Chapter 10: Girls, Girls, Girls

Ruby and Weiss deal with the consequences of their moment of passion, while in the city Roman Torchwick receives a pair of visitors and the body count rises.

"Get back outside! I'm packing my case and I do not need you looking over my shoulder and getting in my way with your bumbling!" shouted Weiss.

"No."

"Excuse me? I am leaving and that is final. You can't just prevent me from leaving, I've got money enough to convince the administration to have you expelled!" Weiss spat.

Ruby stepped towards her, making sure her face did not betray her shock and anger. Instead she tried to be calm and resolve the issue with Weiss, but she was not sure how long she could hold her own anger back.

"Weiss, I don't care at all about how much money you have or what company you're set to inherit. I do care about you, though. You're my friend Weiss and even with what just happened I'm not gonna let you pretend that we haven't bonded as teammates and friends. Let's just sit down and talk about this, stop acting like a spoiled brat!"

Weiss recoiled as if a snake had lunged at her.

"You have the nerve to label us friends and then insult me? I cannot believe I ever considered you a friend Ruby Rose, I made an enormous mistake by staying with this team!"

"Look me in the eyes and say you mean that," Ruby said.

She had not meant to issue such an ultimatum but she had said it and now all she could do was hope Weiss didn't mean what she had said.

Weiss never gave up easily, even in a battle of words, and she glared at Ruby with hands set on her hips.

"I, I... grrr, you are the most troublesome 'friend' I have ever known!" Weiss said, averting her gaze.

"I knew you couldn't say it. You know that we've been through enough together to get past one teeny-tiny embarrassing moment," Ruby replied, relieved.

"What just happened was not a 'teeny-tiny' bit embarrassing. That was mortifying! Yang just opened the door and witnessed us... embracing," Weiss said.

"Admitting that we were kissing is not a taboo, alright? There's nothing wrong with kissing someone, it's not like we can get in trouble for it."

"Well maybe not get in trouble but have you ever seen two men or two women kissing in public or the movies? Weiss pressed.

"Well... no, I guess not off the top of my head I can't remember. But still, that doesn't mean anything. Have you ever heard of a rule against two girls kissing, or two men getting married? You're always raising your hand in Vale History, you tell me."

Weiss blinked and began to pace. Ruby folded her arms over her chest and watched as Weiss paced around the room. Finally, Weiss stomped a foot on the ground and turned to face Ruby once again.

"I'm not actually sure if I've read anything on the subject... I'll have to explore the library's collection to see what I can discover," Weiss admitted.

"Hey, Weiss, pay attention! We really need to talk about if we're just friends or what, huh? We're at least friends, that's obvious enough. But considering we were just kissing and hugging on your bed not ten minutes ago... Well friends don't really do that, do they?"

"No... no they don't," Weiss agreed.

"So then what are we, Weiss? Girl-space-friends or girlfriends, no space?"

"Woah, hold on a second there! You can't just suddenly propose the idea that we're dating!"

"Well you suddenly decided to kiss me, so it's only fair!"

"I... that was... rash of me. Just, let me think about this."

"Weiss… I'm scared. I know that sounds crazy cause I'm always wanting to spar somebody and go on missions. I used to wrestle with sheep dogs when I was still shorter than your average dog and as soon as I was old enough I was out there guarding against Beowolfs. When an invasion of Grimm and criminals appeared on the grounds almost out of thin air I was told to lead the teams because I've fought so much and I guess they assumed I wasn't scared. But they were wrong. I was terrified as soon as we started our fighting and when Sky Lark died… it wasn't like the movies. It wasn't glorious or awesome and he wasn't just pretending to be dead, ready to pop up after the director yells 'Cut!'. He was just gone. I can't stop seeing him when I close my eyes, Weiss."

Ruby spoke unusually calmly, and her constant fidgeting was nowhere to be seen. Her voice wavered at times and Weiss could see the tears forming in her grey eyes.

The younger girl clenched and unclenched her fists, breathed, and then continued.

"I understand that the reporters and books will write that 'Glynda Goodwitch was a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice'. I used to think that was the coolest thing in the world, the action heroes who put it all on the line for their family. Of course, those heroes always managed to get out of the exploding building or live through the gunshot in the end. Now I realize that's not what it's like for the cops, soldiers, and Sky Larks of the world. I want to… I want to grow up and learn to play guitar and kiss people and do all kinds of stuff I've never done before."

Ruby shut her eyes tightly, tears now streaming down her face, and again breathed deeply.

"I knew this wasn't gonna be easy, but I never thought it would be this hard," Ruby thought.

"My point is... I'm still scared. I'm scared of having what happened to Sky Lark happen to me. If I'm reckless and wild and let my gut make all the decisions then something bad is bound to happen eventually. When we were up there on that rood I felt tempted to do what Sky Lark eventually ended up doing.

The reason that I didn't was because I stopped and thought of Blake and Yang and all the others. And you. I didn't want to get hurt and end up with an injured hand that would never let me play guitar, an injured leg that would leave me with a limp, or something even worse. All of you guys, but especially you help keep me from making stupid, rash decisions. I'm the opposite of cool-headed, but you help keep my hot-headedness in check. You help balance this team out, help balance me out. Even if you just want to be friends - I need you, Weiss. Please, stay," Ruby finished.

Ruby's heart hammered as she waited for a reply from Weiss. She had kept her newly realized fear locked inside since the end of the battle and had never told Weiss what she had just said. Ruby did not have the faintest idea what Weiss would say next and the longer the silence stretched the more worried she felt.

"Maybe I just said too much. Maybe I blew my chance at friendship with Weiss and she's gonna move out anyway and is just trying to find a nice way to tell me that she is, maybe-"

"I... I never expected to hear you say something so personal to me. I'm… I'm touched you'd trust me with all that. I've never had somebody tell me something like that and to tell the truth I know what you mean about being scared. We're only teenagers, we should have never had to go through all of that, but ultimately, I'm glad you were by my side through the thick of it. You're a natural-born leader and an honest, dedicated girl. Yeah you have your flaws and you can be incredibly frustrating, but I know I can be the same way. I'm very thankful to have you as my friend. As for the kiss… I don't know where that came from or where it will lead us - but I'm not going to abandon this team, or you. I'm staying."

When Weiss finished she smiled and Ruby's heart nearly jumped out of her throat.

"That's the best news I've heard in days, oh thank you thank you thank you!"

Weiss laughed a small laugh and turned to unpack her things.

"You're so pretty when you laugh," Ruby blurted

"What are you doing Ruby, why did you just say that!?" Ruby thought, clapping a hand to her mouth.

"Just because I said we're friends doesn't mean you can flirt with me!" Weiss protested, turning around.

Her tone was defensive but the happiness in her eyes betrayed her.

"You can unpack later, we should get going. The vigil starts in an hour.

"Yeah, you're right, best for us to arrive early to pay our respects. I'm... I'm glad we had this discussion Ruby, it was nice."

Ruby smiled brightly and turned to open the door to the hallway.

"Wait, one last thing before we go Weiss. I think I have a good name for the band, remind me to tell you about it later."

"To be honest I had almost forgotten about the band with everything going on."

Ruby laughed, "I don't blame you. I hope things are going to calm down around here now, I don't know if I can handle many more big surprises and you know I love surprises."

She opened the door and motioned for Weiss to go through.

"Well princess, after you." ~~~

"Well princess, after you."

Melanie gestured extravagantly for her sister, Miltia, to pass through the door before her. The two twins were headed into the Garnold Judiciary Building located on Royals Street, which was in the heart of the city. The two girls had decided to wear their favorite dresses that day, Miltia wore her dark red dress and Melanie her white one.

Normally their clothing, accessories, hair styles, and make-up differed in some way. For example, if they wore dresses that were the same cut they would be different colors. If one grew their hair out, the other would keep it short. If one picked out a hairpin to wear, the other would use a feather, and so on and so on.

Today, however; the two girls were adorned with the same accessory. Both Melanie and Miltia wore a red feather in their hair, behind the left ear. The fashion choice was not without meaning. Both feathers had been given to them by their mentor. It was a good luck charm for the twins and an omen for any who the twins deemed an obstacle.

"Hello ladies, welcome to the Garnold Judiciary Building. I need you to place any metallic items or bags on this belt here and then step through the detector please. Afterwards you can proceed to the front desk to state your business," a security guard said.

"Oh sure, Mr. Security Guard, whatever you say. I certainly wouldn't want to upset someone as big and strong looking as you," Melanie purred.

"Err... please, just go through the detector Miss," the man replied.

"Aw you're no fun, never been hit on at work before? Oh well, your loss," she teased.

Her sister only sighed and complied with the man's instructions. Neither of the girls carried bags, so all that was required of them was to walk through the spell and weapon detector.

As Miltia passed through the detector emitted no note of alarm. After she had been waved on her sister strutted through, again triggering no alarm. When Melanie was waved on towards the main desk she laughed to herself and glanced at her sister. Her sister shook her head and put a finger to her lip.

"Always the cautious one eh, sis?" Melanie laughed.

Several people, including a guard or two, looked at them oddly, but nobody spoke up or moved towards them. After all, they had gone through the detector without triggering a single alarm. What harm could two teenage girls possibly inflict?

Melanie lead her sister up to the front desk and spoke to the man working behind the counter.

"Hello, I'm Melanie Malachite, and this is my sister Miltiades, Miltia for short. We're visiting to see someone being held in your custody," she explained.

"Hmm... Malachite, was it? I don't see any Malachites here on the roster, who are you here to visit exactly?"

"A friend of the family, his last name is Torchwick."

"What? What did you just say!?"

"Roman Torchwick, can't you hear anything old man? We're here to visit him," Melanie declared.

"How are you aware that he's being held in this facility? Guards! Guards!" the man began to yell.

"Melanie, why must you always insist on doing things the hard way?" Miltia sighed.

"Because I actually like to have fun, unlike you. Now come on, the party is starting."

With that Melanie stomped her left foot and then her right one. When each boot struck the ground the plastic casing that had been on her heels fell off, revealing the blades underneath. At the same time Miltia pressed a button located on the wrist of her gloves. A set of red and black claws sprang forth from each glove and Miltia raised her hands.

"What the? All units be aware, armed combatants in the lobby!" one of the guards shouted.

By now the guards had their guns out and aimed at the twins, but none of them were eager to be the first to shoot at two teenage girls. That quickly proved to be a grave mistake.

Melanie and Miltia lunged forward at the same time, each at one of the dozen or so guards that surrounded them.

The blade of Melanie's heel cut into one of the guard's thighs and the toe of her other boot slammed into the man's face, knocking him unconscious. Then she sprang forward at another guard and her heel slashed her hand. The guard dropped her gun with a gasp of pain and Melanie scooped it from the ground and put a bullet into the kneecap of the nearest guard. She landed vicious kicks on her opponents and used the gun to fire a shot at the arm of a guard who had her in his sights. A bullet tugged at her sleeve and she felt the stinging kiss of the slug as it grazed her arm, but paid it no mind. She pivoted and saw the guard who had nearly shot her almost instantly. Before he could even squeeze the trigger again her knee smashed into his stomach and he fell to his knees. A round house kick to the skull left him moaning on the floor.

"Hah, what a bunch of losers you are! I've met blonde girls who could put up a better fight than a hundred of you," Melanie laughed.

At the same time as Melanie had launched her flurry of kicks Miltia had lunged for the nearest guard. The startled look on his face had turned to terror when her claws had pierced his shoulder. She then head-butted him into unconsciousness and ripped her claws from his shoulder. She dashed to another guard and slashed at his side and he too fell to the ground. After leaving several more guards bleeding, unconscious, or both, Miltia looked around to see that only she and her sister were standing in the room. Any civilians that had been in the room when the fight started had already fled. One of the employees must have triggered the alarm as white lights began to flash and a sharp, shrill noise filled the air.

"Alright then, I don't think we have much time. Let's go find Torchwick and do our job," Melanie declared.

The two girls raced through the building and encountered guards and a few police officers along the way but were able to quickly either knock them senseless or disable them as threats. The twins raced up two flights of steps and down a corridor until they reached the door they had circled on the blueprints.

"Looks like the intel we got was right. You can do the honors, Miltia."

Melanie sliced the bolts and Miltia kicked it in. The twins climbed through the entrance they had created and found themselves in a small hallway with only a few doors. They walked to the third cell door on the right and peeped through the small slit in the door.

Inside Roman Torchwick was sitting on the ground of an almost completely bare room. He was tossing his hat up and down and whistling to himself.

"Looks like this is it Melanie, you remember the spell I taught you right?" Miltia asked her sister.

Melanie nodded and the two of them placed their palms flat to the door.

"Un rauga ix dregt!" the two girls chanted together.

The door shimmered for a moment and then collapsed as it was transformed into water. They stepped over the puddle to see Torchwick staring at them, mouth gaping.

"Where the hell did you two learn how to do that?"

"The same woman who you work for and who left us orders to rescue you. Now come on, we need to get to our ride before we're trapped in here. Come with us," Melanie ordered.

Roman Torchwick was still sore from the numerous healing spells that had hastily repaired the worst of his injuries. The doctors that had treated him had been going for effective, not comfortable, but, still, sore and all, he was ready to risk an escape. He had found that interrogation and threats of never leaving a cell did not suit him well. So, he stood and ran after two girls that he knew only fleetingly.

The three of them sprinted down the hallway until they reached the staircase and from there they sprinted up the steps. From below them the three could hear the shouts of special police, no doubt including seasoned combat wizards and witches, and the shouts were growing closer. They continued their ascent until Melanie kicked open a door that said "Roof Access".

"Now what!? This is an awful escape plan!" Torchwick complained as they burst on to a barren roof.

"There."

Miltia pointed into the sky, where a Bullhead aircraft was approaching them.

"I really do love those things," Torchwick said.

The Bullhead landed seconds later and the three of them jumped on board. As soon as they were onboard the pilot sped high into the air and got on the intercom.

"Welcome aboard Torchwick, glad to have you along for the ride. I see my nieces were successful in getting you out of there in one piece."

"Junior? Well that explains how your nieces here were able to find me, you were always great at finding just the right cops and guards to bribe.I can't believe you were the one to send these two after me. I mean, I know we've had some business ventures before but I did not know that you cared so much," Torchwick said into the intercom

"Don't thank me, thank those two. I swear they were about to pull out the blades if I hadn't agreed to go along with them. Maybe they'll tell you what the hell we're doing or why we're leaving the kingdom" Junior's voice replied.

Torchwick looked over at the girls, intrigued.

"We've heard that you've met Miss Fall's other captains before, correct?" Melanie began.

"Miss Fall...?"

"You knew her as Cinder," Miltia explained.

"We're on our way to meet her other captains at a small base that she owns in lands that others consider to be inhabitable. She left many instructions which are to be followed," Melanie said.

"You mean 'owned', she's dead now. Look, I'm glad that you saved me from a life of prison time and all, but I'm not following a set of dead woman's instructions. What are you two to her anyways, how do you know her?" Torchwick asked.

"Our mentor," Miltia said.

"Our hero," Melanie said.

The two girls traded a look and turned to Torchwick.

"We're her great grandchildren."