Hi there! This is the first of many Team RWBY based one shots. They'll range in tone and theme, but I'll be keeping as close to canon as possible. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Yang couldn't process the words she'd just read. The letter had arrived in the post and she'd immediately torn the envelope open. Time had paused as she sat on the sofa, her father beside her as Yang spoke aloud the words that had changed in her life.
"We can't wait to welcome you to Beacon Academy in a few months. Sincerely, Professor Ozpin."
"Yang Xiao Long was going to Beacon. It was a dream that years ago, she hadn't even considered a possibility. Now, her relentless training at Signal had come to fruition. Taiyang wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into a soft hug.
"I'm so proud of you, Yang." He uttered, his pride evident through his warm tone. Yang dropped the letter and reciprocated the embrace, the hug bringing her back to reality. "Thanks Dad." She replied. After a short while, she leapt up from the sofa with an exuberant fist pump. "I'm gonna be a huntress! We need a cake to celebrate!" She exclaimed to her Dad. "We will, once you slow down for a second. We need to sort out your travel arrangements and organise your papers and documents and…" Taiyang's frenetic listing was cut short by his daughter placing an arm on his shoulder. "Dad, we've got months to do that. Let's celebrate!" Yang replied, a wide smile beaming from her face.
"Celebrate what?" A smaller voice interrupted and Yang turned to see her sister. Ruby had slept in on this Saturday and had finally emerged from upstairs, still in pajamas and her hair uncombed as she looked to her older sister with curiosity.
"Ruby, I got accepted into Beacon!" Yang exclaimed. At that, Ruby's semblance kicked in. Yang was nearly tackled to the floor, stumbling backwards but regaining her footing as Ruby jubilantly launched herself into her arms. "You did it! Of course you would! Congrats Yang, when do you go?" Ruby was high-pitched, an uncontained excitement bursting from her mouth. She was shocked out of it though when she heard a sniffle reach her ear. Moving her head back to look at Yang, her shock deepened at her sister's sad smile and tears dripping from her lilac eyes. "Yang, what's wrong? Are you OK?" Ruby's voice was lighter and full of concern. A blink though, and Yang's smile relaxed and brightness returned to her eyes. "They're happy tears, sis. It's fine." Yang assured her with a hand on the shoulder. Their father hugged them both. "Well, we haven't got cake yet, but how about some morning pancakes for my girls?"
"With that, their father set about making breakfast. Throughout, Ruby grew increasingly perplexed by Yang. Every time they looked at each other whilst helping with the food, Yang's lilac eyes held a lingering sadness to them, quickly replaced with a content smile. Ruby didn't want to press but found herself growing worried by her sister's quiet demeanor. Today was a great day for her, Yang wasn't one to celebrate quietly.
"The day passed on further, the three making chit chat and enjoying a blissful sunny day. They went on a long walk with Zwei, taking a trip through the nearby park to the coastline and the nearby port. Schooners lined the dock, a slightly primitive wooden walkway lined with low fencing overlooking the ocean between Patch and Vale. Yang paused to gaze out at the horizon. Her thoughts were interrupted.
"Yang, what's wrong? You've been quiet all day." Ruby inquired nervously, her hands buried in each other. "It's nothing, Ruby. Just been a busy day and I'm a little tired." Yang waved off her concern, her gaze still affixed to the passive waves and her hands gripping the railing of the fence. "Yang, I know something's bothering you! You can tell me anything!" Ruby reiterated desperately, her arms outstretched. Yang turned to her now, all her height palpable. "No, Ruby, I can't!" She shouted. Ruby shrunk back, her mouth agape and her hands clutching her chest. Yang immediately softened, realising her mistake. She reached out, only to gasp when her sister stepped away. "Ruby, I'm sorry. I know you're looking out for me, I shouldn't yell at you. Look, I'm just really tired, OK?" Yang muttered sheepishly, her arm ruffling through her golden hair and her eyes averted from her sister. She was brought out of her moment of shame by her sister, who grasped her other hand and looked at her earnestly. "It's alright. Let's head home for now. We can talk later." Ruby said, a hint of sternness in her voice. To Yang, it felt ominous.
The atmosphere didn't really improve once the family headed home. Yang quickly made an excuse that she felt under the weather and bolted to her room. For her part, Ruby let her do that. She was keenly aware of Yang's stubbornness and would give her time to herself before approaching her. Still though, she wasn't going to let Yang deal with problems on her own.
Ruby spent the early evening lazily lying in bed, an issue of a new comic in her hands, silver eyes intently scanning the panels. Her homework from Signal could be done tomorrow, so it lay in a pile of papers on her desk. With the evening starting to draw in, Ruby got up and went to draw the curtains when she spotted someone outside, making her freeze in her tracks.
"Yang?" She couldn't help uttering her sister's name in shock as she saw her sneaking out, heading somewhere. Yang clearly didn't want to be seen, being cautious in her movements to avoid any attention but also had her weapons and an additional large yellow coat over her regular ensemble. Ruby started to panic, observing her usually clear-headed sister heading foolishly into the woods. Without thought, she grabbed her boots and weapon and snuck out of her window. Yang had a head start that even with her newly-discovered semblance, Ruby would have trouble keeping pace if she didn't leave now.
Leaving her window open a crack, Ruby crept out carefully and pursued her sister. Yang's golden mane and occasional footprints gave enough for Ruby to track her, although she couldn't fathom what Yang was doing. The silver-eyed girl tried to stay collected, walking rapidly with her rifle in her arms as she kept those silver irises alert, scanning for both any potential threats in the woods and the occasional glimpses of her older sister.
After a while though, it suddenly clicked for Ruby where her sister was headed.
"Please be OK, Yang." She murmured to herself as she broke into a hasty run, now fully aware of her destination and her cape fluttering behind in as a breeze began to pick up, the sky above starting to darken as evening drew in, clouds hanging above and the broken moon barely visible. The orange hue on the horizon was the light that kept Ruby continuing through the woods, trees towering over her with short grasses beneath her and sparse deciduous leaves littering the ground.
"She finally made it to the cliffside clearing, and hid behind the nearest tree. Being here so many times throughout her youth hadn't diminished the beauty and the pain of this location. Yang stood stock still before the stone slab marking Summer Rose, her hands clasped in front of her. Ruby couldn't see her sister's face but listened as Yang began to speak.
"Hi, mom." Yang began shakily. "I… what am I doing? It's just a stone slab." She uttered miserably. She sighed and began again. "Hi, mom. Sometimes Ruby comes here to talk, she seems to get something out of it so I may as well. I… I got into Beacon. I did it." She said in mock pride. Yang rubbed her right arm, her nerves growing and her voice increasingly unstable. "Mom, I hope you're proud wherever you are, but I'm… I'm sorry. I'm going to be leaving Ruby on her own. She'll have Dad, I suppose, but… but I won't be able to protect her anymore. She means everything to me, Mom." Yang paused, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. She felt she had to continue, no matter how watery or desperate she sounded.
"I don't know why, but I need to protect her. I know one day she'll grow up and won't need me, but ever since… ever since we lost you, she's been so special to me. Not knowing she's OK or what she's up to or even if she's just doing nothing… it scares me, Mom. I… how do I protect her? I… I can't just leave her and… let you down." Yang got her confession out before a sob burst from her throat. She fell to her knees, unmoved by the cold touch of her knees against the grass beneath her. Her arms enveloped her, and her sobs grew, her sadness emerging through her current loneliness.
Suddenly, Yang felt a pair of arms encircle her tenderly. She turned to see the one person she didn't want to see. Ruby looked at her, tears trickling from her own silver eyes. "Ruby, I…" Yang choked out. Ruby brought her sister closer, shushing her and rubbing her back slowly, the way Yang had done for her so many times. Ruby ignored the chilly wind picking up, focusing on comforting her sister.
Yang felt every instinct to shield her hurt from her sister fade as she leant into her. It felt nearly gone as Ruby spoke tenderly. "Yang, you've never let me or anyone down. Mom would be so proud, I know I am, I know Dad is. You don't always need to be my big sister, you also need to be Yang. Knowing you'll get to do that makes me so happy."
Yang didn't say anything, just squeezed Ruby tighter and let herself drift into her sister's embrace, yet she listened to every word. One thing hung in her mind as she brought her eyes up to Ruby, their height difference seemingly inverted in their position. "Sis, I… I just need to know you'll be OK." Yang pleaded, wanting an answer.
"Ruby looked back at her, taking a hand and rubbing it carefully through the top of Yang's hair. "Yang, you know they might be days where I'm not OK. But I'll have Dad. I'll have my Signal friends. I'll even have Zwei for snuggles!" Ruby exclaimed. It brought a small chuckle out of Yang. "Look, I'll be fine. Because you've taught me how to look out for myself. However, that doesn't mean I'll ever stop needing you, Yang. OK?" Ruby assured her confidently.
"I… OK. Thanks, sis. Love you." Yang murmured. Ruby nodded, continuing to stroke her sister's hair.
They stayed for a time silently, Ruby glancing at the stone tile marking her mother. She never wanted to look at it for long but couldn't stop herself. After a while, Yang noticed shivers emanating from the arms surrounding her. Ruby was struggling to hide the coldness that the environment had shrouded her in. Yang took her long coat and wrapped Ruby in it as the pair headed home, happy that they could each look after themselves and look after each other.