Chapter 26 - Deeper Insights

Blake ringing the doorbell set off a remarkable chain of events inside the Xiao Long household. The loud doorbell was followed quickly by a distinctly Ruby shout and the pitter-patter of feet rushing up and down a flight of stairs to accompany the cries of, "Yang! They're here, they're here, they're here!"

This was soon followed by a distinctly Yang shout of, "tell them to go away! I'm not ready yet!" and then the slamming of what was most likely a bedroom or bathroom door. Continued running and supposed freaking out inside continued, pausing for a moment as the top of Ruby's head appeared in the window, only to disappear less than a second later.

"Yang they're here! What do I do!"

Weiss and Blake looked at each other, unsure if they were concerned with the goings on inside the house, or seconds away from bursting into laughter.

"Open the door!" Yang shouted, with a slam of a door and the loud footsteps of someone stomping downstairs.

And finally, the front door opened.

"Hello, how'd'you do?" Ruby asked in her calmest voice, leaning on the door for support. Weiss was fairly certain it was emotional support than anything physical.

"Should we go away since Yang's not ready yet? Or…" Blake let Ruby's mind fill in the rest.

The young girl's posture immediately straightened, and a crimson blush worked its way up her neck to brighten her cheeks. "How much did you…"

"Oh, everything," Blake replied with a smirk.

"Well, it was nice to see you again, Blake. You too Weiss. I'm going to go kill myself from embarrassment now. Tell Yang she gets all my things."

"Hey, hey. It was by no means that bad. I've definitely heard worse coming from Weiss's room," Blake said as both a way to calm Ruby down and embarrass her friend.

It worked flawlessly in both regards.

"How dare you!"

"Heh, thanks Blake."

"Now where is the pretty kitty!" Yang shouted in her best sing-song voice as she finally made her way to the door, arm draping over her little sister.

"I told you not to call me that."

"Technically we aren't in public, so I complied with all your instructions," Yang smirked, relishing in seeing her girlfriend blush cutely.

"And this must be the famous ice queen." Her attention was on Weiss. "She's a lot shorter in person."

"I'm still growing!" Weiss admonished.

"No, Ruby is still growing. Actually ya. Weiss, Ruby, stand back to back. I want to see how much taller Ruby is."

Weiss growled in anger, "why I would never! You disrespectful brute!"

"Big words from such a little package. Hey, isn't that the girl that spilled paint all over herself after bumping into you Rubes?"

Yang cackled loudly over the protests of both girls.

"Ruby ran into me!"

"Weiss already forgave me!"

This was not going how Weiss had wanted it to go. How could Blake's girlfriend and Ruby's sister be so rude? The two continued firing insults at each other, which only seemed to make Weiss grow angrier, and Yang connivingly happier.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you. Enjoying picking on someone above your station for once. You obviously have no ability to speak with any decorum."

"I speak just fine, princess. I just didn't need to memorize a thesaurus to hold a conversation."

"My, I'm surprised you knew what a thesaurus was. I would have expected you to believe it was a dinosaur."

"Yang made me think it was a dinosaur until I was seven," Ruby meekly whispered, which brought a small chuckle from Blake. Weiss and Yang were too embroiled in their own petty arguments to have heard.

Giving Ruby a quick look to see that they were in agreement, Blake walked up next to Yang, placing a hand on her shoulder, the other stroking her hair and whispering into her ear. "Hey Yang. Did you miss me?"

Immediately, Yang paused whatever critique of Weiss she was about to make and turned to her girlfriend with a smile. "How could I not?"

"Why not say hello to my best friend Weiss. If I ever come over again, you're going to be seeing a lot of her."

"Oh, alright. If you like her, then she can't be that bad."

On the other side of the doorway, Ruby was next to Weiss, latching onto her arm, and gently stroking it. "Hey Weiss. Did you miss me? Did you miss me?"

Weiss huffed, "No, Ruby. But it is good to see you again."

"That means you missed me! Do you like Yang?"

"She's such a brute and-"

"She's also the nicest and best big sister ever. Can you say hello to her? Then I want to show you something awesome."

"Not unless she-"

"Please? For me?" Ruby asked, reaching for a world record puppy dog pout.

Weiss paused for a second, unsure what to do. She stuttered, her brain incapable of properly processing what was going on. Then she scowled. "Fine."

Her attention back on Yang, she held out a hand, "it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Weiss Schnee."

Yang rolled her eyes but grabbed onto Weiss's extended appendage. "Nice to meet you too. I'm Yang Xiao Long. This is my sister Ruby, and that is my girlfriend Blake."

"Yes, I'm quite aware of who Ruby and Blake are."

Yang shrugged, "just letting you know how the chips lay."

"Well, Blake is my best friend and Ruby is my… she's my acquaintance."

"Ya! I'm her acquaintance! Wait, no. Hey! I thought we're friends." Ruby pouted for a second before descending once more into smiles. "Anyways, come on Weiss. I have something amazing to show you. Bye Yang and Blake! Don't do anything you don't want your little sister to walk in on!"

As Ruby tugged Weiss towards the backyard, they could hear Yang shout back, "that has never happened before, and you know it!"

Ruby giggled as she pulled on Weiss's hand, leading her to the family's backyard.

"So where are you taking me?"

"It's a surprise! I know you'll love it."

"I don't like surprises, Ruby."

"Of course you do. You had a big competition to give yourself a surprise weapon!"

Weiss opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, truly stumped by the younger girl holding her hand. "That… may actually be true."

"I know Weissy better than she knows herself!"

"Never call me that again."

Without a proper response in the affirmative, Ruby stopped in front of what looked to be a garden shed. Raising an eyebrow at her, Ruby adorably rolled her eyes and jiggled with the lock for a minute.

As she threw open the door, she yelled out, "ta-da!"

Weiss stepped passed Ruby to look at the inside of the shed. Without realizing it, her jaw had dropped. She had expected to find… well, she was unsure what she was expecting to find, but this was definitely not it.

All along the walls of the shed were pictures. Drawings and blueprints of dozens, if not hundreds of weapons of all shapes and sizes. Even the singular small window which would have let light into the small area was covered with either drawings or calculations. She could barely understand what was being solved, thanks to the almost incessant lack of actual numbers, with only variables and short-hand used.

There was a table inside, and it too was filled with stuff. From more blueprints, to pieces of metal, both large and small, as well as oil grease, rubber bands, hammers, screw drivers and even what looked to be a rudimentary 3D printer.

Under the table was a box of completed or half-completed weapons. As Weiss reached down to pick up something in the box, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Erm, I promised I wouldn't let anybody else touch their weapons." Ruby said sheepishly.

"What do you-"

"Oh! I help huntsmen in the area fix up their weapons if they get damaged! It's my favouritest hobby in the entire world. And doing this helps me pay for all my things! It's perfect so I don't use up too much of our money and I can help chip in when we're running low on rent. Though Yang hates it when I do that."

Weiss nearly flinched at hearing that. To know that Ruby and Yang had so little money that she had to decide between rent and her hobbies. Though, Weiss chastised herself for the reaction. She had already known that they were poor. She had helped fund the girl's ticket to her own competition after all.

"They look quite impressive," Weiss decided to compliment, returning the conversation back to the redhead's hobby.

Ruby smiled, "thanks! It makes me happy to see so many people liking my work. It's why I've always wanted to be a weapon-smith when I grew up! It's why I chose Beacon University as well. Best program ever! And if I get in, I'll still be with Yang. She's applying to the huntsman program there as well."

"Interesting," Weiss commented. "I know that Blake is hoping to go to Beacon University as well. Maybe the three of you can have classes together. Or at least lunches. Or study sessions."

"Ha! Study sessions would be really funny. We'd all be taking totally different classes," Ruby giggled, bringing a light smile to Weiss, who quickly hid it behind a glare. "So, if Blake is going to BeaconU, will you be there too?"

"No," Weiss said, shaking her head and allowing herself to frown in disappointment. "I will be attending Atlas Academy. It's the best school for my program after all."

"That's good."

"And it's not like I have much of a choice in the matter."

"Why not?" Ruby stepped a little closer to her.

"Well," Weiss continued, trying not to be too distracted by the younger girl's true curiousity in her life. "Atlas Academy is a university for the elites. Those of wealth, prestige and power. Akin, or at least as close as possible, to the Schnees. It would be… unfit for me to attend someplace filled with commoners."

"Aw, that sucks. I think we'd have fun together there." Weiss could only think about how cute Ruby's sad face was. It almost made her want to hug the girl.

Almost.

"So, you know about my hobby. What do you do?" And with that, Ruby's expression changed as she asked the question.

"Oh," Weiss said, taken aback by the directness. She had many options to choose from. She had often been asked this question, or a variant of it by the wealthy suitors she had attracted, or those hoping to get close to her. She had often responded with what was to be expected of her. She enjoyed her singing, or her studies. Sometimes she walked through the gardens and admired the flowers. She read poetry, alongside the masters in economics, business and law. And the all-too-common answer which all expected of someone in her position; she enjoyed shopping and shopping sprees.

But Weiss didn't want to answer Ruby with these bland and boring answers. She was standing inside the place which held Ruby's closest and most favourite passion. She didn't want to lie to her.

"I enjoy art," she finally decided on revealing. "I've always loved to paint. It's… been something I have enjoyed for a very long time, though not many people know about it. Aside from Blake of course. I like to paint in my free time."

"That's so cool! I don't know much about painting, but I like art too. Just look at all my pictures." Ruby beamed as she spread out her arms.

"I don't think that blueprints properly constitute art."

"How dare you!" Ruby said in mock despair. "My babies are beautiful and full of artistic… splendour!"

Weiss chuckled, "don't hurt yourself with such a big word."

Ruby stuck out her tongue, which only increased Weiss's chuckling.

"Whatever. What did you want to talk about for coming here?"

"Oh right. Yes, Ruby, I had come to speak with you about two things in particular. The first being the metal piece you had asked me to find in my estate."

"Have you-"

"No, not yet. I was hoping to ask you more about it and what it looked like?"

"Heh, you could have just texted or called me to ask. It's just a small piece of metal. No longer than my thumb. With a hooked end and varying widths. It would probably be easier if I texted you a picture of it."

"How could I have called or texted you without your number?" Weiss asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"Do you want my number?" Ruby asked innocently.

"Umm… ya. I guess I do."

The two awkwardly exchanged numbers, sending a 'hello' text to make sure they get them right. The two stared down at their phones, letting the silence between them linger. At least for Weiss, it did not feel awkward or at all stifling. It was a calming silence. One which felt comforting and set her at ease.

"Thanks," she finally said. "I'll continue looking for it."

"Thank you. I know you must be busy. With your painting and everything. Maybe I could see it when it's done?"

"Maybe," Weiss said slowly. "I don't want my family to know about it. They tend to take my interests and force the excitement and pleasure out of them."

"That's unfair."

"It is what it is," Weiss shrugged. "Like attending Atlas Academy, I do not have much choice in the matter."

"That's unfair too! Like with BeaconU, I'm going there because it's awesome, but also because that's where my mom and dad went when they were younger." Ruby's expression seemed to drop at the mention of her parents.

"Where are they?"

"They're gone. It happened a long time ago, but it still makes me sad. Yang too. It's why we don't really talk about them too much. It's… hard. But I like to think that they're watching us and are proud. I really hope they're proud of me."

Ruby quickly rubbed away tears which lingered at the corner of her eyes.

"Anyways, that's the past. BeaconU's my future."

Weiss held up a hand, but quietly dropped it. She had no idea how to help the girl, let alone console her. It was strange. Weiss and Ruby might be very different, but there was one thing they had in common, or at least Weiss believed so. They lacked any real parents. Ruby's, to death. Weiss's, to their own pleasures.

Weiss felt bad about wishing that she was in Ruby's situation instead of her own. At least with dead parents, she would have the freedom to do whatever she pleased. Not having to worry about conforming to whatever behaviours or rules her parents had restricted her to.

And then she felt bad for thinking so highly of Ruby's situation. Her parents were deceased. Ruby would have no doubt wished desperately that they were alive like Weiss's even if they were strict.

The two girls continued to talk. About their hobbies and their homes. About Yang and Blake and a whole manner of other things which left both of them smiling and happy.

All too soon, there was a knock on the shed door and Blake's voice telling them it was time to leave.

"It was a… pleasant time discussing with you again. I shall endevour to find your lost metal piece."

"Thanks Weiss," Ruby said with a charming smile. "And I'll try to remember anything about the swords I saw at the competition."

"Please do."

Suddenly, Weiss felt two arms wrapped tightly around her. It took a second to realize that Ruby had pulled her into a tight hug, placing her chin on Weiss's shoulder, breathing gently into her ear. It sent a tingle through her spine.

"Make sure you call or text me."

Weiss could only nod in response, her eyes wide at having been hugged by the girl.

The white-haired heiress remained speechless when Blake dragged her into the limousine, closing the door and waving goodbye to the two sisters as they sped off.

"So, how was your time with Ruby?"

Weiss looked down at the open palms in her lap. "I think…"

She closed her hands into fists. "I think I have a sudden urge to paint some more."

Ah! Probably my second favourite chapter of this whole story to write. You'll know my first. It's coming up soon. Aside from that, happy 1 year anniversary to Rhodopis! (It was actually yesterday, but shh!) I couldn't believe it when I saw that I had been writing this story for a year. It felt like only a couple months. To everyone who's been reading this since the very beginning, to all of you who picked it up along the way, thank you so much. Knowing that people enjoy the story enough to read it bi-weekly for an entire year is shocking and delightful beyond words. Now that's one milestone I had never expected to reach. Now, onto the last (and best) milestone of any writing project! The conclusion (still a few weeks away).

hirshja - pretty great idea for what's going to come up!

Alucard45 - Our girls are getting closer to figuring out the mystery

Dragonqueen1993 - I hope so too.

timrocks99 - Then again, how often do people shout their full name? Or bring up their sibling's last names in conversation? It's surprisingly less than you'd believe. Or maybe Blake just isn't very perceptive.

Read and stayed - Then I hope you liked this chapter.

darknight2124 - Thanks. Enjoy the faster updates!

iamking - Thank you!

guest - It actually is done. All that's left is a bunch of editing to clean up a few later chapters, but it's all done.

KillamriX88 - Thanks. I love writing one scene chapters. Especially ones like these.