In boredom, Blake poked at the green beans on her plate. The sisters next to her finished eating in silence. All eyes lingered on the nearly full plate in front of them.
Out of curiosity, Blake asked the blonde. "Why didn't you stop her?"
Yang only shrugged and put the fork down. "I think- she wants to be here more than anything… but at the same time, she made herself leave," her fingers curled into her skirt. "She wanted to stay. I didn't want to make it harder for her."
Ruby toyed with the last meatloaf piece on her plate, deep in thought. "You have a huge crush on her, don't you?"
"Duh," came Yang's immediate reply. "Have you seen her?"
That earned a giggle.
"I'm just glad she came over," Yang commented. "That's a huge step forward in getting to know her."
Blake tried to cheer her up in case she was secretly disappointed. "We'll see her tomorrow and see how she's doing. No point in worrying about it now if she won't tell us."
"Exactly," Yang let out a moan after a pile of fluffy mashed potatoes slid down her throat. "Holy crap these are way too good. Who made these anyway?"
"Me," Ruby said, her tone lower.
"They taste exactly how Summer used to make them," Yang complimented, savoring every bite. "You should be proud."
From the comment, Ruby stared down at the table. From the sudden shift in her body language, Blake's cat ears lowered as she elected to listen.
"You don't have to exaggerate so much, you know," Ruby deadpanned.
Since Yang knew why her sister acted this way, she encouraged her more. "I mean it. It's like she made them for us tonight."
Ruby shook her head. "They're not the same, Yang. Mom wasn't here and she never will be again."
From that, Yang only nodded like that was the only thing she knew how to do. She chewed a little on her lip and crossed her arms.
"I'm painfully aware of that," the blonde reminded.
"I'm sorry," Ruby apologized for giving her a hard time. "It's just…"
"It's okay," Yang reassured. "It's coming up, isn't it?"
"Yeah…"
Seeing as that was a good stopping point, Blake quietly stood and began to gather the four dishes. Ruby put a hand on her arm to stop her.
"I'll get it."
"I got it," was all Blake said, hoping this tiny gesture could ease a fraction of her pain.
From seeing her determined face, Ruby released her.
Quietly, Ruby retreated into her room and picked up her slingshot contraption that rested on her nightstand. Absent-mindedly, she fired darts at the board on her wall. It was a habit for her to practice keeping her mind off things.
After she nailed a bullseye, Yang leaned onto her bedroom door and noted her precise accuracy.
"Hey, Rubes?"
"Yeah?" Ruby asked, releasing another dart to devour the board.
"I love you."
Ruby lowered the slingshot when she heard that and looked to her sister with a smile. "I love you, too."
After the exchange, Yang slipped into her room. Since she could remember, she never liked to go to bed with the two of them unsettled. After heaving a sigh, Yang flopped onto her bed.
She flipped out her phone and stared at the screen like a zombie, hoping for a text from a certain someone.
"Be a good girl and give us your purse."
For several moments, Weiss pondered her options. There was only one thing she could do as her eyes landed on the knife pointed threateningly at her. It gleamed under the moon. The tension could be sliced with that knife.
From the sharp weapon, Weiss paused and adjusted the strap that dangled off her shoulder. "What, this thing? Be my guest."
There's nothing in here worth stealing, Weiss thought.
Before the guys could move an inch, the bag slammed into them. They staggered back from the sudden force and heard the patter of rushing footsteps on the grass. The guy with gray hair shoved the bag into his accomplice's arms.
"You bitch-"
Confused, the guys looked around. She vanished.
"Where the fuck did she-"
His mouth was slammed shut by an impact under his chin as she sprang up from below. He sprawled backward from the sucker punch and tumbled to the ground with a loud thud.
"You're gonna pay for that!" the bull faunus shouted, angrily tossing the purse to the ground.
With one down, Weiss focused on the bull faunus and jumped back to ponder her next move. He was much bigger. It was time to swap stances. In one swift motion, she pulled out the switchblade hidden in her stocking and flipped out the blade with a flick.
"Come get it, tough guy," Weiss taunted and beckoned him over with the knife.
They're people who target the weak, which made her think of her father. They're like him.
For a moment, she imagined this punk was her father. He sure acted like it. Anger surged over her in tidal waves, making her take a deep breath to compose herself.
"Emotions can grant you strength, but you must never let them overpower you," Winter's words echoed in her mind. "Don't be foolish."
When the bull faunus growled, Weiss knew he took the bait. He charged and tried to kick her abdomen, but Weiss blocked him and stumbled back as pain burned into her wrist.
It's his fault my mind and heart are at war, Weiss thought and pushed him off. His fault for not giving me a normal life...
The bull faunus staggered backward, shocked such a small girl could fend him off. "What the hell?!"
In retaliation, Weiss attempted to superficially slash his face. He dodged before the blade cut skin and lost a few red hairs that floated to the ground.
I'm slower than usual.
"Maybe don't rob people," Weiss advised and crouched low with her switchblade poised. "This whole thing could have been avoided."
Despite him towering over her, Weiss' smirk never faded. While he was fuming, he yanked out a crowbar from behind him.
How'd I miss that?
"You think you're slick?"
Since that was unexpected, Weiss stood on her toes for a new tactic. The punk swung the crowbar at her several times and he was getting frustrated that no hits landed. It was like Weiss danced on clouds, light on her feet, and punched him when she could.
It's his fault I'm like this.
While Weiss dodged the powerful swings with expert precision, a slash tore open her uniform from behind her. It was sharp and stung, but it wasn't enough for her to acknowledge the pain.
Like an acrobat, Weiss flipped out of the crowbar's path. The gray-haired punk had gotten up from the previous sucker punch and looked like he wanted revenge.
To shut that down, Weiss spun like an angry ballerina and rocketed her foot to the side of his head.
He won't be a problem again.
The punk dropped like a sack of potatoes in front of her.
Before she could dive out of the way, a steel beam bashed the back of her leg.
"Agh!"
Shockwaves of agony exploded through her body. Swiftly, she jumped away from danger with one foot and examined the situation. The bull faunus whirled the crowbar around with a smug smirk. Until now, she'd been elusive.
It's his fault.
"Where'd you learn that technique?"
When asked that, Weiss saw her chance to taunt him more. "It's designed for the weak. It helps the frail, helpless girl overcome the big bad man."
"Very funny," the punk said with sarcasm.
When the goon charged her again, Weiss took a deep breath and steadied herself.
It's...
When he waved the steel beam, Weiss barely dodged by dropping below the path.
His...
He was open, so she grabbed both of his arms, pivoted...
Fault!
… and tossed him to the ground.
The wind was knocked out of his lungs as his back ate the wet ground. Before he could try to get up, Weiss stepped on his chest to prevent him from moving.
"Stay down. You won't bother me again, is that understood?"
The tough guy facade crumbled under her measly weight.
"Y-yeah! Fine!"
Satisfied with his reaction, Weiss stepped off him. When he scrambled to grab the crowbar, she swiftly kicked his head to knock him out.
"I told you to stay down."
Briefly, she coughed in the serene silence. The shattered moon looked down on her as a peaceful breeze danced by. She was in a sour mood before, but now she was prickly like a cactus.
She picked up her purse, and a pang shot up her leg.
Ugh, I'm going to bruise.
In the aftermath, Weiss sighed and folded the switchblade to put it back into her stocking. Her clothing was torn, some pieces hanging on desperately.
To maintain some sense of normalcy, she dusted off her skirt. She lightly limped back to her apartment, thinking people like them… people like her father… are the worst.
They used their power and influence to control others like puppets.
It was because of that; she had her fair share of scuffles in the past.
It was because of that; she had no doubt that she'd win.
After all…
That's what's expected of the daughter of Remnant's most notorious gang leader.
Notice how Weiss refrained from using her switchblade? She prefers not to use weapons but will to intimidate and self-defense.
Stay dandy,
~Toto