Note: If this uploads, it'll be a freaking miracle. The internet where I am currently is horrible.
Chapter Eleven:
Red
[Weiss]
Date: Monday, October 19th
Clarity - Zedd
'Cause you are the piece of me
I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly
Still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy why are you my remedy
If our love's insanity why are you my clarity
Yang Xiao Long, partner of Blake Belladonna.
Before her stood the women responsible for the stolen cargo three months ago, the people responsible for the millions upon millions of money lost from her family's company. These two were the reason her Father returned home furious so many times, and if they weren't the cause directly, they were definitely associated with it.
She briefly glanced at Ruby standing in front of her. Did she know about this? Hurt hit Weiss like a freight train, but she swallowed it and she closed her eyes. She could trust Ruby, she'd never been given a reason not to.
"It's nice to finally meet you." The woman turned her attention back to the blonde, Yang's lilac gaze seemed to turn red with hatred, and all Weiss could do was return the glare. "Didn't think I ever would."
"The feeling's mutual." Weiss responded bluntly, "I've heard some things about you. . ." Her mind was racing with a million thoughts, but she refused to acknowledge them right now. Not until she learned exactly what was going on here. . .
The brawler flashed a threatening, sarcastic smile before her gaze landed on Ruby. The woman's brows furrowed in suspicion as she eyed them up and down, her attention turned to the bed and Weiss swore the room got ten degrees hotter when fiery lilac eyes locked with her blue pair. "So," the tall woman smiled sweetly, "care to tell me what you were doin' to my sister in here? Or should I break your neck now?"
Weiss' jaw dropped agape. It took her a few seconds to register Yang's words, and when she did, a surge of anger shot through her. "Excuse me?!" She snapped, taking a step towards the woman, only to have Ruby gently push her back by the shoulders. "Are you threatening me?! I'll have you know, Ruby's the-"
Yang held her hand up, "Ahp, ahp, ahp, I don't wanna hear it. Whatever you're aboutta say, don't."
"Bitch!" Weiss growled out at Yang, ignoring the soft 'shhh' in her ear.
The other woman smirked. "Slut." She said simply. When Weiss was about to bark another insult, she felt Ruby stiffen and the brunette's eyes went wide. She knew that look. . . It was the same look in her eyes she'd had when Weiss had touched her, it was the exact same reaction.
Weiss frowned, replaying the moment in her head as Ruby turned to approach her sister. What had happened to her. . .?
"Ruby?" She faintly heard Yang say, she lifted her head to see her girlfriend standing in front of the blonde, she could practically feel the rage, the hurt, radiating off of her. Genuine concern flashed through Yang's eyes, "Ruby, what's wrong-"
"Yang. Step outside. We need to talk."
Her voice was dripping venom, but the strange thing was that Weiss couldn't tell if she was being defensive of her, or herself. Her actions told her that the brunette had taken the insult to heart, as though it had been directed at her instead of Weiss.
Something had happened to her. . .
Yang frowned at her sister and looked up to Weiss, distrust in her eyes. "What about her-?" Weiss met her gaze, her expression mirroring the blonde's. Her gut told her that whatever happened to her girlfriend was Yang's doing, but the logical side of her was convinced the woman was not the one responsible.
Ruby cut her off immediately, "I didn't say Weiss, did I? I said Yang. Now move!" Rage briefly flickered through the older woman's face, but she instantly simmered down and moved to step outside, glancing back at Weiss before Ruby closed the door.
Once the door was shut, Weiss sat down on the bed to wait for their return, despite every bone in her body telling her to eavesdrop on the sisters' conversation, to make sure her girlfriend would be alright. She didn't feel like Ruby would be safe in the wanted woman's presence, Yang was associated with the terrorist group known for ending the lives of people who stood in their way.
Even if she wasn't directly the reason for so many deaths, she still had the blood of a murderer on her hands. Who was to say she wouldn't harm her own kin?
Perhaps that was why Ruby tensed up when Weiss touched her, she thought she was gonna hurt her. No, that wouldn't make sense, why would she think she would hurt her only during sex? Any other time she touched her, Ruby melted right into her without hesitation.
She only acted like that if she'd touched her during intimacy. . . Weiss' eyes widened and her heart fell. No, it couldn't be. Ruby had said she was her very first girlfriend, she said she loved her, she wouldn't be lying to her, would she? Weiss shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thought.
Weiss' fingers slid down her side, tracing over her body just as Ruby had done before. Her heart tightened and tears stung at the corners of her eyes; Ruby knew exactly what she was doing, didn't she? Her kisses, her touch, her soft, loving voice, even the way she'd worked her fingers and her tongue. It had experience written all over it.
'She doesn't. . . She doesn't love me, does she?' Weiss' breathing had become hard and labored as grief and regret twisted at her heart. She'd been played, Ruby didn't love her. She was manipulating her to have access to her family name! And she'd done it just as her father had done her mother. . . She should've noticed.
Ruby had given her love, a way out of her home and somebody to come to when she was upset. She gave Weiss somebody to confide in, but now that she was actually thinking about it. . . Ruby never confided in her, she still knew as much about her as she did when they'd gotten together.
Weiss had given her heart and body to someone who had never cared for her at all, even after telling herself that she wouldn't make the same mistake her mother did.
It'd been so easy for her to fall for her. . . Ruby had known how to make her feel loved. Then again, maybe Weiss was just desperate for attention, so she'd opened up her heart without a second thought. But it still hurt, she felt as though ten thousand burning knives were slowly carving away at her heart. Their time together meant nothing to Ruby.
Their passionate kisses, their seemingly endless flirting, their countless dates that ended with one of them being awkward, their late night conversations. . .
Even the 'I love you' was meaningless. . .
"What've I done?" Weiss whispered timidly, her voice cracking with hopelessness. She leaned herself back against the headboard, tears streaming down her cheeks as her chest throbbed. How had she been so foolish? She'd placed complete trust in her and handed over something precious; her heart and her body. Now she couldn't get it back.
"Weiss?"
Weiss glanced over to Ruby standing at the door and she immediately averted her eyes. Her expression had been one full of worry, acting as though she actually cared about her. If she looked at her, she'd fall in love all over again, she'd slip right back into her little game. "L-leave me alone." She managed to snarl out, her body beginning to tremble.
"No, you're upset." Ruby's voice was soft, causing yet another burning pain to tear at Weiss' heart. "Weiss, what's wrong. . .? Talk to me, please."
There she goes again, acting like Weiss meant something to her. "You know what's wrong." Weiss replied, trying to keep her voice even and avoid eye contact with Ruby. "I should've reported you to the authorities when I had the chance."
Ruby's response was one full of hurt. "What. . .? W-what're you talking about?"
Something snapped inside of the young woman and her blue eyes met Ruby's, burning with rage and betrayal. "You used me!" She still loved her, why did she still love her? "You made me fall in love with you only so you can receive access to my family's wealth! Just like my father!"
"I don't-"
Weiss cut her off, "Don't act oblivious, you dunce!" Her mind was racing with a million thoughts, some of them screaming at her to calm down and listen to Ruby, and the other half telling her that she had every right to be upset with her. "You lied to me! You know everything about me and I don't know anything about you, and not to mention the fact you knew exactly what you were doing!"
"Weiss, let me-" Ruby's voice was barely louder than a whisper.
She wasn't going to hear it. She didn't want to. "I told you everything! You kept secrets from me! I gave-" Her voice dropped back to a whimper and she looked away again, her body began to tremble. Weiss couldn't force herself to continue yelling, she'd seen the heartbroken look in the brunette's eyes and it'd been too much for her. No, she couldn't allow herself to be guilt-tripped. "I gave you everything."
How could she have been so foolish. . .?
"Weiss, I never meant to hurt you. . . I love you. . ."
Weiss' heart tightened at the sound of the last three words. Oh Gods, how she wished it was true. . . But, it wasn't. Ruby was just trying to reel her back in under her control, just like her father. "No. You don't."
"What makes you say that?" Ruby asked quietly, avoiding eye contact with the older woman. Her voice sounded devoid of hope, and it was as if all the light in the room had gone out. "What have I done to make you say that. . .?"
"That was all buttering me up!" Weiss snapped, a small voice in the back of her head told her to back off. "That was never because you loved me!"
Ruby cut her off, her voice stern. "Then tell me what I did wrong." Silver eyes met Weiss' blue pair and her mouth clamped shut. "I turned my life around for you, and when I was able to, I took you out on dates, and when you didn't want to do anything, I let you stay at my apartment and relax. I did almost anything you asked of me. I never asked you to do anything you didn't want to do and I always looked for your consent. Besides from not opening up, where did I go wrong?"
Weiss stared at her for a long moment, searching her mind for a good response. She frowned and hardened herself, fixing her eyes on Ruby and burying her emotions. "Exactly what you just did." She said plainly, "Manipulation, trying to make me feel guilty and put me in the wrong."
Ruby lifted her head, her expression now lacking emotion. "I've never lied to you before. What makes you think I would lie to you now?"
'You've kept secrets.' Weiss wanted to say, leaning back to put some distance between her and Ruby.
"Weiss, if you have questions, I don't mind answering. . ." Ruby said softly, "I owe you that much."
Weiss glared at her, letting out an annoyed breath and relaxing herself. "You said I was your first girlfriend, if that were true, then how did you know what you were doing?"
Ruby scoffed and hung her head, a tiny smile came to her lips. "Somehow, I knew that'd be the first question you'd ask." She heaved a sigh and began speaking, "When I was eighteen, I followed my sister to the bar to see what she'd been up to, because I thought she might be up to some sketchy stuff. When I got there, I noticed a young woman sitting outside the building and I asked her what was wrong.
"She told me that her husband had acted out again, and while I listened to her she started getting. . . Seductive and she asked me if I had a boyfriend. I said no, and she asked me how I felt about women, I told her I'd never been with one. . . I don't really remember nothing much else besides her offering to 'show me the ropes', and she said she'd pay me. I needed money because Yang wasn't making enough to support the both of us, so I'd agreed."
Weiss' eyes widened in disbelief, she blinked multiple times as an attempt to process what she'd heard. "I'm sorry, did I hear you right? She paid you to sleep with her?" The look in Ruby's eyes told her that what she was hearing was the truth, every word of it. . .
Ruby shrugged, "In a way. She needed relief because her man wouldn't give it to her and she was disgusted by him, so I learned she went and picked women up off the streets to receive the attention she claimed she needed. I didn't allow her to touch me, and I made it very clear that if she ever tried to put her hands on me in a way I didn't want her to, I'd make sure her husband learned of what she's been up to."
So, Ruby had spent two years of her life as an indirect prostitute to survive. . . Weiss' mind traveled back to a few hours prior, how Ruby had tensed up when Weiss had touched her; that explained everything. She'd been so sure that Ruby had been cheating on her. . . Guilt rushed through her,
She'd misjudged her, again, without hearing her side of the story. She'd jumped to conclusions, just like an immature child would do. The woman pulled her knees close to her chest, giving a slight nod to Ruby for her to continue.
Ruby's fingers began tapping against her knee, her attention now locked on the sheets as though they were the most interesting thing in the room. "She paid me extra for my performance and-"
"Hold up!" Weiss held her hand up to cut the brunette off. "Extra for your performance? That means you-"
A nervous, embarrassed smile came to the woman's face. "W-well, I, uh. . . I did watch a lot of, um. . . So I knew about the thing before I did the thing and, uh. Anyway!" Ruby rubbed her neck, continuing her story. "She introduced me to her friends, and considering all of them would be paying me, I didn't think twice about the offer. Although, I never agreed to any threesomes, and they seemed to be alright with that so long as they got what they needed out of me."
Her voice dropped, "This continued for two years, and eventually I became known for it. 'Red' they called me. . . That's what the Police would know me as. I never gave them my true name in fear of my identity being revealed. When I met you." Ruby looked at her again, "I was so afraid of you possibly rejecting me. I mean, who would want a damn-near prostitute as a girlfriend, or even as a soulmate. . .?"
Weiss released a heavy sigh and pulled herself back together, her gaze hardening as she asked her next question. "Are you still in contact with these women?"
"No," Ruby replied honestly, "I cut contact when I got with you." Her eyes widened, "I mean- when I started dating you! So, uh, I haven't talk to 'em in a month."
"Uh huh." Weiss' expression stayed the same, "What about this job your sister has?" She asked darkly, scrutinizing Ruby as an attempt to detect lies from truth. If Ruby had something to hide, her face would show it.
"My sister took the job a few months before she turned twenty so that she could care for herself and me, around the same time I was with those women." Ruby explained lightly, "The organization wanted to kill me for my silver eyes, the boss absolutely despised me, but Yang kept me safe. They wouldn't allow me into the system and only made an exception because of my sister."
"Wait, just a minute," Weiss held up a hand to stop Ruby, confusion written all over her face, "what do you mean? Kill you? Where were your parents?" Honestly, were they ever watching these two? Maybe if they had been a little more strict, none of this would've happened. And making money on their own? It sounded like they'd grown up homeless! Realization dawned when a meek, grief-stricken smile crossed Ruby's lips, her brows turning inwards as though she were fighting back tears. "Y-you're orphans."
"Ever since I could remember, yeah." Ruby sighed, her voice heavy. "Unless you count our time with Uncle Qrow, but he's not my father. Or, at least I don't think he was. And, the boss kept saying something about how those with silver eyes are cursed, if it weren't for Yang, I would've been killed and nobody would ever know."
She could've been killed. . .
"Ruby. . ." Weiss whispered. Every word she'd said was the truth, she could tell. What kind of girlfriend was she. . . ? Weiss shook her head, refusing to allow her heart to get the best of her. "What happened to them?"
The brunette shrugged her shoulders again, "I. . . Don't know. All I remember is, well, waking up in a hospital with Yang and Uncle Qrow." She didn't remember. . .? That meant that she was involved in whatever happened to them. "They told me my mother was dead, and I've never met my father."
Weiss sighed and bowed her head, processing her girlfriend's explanation. Her history with those women explained why she'd been hesitant with her at first, why she'd tensed up during sex and upon hearing the word 'slut' from her sister's mouth. Her childhood explained her anxiety and her family's death definitely showed why Ruby was awake pacing the apartment nearly every night. Then her time at that place finalized it all, giving a reason as to why she'd kept secrets.
"Weiss." The way Ruby said her name was affectionate, yet almost desperate. "I really do love you. . . I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just," she paused for a moment and her chest rose and fell with anxious breaths, "I didn't know how'ta explain it, and I was afraid. . ." Hesitation creeped into her voice, "I was afraid you'd wind hating me, and I didn't wanna lose you."
The heiress watched her for a long moment, guilt tearing at her heart. "Ruby. . . I was afraid you were cheating on me. . ."
"I wouldn't do that!" Ruby cut her off immediately, "I'm not like that!"
"I'm glad to hear it." Weiss smiled, "But, Ruby, that was my fault. . ." Her smile fell, replaced by a sorrowful look. "I didn't trust you enough, and I practically forced you to open up to me when you weren't ready."
"I was planning on telling you anyway." Ruby tried to reassure her, "But, let me ask you something. . . Have I lost you?" Her voice had become small, almost as if she'd break at the slightest amount of pressure. She seemed willing to let her go, she'd obviously be upset, but she wouldn't hold her back. "Weiss?" Ruby whispered quietly.
Weiss averted her eyes as she was sent through a turmoil of emotions. Once again, her mind was in a conflict, one half saying she should get up and leave and the other side telling her to trust Ruby; she wasn't sure if she was comfortable with the latter option, though. She didn't know what to say, she loved Ruby, but would this be worth it?
She felt the bed shift as a weight left it and realization clicked. Ruby was leaving. . . Panic shot through her. She hadn't answered her question! "N-no! Wait!" Weiss yelped, reaching to grab the brunette's wrist. The tall woman looked back at her, making no movements while Weiss delicately pulled her back to the bed; she could've very easily broken away if she wanted to.
"I'm sorry," she said softly when their eyes met, Ruby's deep silver pools almost lacked emotion of any kind, "It will take some getting used to," Weiss confessed, "and I'm not completely comfortable with all of this new information, so it'll take me awhile to process it. . ."
"So I lost you?" Ruby asked with a monotone voice.
"Ruby. . . Meine dumme Rose. That is honestly such a stupid question." Weiss said firmly, "You cannot get rid of me that easily. I'll be here for you through life and death. . ." her voice faded off into a whisper, "That is, if you'll have me."
"Weiss. . ." The brunette whispered, her voice cracking as she leaned to gently rest her forehead against hers, it was as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you. . ."
Before she could respond, an obnoxious, familiar voice cut her off and she instead groaned. "Ruby! We're back!" Yang called through the apartment, followed by the sound of shuffling. "I hope you didn't want any eggs, 'cause they were all out!"
Well, that moment was over.
"When did they leave?" Weiss asked as Ruby sat up, recomposing herself.
The red clad woman smiled nervously, "I sent them to town to pick up supplies," she explained, sliding off the bed, "I was hoping we could get a shower in before they came back." She cast a glance over her shoulder, approaching the door. "We're making dressing, you wanna join us?"
'Dressing?' A look of pure confusion formed on her face. "Making what now?" Weiss got up to follow her girlfriend. "Why does that sound like it will have poison in it?"
Ruby released a sharp bark of laughter and Weiss paused at the bedroom door. "Yang! You won't believe it, Weiss doesn't know what dressing is!"
"You mean she's actually here?" A quiet, monotone voice asked. "Ruby! We told you not to trust her!" This one was a bit quieter, but sharper. Weiss could only assume that the woman was Blake Belladonna, she and Yang were never far apart from what she understood.
Ruby responded with a growl, "And I told you to trust me. She's my girlfriend, so you'll treat her with respect." Why did that sound like they would attack her if she turned her back for even a second?
Weiss drew in a slow breath. Just outside of this room were two criminals, people responsible for so much unnecessary grief. . .
Yang came around the corner with a bowl, her lilac eyes darted to Weiss as she crept down the hallway, her heart now roaring in her ears. The blonde offered a sweet smile as she handed the bowl off to Ruby, who entered the kitchen.
A woman with long, black hair glanced up at Weiss, her golden eyes lacking any sort of emotion. Weiss' eyes flickered upwards and felt a chill race up her spine and she grit her teeth, every muscle in her body tensed. She was a faunus... Weiss let out a strained breath, not blind to the fact that the woman was sending her the same look she must've been giving her.
If Ruby was friendly with her, then Weiss could be as well.
"Speaking of Weiss," Yang said, looking directly at the heiress, "I'd like to have a lil' talk with 'er." Weiss' blood ran cold. "Outside."
Oh she was so dead. . .
Five minutes later, Weiss found herself standing on the balcony with the brawler. The door was shut and the curtains were closed, not to mention the fact there was nobody else around. This woman could kill her in two seconds flat and make it seem like an accident, and the other woman was keeping Ruby inside, away from them.
Why had Weiss agreed to come outside with her alone? If this were anybody else, perhaps she wouldn't be near as nervous, but Yang was a wanted woman. She wasn't safe.
"You're looking at me like I'm going to kill you." Yang said flatly, leaned against the railing and glancing around to make sure nobody saw her. "Relax, Ice Queen, I just wanna talk."
"What about?" Weiss responded cautiously, watching the blonde closely.
A light gust of wind blew through the balcony and the rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, the skies were already starting to match the dark look in the older woman's lilac eyes. "You had sex with my baby sister, didn't you?"
Her blood ran cold. Yep, she was definitely dead. "Well, um, isn't that a-"
"Answer the question, Schnee." Yang growled, moving to stand over intimidatingly. Weiss stared up at her, examining the blonde's expression as relaxation slowly swept over her. There was no malice in the woman's eyes, she had no intentions of physically harming her.
If she did, she would be wearing the same look her father does.
Yang wasn't going to hurt her… She didn't have to be afraid. A small smirk came to her lips.
"That's a personal question, Ms. Xiao Long; an invasion of privacy, to be precise."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yang's fist hit the wall behind her, but Weiss didn't flinch. "Don't play dumb with me!" She shouted, her eyes nearly blazing red. "I know very well what you two were doing! Or are ya gonna tell me that my eyes and sense of smell deceived me?!"
Ah, she had a card up now. Weiss just smiled. "Why are you asking me when you already know? You answered your own question."
"I'll take that as a yes." Yang's frown deepened, "What did you do to her?"
"Ah, ah," Weiss said with a smirk, vividly recalling just how skilled the younger woman had been, "you should be asking what she did to me."
Yang's eyes darkened, "I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that." She heaved a sigh and rubbed her temple, the stress on her face slowly ebbing away. She pushed herself up and away from Weiss. "Do you love my sister?" Yang asked flatly and Weiss' blood rushed cold.
Icy blue eyes glanced towards Ruby in the kitchen and she released a heavy sigh. A tiny smile came to her lips upon seeing the happy brunette giggling, her silver eyes wide with excitement and joy as she danced around to the beat in her head, but she was careful not to drop or knock anything over. Weiss' eyes slowly moved downwards to the brunette's hips, watching mesmerized as they swayed to a steady beat.
Weiss' heartbeat picked up, heat creeping to her face when Ruby looked over to her. The silver-eyed girl winked knowingly at her before sashaying out of Weiss' view. Snapping out of her trance, realization hit her and she could feel the irritation radiating off of the blonde next to her.
"Yeah," she whispered affectionately, turning her attention back to Yang, "I love her."
'And I'm not going to let her go.'
Notes: If you enjoyed this chapter, let me know! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
chapters posted: 11
chapters ahead: 4
