Hi! Sorry for the lack of content here, life got in the way. But here's a new chapter. Enjoy, review and let me know.
Blake peeled her eyes open as she awoke on another tranquil morning in Atlas. Light filtered through the curtains of the team's window, a gentle breeze passing through the slightly ajar window. She turned her head to her nearby clock, signaling 10AM. Blake squinted her eyes and checked again, confirming that time.
Her ears scrunched in a weary confusion. Usually, she would be shaken awake by an impossibly alert silver-eyed girl. Although today was a lighter day for team RWBY, so they could be excused for a lazy start. Aside from some training, they had little on their schedule and the team had loose plans to go out into Atlas. They would just see where the day took them, a completely different outlook to most days for the four huntresses.
Blake finally arose from her bed, stretching her arms and letting out a yawn. Scrunching her eyes, the faunus trudged towards their bathroom, not noticing the missing teammate from the beds. She reached the door, only to find it slightly ajar. Pushing the door open, she suddenly paused and coughed, bringing her left hand to her mouth reflexively. A putrid stench emanated from the bathroom. Blake kept her hand to her mouth, peering through the doorway. Immediately, she was shocked at spotting her leader lying exhaustively against the wall near the toilet.
"Ruby, you OK?" Blake enquired nervously, pacing towards the young girl. Blake was keenly aware of her fearless leader's age difference to the rest of them. It was one of the many things that drew Blake towards her, the ability for Ruby to come across as a mature and whip smart woman despite her youth. Here though, Blake frowned at seeing Ruby so vulnerable. The faunus crouched down, ignoring the smell engulfing the bathroom, next to her leader and observed Ruby's features.
Ruby's hair was frazzled and unkempt, a few strands sticking to a forehead adorned with sweat rolling down it. Her eyes were currently shut, but dark bags were clearly visible underneath them. A deep frown made her miserable state clear. The red cloak synonymous with her was wrapped tightly around her entire frame, as if she desperately tried to keep any heat in. The faunus eyed her friend sympathetically and placed a hand cautiously on her shoulder.
"Ruby? Wake up." Blake whispered to her, hoping to pry Ruby from her sleep. As exhausted as she looked, Blake needed to check up on her. Gradually, the silver eyes of her leader became visible, but they were unfocused. As they turned to Blake's own amber irises, they suddenly bulged and Ruby leapt up past her to the toilet, immediately gagging as she threw up.
Blake's concern was etched all over her face. As an only child, she didn't really have Yang's sisterly instincts to rely on, so she settled on basic motions, rubbing her friend's back tenderly and holding Ruby's left arm. Ruby finished after what felt like an eternity, taking deep breaths and then almost falling backwards into the faunus' chest. Blake initially panicked, but merely hugged her teammate and looked down at her leader, misery etched all over her face.
"Thanks, Blake." Ruby mumbled, her breathing now more shallow. Blake merely hummed quietly. She looked up to the small window, eyes widening in the daylight. Ruby tried to stagger to her feet, but the arms around her tightened slightly.
"Ruby, stay still for a bit. We'll get you into bed but you need to just relax." Blake calmly explained. Ruby turned to face her in the embrace.
"But… but we've got plans for today!" She complained petulantly. Blake laughed lightly at that, shifting Ruby's cloak to keep it wrapped around her diminutive frame.
"I don't think you're in any condition to be going anywhere. If Weiss sees you like this, she'll probably tie you to the bed to prevent you spreading disease." Blake retorted lightly.
The pair sat like that for a short while before the faunus lifted the girl to her feet, escorting her back to the beds with her hands guiding Ruby via her shoulders. Deciding the climb would be too much of a hassle, Blake helped her friend into her own bed, grabbing an extra pillow from Ruby's bed for extra comfort. She also poured a glass of water and placed it at her bedside, pulling up a chair and grabbing a book.
"Blake? You don't have to." Ruby responded before letting out a few coughs. As much as she appreciated the help, the feeling of being coddled was something she'd hoped to get rid of. After all, the leader isn't the one who needs being bundled into masses of covers. Yet here she was.
"No, but I'd like to. Now go to sleep." Blake calmly replied, not taking her eyes from the pages and lazily flipping a page. "If you need anything, I'll get it for you." Ruby for her part didn't really have the energy or vigor to argue otherwise. Instead, she simply drifted into dreamland, comforted by the ambient sound of her friend turning pages.
Later in the day, Ruby awoke slowly, the headache still thrumming away and her body full of aches. Her eyes opened slightly enough to see Blake wasn't present. An exhausted sigh left her mouth as she attempted to get out of bed, only for a blur of blue and white to rush over.
"Stop right there, Ruby! You need to stay in bed!" Weiss shouted with panic visible all over her, grabbing Ruby urgently and moving her down in bed. For her part, Ruby could only grunt as the high pitch of Weiss' voice only added to the pains in her cranium and being laid back against the pillows by the frenetic former heiress.
"Wait, I'm sorry! I shouldn't be shouting!" Weiss exclaimed loudly. Her brief panic was brought to a halt by Ruby throwing her head into the nearby bucket. Gingerly, Weiss rubbed circles on her friend's back, waiting for her to finish.
After what felt like eons had passed, the silver-eyed girl returned to the bed, closing her eyes and breathing heavily. She soon felt a cooling sensation on her forehead, a welcome feeling to aid her pounding headache. Peeling her eyes open, Weiss had wrapped some ice dust in a blanket and placed it over her forehead.
"Thanks, Weiss. Where's Blake?" Ruby croaked.
"Oh, she's gone out with Yang into Atlas. They're off to go for a casual walk then a bit of sparring. Mainly just to distract Yang, you should have seen her pacing this morning about you." Weiss remembered fondly. At that, Ruby remembered something herself.
"Wait, you were supposed to see Winter today!" Ruby protested weakly. For her part, Weiss merely shrugged.
"That's OK, we'll do it another time. You need taking care of. Now rest." Weiss ordered lightly, passing Ruby a cup of water which she drank carefully. After a few sips and a frown on her face, the silver-eyed girl gave in to her body's demand for rest, aided by the delightful humming of her friend's gorgeous singing voice to soothe her into slumber.
The next time she awoke, the girl was instantly aware of someone clutching her right hand and multiple voices quietly chatting away. Ruby peeled her eyes open to find Blake and Weiss having a conversation, sat with dinner on their laps. In front of them though was Yang, sat next to her sister holding her hand.
"Heya, sleepyhead. You OK?" Yang spoke softly, a smile on her face. Her thumb traced Ruby's hand in a calming gesture. The younger sibling merely groaned in response, drawing a chuckle from the blonde.
"Jaune and the gang send their well wishes. Now sit up." Yang ordered lightly.
Begrudgingly, the younger sibling complied, pulling herself up to sit against the cushions. Yang had a bowl of soup in her lap and Ruby was fully prepared for the coddling she was facing. As she was about to protest, her sister stopped her.
"I know you're not into being looked after as much now, but for once just stop worrying about us and focus on you. OK?" Yang implored, smiling at her sister with a spoonful of tomato soup at the ready.
"Alright, Yang. Sorry for worrying you." Ruby whispered.
"No need. Just relax… and open wide!" Yang exclaimed, drawing a roll of the eyes from her younger sibling.
The rest of the evening progressed peacefully, with the leader's three teammates sat round her bed making idle chatter. Ruby's tiredness had waned briefly, seeing them together and happy, even sitting up in bed with a lantern illuminating the room beside the bed, a pulsing but soft light to ease her slowly to sleep. The group's chatter, mainly about Weiss accidentally spilling Ruby's stomach contents over the bathroom floor to Blake and Yang's humour, was enough to keep her spirits up before a yawn broke from her mouth.
"We should probably all get some rest. We'll probably be needed for the supply runs to Amity in the morning." Blake commented. The other two nodded. Before they could all get in their beds, with the faunus taking Ruby's abode for the night, the girl sat up and affixed the three of them with as much of a genuine smile as she could muster.
"Thanks, guys. You're the best." Ruby gratefully uttered, a smile on all of her teammates' faces at her gratitude.
"Not a problem, Ruby. Just please don't be this sick again. I don't want to have to clean up more vomit." Weiss shuddered in response. Each of them gave the girl a hug and the four went to bed, ready to face another day.