The morning came, and neither Weiss nor Ruby knew how to breach the subject. They prepared for their mission around each other in uncomfortable silence. The tension between them only grew along side the silence, and Yang and Blake feared it would boil over badly. As much as they wanted to avoid it, neither of them knew how to get the former 'BFFs' to an agreeable conclusion either.
Even the arrival of Zwei, Ruby and Yang's corgi from Patch, did little to lessen the anxious air. The subject was all that was on their minds, but none of them had to courage to breach it. Not until they were almost on the airship, anyways.
"Hey, Yang?" Ruby asked for her sister to get some words in the air, "What are the details of the mission you guys picked, anyway?"
"Oh yeah, about that…" Yang began cautiously, "We tried to pick a mission that turned out to be restricted to first-years…"
"Then Ozpin came out of nowhere, basically told us he knew exactly what we were up to, and approved us for the restricted mission," Weiss finished matter-of-factly.
"So… our mission is to actually look for the White Fang?" Ruby asked, confused.
"Not officially," Blake answered, "But I'm pretty sure that's what was implied."
"And… our thing?" Ruby finally directed to Weiss. Getting a conversation out had exactly the effect she hoped. "It won't get in the way, right?"
"Of course not," Weiss stated sharply, her classic cold demeanor reemerging.
Yang wouldn't exactly call it progress, but at least the team knew they would still work efficiently together. It was enough for the team, at least for now.
Their mission brought them to the ruins of the township of Mountain Glenn. A failed expansion of Vale, Mountain Glenn was a concrete jungle of crumbling buildings and wandering grimm. The concentration of grimm had spiked in recent weeks, which was not unusual on it's own, but it still lined up with the information Blake had obtained. After a long afternoon with little progress, RWBY and their chaperon set up camp for the night in one of the many collapsed buildings.
Ruby was keeping watch when Doctor Oobleck, their history teacher and huntsmen chaperon clad in safari clothing, approached her. "Good evening, Ms. Rose."
"Hey, professor," Ruby greeted in turn in her usual cheerful demeanor.
"Doctor," Oobleck warned.
"Right, sorry," Ruby giggled.
"You team is very impressive, for first year students," Oobleck complemented.
"Thank you!" Ruby smiled. After a pause, she added, "Doctor."
"But there is a tension here, isn't there?" the teacher pointed out.
Ruby's smile failed. "You see it?"
"I do," Oobleck nodded.
"It won't get in the way," Ruby promised, "we've talked it over."
"But not resolved it?" Oobleck pressed further.
Ruby sighed. "Doctor, how do you feel about… polygamy?"
"Hm..." Oobleck thought. That seemed a lot more complicated than what he initially assumed teenagers would argue over. "I believe there is too much negativity in the world deny someone something that makes them happy."
"One of my team mates doesn't believe it can be real," Ruby explained.
"And another is partaking in a polygamous relationship?" Oobleck deduced.
"I am," Ruby confirmed.
Oobleck couldn't help but think back on the various observations he had made that day. "Not to be inconsiderate, but Ms. Schnee...?"
Ruby did a double take, panicking for a brief moment. She felt like confirming such was akin to bad mouthing her behind her back. "I… shouldn't gossip."
"Of course," Oobleck nodded, understanding. "I admit I don't have any advice for you. Much as he may seem it, Professor Ozpin is not omnipotent. Teams are not always a perfect storm of friends and confidants. Being able to work together regardless is part of being an adult."
"We're trying," Ruby nodded. "I just wish I could make her see she's wrong."
"She may be wrong in this specific instance, but her fears are not entirely unfounded," Oobleck defended. "There are those in this world who would prey upon the young, hopeful and niave. If she is concerned for you, it proves that she indeed cares about you."
Ruby cast her gaze behind her, landing on the heiress's figure bundled in her sleeping bag. She smiled. "I guess it does. She'll come around. I can feel it."
"You are her leader and friend, and would know her better than I," Oobleck explained, "if you feel as such, I'm sure it will be so."
"Thank you, professor," Ruby nodded. Oobleck opened his mouth, but Ruby quickly cut him off, "Doctor! Heh, sorry."
Oobleck closed his mouth and smiled. With a nod, he left the young leader to resume her watch.
Weiss gazed over the city with blank eyes. It was her turn to watch camp, but her mind was engulfed by other thoughts. Truth is, she was wide awake when Oobleck prodded Ruby about the tension in the team. She heard the entire conversation, and it gave her plenty to think about. She knew her upbringing was oppressive, to say the least, but there had to be a line somewhere?
"Hey, Weiss?"
Her concerns weren't baseless, that much Oobleck agreed with
"Um, Weiss?"
But was it really true that Ruby's relationship could be fine? Healthy, even?
"Weeeiiiiissss?"
Weiss was ready to wait in the wings with an 'I told you so', but maybe-
"Weiss!"
"Huh?" Weiss spun around, finally broken from her train of thought.
"Finally," Ruby sighed in relief, having finally gotten Weiss's attention. "Are you still tired? We can swap watches if you need more rest."
"No, I'm fine," Weiss insisted.
"Alright," Ruby shrugged, "anyway, I wanted to say I think I noticed something. It's probably nothing, but I'm gunna go check it out."
Weiss nodded, "don't rush into something, okay? Call us if you need us."
"I will," Ruby promised.
Weiss nodded and cast her gaze back over the city once more. Ruby may not be a genius, but she was far from stupid. Crescent Rose alone could attest to that. And she is training to be a huntress, so it wasn't likely the twins had physically overpowered her at any point.
I was ready to standby with an 'I told you so', but maybe that's not how I should be thinking. And it won't help Ruby should that come to pass. Perhaps I should support her now, and be there for her later if the worst indeed happens. And if it doesn't happen, if Ruby's relationship is valid…
"I don't want to lose her as a friend," Weiss finished her thought aloud.
The sunrise wasn't far away, and soon the light and warmth of morning was rousing the sleeping hunters.
"Well!" Oobleck stretched and took a swing from his portable mug, "Who's ready for a brand new day!?"
"Wait a minute," Blake looked around, "something's not right..."
"Yeah, where's my sister!?" Yang noticed.
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked, "Isn't she back?"
"Back?" Blake questioned in turn.
"She told me she was going to check something out," Weiss explained, "and she promised to call in if it turned out to be, well, something. I never got a call."
"And you didn't notice she never returned!?" Yang shouted, "How long has she been gone!?"
"Girls!" Oobleck quickly took control of the situation, "now is not the time for anger. Whatever lessons this mistake can teach must be pondered later. First, we resolve the mistake itself. You leader may be in danger, and we must stay calm as we search for her."
Camp was packed hastily and the group set out with no delay. Blake was the first to spot Crescent Rose, folded on the ground in front of a large sinkhole. Oobleck began a rant about sealed subway lines underneath the township, but Weiss could barely hear it.
She was looking forward to telling Ruby about her change of mind and hopefully mending their friendship, and subsequently the connection with the rest of the team, in the process. Now the girl was in danger and Weiss would regret it the rest of her life if she never got the chance to repair that particular bridge.
"Well, Weiss?" Blake broke through the heiress's haze of thoughts, "You with us?"
Weiss quickly deduced what they were asking, not that it was very hard. They needed to go down into the dark. Weiss picked up Crescent Rose, steeling her resolve. She looked to the others and nodded, "Let's go save our fearless leader."
Melanie yawned as she leaned across the bar. "Why on earth are we awake again?"
"Because Junior agreed to host a wedding reception and he needed hands," Miltiades reminded her sister.
"Who the hell has a reception at a nightclub?" Melanie stifled a laugh, "They're probably under 20. I give them two months."
"Don't be rude," Junior scolded, "They're paying customers. Well paying customers."
Melanie sighed. "Can you at least turn that off?" she pointed to the television currently displaying the morning news. "It's putting me to sleep."
Junior nodded and picked up the remote.
"Wait!" Miltiades stopped him, staring at the screen.
"What?" Melanie looked up and read the screen.
BREAKING NEWS: Explosion! Huntsmen and Grimm brawl in downtown Vale!
"Holy shit..." Junior read, "Don't think that's near us, though."
"Mel..." Miltiades pointed again as the 'huntsmen' came into frame.
Black hair. Combat boots. Red cape. "Ruby!"
Now wide awake, Melanie dashed out of the club. Miltiades made to follow, but stopped short. The less brash twin didn't want to leave without her boss's blessing.
"Go," Junior told her. Miltiades nodded and ran after her sister.
By the time the twins reached the battlefield, the chaos had already passed. Someone in handcuffs was being loaded onto an airship and a tall blonde the twins recognized as a Beacon teacher from the dance was talking to a man in safari gear. Ruby and her team stood close by. Blake spotted the twins first, nudging Ruby's shoulder.
"Girls!" Ruby's eyes lit up as she jogged over to them, "what are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" Melanie turned it around, "I thought your mission was outside the kingdom, not blowing up downtown Vale!?"
Ruby, perhaps still high on battle adrenaline and victory, giggled.
"What?" Melanie asked, confused.
"I'm sorry," Ruby continued to grin widely, "but you acting all super concerned like is adorable."
In another rare display, Melanie stuttered and struggled to respond, simply crossing her arms as her face lit up.
"She does has a point," Miltiades defended, "What happened?"
"Well..." Ruby searched for where to begin.
Before she could, the three were interrupted by an approaching Weiss. "So," the heiress cut in, "Which of you is 'Miltia'?"
The twins shared a silent conversation, quickly deducing this was Weiss. They crossed their arms defensively before Miltiades answered, "I am Miltiades."
"And I don't believe I have heard your name?" Weiss looked to the other twin.
"Melanie," the white twin answered.
"I am Weiss Schnee," the heiress introduced herself elegantly.
"We figured," the twins answered in unison.
"Right..." Weiss nodded, slightly unnerved. She pushed through regardless, saying what she wanted to say. "I have made some comments recently that I have come to regret. And I apologize."
Melanie raised an eyebrow at this while Miltiades cautiously lowered her crossed arms. Ruby placed her hand on her partner's shoulder. "Weiss?"
Weiss lowered Ruby's hand before continuing. "The team is trusting Ruby would let us know if anything untoward is happening, and I can't deny you are making her happy. I won't attempt to disguise that I still have my doubts… However, I look forward to the three of you proving me wrong."
"Was that… acceptance?" Melanie looked to her twin.
"It sounded like it to me," Miltiades answered.
"I knew it!" Ruby drew her partner into a crushing hug, "I knew you'd come around!"
"Off! Ruby, get off!" Weiss panicked, trying to pry herself away. "Get off me! Down! Down!"
Ruby let herself be peeled off, retaining her grin. "You like it."
The heiress huffed but made no real rebuttal. Instead, she turned back to the twins. "As much as I'm sure Ruby would love to run away with you right now, we're still 'on the clock', so to speak, until we debrief at Beacon. I'm glad to have finally met the two of you."
"Wait, we still haven't heard what happened?" Melanie recalled.
"I'll call you the second I'm free!" Ruby promised as she and Weiss walked back to their team. "I should be going before Professor Goodwitch gets angry. Well, angry-er. I love you both!"
Melanie frowned at missing the story. Miltiades supplied, "We love you too."
As Ruby and Weiss fell back in line with the team, Ruby offered a, "Thank you, Weiss."
Weiss smiled. "I know I don't show it well, but I do appreciate our friendship. Same with Yang and Blake as well. You constantly show me how to better myself, really better myself and not just… well, you know."
"Don't worry, Weiss," Ruby smirked, "We'll have you wearin' PJ pants all weekend with some wicked bedhead like the rest of us lazy commoners before you know it!"
"As if!" Weiss defended. "I will hold on to some decorum, thank you very much! There is a difference between elitism and harmless class."
"You're definitely a class act," Yang jabbed.
Weiss turned to the blonde. "Yang, I-"
"Stop worrying," Yang cut her off. She flashed a smile for good measure. "Just messin' with ya, shortstack."
Weiss returned the smile. "Brute."
