Weiss froze on the spot.
"You... Like me?"
"I do." I came out clean. No more hesitations. There was no room left for interpretations. There was no time to beat around the bush. There was no going back.
It was practically now or never.
"Are you sure...?" Weiss hesitated at first. "Are you certain that your feelings for me isn't some... Replacement for your lost?"
"You're not a replacement," I unquestionably shook my head. "Maybe you share one or two traits, but nonetheless, you're unique in your own way. And... That's what I like about you."
"There's nothing great to like about me Ruby," she sighed.
"Maybe you think so." I shrugged. "But I think you have a heart of gold over that heart of cold." I let out a small laugh, but it came out more like a sniff. Weiss gave me a blank stare at the ambiguity. "Um... Over that outward front you set for yourself, you always have good intentions. You might come off as heartless, but if you look over that, you have that kind nature in you. You got that burning drive to succeed in life even if you keep failing. You're like my logic when I'm not. There's more... There's a lot of things I like."
"Ruby... I... I don't know to say. Thank you but I just don't know —"
"It's okay Weiss." I scratched the side of my neck.
My eyes wandered away from hers to the waters where it splashed beneath my feet. Maybe I won't have a happily ever after with her. But at least it's not... A misery ever after.
"I wanted to say it because I didn't want to regret it later on. I wanted to give myself a chance. Don't feel obligated to reciprocate my feelings. You don't need to answer it. I just... Want you to acknowledge that I have something there for you."
"Ruby." I could see Weiss shaking her head in disagreement at the corner of my eyes. "It's unacceptable to not give you an answer. You deserve one much like everyone else. I just... Right now... I just don't know. I need more time to give you a proper response."
I simply nodded.
"Is that okay with you?" She asked me.
I just nodded again
"Thank you Ruby."
"Yeah no problem."
"No, I mean thank you... For your patience and for liking someone like me."
My ears just lowered and I nodded my head a final time.
"Of course Weiss."
My confession didn't put a wall between Weiss and I.
We didn't act any different than we would on the normal basis. We did sat in silence as we watched the sun set and the moon rise. It wasn't really uncomfortable silence, but it wasn't the most comfortable.
At least for me. Who knows about her.
The way she said 'For liking someone like me' didn't sit with me right. I felt like it should be the other way around... I'm the one who's different. Not her. I should be the one blessed to be surrounded with caring people. And it bugs me to wonder what would she think if she knew the truth behind me. What would everyone think? Would they still accept me if I kept this all hidden away from them?
"Ruby, the shipment is coming."
I adjusted my sight and a large ship containing huge containers peered through the darkness. Weiss squinted her eyes from the flashing lights casted by the ship.
"So what do you want to do?" I asked her. "Greet your suppliers or just watch them afar?"
"Watching them from afar will be fine," Weiss answered. "It's their job to handle the shipment. It's not my business."
"Then it's settled. Come on let's go."
Weiss and I hid ourselves on the rooftop. We watched the workers haul large shipping containers with cranes and organized them into neat piles. I drew a loud yawn as I grew bored watching them tediously stack like blocks. While I stretched out my body, Weiss stood still as she leaned off the rail and glued their eyes at them.
"They're going to be like this for awhile."
"That doesn't mean I shouldn't keep them under my surveillance," Weiss spoke back. I don't think she was aware that I could see her rolling her eyes at me in the dark.
"At least blink then," I made a single noise from my nose.
"It's rude to stare at other people you know," Weiss retorted.
"Wasn't the first time," I muttered. She turned to me with an incredulous look. "I'm serious." I bit back a smile that she probably couldn't see. "Go take a break."
"I don't need a break." She turned her eyes back to the dock. By now the workers were almost finished unloading the cargo.
"You're straining your eyes. I'm better at this than you are." I nudged her shoulders and pushed her away from the edge of the roof.
"Hey —"
"Close your eyes or do something at least," I shooed her away.
She grumbled back in response and I steered my attention back down. As I continued to vigilantly watched them, I reached into my pocket. My hand brushed my diary aside and maneuvered around to pull out my scroll to make a phone call.
"Hello?" I asked when the line stopped ringing.
"You finally called me now?!"
I winced when I heard my sister screech into the scroll.
"Geez what did you do? Profess your undying love to Ice Queen?"
"Um... In a way, yes I actually did." I drew out a nervous laugh.
"Wait. I was kidding... But seriously?"
"Yeah..." I turned my head over my shoulders and caught a sight of Weiss just aimlessly walking in circles with her eyes closed and arms stretched over her head.
"Oh wow. How did it go?"
"Eh..." I gave a shrug that she couldn't see. "Not the best but not the worst I suppose... I don't know. Disappointed?"
"Oh... I'm sorry about that... You okay? Where are you at so I can give you a hug and maybe behind the ear scratches. Maybe get some ice cream when we head back to our dorms."
"Docks," I chuckled, smiling at Yang's comfort. "They already unloaded everything and workers are heading back home. How's it going on your side?"
"Uhh... Well... We ran into some weird person near the ransacked dust shop. People were chasing him and... Well your friend is really weird. Penny wanted to see how fake his abs were."
"Whaat," I droned out at the oddity.
"Yeah I know. But anyways. End of the story: his abs are 100% real. But obviously mine are better."
"I don't know Yang," I drew a deep breath. "I think mine are better."
"What? Your dinky abs? Psh."
"They are not dinky!" I hissed into my scroll. "They're defined!"
"Is that Yang?" Weiss strutted my way when I became too loud for her liking. "What are you guys talking about?".
"Yang you're on speaker now," I pressed the button so Weiss can hear too.
"Who has better abs. Ruby or me?"
"What?" Weiss pulled back her face. "H-How should I know? I don't go staring at either of your lady abs."
"You call it lady abs?" I cocked my head. "That's so weird..."
"Obviously the answer is me. Oh look Blake is back. Hey Blake! Who has better abs? Ruby or me?"
"Um... What?"
Blake sounded just as confused as Weiss.
"It's a serious question!"
"Me."
A large beam of light broke through the clouds in the sky. I narrowed my eyes at the oddness, but a drafting whirlwind blew away the coverage to reveal and incoming bullhead.
"Yang," I said in a hurry. "Bring Penny and meet us at our location. Weiss and I have company."
I ended the call and placed my scroll back into my pocket. Weiss and I watched how its beams scattered around the docks before it landed in the middle. My eyes hostilely narrowed at the group of Faunus in gaudy uniforms debark from the hatch.
Their representing symbol irked me.
I reached out for Crescent Rose attached behind me, but Weiss grabbed my shoulders to stop me.
"Going out like this won't work. We need a plan. We'll be outnumbered."
More and more bullheads came down from above as more reinforcements came in.
I sighed out a grumble. "We can wait until Blake, Yang, and Penny arrive. But I don't know if they'll get here in time before they get away."
"So what are you proposing?"
"Even if we're out numbered we need to stall until our reinforcements arrive," I suggested. "We can handle them. I'll watch your back. You watch mine. Partners right?"
"Not the best plan you came up with but very well. Partners," she smiled back to me.
"Hey! What's the hold up?!" An obnoxious but recognizable voice echoed across the docks. My eyes homed in on a man wearing a bowler hat while swinging a familiar cane.
"Who's that?" Weiss tried to squint to see who was the mysterious figure.
"Roman Torchwick," I clicked my tongue. I reached for Crescent Rose once more and unfurled her into her sniper form.
"What are you doing?" Weiss watched me intently.
"One shot. One kill."
I lowered my eyes into the scope, maneuvering my weapon so the crosshair lined up with his head. I pulled the slide and steady my breath. Pay back is a bitch isn't Torchwick? I'm going to pop your damn —
"Ruby!" she hissed. "You're just going to kill him like that? We need answers! We can't get answers from a dead body!"
Right when Weiss opened her mouth, I pulled the trigger and a bullet rang from my barrel. It sliced through the air at an angle and shot directly at Roman. The bullet cleanly cut his cheek but missed his head entirely.
"Shit!" I cried out in frustration when I missed. "How the fuck did I missed that?! He was literally standing still asking to be shot!"
"Watch out you dolt!" Weiss grabbed and pulled me away from the edge of the roof just in time before an explosion blew off a good section. The sudden igniting blast knocked us down to the floor. "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah," I gulped. The position we were in reminded me back to initiation when I caught Weiss from her fall. Her ponytail tickled my skin, but I pulled my thoughts aside focusing on the important. "The roof isn't the best place to be at now that I blew our cover. They're going to hunt us down."
"Split up?" Weiss pushed herself back onto her feet. She lent a hand and I grabbed a hold of hers.
"Yeah." She hauled me off the floor. "Split up. But don't stray too far."
"Understood."
Weiss and I hopped down from the roof and we gave each other a nod before we separated.
As I darted through the shipment containers, I quietly knocked out a few White Fang grunts that skulked around. Through the fine slits and gaps of the opening, I noticed Weiss easily blasting a few others away with her dust.
Taking a deep whiff in the air, I growled low as a number of scents came charging her way. I scaled up the shipping containers and bolted across on top. Right when I peered down, Weiss unleashed a large scale column of ice and blew the small fries away.
"White hair... Throws dust like pennies... Smells like money... A Schnee!" Roman said delightedly. He twirled his cane and pointed at Weiss. "Perhaps I can make a ransom off of you. You know... I bet someone would pay a lot of money for you."
"Sorry to disappoint," Weiss leveled her rapier. "But I'm not worth much."
He fired an explosive bullet, but Weiss evaded the shot even if it did obliterated the floor. She retaliated back as she quickly lunged forward and swung her rapier at him. Despite how she exercised swift strokes, Roman easily defected her attacks like it was nothing.
I unfolded my weapon to her scythe form and bolted behind Roman with my semblance.
"What the —"
Roman crashed onto the floor when I swept his leg with my weapon. I twirled my scythe and the back of the blade came hailing down but missed when he rolled out of the way in time.
"Oh for crying out loud," he sourly muttered. He dusted the debris off his suit when he pulled himself back onto his feet. "You really do know how to crash a party."
"Missed me?" I crooked a sly smile and rested the shaft of my weapon over my shoulders.
"Not exactly," he shrugged apathetically. "You're a pest."
"Excuse me," Weiss surly interrupted. "Only I can insult her."
Cute? I guess...
"You're both pests," he said dryly. "But that's what the exterminators are for. And I have just the right animals to do that."
He tapped his cane against the floor, and so conveniently, more of his reinforcements came raining down from the bullhead. The White Fang surrounded us, cocking their guns and raising their sharp edge swords.
"All of you better put up your aura," I coldly growled. "Or else it'll be raining with your blood."
As they took heed of my threat, our weapons crossed. Weiss and I exchanged blows after blows as the White Fangs persistently lunged at us. I twirled my scythe and mowed them down, letting the adrenaline take reign of my every movement. Weiss was the same. She yielded to no one as she took the grunts one by one.
Together, we danced.
We missed no beat and exchanged no words. The way our bodies and weapons moved spoke for us. Nothing broke through our line of offense as we executed devastating and quick blows. Our movements were in unison — she deflected their assaults and I promptly followed up with a finisher. I intercepted their attacks while she connected with rapid strikes.
We kept dancing and dancing.
"Useless trashes," Roman grouchily complained.
He did not sit in the sidelines for too long as he drew out his cane and fired.
"Got your back." Weiss conjured a glyph to block an explosive bullet infused with dust aimed towards me.
"Launch me." I shifted my feet and prepared myself.
"My pleasure."
With another glyph cast below, I sailed across at Roman. I swung down my scythe and he blocked in anticipation. I continued my onslaught as I pulled the trigger to further boost my speed, pivoting and swinging Crescent Rose at him. But he blocked and kept blocking.
"You know Red," he thwarted another attack. "I thought you can do better than that."
My ears twitched in annoyance.
How the fuck is his cane not snapping in half already?
"Torchwick," I clicked my tongue. He did nothing but deflect my attacks as he couldn't close in the distance between us. "Resort to using a cane..." Crescent Rose crashed from above to cleave him in half but he intercepted it before it could. "I didn't think you were that senile."
"Pest," he grunted. He tried closing in and impaling me with his weapon, but missed when I evaded it. He quickly retreated a few steps away when my assault continued.
"I'm beginning to think you and your men are like roaches," Weiss leaped above me and darted down, trying to plunge her rapier.
As expected, Roman leapt back in time before sending the back of his cane directly at her side. Weiss faltered but stood her ground. She retaliated back, thrusting her rapier like a rain of swords. Roman took a few hits but blocked the rest with ease when he recovered.
As we stood in the fight with Roman, more bullheads came heading our way. The battle was getting drawn out for too long, and Weiss and I were growing weary.
"Come on White Puppet," Roman laughed. He pushed forth, and this time, it was his turn to be on offense. "Dance for me."
He jabbed a cane into her stomach, but before he could chain his next attack, I bolted in and blocked it.
"Sorry Torchwick," I offered him a small smile before putting my boot into his chest. He stumbled backwards and glared at me. "She's my dance partner."
Weiss drew a deep breath before she steadily brandish her rapier once more. "I swear ever since earlier you've became much bolder."
"Does that make me charming?"
"Hmph. Quite the opposite."
Bummer.
More White Fangs leapt from the sky and joined the fray. Weiss and I scanned around, trying to figure how to solve our predicament. It was either brute force or some thought out plan.
"End of the line wouldn't you say?" Roman adjusted his hat. "You're out numbered."
"And here comes the reinforcements!" A boisterous voice came from above and she smashed her gauntlets into the floor. Flames engulfed her and a wide smirk pulled her lips. The floor ruptured and blasted the surrounding White Fangs back.
"Great," Roman growled and staggered when the floor shook. "Look who the roaches are now."
A blade threateningly drew close to his neck and caught Roman by surprise. He lets out another growl and rolled his eyes at his current predicament, muttering more about roaches.
"Brothers of the White Fang," Blake pulled her ribbon and revealed ears.
Oh? Kitty ears!
Blake tightened her grip and pulled the blade closer to Roman's neck. "Why are you aiding this scum?!"
The White Fangs hesitated and lowered their weapons. However, my team and I stood our ground and prepared for any sudden attacks. I could see Yang wasn't having it, while Weiss and I tried to catch our breath.
"Didn't you get the memo?"
I narrowed my eyes when Roman sneakily angled his cane towards Blake's feet.
"What are you talking about?"
"Blake!" I sprinted forth and dragged Crescent Rose from my side to stop him.
Roman pulled the trigger before I could do anything even with my semblance. Blake and I got caught in the explosive aftermath and it sent us flying back.
"Ruby!"
"Blake!"
"The White Fang and I are on a joint business venture together!" Roman exclaimed in a laugh. Through the smokes and the ringing sound in my ear, I could still pick up the sound of my sister going on a rampage.
"Ruby?"
I squeezed my eyes before I opened them. Penny tilted her head at me and stared at me when I lied on the floor.
"Hey Penny," I pulled myself up. Further off on the side, I noticed Blake was still recovering. "Did your dad use the SA 2.0 Blueprint I gave to him awhile back?"
"Yes he did," her eyes steeled. "Father implemented the Sword Angel 2.0 into my battle system. Why do you ask?"
"Good," I let out a wry laugh. "Let your swords rain down."
Penny's eyes glinted and a hurricane of swords pull out of her small backpack. The swords around danced around her, reminding me of how mine would circle me. In a flash, her weapons delivered catastrophe at lightning speed. She easily blew the henchmen away as she knocked them out in hordes.
As more bullheads circled in the air, bullets showered down as their turret targeted Penny. However, none manage to penetrate her supreme defense. Instead of standing helplessly, Penny reeled herself back and a green light concentrated at the center of her rotating blades appeared.
What is she —
A massive blast of energy discharged and severed the bullheads like sliced breads.
HOLY FUCK.
WHAT THE FUCK DID DR. POLENDINA GIVE HER?!
"Ruby!" Weiss yelled across. Yang was busy handling the White Fang goons while Blake assisted her. "Torchwick is getting away!"
I shook away the shock and awe before I followed the direction where Weiss had pointed. Indeed, Roman was getting away. He sprinted off to the bullhead to make his great escape.
"Oh no you don't," I growled. I folded back my ears and bolted towards him. The floor gave away from my semblance and rose petals fluttered behind me.
I tackled him to the floor and flung him at the opposite direction of the bullhead. He tumbled like some rag doll but finally stopped himself from further rolling.
"God dammit Red," Roman snarled at me. He pulled himself up and tried clean off his suit once more. He brushed the specks and tried to unwrinkle his attire."Your dry cleaning bill is starting to rack up. Didn't your mother teach you manners?"
Something in me snapped.
I left behind Crescent Rose, abandoning my power for more speed. I ferociously lunged at him with a snarl, coming at him with empty hands. My eyes narrowed at him in hostility and the primitive side drew out.
"Did I hit a nerve?" Roman cracked a smile. He tried blocking my attacks, but with my incredible speed, he couldn't hold a candle to it. His weapon couldn't keep up and he took the blunt force of my fist.
I relentlessly launched a storm of sharp punches while I silently seethed and smashed my bare first into him.
Roman wheezed as he slouched in pain when I momentarily paused. "Let me guess —"
"Shut up!"
I didn't bite back another thunderous snarl and I rammed into Roman once more. I pulled him up to his feet and slammed him into one of the shipping containers. He banged against the metal and I held him up, gripping his collar and almost tearing it off. I could hear how the material rasped from how tightly I dug my nails into it.
"Whoa whoa whoa. Take it easy there." Roman held up his hands.
"You're on death's door Torchwick." I lost all composure, blinded by nothing but rage.
"Stop Ruby!"
"Did you not hear your companions?" Roman didn't stop smirking. I want to scrape it off. "They're telling you to stop. Or are you deaf even with your animal ears?"
I slammed him against the metal containers again.
"Ruby!" Weiss tried to shake me from my rage when she caught up. There were footsteps pacing behind her. Probably must be Blake and Yang. "Enough, we need him to answer questions."
"Then we'll start now." I growled. I banged him against the containers once more and my voice dangerously lowered. "Who are you working for?"
"What makes you think that Red?" Roman coughed when I wasn't kind to hold back my strength.
"I'm not fucking stupid Torchwick!" I slammed him harsher. "Something this big isn't done alone."
"I'm a smart guy Red. I can easily scheme up something like this."
"My patience is wearing thin Torchwick," I snarled at him. There has to be something more to it. There has to be. Through the boiling mess burning inside me, there was some gut feeling.
"Ruby, the authorities are here," Blake said. "We should let them handle it."
I growled once more and loosened my grip. Roman fell to the floor with a harsh thud. I turned around so I wouldn't look at him anymore. I was already fuming with rage, almost crossing over the line of no return.
"So I was right in the beginning," Roman started again as he was digging further into his grave.
I paused, clenching and unclenching my fist.
"Shut up..."
"Right on the mark."
"Shut up..." I warned him a final time.
"Your mother is dead."
He pushed me over the edge and I crossed over that line. I whipped out Thorn and pulled it towards his neck. The voices — I heard my name being called out but that's it. I was blind and I stayed blind.
"I'm going to skin you alive Roman!" I dug my blade into his neck until I saw his blood tainting my dagger.
He gritted his teeth.
"I will gladly take your life!"
He hissed from the pain.
"I will —"
"Enough Ruby." Yang reached out and covered my eyes. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pulled herself close to me in a hug. "Enough..." Her voice broke into my consciousness and cracked from sorrow. Her body pressed against my back and I could feel her trying to hold back her trembles. She buried her forehead at the back of my hair. "No more."
Her warm hug slowly melted away the seething rage, replacing it with soothing serenity. Thorn loosened from my grip until it dropped completely to the floor. I sank back into her arms and my body trembled with her. Tears pooled into my eyes, but she completely hid them under her hand. It stained her palms, but she continued to hide my vulnerability. My walls were collapsing brick by brick, but Yang hid me from the world.
"Blake. Weiss. Can you two leave us for a moment?"
"Yes..."
"Of course..."
There was a dragging sound and their footsteps became distant. I could no longer smell Roman's blood or Roman himself.
Yang stood and hummed to take the pain sitting in my heart that came in waves. The same hum that Summer sung and the same one that Yang strummed when we first came across each other. Her arms never left me as they only tightened protectively.
She did it until when I stopped trembling.
I finally relaxed.
"Ruby," Yang spoke softly. "Are you okay?"
I gave it a second before I hiccupped an answer. "No." I was still trying to cope with the lost of mom. "I'm mad."
My voice came out more heartbroken than angry.
"It's okay to be mad. It's okay to be sad." Yang stroke the top of my head when I finally shed my last tear. She pulled her chin on top of my head and continued to hold me. "I know you're in pain, and it's okay to take your time. But don't let it control you. Don't let it consume you."
I pulled into a weak smile. "You're the one to talk..."
Yang lightly laughed. "I speak from experience."
I just nodded.
"If you ever need it, I'll be here. Blake and Weiss will be here also."
"Thanks Yang... For everything."
"Of course. You're my little sister," she rubbed my hair. "Do you want to head back? We can take a walk if you would like. Just us."
"No it's okay... I'm ready."
Yang released me when she removed her arms around my shoulders. Blake and Weiss were standing off to the side where the police had rolled by. Penny seemed to disappeared somewhere and Roman was nowhere to be seen. Probably somewhere in custody.
An unusual caw echoed at the docks.
I sniffled.
I turned my eyes to a black crow that stared down at us with its red eyes.
How odd. I thought crows were diurnal.
Okay serious question.
Is it Weiss's or Weiss'? I'm so confused. Send help ):
Other than that... I went to trivia night. And boy am I disappointed in myself. One of the questions was "a cake crust (or something) with ice cream and merinque on top and baked. What am I cooking?" It was freaken Baked Alaska which is Neo x Yang ship. My team and I put down diabetes for shits and giggles cause we didn't have a clue.
On another note, my updates will have to slow. This end of the month I'm moving out of my apartment and I still haven't started on my technical paper. This is probably a good pause before I accidentally leave you with cliffhangers.
Our Story will be updating for now as I can't leave that ending for you guys. That's just too cruel. I finished the other chapter for Fifty Shades of Red, I just have to do some major editing which I'm a bit lazy.