Soulbound

by xT-Zealot

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon, so it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." [Pseudo-Novelization] -Completed-

14. Innocent And Guilty

Author's Note: So what's been disproven so far?

Brain: Well the only thing that's been positively disproven was that second semester is only just beginning at Beacon during Volume 2 as we learned from the last production diary.

Eh, so my timing may be a little off. If that's all for now, I'm fine with that.

Brain: Well we don't know what the first episode's disproven; we didn't exactly go to RTX.

I should think about going one day, especially since I keep hearing about the Bumblebee loves from the respective voice actresses. Considering my dream of attending E3 at some point in my life has ended, I may as well replace it. I liked it better when E3 used to be about video games and not how I could watch TV on the game console I bought to play games. One of the reasons why I don't have a nextgen console: no good games yet to make it worth it.

Brain: So as a hopeless shipper, any pre-Volume 2 ships that currently have no substance whatsoever that you're looking forward to?

The only ticket I have on reserve for such a ship is for a voyage on the S.S. Combat Totes. We'll see if I end up tearing it up before boarding but come on…Combat Totes. Also Cocolet.

Brain: Feel like making any other kind of special note before we begin?

You know what, let's try something new. I always say how I love to listen to soundtracks to get me in the right mood to write a specific scene and I keep mentioning certain ones that I was listening to during certain chapters. Let's see if the readers will be inclined to listen to such a selection. We're gonna try to pull the feels string pretty good in this chapter so let's go the extra mile.

For the first part of this chapter, if you feel like doing so, I'd like to suggest a track to listen to while reading:

Devil May Cry Anime OST - Pain

---

=Three Days Ago=

"You know, I've been taking to singing again," she spoke softly while her fingers smoothed down those displaced locks. "You were right: it was something I still enjoyed and was happy to do again."

There was no response.

"I've been writing a song, too," she continued. "I'm still having trouble finishing it but when I do, I wouldn't mind you listening to it."

Again there was nothing but silence. Her hand slid down, fingertips brushing an unmoving brow before she cupped a cold cheek. A teardrop fell and splashed against the other.

"So, please," she begged, trying to keep her voice steady despite the trembling of her lip that had another tear falling from her chin. "Open your eyes."

But she never would. She would never open her eyes, never smile, never laugh ever again.

Because Ruby Rose was dead.

For a while all Weiss could do was sit there, trying to figure out how this could've possibly happened. As if hoping she could spot some form of an answer, she had placed Ruby's head upon her lap to better stare at that lifeless face.

There was nothing there to explain it to her, leaving Weiss to vainly try to come up with an explanation. Had she done something wrong? She couldn't have; she did everything right. She discovered the wound and treated it accordingly. She could've discovered it sooner but that shouldn't have mattered because Ruby was still breathing afterwards. She was still alive.

So how did Weiss fail?

She turned away for only a few seconds. In that amount of time something must've occurred for when Weiss looked back, Ruby was gone. What did she miss? How, with all her boasted intelligence and talent, did she allow this to happen? Of all the times she had never fallen short in an endeavor, how was it that she did so here?

It was a question she couldn't answer. A problem she couldn't figure out no matter how hard she tried. All she could grasp was that for one moment Ruby was alive and talking to her and in the next she wasn't.

Then there came another question that was even more difficult to answer: why did this happen?

Why did Ruby have to die? Why did anyone have to die? For having a childhood that had been burdened by it, death wasn't a subject that Weiss developed an understanding for. She would just hear another name of another person who was killed and she would always wonder why it happened to them.

She was always given reasons. She was told that the people who did it were monsters and she would hear from those monsters that they did it because her family and those who worked for them were the monsters. No matter what explanation she was given, was that really enough to warrant death? The people she had known such as Horace and his family weren't monsters but they ended up experiencing such a tragedy anyway.

She was just a little girl at the time. How was she supposed to understand any of what happened no matter how gifted she was? All she knew was that people were dying in a war that had one day come to her doorstep without notice, turning everything in her life upside down. No one could've possibly expected her to understand how or why it happened.

In the end, she stopped trying to figure it out. With all that was going on around her, she found that the only thing she could do was accept that that was how it was. Death just…happened. It would happen after a month, a week, or as soon as a day but death would come along eventually and it could come in ones, twos, threes, or even more than that. She thought it would make everything simpler when she just accepted it. It was easier that way.

Eventually she accepted it as an answer as well as an explanation when she wanted to find a way to end it all. Death could only be solved with death. For one as smart as she was, it was such simple, circular logic that she ended up relying on. She would kill because other people killed.

Except she couldn't do that either. That simplicity convinced her into thinking that it was the right thing to do but when she found a perfect opportunity to enforce it she found that she couldn't.

She couldn't take a life and she couldn't save one either. She was a failure in both regards.

All that she was left with was that same question for a different person: why did Ruby have to die?

She didn't do anything wrong…

Ruby always wanted to help people. She didn't come out here to kill anyone. She didn't kill anyone. Out of everyone here, she was the last person who should deserve to die.

She likes her sweets a bit too much, Weiss thought, unaware of the steady stream that fell from each eye no matter how scarred one was. She could always focus more on her studies. She has to constantly come up with some pointless team activity for us to do. But none of them are a reason for her to die, are they?

It was Ruby's blood that was on her hands though. It was Ruby who lay here dead while the White Fang she didn't kill remained alive. It was her useless partner who was sitting and breathing over her.

It was Weiss who yelled at her. It was Weiss who abandoned her and left her to this fate that had fallen upon her because she had sought to administer death. She had once called Ruby a nuisance, she who once claimed that she was the one who deserved better. What did someone who couldn't keep her promise of being the best teammate really deserve?

Even in her last moments, Ruby hadn't been thinking about herself. She had been worried about Blake who she always believed wasn't the criminal that Weiss swore her to be. She had been worried about her sister who had gone off headfirst into danger to rescue her partner. The last words she had spoken were about…

…Me.

While that last vestige of life drained out of her, Ruby had been apologizing to her. She said that she was sorry that she hadn't known sooner, that she wished that she could've said more…that she could've helped more...

Weiss never wanted it but Ruby had always tried to help her. All Ruby wanted to do for her was to get her to enjoy something she once loved, to make her as more of a part of her team with their fun activities, to savor those moments together.

And all Weiss had wanted to do was look for the fight that killed her.

…It wasn't fair.

Weiss put her arms around Ruby, lifting her up and pressing her face against that red-black hair in order to soak them with the tears that fell from her face while the ones that had dripped onto Ruby's slid down her deathly cold and still features. Her shoulders shook, her body becoming wracked with sobs.

It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair, it wasn't fair!

With her voice muffled, it was the growing soreness in her throat that had Weiss realizing that her sobs had become screams to better lament the unfairness of it all.

She wanted Ruby to open her eyes so that she could see those silvers that she thought would lead her to ruin but she now knew to be the best thing that happened to her! She wanted her to talk and laugh again and Weiss would call her a dolt or a dunce; insults that had been becoming spoken with growing fondness! She wanted to be distracted by all those things that she enjoyed with Ruby and their team! She wanted to prove to her leader that she could be the best teammate like she promised!

She wanted Ruby back!

Her Aura blazed to life, white and pure as her wish. It manifested not as an outline but a divine radiance that chased away the surrounding darkness of the night. As Ruby became bathed in it, it was that white light that was to break the black grip of death that desired to pull her into a greater, more eternal darkness.

At first there was nothing there. Despite how Weiss curled her body around Ruby so that her Aura could touch and encompass the younger girl in short order, there was no sign of her anywhere. The heiress found herself fruitlessly reaching and searching within deep, dark waters, looking for anything of Ruby that she could grab and use to bring her out from their depths. For a few, heart-wrenching moments, she fruitlessly flailed within cold emptiness.

Then she touched on it. It was faint but when there wasn't anything else it stuck out prominently. She didn't need to see how a feeble, rose-red light issued from the center of Ruby's chest as she was able to sense its delicate beating as if it was trying to replace the heart that had stopped.

It was remarkable as to how it existed despite being so close to the mortal wound that had struck her down, the space separating them mere inches and what has become a boundary between life and death. As long as one iota of life existed though, it meant there was hope no matter how small it was. And you only needed a shred of hope in order for the light to exist and evaporate the darkness.

For Weiss, it was going to be more than enough.

She encased that speck of life that was as stubborn as its owner, doing the same as she had done with Ruby's body. She didn't stop there as her need to make sure it continued to exist had her weaving and twining her very soul with her leader's to better keep it in place.

It was that need that gave shape to the words that came to the fencer. They arrived naturally as if they were lyrics that she memorized even if it was the only time they crossed her mind. Instead of for a song, they were a verbal product of her heart's desires. Weiss spoke them with a hoarse, muffled, and stuttering voice but she spoke them all the same.

"T-to preserve this life I o-offer my own. As a tether,
g-grounded to this plane I do f-freely give myself,
and offer my soul as a guide and anchor. Two b-bound
as one so that both may live so long as o-one will b-breathe."

So bring Ruby back! she silently finished.

Finally did Ruby respond to her proclamation, the other half of the knot that Weiss had been tying growing taut in order to tighten it. Then she was reaching back, using her newly-formed link with the fencer to follow her Aura back to her own center to make her mark there and form a two-way connection in order to better secure what was being offered. Weiss didn't even hesitate to open the way to it. Like everything else about this procedure, it was all natural and instinctive as that was what survival was all about. Ruby wanted to survive and Weiss wanted to make sure she did. There were very few things as true to human nature as that.

That weak, rose-red illumination was growing stronger. Surrounded by white, it was gradually stretching to absorb and convert the energy that was being bestowed. White became pink, pink became red, and the process went on as Ruby regained enough of her Aura to devote it to her bodily functions. Cells began to regenerate, blood restarted their flow, oxygen was carried along with it, and for the scythe-wielder to accomplish that her heart and lungs began working again.

Her first breath was a gasp and it was the most beautiful thing that Weiss ever heard as was the melody that followed with quicker, shallower breaths as Ruby now began actively replenishing not what her soul needed but her body. Weiss reveled in all these signs that occurred within her arms that said that she succeeded; that Ruby was alive and breathing again.

She was going to make sure that her partner stayed that way. Even after Ruby's breathing reestablished a stable rhythm while her Aura reformed around her, Weiss didn't cease her efforts. Whenever her Aura began to dull, there came a flare of white that was fed to restore its brightness. She was not going to let her leader so much as falter here.

At the back of her mind, Weiss recognized the weakness that was overtaking her. Having imparted so much of herself into Ruby already, her persistence to give more was causing it to spread. But she didn't cease her efforts. What became most important in her mind was to make sure that Ruby wasn't going anywhere.

She brought Ruby back. She saved her. She was keeping her alive. She did and was doing what no one else could.

She wasn't going to let anything stop her until she saw those silver eyes again. So long as she breathed, Ruby would do the same no matter how much Weiss would have to give to keep it that way.

---

=Present=

Three days. Three long days.

Once Ruby had been evacuated from the docks and transported to one of the nearest hospitals, she ended up staying there for three days. Although she was declared as in the clear hours after arriving, the decision to have her remain there until she woke up had been made for what was considered as the best interests for her health. While Beacon had its own facilities, its headmaster nonetheless agreed with the arrangement as there was no need to transport the young leader when all that she really needed was undisturbed rest to recover. She would be brought back to the school once she was able to make the trip herself.

That day was today when Beacon was given a notice that Ruby regained consciousness the night before. After an early morning monitoring and check-up, she was deemed as safe to travel and could be retrieved at the earliest convenience where the school can take over the care of its student. That wasn't going to mean that she was back to normal as she would be prescribed with supplements and other medications and would have to take it easy for the following weeks. Science, magic, and Aura has come a long way but there were just some things that the body needed to do on its own, especially when it came to recovering from excessive blood loss.

Her team, at least, would be happy to have her back. It was not only for their sake that they were exempt from classes during the duration of her recovery but there were also reports to be made and debriefings to attend in the wake of the fight that occurred at Vale's docks. The appearance of a terrorist organization, a major player of the criminal underworld, and a frightening amount of weaponry within the city's downtown warranted an investigation to answer how it happened and what it may mean in terms of the future.

Such an investigation would be handed off to the appropriate departments though. Right now, all Team RWBY had to worry about was their leader.

It was Ruby who was on Weiss's mind as the heiress ventured to the hospital but not without making a couple other stops within Vale. She carefully shifted the gathered items in her arms – half purchased, half she brought with her from Beacon – so that she may rub at her eyes in an attempt to dispel the drowsiness that made the lids heavy.

She hadn't slept well during the past three days. She passed out at intermediate points during the trip and stay at the hospital to make sure that Ruby would be fine but one wouldn't really call that sleeping as it was just giving up once the demand for it became too great. The same could be said at Beacon where the fencer found herself wanting to sleep but couldn't because of certain…distractions. Eventually she would nod off but when she awoke it would be nowhere near enough rest and she would still feel miserable.

It wasn't due to the work that came with the aftermath of the battle that Weiss had been busy with as she had been relatively spared from it. Though not having been injured, the heiress had exerted herself quite a bit that night and she was allowed her own time to recover to properly situate herself.

That was much easier said than done. What plagued Weiss was something that sleep and time couldn't fix and it was why she made sure to take an airship to Vale when Yang had been called in by Ozpin for a meeting.

In order to get herself 'situated', she needed to remove the cause and do it before life restarted at Beacon with Ruby's return.

She could pick up on it. Beneath her breast was a sensation that she could only describe as a wrongness. Each beating of her heart was accompanied with something that felt off in the overall rhythm. It was unusual, it was foreign, and it was something that Weiss found disturbing because she knew it wasn't hers but it didn't stop it from existing right at her most vulnerable point.

Weiss did not regret what she did that night. She had nothing but time to repeatedly go over what happened but not once did she think for a moment that she wanted to take back what she did even if she did so out of desperation and with little thought about the consequences that she was suffering from because of it. To do that meant that Ruby would not have survived and that was something Weiss would never want to happen.

But she was alarmed with what did happen. She wanted Ruby to live and she willingly offered a piece of herself with Ruby trading a part of herself in return to better make sure she stayed in this plane of existence. That was fine. If it meant bringing Ruby back she found that arrangement agreeable.

What she nearly did after that though…

It did something to her. She didn't know what but it made her act…not herself. Even when she felt Ruby's breath on her face, even when she felt her shift in her arms, even when she took note of everything that said that Ruby was alive, she hadn't halted in her efforts to make sure that Ruby would stay that way. She just kept giving more of herself than what should've been necessary.

When the ambulances arrived and the paramedics tried to remove Ruby from her, she fought them off. She conjured up her glyphs even when they were just draining what reserves she had left that were already being sapped by Ruby. What should've been help became a threat and the idea of them taking Ruby away from her had scared her and she didn't know why. The only thing she was thinking was to not let Ruby go because, as impossible as it should've been, she was afraid that Ruby would leave her again if she did.

Such an unsightly and senseless display on her part and she would feel ashamed if it wasn't for her remembering what else she perceived going on. Taking place of what strength and Aura was being drained from her was a chill that was spreading throughout her body and she recognized it for what it was immediately. It was the same chill that she felt on Ruby when she had been lying limp in her arms and it was that cold that she forced to relinquish its hold on her leader.

It was the everlasting chill of death. Having been thwarted from one victim, it decided to take another and Weiss had no compunctions of being the one to replace Ruby.

She became irrational. While this bond saved Ruby, it had nearly driven Weiss to what she was sure was madness and never had she appreciated Yang more than she did for when Ruby's sister had brought her out from it. Whatever insults and slights she once directed at the blonde, she was silently apologizing for every single one of them. If she had been allowed to go on with her insanity for a little longer…

I didn't, Weiss assured herself as she experienced a weaker form of that chill that had her shuddering and would do so every time she thought back to it. I didn't and everything's fine.

Besides, it wasn't like this was irreversible. Ruby was alive and that was fine. The deed was done. Weiss may've gone through a bit of an ordeal both during then and afterwards but that was fine too. She could fix this. Things can go back to normal.

The automatic doors slid open at Weiss's approach, allowing the heiress to cross into the sterile environment of the hospital that had the heavy scent of ammonia hanging in the air. The front desk – true to form – was ahead of her but once she spotted it she didn't go to it just yet.

Thanks to the white and pale blue color scheme that such facilities like to sport, it made the figure of black stand out painfully. Oh, Weiss thought sarcastically, great. Exactly who I want to see right now.

Hilarious considering that it was Blake who Weiss hadn't seen after the team had sat silently within the waiting area until they were told that Ruby was going to recover. The white-themed girl hadn't exactly been in the right state of mind as the relief and the exhaustion made the journey back to Beacon an indiscernible blur within her memories. However, not once had she seen Blake at Beacon and it led to Weiss questioning if the faunus was with them during the return trip to the combat school.

She found herself drawn to that bow and, again, she wondered how she could've been so foolish to let such a simple decoration hide the truth from her for this long. Her self-chastising was interrupted when Blake – she guessed the sliding of the doors got her attention – turned to face Weiss.

At spotting the heiress, the ninja opened her mouth to address her but her lips suddenly stilled. Instead, it was her eyes that went into a flurry of motion as they beheld the fencer, her gaze flicking about as they took her in. Eventually they drew back up to meet Weiss's blank look but she stayed silent and simply stared at her.

Tired she may be, there came a spark of irritation as she detected sympathy within Blake's features. Her own hardening, Weiss curtly spoke, "Blake."

The faunus didn't return with the same and, to what was becoming growing offence for Weiss, she looked apologetic. "Weiss."

Neither said anything for a while. One quietly conveyed remorse, the other offence, but they didn't verbalize any of it. Looking increasingly uncomfortable, Blake volunteered to break the silence as she said, "Ruby's awake."

"I know," Weiss deadpanned. "That's why I'm here."

The faunus flinched at the tone but was nodding her head as if understanding that it was warranted. "I meant to say that she's awake now; I just asked. She's in room one-four-two."

"Good." There was neither an apology for her behavior or thanks for the information whether it be at her voice or her toughened exterior. "I came to talk to my partner and, if you don't mind, I'd like to do that alone."

At that, Blake performed another inspection but this time it was at the bundle of items that Weiss held in her arms; all of them stacked on top of the red cloth that had been neatly folded and, going by its appearance, freshly-cleaned. "Of course."

When Weiss did try to go to the desk though, Blake didn't get out of the way. She was about to, one foot having been raised to move, but it settled back down. It took Weiss longer than it should've to realize that her way was still blocked and when she stopped it was right in front of her faunus teammate who was chewing on her lip, her gaze casted down as she struggled with something to say.

Just as Weiss was getting enough of her energy back to snap at the delay, Blake looked back up at her and, after one last bit of hesitation, began, "Weiss, I want you to know that I'm no longer associated with the White Fang. Back when I was with th-"

"Stop."

Blake did, blinking incredulously at the heiress.

"Do you have any idea as to how long we were searching for you?" Weiss questioned. When all Blake did was give her another blink, Weiss went on, "Twelve hours. That means I've had twelve hours to think about what I would even do to you when I found you."

Though she transferred the energy into this response to give it the extra edge, it hadn't been meant for the explanation that was following as it swiftly dulled and Weiss's hardened features began to break beneath the burden of weariness. "Then there was another twelve worrying about Ruby, and another twelve to actually think about all of this, and during that time I've decided…"

The pause wasn't on purpose. It was meant to give Weiss time to wonder if she was sure about her own decision. Blake had lied to them, ran from them, hid from them, and Weiss remembered the anger and hate that she felt towards her and what she had originally thought was justified and wouldn't be appeased until she did…something to who she was sure was a White Fang spy and her potential compatriots.

Then she would remember how she instead dished it out towards Ruby who had looked so afraid of her…and Yang who had been livid enough to almost hit her…and then Ruby again who spent what could've very well been her last moments to attest to Blake's innocence…and combine that with her own failure…

"I don't care."

Blake stared at her disbelievingly and needed a moment before repeating, "You don't care?"

"You said you aren't one of them anymore, right?"

Long before Blake just said it, Weiss had heard from Yang during and after she informed the officers on site of how she and Blake had fought the White Fang. After having it confirmed later on, it was quite obvious that Blake was more than just no longer affiliated with them.

So when Blake was about to explain, "No, I haven't been since I was-", Weiss held up her right hand as a silent order to stop.

She failed to realize her mistake until the faunus was already looking at the raised appendage. Much like how she did upon first seeing Weiss, Blake's eyes grew large and her jaw went slack. The heiress quickly closed her hand and hid it back beneath the cloth she carried but it was too late, Blake following it and staring at where it was now hidden.

"I don't want to hear it," Weiss spoke, mustering up what vigor she could to effectively draw Blake back to her. It petered out sooner than the last scrap of it did and her efforts to muster it not once but twice started to take a toll. "I don't care anymore."

Wherever that anger was, however that hate managed to leave her, it wasn't here now; not just for Blake but the White Fang in general. The organization was still terrible and she knew she would fight them if she crossed paths with its members again, but any fantasies and the passionate fuel to power them that would have her viciously swearing to dish out her own measure of justice didn't come to her. All she was right now was tired.

Identifying this to be an end to their argument – if one could call it that -, Blake finally stepped aside while mumbling a soft, "Okay."

Saying nothing else, Weiss went to the desk and, ignoring a concerned question from the attendant there, gave her name and pulled up her Beacon ID on her scroll to confirm her identity and her relationship with who she was to visit. Once that was done, she was handed a small electronic pass that she was to keep visible at all times so that her name, destination, and the time she checked in could be displayed with bright lettering.

Weiss set her gathered items on the desk to pin it to her jacket and then smooth out a couple wrinkles when she felt an impulse to do so. It wasn't her bolero. While her teammates made sure to retrieve Myrtenaster and her Dust, her trademark jacket had gone missing. It was a loss that was acceptable as there was nothing that a reputable tailor and a custom order couldn't replace.

She was wearing her dress but for a temporary fix she chose the brown blazer of her Beacon uniform to cover her arms and keep up appearances. Not the greatest fashion choice but it'll do. After she made a couple passes through the lengths of hair – being sure to do that with her left hand -, the heiress picked the bundle back up.

Before she could begin her walk down the designated hallway, Blake spoke up behind her. "Weiss."

The fencer stood where she was, head twisting to show that she was listening but not enough to bring the faunus into her view.

"I can guess why you're here. I may not have any right to do so but, please, hear me out." When Weiss remained stationary, Blake continued, "I know you bonded to Ruby and that how you did it and the circumstances surrounding it may have been rather intense for you. Something like that I'm sure must be disorienting."

Disorienting was certainly an insufficient way to describe what she's been going through but Weiss felt no need to inform Blake of just how 'disorienting' it's been for her.

"The thing with bonds though," Blake went on, "is that something so sacred cannot be made easily. In order to form one, both parties must be willing to bind themselves in such a way to properly do so. To hold any reservations is to not fully commit yourself to it, leading to a greater chance of it failing. This isn't to say that forming one successfully will be fool-proof as-" she hesitated, then finished, "as I have made that mistake once."

Weiss wasn't as surprised as Blake may've expected her to be as the faunus was waiting for the heiress to properly respond to this revelation. In comparison to having been part of the White Fang, this latest secret was relatively minor and Weiss only wanted Blake to get on with it.

Blake eventually became aware of that. "I fooled myself into believing that I wanted it that way as I thought that was the only choice I had. It was later that I understood what I got myself into and broke it off. The pain that came later was only part of the agony I experienced as was the knowledge that my irresponsibility was what put me in that position. I committed myself to something I didn't fully understand and I paid for it."

Weiss found herself bringing more of Blake into view, her spoken mistakes and punishment prodding against that caution that led Weiss to worrying about the possibilities so long ago when she first heard about this concept. Though she had sworn that she would never end up in a position like this, the very idea of having someone who could be directly linked to her and influence her in such a way had nonetheless worried her enough to confirm that there was a way to sever such a connection. Hearing Blake's story made her want to do so more than ever.

"With all that pain, it's difficult to remember how I once treasured it," Blake admitted. "Despite what it later became, to have someone with me to face the trials that had been placed on us was a relief. I can see why Huntsmen and Huntresses would choose to form a bond so that they may have someone they trust so completely at their side to better support them against the evils of the world. Terrible hardship can result if it's done irresponsibility but if done right…it's why I don't think you should act so hastily. I made one for the wrong reasons but I don't think you did. I know you did it because you care about Ruby and I know she cares about you. I know that you're here now because you don't want to hurt her by doing this yourself. And I believe, if you let her, I think Ruby can help you."

"Enough." It had a bit of volume but there was nothing hostile being carried; only a motive to get Blake to be quiet. "I don't need Ruby's help. The only one who did the helping was me and it's not needed anymore. Ruby's fine now, you're back with us, and right now all I want is things to go back to normal. I…" Weiss released a breath and she had another need to rub at her eyes before finishing, "…I liked how things were before. If it means putting our own differences behind us I'm okay with that. Just let me do what I want."

"…If that's what you want."

"It is," Weiss responded and left Blake behind before she could be delayed any more.

Room 142. It was that number that became branded into the heiress's psyche. It was once she saw it and entered the room it designated that she could mend everything. She's managed to control the damage for now with the certainty that she'll be able to put it all behind her.

It wasn't whether she wanted to do this or not; she had to do this.

One-two-six…one-two-eight…one-three-zero. The signs that lined the wall to the left had even numbers while the ones to the right had odd numbers. Keeping her neck craned in the right direction, Weiss could feel it begin to grow stiff as she mentally read each one off.

One-three-four…one-three-six… She was forced to make a turn when the hallway did the same. One-three-eight…

Two more rooms left and Weiss could feel the anxiety growing enough to override her exhaustion. Her shoulders became straight instead of slumped and even if she could pinpoint which door she had to enter, her gaze didn't stray as she took in the last two numbers.

One-four-zero… She halted. One-four-two.

The door was closed. Some of the rooms she passed had been open, giving her glimpses inside where she saw occupied and unoccupied beds or ones that were hidden with curtains. Had this one been open, Weiss would've stayed off to the side instead of right in front of the threshold as she currently did.

This was the right room. If she hadn't been told that, Weiss would've still known. During the entire journey she felt what she dubbed as the wrongness swelling in response to drawing closer in proximity to the one who it originally belonged to. It incited an increase in tempo of her heart and, with it, an addition to the anxiety that sprouted roots and burrowed into the tiled floor of the hospital to keep Weiss in place.

Ruby was inside and all that separated them was this one little door. Once Weiss entered, she would persuade Ruby to end this thing that they had between them. Having been expected and educated to broker deals and contracts that would influence the revenue and interests of her future company and convince board members of whatever policies she may wish to implement, this would be nothing but child's play.

We're just giving each other back what belongs to us anyway, Weiss reasoned. There was no reason for Ruby to refuse nor should Weiss have any doubts that she could do this. She pushed against the door, her feet moving forward and ripping through the imaginary roots that fruitlessly attempted to impede her.

She anticipated Ruby being alerted to her presence and her young leader was sitting up in her bed. It was when she saw her that Weiss went as still as a statue, her hand stuck to the door.

It was the most magnificent and dismal thing for her to see. As she had desperately hoped for, she saw Ruby awake, breathing, and very much alive. The curtain was drawn away, letting Weiss see her sitting up with hands gathered at her blanket-shrouded knees. She was turned to Weiss, clearly having expected her, and there was that smile she wanted to see again along with her silver irises.

She was not dressed in her black and red blouse and combat skirt but a white hospital gown. More woefully, her cloak was missing. Her face and her arms possessed a shading that was off from her typical albino skin that was left over from that ghastly pallor that had previously overtaken her. Her smile, while genuine, looked slightly fatigued. It was these signs of frailty that had Weiss flashing back to her leader's life-threatening state.

She pressed on, especially when she saw Ruby's smile begin to switch to a frown matching the concern that fell over her expression. She swiftly brought up the general but natural steps of the script that she prepared for this occasion. Start off with basic greetings and pleasantries.

"Hello, Ruby," she greeted with a sprinkle of cordiality while conjuring up a smile. She shut the door behind her to establish privacy for this session. "I trust I haven't kept you waiting for too long."

Ruby didn't reply right away, instead soundlessly watching as the heiress took one of the chairs that were off to the side and dragging it over to set it at her bedside. As Weiss was settling herself down, the younger girl said, "Not long. They had me go through a few tests and told me to rest when they were done." There was a pause full of examination and Weiss liked to believe that she didn't let anything show despite how uncomfortable it made her. "I asked if everyone was okay."

Of course she did, Weiss thought to herself in order to quash down a sudden spike of…agitation? It was hard to tell what it was she felt at, once again, Ruby worrying about others being her first instinct. It's natural to ask. She didn't know how everything went because she was- She broke that off. Focus.

"Everyone's okay," Weiss spoke evenly. "Yang managed to help Blake and they were able to fight off the White Fang together. The police arrived soon after and took over. The only thing we've had to worry about these days are Ozpin's debriefs and reports that needed to be filled out." And for you to wake up.

Ruby had been nodding but in an absent-minded way; as if she didn't care how that, during those days, she hadn't been conscious. She had something else that became paramount to her and Weiss was able to guess what it was before she was even asking, "Blake's back?"

Stop asking about someone else. Weiss convinced herself that she wanted Ruby to stop because it was delaying her from her true goal and nothing else. "Yes, she is." She wasn't one hundred percent sure on that one but Blake was here right now. Anticipating Ruby's next question, she added, "I don't hate her. We were both willing to put our differences aside."

A tiny smile sprung up and there was honest-to-God excitement when Ruby asked, "So Team RWBY's back together?"

"Yes," Weiss replied. Get her back on track. "We're just waiting for you. Yang's supposed to be on her way and when she gets here we'll check you out and bring you back to Beacon. You probably won't be able to attend combat practices for at least a week but you'll have schoolwork to catch up with anyway."

"I'm just glad everyone's okay."

Ruby was looking right at her when she said it and that smile slipped. Weiss diverted her gaze, pretending to be more interested in the tray that was resting on a small cabinet that was within Ruby's reach. It had some half-eaten – and rather unappetizing-looking – food that included mashed potatoes and a yellow mush of vegetables that she assumed was corn; everything that was meant for healthy and easy consumption for a recovering patient. An opening. Use that.

Weiss only had the infamous reputation of hospital food to go on but it was one that appeared accurate. Keeping her one hand hidden, she used the other to give Ruby one of the items she brought with her: a small package of exceptionally ripe strawberries – Weiss wouldn't accept anything less – with their stems having been previously cut. Weiss was a little surprised that, as much as Ruby liked her cookies and other baked goods, her favorite food was actually strawberries.

"I didn't know how well you'd take to the food here," Weiss was explaining when Ruby took the gift. "I got these in case it didn't agree with you."

"It is kind of gross," Ruby admitted, setting the clear container of fruit on her lap. "Thanks, Weiss." She didn't open it and that smile that was causing Weiss's stomach to do several somersaults was lingering on her much longer than she thought necessary.

Keep going. Soften up her resistance. While strawberries were the healthier of the two items she brought with her, Weiss did purchase a packet of cookies to go with it. Wasn't blood sugar something that should be monitored after something like this? Weiss wasn't sure and mostly just bought the cookies because Ruby would like them. She even purchased some atrocious creation that had the exterior of a chocolate chip cookie but had a gooey, fudge filling with the idea that Ruby would like them better.

Ruby seemed to agree, that slight fatigue lifting as she took in the treat. "This looks good." But, like the strawberries, she didn't open them.

"I thought your sweet tooth would appreciate it," Weiss said and she chastised herself for not making her grin stronger than she knew it was right now. "I'm not sure of the health benefits but…"

Ruby returned the facial gesture but those damnable silvers were displaying that persistent worry for her. "I appreciate it."

The heiress wasn't sure how to respond so she chose to keep going with her strategy of appeasing Ruby to make what would happen later easier. She grabbed the next item and held it out to her partner. "I'm not sure how long Yang will take so I thought you'd like to listen to some music if we end up waiting for a while. You know, to go with your strawberries and the cookies."

Ruby didn't comment right away as she took the headset that matched her color scheme as did everything else she owned. She caught an addition to it that had her tilting her head to better read the white scribble located along the adjustable band. A short giggle later and she commented, "I did say that it would be cool."

That Weiss congratulated herself on. It wasn't something that she just went out and purchased as it was her own cleverness for capitalizing on an offhand remark that the both of them made back in Forever Fall that alluded to the possibility of Weiss giving her an autograph. It was more thoughtful than the food and the fencer was sure that she had Ruby just where she wanted her.

Just need to bring her the rest of the way, Weiss thought and she could do that with the last part of her planned presentation. She took the red cloth and unfolded it to reveal it as Ruby's signature cloak. It was the best way to end it. Even if Weiss never got around to asking her partner about it, it was clear that Ruby treasured it and the heiress made sure to restore it.

She fixed the tears and the stitching, unlike the curtains of their dorm room, weren't visible. She cleaned it, got the blood out of it, replaced the cross-shaped pins, made it as good as new. It was a task she completed with her own skills like how Ruby once did for her.

"I fixed this for you," she told Ruby. She held out the cloak and was pleased to see a wide, honest smile on Ruby's face at seeing something she cherished having been returned to her. Weiss found she was just as happy, the ownerless cloak having troubled her more than she expected. It was going to be good to see Ruby with it again – to have another part of what had been everyday life to be back to normal again – but she wrapped that and her own accomplishment up with modesty to better win Ruby over. "It wasn't that difficult; only took a few minutes to stitch and I put it through a couple cycles through the wash before replacing the pins and-"

She tried to hide it. As soon as Ruby took the cloak and had her attention on it, Weiss quickly pulled her hands back and tried to hide the right one in her blazer's pocket. But something happened. She wasn't sure what but Ruby must've picked up on something that had her maneuvering the cloak out from between them and glancing right where she was stuffing it in her pocket.

"Weiss, your hand!" Ruby cried out in alarm.

The appendage in question froze at the unexpectedness of this turn of events, leaving the bandages visible for a second longer before Weiss recovered and pushed it the rest of the way in. "It's nothing, Ruby."

The younger girl dropped the cloak, letting it pool over her legs and her other gifts. "It's not nothing! Weiss, what happened?"

Out of sight so get it out of her mind! Weiss frantically strategized. The cloak. Get her back to the cloak. "It's nothing, Ruby. Could you check the cloak for me? I want you to make sure I used the right pins."

"Don't worry about it!" Ruby shifted on the bed, trying to get closer to the edge and bring Weiss within her reach. Her white-haired partner scooted back, the legs of the chair sliding against the floor. "Weiss, let me see!"

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Everything was spiraling out of control and Weiss desperately tried to bring order back to it. Remind her about her health. Get her to stop moving. "Ruby, stop! You're still recovering!" Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries. "Lie back down and have something to eat!"

"You look exhausted! Are you okay?" Ruby's headphones slipped from under her cloak, her movements having them fall from the bed.

"Be careful!" Without thinking, Weiss bent down to retrieve them.

Her leader tried to use it to her advantage to lean over from her bed, reaching for the hand that she was trying to conceal. "Tell me what's wrong!"

It was when Ruby touched her arm that it became too much. Leaving the headphones on the floor, Weiss instead intercepted Ruby's extended wrist. "For once in your life, WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF!"

Ruby immediately halted her struggles, staring at Weiss with surprise. The fencer had a tight grip on her wrist, using that and the glare she sent to Ruby to prevent her from getting any closer. Such vehemence gave out quickly as Weiss soon released her, bringing her hand back to place it over her eyes as her glare melted into a look that she wanted to hide just as much. Slumping against her chair, Weiss softly pleaded, "Ruby…please."

Ruby didn't move and probably had her hand remaining out towards Weiss. The heiress couldn't see – didn't want to see – but she did hear the shifting mattress of the bed as Ruby, thankfully, followed her instructions to keep back. Weiss stayed where she was as she tried to regain her composure.

She didn't like this. She didn't like how it's become so difficult to do…anything. She didn't like how, even now, with Ruby out of her sight, she could sense that her partner was worried about her. She could guess that she was but that wrongness deep within her emitted the concern that made it a certainty.

Ruby was in a hospital for crying out loud. She was currently constrained to bed after a series of check-ups that were conducted to make sure that there were no complications during a recovery that was needed after having a hole blown into her chest. It was that wound that bled so much and formed a puddle around her body that was growing colder with each passing second.

And she was worried about Weiss?

The silence that fell over the room was broken when Weiss heard the sound of the plastic container that held the strawberries being opened. She didn't uncover her sight just yet, wanting to wait to collect herself.

She knew it would be impossible to truly do so, not with Ruby being able to look inside and see what Weiss was trying to cover up. Much like everything else, the heiress couldn't hide anything from her partner and she hated it. With Ruby here, Weiss couldn't go back to being Weiss until she got her out and took back what she had willingly given but wanted returned to her. She resorted to bribery but she would get down on her hands and knees if she had to and beg her to give it back.

So what was she waiting for? She tried to be nice and make it easier but this could still work. Ruby was worried about her? She wanted to help? Then she could help her by breaking this bond of theirs.

She waited a minute longer, mentally counting up to it before she allowed her sight to be unobstructed. In front of her, she could see that Ruby had indeed turned her attention to the strawberries and had just put another in her mouth. Unlike her usual eating habits, she wasn't inhaling them but chewing slowly before swallowing.

As much as she wanted this done as soon as possible, Weiss found herself watching Ruby eat, the younger girl selecting another strawberry to munch on. She wasn't looking at the heiress but that didn't mean she didn't have Weiss on her mind. This was just a show meant to fulfill her demand to give her space. She did glance briefly in Weiss's direction and, finding the heiress looking at her, she quickly refocused on the fruit that she popped into her mouth.

…You were dead.

Ruby didn't get far in her chewing before she stopped. Weiss didn't take notice of it, becoming distracted with how, three nights ago, Ruby wasn't breathing. The beating of her heart had ended. Her lungs didn't work. Her eyes were closed and weren't going to open again. She was here now, alive, but there was a period where she wasn't and may never have been so again.

You wouldn't be sitting here right now, Weiss thought. You wouldn't be enjoying those, you wouldn't be talking to me, you wouldn't be waiting to go back to Beacon to become a Huntress. You would've been dead.

And Weiss couldn't believe how much it was hurting.

When the killing started, it hurt. It hurt when Horace died, it hurt when Weiss was forced to sever contact with the remains of his family, and after that it still hurt when another human employed by her family's company was killed.

Much like how she accepted death in every other form, she accepted that it wouldn't stop. She couldn't remember the exact date but there was a point where Weiss was able to make it not hurt anymore. When she heard of another death, it didn't affect her anymore. The name passed through one ear and out the other with the only thing left to remember it by was the tally mark that was made during its passing.

She was lonely. She didn't have friends, her father wasn't there, and when he was she shied away from him, only ever approaching him when she wanted something. But it was that loneliness that became…not so much a strength but a buffer. It made it – like everything else – easier. She froze her heart, building the icy barrier around it. It kept the pain, her weaknesses, and insecurities sealed away while preventing anyone from seeing them. It kept them from getting close. It kept them from hurting her with their inevitable passing.

She became stone cold and wanted to stay that way. She was solid, immovable, and immune. It was by being so that she would have the fortitude to do what needed to be done. Nothing would distract her or dissuade her from her goal.

And if you died I wouldn't have cared. You would've just been another memory. Weiss shook her head. No, not even a memory. A memory would imply that I would even remember you. You would've just been another name.

Ruby swallowed but made no move to obtain another treat, having become very still.

If you died it wouldn't be hurting. It wouldn't be hurting like it's been the whole time I was at Beacon and you weren't. I would've been able to sleep despite all those things that reminded me you weren't there. Your bunk that had been still and silent just like you were that night. Crescent Rose had been leaning against the wall without you and I didn't know when you were going to pick her up again. I wouldn't have taken your cloak and started fixing it because I needed something to convince me that you were going to come back and wear it again.

I wouldn't have gotten pricked by the needle because of how tired and distracted I was. I wouldn't have let it happen again and again because the pain was nothing like what I was feeling with you gone. I couldn't even concentrate enough to heal them. All I could focus on was that part of you that told me just how far away you were from me and how you had nearly been out of reach. If I didn't let you get close, none of that would've happened.

And I…I…

Ruby moved again, straightening in her bed before directing a small, sad smile towards Weiss.

Weiss sucked in a breath. I would've made a mistake…

I wouldn't have been able to remember anything about you. I wouldn't have been able to remember how you like to take your coffee, I wouldn't have been able to remember how you convinced me to enjoy what I once loved, I wouldn't be able to tease you about that stupid stuffed animal of yours. You would've just been a name along with all the others that I would've used to justify drenching them in blood.

Except I couldn't do that either. Because I'm weak. And right now I want it to stop hurting. I don't want you to see how horrid I really am. I don't want you to see how your best teammate had been plotting something so nefarious behind your back. I want to go back to being Weiss…and I don't want you to see how I don't even know who Weiss is anymore!

Who was Weiss? She thought she once knew. She didn't want to be that weak, little Weiss who could only cower and cry. She thought she wanted to be Weiss Schnee the killer but she didn't want to kill, not like that.

Who did she want to be then? Weiss the heiress? The singer? Did she even want to be a Huntress? She didn't know!

I would've thrown away everything I have here – everything you gave me – for something that I don't even know. And you…you can see that, can't you? Maybe not all of it but you can understand…and you still…even after all I did and said to you…

Ruby's smile lengthened a little more and she brought up her arms, holding them out for Weiss. At the same time, that little part of her that was within the heiress took advantage of its position to begin melting that frozen barrier from the inside. Having been constructed with the intent of keeping people out, it was not as sturdy against someone who was already in and wanted to relieve her of the burdensome weight that she kept locked away. Someone who wanted to take some of it for her.

No. No, she didn't like this.

Weiss was barely conscious of her leaning forward and that movement was enough to get the weakening layer to crack. The crack extended and multiplied to form a spider web pattern that further destabilized it.

She didn't need this. She convinced herself that she didn't when she had been without it for so long.

She was off the chair and the edge of the bed was against her legs, forcing her to bend as one arm and then, slowly, the other came up.

But she wanted this so badly.

Ruby's arms went beneath her shoulders while Weiss's went around her partner's. Both settled behind their backs, both squeezed to bring them together, and while it wasn't what Weiss planned, the fragments that they gave one another were rejoined as their hearts beat against each other.

She forgot what this was like; this contact that she had loved and had once been normal before, like everything else, she gave it up because it was just something else that hurt when she became scared of the one who she used to go to for this. She forgot the trust that came with letting another hold her like Ruby was doing and basking in the security that she was rewarded with when it wasn't unfounded. From Ruby's hair, she could detect a scent that reminded her of a happier life.

It was just another thing that her partner was giving back to her.

"Are you crying, Weiss?"

Weiss felt Ruby's cheek touch her own and the tear that was sliding down it became hers. Despite such obvious evidence, Weiss still denied it. "I'm not crying."

"You don't have to hide it."

Weiss rubbed her cheek against Ruby's, doing the exact opposite as she erased all traces of the trailing moisture only to have her voice betray her with a stammer. "I-I'm not!"

There were no other tears for Ruby to catch and that was because Weiss wasn't letting them appear, unwilling to give her partner any more unnecessary baggage to carry when she's already given her so much. In return, Ruby didn't say anything else and settled with what she had in her arms. It was within this embrace that Weiss was starting to fully give in as the heaviness of her lids began to become too much and her body slowly relaxed.

A touch at her shoulders brought her back and, as much as she didn't want to, Weiss let Ruby push her away just enough to see her face and how that smile became crooked with suppressed mischief. Before Weiss could ask what it was her leader was planning, Ruby gripped the neckline of her gown and pulled it down just enough to keep her modesty but allow Weiss to see the only sign of her earlier injury: a thin, crooked line of scar tissue that went a few inches down.

"I guess this makes us scarmates now," Ruby joked.

Now Weiss was crying.

---

"There's nothing wrong."

As if actively seeking to discredit her, the wailing went on behind Blake.

"Everything's fine," she insisted. "She's just happy to see that her partner's okay."

Hospitals being the center of miracles as they could be for tragedies, the nurse seemed experienced enough to identify Blake's calm explanation and the cries issuing from the room as belonging to the former. Giving Blake a direction to call in case anything was wrong, the nurse left her at her position in front of the door, the faunus sighing with relief once she was gone.

Predictably, it was only with her task done did the wails degenerate to lower but no less sorrow-filled sobs. After performing a quick examination to check that no one else was coming down the hall, Blake carefully eased the door to Ruby's room open enough to peek inside.

There was a chair pulled up to the bed but it wasn't in use. It appeared as if Weiss had all but collapsed from it, trading one support for another that she practically draped herself over. Ruby was more than willing to comply as her arms were wrapped around the heiress to keep her up.

Weiss didn't return the embrace but not because she didn't want to. Her arms were as limp as her legs which has led her to becoming half on, half off the bed with her leader being the only thing that was preventing her from meeting the floor. Her head hung back to better release her cries and Blake could see the waterfall of tears that descended from eyes that were squeezed shut.

Ruby wasn't visible but that's because the younger girl had her head pressed against her partner's heaving chest to better listen to her freed torment. One hand rubbed along Weiss's back as if coaxing every last bit of anguish to be emptied out.

In doing so, Ruby's fingers glided through ivory hair that hung over the heiress's back instead of off to the side. The tiara was missing and the absence of its control had those snow-white lengths hanging as limp as their owner. With her head raised, Blake could see how those tears fell past the dark bags beneath Weiss's eyes.

Unable to hide them anymore, the bandages that were around the fencer's right hand were out in the open for all to see.

There was no anger for there was none to be found. What fight that had always driven Weiss was gone. Her composure, shattered. All that remained was the well that she had desperately tried to fill and cover up with all of that but had only accomplished in having its miserable contents build and build until they came spilling out through every crack that had been made in walls that could no longer hold them back. And as her partner, Ruby was there to soak up and clean the mess that was being made.

When the sobs lessened to whimpers, Blake shut the door to leave them alone. Now that her impromptu guard duty was finished, the faunus made her way down the hall, putting distance between her and her teammates. She had no destination in mind and was instead trying to get far enough away until she could no longer pick up those noises.

Then she waited. Waited until they no longer echoed in her mind as they did her ears. Waited until she made sure there was no one else around her...then she slammed her fist into the nearest wall.

Weiss is innocent.

Blake didn't retract her fist, instead replacing it with a forearm which was soon joined by the other. Her forehead followed as she leaned heavily against the wall.

All those times she thought the entirety of the Schnee family was to blame. All those times she had taken even an ounce of satisfaction when Weiss didn't get her way. All those times she allowed herself to utter a remark or get a rise out of the heiress because that was only a fraction of what she deserved.

She had seen Weiss as an enemy and one who she no longer wanted to fight but still held grievances for. She lost her war but she could get her moments of satisfaction at Weiss's expense because she was the daughter of the Schnee head. She had once thought of her as just as bigoted and prejudice as her father.

I was wrong. Everything I once thought and did...so wrong.

Who was her enemy? That girl back there? That girl who was weeping because of how something that she couldn't control had devastated her? How, because of who her father was, she was forced to experience the horrors of war that has taken away friends and family?

What was I fighting for? What did I accomplish?

Blake thought she was fighting against injustice. She thought she was bringing faunus and humans together. She used violence because nothing else was working; because she had been forced to. The means were not what she wanted but the ends would justify it.

But where were they? Where were the ends to this? What was being stopped?

Nothing, she realized despairingly. It won't end. It'll just keep going and going, the violence escalating with each completion of this cycle and more people will get hurt, angry, desiring revenge through methods they believe to be justified, and they will continue it until one side can no longer go on.

"An entire train car full of Dust, stolen."

I did that. That was me.

She was guilty. She had enough of a share of those tears to write the name Blake Belladonna all over Weiss's face.

She could now see the true extent of her crimes. Blake would never be able to erase her past mistakes but she believed she could leave them behind. She would never be forgiven for them - not by herself or others - , but she would no longer add to them. Whatever the White Fang did, she would no longer be a part of it.

How wrong she was. Everything that happened at the docks was because of her. She gave the White Fang the Dust they needed. She may not know what their exact deal is with Torchwick, but she was positive that her last mission had allowed them to acquire the tools they needed to expand their operations. Because of how successful they were with this arrangement she contributed to, they've come to reap more of the benefits at the cost of the peace of this city.

She was responsible for Ruby getting hurt. Not only had her leader been at the docks looking for her, but her assailant had been there because of Blake. Roman may've taken the shot, but it was only with the backing of the White Fang that let him be in that position to do so.

Thinking of that man reminded her of how she wanted him dead. When she had Gambol Shroud to his neck, she was tempted to slit his throat and later regretted that missed chance. During their fight, she became more and more determined to kill him. His taunts to her and the faunus reminded her so much of what others of his kind had done. Her rage towards all of them was her own.

It was never about Adam influencing her; it was just another of the several excuses that she's made for herself. She didn't want to admit that she was exactly like everyone else. She stayed with the White Fang because she wanted to strike back. She wanted to use violence when all those years without it had proven to be a waste. As long as she didn't kill while others did so, it was all okay. She was still better than them.

What kind of sick nonsense was that?

Who was really the irredeemable one? Adam Taurus or Blake Belladonna? Did she leave the White Fang because she wanted to do the right thing or because she wouldn't be able to feign innocence any longer if she stayed?

A part of her knew that most of what she was thinking was nonsense but she was so confused. Everything's become so warped. Her entire fight - her entire life -, all of it was meaningless.

A subtle, honeyed aroma managed to brave through the smell of disinfectants but it was too faint for Blake to take any real notice of it. While the potency increased with the approach of the one who emitted it, Blake didn't realize she was no longer alone until a hand was gingerly laid on her shoulder. She recognized the touch: the glove that sheathed the palm but left the fingers bare to make contact with her own skin.

It tugged with too little force but the faunus was turning anyway, face and arms leaving the cool surface of the wall while both of them fell. Staring at the floor, she could see how the toes of brown, knee-high boots were pointed to her low-heeled ones. One of the orange socks that stuck out was higher than the other and had a gray bandana wrapped around it. She could see the white and brown sections of a skirt and pressed against one hip was the other hand that clutched a bundle of folded clothing of red and black: a spare combat outfit for Ruby.

"Ruby's awake," Blake informed quietly. "Weiss is with her. You might want to wait a little bit."

A drop fell and splashed in the space between the two pairs of boots. A second followed.

"They're okay." She couldn't see but felt a third one make the short journey down. "They just need a little time to themselves but they're okay."

The hand squeezed her shoulder while another, invisible one did the same to her throat. "Are you okay?"

The gentle and worried inquiry was more than Blake deserved. Her voice having left her, she lifted her head and was immediately ashamed of herself for doing so. The tears that came on full display should be shed privately for she had no right to let another be moved by them.

But she needed this. She needed what this person had always tried to give her but she had rejected out of mistrust and a conviction to never let this happen again. She thought she could live the rest of her life without it but at this very moment she feared that if she didn't take it then she would well and truly fall apart.

Her lips moved but no sound came out and at first all she could do was silently mouth the negative that her head assisted in conveying with a slow shake. Finally, she whispered, "No. No, I'm really not. I don't think I can even remember a time when I was ever okay."

She couldn't read Yang's expression, the other girl having turned into a hazy, distorted blur of yellow, orange, and brown, but the hand at her shoulder pulled harder while the other was brought to her waist to better draw her in. Blake didn't fight and she hated herself for not doing so but she forgot all about it as soon as her vision went dark and the tears at her face and the ones that have yet to arrive were absorbed into the leather of Yang's jacket.

With her arm secured around her waist, Yang's one hand drifted up from her shoulder and to the back of her head to make sure that Blake wouldn't act on any second thoughts to pull away. It was not a warranted concern as Blake was burying her face deeper into Yang's warmth to stay there.

"I never killed." Blake felt Yang tense as soon as she mumbled it. "I hurt people but I never killed anyone." She had long-since accepted it as an invalid excuse to pardon the rest of her crimes but she needed Yang to hear this. She needed someone to hear it.

Her partner began petting her hair. "Okay."

It was a neutral response but it wasn't a condemnation either. That and the gentle stroking persuaded her to add, "Nothing else was working. It seemed right at the time."

Yang didn't even hesitate. "I'm sure it did."

"Then things got so messed up. I still don't know what happened. I was young and stupid and it was all I had but I know that doesn't excuse me. I could've left sooner. I could've tried and do something to stop it but I didn't and all of this is my fault and-"

"Shhh..."

The nearly inaudible shush succeeded in silencing Blake and a fresh wave of tears burst forth with the damp leather doing what it could to accommodate it. The stroking at her head persisted and she noticed how Yang took care about touching her bow. Blake clutched all of what she could that was Yang, wanting but unable to believe that such compassion was here for her and the only way she could convince herself that it was real was to hold on as tight as possible while she quietly wept.

Yang didn't disappear. She didn't turn to dust and slip through her grip like how something else that had been important to her had done when her attention had been elsewhere. The blonde kept giving her such light touches while her warmth comforted her even when she saw nothing but darkness.

She stayed. When Blake couldn't cry anymore and was left with the occasional sniffle, Yang didn't let go with the assumption that she was all better now. She remained for as long as Blake needed her, knowing that just because there were no more tears it didn't mean that it was over. With a lifetime of misery and lies and lost dreams, the faunus wasn't sure if it would ever be over but the blonde seemed determined to wait anyway.

Neither girl relinquished their hold on the other but Yang eventually lowered her head down, chin resting on top of Blake's head, and the ninja didn't flinch as the ends of her bow touched her partner. Once Blake's breathing settled, Yang said, "Come home, Blake."

Home? She didn't even know what that was anymore. It used to be the White Fang before she ran away from it. She thought Beacon might have become a home but could she really go back to it or has that changed too because of her? Would things really be able to go back the way they were?

She shook her head against Yang's chest. "After all I did? After all I put everyone through? Weiss is crying because of me. Ruby is here because of me and you should hate me because of that."

"I don't."

"You should!" Blake repeated fiercely. "I caused all of this because I ran. If I just trusted you and told you about me, none of this would've happened. Even after all you did for me, I ran away from all of you and put you in danger because of it."

"We're going to become Huntresses one day, Blake," Yang spoke easily. "Danger is kind of going to be part of the job. Hell, our initiation involved getting launched off a cliff and falling into the middle of a forest teeming with Grimm."

She wasn't going to let the brawler sway her that easily. "This was something that could've been avoided. I'm the one to blame for all of this. I don't deserve any of the kindness that you've all given to me."

"Other than the fact that we would've been there if we knew about the White Fang anyway," Yang rebuked, "let's go over who blames you. I know I don't blame you and you can trust me when I say that I know Ruby doesn't."

"There's still Weiss."

"Does she hate you?"

The silence said it all when Blake did think back to her and Weiss's conversation. She told Blake she was willing to put their differences aside. The heiress looked horrible, she was exhausted, and it was all because of Blake, but she said she wanted things to go back to normal which included the faunus being with them again. "…She should."

Yang sighed with a hint of exasperation and she patted the back of Blake's head. "I can never understand what you went through, Blake, so I can only say what I see and hear. This whole war, it just sounds like it's all about one person blaming the other and who thinks who deserves what."

"I know what I did," Blake argued. "It may not have all been because of me, but I know I have part of the blame for bringing you and the White Fang together in Vale."

"And even if you didn't, you can't say that the White Fang wouldn't have come here anyway. We can play the blame game all we want and go as far back as when the first human and the first faunus disagreed with one another and caused this whole situation to exist. We can also choose to end it just like I know you've tried to do. It's what brought you here. The team wants their teammate back and I want my partner back. Don't you think it's about time you think about what you want and not what you deserve?"

Blake didn't say anything, reluctant to let something so simple and so easy persuade her when there had been nothing in her life that was ever like that. Then again, there had been nothing like this in her life either: a team of humans that accepted her even with her secret out and all of them part of an institute where faunus and humans can co-exist and work together to make the world a better place. Never had she thought that she would be seeking comfort in the arms of one not of her race as she was doing so now. It wasn't the first time either.

And if Weiss, one who should've been a mortal enemy, was willing to put everything aside…

She did want it. It may not be the world-wide peace that she strived to attain but it was something that she always imagined seeing and becoming a part of. She could never expect to receive forgiveness but it has always been more about repentance anyway. And, maybe, she could salvage a little bit of that dream she lost in the process.

The alternative would be to run and hide somewhere else and she would be back at square one. Was she really going to pass up on an opportunity that was here for her in favor of another potential year of suspicion and uncertainty? It may not be what she deserves but…

Blake removed herself from Yang although her grip lingered until she was required to let go with Yang doing the same. When she looked up at her partner, it was to see a hopeful expression on her face as she awaited Blake's answer.

"I'll…try," Blake replied. "I suppose that if you're all willing to take me back even after all that happened, I could at least do that."

"Good!" Yang gave her a slap against the shoulder, her more easygoing attitude taking advantage of this to put everything behind them while the faunus grimaced but the corners of her lips twitched up to show how it was working. "I have no idea what the hassle would've been about dealing with a three-woman team and I'd rather skip that particular process." Holding where she hit her, she began to turn Blake around. "So how about we celebrate with a little Team RWBY reunion?"

Unfortunately, it was here that Blake refused, the faunus standing still when Yang tried to pull her along, leaving the brawler to stop and look back when she realized that Blake wasn't following her when her hand slipped away from her.

"Another time," Blake replied. "There will be plenty for that if I really am allowed to rejoin you guys."

Yang knew what she was talking about. Frowning, she said, "There's nothing to worry about."

Blake shrugged. "You might be right and me being able to hope that you're right should tell you enough. I said I'll try, Yang, and I promise you that I will."

The blonde did look as if she wanted to argue but Blake's unwavering stance and the promise seemed to appease her. "Alright. The weekend's right around the corner so I suppose that's as good as time as any for some celebrating; both Ruby's recovery and your return."

Blake bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you."

The partners went their separate ways, Yang heading to her sister and Blake heading for the exit. She made a brief stop at the front desk, making sure to drop off her pass before she left the hospital. Once she heard the doors slide close behind her, the faunus gazed at the streets and the ongoing traffic before looking up to take in the rows of tall buildings that stretched all throughout Vale.

This could be her home. To have Vale, Beacon, RWBY, any or all of them associated with that word initiated a sense of longing that one usually attributed to such a place that any person yearned for. Without it, you were never truly whole. It didn't have to be a fixed point as home to her had once been with her brothers and sisters and not where they ended up staying for that brief period of time before moving on to the next.

She lost her home and resigned herself to the belief that she could never replace it. She hadn't thought of Beacon as a suitable choice to do so when she first arrived but…maybe it can be.

She dug into the pocket of her shorts and produced her scroll. She actually did lose it, having only realized that it was missing halfway during the flight on the airship that she used to flee from her team. Even if she brought it with her, Blake did wonder if she would've trashed it due to her desire to run and sever all contact with her team so they couldn't find her.

Yang made sure to give it back to her, especially when she found out that Blake wasn't going to return to Beacon after they made sure Ruby was in the clear. Yang did tell her that her secret remained as such and Blake was admittedly surprised by that. Nevertheless, she decided to take refuge at Reader's Orchard – a place that Yang had also visited in her search as the kindly shopkeeper told her. Between the distraught Weiss and the bombardment of inquiries from students and staff that she predicted would come once news got out about what occurred at the docks, Blake just wanted to avoid any trouble and let the excitement die down.

This time, however, she wasn't alone. During her stay, she and Yang sent messages to one another that usually involved the brawler informing her about the debrief she was forced to attend and her efforts to cover for her while, at the same time, expressing her wishes for her to return. Reading through that conversation, Blake paused at the last of the messages that were traded this morning.

One was Yang informing her about Ruby waking up which led to Blake visiting the hospital. In the same message she mentioned how she went to another meeting with Ozpin to go over the travel arrangements and caretaking of Ruby once she returned.

Yang also informed her that the headmaster wanted to speak with her.

Blake hadn't replied to that as she immediately began assuming the worst. It could be, as Yang wrote, a simple debrief but the faunus's skepticism wouldn't allow her to believe it so easily and instead constructed worst-case scenarios that involved Ozpin knowing the truth about her. He had to have noticed that Blake hadn't been at Beacon whether during these three days or possibly the whole week. She didn't know the headmaster very well and despite Ruby's own opinions of him being a kind man, Blake's distrust of human authority couldn't be put to rest that easily no matter what her leader may say about him.

Reading the message, it came to Blake that Yang didn't have to tell her with the idea that doing so may scare Blake off. While it was easy to assume that Ozpin would want to talk to her – which Blake did assume -, her partner chose to warn her about it anyway, preventing the off-chance that Blake wouldn't know and she would be going back to Beacon unprepared if she decided to. Yang wanted her to make the decision to come back while fully-informed about what may be waiting for her.

What had to be during her own ride to Vale, Yang sent Blake one last message after she still hadn't replied. A message that contained three simple words:

[Come home Blake.]

For the chance to be able to have something to call home again and to have one with people who truly cared about her, Blake found that she was prepared to do whatever it took to get it, including facing one last judgment that a human may place on her. She was done running.

---

It was a reverse of the spectacle that Yang witnessed. In this instance, it was Weiss who was unconscious and it was Ruby who held her. She didn't know if it was by her sister's efforts alone or if Weiss actually assisted her, but the heiress had been brought onto the bed and placed on Ruby's lap, her head resting against the younger girl's chest.

And it was Ruby's turn to relieve Weiss of her own injuries. When Yang entered, it was to see her sister removing the last of the bandages around her partner's hand, revealing the small punctures and the swelling around them that dotted her palm and fingers. Then, with eyes glistening, Ruby traced the tips of her fingers along them, her red Aura flashing briefly.

"That's so cool," she murmured with a trace of awe when the swelling and the punctures disappeared.

Generous and 'cool' it may be but Yang felt a twinge of worry at seeing her sister donating even that small amount of strength when she was supposed to be recovering. There was a second bed in the room, empty, and Yang directed Ruby's attention to it. "It'll probably be better for her."

Ruby gave her a wry smile. "I finally have her and now you want me to let her go?" Fortunately, Ruby wasn't inclined to put up the fight that Weiss had done as she nodded soon after.

Yang carefully scooped up the heiress and was momentarily distracted by her size and weight; hardly that much different from when Yang had cradled Ruby against her. It tugged at her big sister urges and the brawler took extra care not to jostle Weiss before setting her down on the other bed.

She was still crying. Her breathing wasn't as rhythmic as it should be when lost in sleep – being broken with an occasional hitch - and her cheeks hadn't dried yet. Yang donated a couple seconds to brush away the errant moisture, touching the dark circles beneath Weiss's eyes in the process.

Someone with a heart of stone couldn't shed tears like that. If Weiss used to have one, Yang could see for herself that it had melted to a puddle that came pouring out of her.

I'm sorry, Weiss, Yang apologized, moving up to brush at a couple stray bangs. Thank you for saving Ruby. Again.

There was no difference between the tears at her hand and the ones on her jacket. Innocent. Guilty. All Yang saw were victims.

"Yang."

When Yang regarded her sister, it was to see Ruby holding out her cloak. Understanding what it was she was requesting, she took the article and placed it over Weiss, making sure to tuck the ends around her and Yang was again proven as to how small and fragile the Ice Princess really was when it covered her easily.

Weiss had never relinquished control of the cloak. The police officers had been generous enough to give them a lift to the hospital and during the whole ride Weiss held tight to Ruby's cape. While they all sat in the waiting room, Weiss stayed slightly hunched with an unrelenting grip.

When they were told that Ruby would recover, Weiss just squeezed the cloak tighter.

Having it back in her possession did seem to bring a notable ease to the fencer as her head rolled to the side, her breathing becoming more regular. Satisfied with that, Yang decided to take the chair that Weiss had previously occupied, planting herself at her sister's bedside.

Ruby was still staring at Weiss, the heiress having turned her head perfectly so that the young leader could admire her sleeping face. A hand came up and bunched the section of the gown that was over the center of her chest. "I wish I knew sooner. I wanted to help people but I didn't realize that, this whole time, there was someone who needed it the most right next to me."

"Trust me, you're not alone in that department," Yang replied, thinking about her own partner and just how much help she needed and would still need.

"How is Blake?" Ruby asked.

"She's going to try and stay," Yang quickly assured her. "She's worried about how a talk with Ozpin might go but it sounds like she's starting to realize that not all humans are like those who hurt her."

"Weiss told me that she doesn't hate Blake. I think she's beginning to realize that not all faunus are like those who hurt her either."

The two siblings shared a grin and it was Yang who joked, "Such frustrating partners we have, huh?"

"Not gonna lie; this wasn't exactly what I signed up for. If I knew this was what I was going to get for an early acceptance, I would've stayed at Signal. I'll go solo against a Death Stalker any day."

They giggled together, happy and relieved that they could even do so after all that those partners of theirs had put them through. It was thinking about what occurred during the past week that had Yang looking over Ruby, her cheery mood dampening when she remembered where they were and what Ruby was wearing. She shifted Ruby's spare combat clothes onto her lap while she asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm a little tired but fine," Ruby admitted, similarly sobering up but her lips stayed curved to keep the mood light. "The doctors said I was going back to Beacon but no combat training for at least a week."

"I have to pick up some medication for you." At Ruby's sickened expression, Yang assured, "Just supplements, really; nothing that a glass of milk won't help go down." The brawler lifted the clothing for Ruby to see. "Feel like getting out of here?"

Ruby shook her head. "No, not yet. I want to give Weiss some time to rest."

Yang glanced up at the peaceful heiress and felt bad. She had known Weiss was exhausted and was having trouble sleeping but she hadn't known it was that serious. Between the debriefs, gathering assignments from the professors, worrying about Ruby, answering concerned questions from their friends, and trying to convince Blake to come back, she hadn't given enough attention to Weiss when it was clear that she needed it.

"She got me a few things to eat," Ruby said and Yang finally noticed the items that were scattered on her bed. The scythe-wielder held out the open package of strawberries for Yang and the blonde gratefully took a couple.

They passed a good amount of time in silence, both of them eating and enjoying each other's company. It was when Ruby moved on to opening the packet of cookies and holding them out for Yang to take that the older sibling paused, gazing at Ruby's paler face and fatigued smile.

"I almost lost you, sis." Having been forced to stay strong in the face of so many of their friends and teachers, Yang felt it all begin to crumble in the wake of the worry and the fear of how, for a brief moment, she had been sure she lost something that would've been irreplaceable. Ruby was her baby sister; one of the only family she had left and she had been there to watch her grow up and become the girl she was now.

She was still only fifteen and her short life had nearly ended. Yang didn't know what she would've done with herself if Ruby had been taken out of her life; if she wouldn't have been able to see what kind of woman that Ruby would grow up to be and knowing that the danger had not only become real but was something that she would fear for the chance of it happening again…

"I know, Yang." Ruby took her own cookie but was content to just keep it in her grasp. "I'm aware of what could've happened to me and I'm also aware that it could happen again to you, me, Weiss, Blake, or any of our other friends. I won't lie and say it doesn't scare me because it does. But even if we never fully appreciated it, this was something that we knew came with our decision to be Huntresses."

The young leader twisted in her bed towards Weiss. "That wasn't the only thing I learned though. Yes, death is real and it scares me, but I also realized just how important this duty of ours is. Seeing what Weiss and Blake had been forced to go through, it only makes me more determined to become a Huntress and help whoever I can so no one else will have to go through what they did. And while I do so, I would want to enjoy what I can and not let myself be scared all the time. I may die and, having come close to it, I can honestly say that I don't want you to let it affect you longer or more than necessary. I'd cry and feel sad if any of you were to die and I would want you to do the same for me.

But I would want you to mourn for as long as necessary; a week or even a little more than that. Eventually though, I would want you to move on. This is something we wanted to do and, even if I'm not around anymore, you can still go on for the both of us. That's the best way you could make me happy."

Yang could only sit and stare with shock, amazed by how this little girl who once couldn't go to bed without hearing one of her stories had grown up so much without her noticing. Fifteen but, now, Yang could see the matured woman who was blossoming out from such a simple, innocent soul.

She couldn't stop the outpouring of tears or the cry that had her exclaiming, "I'm so proud of yooooouuuu!"

"Ack!" Ruby cried out, dropping her cookie as her older sibling pounced on her. She tried to speak choked, strangled words in the midst of the bear hug that was being administered to her. "Yang! Yang! I'm blacking out! I'm blacking out!"

---

Author's Note: You know, I did ask myself if there were going to be too many hugs.

Brain: And then I kindly reminded you that there is no such thing as too many hugs.

Yeah, you be right on that one. Once the hugging did start I decided that I needed some nostalgia by playing Sadness from the Sonic Adventure soundtrack. You know, back when Sonic games were actually good.

Brain: We've been going through a lot of the sad songs between this and the Madoka soundtrack.

Naw, I was totally rockin' some Metal Gear Rising last chapter, specifically Rules of Nature when Blake was taking down the Bullhead. That definitely got me pumped for that scene. Wonder what we should use for what we plan for the next chapter. Might have to look through some Fate/Stay.

Anyway, that's the end of chapter. The only weakness that I can really see with this chapter is that people may think that they got the short end of the Bumblebee stick. Don't worry though for that's because I'm focusing on all the Bumblebee goodness that I can for the next chapter. Speaking of which, while I may be able to complete it before the public airing of the first episode of Volume 2, I may decide to wait until I actually do see the episode just in case there's some opportunities to use.

That, and I would like to make sure that I put in the extra time and effort to bring a fitting and worthwhile conclusion to this project of mine. This has been going on…*checks* think we're reaching six months and 220,000+ words? Wow, we've come a long way. Definitely the most work and most time I've put into anything.

So I'll see you all next time at the last chapter.

Brain: Dude.

Hm?

Brain: The last chapter.

…*eyes go wide with realization* Holy crap!