Chapter someone loves my chapter names and they're the only one (I think - Idk): Reprieve (4 of 3/possibly 5 bitches)
A/N FOURTHS?! YOU AWESOME TREASURES REALLY ARE HUNGRY! (Also this chapter is broken between Yang and Ruby/Weiss so be warned)
Yang grumbled, they were supposed to be on their way back by now, but instead, they were still very much trekking through the forest looking for the Belladonnas' campsite. She looked over at Clover Ebi, the only other human in the escort. Also drafted into the army because of his Semblance, which is good luck. Part of Yang found this funny, considering her explorer uncle Qrow's Semblance is bad luck. They would have gotten along well.
Clover noticed her staring. "What?"
"Nothing, just thinking about how you and I, the humans, are in his majesty's army to cover the vampire's asses with our superpowers."
Harriet Bree rolled her eyes at Yang in a mock pout, "no need to rub it in. I would love a Semblance! But no, all I got are fangs, semi-immortality, and super strength."
James Ironwood, the Captain of his troop and leader of the escort, scoffed. "Don't stoop to her level, Harriet, she can't help it, but you can."
Clover stifled a laugh - or at least, he tried to.
"What?" Ironwood asked heatedly.
"Oh, nothing. I just remember a certain Captain getting all flustered over the Admiral's sarcastic assistant. What was his name again?" He paused for effect. "Scarlet David!" Clover finished triumphantly, smirking at the now blushing vampire. "It's okay to like a human, just don't get too attached, that one isn't the rule breaker type."
Neptune and Sage both just rolled their eyes, going back to analyzing the map. There was a small red x where the raven that was sent said they were. Neptune peered down at the compass, deciding that staring at the canvas of rivers and lakes and mountains was getting them nowhere. He gasped, "what. The. Actual. Fuck. Sage?!"
Sage gave him a curious look. "What?"
"This whole time you've been in charge of the map, telling us where to go and directing us - with the map upside down!"
Sage scratched his head. "What you talking about?"
"South is on the top!"
"Yeah, according to Sun, from where the castle sits that's where South is."
Neptune about exploded, his whole face went red and he started shaking. He snatched the map from Sage and turned it right side up. He reanalyzed the data before him, looking around and muttering curse words. Finally, he pointed to their right. "I'd say it's about a day's trip this way. We'll have to make a few adjustments along the way, but here's to hoping we don't run into more trouble."
...
Winter Schnee, a vampire of the highest caliber. Her mouth was eternally twisted into a cocky smirk, often showing off her fangs. She is a remarkable strategist, an unparalleled fighter. Her poker face is unreadable - as it is naturally meant to be, but that didn't make it any less frustrating as both Ruby and Weiss tried to outsmart her in a game of chess. Long ago, when they were toddlers, the tradition of playing against Winter together was formed. Now, they do it less out of their ability to fit in the same chair (which no longer exists, much to their chagrin) but more out of necessity.
"I think we should move our knight to counter her queen," Ruby whispered to Weiss.
"No, her bishop is in position to thwart that effort."
"What about our bishop? It is in place to protect our knight if we were to make that move."
"It needs to stay where it is to keep her rook from taking our pawn."
Ruby spluttered incoherently for a moment, massaging her temple. Winter took an amused sip of her tea. "How important is our pawn anyway? I think the welfare of our imperiled rook is of more consequence!"
"We only have four pawns left and our queen is two moves away from being taken. I would say very important."
"So what do we do?!"
"Formulate a trap," Weiss said with no minuscule amount of frustration.
Winter licked her lips and cocked her head to the side, staring down her younger sister. "You're overthinking," she commented, leaning back with the air of someone who knows they've already won. "It isn't becoming. Maybe try smiling?"
Weiss gave her the middle finger, signaling over a servant. Ruby grimaced, Weiss wasn't hungry just then, judging by what Ruby was sensing on her, she was just craving something stronger - something warm and pulsating with life. The Princess noticed, the consuming look in her eyes dimming. Ruby didn't answer the unspoken question of whether or not it was okay. There was no need, Weiss knew that - in the end - Ruby didn't really care. It was just the dark aura that overtook her lover when she was in those moods that disturbed the mage.
The servant's wrist pressed to Weiss's lips and she did not hesitate to bite into it, her eyes remained open, making contact with Ruby's before the red-head looked away - the sound of human flesh parting and squelching as she drank. As before, when the human parted, Ruby healed their wound with a wave of her hand.
Winter chuckled, "you two are extra, hmm, what's the word? Codependent - yes - that's it. Wanna let me in on the big secret?" Although it was obvious she was joking, her voice held a note of subtle suspicion.
Weiss shook her head, grinning. "Maybe we've been bonding over the idea of beating you at chess when you got back from overseas."
The older vampire let out a bark of joyous laughter. "I highly doubt it!"
"It's true," Ruby joined in. "I can say with certainty that I have never felt closer to Weiss than when we discussed wiping that smug, shit-eating grin off your face!"
"And that explains the codependency... how?" Winter teased.
"Because it has come to my attention that without Ruby - I would never be able to kick your ass."
"Yeah! And I couldn't beat you without my dearest vampire chum!"
Winter giggled, leaning forward once more. "I enjoy how you both agree that I am superior and yet somehow still cling to the preposterous idea that you could beat me."
Ruby and Weiss linked arms, putting on competitive faces. "We will beat you!" They said - very unsynchronized.
The goofiness of the entire situation left them laughing hysterically, even Winter (who although had no problem being silly with her sister, usually tried to keep at least some of her dignity) participated in the unbridled act. Weiss very nearly forgot that it was not safe to be romantic with Ruby, her lips coming too close to kissing the younger girl. This sobered her up quickly and she turned away, shifting her body so it was leaning away from Ruby. Her reaction had been fast and panicked, Ruby had barely even had time to process what was happening before the heiress switched demeanor. This time Winter had to notice and was given no choice but to comment. "What was that, Weiss?"
She didn't reply, frantic and terrified, she just stared blankly in shock at her sister. She opened her mouth, trying to say something - anything. But she couldn't. She closed it again.
Winter began to look scared herself, she ordered the servants out. She stood out of her chair, dragging Weiss out of her own by her collar. "What the fuck was that, Weiss?!"
Weiss scrambled away, backing up into a corner. "I-i..."
"Answer me!"
Ruby got out of her chair and got in between Winter and a now crying Weiss.
"Please...!" Weiss sobbed. "I'm sorry!"
"Sorry?! You could get killed! If father found out~!" Winter punched a nearby wall, tears streaking down her face. "Why? Why, Weiss? This family, this world can handle a woman... but a human? It is unacceptable!" Winter's rage filled the room, it came to life and roared inside all of them. It was potent, a mixture of a sister's love and fear and anger towards the obvious disobedience of the law. She advanced again, Ruby met her halfway, keeping her back. Winter threw Ruby across the room, panting. Ruby hit the wall with a sickening crack, she fell to the ground in a heap. Her magic immediately started healing her, but she was knocked out cold. Weiss shrunk away from her sister, who collapsed next to her. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry - I'm just so... scared. For you, Weiss, I am scared for you. If father finds out, he will kill you and her mercilessly! I-i can't watch that. I'm sorry!" She buried her head in her hands, sobs racking through her body.
Weiss shook uncontrollably with terror and grief. Their father was indeed a man to fear, he is a psychopath and a cold-blooded killer. He was the monster who didn't hide in the closet - if only that was all he did. If only he was just the figment of their broken family's imagination. But his abuse was very real and very painful, Weiss nurses a scar to prove it. She leaned into her sister, who wasted no time in pulling her younger sister closer.
...
Yang cupped some of the flowing river water in her hands, bringing it to her mouth and drinking. The cold air whipped her hair back, biting her exposed skin with its chill. She went back to the others, plopping down next to the fire they built, warming her hands with its flickering tongues of heat. "At this rate, it'll be another four days until we get back." Yang sighed, shivering and watching the snowfall layering steadily on their surroundings. She pulled a piece of worn paper from her pocket and began to trace the charcoal lines etched onto its surface.
"It shouldn't take us that long to get back, besides we have Clover. Who, by the way, could really use his Semblance to end this snowstorm!" Harriet complained.
Clover raised an eyebrow, "you mean the very same snowstorm that is watering crops and aiding nature in general?"
"No, I mean the snowstorm that is hindering our journey!"
"They're one and the same," Sage grumbled, tossing some roots he found into the small cauldron they were using to cook their lunch.
Neptune growled, tossing a rock at Yang to get her attention, she caught it without even looking up from whatever she was staring at. "What has got you enchanted?"
She held up the picture, it was one of a young her and a black-haired girl. "This is from when I was nine-years-old. The Belladonnas came and stayed with the Schnees to discuss the treaty between the wolves and the vamps. Their daughter, Blake, wandered out of the inner courts one day and went to the training yard where I was getting a lashing for stealing food. She ordered the officer to stop the punishment, bringing her mother over and showing her what he did to me. Kali Belladonna explained to the nine-year-old that I was being punished for breaking rules, that I may not have deserved lashes, but I certainly did deserve punishment. She visited me after that every day in the training yard, brought me cupcakes and other treats the kitchen gave her. It made my commanding officer furious, but she kept it up until the day she and her family left. On the last day, she got a man to draw us standing next to each other. She asked me if I had ever had a picture drawn of me before, I said no and so she gifted it to me."
"Aww! How sweet!" Harriet mocked, tossing another rock at Yang, who caught it effortlessly again. "It sounds like you are holding a flame for the little wolf Princess!"
Yang scoffed, "no, I don't. I'm just curious if she'll remember me after all these years."
"You carry the damn picture around with you!" Clover pointed out with a laugh.
"I do not! I only brought it because we were going to pick her up!"
"Sure," Clover giggled, shaking his head.
"You guys are making me regret telling you that story," Yang mumbled good-naturedly, tossing the two rocks she acquired at Clover - he also snatched them from the air with no problem.
...
Ruby trembled slightly while she sipped on some hot tea. Winter vowed to the both of them that she would never tell Jacques or anyone of their relationship but they must learn to disguise it better, or more people will find out and it won't end well for them a third time.
They had an hour before a meeting that they would have to attend, the one concerning whatever was bringing the werewolves to their doorstep again for the first time in eight years. Weiss sat down next to her, nursing a cup of tea with a little bit of whiskey. They clinked the expensive teacups together, each taking a sip. "We really suck at this, don't we?" Weiss groaned.
"I mean, I know you do..."
"You already told that joke," Weiss said dryly.
"I don't give two fucks."
"Only one?"
"None," Ruby stated matter-of-factly.
"Now that's not true, trust me, I'm an expert on the subject." They glanced at each other and burst into nervous fits of giggles, their foreheads touching. "But really," Weiss whispered, "we suck so hard at this."
Ruby scoffed lightly, "yeah, both of our sisters finding out before we've even been - getting it on - for a week? Bad."
"Yeah," Weiss spoke so softly Ruby almost didn't catch what she said.
"What is it?"
"Winter was right, my father will kill us without a second thought if he finds out about us. And it's not even an 'if' he'll find out and more of a 'when'. He has eyes everywhere."
"What are you getting at?" Ruby's gut clenched at the implications of what her lover was saying.
Weiss sat up and ran a hand through her hair, slumping against the back of her chair. "I don't know - nothing I like." They sat in what this meant for a few minutes, taking in the quietness of the room. A bird chirped somewhere outside the window. "I love you, Rose," Weiss muttered with so much love it physically hurt.
"I love you too," the red-head said back, her voice quavering with emotion.
...
They pushed through the snow, harsh wind biting at their faces. Yang wondered why the Belladonna king chose now of all times to come to the mainland. It's in the motherfucking dead of winter! Yang's foot caught on a hidden root beneath the sheets of snow and she cursed quietly, stumbling. The farther and the father they trekked it became increasingly apparent that they might be forced to stop and set up camp for the rest of the day. Which ran the risk of them being snowed in.
"Goddammit!"
Everyone stopped and turned towards the person who cussed, Neptune. "What?!" Yang shouted over the blustering winds, coughing a bit as she inhaled some snowflakes.
"I lost the map!"
Silence this is not good - not fucking good at all. "I-i think I can still get us there!" He cursed some more, surveying the white, powdery landscape.
"Wanna use your Semblance now, Clover?!" Harriet yelled, another flurry of wind almost carrying her voice away.
"I've been trying! I think this is as good as it's gonna get!"
They all stared at each other. "We're screwed." Yang cursed, shaking her head.
...
They headed into the meeting, staring straight ahead and trying to ignore each other's presences. Tomorrow Yang will be back, safe and sound in the castle; Ruby couldn't wait. She thought back to all those hard years struggling to remain hopeful for her future and how she relied on her sister through much of that, but no matter what, she never found a moment where she didn't rely on Weiss just as much. This was going to be harder than anything Ruby has been through. She was never good at hiding her emotions, these past few days attesting to that; and now not only was she going to have to do that, but she was going to have to do it alone.
The guards opened the throne-room door for them, whispering quiet "Miss Schnee"s as they walked past. There were advisers and nobles lining the walls, chattering away about the meeting ahead of them. "Princess Schnee has entered the throne room!" A hush fell over the lot of them and they bowed as Weiss walked straight down the middle of the room to stand near her father. Ruby followed behind solemnly.
"First thing's first," Jacques Schnee declared, a smirk painted across his smug lips. "How do we assassinate the King of the Wolves without repercussions?"
...
The escort shivered and puffed as they huddled around a small fire they had barely been able to create and were struggling to maintain. They were in a cave, freezing air whistling around them. Yang's hands were blue and she groaned and grunted with pain as she forced them to move. She pulled a small sheet of paper out of her back pocket and a charcoal pencil. "Do we still have a raven?" She asked the others.
"One..." Ironwood gasped, reaching for the covered cage the poor bird was being kept in. "What do you need it for?"
"I want to send something to my sister - our coordinates and a small message."
"Well he hurry up and write it," he grunted, passing the cage to her.
She did and as she wrote it a tear or two left her eyes - even if she got back, which she wasn't so sure of anymore, Ruby needed to hear this.
...
Later that night Ruby wept in her bed. She wished she could forget everything that has happened that day, the things she's heard. To think this was the king she vowed her allegiance to!
A peck sounded on her window and she stumbled over to it, letting in the snow-covered and half-dead raven, carrying it over to the fire to let it warm up and untying the message from it's foot. She sat on her bed and read it, going over each word ten times.
"Ruby, my dearest sister. We're stuck in a cave, snowed in and freezing to death. I'm scared - but I've also been thinking. I know you love Weiss and I know she loves you, and the more I think about it the more I wonder why that is such a bad thing. Why can't two people, no matter what race, vampire, human, wolf - just be in love? Why does it matter so much? And you know what, I don't think it does. I think it only matters to the right people in the right places who have the power to make it matter to everyone else. I fucking love and I want you to feel free to love who you want. So do it. Love her and never let her go. Do it for me, do it for you, for her, and for anyone else who is in the same position as you are. Fight that law - fight the whole fucking world if you have to but never let her go."
Below the heartfelt message were coordinates and a small heart. Ruby stood and ran out of her room to the one place she knew she could. Weiss's room.
