Today was one of those rare days where Yang was in Atlas and Weiss wasn't. As a huntress, it was usually the blonde who would spend anywhere from a few days to a week away from her princess, but she had no contracts lined up and Weiss told her she had a last-minute business trip, and left the night before. Schnee Manor wasn't as cold as it used to be, as Weiss had the entire interior remodeled to have a more 'homey' feel, bit it was still very large and very empty without the CEO there. So, Yang decided to spend her morning catching up with Blake. With two decided to meet at a cute coffee shop near the Manor.
"It's weird to be treated like royalty…" Yang noted as a server brought her order to her, even though the blonde had seen everyone else walk up to the counter to pick up their drinks.
"YANG XIAO LONG!"
The blonde dropped her coffee when she heard that voice. She spun around to face it. "RUBY!"
The two sisters crashed into each other, going for their hug. "Ruby! What are you doing here!? How did you find me?"
"Yang, you can't exactly hide up here like the rest of us. Everyone in this town knows you're Weiss Schnee's fiancée. They start to watch when you walk by."
"I guess you have a point there…" Yang admitted, rubbing the back of her head.
"Speaking of…" Ruby grabbed Yang by the shoulders. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU GOING TO PROPOSE!?"
"Well… umm… it's a rather recent development…"
"Recent? Yang, I spoke to you on the phone just a few weeks ago. Either you've been thinking about it since then, or you didn't do it right." Ruby scolded. "Actually, knowing you…"
"Hey! Give me a little more credit than that!" Yang crossed her arms. "I was thinking about it when we last talked… but at the time I was in the 'is this too early, do I really want to do this' stage of thinking."
"Hmph. I guess that makes sense." Ruby pouted. "Still had to learn it through tabloids."
"I'm sorry, okay?" Yang told her. "Besides, it's not like you're around for me to just call you up." Yang put her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, that came out wrong…"
"No, you're right." Ruby lamented. She started to absentmindedly fiddle with a strange necklace Yang didn't recognize. "So I guess I don't need to ask how things are going?"
"They're going great." Yang replied, happy to get away from that conversation… for now. "In fact, we're going to hold another reunion. We're making it annual."
"I see… I'll be there, then." Ruby smiled, pleasantly surprised Yang dropped the topic.
"Good." The blonde nodded. "Will you stay this time?"
"Yang, I-"
"The night!" Yang quickly interrupted. "I meant stay the night! I mean, that too, but we can cross that bridge later…"
Ruby thought for a moment. "I'll stay the night Yang. I'll say goodbye properly this time. I promise."
Little by little… Yang thought to herself. "So… what brings you to Atlas, anyway? What about the clinic?"
"Flora convinced me to start hunting again. You were right Yang. I can't handle being behind a desk very well." Ruby smiled.
"Are you sure there's nothing between you and Flora?" Yang asked. "And what about her?"
"Flora is a good friend, but just a friend, Yang." Ruby deadpanned. "And I still plan on dropping by once in a while. Like I'm doing here, now."
"So you're between contracts? How long?" Yang asked.
"Actually, I have to go in just a few minutes. I got myself on a boat to Vacuo by taking payment as a one-time guard." Ruby explained.
"Vacuo's your next big hunt?" Yang asked.
"Yup. Then maybe a few weeks off…" Ruby contemplated. "I've taken on a ton of contracts in the last two weeks."
"Will… you come back here for your time off?" Yang attempted.
Ruby shook her head, playing with her necklace again. "I don't think so. I do have other things to take care of still."
Yang frowned. "But that many contracts… you really need that kind of money, living as you are?"
"I really should head off soon." Ruby cut Yang off. She was starting to ask too many questions.
"Oh…" Yang shifted awkwardly. She spotted what looked like a shadow slipping around the corner, and remembered why she came to the coffee shop in the first place. "Ruby… do you still like Blake?"
Ruby turned back, surprised. "What makes you ask that?"
"I just… felt curious, I guess." Yang answered cautiously.
Ruby hung her head low. "I try to convince myself I don't… I mean, if she's with Sun right now, it's better that way. But when I saw her at the Reunion a few months back… It was almost like… my feelings were stronger than ever. I don't know how…"
"Even when Weiss and I hated each other, we could at least agree you two were meant to be." Yang reminisced. "Hove you spoken to her at all since…?"
"Yang… I really do have to go, or I'll miss my boat." Ruby told her sister. It was a convenient truth. "I love you. If I don't see you soon, I'll call you when I can."
"I love you too, Rubes…" Yang tried to be cheery. "See you soon."
The two embraced again, then Ruby left. Yang watched her leave, and sighed. "Did you hear all that?"
Blake walked out from around the corner to answer, "I did…"
"And? What are you going to do?" Yang asked.
"What do you mean?" Blake asked. "I'm with Sun now."
"So you don't love Ruby anymore?" Yang accused.
"I mean… Yang, this isn't easy… in fact, you just made it that much harder…" Blake scolded. "I'm just getting into a good place with Sun."
Yang played with her hair nervously. "I'm sorry… I just want to see you two happy…"
"I am happy." Blake told her. "With Sun."
"Are you?" Yang asked.
Blake stalled up. "Yang… I can't do this right now… I better just go."
"Wait, Blake!" Yang called out. "I'm sorry… we can still have a nice lunch…"
"My mind won't be here." Blake shook her head. "You've given me far too much to think about just now. I'll take a raincheck. I'm sorry."
Yang frowned as she watched her friend walk away. She was hoping this surprise visit could be turned into a blessing. But now, Yang could see she only caused more chaos in the hearts of her best friend and her sister.
A week and a half later, Ruby was walking up the steps to her apartment. Hidden away between the 'Nice' and 'Not so Nice' parts of the district, she wasn't likely to be found here, even if she did end up becoming a famous huntress. Still far away from the genuinely bad parts of the district, it was the perfect place to raise Phoenix. She found Flora waiting on the porch for her to arrive. "Is Phoenix okay? Why aren't you inside?"
"Phoenix is just fine, dear." Flora smiled. "I just set him to bed."
"Everything go okay? Any problems?" Ruby asked. She had called Flora before her flight to Mistral, of course, but anything could happen in a few hours, right?
"Everything is fine, Ruby." Flora laughed. "Phoenix is resting. You should too. You look weary."
"I am kinda beat…" Ruby nodded. "Maybe just one peek in his nursery, then I'll head to bed." Flora nodded and the girls went inside.
Ruby smiled as she looked over Phoenix. The red fuzz that was his hair was starting to thicken out and he had more teeth by the day. Ruby had completely weaned Phoenix by now anyways, so the start of her Huntress career wouldn't interrupt that. She also noticed his horns started to grow and sharpen out already, making her wonder if they needed some kind of special care or trimming, like fingernails except they were on his head.
After nearly a month without seeing him, she didn't even want to leave to sleep. Flora had anticipated this, and helped draw Ruby to her own bed. She stayed the night to handle any baby duties so the young mother could get a full night's rest. Flora found herself smiling at the little situation she helped create. She had a new friend, and convinced her to be the mother Phoenix deserved. If only this family could be complete… but Ruby had made it clear she didn't want to date.
But is she really 'too busy'? Or is she still holding on to her feelings for her old friend?
With how complex the rest of her life was, between hunting, her family, and her old friends, Ruby was happy to experience days where it was just her and Phoenix, sitting at home. Television was an easy way to distract little Phoenix. He didn't care much for what was going on screen as long as it was bright and colorful. The mother couldn't stand 'children's programming' and instead turned on an old cartoon meant more for teenagers. She could follow the plot, and Phoenix could be enamored by the pictures. "So wait… is the guy with the burn an jerkface or not…?" Ruby idly wondered. "Seems a little justified by now if you ask me."
By now, she could focus more on the show as her hands worked on autopilot to file Phoenix's horns down. She did a little research shortly after her first Hunt on faunus with horns and antlers, and it seemed these appendages did require special care. The rate was usually different, and Phoenix was in the extreme, requiring weekly trimming so his horns wouldn't get too big for his infant head. Once he was older, she could let them grow out a little, but baby-Phoenix was still too small and fragile at the moment. This, of course, required a special file meant specifically for a horned faunus. Thankfully the Huntress money helped with that.
Ruby heard the lock open on the door, and a moment later Flora entered carrying a bunch of groceries. "I noticed your fridge was a little light." She announced.
"You don't have to do that, Flora. I started hunting again for a reason." Ruby reminded her. "But thank you."
"Of course! Besides, you never know when you need more~!" The nurse replied in a singsong voice.
Ruby froze up. "Flora. What does that mean?"
"What does what mean?" Flora asked innocently.
"Damn it, Flora… I already get extra food for when you hang out, which means the only reason I would need more is to entertain a guest." Ruby deduced. "Which, knowing you, is going to turn into you trying to set me up with this someone."
"Oh, come on, Ruby! This one is a girl, an old friend of mine from high school. Can you humor me this once?" Flora begged.
"Why?" Ruby asked her. "Why is it so important to you that I'm with somebody?"
"I just think you're a wonderful person who deserves someone wonderful…" Flora admitted. Also, you still seem so hung up on your old friend… was the part she kept quiet.
"If you want me to date someone so badly, why haven't you offered?" Ruby asked, remembering Yang's words.
"I'm completely straight." Flora told her. "Except for one 'experiment', which only proved my sexuality to me in the end. In fact…"
"Oh my god, you're setting me up with your trial-lesbian ex." Ruby replied in shocked realization. "Or rather, you're not, because as I've told you, I have enough to worry about without adding a relationship to the mix."
"You wouldn't be complaining if I brought that Blake girl home…" Flora vented under her breath. She didn't think Ruby heard her.
Except the redhead completely froze mid-pass with Phoenix's file. She shook it off. Maybe Flora was right, but if that perfect fantasy somehow became real, she wouldn't need to build a relationship with Blake. "I assume you already invited this mystery girl over?"
"I've told her about you, but gave no date." Flora told her.
"You knew I'd say no." Ruby countered.
Flora sighed. "I did… part of me hoped, but… I didn't want to get any of our hopes up. Hence the extra food, but no girl."
"If you need to get rid of this extra food, I don't mind you inviting her over when you next watch Phoenix while I hunt." Ruby informed her friend. "Just don't expect me to take her to dinner myself."
"I got it. And thank you." Flora nodded. "Well, you'll be happy to hear that after this failure, I've decided to pressure you no longer. It seems to only be reinforcing your decision to stay single. I guess you just have to want to date on your own…"
"It took you this long to figure that out?" Ruby asked with a smile.
"Flora here was always a romantic." A voice announced from the doorway. Ruby turned to see a rather tall, dark haired woman. She wore a suit with no tie and the top few buttons of her undershirt undone. She wore a pistol on her hip and a badge on her lapel. "She was always trying to set me up whenever I was single. Unfortunately, it worked from time to time."
Ruby glared at Flora with full-forced accusation. She was immediately defensive. "I swear I didn't invite her over! I didn't even tell her where you lived!"
"I followed her." The mystery woman explained. "I half-figured this was her failing to set someone else up, and had to be sure. It kinda sucks… you are really cute."
Ruby flushed red. "T-thank you."
"Cute kid. Who's is it?" She asked, inviting herself in.
Ruby looked again to Flora suspiciously. "I thought you told her about me?"
The girl looked to Flora, who very quickly became interested in putting her groceries away. "So it's yours. She said you were full-on gay, not bi."
"It's a bit more complicated than that…" Ruby admitted. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you're great, but I just don't want to date at the moment."
"Hey, I understand." The woman defended, sitting on the couch next to Ruby. "Though I hope this doesn't stop us being friends. A friend of Flora's is a friend of mine, after all. And I honestly, truly promise to never try and set you up with my 'trail-lesbian ex'."
"You… heard that?" Ruby gulped, slightly embarrassed.
"Don't worry." The girl laughed. "It's not inaccurate. I like this show." The dark haired woman changed topics quickly and bluntly, not bothering to use a segue. "Burn guy isn't a dick forever."
"I knew it!" Ruby fist pumped in victory.
"What's his name?" The woman asked.
"The character?" Ruby asked in confusion.
"The kid, dunce." The woman clarified. Thankfully, Ruby could hear the word 'dunce' was used endearingly.
"Phoenix." Ruby answered. "What's your name?"
"Ash." The girl nodded. "You might want to focus on the left horn a little before he gets unbalanced."
"Oh, right!" Ruby moved the file to the left horn. "Thank you." The situation was catching up with Ruby, her mind truly realizing that a second person was in this house and making themselves at home, with no real invitation. But if Flora trusts her… maybe that's just this girl's quirks.
"See? You two are getting along…" Flora mentioned from the kitchen.
"Not gunna happen, Flo. Nice try." Flora's friend cut her off. "Seriously, if you can get Flo to stop playing Matchmaker, you'll succeed where I have failed for years."
Ruby found herself laughing. "You know, since you were the one to bring a guest in, Flo," Ruby teased, "It's only right you cook dinner tonight. Make that extra food come in handy."
A heavy sigh emanated from the kitchen. "Fine…"
Ruby smiled. So she wasn't going to date Flora's friend, but she was right about one thing. It didn't have to stop Ruby from simply making Ash a new friend regardless. Besides, Flora was right about other things, too… things that were arguably the root of the nurse's determination in getting Ruby a girlfriend. Even if Ruby was in a place where she was comfortable building a new relationship, she wasn't sure she could honestly give herself to another. Not while taking care of Phoenix. And certainly not while Blake still held a special place in her heart.
