Ruby looked at the girl in front of her, roughly the same age as her team, so a little older than herself. The girl looked nervous and anxious and opened her mouth to speak. But instead of an answer she turned and pulled another figure into the light.
"BLAKE!" Ruby yelled before throwing herself at her friend, hugging her tight and then slapped her in the face. "Where were you? Why did you run away? Why didn't you talk to us? And... Who are you, exactly?" On the last question she turned to the girl.
"This is Ilia. We used to be friends and we might be again...at least... She was the one who made me come back here"
Upstairs Yang was frozen in shock. Blake was back. Brought back by Ilia who made her runaway in the first place. Time to wake up from this nightmare.
She tried to but found out that it was impossible to wake up. It was not a dream after all.
Ruby and Weiss listened to what Blake and Ilia told them. Tai came around and was given a short explanation, too. Ilia took her weapon and handed it over to Ruby. "You can arrest me now. I won't make trouble. I'm a traitor"
Tai gave a little chuckle and took the weapon. "In that case... The first punishment is ready and waiting on the table. Let's have dinner."
Ilia let herself fall back with Blake who was still extremely nervous. She hadn't seen Yang yet. "I was expecting a fight at the least and instead I get dinner? Is it that bad or is it poisoned?"
Blake tried to answer but her voice failed her. She just spotted the arm lying on the little table in the hallway. Ilia noticed it too and jumped. Then jumped again at the flash of red rose petals that was Ruby going up the stairs to call Yang. Weiss came after her into the hallway and followed her with her gaze. "I just wish she wouldn't leave them lying around all the time..." she shook her head and turned to Blake. For the first time since they came back, she looked directly at her. Her gaze became stern and annoyed. "I haven't got the slightest idea how Yang will react. We really haven't seen much from her these past days since you left us. Except for her arm, of course. We've seen that lying around all the time." And with that she turned around and went back into the kitchen to lay out additional plates.
Yang paced up and down in her room. So, Blake was back, and this Ilia girl was here, too. She wished she hadn't left her hand downstairs. She wanted to punch. And kick. And basically, drive them away. How did they dare to turn up on her door like this?
Ruby flew into the room and crashed into her. Yang was dedicated not to go downstairs and have dinner; Ruby was dedicated to convincing her. As kids they had often agreed and seldom been fighting. But now the walls shook. In the end Ruby returned without her sister. Dinner was rather quiet. Tai set up the guest room for Blake and Ilia and they all went to bed. Blake cried herself to sleep. It broke Ilias heart.
But Yang did not leave her room the next morning either and Weiss eventually had enough. She forced her way into the room, making Yang angry. But Weiss had no intention to discuss anything. Before Yang could even open her mouth, she began to speak.
"Yang... I know it won't be okay again immediately. But this is your last chance. Get your sweet little ass downstairs right now or she might leave again and this time she is not going to come back!"
"Why would I? She was the one who left. I'll be fine. She is not the first one to leave me. The only one I really need is my sister. No one else matters quite that much."
"Right. I know your mom abandoned you and Ruby's mom left and never came back alive. But let me tell you one thing about your sister. She tried to reach you for days. You shut her out, you ignored her! She was devastated! She is so full of hope that you will open up again. If Ruby really means that much to you, then show her!"
"I don't want to be left again! If I go downstairs now... It will hurt even worse when Blake leaves again. I'm not sure if I can survive it again."
Weiss sighed and sat down on the bed. This was quite painful. No one else matters. She had seen the pain in Ruby's eyes and how Ruby eventually shut down as well. Mainly because of Yang.
"I know what you mean. I know what it feels like. I was left alone so often in my life..." she sighed "It was actually on a daily basis. My father missed the big dinner for my birthday. That was when I was ten. My mom was really upset. I don't really know why but something about it made him snap. We all knew it, of course... That the only reason he married my mother... Was for the family name. He hardly liked her, let alone loved her. But it was the first time he said it out loud in front of us. Ever since... She was lost in alcohol. And I mean much more and far worse than your uncle. She shut everyone out, including me and my siblings."
She stood up. "Quite like you are now shutting out Ruby. She deeply cares for you. And I've seen enough of the way you treat her. If you don't want to talk to Blake – fine. If you want her to leave – alright. But get yourself downstairs for Ruby, now! Or you might lose her, too. And in that case you better remember that she is my girlfriend. And I will not stand by if you keep hurting her!"
Where she had sounded understanding, even caring she was now sounding irritated and angry. Yes, Weiss and Ruby were still lovers. She had almost forgotten about that. Weiss marched over to the door and held it open, looking stern. Yang had no option now. So ... she got downstairs and looked for Ruby.
She picked up her new arm and sighed deeply. Then she screwed it back in place. It felt... More familiar than she would have thought. They did a great job at Atlas.
Then she went into the living room where she found Blake sitting on the couch, Ruby and Ilia on either side of her, consoling her. She looked afraid. Yang just looked at her. Part of her brain realised that Ruby smiled at her. But at the moment she really only saw Blake.
"By no means is this making anything okay" she said to Blake, then went into the kitchen to make tea. After about a minute and several nods from her friends Blake got up and followed her.
"Yang... I'm sorry... I..." she started but Yang cut in.
"I don't think I want to hear it. You came back. That's all that matters. I don't care why you ran or why you came back. You did. End of discussion."
Blake nodded. Then she took a deep breath and all of her courage and took Yang's hand. For a short moment Yang held it. Blake could see tears welling up in her eyes and felt them rising behind her own eyes, too. Then they heard the water boil. Blake knew a heartbeat before it happened that it would happen. Yang pulled her hand away and turned to prepare the tea. Then she arranged it on a tray together with several cups and a jar of sugar and left the kitchen without another glance at Blake.
They sat together and drank the tea in silence. Blake resumed her place on the couch. Ruby was torn between trying to talk to her, to calm her down and trying to talk to Yang. Both had been lost, both had been found again. Weiss sat next to her, occasionally placing her hand on Ruby's shoulder and gently playing with her hair.
It was Qrow who broke the silence. He came in after they drank it all but before anyone made a move to clean up the cups.
"Tell me... How can a bunch of Kids be so damn quiet while drinking tea? Don't you have enough to talk about?"
Yang shook her head slightly. Qrow sighed. "Look at you, kiddos. You're all sitting together, too afraid to open your mouth for anything other than sipping tea!" he clapped his hands together twice. "C'mon, the lot of you! Fetch your weapons and get yourselves out in the garden. Time for practice!"
Two hours later he sent them back into the house. Training had been no good today. Blake and Yang were both distracted, Ilia was uncertain if she should join the practice at all "I don't deserve to be treated like this. Why do you trust me? I would not trust me if I was you!"
Ruby did her best to focus on the practice but really, she cared a lot more about Yang and Weiss had had enough. She trained so hard all the other girls were left with bruises.
They were all frustrated and went in to ... Well. Sit together in silence. At least the relationship between Ruby and Weiss seemed to be alright. They sat close together. While remaining silent. Like the rest of the bunch.
