"Is it just me or do they look angry?" Weiss asked, not sure if anyone heard her over the explosive noise of the crowd.

"They aren't angry, they're just trying to intimidate each other. I think it looks like they're flirting though," Ruby joked, leaning in close to Weiss, talking right into her ear. Her voice was calm, carrying a hint of laughter in it that left Weiss feeling giddy. "Look at Blake,"

Weiss tore her eyes away from Yang, whose hands were on her hips like some kind of amazonian, and looked at Blake who was swinging her hands around wildly. At first, Weiss thought she was complaining at Yang and talking with her hands, but then Weiss realized that she actually was talking with her hands.

"She's been trying really hard to learn, so just bear with it, ok?"

"Who's been trying hard?" Ruby questioned, turning away from the ring and looking straight at her.

"Uh, Yang, I think? It's sort of hard to tell from here. Sorry, I probably shouldn't be prying, should I?" Weiss apologized, feeling like she should've kept her mouth shut.

"You can read sign language? That's so freaking cool!" Ruby gaped, eyes wide and sparkling. Weiss's brain froze, and words were suddenly in short supply.

"It's not that cool, but it's pretty useful for talking when you don't want people to hear," Weiss blushed, covering her cheeks with her hands, shocked at how warm they were getting. "Is- is it just me or is it really hot in here?"

"It's just you," Ruby smiled before she blinked like she suddenly realized what she'd said. "Sorry, I was just kidding! I didn't mean for it to sound like- never mind. No, it's not just you, we're packed in a gym with a ton of screaming people. It gets hot pretty quick,"

"I- um… Ok," Weiss choked out, dropping her hands and letting them wrap into the hem of her shirt.

"Sorry, I'm not really good with words. But as Yang's sister and Blakes probably maybe future sister in law I give you permission to read what they're saying. AS long as you tell me what they're saying," she said, giving a thumbs up.

"If you're sure it's ok," Weiss sighed, giving into the girl and her sweet eyes, " Wait, you're Yang's sister?" Weiss said, doing a double-take and looking at the girl in a whole new light.

"You couldn't tell? I never told you that?"

"No, you didn't tell me that!" Weiss cried, remembering when she slapped Ruby's sister across the face. The face that, now that she looked at it, did look like Ruby in some ways. The same smile, the curve of their jaw, the overwhelming positivity, they were all dead giveaways. "I thought you guys had different last names though?"

"Ah, you're an astute one! We have different moms but the same dad. Yang has our dads last name, Xiao-Long and I have my mom's last name, Rose," As Ruby explained, her light tone turned serious, and her smile became somber, but her eyes never lost their shimmer.

"I have my mom's last name too. It's sort of tradition in my family," Weiss explained, not wanting to say her last name. She wasn't sure if Ruby had heard it in class before, but the fewer times she repeated it in public the better.

The cheering finally started to subside when it erupted again when the ref held up Suzy's hand in victory. She turned and helped the Haven girl to her feet, giving her a hug before the two walked to the different sides of the

"That's cool, guess both our families are a little different, huh?" Ruby joked, and if Weiss wasn't blind, it looked like she was blushing… But it was pretty hot in the gym. "What're they saying now?"

"Oh, right," Weiss blinked, turning back to the three girls. Blake and Neo's hands flowed like water from one sign to the next, while Yang seemed to be struggling a wee bit.

"It's been a fun season, but I do miss Winter," Neo signed, her shoulders slumping as she did.

"You aren't the only one," Blake signed, turning to Yang and probably asking if she was keeping up.

"Blakes saying that it's gonna be nice to have the season over, I think she's talking about boxing, but it may also be about the weather," Weiss said, feeling a jolt of electricity run through her when Ruby chuckled. But then, she kept reading.

"Do you think she'll ever come back? I want to see her before I graduate" Neo signed, and Wiess froze. Suddenly, she realized Ruby was Yang's sister. Neo was Yang's opponent. If Yang had been so close to Winter, then Ruby… Ruby must know Winter.

"What're they saying? Anything fun?" Ruby asked, an innocent smile on her face.

"Not really, just a little trash talk," Weiss stuttered, gripping her shirt hard.

"Why am I not surprised?" Ruby chuckled before she squealed and jumped a foot in the air. Penny and Jaune started to laugh as Ruby looked around clutching her sides like they hurt, "Who tickled me?" She cried, getting everyone else to laugh with them. But it wasn't mean or hurtful, it was light and friendly in a way that Weiss had only heard from Winter really. So, Weiss laughed too, and she couldn't help but see Ruby's smile grow.

"That would be me, kid," Said the deep voice of the school shop teacher. He stood up from behind Ruby's chair, waving his fingers at her.

"You won't be laughing when I get you back later," Ruby warned, her hands guarding her sides.

"If you were a few inches taller and a few pounds heavier that might be a fun threat," Qrow teased, jumping over the seats and taking the spot to Ruby's right. "Did I miss anything?"

"Nope! Another minute or two and you would've been,"

"But I'm not in trouble?"

"Not this time," Ruby said sternly, turning back towards Yang, "Oooh, they're starting!"

Yang and Neos's conversation had ended and the two of them were climbing into the rings. Neo had on a pair of pink and brown gloves, and Weiss couldn't help but respect the girl's style. Yangs gloves on the other hand were red and worn like she'd been using them for years.

Weiss was glad she missed the rest of their conversation. She'd forgiven Winter, but there was still a feeling of loss inside of her. If she'd known about Qrow earlier, would she have met Neo? Would they have been friends?

"Weiss, how're you doing?" Qrow asked, tilting his head towards her. He asked in a quiet voice like he didn't want her to hear him, but he was looking at her like he was waiting for her answer.

"Fine. Excited," She coughed, her throat feeling like a desert.

"Have you ever seen a fight before?"

"On tv, but never in person,"

"Well if you get a little squeamish, don't be afraid to step out, ok?" He said, and she wasn't sure if he was trying to put a double meaning into his words or if he was actually worried for her.

"You're gonna have fun, I'm sure of it," Ruby said comfortingly, her eyes flicking down to the hem of Weiss's shirt. Weiss started to turn away but stopped herself, unlocking her grip and letting her shirt go free.

"Yeah, I'm sure I will," Weiss agreed, taking deep breaths trying to relax.

"Let's go, Yang!" Pyrrha cried out, sounding like a maniac, quickly followed by Nora who tried her best to one-up the jock. Jaune, Penny, Ren, and even Yatsutashi joined in, so it wasn't much of a shock when Ruby and Qrow both started yelling too.

Weiss looked at all of them and then down at Yang, who was doing some last-minute stretches in her corner as she talked to Port, who was standing on the ropes on the outside. Weiss sat quietly, feeling the air vibrate with excitement.

But it didn't feel right for her to be there. She hadn't known Yang for years like everyone else here probably did, she'd known her for a few days. Not only did she not know her, she hated her sister, and it was Weiss's fault. Winter would say it wasn't, and she was probably right, but it felt like it was.

She was about to stand up, make some dumb excuse and call Winter, but before she could Ruby was reaching across her lap and grabbing her hands. Weiss felt Ruby's warm and callused fingers over her hands and didn't fight as the girl picked them up and started clapping them together.

"Come on, just like this! Let's go Yang!" Ruby called out, clapping with Weiss's hands.

"Ruby, what're you doing?"

"If you aren't going to cheer, then I have to help. You're Yang's friend, and you gotta show it!" Ruby said, her voice clear of doubt or hesitation.

"I don't think-"

"Weiss?"

"Yeah?"

"She wants you here. I want you here. We all do," Ruby said in her ear so that she was sure nobody else had heard it. "I can see it in your eyes. Don't worry, we like you, promise,"

Weiss wasn't sure how Ruby knew what she was feeling, if she'd talked to someone or if Weiss was just that easy to read. Either way, the words worked, and Weiss's hands started to clap on their own.

"That's better," Ruby said, but she didn't move her hands away from Weiss's. She thought about saying something, but Ruby's warmth felt nice. "Er- good job!" Ruby said awkwardly, dropping Weiss's hands like they'd caught fire.

"Thanks?" Weiss giggled as her stomach flipped. Ruby's grin looked strained, but Weiss couldn't tell if she was keeping it down or forcing it up, or if she was just crazy.

"Your welcome," Ruby nodded, her face beat red as she turned back towards her sister and yelled, "You got this!"

Weiss laughed, but it became forced when in the corner of her eye she saw Qrow, staring at her. She didn't want to turn and check, but she could feel his eyes on her and wasn't sure why.

Before she could worry too much, Yang and Neo walked towards the center to the mat. Neo walked on her tiptoes, weaving and bobbing as she walked. Yang was stretching her back and arms, making herself look huge compared to the unfazed Neo.

The ref said something and the two of them held up their gloves, tapping them lightly. Then the bell rang and the crowd exploded. From the sound of it you'd think that someone had thrown a massive punch, but the opposite was true.

They both put up their gloves defensively, taking slow steps as they circled around each other. They both had smirks on their face like they were sharing a joke, neither looking away. Yang started to move, throwing a quick jab to the girls head. Almost like she'd predicted it, Neo had already ducked out of the way, nearly smalling into the brick that was Yang's right glove.

Weiss took in a sharp breath as Yang threw punch after punch at the girl's face, only for each one to miss by a hair. Neo danced around Yang's attacks, keeping her hands close to her face.

"She's looking for an opening," Ruby said, pulling Weiss away from the fight.

"What kind of an opening?" Weiss asked absentmindedly as she turned towards Ruby. She was staring straight ahead with both of her feet bouncing like rabbits. Her hands were in her lap, fiddling with something.

Weiss didn't like snooping, but she couldn't help but try and get a better look at what she was playing with. She was expecting something like a chain or one of those fidget somethings, but she was twisting a bolt and nut. She was about sixty-percent sure that's what the diagram in the shop class had labeled them as.

"A place Yang isn't paying attention so she can punch her,"

"Oh, duh. She won't find one though, right? Isn't Yang supposed to be really good?"

"It'll happen, it always does with Neo. They're both really good, and really stubborn," Ruby said, her voice heavy with worry. Ruby blinked for the first time since Weiss had been looking at her, an eyebrow raised as she looked to her leg.

Qrow had put has hand on her knee, it didn't seem to do much, but then Ruby's hands slowed. He didn't say anything, didn't even look at Ruby, but Weiss could see the care in his eyes even as he cheered for Yang.

"Come on Yang! Show that shrimp how it's done!" Nora cried out, leaving Weiss's ears ringing.

"Nora, she's nice, why are you trash talking her?" Ren said from his chair with his hand firmly in Nora's grasp as she stood. Yatsuhashi sat to his right nodding firmly at her.

"Because she's from Haven, and right now we're competing! Roman does the same thing he doesn't hide it," Pyrrha defended, standing next to Nora literally and metaphorically.

"That doesn't mean she can insult her," Jaune said quietly. The poor boy was sitting with Penny separating him from his girlfriend, who was now pouting and looking at him with sad eyes.

"I mean… Maybe it's not the best," Pyrrha agreed.

"Aw, is someone learning a lesson?" Penny teased, patting her on the back from her chair reassuringly.

"Get 'em Yang!" Nora yelled above everyone else.

"Do you think she heard them?" Ruby asked honestly, looking down their row.

"She didn't insult Neo that time, so it's a step forward," Weiss said, causing Ruby to giggle, before a hiss from the crowd hushed all of them and drew them back to the match.

Yang, who up until now had been swinging away widely, was suddenly on the defensive. As she dodged Neo would throw in punches that Yang managed to dodge or deflect with her gloves, but they weren't slowing down.

Yang was being forced backwards, even if it was only an inch at a time, and Weiss reminded herself to breathe as she watched Yang move. Sure she'd slapped the girl, but that didn't mean she wanted others to hit her.

When Yang's back hit the rope, Neo punched towards the girl's stomach, but Yang pivoted at the last moment. For the first time in the fight Neo's bored look shattered. Her eyes were wide as she watched Yang's opposite fist fly in and slam into her side.

The crowd cheered, and Weiss was one of the loudest, but her voice choked to a halt when Neo didn't go down, instead throwing a hard upper cut straight into the side of Yang's face. Both girls stumbled, neither of their eyes daring to look away as they let their injuries sink in.

After a moment of reeling, both girls were standing mostly straight. Yang's eyes looked almost blood red as she grinned at Neo like a madwoman. Neo took it in strides, taking the challenge head, her smile broadening as she rolled her shoulders.

"Looks like they finally started," Ruby gulped, suddenly sounding weak.

"What are you talking about?"

"It looks like they're getting serious," Ruby shuttered, her voice nearly getting drowned out by the screams of the audience.