Co-Authored with ToxicExotic, who has a small message for you.
Hey toxic here, Thank you so much for the feedback so far I look forward to your feedback for this one, because this one has some hints towards the direction we're going with further chapters. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Rooster Teeth Productions.
It didn't mean anything, Ruby sighed inwardly as she walked down the hallway after her training with Blake. While the training had been little more than a waste of time, the events that followed were most certainly confusing her; and ever since leaving the room, she had been in a constant argument with herself. She was just being kind.
But she doesn't hug anyone.
She hugs Yang.
Yang hugs her. She just kinda stands there awkwardly.
Ugh! Shut up, stupid brain.
Raising her hand to her head in a foolish hope that the pressure would make it stop trying to give her convince her of something that wouldn't happen. As expected, it didn't help in the slightest; so reaching into her bag, she pulled out her favourite pair of headphones and slipped them over her ears, turning her music up to max to block out the thoughts that had been hounding her ever since the talk with the fetching Faunus. Fortunately, the punk rock helped quite a bit as the bass pulsed through her.
Letting out a small sigh, she pushed open the door to Beacon's courtyard and quickly found her favourite bench and sat down to think on the more important things that had happened during their training; the smell of roses from a nearby bush permeating the air and providing the comfort of the fond memories associated with the smell.
It was very rare that she lost her temper in such a way, anger being more Yang and their father's thing than hers, but she had certainly felt it brewing for the last couple of weeks. Constantly losing in class and making mistake after mistake had been causing her quite a bit of the doubt of whether being a huntress like her mom really was what she was meant to do, doubts she'd cast aside when Ozpin allowed her into the school early. She still wasn't sure why he had done that though.
There were plenty of people in her year back at Signal that frequently beat her in fair combat so it couldn't have been due to her skill, everyone there also had the same goal of protecting people so it couldn't have been that either. Was it simply that she was in the right place at the right time? Did Ozpin know something she didn't? He always acted like he did, so it would hardly be a surprise to her.
Or was Blake right? Did Ozpin think that she was the type of girl to inspire others? But how did she do that? She never did anything that plenty of others didn't do. All she ever did was try and be as good a person as she could. But could that really be all that's needed to inspire someone?
You inspired Blake.
Once again, her brain pushed through the music to bring the girl back to the forefront of her memories; though thankfully, it was at least pertinent to what she was thinking about for once.
Did I? Ruby asked herself as she span around to lay on the bench with her eyes closed. She was already becoming a huntress to help people.
She said you did.
But how? Ruby thought and wrapped her cloak over her as the slight wind caused bumps to raise on her arms. It doesn't really help to know that I did it without knowing how."
Maybe that's the point.
That doesn't help.
Sighing at how useless her own mind could be sometimes, she once again let herself fall back into enjoying her music. It wasn't very often that she was able to enjoy her music, as Weiss often scolded her for playing it loud and having the burden of being the team leader meant she was having to pay attention at all times; so the rare five minutes where she was able to relax and listen to her tunes were treasured greatly. However, as it had done the day before, and almost every time she closed her eyes as let her mind drift, the image of Blake floated into the center of her mind.
It was never an image of anything special, never of the girl fighting or doing something that normal people would get stuck in their head, but simply the image of her reading. While usually it was a book while sitting in her own bed, for the past two days, it had been the image of them sat together on hers enjoying the manga and eating cookies.
As she had suspected that night, very little of the manga actually registered as the majority of the time was spent sneaking as many glances as she could at the gorgeous girl; not to mention that every time Blake reached into the bag for a cookie, her fingers would graze along her side for the briefest of seconds. Every time it happened, her mind would spin in circles causing her to lose where she was on the page, and not wanting to hold Blake up, she would give a simple nod whenever the girl asked if she was done.
Maybe she was doing it on purpose.
That's stupid, she scoffed internally as she put her hands behing her head to aid against the hard metal bench, though even she could admit that Blake had eaten more cookies that night than Ruby had ever seen her eat before. Why would she do that?
Maybe she likes spending time with you.
As friends.
Maybe more?
That's even more stupid, she sighed at the silly idea her brain had just come up with. She doesn't feel the way I do.
But what if she did?
Then she would still be Yang's best friend, Ruby groaned and turned her head to the side and opened her eyes to watch the rest of the students enjoy their free time, her eyes locking onto a couple who were laying on the grass in each others arms. We could never have that.
Apparently her brain had no response as nothing but music replied, and feeling herself becoming slightly more miserable from watching the couple, she turned back to look at the sky and was met by a pair of lilac eyes gazing down at her and blocking out the darkening sky. Feeling the blonde hair that was dangling from the girl's head tickled her nose, she reached up and batted it away as her sister's mouth moved, the words lost to the music.
"What's up?" She asked, pulling one side of the headphones off her ears.
"I asked you what's up?" Yang repeated as her hand came out to tap her legs, indicating for her to move them. Letting out a sigh, she folded her legs and Yang effortlessly vaulted over the bench to sit down, Ruby unfolding her legs to rest them on her sister. "You look sad."
"Just thinking about things," Ruby replied dismissively with a shrug, reaching up to turn her headphones off and moving them to hang around her neck.
"Anything your big sis can help with?"
"I doubt it," Ruby shook her head, feeling Yang gently knead her legs in a soothing massage. "How're Coco and Velvet? I thought you were spending the day together?"
"They had to go to a meeting with Port about their upcoming mission," Yang replied and Ruby could tell there was at least a little worry in her voice. "They get to spend a week cuddling without me."
Raising her head a little to look at her sister, the worry she had heard in the girl's voice was written on her face, and Ruby knew it had nothing to do with the cuddling.
"Coco and Velvet are two of the toughest huntresses we know. They'll come back, and cuddle you into oblivion."
"I know," Yang said, her face lightening a little. "Guess it's my fault for going against my rule of not dating people in our line of work, huh?"
"That rule was dumb anyway, we both knew that you wouldnt settle down with someone who couldn't kick your butt."
"She's right, Yang," Ruby heard from behind the bench and turned to see Weiss standing there holding cups of steaming drinks from the local Black cat cafe. "I've only known you for six months and even I know you need someone who can explore the world with you. Who better than the two best second-year huntresses in Beacon?"
"I guess," the blonde replied, lifting Ruby up against her will and scooting them both along the bench so that their white-haired teammate could sit down.
Feeling the bench shift a little as Weiss sat down, she lifted her head up and placed it on her partners lap as she saw the girl pass Yang one of the drinks; Ruby gave the heiress a cheeky grin and received a small roll of the girls eyes in return, though no move was made to alter the new position. After a few moments of silence, where she simply enjoyed the smell of roses that permeated the air, she felt Yang tap her on her side and looked to see her offering her the drink. Opening her mouth, Yang shook her head and gently tipped a little of the chocolatey contents inside.
"Comfy there?"
"Very," Ruby grinned at her sister after swallowing the delicious liquid.
"Well don't get used to it," Weiss interjected with a scowl. "So how was training with Blake? Did you get the move down?"
"No," she sighed and closed her eyes as a cloud shifted and the low-hanging sun and almost blinded her. "I had other things on my mind and kept messing up."
"Really?" Yang asked, the surprise in her voice clear as the sun that was still trying its hardest to force its way through Ruby's eyelids. "You're normally super focused in training."
"I had something on my mind okay? Is that so hard to believe?"
"Knowing how you are about training, yeah it is."
"Did you at least work it out?" Weiss' voice asked carefully. "Whatever it was that kept distracting you, I mean."
"No," she replied and opened her eyes a little to see Weiss and Yang looking away from each other a little too quickly for her liking. "It's not exactly something I can do anything about."
Ruby felt Yang grab onto her legs and hold on tight, while she heard the telltale sound of Weiss making a glyph below her on the bench. Oh crap. "Yaaaang, stop! I don't wanna talk about it."
"Tough luck, little sister," the blonde chuckled and Ruby felt the laces of one of her boots being untied until it was loose and was quickly pulled off. "Now you either tell me what was stuck on your mind, or I start tickling."
"It's noth…"
"That's bullshit with a capital B and we both know it, so I guess you leave me no choice."
"No! Don…"
Ruby's pleading was cut off as Yang's fingers began to move along the sole of her foot and she felt a laugh force its way up from her stomach. Trying to squirm away from the torture, she realised that the glyph underneath her was a gravity one to keep her in place; and with no way to escape, she was unable to stop the laughter that erupted from her. The assault continued for what felt like minutes, but finally Yang's fingers stopped.
"Ready to talk?"
"Weiss, help me!"
"Nope."
Before Ruby could utter another word, Yangs fingers began to move again and more laughter tore its way out of her. Feeling herself beginning to lose breath, she attempted to pull her legs away again; but even with only one arm, Yang was much too strong. So wanting it to end, she choked out her defeat. "Ok… O-Okay."
"Me and Blake were reading a comic that she was really excited to read with me, but I ended up falling asleep on her and I don't know if she was okay with me doing so because she's has been really distant ever since. So I thought maybe I said something in my sleep or something that caused her to avoid me, and when she reached for a cookie her hand brushed against my side and a shiver went through my body, and it happened a lot but I don't know if she was doing it on purpose or if she was just hungry, which is something I can relate to as I love cookies and can't get enough of them, but that was the most cookies I've ever seen her eat so-"
"You're rambling again, Ruby," Yang interrupted her, causing her words to falter as she realised she may have said too much.
Unfortunately for her, Weiss let out a loud sigh and cleared her throat.
"You know you could have just said you like Blake, right?"
"WEISS!"
"Come on, Weiss. I was having fun."
"Well I was tired of it and keeping this glyph up for so long while also listening to word spew is giving me a headache."
A pout formed on the brunettes face as Ruby pieced together what the heiress said; and quickly realizing that it was a subtle insult that was directed against the small leader, she crossed her arms and with a huff. "I'm never telling you anything ever again."
"Oum I wish that was the truth, but it's not and we both know it."
Scowling at her partner as she felt her back unglue itself from the bench, Ruby sat up and pulled her legs free from her sister's slackened grip; not daring the look at her due to new information that had just been aired. However, as she picked up her boot that had been dropped to the floor and slipped it back on, she heard Yang chuckle lightly to herself as she pulled out her scroll.
"Aww, Blakey got you feline all smitten, Kitten ?" Yang cooed as she giggled happily to herself, causing Weiss to let out a loud groan and Ruby to blush a deep scarlet.
"One day you will realise how terrible your puns are," Weiss said, and Ruby could see the snowy-haired girl shaking her head.
"Says the girl who's been copying them lately. Anyway I just got a text from Coco that their meeting with Port is done, and Rubes, even if I give you crap about this, understand that I just want you to be happy, so if Blake does that for you, then go for it. But remember, we share a room and my gauntlets are always near my bed."
With that Yang stood and jogged over to the administrative building where her girlfriends were likely going to be exiting soon, leaving Weiss still formulating an appropriate response to the blonde's statement, However, as Yang quickly left ear shot, Weiss clearly gave up and admitted to herself that Yang was right in a sense.
"Have I really been that obvious?"
"The only way you could be more so is if you kissed her, Ruby."
"Not like that thought hasn't crossed my mind," Ruby admitted and tied her laces, very aware that her face was still beet red. "Do you think Blake has noticed too?"
"I don't know," Weiss shrugged and leaned back against the back of the bench. "If she hasn't, then she isn't as perceptive as I thought she was. If she has, then she certainly isn't discouraging you."
"But Blake deserves better than me"
"Ruby, out of everyone in this school there is no one better than you for her. I realize that you doubt what you're capable of, but now more than ever, I know for a fact that you are just what Blake needs, even if she doesn't know it herself."
"How do you know that?" She pouted and sat back with her partner after finishing tying her boots.
"Because you balance each other out in a good way," Weiss explained vaguely and rested a hand comfortingly on Ruby's shoulder
"But what happens if she doesn't like me like that?"
"That's just a chance you'll have to take, Ruby"
Ruby took the words, letting them roll onto her palette, and stopped pouting as her face took on a thoughtful expression; pondering over her feelings and Blake's responses to being near her, along with how the girl acts around her. Lightly tapping a fist over her open palm, she turned to say thank you to Weiss only to see that the heiress was already walking away towards a blue-haired boy standing against the wall smiling at her.
A/N
Hello again, Raalm here. So not much to say here on this chapter because we wanted to expand a little on the last, and show some of Ruby's inner though processes. It was also a good chance for my to try my hand at a slightly different writing style as having a character talking with themselves is a little tough to write otherwise, so please let me know how it worked. We also wanted to show a little more of the team dynamic and a small hint as to what we are doing with Yang.
But I think that's it for me, now we can start moving into more cute, fluffy moments with some future chapters; so I hope you are looking forward to that.