Chapter 6: Face Your Fear

There were all kinds of conversations buzzing about, rumours leaping and bounding, but they weren't hard for Ruby to ignore. Beats were in her head as she walked through Beacon's hallowed halls with deft feet, fresher than a field of daisies. For the last three nights, she had great, dreamless sleep. Goodbye nightmares, goodbye insomnia.

Beating Weiss was exactly what the doctor ordered.

She got a lot of love after her big win, and in just a few short minutes, she'd be leading her team to glory in today's final class. Once she reached the locker room, Ruby spotted Blake sitting on the bench next to her locker, quiet from focus as she pored over her signature weapon, Gambol Shroud.

Last-minute diagnostics. She respected that.

Since Blake was so engrossed in her work, she probably wouldn't notice a fly darting around her long locks of hair, let alone Ruby sneaking behind her. She just had to be careful, walk with a ghost's footsteps... then Blake would get a taste of her own medicine.

Slipping behind Blake was easier than she'd expected. Blake hadn't noticed her at all, giving Ruby a chance to sneak a peek at Gambol Shroud. It really was incredible, hosting deceptively simple mechanisms that seamlessly interacted with each other. If only she could get a closer look, then she could see how Gambol Shroud's inner workings made it transform, maybe compare it to her baby.

"Hello, Ruby."

Ruby's heart skipped a beat. How?

"Ruby isn't here," Ruby said in a deep, creepy voice. Sheesh, she sounded so, so lame. At least Blake still hadn't seen her. "I'm the ghost of Beacon Academy. Give me your cookies, or I'll haunt you for eternity! Wooooooo!"

Blake covered her mouth, shaking in her seat. Was she... laughing? She stood up and sheathed Gambol Shroud's blade in its scabbard. When she turned around, there was a smile on her face.

"Your breathing was too loud," Blake said. "Ghosts don't breathe."

Ruby hung her head in shame. Of course they didn't. Somehow, Blake knew Ruby was there. She probably knew the second she arrived. When she looked up, Blake's smile had disappeared.

"Ready to go?"

Ruby nodded, swallowing a sudden twinge of discomfort. No, it was nothing.

"Just need to dress up."

Blake gave her room to change, and feeling her favourite outfit's familiar weight helped Ruby settle down. Now she was ready for action.

Her partner stuck very close to her as they left the locker room, silent as a whisper. Almost like she was shadowing her. It was good that Blake wanted to spend more time with her, but it'd be great if she talked more often.

"You seemed pretty interested in Gambol Shroud," Blake said, answering her thoughts.

"Well, who wouldn't be?" Ruby said. "It has so many parts: it's a sickle, a katana, it can become a cleaver, you can even tie people up with the ribbon. Also, it's a gun – something any weapon worth its weight needs to be – but don't you get a bit mixed up sometimes?"

"I don't. I wanted to have a lot of options. And it works well with my semblance. Maintaining it can be a bit of a hassle, though."

This was amazing. Ruby had no idea Blake was a weapons connoisseur.

"It's because of all those moving parts, right? You need to make sure that the blade and the pistol can fold together without straining the ribbon. Not only that, you have to make sure that you don't get any Dust caught in hard-to-reach places. Believe me, it can get super annoying to clean it out. I have a special kit I use for those 'special' occasions, but I have to make sure it's on hand whenever I need to use it."

"I thought I would be describing Gambol Shroud."

Ruby froze, her cheeks quickly growing warm from embarrassment.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to leave you out!"

Then she saw Blake's smile, and felt her embarrassment ebb away.

"You're really passionate about weapons. You shouldn't be ashamed of that."

A small smile bloomed on Ruby's face. "Thanks, Blake."

Talking about weapons always helped Ruby forget about her worries, and as Blake told her more about Gambol Shroud, while bearing she started to believe Blake truly wanted to be her friend.

At the same time, Blake kept on sneaking looks at Crescent Rose. It was probably nothing. Blake might've just been interested in how her weapon worked. So why didn't she ask her?

She'd love to talk shop about Crescent Rose.

Soon enough, Ruby and Blake reached the cliffs overlooking Emerald Forest. She couldn't see Yang or Weiss, but she did see a few other students, including Nora and Ren.

The second she did, Nora ran right at them, grinning without a care in the world.

"Good afternoon, Ruby and Blake!" Nora said, sliding to a stop at their feet.

"Afternoon, Nora," Ruby said, smiling.

Once Ren joined Nora, Ruby exchanged greetings with him. Ren and Blake nodded at each other, and Blake gave Nora a quick wave. Nora waved back with three times Blake's enthusiasm.

It was always good to see Nora and Ren.

"Where are your teammates?" Blake asked.

"On their way," Ren said. "Nora wanted to be the first one to reach the Emerald Forest today."

Nora nodded super vigorously. "That's right! Jaune tried to keep up but I was too fast for that slowpoke, so Pyrrha stayed behind to help him while Ren and I ran ahead. You know what happened next? We made it! We were the first ones here!"

"Professor Goodwitch was surprised to find us here so early," Ren said, putting a hand to his head.

"When I told her how excited I was for today's lesson, Professor Goodwitch told me 'if only more people were as dedicated as you, Ms. Valkyrie'," Nora added, doing a surprisingly good impression of their strict professor. "Then she went to make some last-minute preparations, so I decided to find an Ursa or a giant Beowolf, but Ren said we should wait for our teammates to catch up so we could fight one together!"

Blake looked at Ruby, a bit overwhelmed. Ruby shrugged. She liked how Nora could just say what she wanted without caring about how anyone else would react.

"What were you gonna do if you found an Ursa?" Ruby asked.

Ren flinched, while Nora grinned. "Ride it! And once it went down, I'd skin its pelt and sell it to the highest bidder!"

That was certainly something. Ruby put her hand on her chin, pondering the thought. "Didn't you guys ride a Nevermore?"

"We did," Ren said. "I still see it in my dreams."

"That just means it's an experience you'll never forget!" Nora said.

At that, Ren smiled.

"I always wondered what it'd be like," Ruby said, imagining the thrill of soaring through the skies for longer than a few seconds.

"Dangerous, probably," Blake said.

"You'd be fine!" Nora said. "You have that rope-thingy on your weapon, and Ruby's tough!"

"It's a Variant Ballistic Chain Scythe!" Ruby said. She was about to extol Gambol Shroud's many traits, but held herself back. "Try saying that three times fast."

Nora sucked in some air, as if she was actually about to try. Ren gently put his hand on her shoulder.

"I think you should practice first," he said.

"Practice makes perfect, but lucky people seize the moment, Ren! And I'm the moment!"

Ren sighed a long-suffering sigh, but Nora wasn't shaken for a second. It seemed Blake was caught up in Nora's burst of wisdom, staring intensely at the grassy ground.

"Gambol Shroud's more of a sickle than a scythe," Blake said. "And it's not the only scythe at Beacon."

"Are you referring to those rumours?" Ren asked.

No.

"Yes."

Of course Blake had her own opinion on the rumours, she just never mentioned them to anyone.

Until today.

"It's amazing!" Nora said, grinning. "Can you imagine all the souls she's reaped?"

Ruby did a double take, barely believing her ears.

Blake frowned. "What makes you think it's a her?"

Nora hummed, tapping her chin. "Well, it's not like there's some guy walking around with a scythe, right?"

Ren crossed his arms. "Has it been confirmed that Roman Torchwick's assailant is attending Beacon?"

"C'mon, Ren, that's no fun!" Nora said. "Of course she's here! Ruby probably knows her!"

"I guess?" Ruby said. She suddenly wanted to be anywhere else, but there was no way she could run without looking super suspicious. At least Nora didn't suspect her.

Blake pursed her lips. "It must be tough. I'm not sure Beacon's the right place for her."

"That's not for us to decide," Ren said.

Ren was right: it was Ruby's decision to make, not Blake's, not anyone else's. Yet Blake's words were like daggers stabbing Ruby's fragile heart.

"Of course not. But there's blood on her hands. She shouldn't be forced to stare death in the face."

Her golden eyes flickered to Ruby, scrutinizing every part of her face. Ruby glared at her partner, daring Blake to confront her. Instead, she looked away, smothering a frown.

"Well, look who it is!"

Ruby swivelled around, seeing Yang march up to where their little group was standing. Weiss wasn't far behind. Hearing Yang's voice was a huge relief, and as Yang greeted Ren and clasped Nora's hand in an aggressive handshake, Ruby soaked in her big sister's confidence.

"Yo," Yang said.

"Hey," Ruby said. She gave Yang a side-hug, and smiled after her sister embraced her shoulders.

"Sorry for taking so long, I was just taking the scenic route."

"Don't let Yang swindle you," Weiss said, frowning. She'd finally caught up, and Ruby didn't fail to notice how her gaze lingered when she witnessed their embrace. "If she had her way, we'd be late!"

"You didn't seem to mind being with me."

"Only because you'd ruin our assignment with your shenanigans. You should be grateful that I chose to bring you with me."

Yang let go of Ruby's shoulder, and smiled. "I am. Thanks for keeping up."

Sometimes, Ruby wasn't sure if Yang and Weiss were seconds away from yelling at each other or if this was their weird way of bonding. After Weiss had lost their fight and walked away, Yang had gone off to find her, so it wasn't like they couldn't stand each other.

Ugh, it was frustrating to think about. She wasn't a relationship guru.

"Ready for today's lesson, Weiss?" Nora asked.

Weiss put a hand on her hip. "Always." She shared a nod with Ren before turning their way. "Blake."

"Weiss," Blake said, frowning.

That was the extent of their conversation, as Weiss immediately faced Ruby. "Good afternoon, Ruby."

"Good afternoon," Ruby said.

Weiss wasn't cold or haughty, just curious, less guarded in a way.

"I'm counting on you to lead us well today."

Ruby nodded, firmly. "Don't worry, Weiss. I'll do my best."

"Hello, Yang," Blake said.

Yang smiled. "Blake! Good to see you."

Now that Blake wasn't looking at her, Ruby let out a sigh of relief.

"You doing okay?" Yang whispered.

Ruby wanted to say she was fine, but unfortunately, that wasn't completely true.

"Can I talk to you after class?"

Yang squeezed her shoulder. "I'll be waiting."

Just then, Ruby saw Jaune and Pyrrha racing towards them. Pyrrha was barely winded, while Jaune was redder than his partner's hair.

"Are we late, Professor?" Jaune asked, in between breaths.

"On the contrary: you're just in time," Professor Goodwitch said. "Now that everyone is here, divide yourself into your respective teams. We'll start in two minutes."

Team RWBY had to find one of eight flags hidden in the Emerald Forest and bring it back before the end of the lesson. This was the first time they were doing a team lesson outside of the arena, and it was a good thing that this particular class wasn't taking place right before lunch.

By the time they brought the black flag back, Team RWBY had fought off a King Taijitu, a trio of Ursa and a horde of Beowolves. It was tiring work and stressful at times, but Ruby had focused on her teammates' strengths in order to secure their objective.

Blake was their best tracker, helping them navigate the forest with greater ease. Yang got stronger the longer she used her semblance, so when they fought the King Taijitu, Ruby kept the giant snake Grimm from injuring Yang with its two heads or its massive fangs, giving her sister the chance to destroy it with a massive punch.

Weiss' glyphs and Dust were a huge help during their fights, and she followed Ruby's orders without criticizing them. While Weiss hadn't said much to Ruby since their fight, it was clear that she acknowledged the outcome, and she was taking her leadership seriously.

Through their combined efforts, Team RWBY became the second team to bring their flag back to the starting point. The first team was Team CRDL, led by premier bully Cardin Winchester. According to Professor Goodwitch, they had a stroke of luck, since their flag was the closest to the starting point.

It rankled that they came second to them, but what mattered most was that they finished their task and Ruby led her team well. Professor Goodwitch's praise was icing on the cake.

Speaking of cake, now that school was done for the day, Ruby was looking forward to eating the snacks she'd saved up. But first, she had to talk to Yang. Luckily, her sister was waiting for her.

"Go on, guys," Yang said. "We'll catch up."

Blake frowned. "Are you sure you'll be okay, Ruby?"

Ruby frowned as well, just not sure how to take Blake's concern. "Don't worry about me."

Weiss looked at the two of them for a few seconds. She frowned. "Your leadership was adequate today, Ruby. Don't let Yang fill your head with hot air."

"Thanks?" Ruby said.

"What should I do, cool her off with some ice?" Yang asked.

"You know what I prefer."

Yang rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I got you."

"Excellent."

With a flippant toss of her hair, Weiss turned on the spot and left them alone. Blake took a different path back to Beacon.

"What was that all about?" Ruby asked.

Yang shrugged. "Just partner stuff. So, what did you want to talk about?"

Ruby chose to start walking back to their dorms before she opened her mouth, so no one could overhear them.

"It's Blake. Ever since I fought Weiss, she's been hovering around me. I thought she was just being nice, but when we were talking to Ren and Nora, she brought up the rumours!"

Yang frowned. "What did she say?"

Ruby huffed. "She said Beacon isn't the right place for Torchwick's killer. Apparently, I shouldn't be forced to stare death in the face."

Her sister stopped walking. Her eyebrows had furrowed, tightening her face.

"Does she know it's you?" Yang asked, slowly.

A frown crossed Ruby's face, lined with visible doubt.

"No. At least, I don't think so."

Her sister sighed, relaxing through her steady exhale. "Thought so. And I bet she didn't ask you, either. If Blake doesn't even have the guts to do that, then let her have her stupid opinion. She isn't worth the trouble."

Try as she might, Ruby just couldn't let it go.

"But what if she finds out? We're partners!"

It gnawed at her, knowing that her own partner would treat her differently if she ever learned the truth.

Yang clicked her tongue. "Listen, Ruby, if you really care about what she thinks this much, then talk to her! That's what partners do, right?"

"But she doesn't talk at all!" Ruby sighed. No, she couldn't get ahead of herself. "Sorry, Yang. You're right: I fought Weiss, and I beat her. I can do this, too."

Her sister smiled. "Now that's what I like to hear."

The rest of their trip back to Beacon was actually pretty pleasant, but it barely lasted once she and Yang separated. The idea of confronting Blake filled Ruby with dread. All it took was one conversation for Blake to ruin her mood, and she hated that Blake's words had that much of a hold on her mind.

Yang had a great point. If Blake thought so little of her that she wouldn't even ask her about these rumours, then why should she care about her opinion at all?

Over the next few days, Ruby trudged through classes and tests. The rumours were still Beacon's biggest trend, but other than an odd look here and there, she hadn't been hounded.

Part of her still wanted to tell Blake the truth, mostly because it was getting in the way of their partnership. She could take a stand for what really mattered if it came down to it, and the worst Blake could do was shun her. She definitely couldn't stop her from attending Beacon.

However, she kept the truth to herself, and during Grimm Studies, Ruby heard an announcement that chilled her to her core.

"Ruby Rose to Professor Ozpin's office. Repeat: Ruby Rose must go to Professor Ozpin's office immediately."

Whispers broke out across the class, but Professor Port cleared his throat, silencing them.

"Settle down, everyone. There'll be time for talking after class." He looked at her. She couldn't see anything negative on his face. "You'd better get a move on, Ms. Rose. You don't want to miss out on the rest of this lecture!"

Ruby shook her head. "No, sir."

Yang gave her a thumbs-up, while Weiss frowned, oddly pensive.

Blake didn't look at her.

"Better get going," Weiss said. "I'll take down anything you miss."

"Thanks, Weiss," Ruby said. She stood up, and left the lecture hall, walking briskly towards the headmaster's office, mind whirring so quickly that she felt like her whole head was about to spin.

Once she reached her destination, she took a deep breath before stepping through the open door. The grey-haired headmaster was the only one inside, standing behind a rather ornate glass desk. He was looking out a panorama of windows that had a bronze clock etched in the middle. Gears of all kinds spun above Ruby, hanging on the ceiling.

For a brief moment, she wondered who designed this office.

"Good morning, Ms. Rose," Professor Ozpin said, catching her attention.

"Hello, Professor," Ruby said, in a soft voice.

"How are you doing today?"

She shrugged, suddenly wondering if that gesture was appropriate. "Fine, I guess. Um, may I ask why you called me here?"

The professor grabbed a mug from his desk and walked around it, holding a thin black cane in his other hand.

"One of our students came to me for advice, believing that you were involved in Roman Torchwick's death. They were concerned that you may not be ready to attend this academy."

Ruby flinched, looking at her shoes. Someone actually wanted her out of Beacon? Why couldn't they just leave her alone?

"Ruby... may I call you that?"

She looked up, meeting Professor Ozpin's soothing eyes. "Of course, Professor."

"There's no reason for you to be afraid. You won't have to leave unless you want to."

Ruby heaved in a heavy breath, all the tension dropping from her shoulders. "Thank you, Professor. I won't disappoint you."

He smiled. "I'm sure you'll do your best, which is all I ask of you."

Her eyes were starting to burn hot as wet tracks poured down her face. She tried to wipe them away with her sleeve, but they wouldn't stop flowing no matter how hard she scrubbed her cheeks and eyes.

"Sorry, Professor," she said, choking up. "I didn't mean to..."

"You have nothing to apologize for. Take all the time you need."

Professor Ozpin really, truly believed in her. The flood of emotions that engulfed her, relief and joy and so much more, was so overwhelming that they had nowhere to go but out, like a roaring waterfall.

It took her some time, but eventually, Ruby was able to get a grip and stop crying. The professor offered her some tissues, which she gladly accepted.

"I want you to understand something, Ruby," Professor Ozpin said, taking a sip from his mug. "I have made more mistakes than any man, woman or child, but allowing you to attend Beacon was not one of them."

"Really?"

"You've displayed all of the virtues I want to see in my students, and in doing so, you've proven why you deserve to attend Beacon Academy."

Ruby nodded, doing everything she could to keep it together. "I'm just doing my best, but... Thanks a lot, Professor."

She sniffled, wiping away the rest of her tears. The professor had bailed her out of jail, made sure this wasn't going to be put on her record. He was taking a big risk, letting a killer like her attend his school. It was easy for her to believe that he'd change his mind if someone gave him a good reason.

Now she knew she was wrong to think that.

"Can I ask you something, Professor?"

He smiled. "Of course."

"Why did you set up our initiation the way you did? There's a pretty good chance I could've become partners with someone who hated me."

Professor Ozpin sipped from his mug, calm as a still ocean. "In order to complete the initiation ritual, you must work with your partner. Stuck in the line of fire between the creatures of Grimm and your goal, any grievances you may share must be put aside in order to secure your future at Beacon. That is usually enough to establish common ground.

"Of course, there are ways to guarantee that two students who are incompatible with one another will never cross paths, but in all my years of overseeing this initiation, nearly every pair that came into being formed a lasting bond of friendship, and occasionally, something even stronger."

Ruby blinked. "You really mean that?"

"Yes. I believe you've experienced this with Ms. Belladonna."

She frowned. "I don't know. I want to be her friend, but it's not easy. She's just so... distant."

He only smiled. "She's on the road to discovering herself. As are you, I imagine."

Ruby couldn't disagree, though it was kinda hard to believe that Blake was struggling, too. She always looked like she had everything under control.

"Should I tell Blake the truth, Professor?"

He set his mug back on his desk, looking up at the gears. "That is a decision I cannot make on your behalf. There are fewer joys greater than the joy of being able to confide in someone you can trust without being condemned. However, certain secrets exist for good reason, and revealing them may irrevocably alter your perception of someone you considered a comrade, or even a friend."

It was that exact fear that was causing all of this trouble.

"I have a lot to think about, don't I?"

Professor Ozpin nodded. "Yes, though you may find that the answer is closer than you think."

Ruby nodded, as well. Hopefully, that ended up being true.

"I still can't believe someone would actually come and talk to you about these rumours. Don't they have better things to do?"

"It's only natural," he said. "However, I've set them straight. For now, I suggest that you ignore these fanciful stories and carry on with what you're doing. You've been burdened with a daunting responsibility, fraught with risk and uncertainty. It is up to you to find a way to uphold it without losing yourself in the process."

Ruby smiled. "I can do that. You made me a leader."

He returned her smile. "I'm very glad to hear that."

Rather than talk, Ruby gazed out the windows, taking in the clear skies, just appreciating where she was.

"Did you know that Professor Goodwitch recommended that I have you attend some form of counselling?" the professor said, gently ending the silence. "It was after your battle with Ms. Schnee, I believe. I've seen the footage; mock battles rarely grow as intense as your bout did."

Ruby's fingers tightened against her sleeves. "She really said that?"

"Yes, she did. In that light, I have a proposal for you. We'll schedule a meeting between us, occurring once a week, where I will do my best to listen to anything that's been troubling you, and offer any advice that might help. Any thoughts?"

It took Ruby very little time to make her decision.

"When can we start?"

When Ruby returned to her Grimm Studies class, her tears had dried, her face was clear, and the looks and whispers that emerged were nothing more than that.

"Welcome back, Ms. Rose," Professor Port said. "I hope your talk with our headmaster was fruitful and stimulating."

"It was, Professor," Ruby said, smiling widely.

As she walked to her seat, Yang grinned at her, while Weiss seemed relieved that she'd returned. The moment she sat down, Blake immediately showed her the notes she'd written down.

"Didn't Weiss say she was gonna do this?" Ruby asked.

Blake frowned. "I insisted."

Ruby chose not to protest. The rest of her day went by pretty quickly between classes, lunch and more classes, as Ruby wondered who might have told Ozpin about her. When Ruby returned to her dorm, she crossed paths with Pyrrha, who took one look at her and tensed up.

Unfortunately, that was hardly unusual.

"Good afternoon, Ruby," Pyrrha said, with only half the cheer she'd greet almost anyone else with.

Ruby swallowed her nerves. She could do this. "How's it going, Pyrrha?"

Pyrrha smiled, a half-smile. "I'm doing well."

"Me too," Ruby said, even though Pyrrha didn't ask.

Their conversation started awkward and was only getting worse from there. Pyrrha even forced a lump down her throat.

"May I ask you something, Ruby?"

Ruby shuffled her feet, unsure. There was no reason to turn her down, other than her fear of being exposed.

"Sure."

Pyrrha squared her shoulders. "Do you think Roman Torchwick's murderer ended his life deliberately, or by accident?"

Ruby flinched. "I don't think it was on purpose. Didn't you hear the news?"

"I did." A hint of her smile pulled at her lips. "It seems like Beacon should be good for them. There's no room for accidents on the battlefield, agreed?"

Ruby frowned. "You're right."

This time, it was Pyrrha that flinched, but it vanished a second later.

"Then we understand each other," Pyrrha said, before entering her dorm room and leaving Ruby behind.

If she didn't know any better, she'd assume Pyrrha was scared of her, which didn't make any sense. She was a great fighter that could defend herself against any killer out there. While Ruby could have just asked her, it didn't actually matter why: Pyrrha didn't want her out of Beacon.

That was all she needed to hear. Now, she knew who tried to get her kicked out of Beacon.

Once Ruby entered her room, she found Blake lounging on her bed, loud rock music blasting from her scroll. That was exactly the type of music Ruby loved to jam to. Before long, the song ended, and the dulcet tones of smooth piano complemented by slick bass strings and steady drum beats filled their room.

Jazz. It was too sophisticated for her, but Blake seemed really into it. When the time was right, Ruby would introduce Blake to her real favourite genre, but she'd have to ease her in first, since it was... an acquired taste. Hopefully, she'd enjoy it.

She almost regretted closing the door with a loud thud.

"Ruby?" Blake said, startled out of her stupor. "What's going on?"

The music cut off, leaving behind the sound of Ruby's soft breathing and her rapid heartbeat.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Blake didn't even bother to look at her. "What are you talking about?"

Ruby walked right in front of Blake, waiting until she saw the scowl on her face.

"I know what you did, Blake."

Her so-called partner frowned, staring at her lap. "What did I do?"

"What did you do?!"

The door flew open, and Weiss entered their room, alone. Ruby inhaled sharply through her nose.

"Where's Yang, Weiss?" Ruby snapped.

"She's hanging out with her friends," Weiss said, closing the door behind her. "Am I interrupting something?"

She was, and it gave Ruby second thoughts on confronting Blake. Weiss saved Blake from getting screamed at, which would have only caused more problems than it might actually solve. Especially, especially if Blake wasn't the one who went to Ozpin. But she couldn't back down. In fact, Weiss being here wasn't that big a deal: she respected Ruby's right to secrecy even though she vowed to learn everything about the rumours.

She could work with that.

"What I'm about to say doesn't leave this room. Got it?"

Blake made eye contact with Ruby, golden eyes showing no hint of deception or two-faced lies. "Got it."

Weiss stood next to Ruby, setting a hand on her hip. "You have my word, Ruby."

Ruby took in a deep breath, searching for the right way to start, dreading what would happen next... until she realized it was best to keep things simple.

"I killed Roman Torchwick."

Blake grimaced. "That was you? It wasn't someone else?"

Weiss' wide eyes narrowed. "Surely, you've noticed how she reacted to those stories."

She bristled. "Of course I noticed! But I didn't think Ruby was the one who killed him!"

Ruby felt her stomach drop. "Huh? Then why did you go to Professor Ozpin and tell on me?"

Weiss sneered. "Is that right? I didn't take you for a rat, Blake."

"Don't ever call me that again," Blake snarled.

All Weiss did was scoff. "Then please, tell us about your brilliant plan."

Blake gulped, breathed in deep. She looked Ruby's way, but Ruby didn't bother making eye contact. "You were struggling, Ruby, and I wasn't sure that I could give you the help you deserved. So I went to Ozpin and told him how I was worried about you."

Ruby dared to gaze at Blake, and saw her overcome by shame and guilt.

"Did you inform him that Ruby was a budding murderer waiting to be unleashed on her enemies?" Weiss said. "I saw how you looked at her after our fight ended, how you smothered her afterwards. You were waiting for Ruby to crack under the pressure to justify your treachery."

Blake scowled again, carving furrows into her pale, placid features. "Seeing another person die is a trauma you can't just walk away from. It lingers, seeping its poison into all your thoughts. Some people break down from that, but others turn cold to the world. That's what I saw in Ruby, and it scared me." She clicked her tongue, a harsh snap. "Someone like you would never understand."

Weiss glared, struck by fury. "I don't understand? How dare you say that!"

"How dare you accuse me of treachery?"

Ruby frowned. This wasn't going to end well. "Can we get back on track? Please?"

"I will," Blake said.

Weiss huffed. "Fine."

Ruby shook herself, thankful that Weiss and Blake had backed down. "Why didn't you try to reach out, Blake?"

Her so-called partner's anger faltered, and she hunched over her arms. "I'm... not great at helping people. You've barely said a word about this to anyone, and I didn't want to scare you off. But I never wanted you to leave Beacon. Never."

"You could have fooled me," Weiss said. She took a seat on her bed. "Can you tell us how it happened, Ruby? I'm not saying you didn't do it, but considering everything, it's hard to believe that you could have pulled this off on your own. For all we know, someone else might have been the one who finished him off after you left the scene."

Blake made eye contact with her. "You don't have to rush. Take as much time as you need."

In spite of her tender words, Ruby sensed anticipation roiling off Blake's tongue. Right now, Ruby wanted nothing more than to tell them everything. She remembered every detail, every move that led to Roman Torchwick's death. Instead of wallowing in her memories, she told them about their fatal clash: how she defeated his minions, how she chased after him, their rooftop conversation...

"I shot him in the stomach," Ruby said.

She could still smell the wicked tang of Roman's blood like she'd been pulled back into that awful night. He collapsed, like a marionette whose strings were cut, blood gushing out of his wound. His body never turned to ash, it just lay there, unmoving.

Dead.

"I didn't see his Aura run dry, or I wouldn't have done it, I swear!"

Her breathing was speeding up. Blake reached for Ruby's shoulder and touched it, bringing Ruby back from the brink.

"I believe you, Ruby."

Ruby looked at Blake, wanting to thank her, but she couldn't find the right words. Instead, she sat down next to her on her soft, yielding bed.

"If you ask me, you should have shot him again," Weiss said. Ruby immediately stared at Weiss, feeling a sharp shiver jolt her nerves from Weiss' cold glare. "What? I told you before, scum like Roman Torchwick is better off dead."

Ruby shouldn't have been surprised, and yet, that didn't stop the surge of relief from overtaking her.

"I didn't want to mess things up for our team."

Or have either of her teammates hate her. Ruby felt Blake's hand leave her shoulder, and for a second, it felt kind of empty. Blake stared at her as if she was searching for something. Then, she smiled, soft and warm.

"Thank you for telling us," Blake said. "Trust me, what you just did was really brave. I'm... sorry for going behind your back, Ruby. I really am. I don't know how I'll make this up to you, but I'll find a way. If that's okay with you?"

Ruby's first thought was to make Blake understand just how much pain her attempt at 'helping' put her through, until she remembered Professor Ozpin's advice. Blake hadn't rejected her, and she wasn't going to push her away. She was just going through her own struggles.

"Start by trusting me," Ruby said. "I want us to be friends, Blake, but how can we be anything if you're scared to even talk?"

Blake frowned. "Old habits. But there's no excuse for what I did. I'll do better. I promise you."

Ruby sighed. Part of her couldn't forgive Blake for not believing in her enough, but she couldn't hate Blake for what she did, either. It wouldn't help either of them move on. More than that, she felt real guilt for assuming Blake wanted her gone. Now, she knew better.

"That's all I want," Ruby said.

"You seriously think that little of your own partner?" Weiss asked.

Blake sneered. "Ruby's not a murderer, Weiss. Frankly, I don't think she should've killed him at all."

"I did," Ruby said. "And I can't take it back. But I'm not going to become some heartless butcher, got it?"

That was one thing she was never afraid of becoming. She valued life too much to ruin herself like that.

Blake nodded, once. "You won't."

"Does anyone else know?" Weiss asked.

"Yang," Ruby answered. "My dad. Professor Ozpin, and Professor Goodwitch."

Weiss' eyes shot wide. "Of course!" She bit her lip. "Of course Yang knew..."

A long moment passed, where Ruby waited for the axe to drop. That was when Weiss smiled, a true-blue smile.

"You have nothing to worry about, Ruby. I'd be an awful teammate if I let this divide us."

"Same here," Blake said, firm and unyielding. "I still don't agree with what you did, but I'm not going to reject you. I've already hurt you enough."

Ruby's smile grew so big, her cheeks were straining themselves. "Thank you. Both of you."

For the next minute or so, Ruby just soaked in the overwhelming relief pouring from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, so grateful that revealing her secret didn't blow up in her face. The anxiety that restricted her was finally going to leave for good.

Blake stood up. "I'm going to change. I'm glad we got to talk like this, Ruby."

"Me too," Ruby said. "That's what partners do."

A small smile graced her lips. "I understand. Thank you for giving me a chance."

Her partner grabbed her nightwear and left for the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Ruby looked at the bottom of her bed, ready to prepare for a night of smooth sailing in dreamland.

"Ruby," Weiss said. "I have something I want to tell you, if you don't mind."

The tenderness in her voice took her aback.

"What is it?"

Weiss frowned, staring at her lap. "Blake isn't the only one who owes you an apology."

She pulled her head up, staring straight ahead. There was a vulnerability in her blue eyes that Ruby had never seen before.

"I resented how Yang and Blake treated you like you were made of glass, and I despised how you cowered away from those rumours instead of ignoring them. I became so caught up in my opinion of you that I never realized you wouldn't handle your hardship the same way I would. I know better, now, so I apologize for how I treated you."

Ruby smiled, a bit more gently than her last one. "Apology accepted."

Weiss smiled, too, cupping the back of her neck. A moment later, she straightened up. "I won't be letting you off the hook, though. You're still our leader, and now that you've shown me you have the drive to excel, I'll do everything in my power to ensure that you become a great leader. And I mean everything."

Goosebumps crawled across Ruby's skin, but it wasn't out of fear.

"You got it, Weiss."

Author's Note: This chapter's storyline previously revolved around some unknown students sending Ruby threatening notes. It's been changed to something that I believe fits this story better.