"And that will be all today, class. Have a good weekend, and remember to revise for the second half of the written exam next week."
The chorus of voices erupted in chat, students plotting amongst each other while drowning out others around them. Blake rose silently, already packing the majority of her work away prematurely. She stretched out her stiff legs with a grunt, numbness falling down her legs from the hardwood seat she'd been victim to for the past hour and a half. She really did need to start bringing something soft to sit on in these classes...
She fixed her small bag to her shoulders, clicking her scroll closed and sliding it into the small pocket in her blazer. She rubbed the base of her feline ears tenderly, gently readjusting the edge of the black bow. Her ears were starting to get raw beneath the bow on her head, something she was starting to realise would bother her more and more if she continued to wear the old piece of cloth over her faunus traits. The long hours covering them were starting to add up as raw, bald spots in her fur.
She reached up to fix the bow again uncomfortably, grunting in surprise as she bumped against a mass. She stumbled back, looking up in frustration to whoever had just walked into her.
Cardin Winchester stared back at her.
Black prickled, standing straight to attempt to meet the bully with a threatening glare, "Oh, it's you."
Blake knew her stature wasn't nearly as terrifying nor as muscular as Yang's, especially dressed in the school's skimpy uniform, but she did have a special talent with her words. Cardin's face of malice slowly molded to shock as he realised who was glaring up at him. Blake stared directly into his eyes as he quickly backed up, morphing back into the shape of students and escaping from her stare.
"Everything okay, Blake?" Ren asked, following the tai end of the students as they left. Blake craned her neck to try and follow Cardin's movements, but she lost him quickly within the crowd. She growled in annoyance, tucking her hair behind her human ears.
"Does Cardin seem jittery to you?" Blake asks, hushed. Ren hums in timid response, looking through the crowds as they start moving down the few stairs to the door for the mentioned trouble.
"He has been quiet lately."
Blakes attention is suddenly refined to Ren only, trusting her own instincts to guide her through the terrain back to the dorm house, "How lately?"
Ren was caught off guard by the urgentness of the follow up question, suddenly attuned to the conversation, "A few weeks? He hasn't approached Jaune since-"
"Weiss's accident."
Cardin's activity was starting to erect red flags. First, the event in the library when they overheard him talking about her, and now, he avoided her as if she was the plague.
"Do you think it's connected?" Ren asked, his voice lower than before as he started to connect his own patterns in his mind. Blake turned to him, eyes narrow.
"Innocent people don't run."
Blake didn't believe in coincidences. Cardin had been looking for dirt on Weiss for a long time. As a result, the rest of them had been caught in the crossfire more than once, especially Ruby. If anything, Blake would've expected Cardin Winchester to be flourishing in the absence of Weiss Schnee. Proclaiming something about her finally being sent to 'Princess Academy' in Atlas, or boasting that he had always been right.
But he wasn't.
"Yang and I caught him talking about Weiss to someone in the back of the library the other day." Blake explained to the taller boy. She trusted Ren. The two had often spent sessions speaking together about literature or Mistrali cultures, having both been raised in their own breed of it. "When we confronted him about it, he ran."
"And now he's avoiding you?" Ren commented, listening intently.
"Yes," Blake pushed through the dorm house door, holding it open for Ren who thanked her quietly for the gesture, "It's not a coincidence."
Ren bowed his head. Blake could see Ren's thoughts flashing behind his calculated stare. Eyes could tell a thousand stories, and Blake was fluent in their language.
"What do you plan to do about it?" Ren asked curiously as the duo reached the floor their dorms were located on. Blake pondered the idea for beat, reaching to pull her scroll from her pocket to get into her room.
What would she do, given the chance?
Over the short time they'd known each other, Weiss had become a tight band in Blake's family. The monochrome pair often didn't meet eye to eye, but Weiss was beginning to learn how to compromise with Blake, and Blake with Weiss. As a result, they often spent free classes together, getting to know each other beyond their outer shell, and they were similar in experience. Two people born and manipulated under something they didn't truly understand, but bonded together as they recovered from it.
Her time in the White Fang as an extremist group had been short, but it had been brutal. Blake had seen things children her age wouldn't even be able to conjure nightmares about, and had participated willingly. She'd been doctored to believe that if violence was the only way forward, then they'd conjure a war. You tried to muzzle the faunus, tried to break them, and they returned with the fury of monsters.
Of grimm.
But Blake wasn't in the White Fang anymore. She'd willingly left that life behind, a new branch to live. She thought she'd finally found it, but greed and jealousy always came back to hurt those in her life. She thought she'd moved away from her violent past of hurting those who hurt her first, but if Winchester had purposefully set Weiss up like Blake thought he had… Maybe that sadistic side of her would return.
"I don't know," she said finally, holding her scroll up to the ID scanner and pushing open the white door gently, "But if he's involved, I won't let him get away with it."
Ren seemed to accept that answer, bowing his head as he opened his own door. Almost immediately, Blake heard the rambunctious clatter that could've only belonged to Nora from inside the room. The boy laughed, carrying himself in a sense of wisdom that seemed far too great for his age.
"Send my wishes to Weiss," he cooed. Blake watched him disappear through the door before she moved into her own room with a heavy sigh.
The RWBY dorm was much warmer than the hallways, something Blake was willing to bet was because of Yang stationed between the bunk beds playing Ultimate Ninja Kaiden Grimm Fighter 7. Her hair emitted a warm glow, small embers floating from her mane every few moments. Her tan bag was discarded haphazardly at the foot of Blake's bed, seams ripped across the top of it and lighter coloured patches covering holes previously made.
Yang's head pulled back at the sound of the door closing, peering at Blake upside down from her spot on the floor, "Oh, heya Blake! How'd torture go?"
Blake hummed in delight as she pulled the stupid black bow off her ears, rubbing the soft fur behind her ears gently as they finally got relief, "You mean class?"
Yang leaned back fully, her game on pause as she stretched fully on the carpet, "That's what I said, wasn't it?"
Rolling her eyes, Blake shrugged her bag off and set it down beside Yang's, crawling onto her bed to sit cross legged, "The class was fine, but something happened after class."
Yang sat up, her playful demeanor toned down in an instant, "What?"
"Cardin," Blake said simply, watching anger blossom on Yang's face, "I bumped into him, literally, actually."
"What did he do?" Yang's lilac eyes were gone, replaced by her violent red.
"Nothing."
The blonde blinked, her tensed muscles relaxing, "...What do you mean he did nothing?"
"Exactly what I said," Blake swung her legs over the edge of the bed, "Cardin bumped into me, looked like he saw a ghost, and ran."
Yang was in disbelief, folding her arms over her chest, "Did you say anything to him?"
"Nothing. I didn't even get a chance to question him before I'd lost him," Blake sighed, "Ren came to me, so I couldn't just follow him. I wish I could've though."
"Right," Yang deflated, her anger steaming away to nothing, "Why would he run?"
"For the same reason he ran from us before," Blake leaned closer to Yang, all too aware of the otherwise silent room, "He's hiding something."
Yang bowed, half turning to glance at Weiss's empty bed to her left, "Yeah… I think so too."
"We need to do something about it."
"Yeah, but it's not like we can just- beat it out of him," Yang ground her fist into her palm, "We'd get in huge trouble for that."
"We just need a confession," Blake said, resting her chin in her hand.
"Uh-huh, but how?"
Blake opened her mouth to respond, but was quickly cut short as the door opened again, giving way to Ruby who was in a rush about something. Her scroll was up to her ear, and she looked panicked. She all but threw her bag to the floor and rushed to the drawers where she kept her clothes.
Yang and Blake crossed glances in confusion, mutually agreeing to put their previous conversation on pause.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," Ruby said into the device, pulling out a long, old black hoodie and throwing it onto the desk she and Weiss shared before reaching for pants, "Ask Winter to wait for me. Okay. Yeah. Uhh…" She looked to the ground, finding yesterday's skirt and picking it up. She sniffed it, paused, and then nodded to herself, "10 minutes, maybe 15. Yeah."
"What's going on?" Blake whispered to Yang, who shrugged as she leaned over to turn off her game. They both watched as Ruby nearly face planted to the ground when she stepped on her uniform skirt instead of stepping out of it.
"Okay. Okay. Bye," Ruby pulled her phone away and flung it onto the table, reaching down and buttoning her skirt closed.
"What's goin' on, baby sis'?" Yang asked, leaning against the side of Blake's bed. Ruby grunted as she pulled her hoodie over her head, not even bothering to take off her school shirt or tie.
"That was Weiss's surgeon. They've finally manufactured a cure."
A cure.
Those words seemed magical right now. Blake and Yang's eyes widened in delight, smiles dawning on their faces as they turned to look at each other.
"That's great!" Yang exclaims, standing to her feet with a quick hop, "That means she'll be better now, right?"
Ruby's hesitance to answer sends nerves rocketing through the room like quills, snuffing out the enthusiasm that'd come to life. Ruby grabbed her Airship Fastpass and shoves it into her pocket, before digging through her blazer and tugging free her wallet.
"I… I don't know," she finally answers, "They said they want to discuss potential side effects that could impact her career as a huntress. They want me there in 10 minutes."
Yang reached into her back pocket and pulled out her keys to Bumblebee, the bee charm dangling off it jingling loudly, "Then let me bring Bumblebee. I'll get you to the hospital in no time."
"Okay," Ruby said, attaching the clip of her cape onto her shoulders, uncrumpling the edges and making sure it flowed smoothly behind her. "If we run we can catch the next airship…" She checked the time on her scroll and paled, "If we run fast…"
"I'll stay here," Blake offered, "I'll only slow you two down at the airship with all the checks."
"Okay," Ruby nodded, looking at her sister with a nervous smile, "Do I look okay?"
"You look like Ruby Rose, so I'd say that's fine," Yang teasingly ruffled Ruby's hair before reaching and pulling the door open, "Let's go, slowpoke."
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ruby's heart was hammering in her throat as she straightened herself up, picking off stray rose petals and sweeping off dust as she paced through pristine, clean-smelling halls. People came and went on their own business, some dressed in uniforms of the hospital and others were simply patients or visitors. She'd been met by a nurse at the reception desk, who'd told her that she'd be escorting Ruby towards the room she was going to meet the head surgeon in. Vale National Hospital was massive, but the nurses had no issue traversing it. Ruby probably would've gotten lost walking around by herself.
"Just in here, Ruby," The escorting nurse, opening a door on the edge of the corridor that led to a bigger, wider office. Ruby gulped, thanking the lady quietly. She straightened her cloak some more before she dipped into the room, eyes landing on shelf-covered walls. Folders and binders bulged from the shelves, dating back decades. Other various nick-nacks were posted about too, such as an old Grimm toy on a shelf, and a photo of a woman and child. The room was dull though, with a gray loomy paint on the walls and an all-too sweet green on the roof. Why was it that doctors' offices were always so dreer and ominous? Why couldn't they be bright colors, full of motivational slogans and weapon diagrams and pictures of grimm? If Ruby was a doctor, that's what her office would look like, not this desolate, haunted place.
Weiss's surgeon and head doctor of the hospital is sitting at an oversized oak desk that was surprisingly clean. A monitor sat just to his left. Ruby recognised the blue hologram type to be one of the older kinds, but then again Beacon had some of the most modern tech available on the market. Some hardback files were laying at the foot of the oak legs, held together with a few colorful rubber bands. The only other file on the desk was the open one under his hand, which Ruby quickly figured belonged to her partner. Ruby could make out x-ray pictures underneath the hefty pile of notes, but no details.
"Ah, finally you made it," The man greeted, standing and reaching out his arm to shake Ruby's hand. Ruby stiffened slightly, unfamiliar with the professional gesture. It felt all so cliché and fake, like she'd wake up any moment and find herself watching one of those dramas Yang always barked on about.
"Sorry I'm late." Ruby said, awkwardly reaching out and giving what she thought was a decently firm handshake. He smiled tiredly at her, murky darkness below his eyes revealing just how tired and overworked the poor doctor was.
"Not to worry, Miss Rose. My name's Dr. Bui," he introduced. He had a small, round face, worn down by the effects of his work through the years, with a tall, lanky body and strong hands. He had a pair of reading glasses tucked onto the collar of his tunic, held on by one of those strings Ruby always saw old people use. If unthreatening was a person, Dr. Bui would be him. "Please, sit."
The man gestured to one of the two plush office chairs sitting opposite him. Ruby graciously took one of them while Dr. Bui sat down and organized himself. He plucked his glasses from his collar and unfolded them, placing them over his eyes. Ruby watched in awe as a holographic interface lit up on them.
"Miss Schnee, I'm told you've met Miss Rose before?"
A holographic video began to play on the bigger monitor of Winter Schnee as Dr. Bui began to talk to her. Ruby instantly sat straighter under the gaze of Winter, pulling her shoulders back. It was dark in Atlas. Winter was sitting in front of a massive window, one that showed the entire city and it's lights behind her. Ruby couldn't make out many details in the low quality resolution, but for what it was it was beautiful. Winter sat like a pedestal in the middle of the screen, her army uniform tidy and her hair combed clean. Ruby thought she could make out tired eye bags on Winter too.
"Indeed."
"Then let's waste no more time," Bui smiled, carefully flipping to the next page in Weiss's file and pulling out a long printed out email covered in small letters and titles, "The samples you found on the site were used to help bioengineer a cure, as I'm sure you're aware, Miss Schnee. What you found was invaluable to aiding us in creating a cure for your sister."
"I'm glad we found something of use, Doctor."
"I know I referred to the result as a cure before, however, the word 'cure' is more of a fancy font plastered onto it. We essentially recreated a sample of what your sister's captors used on her, and tried to reverse bioengineer a suitable result that would nullify the effects of the dust in her bloodstream," The man held up the sheet of paper to the camera, "We couldn't carry out exact tests, as we don't produce pure dust nor can we import it, but the tests we did carry out yield some promising results.
The primary issue remains that because of the lack of research relating to purified dust, we can't be sure of some of the exact reactions and the differences that may occur from refined dust, but many of our results demonstrated the disintegration and destion dust in rodents after several doses, who continued to heal and survive, although with some side effects."
Ruby frowned, anxiety beginning to dance in her chest to the rhythm of her heart, "Side effects?"
Dr. Bui hesitated, turning the page in his hand as his AR glasses scanned the papers. The grim look on his face set butterflies scattering in Ruby's guts. That wasn't a good face.
Dr. Bui took a heavy, heaving breath, and sighed, "We found that the rodents contracted partial paraplegia that progressed to full symptoms after extended and increased exposure to the drug. It wasn't diagnosed one hundred percent of the time, but the percentage diagnosed was in the high ninety's."
Winter's stoic expression shifted to one of disappointment and guilt, her brows creasing into a fine crease. Ruby, lost in the language, shifted nervously at Winter's reaction. She didn't want to know, but… "What's partial paraplegia…?"
"It's… a term we use for paralysis of the lower body, so the feet, toes, legs and possibly her lower abdomen, " The man explained solemnly, wringing his hands together, "Weiss would need to be fitted for leg braces, or a wheelchair, depending on her choice, and of course her financial availability."
Ruby's stomach fell through her, taking her heart with it as it plunged into the icy depths of hell. That meant Weiss wouldn't be able to walk again, not without some kind of support or brace that would support her. That would impact everything: her independence, her future, her dream… Ruby's eyes grew cloudy and damp as she debated the thought, holding her head in her hands. This was her fault, this was all her fault…
"Would Weiss be able to continue her huntress training?" Winter asked calmly, picking back up the pieces of her composure with practiced timing.
"She might," The man explained, "The paraplegia won't be immediate, but it will start to take effect within a few of the booster injections. If Miss Schnee could learn to operate fully with her braces before it fully set in, I believe she might have a chance at regaining her prior skills. Otherwise, she may have to consider early retirement from her huntsman career."
Ruby held back tears, jamming her thumbs into her tear ducts as she took a hazy breath. She could still fix her mistakes and help her partner. Weiss was stubborn at the worst of times, she wouldn't give up that easily. Or… would she? Weiss's intense stubbornness had been absent since she'd woken up, locked away with the rest of the parts of her that didn't come back. Would this Weiss be willing to go through it all again? Ruby wasn't sure, but she sure wasn't going to just let the chance slip away. Not all hope was lost yet. She sat back straight, looking at Dr. Bui, "How long would she have?"
The man thought for a moment, "Well, as soon as Miss Winter Schnee signs off on it, we can start administering the samples. Then twice a week until her dust collection dissipates completely. Maybe two, three months until full paraplegia? It will be hard to tell, especially as we don't know the rate of acceleration with pure dust versus refined dust."
Ruby slouched back in the chair, her hands clenching the tattered corner of her cape. Two months. That was so little time.
"Does my sister know about these side effects?" Winter asked, drawing Ruby's attention back to the specialist waiting on the screen.
"I informed her this morning, but she asked that I give her some time to think it over."
"What if she didn't take the cure?" Ruby asked meekly, trying desperately to find a way around the life Weiss would be tied to. "She'd be able to walk still, right?"
"The dust in her body continues to spread and pool at certain junctures in her body," Dr. Bui explained calmly, "If we were to abandon the cure and leave her as she was, the dust particles would take over her bloodstream and theoretically they could solidify. She could have a heart attack, or lose multiple limbs as a result."
Ruby slumped back in defeat, eyes staring hollowly at the marked edge of the desk, "So it's between bad and worse…"
Dr. Bui frowned in sympathy, "I'm sorry. We did try everything we could, but we simply didn't have enough time. If we leave her any longer, we risk further injury. I'd suggest starting almost immediately."
The room fell silent for what felt like forever. Ruby's throat tightened almost painfully, her vision blurry as tears pooled on the edge of her eyelids. No matter what they did, or how many steps they took forward, they always seemed to be thrown back to the gutters. Ruby didn't know if Weiss would be able to overcome the paralysis in time before it fully set in. She couldn't bear the thought of having to replace her partner not after everything they'd gone through. Weiss and Ruby had a bond that she had never felt before. Weiss would be sent back to Atlas to live with her abusive parents, and Ruby would never see her again.
If Winter was feeling as tormented as Ruby was, she didn't show it. The older Schnee let out a long, tired sigh, pinching sleep from her eyes, "Go ahead and start treatment as soon as you can. If we can prevent the worst from happening, we need to start as soon as possible. Send all payments to the Schnee Family."
"Right away, Miss Schnee," Dr. Bui turned to a printer stashed behind him and turned it on with a hollow beep, drawing Ruby from her mentally absent spiral. She stood up, wiping her eyes clear and clearing her throat.
"I'm, um, going to go now," She croaked, pointing to the door, "Thanks for, uh, inviting me? Yeah."
The doctor frowned slightly as Ruby made way to the door, biting down on her tongue sharply to stop the building pressure in her head. She just had to make it somewhere where it would be less embarrassing when she started to cry. She was fast, she could get out.
"Miss Rose, would you like me to escort you back down?"
Ruby groaned in her head, swallowing the ball in her throat, "N-no! It's okay. I memorized it on the way up." She pointed to her head, forcing a watery smile, "Leader memory, y'know?"
That was a big fat lie, but all she needed to do was find an elevator and go down. Dr. Bui didn't look convinced, but he didn't try to stop her. With a bow of his head, Ruby flipped up her hood, opened the door, and vanished. Then she started to run.
Ruby ran fast and hard, tears blurring her pathway as she weaved and bobbed between nurses and patients in the hall. Shouts of warning came as the little red, flowery tornado ripped through the hospital. Ruby only faintly followed the directions, doing loops until finally, finally she found an empty stairwell that led down.
She was fully out of breath by the time she reached the outside, stopping on the last stair to catch herself on the railing as her aura gave a weak flash of warning. Her face was wet and cold as she wheezed, her legs falling from under her as she collapsed into a seated position on the cold, terracotta steps. The sunlight was warm on her face, the water in her mouth salty. She needed to breathe, just breathe…
"Rubes?"
Ruby sucked in a breath sharply, her ribs twinging with the sudden gasp. She didn't have to look far over her shoulder to recognise the boots and purple scarf tied to her leg of her sibling. Yang sat down beside her with a grunt, planting her hands on her knees as she got comfy.
"I thought that was you," she cooed softly, her shoulder brushing off Ruby's in a comforting way. Ruby gripped her skirt with her fists, drawing her knees together. If she could, she'd just disappear under her hood. Maybe if she disappeared all this bad stuff wouldn't happen to Weiss.
"I take it didn't go well, then?" Yang asked carefully. Ruby's throat tightened with a fresh grip, squeezing all her emotions out like a sponge. She shook her head.
"Weiss… Weiss is gonna become paralysed…" Ruby stammered, trying to keep her sentences level but failing as her voice cracked. "She's gonna lose her legs, Yang… she can't- she won't…"
Yang's face fell as Ruby leaned into her, seeking the warmth only her sister seemed to emanate. The tears were coming freely now, falling like thick splashes of paint onto the red stone below them. She didn't try to stop the sob that broke through her throat either, which just broke the barrier. Yang's arms were around her in a heartbeat.
"Hey… It'll be okay… We'll… We'll figure something out," Yang tried, but there was a heavy worry in her voice. What could they do, but sit and watch? Like they had been doing for a month, and just pray that whatever miracle Weiss had been hanging onto didn't burn out in the sky. Ruby buried her head into Yang's chest, curling into her sister's body desperately.
"What if… She might not… I don't want another teammate, Yang… I don't…"
"Shh, shh," Yang whispered, resting her jaw on the crown of Ruby's head as her baby sister jerked in her arms, "Deep breaths, okay? Just like Blake taught you."
"I can't lose her…" Ruby croaked. Yang hummed, tightening her hug.
"We won't. I promise you we won't."
"She'll be sent back to Atlas. I'll never see her again…"
Yang lifted her head off Ruby's, wiping a tear from her sister's small face with her thumb. Yang almost felt as if she was transported back to their home in Patch, when Yang had to help a younger Ruby Rose after the death of their mom. She frowned.
"Is there anything we can do? To stop it?"
Ruby sniffed, pulling her head away from Yang slowly and wiping her nose off the back of her hand, "I… I don't know. The doctor said she'd have two months until she's fully paralysed b-but…"
Yang sat and thought, crossing her legs, "Two months, huh? That's what, eight weeks?"
"Y-yeah. He said- that- um- Weiss could probably be fitted with braces or something."
"Eight weeks to get used to braces then, seven if they take a week to be made," Yang planted her hand on Ruby's shoulder, giving a comforting squeeze of assurance and a soft smile, "Ruby, I've seen you do so much in eight weeks. You know what we did in eight weeks?"
Ruby frowned, puzzled, "W-what?"
"You made Crescent Rose in three weeks," Yang started, pulling out a hand and starting to count with her fingers, "We raided a White Fang base that was underground and stopped a massive scheme to destroy Vale in one week."
"That was an accident-"
"We perfected our team combos in like, two weeks."
"Yeah…"
"You completed your signal mission exams a whole three days earlier than everyone else."
"That's because Uncle Qrow taught me tricks…"
Yang rolled her eyes playfully, "Ruby, I've seen you do amazing things in a shorter time than seven, eight weeks. If anyone can help Weiss recover, it's you."
Ruby wiped the dried tears from her face with her thumb, eyes locked to a single crack in the stone brick behind Yang, "But what if I can't? What if-"
"Ah- ah- ah-" Yang cut in, "'What if's' never got you nowhere, little sis'."
Ruby huffed, "You're such a butt."
"I'm a handsome one, though, right?" Yang teased, flexing her arms around her head to show off her muscles. Ruby rolled her eyes dramatically, shoving her sister with all she had.
"You're an annoying one!"
"You're just jealous."
Ruby giggled, snuffling up the last of her running nose before pulling her hood down. Yang was right. Eight weeks was a long time, and Ruby had done stuff in a much shorter amount of time when she put her mind to it. She could do this. She had to, for Weiss.
"Better?" Yang asked, leaning into Ruby's distant gaze. The rose looked up with a smile.
"Better."
"You're welcome," Yang beamed, hopping back up to her feet. She turned and held out both her hands for Ruby to grab onto and pulled Ruby to her feet too. Once they were both up, Yang reached and ruffled Ruby's hair. "No more Mr. Negative up there, alright? You tell him to f-off whenever he comes."
Ruby fake gasped, "Swear!"
"The letter 'f' is not a swear word, your honor!"
"You meant something else though!"
"Nu-uh-"
"Yes you did! What else does it mean?"
"Easy, it means… uh… f-o away."
"Yang!"