Welp, let's get this chapter started.
Chapter 22:
"Well, Yang is finally asleep again." Tai said alerting the duo as he took a seat next to Ruby who had a piece of toast sticking out of the corner of her mouth. With a slightly euphoric look on her face. "But thankfully she only broke a few stitches that were quickly repaired... according to the doctors, her arm is looking a lot better now." Tai continued as he plucked one of the triangles of toast from Ruby's plate before he took a bite and made a face of disgust.
"I know Dad. Weiss is the one that went up and got the whole wheat toast." Ruby said in her defence as Tai lowered the triangle down onto Ruby's plate. "Anyways, looks like she did get one good hit on you. Your jaw is starting to bruise." Ruby said as she picked the piece of toast up and placed it down in front of her father. "And you best eat that Dad... I'm not eating your nasty second hand toast."
"Wheat toast is better for you. Honestly what is wr-?"
"Weiss, I'm going to stop you there, it is best to not mock someone who still has your phone on them and knows enough to cause serious harm to your company." Ruby stated as Weiss frowned a little bit at Ruby raising the white device up with a smile on her face. Just the sight of it was something that normally would make Ruby chuckle but she just felt like that would make her feel worse about what was going on.
Tossing the device towards her, Ruby just couldn't help but laugh softly at the sight of Weiss fumbling shortly before she placed it down to glare at Ruby who had a smile on her face. "Relax will you Weiss. If the screen broke it would take me like five minutes to fix it. Max. Just let me know if Blake responds."
As Ruby scolded Weiss, she could see her father look towards her with a raised eyebrow as Weiss just continued to glare at Ruby. "It is like three in the morning in Menagerie. What makes you think she'll respond?"
Smiling a little Ruby picked up the fork as she pierced the slice of bacon resting on the plate. "By my math it is closer to five in the morning tomorrow, but I know Blake. She probably has only been surviving on beans or rice and a few powernaps throughout the day since we last talked. Much to her parent's chagrin. As she checks her phone or something connected to the internet every few seconds to check her messages. Especially if she has been talking with Neo?"
"Your friend that you cheated on Blake with?" Weiss asked as as she pressed the home button on her phone to quickly check to see if there has been any notification.
"Not just Neo. And yeah. This isn't the first fight we've had where I've been with Neo." Ruby quipped as she quickly looked towards her Dad who had a slight glare in his eyes that just caused Ruby to roll her own. "Dad, don't worry. I'll tell Blake I slept with other women. I don't get why you are acting like she'll be pissed."
"You slept with other women... plan to tell her to her face... and expect her to not be angry?" Tai said slowly as if he was trying to understand everything as well as let Ruby catch up to his thought process. Something that he was happy that Weiss seemed to catch up as Ruby just nonchalantly turned back to the food. "You don't see anything wrong with that?"
"Nope. Told you this isn't the first time I've been caught with Neo." Ruby said as she could see Weiss blanching at that simple statement. Ruby wasn't sure if it was from Weiss knowing what was meant or from how it seemed.
"You are unbelievable." Weiss scoffed letting Ruby know that it was from purely how it seemed. "I was feeling sorry for you, but now I'm thinking that Blake is justified with cheating on you. Not necessarily with Ilia, but certainly with cheating on you." Weiss stated calmly as Ruby just rolled her eyes lightly.
Something that caused her to laugh as she could hear Weiss letting out a groan of pain. "Forgot I was in a metal chair with no feeling in my legs?" Ruby said as Weiss began to pout as she reached under the table to just rub her foot.
Standing up, Tai took a deep breath as he rubbed his face letting out a small groan walking up to get in line for what Ruby just knew was his breakfast. Something that she hoped would be enough to fill his stomach.
Happily smiling Ruby looked back at Weiss who had continued her glare. "Calm down. I never said it was cheating." Ruby spoke seeing Weiss glare harder at her. "Long long story. Short version Blake likes to hear me sleep with other women. I'll explain later in detail if you want and you can even message Blake. But just let my Dad think otherwise. It is a lot easier for him to believe that then me explaining kinks that Blake and I partake in." Ruby said in a half lie as she could see Weiss eyeing her up carefully. "Seriously, ask Blake if you don't believe me. Everyone has a kink... isn't that right you humiliation princess."
As Ruby spoke Weiss began to cough near violently as Ruby chuckled at. A sight that she hadn't seen in a while was strewn on Weiss' face. One that was a mixture of pure shock and pure embarrassment.
"H-h-h-how... do y-y-y-you?" Weiss stuttered out with a red dust hugging her face as Ruby just continued to laugh softly.
"The ceiling in my old room is super thin and you and Yang aren't nearly as quiet as you'd think, and a few times my headphones had died. Which is why I kept a bottle of something strong by my bedside."
Before Weiss could respond, there was a loud ring coming from the device resting on the table causing her to sigh softly at the distraction that was going to be available. A distraction as she read the name across the notification. Spinning the device around, Weiss shoved the phone towards Ruby.
Seeing the name across the screen, Blake smiled brightly as she she was about to scream out before she bit her lower lip from the fact that she knew it was late. That didn't contain all of her joy as she quickly clicked on the message hoping that it was something good.
Not that Blake really doubted that it would be something great. Especially given how it was from Ruby and with how positive the last message was at least Ruby letting her know that she was at least willing to talk once she got back.
Hell that alone was making Blake want to get on the next boat to Vale. The only downside to that was the fact that that was still two days at least. However just the fact that she could at least feel some joy at the fact that Ruby wasn't at least as furious enough to not talk. It felt like there was a load off of Blake's mind for a number of reasons.
Chiefly being that she might not have screwed it entirely over with Ruby. But also because it meant that Ruby was at least looked after so she wouldn't be at risk of injuring herself from pure negligence on her part of just ignoring a quick glance of her legs to just make sure there is no strange colouring on them or worse that during the day Ruby had managed to break her legs from her penchant of falling out of her chair.
Blake, you should go to sleep. It is late and a few hours of proper sleep will do you good. All that is going to change is I'm finally going to be able to get away from the hospital and get home to sleep myself. Yang is fine.
That was what Blake's eyes scanned over. And she could feel her heart flutter a little at the fact that she could see that Ruby was at least doing better mentally. Enough at least to show concern for her that she never really did when she was mad at someone.
It had been just as good as a confession of that she was fine with what Blake had done. It had actually caused Blake to relax slightly as she locked her phone. Gently lowering her body down, she just knew that she was going to be fine with just a few hours of sleep.
That was until there was a pounding on her door. Jolting upright, Blake blinked her eyes as she scanned the room. Grunting softly, Blake began to climb out of the comfortable bed, as she opened the door frowning as she clinched her eyes from the flood of natural light.
"What is it?" Blake asked faintly wondering how long she had been asleep. As her eyes adjusted to see her mother standing there with a smile on her face. Before Blake could really follow she felt her mother's arms quickly wrap around her tightly. "Mom. What gives?"
"Oh just some good news. Perry caught Ilia last night skulking around on the inside of the walls." Kali said as Blake could just hear the smile in her mother's voice as Blake could at least feel even more joy. At least she didn't have to sequester herself up as much. "So she is very likely going away for the rest of her life once we get past the whole legal process. All because she is on probation from Vale. And a bunch of other things which just means it is likely going to take a while. Even longer if she gets a bail. I was just worried about you." Kali said as Blake just lightly patted her mother's back.
"I'm fine Mom... better than fine actually. Ruby emailed me a few hours ago. And she is at least willing to talk when I get back." Blake said with a smile as Kali just pulled back and stared into her daughter's eyes and felt herself swell with joy because it appeared that Blake had all sort of her stresses vanish. "The worst thing is I can't get back to her until the boat gets back." Blake said lightly as her mother hugged her again causing Blake to just smile brightly at her. She knew what the gesture meant as Kali just squeezed her tightly.
Wincing a little, Blake felt her mother squeeze her tighter. "Today is a wondrous day for good news." Kali sung out pulling back catching Blake's hands as she just leaned back and just laughed softly. "We should celebrate... just without drinking. I'm thinking ice cream." Kali sung out as Blake rolled her eyes gently at her mother's childish response.
It wasn't long before Blake saw the error of her ways as she felt the fingers shooting up from around her wrist to grab a hold of one of the feline ears and giving it a small tug downwards. "You know I'm starting to think that you are forgetting my biggest pet peeve. I don't like that kitten. If you weren't in emotional pain for the last week I hope you do know I would be a lot firmer with this." Kali stated calmly as Blake began to wince as the fingers let go of the sensitive flesh.
Pulling her head upright, Blake began to rub her ears softly as she felt some tears stinging her eyes as she looked at her mother. "That really hurts Mom." Blake said as Kali just met her daughter's eyes with an almost cold glare to them.
"I know. But be glad I'm not your grandmother who you know also hates it when people roll their eyes at her." Kali said softly as Blake just started to rub her ears slowly to try and soothe them. "Now let's go get breakfast."
Groaning softly as she felt her chair get nudged, Ruby turned around to see Weiss just looking at her with a slightly exhausted look on her face. One that Ruby knew well enough to know what it meant. It was as if she was trying to ask if Ruby was going to behave. Something that at this point Ruby wasn't even sure herself if she would not that she enjoyed causing other people some misery, but the fact was that Ruby had no idea if Yang was going to be relaxed enough to listen to anything.
Something that is crucial to what Ruby would do. A feat that wouldn't make much sense to Weiss or her Father, but Ruby did know a lot more than they do in this situation. Even if it seemed like she was being callous to Yang.
"Don't give me that look Ruby. Just let me know if you are going to help or hinder right now Ruby." Weiss said as she held the chair from advancing any closer to the room. She knew that it was purely feeling like she was staring down an enemy that held all the cards. What was made worse was the fact that Ruby really did hold a number of the cards and she could at points could be one.
"I don't know Weiss. It depends if Yang is going to just yell instead of listen. Besides it isn't like I have many ways of going somewhere else. Especially because I know my Dad understandably doesn't want to leave you alone with Yang. I mean she swung at him and got a pretty bad hit in." Ruby said as Weiss quickly walked around the chair to just stare at Ruby. "Weiss, I love my sister, but if she hurts you we both know that is something that will eat away at her. After I smack her upside the head a few times myself."
Rolling her eyes, Weiss lightly bated Ruby's hands away from the wheels that they had just drifted towards. "Ruby, I'm being serious. I get that your opinion is coloured from similar circumstances... but Yang doesn't need to be butting heads with everyone. I'd rather call Klein to bring you to your home than you fighting with Yang." Weiss scolded softly as she Ruby just met her gaze.
"Weiss, trust me I'm not going to intentionally feud with Yang, but I'm also not going to let her scream at me and you shouldn't either. No matter how much it strains your marriage. I can't tell you the number of times I'd wish for someone to butt heads with me. Because I said some terrible things. Including how I wished for my own parents to just have let me die. Hell I'm positive that is why my Dad is fighting Yang so hard. Because that is the fastest way to cut anyone who loves you deep."
As Ruby spoke, Weiss leaned back and sighed softly. A sigh that signified exhaustion at the topic. One that Ruby could actually agree with because she was getting tired of reminding everyone about how qualified she was on this topic about waking up disabled.
"Call Klein now if you want. It is going to take him a while to get here. So you never know, best case there will be another person here to tell you I'm right. Or you won't need to wait as long with Yang and me fighting for me to leave." Ruby said spoke as Weiss just sighed softly as Ruby held the phone out for her.
Grabbing it Weiss dragged her finger across the screen as she quickly scrolled through the contacts. "Why can't you just not be difficult?" Weiss asked rhetorically as she pressed the phone to her ear.
"Because you don't get that while I might seem like I'm being a bitch I'm doing a lot of long term good." Ruby muttered softly as Weiss let out a sigh as she took a few steps backwards to start talking. Leaning back in her chair, Ruby stretched before she spoke up. "I'm going to go in now Weiss." Ruby said as she rolled towards the door, just glad that Weiss was at least accepting with what was happening.
Opening the door, Ruby began to roll in to see Yang rubbing her eyes as she was pushing herself up next to Tai. Who had a calm expression on his face as Yang just started to crack her joints. "I'm getting sick and tired of people drugging me." Yang hissed as Ruby had to resist the urge to laugh. Especially given how she knew that her Father and Weiss would freak further out at her.
"Maybe don't rip your stitches open then." Ruby said softly before she realised the error of her ways as Tai glared at her, with anger being present in his eyes as Ruby just rolled her own. "It is true. If she doesn't buck around she won't be drugged."
"So I'm not allowed to be furious!?" Yang yelled at Ruby who just looked up at the ceiling slightly exhausted by this turn. Not that she would really fault Yang for this. Especially because she really didn't know how annoying that this part was due to how she was kept in a coma until she was largely healed.
"I never said you can't be furious. I just said don't violently swing around because that is going to cause you to be drugged for the doctors to repair the damage."
"I should knock you out!" Yang yelled as she lunged forward on the bed before she winced and fell backwards cupping her sore ribs carefully.
"Go ahead. I'll tie an arm behind my back so it is a fair fight." Ruby said before she could feel her chair being dragged backwards as Yang tried to lunge forward once again clearly ignoring the pain she was in as Tai swung an arm outwards to catch Yang.
Rolling her eyes as she was placed by a wall to see Weiss glaring at her. "I'll admit, I could have handled that better. Because that doesn't help my case of me trying to do long term good."
"You think!?" Weiss yelled as she stood upright pinching the bridge of her nose as she sighed deeply. "Klein is on his way to pick you up and drop you off back home." Weiss said as she let her hand fall as she looked at Ruby. "Do I need to ban you from Yang's hospital room?"
"Use your own judgement Weiss. It is probably best that I stay out here though. Yang seems a bit emotional." Ruby said with a chuckle as she could see Weiss glaring harshly at her. "Not the time for you to chuckle at jokes. I got it."
"I'm sorry that my wife's disability isn't a laughing matter for me. But I think it is best you don't come back to the room. I'll try and keep you up to date on any sort of developments." Weiss said softly as Ruby leaned back in her chair once more.
"Fine. If you think that is best. You'll know where to find me until I get a new phone." Once Ruby said her bit she began to roll towards the elevator.
Weiss frowned but she knew deep down that she did the right thing. If Yang said she wanted Ruby there then Weiss would be sure to get her back. But if all Ruby was going to do was feud with Yang over things like this, Weiss knew that she couldn't have Ruby around. No matter how much it hurt Ruby. It was going to be best for everyone.
Rubbing her neck, Ruby just smiled as she reached down to the brown bottle in her lap taking a sip as she could see Neo walking back into the room with a small smile on her face. One that Ruby was a little unsure about, but wasn't in the mood to question it.
"So she just banned you from seeing your sister? I knew I didn't like the look of her." Neo said as she plopped down on the couch resting her head on Ruby's shoulder. "Want me to make you feel better?" Neo asked as Ruby just reached over and nudge the head off her shoulder.
"I'm not in the mood for sex Neo." Ruby began as she raised the bottle to her lips once more to take a swig of it before she lowered it again. "Besides I don't blame Weiss for that. I admit that I didn't handle it too well." Ruby continued as Neo began to swing up to rest her head on Ruby's shoulder once again.
"Why do you constantly assume sex? I can make you feel better without having sex." Neo said as she grabbed the bottle Ruby had been drinking from and moved it away from her. Just glad that Ruby had understood what she was doing.
"Because in all the time we've known each other almost every time we've been together it has involved sex. But sorry that my idea of fun most of the time isn't really the same as everyone else's." Ruby said as Neo jumped up a little placing the beer bottle down on the far side of the table as she just smiled at Ruby.
"Come on. Let's go get you something to eat. Last I heard Blake was over the moon that you talked, and your sister is awake. Plus you are clearly in pain again and are trying to numb it with beer." Neo said with her smile growing as Ruby rolled her eyes and slumped over on her seat. "Come on Ruby. My treat. I know this really nice burger place and it is my cheat day." Neo complained as Ruby just took a deep breath. "And yes gymnasts have those. If anything we live for them more than any other athlete. It has caused me a few times to lust for bread and butter alone."
Groaning softly, Ruby knew that this wasn't going to be a thing she could win an argument with Neo about. Especially with what she remembered of how fun cheat days were. "Fine. I just need to get to my chair again. And if this isn't the best burger, I'm going to be mad."
"You're getting a free meal. You don't get to be mad. I however get to be if I have to go another two months without something to tide me over." Neo said as she walked over towards Ruby who had been taking too long for her liking causing her to just scoop her up and placing her down in her wheelchair. "Seriously I'd rather make out with my sister than skip out on this."
"Add some booze and we are back to sex." Ruby laughed out as Neo began to push her towards the door. Something that would normally make Neo laugh but she couldn't right now for a number of reasons.
It was namely from the fact that right now she had to at least cheer Ruby up. It was probably the only thing that she really knew that she could do that would make Ruby hurt less that wasn't just let her numb the pain she was in.
Normally though Neo was content with letting Ruby do that because most of the pain was trivial, but this time it wasn't. She was told by her sister in law that she shouldn't be with her sister who was probably going to be in a whirlwind of emotions and that Ruby knew well and was probably just trying to guide her through said emotions.
Unless the joke was something terrible. But even then Neo couldn't see a reason to just kick Ruby out. The only bonus for that happening though in Neo's eyes was that she wouldn't run the risk of having a heart attack coming from Ruby's father.
Coming to a stop in the small communal hallway Neo just smiled as she looked at Ruby. "I'm going to check to see if Pyrrha wants to join us. You just wait here."
"She's talking to us again? She seemed really shaken up last time I saw her."
"She is. And who wouldn't be your father was screaming." Neo said as she leaned down and gave Ruby a kiss on the cheek before she started to skip up the stairs. Leaving Ruby alone in the barren hallway who just looked down at her lap.
'I do hope Yang is going to calm down faster than I did Weiss... for both of our sakes.'
Author's Note:
Another chapter is down, and it is looking pretty good. Catch you peoples later.