Chapter 8: Black v. White
It was always good to visit Vale. Ruby got to hang out with her team, see the sights and buy stuff she couldn't get from Beacon's stores. It was a great way to spend a Friday afternoon. The only thing she didn't like was having to visit the docks. She really couldn't stand the awful stink of fish in the air. Yang didn't like it, either, and suggested they leave as soon as possible.
Weiss, on the other hand, was so overjoyed at seeing the decorations on display for the upcoming Vytal Festival that she didn't care about the smell one bit. It was kind of nice to see her in such a good mood, just really unusual. Blake didn't mind the smell, but ever since they saw the police on patrol, she'd put up her guard, only talking when she had something important to say.
A string of robberies over the past couple of weeks forced Vale's police force to tighten security, leading to police cars or beat officers lurking around what felt like every single corner. It wasn't easy to ignore, and if Ruby hadn't reminded herself that she wasn't in danger of being arrested, she would have been just as wound up as her partner was.
After all, Roman Torchwick died almost three months ago, and his death wasn't put on her criminal record. She got off very lucky, so as long as she didn't break any rules, she'd be safe and sound.
That didn't mean that she wanted the police to go away, though. They came across a Dust shop cordoned off by police tape. Pretty much all the Dust was gone, and according to the detectives guarding the shop, so was the money.
"Who needs this much Dust?" one of the detectives asked.
"An army, maybe," his partner answered. "I'm thinking the White Fang's responsible."
"Might be them, but it doesn't fit their MO. No one was harmed during any of the robberies."
The other detective sighed. "Point taken. Hope we get a raise for all this extra work."
"It better be big."
The detectives walked away from Ruby's team to guard a different section of the shop. Once they were out of earshot, Weiss sniffed in derision.
"What's up, Weiss?" Yang asked.
"If you ask me, the White Fang were responsible."
"It wasn't them," Blake said. "Didn't you hear those detectives?"
"I heard them, but they're wrong. Who else other than a pack of rabid degenerates would be brazen enough to do this?"
Blake scowled, glaring at Weiss. "Where do you get off on calling them degenerates?"
Weiss matched Blake's glare, stepping towards her. "That's what they are."
"They're not degenerates. They're misguided."
"Misguided? They want nothing more than to destroy everything humanity has built. How can you call that misguided?"
"They're misguided because of their methods. That's not the point. If the White Fang did it, why didn't they burn down all the shops they robbed? Why didn't they attack the staff? None of the shops were Faunus-owned."
"Obviously, it was to keep the police from pinning it on them. You know as well as I do that the White Fang are the only criminal organization who have the manpower, resources and the motive to rob nine Dust shops and get away with it."
"Nine?" Yang asked.
"It was on the news, Yang," Weiss said.
Blake's eyes narrowed. "What's their motive?"
Weiss' mouth ripped open, but Ruby cut in first. "Blake's got a point, Weiss. Why would the White Fang would want to rob a bunch of Dust shops?"
Weiss scowled. "They attacked a train carrying a whole shipment of Dust mere months ago, so don't tell me that stealing Dust is above them, because it isn't. Hoarding Dust bolsters their strength, simultaneously preventing law enforcement from using that stolen Dust to apprehend them. Continuously stealing Dust makes trading Dust a risky prospect, and we need Dust to fight the Grimm!"
Those were some good points. Even so, that didn't explain why the White Fang would rob Dust shops if they could rob a train.
"Then why would they rob Dust shops here in Vale?" Blake asked, saying what Ruby was thinking. "Look at their mode of operation: they always take responsibility for their crimes. They've taken on the police in the past. Why would they change their tactics now?"
Weiss was about to speak, but she was interrupted, though not by Ruby.
"Stop that Faunus!" some guy said. He was on the ship, and looked like a sailor, but he was too slow to catch the Faunus, who slipped around him and the other sailor with quick, nimble footwork.
"Thanks for the ride, guys!" the Faunus said. With his ringing laughter and roguish smile, he definitely looked like someone having a lot of fun rather than someone who was busy being chased. He was getting away, too, as his yellow monkey tail let him loop around a lamppost and leap off it, leaving the pier and landing on the street.
Team RWBY ran closer to the Faunus as he rushed down the street. He might have gotten away, too... but a police officer got in the Faunus' way, and immediately pointed his pistol at his chest.
"Stop moving this instant!"
The Faunus stopped in his tracks, raising his hands above his shoulders. With his agility, he could have easily escaped, but he didn't.
"Everything all right, officer?"
"No, everything's not all right." The police officer was in full uniform, sunglasses hiding his eyes. "You want to explain why you were running away from the scene of a crime?"
"What crime?"
The officer's lip curled. "Don't play coy. A Dust shop nearby was robbed just a few hours ago, and you want to tell me that you never heard about that?"
"Well, I didn't."
"Well, I think you're hiding something. You're coming with me for questioning."
"For what? I didn't rob that shop, I just came here!"
The officer kept his gun pointed at the Faunus' chest, finger moving to remove the safety. Blake was about to pounce, but Ruby grabbed her wrist before she could go. Blake whirled around, teeth bared in a snarl, but Ruby stood her ground and shook her head.
"Don't forget," Ruby said.
This wasn't their fight, and so far, the Faunus boy wasn't doing anything to put himself in danger. If Blake got involved, she might reveal her true nature in the process. Fortunately, Blake relented, and Ruby let go of her. The Faunus boy continued to explain himself, unknowingly giving the sailors all the time they needed to catch up.
"You caught him, officer," one of the sailors said. He was blond.
"Was this Faunus giving you any trouble?" the officer asked.
Both sailors looked at the gun, then back at the Faunus.
"He's just a stowaway. We can take care of him."
"Are you certain?"
"We are," the other sailor said, black-haired and stern-faced.
The police officer didn't respond. Ruby hoped he'd listen. Eventually, he moved his finger away from the trigger and holstered his pistol.
"Consider this your first and only warning, boy," the officer said. "Try breaking the law again and you will regret it."
The Faunus looked away, and Ruby caught his dejected frown, before it switched into a smile. He faced the officer again.
"You got it, officer."
After exchanging nods with the sailors, the officer walked away. Ruby let out a sigh of relief. Yang was frowning at the scene, while Weiss clicked her tongue, shaking her head. As for Blake, her hands were balled into fists, and she rushed towards the Faunus.
"What gave you the idea to stow away on our ship, kid?" the blond sailor asked.
The Faunus chuckled. "Just wanted to get to Vale early. Haven't you heard? The Vytal Festival's coming up, and I plan to win."
"Yeah, we heard, but don't let your excitement steer you in the wrong direction. You're lucky we were there to bail you out."
"They're right," Blake said, after joining the Faunus and the sailors. "That officer was looking for an excuse."
"Thank the White Fang for that," the black-haired sailor said. "Bunch of robberies lately, if you didn't know."
Blake frowned. "I've seen officers justify much worse for much less than paranoia. All it takes is for them to think you're a danger."
"Makes sense to me," the Faunus said.
"Next time, if you want to come on our ship, pay up," the black-haired sailor said. "Got it?"
"You don't have to tell me twice. Thanks for the save, guys."
The blond sailor smiled. "Good luck, kid."
Once the sailors left, Ruby joined up with Blake and her fellow Faunus, Yang and Weiss following close behind.
"You alright, dude?" Yang asked.
The Faunus dropped his hands. "Yeah, thanks to those sailors."
Yang frowned. "Sorry you had to go through that."
He grinned, though it didn't have the same energy Ruby saw in his first smile. "Thanks, but I'm used it."
"It shouldn't be happening in the first place," Blake said.
Weiss was about to open her mouth, but Ruby looked at her and shook her head. It was enough to keep Weiss quiet. Judging from the calculating look in her eye, she wouldn't stay quiet for long.
"Maybe, but nothing came of it this time, so it's cool. Anyway, I have to thank you for the advice. I'm Sun, what's your name?"
"Blake, and you're welcome."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Blake."
Sun smiled, and it was this bright, daring smile that made Blake suck in a quick breath. He was a looker, with his shining blue eyes and messy blond hair and ripped, tanned abs. It was easy to see why he was so confident.
"Where did you come from?" Weiss asked.
"Vacuo. Couldn't wait for my team to catch up, so I went on ahead."
Weiss scoffed. "Typical."
"That's me, can't stay still for long. Anyway, I've gotta go. Hope to see you again, Blake."
Blake smiled. "You too."
"What about the rest of us?" Yang asked, a sly smile on her face.
Sun winked. "There's enough of me to go around. Catch you girls later."
He ran off, almost as quickly as he came in. Blake watched him leave, curiosity glazing her stare. Yang shot Ruby a mischievous grin, angling her head at Blake. Ruby shot her sister a thumbs-up. Once Blake blinked and regained her sharp gaze, they made their move.
"So, Blake, when are you going to meet up with Sun?" Yang asked.
Blake's eyes shot wide. "We just met. Let him settle down first."
"Once that happens, we'll make sure you guys get some alone time," Ruby said.
"What do you see in him?" Weiss asked.
"Have you seen Sun's abs?" Yang shot back.
Weiss smirked. "They are pretty nice." Then, she crossed her arms. "But I'd prefer a good physique to be attached to someone who isn't a filthy Faunus."
"His name is Sun," Blake said. "He's not filthy, he's a person, just like you and Ruby and Yang."
Weiss craned her neck, frowning. "Sun is the type of person to stow away on a ship and run away from his rightful justice. Why should I show him any sort of respect?"
Blake's scowl returned. "Because he learned from his mistake! But how will he ever feel comfortable about accepting responsibility for his actions if people like you are around to denigrate him just because of his species!"
"Sun didn't feel remorse for breaking the law. If that police officer didn't catch him, he would have run off to irritate someone else. I wouldn't be surprised if Sun joins those freaks in the White Fang –"
"That's enough, Weiss," Ruby said.
"Would you stop interrupting me?" Weiss said.
Ruby frowned. "I'll stop when you stop calling the Faunus names just because you don't like them."
Weiss seethed. "They're CRIMINALS. If you want me to give those terrorists an ounce of respect, then don't bother wasting your breath."
"What about Sun? He's not part of the White Fang."
"He will be, mark my words."
Blake stepped right in front of Weiss. "If he does, it'll be because of arrogant, judgemental, close-minded bigots like you giving him so much grief that he won't have any other choice!"
Shock like Ruby had never seen Weiss show burst on her face, silencing her. A moment later, she glared at Blake, fury searing across both of her blue eyes.
"I am not bigoted! You're the one apologizing for those terrorists at every turn, and for what? They made their choice to join a radical terrorist group and ruin innocent people's lives. Some Faunus are good people, but there isn't a single member of the White Fang beyond saving!"
"Why is that? Why can't someone from the White Fang leave and become a better person?"
"That's never happened, and you know it."
Blake was about to say something, but Yang clasped her shoulder. She grabbed Weiss' shoulder too, and pushed them back.
"Cool it, guys," Yang said. "You want to argue about this? Do it back at Beacon, where no one else can hear you."
Blake clicked her tongue. "What's the point? Weiss won't listen to a word I say."
"That's because I'm right and you're wrong."
"Really? You still haven't told me why the White Fang would steal from those Dust shops, because you can't, and you blame them because you're too bigoted to assume that someone else might be responsible!"
"I don't need to state the obvious, but it appears that I have to since you aren't as smart as I thought you were."
Even with Yang holding them apart, Blake and Weiss were so angry at each other that someone was going to say something they'd regret very soon, and that was the last thing Ruby wanted to see.
"Stop fighting like this!" Ruby said. "If you really want to fight, do in the arena, but not here, not like this."
Blake turned away from Weiss. "I won't fight. Weiss isn't worth it."
Weiss sniffed. "You aren't worth fighting over, either, Blake. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook. This discussion is far from over."
Unfortunately, Weiss was right. As soon as Team RWBY returned to their dorm room, Blake immediately got in Weiss' face.
"Why did the White Fang rob those shops?" Blake asked. "What's their motive?"
Ruby figured that the time it took for them to return to Beacon would be enough time for them to cool down and realize that this argument wasn't worth having, but it looked like they were just stewing in their anger, waiting for the first chance to lash out.
Weiss scoffed. "They don't need a motive to attack innocent people, but since you asked: they want humanity to be afraid of them, so they can take what they want and leave us with the scraps."
"Then why didn't they attack the shop owners?"
"What does it matter? They've done much worse, and all it's done is undermine whatever message they've been fighting for. There are so many other ways for their voices to be heard, yet they chose the worst way possible, only because that's all they're good for."
Blake scowled, and through it, Ruby saw all of the suffering she had to bear as a Faunus.
"That's utter garbage. The White Fang doesn't exist because they wanted to hurt people. No one cares if a Faunus child is assaulted right in front of them, because humans pull on their ears or their tails and get away with it. After all, they know the Faunus won't fight back. Faunus are refused jobs just because of their species, even if they're more qualified and more capable. If they manage to get a job, they're blacklisted the moment they make one mistake."
"And their answer to all of this is to what, burn down buildings and assault innocent people?"
"They wouldn't do that if they were given the rights and the dignity they deserve in the first place!"
"But they did! Who's going to watch all of this chaos unfold and think that the Faunus are peaceful people who deserve to be treated equally?"
"They tried peaceful protests, awareness programs, everything you could possibly think of, but people only started listening once they got violent!"
"And look where it got them."
Blake took in a couple of harsh breaths, trying to steady herself.
"It got them results, but it never would have reached that point if they were given a real chance. And don't tell me it's because they're criminals. You gave Ruby a chance after hearing about what she did, but you won't give someone from the White Fang that same chance just because of their species."
"Don't bring Ruby into this," Yang said, voice backed by the threat lacing her words.
Ruby's breathing quickened. "It's okay, Yang. Blake was trying to make a point."
Blake nodded. "That's right. Ruby deserved a second chance, just like a Faunus that does wrong deserves a chance to do the right thing."
Weiss sneered. "Ruby killed a criminal who deserved to die while trying to apprehend him, and she still felt remorse for what she did. The White Fang thinks that being mistreated and facing injustice gives them the right to steal and kill! All they deserve is to be thrown in jail to rot and die!"
The harsh scowl that appeared on Blake's face made Ruby's heart skip a beat. It honestly felt like Blake was a second away from ripping Weiss' head off, and that wasn't a remotely fair thought at all.
"You're wrong, Weiss. They deserve a chance to redeem themselves."
"This again? The White Fang wouldn't feel remorse if it hit them in the face, because they're pure evil!"
"Wrong again. You said that no one's ever left the White Fang and become a better person, but you're wrong about that, too."
"I am? Then tell me exactly why you think I'm wrong."
Ruby stared at Blake, noticing how she was shaking from fury, and hoped she wasn't going to do something she'd regret.
"Blake, it's okay –"
Blake raised a hand. "No, Ruby, this is my fight. Let me handle this."
At this point, this argument wouldn't stop until it ended, because Blake and Weiss would find another place to scream at each other. Ruby knew that feeling well, and she sympathized with them both. But there was a big difference between fighting with blades and Dust, and fighting with harsh words.
The scars that formed were harder to heal when they were made on the inside.
"Okay," Ruby said.
Blake took in a deep breath, steeling herself, then returned her full attention to Weiss. "You want to know why I believe a member of the White Fang can leave and get better? Because I was part of the White Fang, and I left!"
Ruby froze. It couldn't be... but there was no way that Blake was lying, not about something as serious as this. Yang was shocked, too, staring at Blake like she'd grown an extra pair of ears. Weiss was thoroughly surprised, staggering backwards. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Blake stared at each of them, drinking in their astonishment. Ruby immediately remembered that Blake was her partner and friend first, but it was too late to reassure her. Blake wilted, all of her anger dropping out of her body, leaving nothing but fear etched in her face.
"I..."
She bolted out of their room. Ruby didn't wait: she ran after her partner. Blake was fast, and had a head-start... but Ruby was faster. She caught up with Blake before she got out of the dorms.
"Wait, Blake! Please!"
Blake didn't stop, and Ruby continued to chase after her until they left the dorms altogether and entered the courtyard. The broken moon shone on them, and before Ruby tried to grab her, Blake finally stopped running, only a metre ahead. She turned around.
Tears were streaming down her face.
Ruby's heart sank.
"Are you okay?"
Blake furiously wiped her face, scrubbing all traces of wetness. When she was done, all that was left was a resentful frown.
"No. I knew this would happen. You're afraid of me."
Ruby smiled, tentatively. "I'm not afraid of you, Blake. I was just surprised. Same goes for Yang. It's not every day you find out about something like this."
"You didn't mention Weiss."
She bit her lip. "Weiss will come around. It's like you said, she gave me a chance, she just needs time. And if she doesn't come around, we're here for you, Blake."
A smile broke out on Blake's face, but it was brittle, seconds away from falling apart.
"I really appreciate that."
Ruby's smile bloomed, bursting into life. "You supported me when I needed it, so it's only fair that I help you, too."
The wind whistled around them, the only sound in the courtyard other than the sounds they made. Ruby stepped forward, closing the gap. Blake stood carefully still.
"What do you want to do?"
"I'm... going to go clear my head."
Ruby's smile wavered. She knew what was coming, but a small part of her hoped she was wrong.
"Then you'll come back, right?"
Blake pursed her lips. She didn't need to say a word, because Ruby heard her message loud and clear.
"What happened to talking things out? We can get through this, together."
"I wish I could. You're a good person, Ruby. But Weiss isn't. Even if I go back, she won't look at me like I'm her equal. You can't undo years of hateful thinking at the drop of a hat, and quite frankly, I don't want anything to do with her. I'm so tired of dealing with all of this."
The resignation in her tone, that unbearable sound of defeat didn't make Ruby wither from guilt. Far from it. It set Ruby's blood on fire.
"I thought you came here to make yourself a better person."
"I did."
Ruby scowled. "Then why do you want to run away? You'll just be wasting your time if you do that. Even if nobody else finds out about your past, you still have to look in the mirror every day and hear those bad thoughts you want to forget!"
Blake's face contorted, torn between fury and sadness. It settled on a mask of cold indifference.
"Doing that won't stop Weiss or anyone like her from looking down on people like me. It won't undo everything I did as part of the White Fang."
Ruby faced Blake, the anger searing through her veins fuelling her resolve.
"You're right, it won't. I don't know what it's like to be a Faunus, and I can't imagine what you've had to go through. But I know what it's like to deal with a reputation you can't control. Some people think I'm cool, others don't like me, and a few don't care at all, but none of those people got to know the real me.
"You did. If I ran away, I wouldn't have been able to find you and Weiss and Jaune and all my other friends. I still have a hard time coping with what I did to Torchwick, but it's thanks to all of you that I'm not afraid to face myself. Knowing that I have more than one person to count on is the biggest reason why I can enjoy being here."
Blake looked right through Ruby, and there was something inscrutable in her golden eyes that Ruby couldn't figure out. Hopefully, Blake understood what Ruby was trying to say. She didn't want to ignore her troubles, not for a second, and she hoped that she didn't offend her partner.
Eventually, Blake blinked, cutting down some of the suffocating tension hanging between them.
"I still want some time alone."
"It's okay. Take all the time you need."
"I will. But I am going to come back."
"You promise?"
Ruby immediately cursed herself the moment those words left her mouth. She shouldn't have said that, it was so lame.
"I do," Blake said, putting Ruby's pity party to an abrupt end.
Ruby smiled, utterly relieved. "That's great. Thank you, Blake."
"No, thank you. I don't know if what you said will help, but I did need to hear it."
"Just give it a try, and if you don't get it right the first time, I'll help you figure things out. We're partners, Blake. You don't have to do things on your own."
"I know."
Blake smiled at her, before walking away. Ruby let her go. Seeing her smile made her realize that she wasn't saying empty words. She meant everything she said, which meant that she would come back.
When she returned, Ruby would make absolutely sure that Blake felt safe and able to feel like she could trust someone without getting burned.
It took Weiss a few seconds to process what Blake just told them. She was a member of the White Fang, a prospect so ludicrous that she never seriously considered it. Yet, when she did, all of Blake's little idiosyncrasies began to make sense. Even her last name wasn't mere coincidence, it was a glowing sign of her true allegiance, and she was a fool for not realizing it sooner.
Before she could say anything to her teammate, Blake ran away. Ruby followed suit, without telling either of them of her plans. However, Blake was her partner. It was her right to deal with her as she saw fit.
With half of Team RWBY gone, Weiss was left alone with her own partner, and Yang was not remotely amused.
"Are you happy now, Weiss?"
Weiss grit her teeth. "Of course not! Our teammate was part of the White Fang. She hid this from us!"
Yang shook her head, but rather than respond, she closed their door first. Then, she marched towards her, looming larger with step after inexorable step before she stopped right in front of her. Instead of the furious red-eyed glare she expected to see, Yang's eyes were a calm lilac. Her frown was chiding, like a mother about to scold her child.
(Not that she had the privilege of knowing about that.)
"I'm not surprised she did. I wouldn't tell anyone about that with you on my team. Did you hear all that stuff you were saying back there?"
Weiss frowned, trying to gather her resolve before it slipped past her fingers. "I didn't want to lose an argument against Blake, not when it was about the White Fang. There was no way I was going to let her think that the White Fang have any reason to exist after everything they've done."
"Okay, I'm not saying you're wrong for how you feel about the White Fang. But did you have to call them freaks and degenerates? You're better than that."
When she thought about the vile words that spewed out of her mouth, she quailed. She didn't care for the Faunus, she was never given a reason to, but not only did she provide Blake with loads of ammunition to gain the upper hand, she debased herself in the process.
"I am better than that," Weiss said. "However, that doesn't change the facts: Blake was part of the White Fang. If she was serious about leaving, why didn't she go to the authorities and admit her crimes?"
"Would you do it?"
Weiss scoffed. Of course she would... but she'd never been put in the position to put her money where her mouth was. The only other person she knew who committed a crime was Ruby, and from what she knew, Ruby had admitted responsibility for her actions, despite the fact that it was self-defence at worst.
"I can't answer that question."
Yang smirked. "Well, I wouldn't. But that doesn't mean I'd keep committing crimes. Did Blake seem like the type of person to blow up a train or burn down buildings?"
"No."
Although, she hadn't been on the best of terms with Blake, meaning that she barely got to know her or recognize what she was capable of.
"Exactly. Blake left the White Fang for a reason, and if she wants to keep that part of her life to herself, that's her business. What matters is that she's trying to become a huntress and fight the good fight."
"That doesn't absolve her of anything."
Her partner frowned. "It doesn't, but there's no point in pushing her away and making her feel like she isn't welcome to change. Do you want her to go back to the White Fang?"
"Of course not! But you want to know what bothers me the most? Blake hid herself among us for months, knowing full well who she was and what she did, yet when she decided to reveal her past, she didn't stand her ground. After everything she said, that was the least she could have done. Instead, she didn't like the reaction she saw and ran away! The innocent have nothing to hide, Yang."
"Yeah, they don't. I don't blame her for running anyway, because you wouldn't have given her a second to explain herself."
"No, I – "
"Don't lie to me, Weiss!"
Weiss scowled. Yang's temper reared finally its ugly head, but three months of dealing with her partner helped Weiss learn when and why she got angry. Because of that knowledge, she was well aware that Yang wasn't one to flaunt her power and authority over people she deemed inferior. It made tolerating her outbursts a lot more palatable.
"I wouldn't have, okay? I would have torn into Blake for admitting she was part of the White Fang, and I wouldn't have given her an ounce of sympathy, either."
"Because you didn't want to lose, right?"
"Exactly."
Weiss' scowl quavered, guilt swarming her for reasons she couldn't understand. Rather than confront it, she smothered it with fury.
"In the end, I would have done all that without a second thought. If you want to tell me I'm wrong, then go ahead, but it won't change a thing."
Before Yang could say a word, the door opened, revealing Ruby. Without Blake at her side.
"Don't tell me you guys are fighting, too," Ruby said.
Weiss frowned. "We weren't fighting, we were having a discussion."
"I heard your voices from down the hallway."
Yang cracked a smile with ease. "Things got heated for a bit, but we were just about to wrap things up."
Ruby looked at both of them, clearly not buying what Yang was trying to sell. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Ruby," Weiss said. "Yang and I have an understanding: we can fight and argue as loudly as the situation requires, but at the end of the day, we're partners, with all that implies."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Yang said.
Ruby frowned. "If you say so."
In spite of her words, Ruby had relaxed.
"Where's Blake?" Yang asked.
"She needed some space, but she'll be coming back soon."
Weiss scoffed. "Are you sure?"
The glare she received from her leader made Weiss regret opening her mouth.
"I am, and when Blake comes back, you're going to apologize to her for all the mean stuff you said."
Weiss took in a deep breath. She wanted to say no, but that wouldn't get her anywhere. Ruby cared a lot about her partner, that much was obvious from all the time they spent together. If nothing else, Blake felt the same way. The way Blake took care of Ruby was one of the few things Weiss respected about her.
"If Blake comes back, I will apologize for the mean things I said about her."
"You'd better. She's our teammate, got it? Nothing about that changes!"
Weiss crossed her arms. "I won't argue with you on that."
"Good."
Ruby did raise an interesting point. Blake still was her teammate, regardless of where her loyalties lay. Weiss had trusted Blake to defend her when fighting the Grimm, and they worked decently well together. In the event that Blake returned, she could perhaps continue to maintain a professional relationship with her, if only to ensure that her reputation and her performance didn't suffer.
Everything else was off the table. Quite frankly, it was baffling that Ruby was acting as if Blake hadn't told them she used to be a terrorist, friendship or not.
"Can I ask you something, Ruby?"
"What?"
"Did you know Blake was part of the White Fang before she told us?"
Ruby's indignant glare evaporated. "No, I didn't."
Weiss faltered. It did explain why Ruby was so surprised, but her attempts at protecting Blake from herself still stood out.
"Is Blake hiding something else?"
Ruby stared at her boots. Her refusal to say anything was all Weiss needed to hear. There was a large part of her that wanted Ruby to reveal Blake's secret, but she suppressed that impulse.
"I suppose I'll have to find out from Blake herself," Weiss said.
Ruby looked up, staring at her with her large silver eyes. "Thanks, Weiss."
"Don't get this twisted, I'm not doing this for her sake."
It wouldn't be right if she made Ruby betray Blake's trust in her, not after all of the anguish she experienced in trying to hide her own secret.
"Can I ask you something, Weiss?"
"Go ahead."
"Did the White Fang do something to hurt you?"
Weiss sighed. Her anger towards the White Fang did come off as rather unhinged out of its proper context.
"They've been at war with my family for as long as I could remember."
Weiss went on to explain how the White Fang attacked her family company's shipments, kidnapped family friends and executed executives. Through the White Fang's actions, her father would be furious at home, resulting in Weiss experiencing a difficult childhood. Strangely enough, it made Yang look at her with what appeared to be guilt, of all things.
By the time she finished, Ruby and Yang looked at her, sympathetic to her plight.
"You shouldn't have had to go through all that," Ruby said.
Yang nodded. "Yeah, it sucks. I totally get why you'd hate the White Fang. That being said, I really think you should have told Blake about this."
Weiss frowned. "I'm not sure if it would have helped. However, I will tell her."
Until then, Weiss would wait, and reflect, and hope that Blake didn't prove her right.
Author's Note: Next chapter will feature the first big plot twist I've got planned, so don't forget to review and tell me what you think! Reviews motivate me to write more and make this story even better.