Special Chapter 1
Present Time
It was one of those days where team RWBY could rest. After a week of continuous Grimm hunting, information gathering, and sets of search and rescue missions, they were able to just lie in their own rooms. They did whatever they can to keep themselves entertained from the impending boredom that sulked and echoed on the four corners. Without each other, it felt very different.
Very lonely.
It wasn't like before when they shared each other's room where a pair would be the noisy pun maker and the bashful dog lover, the other a silent kitty cat with a certain Ice queen. They were a formidable team that can form a nice group for studying with the help of one another, or just simply get distracted with the board games they use to play to conquer the enemies' lines. The White and Red would lose under the Yellow. Black would somehow get around the victor, crushing the defense with a surprising card at hand and thus, announced champion that would set Yellow in tears of her own defeat the 5th time that day. The team during those years of faith to their own partners has gained trust to even share their own beds. If ever they would feel uncomfortable on their own, a girl would ask the permission to slip under their cozy blankets. Always having it accepted, they would share the warmth without such embarrassment and trust that the other would keep their nightmares away.
But now. It has seemed that those days were far over and that they had separate rooms. It felt like a cell despite some furniture they would place for fun. It feels as if their emotions were being trapped. It just wasn't the same without each other.
It was however, for the better. Thankful enough to have meals on the same table, to practice in the same arena and set on a mission with the same team. It was their only way of keeping each other safe from their own powers that fears to hurt a friend during their sleeping state. Afraid that one of their powers would suddenly lash out of control if they don't stay perceptive. Of course, that was a lesson learnt earlier when it did get out of hand during a 3 night Extermination mission.
General Ironwood. A good friend of Head Master Ozpin had for this long taken care of these girls with responsibility and care. Almost like an Uncle actually. But as a General that needs to teach his cadets needs to be a bit strict, and therefore had disciplined these Huntresses fairly well that would also contribute to stabling their powers.
Within those four years after the incident. Ironwood had been sheltering and training the youngsters until they have learned to at least control and muster what power they can spark. A few mishaps here and there with.. A little destruction. With the help of specialized equipment his men have designed, those problematic loose of control was being solved thanks to it. RWBY had been developing throughout the times of practice against dummies and even in real life events of taking down Grimms. This initiation however, was a trial and error process that seemed like an endless loop out of ones misery with the loads of budget following the General's trails. Through hardships with the budding fruit of their labor, RWBY was able to succeed in having to use these powers to their own authority and use them to their arsenal in combat. With a little help from the Schnee Company Weiss had managed. Dusts were not much of a problem that crafted what armor and weapons they have today. Making them the ultimate four to save the growing doom of Remnant's fading light.
Ruby walked the halls of where their rooms is located, walls a dark grey planted with the future like panels of mechanisms, the sound of her boots echoing away to the far corners. Though she did not go to that direction where she is to meet her curfew on time, and instead, walked away from it. The night is heavy without the stars and she even wondered why she was not on her bed dozing off by now. She seemingly trudged along the halls in her combat attire without a care or worry, like for once she was able to stay free than being stiffly alerted.
Crescent Rose is in the armory, she left her scroll in the room, and metal guards back in the stations. It only left her with the plain clothing of black and red, her trusty cape still pinned around her shoulders. There was that day where you just can't sleep despite the fact you spent hours in endless training and countless of missions. Where you don't even want to sleep even as eyes were already sagging under eye bugs and bones silently crunching from the strains of muscles. She didn't feel like ending the day early either.
And it bothered her.
She stopped midway, putting her back against the wall and sliding on it until she gradually sat on the ground. Nothing much to do and not wanting to think too much, she playfully twiddled a strand of hair from her head, red locks forever a feature for people to remember her as the red head who wore the red cape.
After a few minutes of silence, she heard footsteps coming her way. They were faint at first, but since her senses were heightened, her invisible canine ears could pick up the sounds that echoed throughout the halls. It came closer and closer until it eventually stopped.
"Ruby?"
The red head looked up to her right, instantly knowing who it was just by hearing that calm familiar voice. "Oh. Weiss. You're still awake." She simpered with a comforting smile that even brightened at a night such as this.
"And so are you." Returned the Heiress. She was in her sleeping dress that looked similar to the one she wore in Beacon, white tidy hair flowing freely past her shoulders, and hands covered in protection with the royal quantum white leather gloves. Ruby stood from her place, a hand reaching to the back of her head and scratching questionably to her own state. "Haha, Yeah…" was all she could think to respond with, "I.. I can't sleep.."
Weiss came closer to her partner, feeling at least a little concern for Ruby since the girl was always the sleepy head. "How come?" She asked, wanting to at least know what was troubling someone like her.
Ruby gave a few glances to her sides as she tried to find the answer. Nothing came to mind and she only shrugged sadly.
Weiss sighed. "Well. You should get back to your room then. At least try to get some rest."
And that was it. She went past Ruby and started to continue towards her room. Another step was as far as she could get until Ruby hugged Weiss from behind, making her stop on her tracks and jump a little in surprise. Ruby then buried her face on top of her head that scented with the sweet smell of mint. During the years, their leader have grown taller in near height to Yang, surprising both Weiss and Blake that they didn't notice until she was able to reach a certain height they knew she couldn't do without a chair or having a lift from her sister's arms.
A moment of silence pass by the two until Weiss was the first to ask what was wrong, a hand coming up to touch Ruby's arm in slight worry.
"Can I.. Come in? I.. I just don't want to go back to my room yet.. It's.. It's lonely."
"Ruby you know it's not-" Weiss cut herself of continuing any further when she felt Ruby's arms tightened. It was as if those arms quivered in fear like the dark was coming after her and that letting go will be the end of everything.
"Please?" Ruby breathed out as though she felt like crying. It was from there that Weiss felt powerless. Out of instinct driven by emotions, she sinks back into her arms and lets Ruby embrace the whole of what she did not give, the answer as clear as a yes without saying. This made the red head feel happy again that she playfully nuzzled on Weiss's neck, those canine ears popping from its place once again that made her look deceivingly like a Faunus.
Weiss's room wasn't all too fancy once after the world had started to plunge itself with the swarm of Grimms hanging around and about, she had thought what would be the use of it then? The painting of Forever Fall however still remains and is hanged where it is easily seen in good view. She had a desk that was neatly organized with the stacks of books that she had been studying, a chart displayed on the wall just in front of it that had maps of previous locations they recently set off in a mission to. On the opposite side was the bed, sheets and pillow neatly placed and folded. The two sat there, not sure how the other can exchange questions for a conversation. Other than that, they had no objection to the peace of silence. Taking some liberty, Ruby had asked if she could skim through the books that Weiss had probably been researching for the past month.
They were about Dusts at most, a much more descriptive type of book. From how it was originally discovered, how it was made, and how much it affected today's technology and the source of preservation and security from Grimms. There were a lot of them with very deep definitions that every page she flips just makes her confused, chapters in which their previous professor have not brought up and discussed. She needn't wonder why she has been so busy with these kinds of things considering that she is the Heiress of the Schnee Dust Company. But it is also the possibility of the incident that made her dead straight on finding some kind of reverse potion that can turn these monsters the way they were before, destroying them as an added bonus. And most of all, a way that they can perhaps turn back to normal.
Weiss for a long time have been wearing the special gloves for as long as she remembered. Anything she touched without them would destroy anything to anyone. It was sad to say that there were a few.. Losses. One of them nearly taking their Team's life and putting them in danger, traumatizing the princess entirely she wouldn't dare slip those gloves off under any circumstances.
Weiss went beside Ruby, looking at the book she currently held while she placed a strand of silvery white hair behind her ear. In the corner of Ruby's eyes she had in that moment realized a sparkling feature as she did so, making her tinge in red. Before her eyes would actually glance to this distraction, she shook it off and glued herself to the pages; not even understanding a single word it says other than the pictures it displayed. Ruby until now did not understand what she was actually feeling towards Weiss, they were unexplained mixed emotions and she felt awkward talking about it to her sister who always teased her at some point, making it even more awkward for her. The silence would have been a maddening state as these thoughts rambled on and on with the false awareness of herself fidgeting, until Weiss began to speak, breathing well again to a breathe she didn't know she was holding. "These were my Father's books." She said. "One of my former guards found it in the rubbles a long time ago, later reconstructing the whole thing before I received it for me to read and study."
Ruby gazed at her partner, noting every sentence as those words itself gave its own threatening remembrance of that day half the people died in the incident. Including her Father who was eaten by the Alpha Beowolf. Both Weiss and Ruby shared the same guilt of being too late to save that one person. Even as people say it was not their fault, both doubt it as much as the other. Weiss could have used her semblance, could have distracted the monster, tackle it for all that matters. But what did she do? Nothing. Distracted just by words that annoyed her she have let the moment pass grievingly. A shred of pride left fallen when weakness showed itself to her. She can't even stand; it was like all those training in effort came to a waste.
It was complete dishonor.
Ruby's guilt is near similar to it. She was a minute too late, making her think horridly what use is her semblance if she can't even come back in time? Weiss would have spared herself of this misery she fought to survive in.
But. Weiss is strong.
She was able to cope up with the loss of her Father in a short amount of time. And in return, she fulfilled her role as the Heiress and took her position with full responsibility. She trained harder; studied like the scholar she is and stayed a diligent Schnee. All this motivating Ruby Rose to be a better leader of Team RWBY yet.
Ruby studied the hardbound cover of the book, it sure is clean and colored in midnight blue, sharp carvings of the white snowflake logo can be felt by the tips of her fingers. The spine of the book is titled Volume 2 of the Dust series. Can't say that the Red head is starting to find interest in it, maybe she just needed some time to actually settle down on a chair and read it thoroughly; maybe grab a dictionary so she could decipher complicated words.
"So." Weiss continued, "about your problem with sleeping.." Without turning her body at Ruby she crossed her arms while scanning at the map like there was much to see from what she already knows about. "Are you sure nothing is bothering you? It's clearly obvious just by looking at your face."
Well, that was observant. Ruby returned the book back to its place, a little smirk forming at the side of her mouth. "Well.. I don't really know. I just," Ruby chuckled a little before continuing. "Really feel lonely.. That's all. I miss when I would be on the top bunk with you sleeping under mine like you got my back or something. Like the snow angel everybody calls you." She smiled, wincing a bit after realizing what she said and added quickly. "Of course, I also miss Yang and Blake too." Unconsciously like a habit for being embarrassed, a finger lightly scratched her cheek, hiding yet another blush. 'Hah, smooth move. That was really lame.'
It was a silly clue of implication right there, but Weiss only shrugged her shoulders, "I suppose. Can't say I too don't feel the same way." She said, a little smile forming on her as well as she began to roll a finger on a strand of hair near her face.
Yes, Ruby is sleepy as heck, but that can't stop her from smirking a little mischievously with a sense of hype in it and feel younger again, " Well, if that's the case then.."
Before Weiss could even comprehend what would happen next, Ruby had already wrapped her arms around the Heiress and lifted her off the floor, "We can sleep together for the night!"
"W-What?" Weiss's eyes widened, panicking not only from what she suggested, but as she was suddenly raised like paper weight material. Weiss knew all too well that Ruby is really strong; still, she tried to pull away. Ruby carried them to the bed and made them both fall on the mattress. Her wolf ears popping again after the adrenaline rush with a swishing tail.
After a few strong protests of words and actions, Ruby stayed persistent and only brought her closer until her face buried onto the crook of her neck, her furry canine ears brushing against the smooth of her skin that could make Weiss hush.
Ruby needed the cold that could ease her hot skin. Weiss needed the warmth from her cold complexion. It was a win win, 50/50. Vice versa.
"At least change to your sleeping attire?" Weiss complained, the question more of a demand.
"But I'm too lazy to stand up and I don't want to go back to my room." Ruby whined, looking up to give her those puppy eyes. It only took seconds until it was declared a quick victory.
Sighing, Weiss just went along with the flow and closed her eyes from staring deeply into those cute orbs to be mesmerized completely than she already is, trying to fall asleep then and there to get over with it until morning rises.
"Weiss?"
"What?"
Ruby first drapes her cape over them before she lets that bare hand intertwine her fingers with Weiss's covered ones. The Free and the Caged, the touch a mutual understanding, the gentle grip a sign of thanks and promise.
"You're the best teammate." She finished, closing her eyes after.
Weiss opened hers again to look at Ruby to see her already setting off to deep slumber. So closing them back, she smirked and said, "I know."
A/N: Wow, the sun is already shining from my window..
This is a special kind of chapter to make up for my delay and to also overcome a kind of writer's block I'm having for these past days (As you can probably see how it affected how I wrote this chappy). Since this is a kind of thing now, I'll be in most moments post a special chapter if I get delayed, not that it's going to happen frequently though (expect Bumblee to be next). I'll sometimes bring up the present times to catch up from the past.
Constructive Criticisms will really be appreciated! Plus a thank you for that one comment in chapter 5, it was one of the main inspirations that I get this done sooner :)
See you next chapter fellas!
