I'm not dead and neither is the fic! Work and school have been kicking my ass though but this chapter is done! I hope it was worth the wait.
Yang groaned as she opened her eyes; did everyone have to be so loud this early in the morning? She turned over and saw her sister on the floor, Penny looking down at her from their bunk and Weiss sitting up and watching Ruby.
"Penny! What have I said about getting in bed without waking me up first?" Penny raised the blanket up bashfully, concealing the lower part of her face.
"But you all were sleeping and I did not want to wake any of you with my arrival last night. Being well rested is very important for one's health." Ruby rubbed the back of her head.
"Well… just send me a text or something saying you'll be out late. It's weird waking up and seeing your face when we weren't together when I went to sleep." Penny let the sheets go and gave a salute.
"Understood, Ruby!"
Weiss got up from her bed and made her way over to the bathroom, sidestepping Ruby. The bathroom door shut behind her and a moment later Yang could hear the sound of the shower running.
Ruby looked back at her.
"You said you're going to watch her, right?" she asked. Yang nodded. Penny looked at them strangely.
"Why will you be watching Weiss? Is something wrong with her?" Ruby shook her head.
"I don't want to call what she's going through wrong but yes, she said some stuff last night and we're worried about her. So Yang is gonna watch over her today while they get the dance ready."
"Oooooh, I see," she said, nodding her head in understanding. She looked over at the bunk above Yang. "Did Blake not come back last night? That would be the," she paused and started to count on her fingers "Third night in a row that she has not been here." Ruby sighed and looked down at the floor. Yang tossed her blanket off and sat up, her legs dangling off the edge of the bed.
"Ruby?" Her sister looked back at her. "Try and find Blake and see if you can help her out. Okay?" Ruby nodded in understanding.
"What should I do?" Penny asked. Ruby looked up at her and shrugged.
"Relax, look around the school, go have some fun while we sort all of this out."
"Understood!"
Ruby pushed the door to the library open and made her way inside. It was quiet inside the building, only a few students studying at the desks, and early morning sunlight was filtering into the building through the large glass windows.
She gave a courteous nod to the librarian and started to wander through the building. Blake would probably be on one of the computer terminals but she could also be hiding away in an aisle, busy on her scroll.
She walked through the building slowly, poking her head in each aisle to check for Blake. She wasn't in the romance section, or the mystery section. Fantasy and sci-fi were empty. She walked past the horror aisle only to hurry back once she realized there was a girl in monochromatic clothes sitting in the aisle.
"Blake!" She whisper shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth. Blake looked up from her scroll; the bags under her bloodshot eyes had deepened and darkened, almost as black as her hair now. Ruby saw her bow twitch as Blake looked back down at her scroll.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice low. Ruby walked over to her and sat down next to her, tucking her knees in against her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs.
"Can't a team leader worry about her team mate?"
"I'm doing fine."
"No you're not, Blake. You aren't sleeping, you're skipping classes and picking fights with teachers. You aren't eating, and you're avoiding us." Blake looked away from her scroll and stared off into space, refusing to meet Ruby's gaze.
"It's better if you and the others stay away from me."
"How? How could that possible be better, Blake?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"Of course not! You never explain anything to us! You just get really distant or run from us!"
"You wouldn't understand, Ruby! Everyone I care about always end up getting hurt because of me. You, Weiss, Yang, and all the others should just forget about me." Ruby shook her head and wrapped an arm around Blake's shoulder. Blake continued to look away from her.
"That's not true Blake."
Blake said nothing as she slipped out of Ruby's embrace and stood up. She was out of the aisle before Ruby had a chance to stand up. Ruby followed around the corner and an annoyed groan escaped her lips; Blake had already disappeared.
Freaking ninjas.
She set the speaker down with a grunt, straightened it, and backed away with a smile. Oh these things were gonna kick ass. She looked over at Weiss, who was busy trying to straighten a flower; her movements were sluggish and her face was emotionless. Yang's expression fell as she saw Weiss go about her work. She walked over to her and sat down in the chair at the table.
"Weiss? There anything you wanna talk about?" She looked at her and shook her head. Yang cocked an eyebrow. "You know you're a terrible liar, right?"
"I am not!" Weiss huffed.
"Well you're doing a bad job convincing me otherwise." She rested her arms on the table. "I can tell that something is bothering you Weiss, and after last night I don't want you keeping anything bottled up. So let's hear it." Weiss did nothing for a moment before shuffling her feet and then pulling out a scrap of paper from her pouch. She handed it to her, looking in the opposite direction. Yang eyed it, looked at Weiss, and then took it.
I'm Sorry
She flipped it over, and saw that it was blank. She flipped it back over. She looked back at Weiss.
"I don't get it," she said. Weiss looked back at her and crossed her arms.
"Blake left that on my bed."
"Why?" Weiss sighed and looked away again, her shoulders slumping.
"That…. outburst I had yesterday was caused by her. I- I took her out to Vale to do some shopping to lift her spirits and I…" she took a breath. "I took her to a store that discriminated against the Faunus. And when she left the store she told me how I haven't changed at all. " She looked over at her. Pain was etched on her face. "And I know you think I've changed but Blake is right, and she doesn't need to apologize to me. I should have noticed all those signs, Yang." Weiss turned her back to her, her voice thick with emotion.
"And I've been thinking back to last semester; I almost single handedly ruined this team because of my bigotry. I drove Blake off, and I made it to where you and I would hardly say a word to one another before coming close to fighting. I don't deserve to be on this team, Yang, and I don't deserve any of you."
Yang stared at Weiss, opening and closing her mouth as she struggled to think of what to say.
"Well…shit, Weiss." She managed. She scratched the back of her head. "You really think that?" Weiss ponytail bobbed with her head as she nodded.
She contemplated the chances Weiss would kill her for her next action, and decided to do it anyway. She stood up from the chair and wrapped her arms around Weiss, resting her head on her shoulder. She felt Weiss' body go rigid at the contact.
"Wha-what are you doing?" she stammered out.
"Hugging you."
"Why?"
"Because we clearly haven't been showing how much we love you Weiss. We wouldn't be better off if you were… gone, and you sure as hell deserve to be on this team." Weiss turned her head, her ponytail rubbing against Yang's face. She tightened her grip. "And if we're being honest, us not getting along after Blake left is more my fault than yours."
Weiss laughed, the sound lacking any kind of mirth.
"I'm sure I am more at fault than you."
"Look, I'm not saying you didn't have a shitty opinion about things last semester but you gotta stop beating yourself up over it. We all fuck up and we learn from it and grow. But it was more my fault Weiss. I'm the one who threatened you, I kept instigating those fights, and I honestly still resented you a little when I apologized at the docks."
"But-" Yang gave a squeeze.
"Let me finish." She took a breath as she figured out how to say the next part. "I didn't really like you when we first met. I thought you were some rich Atlas bitch who's gotten everything she's ever wanted served to her on a silver platter. And your views of the Faunus certainly didn't help things. But when Blake left I think I was taking some of my own problems out on you." Weiss turned her head again and Yang raised her head from her shoulder. Ice met amethyst. "You remember what I said about Ruby and I's mom?" Weiss nodded.
"Ruby's mother passed after your mother did." It was Yang's turn to laugh. She shook her head.
"My mom didn't die; she abandoned me." Weiss' mouth parted slightly. "She left after I was born and I only found out I had a different mom when I overheard my dad talking about it with my uncle. I've been looking for her my entire life, and I guess I don't really react well when people in my life leave for no real reason. I didn't believe you when you said Blake just left because she was a Faunus; I wanted a reason, some complicated reason, why she would leave us, and I took that anger out on you. That wasn't right of me, and I want you to know that I truly am sorry. I…" She smiled. "I really care about you Weiss, and I want you to know that I'm here for you. And I'm sure Blake and Ruby would tell you the same thing."
Yang heard the door to the ballroom open and she looked over at the door. Ruby stood in the doorway, her head cocked to the side as she looked at them.
"Am I interrupting something?" Yang flashed a mischievous smile and lifted Weiss into the air, giving her a squeeze. Weiss yelped in surprise.
"Nope! Just giving Weiss a hug." Weiss began to squirm in Yang's arms.
"Put me down!" Yang let her go, and she landed with a thud onto the wood floor. Weiss glared at her but Yang noticed the smirk she was trying to hide. "Next time you try that Xiao Long I will freeze you." Yang crossed her arms as Weiss stood up.
"Bring it, Ice Queen." Weiss said nothing but offered her a confidant smile.
Ruby walked over to them, and took the seat at the table. She exhaled and leaned back in the seat.
"You guys have any ideas for Blake? She seems even more moody than she was before." She saw Weiss' shoulders stiffen at the mention of Blake and Yang frowned.
"I think I might have an idea. Tell her to meet me in our dorm in the afternoon." Ruby cocked an eyebrow.
"And why would she do that?" she asked.
"Tell I have info on the Fang or something, just get her there." Ruby shrugged but pulled out her scroll and started to text.
Yang turned back to Weiss.
"You said you wanted doilies on the tables, right?" She smiled as Weiss' eyes lit up.
She hummed to herself as she walked through Beacon's crowded courtyard. The sun was beating down and lots of students were huddled together in little groups, talking loudly.
She had explored a good part of Beacon already; the water gardens being her favorite place with all of the pretty birds and insects. She wasn't entirely sure where else she could go and explore. She saw a splash of neon blue and sandy blonde amongst the students, and with a happy smile, walked over to the two boys she had met a little while ago.
"Salutations!" She beamed at the duo. Sun raised a hand in greeting as Neptune looked her over.
"You're… Penny, right?"
"Yes I am! You two look like you are doing much better. It does not seem like you were in the hospital for very long." Sun laughed.
"Yeah. We don't like staying in those kinda places for very long. Our aura's can heal almost anything, why have bunch of quacks poking and prodding ya with needles and crap."
Penny nodded her head in understanding; she was not aware that they allowed ducks to work in hospitals but she would much rather let a doctor (engineer?) heal her than a water fowl.
"May I ask why you two are back here at Beacon? Have you decided to become students?" It was Neptune who laughed this time.
"Nah, we heard Yang was planning a dance or a party or something and we wanted to check it out." She cocked her head to the side. Yang and Weiss were planning a 'dance' but she still was not entirely sure what that was. She knew what dancing was, she had done it a few times while listening to her father's old records, but how did one plan a dance?
"What is a dance?" she asked. They looked at her in disbelief before glancing to one another.
"You been living under a rock or something?" Sun asked. She shook her head.
"No. I grew up on a military base in Atlas. My father was very restrictive of what I was allowed to see of the outside world."
"Shit, really?" Neptune asked. Penny nodded. Neptune rubbed the back of his head as Sun rubbed his chin.
"My father loved me very much and didn't want me worrying about things he didn't want me knowing." She said. They looked at each other again.
"Well, in that case. A dance is where a bunch of people dress up and go somewhere with a person they like and dance to some music. There's food, drinks, and all the usual party stuff." Neptune said.
"I see. And you two are going together?" she asked.
"Well duh. We're a couple." Sun said.
"I see," she said. She heard a grumble come from Sun's stomach and she and Neptune looked at him. He smiled sheepishly.
"You think they're still serving breakfast?" he asked. Neptune shrugged and Penny checked her scroll. The cafeteria would not close for a few more minutes.
"Indeed they are! Would you mind if I accompanied you? I would like you two to keep teaching me." Neptune shrugged again and put his hands in his hoodies pockets. He started to walk in the direction of the cafeteria.
"Sure, long as Sun doesn't mind." Sun flashed Penny a grin and motioned for her to follow them.
"Course not! Come on Penny, we know a ton of cool stuff." She followed after the duo, swinging her arms as she walked and starting to hum again.
Someone she liked…
Jaune struggled to look at himself in the mirror, trying to not look at the white dress Ren had picked for him. He looked back at Ren, who was wearing a pink qipao with black flowers tracing along it. "So why are we wearing dresses again?"
"I thought it might be a good idea for us all to go in matching outfits," he rested a hand on his chin. "But since they don't have our sizes, I thought all of us going in similar clothing styles would be close enough."
"Yeah, but, why dresses? I'm sure there's suits for Pyrrha and Nora?"
Ren shrugged. "Nora thinks I look better in a dress than a suit, and didn't want you to feel left out of the team. Pyrrha's dress would look nice next to yours."
Jaune looked away, keeping his eyes away from the mirror. "Right, appreciate the thought," he sighed.
"Something on your mind?" Ren asked.
Jaune glanced at his reflection, and tugged at the dress, hiding the bit of the binder that was sticking out.
Don't make this an issue for everyone else, just... suffer through it. Think of some other reason.
"Yeah, kinda," Jaune said. He turned and faced Ren with a sigh. "It's Pyrrha." Ren gave him a look.
"What about her?" Jaune rubbed his arm and looked away.
"I'm head over heels for her, and I'm just a little bummed she's going to the dance with someone else. I mean, I'm glad she found someone she likes and as long as she's happy I'll be happy but I wanted that guy to be me."
"If you felt that way about her, then why didn't you tell her sooner?" Ren asked.
"I didn't want to make things awkward between us. I mean she's beautiful, smart, funny, talented, and you've seen her fight, she's amazing. Why would someone like her want to be with a guy like me?" Ren clasped Jaune's shoulder and Jaune looked up at him.
"Don't sell yourself short my friend. You're a catch, and I'm sure you'll find someone that cares about you the way you care about Pyrrha." Jaune smiled.
"Thanks Ren," he said. He looked back down at his dress. "You're sure this looks okay?" he asked. Ren rolled his eyes.
Yang opened the door to her dorm and was both relieved and struck with anxiety at who was waiting for her. Blake had her arms crossed and had apparently been pacing. She was stopped and was staring at her now, her bloodshot, amber eyes fixed on her. Yang entered the room and closed the door.
"Ruby said you found so-" she trailed off when she heard Yang lock the door. She scowled. "What is this?" she asked as Yang went over to her bed and sat down.
"A talk," she said, and patted the spot next to her. Blake glared at her, ignoring the spot she had motioned to.
"If you're going to try and get me to stop then you're wasting your breath," she said.
"You don't have to stop, none of us have, we just want you to slow down, take a breather, and relax before you kill yourself."
"We don't have time to slow down or relax, Yang."
"We do, Blake. We need to relax a little in between missions."
"What we need is to stop the White Fang."
"We're going to, Blake. You just gotta be patient." Blake scoffed. She patted the spot again. "Now can ya take a seat and listen to what I have to say." Blake's eyes darted to the door, then to the window before she sighed and sat down on the floor, crossing her legs.
"Fine, let's hear it."
"You remember what I said about Ruby and I's mom?" Blake's eyes drifted upward for a moment before she looked back at her and nodded.
"Ruby's mom's name was Summer, and she was the best mother you could ask for." Blake frowned and looked away at 'mother' before returning her attention. "She was a Huntress, and when she wasn't out hunting down Grimm, she was at home taking care of us; baking cookies, playing games, reading us bed time stories and tucking us in for bed." Yang smiled as the memories of that warm, nurturing smile flooded back to her. The taste of those chocolate chip cookies. She took a breath, and steeled herself for the next part. "And then one day she left on a mission. And my Uncle Qrow showed up a month later, her damaged rifle and blood soaked cloak with him."
"Ruby was really little and I don't think she fully understood what being dead meant, but she was crying all the time, every day for I don't even remember how long. And my dad, he just…" She closed her eyes. "He shut down. I couldn't get him out of bed most days; he was too depressed to do anything. He ended up getting fired from Beacon and we started to get short on money. I had to take care of Ruby; helping her with school, and with some of her own personal issues. But I also had to become the money maker in the family and I had to turn to some… less than savory places to get the money."
The dim lights of the underground. The crowd of sweaty people; cheering, screaming, begging for blood. The pain as her opponent beat into her. The taste of copper as a tooth was knocked out. The crunch as she broke her opponent's arm, his screams of agony and the roar of the crowd. The hungry look in the man's eyes as he looked over her adolescent body as she collected the lien from him, the way he licked his lips whenever he saw her. The smell of piss and shit and dying homeless people. The ache when she got home and collapsed in the bed her and Ruby shared. The dread knowing she would have to do it all over again the next night.
"And it was during all of this that I found out that Ruby and I had separate moms, and that was why my dad shut down the way he did." Blake's mouth was agape slightly as she watched Yang.
"I came down one night and I overheard my dad talking with my uncle. About how Summer dying was worse than Raven leaving him. And my uncle asking if he was ever going to tell us we weren't true blood sisters. I was so shocked and I remember going back to my room, hugging Ruby and crying, Ruby was my sister, my true, full blooded sister, and I refused to believe my father would hide that from me. The next day I found my dad in his bed. I made him tell me the truth about Ruby and I's mom. He wouldn't tell me everything, other than yes, Ruby and I were half-sisters, and that my mom left right after I was born and she's never been seen since."
"Why?" Blake asked. Yang chortled, the sound joyless.
"Question of my life. I hounded my dad about Raven all the time but he refused to talk about her. And then one day while I was looking up in the attic I found an old picture. It was of my dad's old team, STRQ. Summer, Qrow, and my mom and dad had all been a part of a team."
"I knew what my mom looked like, I knew how to fight, I thought I could take on the world and look for her. So when my dad fell asleep I put some food and Ruby in a wagon and went on my way. I was so stupid. I must have walked for hours because I was completely exhausted when night came and I stopped at an abandoned building. And that's when I noticed those burning red eyes. They never made a sound as they slinked out of the darkness, and I was too exhausted and terrified to do anything but stand there as they attacked." Yang shrugged off her jacket and turned so her back was clearly visible to Blake. She heard Blake inhale sharply.
"I got that when I threw myself over Ruby when they attacked. It broke my aura with one swing. I thought I was gonna die; the pain was more excruciating then any match I had been in at my fight ring. I remember Ruby waking up from her nap and the terror in her eyes when she saw me cowering over her, my blood running down my back, a Beowolf over my shoulder." She turned back towards Blake and put her jacket back on. "As luck would have it, my uncle came out of nowhere and killed those Grimm, and got me medical help before it got infected."
"Ruby and I should be dead, and it would of have been because of my stupid decision to not take a break on finding that woman." Blake stood up, and uncrossed her arms.
"Yang, I'm sorry to hear that all of that happened to you. That's… pretty terrible, and I understand what you're trying to tell me but this is different." Yang scowled and stood up, closing the distance between the two of them. Blake was not intimidated. "I'm not some little girl looking for her runaway mom, I need to sto-"
"We're not asking you to give up your fight! I have never stopped looking for my mother, and I will not rest until I know why that bitch left me! But I refuse to let her control my life!" Blake snarled as she answered.
"You don't understand, Yang! I am the only person who can do this! I have to be the one to stop them!" Yang felt her hair ignite and she grabbed Blake by her collar, lifting her so she was eye level, their noses pressed against the other.
"No, you don't understand, Blake! If you keep going like this you are going to die! What would you do if Torchwick walked through that door?" Blake struggled against Yang's grip, clawing into her hands.
"I'd kill him!"
"You. Would. Die." Yang spun around and slammed Blake against the railing of the bunk beds.
"I would kill him, Yang!" Blake insisted.
"You're too weak to even get out of my grip, you'd have no chance against him or any of the White Fang." Blake began to squirm in her grip.
"Let me go!"
"Not until you stop acting stupid!" Blake squirmed and fought against Yang's vice grip for a few minutes before finally giving up. Yang lowered her back down to the ground and took a step back. She didn't realize Blake was crying until she saw Blake's shudder and wipe at her eyes. "Blake?" Blake turned away, and let her hair fall over her face.
"I'm sorry. You and Weiss only wanted to help me. And… and Ruby is right, I don't try and talk to you guys about my problems. I'm a terrible team mate, I'm a colossal bitch, and I'm so sorry I had to put all of you through this. You all deserve better." Yang felt the fire in her hair die and she embraced Blake, nuzzling the back of her head.
"It's okay to want to stop the White Fang, Blake. But you can't let that desire control you. And it's okay to come to us for help; you don't have to hurt yourself, or run away, or distance yourself. You're not a colossal bitch, or a bad team mate, and you definitely deserve to be on this team. We all love you Blake and we just want to help you. So please, take a breather and get some rest." She felt Blake inhale.
"Okay," she said. Yang smiled. She ended the hug and Blake turned towards her.
"Why don't you come with the rest of us to the dance tomorrow? We'll all be stag; it'll be fun." Blake shook her head.
"Dances aren't really my thing. They're too loud, too crowded, and I'm not big on party music." Yang nodded to show she understood.
"Okay. Well, stay in the dorm and rest or read. Just something to relax, okay?" Blake nodded. Yang gave her one last smile and went to the door.
The door opened and Weiss held her breath when Yang stepped out. She had heard shouting and thudding in the room and Ruby had to restrain her from bursting through the door when they heard the first shouts.
Yang shut the door behind her and leaned against it, exhaling in relief.
"How is she?" Ruby asked.
"Did it go okay? We heard yelling," Weiss asked. Yang nodded her head.
"Yeah, she should be fine now, hopefully. We still need to keep an eye on her to make sure she actually gets some rest and starts acting normal again." Yang crossed her arms. "I'm a little worried about tomorrow though, she said she won't go to the dance with us tomorrow. Which is fine if she isn't into that but she needs to get some rest, and if we're all gone then we can't be sure she's actually taking a break." Ruby rubbed her chin with her index finger as she thought. Weiss looked at the door.
"I could stay with her," she said. Yang looked at her, concern in her amethyst eyes.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, Weiss?"
"Someone has to watch her, right?"
"Yeah but what about the dance? Don't you wanna go?" Weiss shook her head.
"I enjoy planning things more than actually going to them." Yang sighed and looked over at Ruby.
"If Weiss wants to watch her I don't have a problem with it," Ruby said. Yang uncrossed her arms and rested her hands on her hips.
"Fine. But give us a call if you need anything, okay Weiss?" Weiss gave her a smile.
"I will," she said. Yang checked her scroll. She motioned to the door with her thumb.
"Can you guys take care of her? I gotta finish prepping for the dance."
"Sure, no problem," Ruby said. Yang left them and Ruby opened the door.
Inside Blake had changed into her yukata. She didn't have her bow on and she was in her bed reading a well-worn book. Her eyes lifted up from the page and she nodded at them as they entered. Ruby went to her bed and started to read on her scroll. Weiss went to her desk and opened up a textbook. She was already prepared for the test in Azura's class but a little extra studying never hurt anyone.
The golden orange light filtering into the room slowly disappeared and was replaced with the pale white of moonlight. Weiss heard Ruby's scroll go off, the music grating and obnoxious to her ears.
"Hey Weiss?" Ruby asked.
"Hmm?" She looked back at Ruby. She was dangling her legs over the edge of her bed.
"I got a text from Penny. I'll be gone for a bit."
"Okay, don't be out too late." Ruby left and Weiss went back to studying.
It remained quiet in the dorm for a time and Weiss leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms, her back making several satisfying snaps and pops.
"No…" Blake mumbled. She looked back at Blake. She was sleeping but she looked like she was in pain. Sweat coated her face. Weiss got up from her chair.
"Blake?" Weiss asked softly. Blake turned over in her sleep before spinning back over, her face contorting with fear, her arms dangling off the edge of her bunk.
"Adam, please…" Blake said. Adam? Weiss slowly walked over to the bunk. "Weiss…" Blake mumbled. Weiss froze. She was dreaming about her?
Blake gasped and her eyes shot open, her breathing ragged. Her breathing slowed as she stared at Weiss' face.
"You okay, Blake?" Blake opened her mouth before closing it and shaking her head. "Do you want to talk about it?" Blake shook her head. Weiss looked at the dangling arm again and slipped her hand into Blake's. Blake squeezed her hand, running her thumb across the back of Weiss' hand, and shut her eyes.
"It was just a nightmare, Weiss. I'll be fine." She said. She opened one eye, amber met ice. "But could we stay like this, at least for a little while?" Weiss smiled and nodded. She didn't need to study anymore anyway.
Moonlight shone through the branches of the tree Penny was standing under. Fireflies danced through the air as she rocked back and forth on her heels. It was a little humid but it was not nearly as hot as it had been earlier in the day.
She heard Ruby stumble into the clearing before she saw her.
"Penny? What are you doing out here? Why'd you ask me to-" She trailed off when Penny pulled out what she had been hiding behind her back. It was a bouquet of flowers she liked, most of them red, that she had picked from the water gardens. She giggled as Ruby's eyes widened and her face turned as red as her cloak. "Penny?" she asked. Penny smiled and took a step forward, presenting the flowers to Ruby,
"Ruby Rose, I would like to go to the dance with you," she said. Ruby was slack jawed as she stared at Penny. She shakily pointed at herself.
"Me?" Penny nodded her head and handed the floors to Ruby. The flowers shook in her hand as she looked down at them and then back up at Penny. "You're… asking me out?"
"I am! You are supposed to ask people that you like to dances, right?"
"Well, y-yeah, but I'm just surprised you like me that way." Ruby stammered out.
"Why wouldn't I? You are my friend, Ruby. You did not consider me unnatural when you learned I was a machine. You are helping me learn what it means to be a real girl. It appears only logical to me that I would like you." Penny stepped forward again, slipping her hand into Ruby's free hand, interlocking their fingers. Ruby's blush deepened but she did not break away or step back. "Will you go with me, Ruby?" she asked.
Ruby swallowed before she smiled and nodded her head.
"Yes."
Ruby played with the hem of her skirt nervously as she posed for the picture Weiss wanted to take.
"Ruby, stop fidgeting and smile!" Weiss said, frowning at her as she held her scroll in front of her face. Ruby let her hand fall to her sides, and gave Weiss a smile. She felt Penny clasp her hand and the smile on her face became genuine. Weiss lowered the scroll and beamed at them. "Oh this is just lovely! Have fun you two!"
"We'll try," Ruby said. They left the dorm and made their way to the ball room. They held onto each other's hands as they made their way there, Ruby's hand feeling rather sweaty and her heart racing, a knot in her gut.
"Ruby? Are you okay?" Penny asked. Ruby looked at her, meeting her green eyes.
"Yeah, I'm just really nervous. I've… I've never been asked out or gone to a dance before." Penny smiled at her.
"Neither have I! We can figure out how to do this together!" Ruby laughed a little at that and they resumed their walk to the ballroom.
They opened the doors to the ballroom and Ruby heard her sister squeal in delight, clapping her hands.
"You look beautiful, Ruby! You two are so cute!" Ruby rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
"Thanks, sis," she said. Yang smiled and motioned to the ballroom.
"Have fun you two! Don't keep her out too late, okay Penny?" Yang winked. Ruby blushed and Penny saluted and they made their way into the ballroom.
White tablecloths covered the tables and gentle waltzing music was playing. A dj stand had been set up at the other end of the building, and there was a buffet table filled with sodas, chips, dip, and a variety of finger foods. White roses and fluttering candles were situated on each table. The room was neither dimly lit nor brightly lit, and white streamers ran across the ceiling. People were sitting at the tables, clumped near the food table, but most were on the dance floor, waltzing.
Ruby let Penny take her to the dance floor where Penny let go of her hand and spun on her heels, facing her. Weiss had done her makeup and Ruby felt her pulse quicken as they looked at each other. The green of her eyes had been accentuated and so had her freckles. Penny smiled at her.
"So Ruby, how do we dance?" Penny asked.
"I'm… not entirely sure. I've never been much of dancey, fancy kinda girl." Penny cocked her head to the side and pursed her lips before looking at the dancing couples around them.
"Why don't we follow their lead?"
"S-sure. Just don't be surprised if I step on your feet." Penny took her hand and placed their hands like the other couples around them.
"I will not mind, Ruby. My feet are made of metal." Ruby giggled as they started to dance.
The door shut behind Ruby and Penny and Weiss turned to her.
"Is there anything you would like to do, Miss Belladonna?"
"I was gonna read. Listen to some music, maybe." Weiss pulled out her scroll.
"I was going to watch some movies. Let me know if it's too loud for you." Blake climbed into her bed and got situated and resumed where she had left off in the book yesterday. She heard the movie start up. It was a musical and she could hear Weiss humming along to the music, softly singing along to the lyrics. Blake grinned as she read and listened to the movie and Weiss' singing. She felt the grin slowly disappear as she remembered why Weiss was in the room with her, what she had said to her the other day.
After a little while Blake cleared her throat. The film stopped and she heard Weiss' bed creak as she moved from the bed.
"Everything okay, Blake?" she asked. Blake nodded and put a bookmark in the book. She took a breath and looked down at Weiss.
"I wanted to apologize to you," she said. Weiss' expression fell.
"For… for the other day I assume?" Blake climbed out of the bed and stood in front of her bed. She shook her head.
"Not just that. What I said then was wrong and I regret it but it's more than just that. I'm sorry for putting you and the others through this. I should have told you guys what was bothering me to begin with. I shouldn't have punched the wall and avoided talking about it with you guys. I shouldn't have snapped at all of you the way I was. I even made you miss the dance you worked so hard on. The things I've said and done these past few weeks have been awful and I hope you can forgive me." Weiss climbed out of her bed and went over to Blake, looking up at the taller girl.
"I forgive you Blake. But I should have noticed those sign's, it wasn't right of me to take you to an environment like that."
"But I shouldn't have snapped at you like I did. I shouldn't have said that to you. You didn't hear what the people in there were saying, the way they looked at my clothes, you had no way of knowing they were like that." Weiss shook her head.
"But I should have. I grew up privileged in the wealthiest kingdom on Remnant. I've been to so many events and parties and listened to so many people say such horrible things about your people, I should have known better. I should have known a store with that kind of cliental would have those kind of views."
"Regardless, I shouldn't have said that to you and then just run away. You have been changing Weiss." She gave Weiss a smile. "I wouldn't mind visiting that restaurant you picked out again." Weiss smiled back.
"I'll keep that in mind the next time we're in Vale. And don't worry about me missing the dance. I've been to more than enough in my life. Spending a quiet night at home with you is much more fun." Blake blushed and her smile grew. Weiss started to play with a piece of her hair.
"And there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Blake cocked her head to the side, genuinely curious.
"What is it?" Weiss looked her in the eye.
"Could you teach me about your people?" Blake could not believe her ears and the pride and excitement that surged through her.
"I would love too," she said. Weiss looked happy at that.
Yang lifted her legs up one at a time, stretching them out. Her time at the podium was almost done and then she could head to the dance floor and have some fun.
The ballroom doors opened and Yang greeted the trio with a smile.
"You're just in time; Stupid Thugs were about to go on." Emerald walked past her and towards the dance floor. The short one with black pigtails and green eyes flashed her a smile as Mercury said
"We wouldn't miss this party for the world."
And that's it. Let me know what you think! With school done for now I should be able to pump out the next few chapters (and requests that have been piling up) out at a faster pace.