What We're All Looking For

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Chapter 7

Ruby watched Weiss go. She had fired some shots across her bow and took some in turn. But fighting with Weiss was like chugging two cups of coffee and running a brisk jog. She felt energized, awake and focused. And it gave her something to do besides staring at all the reports of how fucked up Patch was.

"Ruby, I'd like to talk to you for a moment away from Weiss," Neon said, finally settling down into a seat in front of Ruby.

Ruby spread her hands. "Please do."

"I can't imagine how upsetting these few days have been for you. Having the Grimm destroy your town would be devastating for anyone, especially for a person who has authority for others. I also know that it could have been worse. Much, much worse. But I can tell you that you can trust me. And you can trust Weiss. We aren't doing this for personal gain. We aren't doing this for good press. We are going to give you Patch back, and make her better than ever. But we can't do it without your help."

Ruby sighed heavily and stood. Her leg was almost good as new, aside from the slight stitch in her side. Give it another day or so, and she'd be right as rain. She turned to look out her window, and took a moment to watch the comings and goings on the road that bled out towards the main square.

Neon seemed like a good person, even if she did work for the Schnees. She seemed earnest, smart, and polite.

"I'll be frank with you. So far I've been very open about how I feel about the Schnee Dust Company-"

"Schnee International," Neon interrupted.

Ruby blinked. "What?"

"The company's name is Schnee International," Neon explained calmly. "The name was changed seven years ago when ownership changed hands."

Ruby waved her hand in front of her face. "Fine. The point is I've been very up-front about my feelings towards your company. You seem like a nice… person, but I don't like Weiss Schnee." She raised her hand again when it looked like Neon was going to interrupt again. "That being said, I know what's going on in Patch. We need your help if we're going to survive this. Waiting for aid or money from Vale will take forever, and even if we did get the money in time, rebuilding with the amount of resources we have now is…" she faltered. "Not looking too good."

Neon nodded. "I'm just asking you to be a little more open to the process, and who is stepping up to help. I can't promise we won't disrupt your way of life here at least a little, but I can promise you that we'll do whatever it takes to get you and your people back on your feet."

Ruby grunted. "And you'll keep Weiss Schnee out of my business?"

At that, Neon rolled her eyes and grinned a very cat-like grin. "Yeah… about that. I'm not really sure what kind of impression you got of Weiss at first, but I for one am going to enjoy watching you figure out how wrong you are about her. About the Schnee family in general. At least, the ones that are left. Weiss is kind, strong, and I've never known anyone more loyal."

Ruby balked. "No friggin' way."

Neon's smile grew wider, and her cat ears twitched atop her head. "She's my best friend; has been for years."

Ruby sat back, stunned. This didn't sound like the viciously evil woman who strutted into her office and called her a megabitch to her face.

"I'll… reserve my judgement for the time being," she finally allowed.

Neon shrugged, sweeping to her feet and winking down at her. "I'll see you at the meeting. Trust us. I promise you won't regret it in the end."

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"So… what's your thoughts on this whole thing?" Wes asked while doing his best to match Ruby's stride through town. He had his ever-present notepad out, but tucked away underneath his arm. Ruby knew he had a pencil hidden away somewhere - likely behind his ear, as usual - and would be ready and able to take any and all notes during the briefing they were going to attend.

"Ask me again next time," Ruby muttered darkly.

"Figured as much."

"You 'figured', what exactly?"

Wes smiled, his expression a little wane. He was just as tired, if not moreso, than Ruby was. His short, dirty blonde hair was a rats nest of tangles, and his glasses were askew, but he was awake. And doing his best. It was all Ruby could ask of him at this point.

"You're a very cautious person, Ruby," he said. "Have been for a long time."

Ruby grunted noncommittally. She often forgot that Wes had known Ruby for years, well before Summer was born and even dipping into her 'rebellious' teenage phase. If anyone in town knew her as well as they could, it was Wes.

"Which is why you all told me to take the job," she reminded him.

He nodded. "Yup. You're very cautious, and have everybody's best interest at heart. You're cautious enough for all of us, and that's why we all love you. That's why I'm asking you what you think about this whole thing, and if you think it'll be in Patch's best interest when it's all said and done."

Ruby sighed. If she were honest with herself, she simply had no idea. She didn't even have the privilege of being able to look on the bright side. It was like a bad dream, followed by a nightmare and then topping off with a nice, comfortable, tumble out of bed on the hard ground. And she still felt like she would never wake up.

"I just don't know, man," she allowed. "But I will say, at this point, that we don't really have any other choice. This is it. I just got word this morning that Vale isn't going to lend us aid, aside from what we're allowed from insurance of the destroyed buildings. People's private properties… maybe they can swing something on their own. But as an entire town? We're kinda fucked."

Wes nodded, running his hand through his messy hair as he sighed, "Well, let's get to it and let these people pull our asses out of the fire."

"And then take whatever they will ultimately do to us like a champ," Ruby finished gravely.

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Weiss Schnee was a fucking boss to end all other bosses.

That was the impression that Ruby Rose got during the briefing with all the relevant people over the following forty-five minutes.

Honestly, Ruby had expected to walk into the meeting and see Weiss sitting pretty, painting her nails, or just not even be there at all; instead, leaving the work to her numerous subordinates. What she hadn't expected her to do was take charge from the moment she strutted into the room full of construction foremen, the small but active Patch town council, actual soldiers and Huntsmen - some of them Ruby actually recognized - and farmers. And she certainly hadn't expected to hear that Weiss was taking control of operations for the restoration of Patch herself, and any and all concerns should be brought up with her, or if she wasn't available, her assistant Neon.

Even the actual high-ranking officer of the Atlesian Military, Winter Schnee, gave Weiss her full and undivided attention.

Seriously, just who the fuck was this woman?

And the icing on the shit-show that was her life currently? Ruby was shocked to discover how well Weiss could break down and detail Patch's current situation, and effectively explain a serviceable restoration plan.

It was mind-boggling. And something of a slap in the face, if Ruby were honest with herself.

Weiss had taken them all through the timeline she has theorized, taking any and all questions that came up from her own people as well as Patch's representatives, keeping everyone present engaged and informed. Even Wes, in all his attentiveness and helpfulness, seemed to respond well to the horrible woman.

"Excuse me… Miss Schnee?" he asked tentatively.

She turned her attention to him, her stance relaxing somewhat. "Ah, Wes, if I recall? Call me Weiss. What is it?"

"Uh, right. Weiss. Okay," Wes looked over his notes, compiling his question. "Just what kind of additions were you planning to add to Patch after phase three, or the projected completion date of the restoration is complete?"

Weiss nodded decisively. "Yes, thank you for the question. I had several ideas that I was considering; some more fleshed out than others. Nothing set in stone, mind you, but that's part of the fun of creation. Some ideas were along the lines of a central town park, or an entertainment district. Some were more feasible, like new and updated buildings such as a school, a more modern community hall with all the current technologies. After I fished hashing out the ideas with my people, I was going to run the drafts by your council and get appropriate feedback."

Wes nodded, his smile widening. He had been pushing for modernization for years; evidently, now it looked like he would get his wish. Especially when it was on someone else's lien.

"And a time frame for that?" another Patch local queried. "The additions, I mean."

Weiss scanned the room, nodding to the woman asking the question, and passing along to lock eyes with Ruby, holding her gaze and moving on after a moment. "Assuming half of the ideas are accepted and half are not, I should expect the additions to take another week. Two at maximum."

Murmures rose around the room. That meant that after about a month and change, they would be gone from the new and improved Patch. That was, if they were telling the truth. Ruby felt both elated and a little ill. She knew that Weiss was giving out some hard ideas to swallow, but providing everything went well, it would all be over before she knew it.

And then she would have to deal with the fallout.

When Weiss Schnee inevitably demanded her recompense.

The murmures eventually quieted down, and Ruby looked around. Her people still looked a little nervous and shaken, but Weiss' stood straight and professional. They knew what they were getting into and what had to be done.

"I won't go into the detailed plans for Patch now because it would take too long and our allotted meeting time is almost up. All of us have a lot on our plates right now. But I promise here and now to the people of Patch: we will deliver to you a new, and safer town. Together, we will do this. Now, if anyone has specific questions, you have my contact details on the information packed that was handed out to you. Feel free to reach out to either myself, or Neon if you need anything. You are dismissed."

Wes, who Ruby knew had slept even less than her, passed by Ruby with a grin and a new spring in his step. "This is going to be great, Ruby!" he said cheerfully.

Fuck.

"Yeah…" she hesitated slightly. "I'm… I'm gonna go clarify a few things with Weiss."

Wes flicked his eyes to the woman at the front of the room, then back to Ruby. "Be nice, alright? I think she actually knows what she's doing here. And besides," he leaned a little closer. "She looks dead on her feet."

Ruby snorted, liking at least part of that description. "You'd know, am I right?"

With an eye roll, Wes loped off out of the room.

After another few minutes the meeting broke up, and Ruby found a path to Weiss, who stood at her podium, flipping through papers like she was a professor grading hundreds of midterms.

"You have a problem, Miss Rose?" she asked as Ruby approached.

"I'm interested in hearing how you're going to provide long term support to Patch after the initial restoration phases are over."

Weiss glanced balefully up at Ruby over the top of a document. "What you really mean to say is, you're trying to poke a bunch of holes in my plans with your 'No, because I just don't like you' stick."

Ruby saw it in Weiss' eyes, the same exact look of exhaustion and wariness that she saw when she looked in the mirror this morning. She just hadn't noticed until that very moment. Then it was gone as Weiss put down the documents and straighted, glaring back at her.

Ruby held up her hands. "No, no… they're actual concerns I have. Your plans are good… really good, actually. But I have issues with the long term sustainability of your projected changes and Patch's adaptability to utilize them."

Weiss thought on that a moment. She glanced down at her wristwatch, and sighed. "I don't have time right now. I have to meet with the security teams and debrief them on the Grimm attack and their plans for securing the area. But I can block out fifteen minutes for you tomorrow morning. Say, ten o'clock? Then you can poke all the holes in me and my plans that you want."

The idea of poking holes in Weiss made Ruby pause and blinked a few times, before she shook her head. Fuck, she was tired. "Only fifteen minutes? I think it might take a little longer than-"

"Take it or leave it," Weiss said simply.

"Deal. Ten," Ruby nodded rapidly. "Okay, then."

"And leave your unhelpful attitude at home. I really don't have time for it," Weiss said sharply as she picked up her back and walked around Ruby.

But she wasn't willing to let that go. "I'll try not to interrupt your ten-fifteen pedicure," she remarked.

Weiss turned her head back to smirk at Ruby. "Insults still need some work, you dolt."

"What, not calling me bitch anymore?" Ruby snorted. "Sue me. I'm off my game. Give me some time and I can insult you properly."

"I'm looking forward to it," Weiss said sarcastically as she turned and walked out of the room. Ruby scoffed, folding her arms over her chest. They were both dead tired, sure, but there had been a sparkle of something in Weiss' blue eyes.

It had to have been the sparkle of evil, surely.

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