and sad." Weiss shrugged defeatedly.

"She will never forget you that you saved her." Blake suddenly spoke, a smile once more on her lips.

"Hm?" Weiss focused her gaze on the faunus walking besides her, the sudden statement distracting her from the thoughts she had lingering inside her head.

"Your faunus, she won't forget you that you got her a home, and you fought for her." Blake's smile grew a tiny bit more at that.

"Did... Yang tell you to talk about it with me?" Weiss raised a brow, was this part of the blonde's plan to ensure she would keep Ruby.

"Mmm... No, She just explained to me your situation so I understood in case you'd act moody." The cat faunus giggled. "But I thought that's very brave of you to do that for your faunus. For any faunus. And I want you to remember that. No matter how she behaves now, you'll make her happy and she will never forget that."

"Is it how you feel about Yang?" Weiss peered at the black haired girl curiously. And to her surprise she saw the faunus blush and timidly look to the ground, her only response being a small nod.

That ended the conversation for the rest of the walk back home, although Weiss felt more... comfortable around the quiet cat girl.

oooOOOooo

Weiss entered her small domain, curious about the state in which she would find Ruby.

The dog girl was laying on the bed with a book in front of her. It was one of her economics book, which the Schnee found amusing that it made the girl so curious. Weiss approached the girl, and she saw her ear twitch at some moment, deciding it was a good time to make her presence obvious. "Hey Ruby, I'm back."

The dog girl looked up from the book, while her smile at the sight of the Schnee was small, it was her tail that betrayed her true feeling, as it waggled quickly from side to side. "Welcome back. I um... I took your book, I'm sorry." The waggling died as soon as it started after her words.

Weiss giggled as she laid down on the bed, not caring about doing so in the same clothes she was just outside. "It's alright Ruby, as long as you don't destroy anything, and put things back where they were, my home is now yours."

That made the dog girl's smile grow a tiny bit, but clearly noticeable for the Schnee. "Alright." She added, and with the corner of her eye Weiss could notice the tail moving once more. And that was the last line for the Schnee.

She reached towards the girl and wrapped her arms around the redhead, as she pulled her into a hug. "I promise you that everything will be alright." She murmured into the girl's dress, enjoying the warmness that Ruby radiated with, her being a faunus and all that.

And as she felt the exhaustion over her entire day, and the warm feeling ot the dog girl, The Schnee slowly fell asleep.

Leaving one confused faunus behind.

Author's Note 2:

I kind of like this chapter. Which most likely means it sucks. But it is what it is.

Also a question, or rather something along the lines of thinking out loud, should I decide on some kind of schedule for stories like this? Like post every friday or post every two weeks at saturday, this kind of stuff (These are just examples of what I mean). Because I often update or upload my stuff like a spaz. Meaning I can write like 3 oneshots and 2 chapters for some stories in 3 days, but then be silent for like a week. Having a deadline could potentially push me towards more consistency with my writing, but at the same time I'm afraid it would start feeling like a "must" and not "want". It really is something I'm considering, and if anyone can add in their two cents? Feel free.

Speaking of schedule, I might be taking a break from this story for a short bit. Why? Well, because christmas is up ahead, and I decided to prepare a few stories to celebrate that by offering a few oneshots themed by that holiday. I know right? Worst gift ever, you'd rather have wool socks, at least they'd keep you warm or something. But it is what it is, and due to the nature of my updates (Like I said, I update like a spaz) you might not even notice it. But just in case I do take a longer time, that's why. Once I'm done preparing those, I'll get back to writing this and my other story. I actually should give some love to that other story ...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the story! I want to ask you to leave a review/comment and tell me what you thought about this chapter. All the goods and bads, as well as your general thoughts. I like to interact with folks that read my crap, and reading your reviews/comments fuels me with motivation to write more.