Disclaimer, I do not own RWBY
AN/ I'm back, and ready to continue the suffering! I took a week off from writing last week, so apologies for this being kinda late, but I was not having a good week. Also, to address a message from one of you, do you really expect me to give up story details? Really? I'm not about to give up spoilers just because you're asking, it's like asking J J. Abrams how episode 9 ends before the movie even hit theaters. Wait like everyone else for me to write and publish what happens. Anyways, on to the chapter!
Weiss decided that she was going to be annoyed at everything she set her eyes on. It was far easier to be annoyed at everything rather than focus on the growing list of things that actually annoyed her, she reasoned.
"I'm going to kill her." Weiss stated, staring down the blonde she called a teammate.
"While I would agree with you, please don't kill my partner, not until after graduation anyways." Blake responded to the threat.
"I'm right here you know! And still fully conscious!" Yang snapped.
"Maybe cut her hair in her sleep for the time being then?" Weiss asked.
"Maybe. Ask Ruby when she wakes up. Honestly, I'm glad she got her own room this time around." Blake agreed.
"Do it and I end you!" Yang threatened.
"Then don't fly into a bloodthirsty rage at another student you absolute imbecile!" Weiss shouted, acknowledging the brawler.
"She hurt Ruby!" Yang countered.
"And did the right thing by knocking her out like that! One of her friends from the program came up to us and told us that he had personally thanked Arslan for doing what she did!" Blake shouted, shutting the blonde down.
"We get that Ruby is your sister and that you care for her, but you can't always protect her, and sometimes drastic measures have to be taken. But you had no right acting the way you did. You're lucky that you didn't get us disqualified or cause an international incident." Weiss chastised.
"Come on Weiss, let's go check on Ruby, we should be there if she wakes up soon." Blake suggested as she turned to leave.
"Think about what you did you dunce. I fully expect an apology from you when they release you. Gods it's like I'm punishing a six-year-old." Weiss groaned as she followed her faunus teammate out of the room. Closing the door behind her, Weiss audibly groaned in annoyance.
"Any word from Arslan?" Blake asked.
"Her and her team are still getting checked out, we did kind of wipe the floor with them." Weiss admitted.
"That you did. I don't think I have ever seen that glyph before." Blake started.
"Because I had never been able to produce it with any effect before. It was a summoning glyph, the one glyph my family is supposed to be known for." Weiss admitted.
"Right, inherited semblance. What were you summoning?" Blake asked as she led the way to their leader.
"The Arma Gigas I killed to prove I had what it took to be here, or at least it's sword arm." Weiss explained.
"You know full well that Ruby will absolutely flip when she sees that." Blake spoke.
"I am well aware." Weiss groaned in acceptance. Standing outside the door to Ruby's room, Weiss and Blake fell silent. Opening the door and stepping in, they both cringed at the sight before them. Ruby lay unmoving, bandages wrapped around her head, padding the side Arslan had hit.
"They said that since her aura broke, they had to go the old-fashioned route. It's mostly just holding dust against her head to prevent swelling, but they weren't sure how she would heal." Blake explained. Looking over Ruby, the one thing they silently agreed on, was just how frail and pathetic she looked. While she was younger, and shorter than most of their class, Ruby looked even smaller than usual.
"Concussion?" Weiss asked.
"Probably, they want to keep her in bed while they determine the extent of her injuries. They said she'll be released in a couple days." Blake spoke.
"Within reason and depending on when she actually wakes up. Arslan knows how to hit." Weiss corrected.
"I'm going to go check on them. We have some time before we have to submit who is going on, but I think it's fairly obvious." Blake said.
"You're not who I would have initially chosen to fight beside, but we've pulled through worse." Weiss agreed.
"It'll be interesting, that's for sure. Let me know if she wakes up." Blake requested as she left. Turning back down the hall, Blake began searching for team ABRN. Going downstairs to the larger rooms, Blake quickly found who she was looking for.
"That was certainly one way to start the tournament." She heard Bolin say.
"You're telling me. Did you see Yang? She looked about ready to rip your head off." Reese continued.
"In her defense, I knocked her blind younger sister unconscious and may have given her a concussion. But I certainly wasn't expecting that." Arslan admitted.
"Looks like we have a visitor." Nadir spoke up, gesturing to where Blake stood.
"Come on in, here to check up on the losers?" Reese joked.
"I had to make sure we didn't hurt you too badly. Sorry about Yang, by the way." Blake apologized, turning towards Arslan.
"Not a problem, I understand. How is Ruby?" Arslan asked.
"Still out, but it has only been about twenty minutes. They're hoping she wakes up within the hour. Thank you, for doing that. I know what it's like having your senses suddenly assaulted like that, but not quite as painfully. You did her a favor." Blake assured.
"Do you know what her friend told me?" Arslan responded.
"That the pain is like a flashbang?" Blake guessed.
"No, that the pain Ruby would've been feeling, was like if someone crammed a red dust crystal into your brain and sparked it. I can only imagine what that felt like." Arslan explained remorsefully.
"Again, you did her a favor, she won't hold it against you. Oh, and Yang will be apologizing to you. We've already threatened her for what she did." Blake explained.
"I appreciate it. We'll be up soon, do you mind if I stop by Ruby's room?" Arslan asked.
"Of course, come right on up. She might even wake up while you're there. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go and let the professors know who will be going on." Blake dismissed herself.
*One Hour Later*
"I still feel bad." Arslan admitted.
"Don't, she would probably smack you right now if she could." Weiss spoke.
"You're probably right, but still, I took her out of the running for the tournament, she had to have been looking forward to this." Arslan reasoned.
"She was, but she also is extremely practical. Even if she didn't get knocked out, she would still have put someone else in if it meant victory." Weiss explained.
"Fair enough I suppose. I'm getting hungry, either of you want something?" Arslan asked, standing.
"I'm fine, thanks though." Blake responded.
"A water would be fine, thank you." Weiss requested. As Arslan stepped out, Weiss turned to Blake.
"No." Was all Blake said.
"You don't even know what I was going to say!" Weiss argued.
"Don't need to. JNPR is going to be starting soon, I'm sure Jaune would like for his girlfriend to watch him fight." Blake suggested, not looking up from her book.
"I probably should. Let me know when she wakes up?" Weiss asked.
"Of course, I'll even let you know when Yang gets out of bed so you can yell at her some more." Blake joked.
"I'd appreciate that. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go watch a fight." Weiss dismissed as she stood. With the heiress now gone as well, Blake sighed.
"Mmnn" A soft groan to her side quickly caught Blake's attention. Keeping her voice quiet, Blake spoke up.
"Easy Ruby, easy. How's your head?" Blake asked, her voice just above a whisper.
"Like a horde of boarbatusk rolled over me." Ruby groaned quietly.
"I'm going to get a nurse, ok?" Blake asked, receiving a weak nod from the reaper. Standing, Blake quickly made her way to the nurse's station.
"Is everything alright?" One of the nurses asked.
"My leader just woke up." Blake said simply.
"Of course, we'll be right in. Does she need anything else?" The nurse asked.
"No, that's all." Blake spoke, watching as a pair of nurses began to gather some items. Turning back to the room, Blake saw Arslan walk past.
"Oh, Blake, what's going on, is she up?" The blonde asked.
"Just woke up and Weiss let to go watch one of the fights." Blake explained.
"I can come back." Arslan suggested.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she'd love to have you there, we'll just have to wait outside." Blake assured.
"If you say so." Arslan conceded. It didn't take long for the nurses to descend on the younger girl. Checking over her, they came to an agreement that she was mostly fine.
"What do you mean she's mostly fine?" Blake asked, hoping for the nurse to clarify.
"Exactly that, she is mostly fine, no real lasting damage, no broken bone, surprisingly, no concussion, but what is concerning is, not something we're equipped to handle." One of the nurses explained.
"What she means is that her ability to see hasn't returned. We did a preliminary scan of her brain and found no damage, but we don't know enough to be of any help here." The other nurse continued.
"So, she's completely blind?" Arslan asked.
"For the time being, yes. We've already contacted doctors' part of her program, someone is already on their way who can help, but until then, if it doesn't return naturally before they can arrive, then she will remain blind." The nurse finished.
"Can we see her now?" Blake asked.
"Of course, but she's, understandably, upset." The first nurse warned.
"Thank you." Arslan bowed as the nurses stepped away.
"Don't beat yourself up over it Arslan." Blake started.
"I just took away the one thing Ruby had that allowed her to be here, how can I not beat myself up?" Arslan asked, tears threating to spill.
"Nobody could've predicted this, it's still experimental. Did Ruby ever tell you that she's the first one in the program to actively face combat?" Blake asked, looking Arslan directly in the eyes.
"No, she hasn't, though a few of the articles I found on he suggested it." Arslan admitted.
"Atlas keeps a close eye on her, from what I've been told anyways. Anything new is instantly reported back to those in charge of her program, and immediately tested and taught to the others. To say she is going through this blind is both ironic and accurate." Blake explained.
"Point taken." Arslan conceded, tears no longer threatening to break past the dam. Following Blake into the room, Arslan noticed once more that the shata was no longer present on her face.
"Blake, is that you?" Ruby asked, perking up at the sound.
"And Arslan. How are you feeling?" Blake asked, concerned.
"They gave me some painkillers, but I know they already told you." Ruby trailed off.
"I'm sorry Ruby, had I known, I would have-" Arslan started.
"No, you did the right thing. I was in so much pain that I would have been more than willing to shoot myself if it didn't stop sooner. Thank you, by the way." Ruby said, stopping Arslan with her admission.
"It really hurt that bad?" Blake asked.
"Pour fire into your head and you tell me how bad that feels." Ruby deadpanned.
"Sorry, I just had to be sure." Blake apologized.
"It's fine Blake sorry for snapping. So Arslan, who wins our little bet?" Ruby asked.
"Considering your team is going on, I would say you." Arslan stated.
"Then as your favor to me, can you stick with me? I'm going to need help getting around until we can get my sight sorted, and I'm not sure who we're sending from my team." Ruby asked, silver eyes staring into green.
"I did kinda cause this. Of course, it's only fair anyways." Arslan agreed.
"Adorable. Ruby, I feel you should know that we put Yang in the infirmary as well." Blake admitted.
"What? Why?" Ruby asked, turning her head towards the faunus.
"After I knocked you out, she kinda," Arslan started.
"Went berserk. She was gunning for Arslan specifically and wouldn't stop until she was in worse shape than you. So, Weiss and I, mostly Weiss, threw her out of the arena and broke her aura." Blake finished.
"That blonde idiot! Is she awake and out of bed?" Ruby asked, seething.
"Awake? Yes. Out of bed? Not sure. If it makes you feel any better, Weiss and I did tell her that she needs to apologize for her actions." Blake explained.
"Drag her up here now, by the ear or hair, I don't care. If she gives you shit tell her I said so." Ruby ordered her teammate. Not wanting to face the young leader's wrath, Blake quickly scurries out of the room.
"Do you want me to leave?" Arslan asked.
"Absolutely not." Ruby states. Having watched the display unfold in front of her, Arslan slowly becomes more and more concerned. A bomb was about to go off, and she wasn't sure if what she was feeling was fear mixed with slight arousal, or arousal slightly mixed with fear.
AN/ And that's it! Another chapter down, and still more to go, and now that Arslan and Ruby are going to be glued at the hip, more relationship building! Yay! So, on another note, I just recently started my third playthrough of the Mass Effect trilogy, would you guys be willing to see some Mass Effect fanfiction from me? I've got some ideas already, but if there is a distinct lack of interest from my base readers, I'll likely stick to RWBY. Tell me what you think, and until next time, have a great day!