Locked Out
Chapter 5: Burden and Strife
A/N: Hello all! Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Means a ton for all of the outstanding support! Love you all! Here's the recent review replies!
Vanitas Lunar: It was cute to write~ Thanks for the review!
Thatguyacrossthestreet1: No problem! Enjoy this one too!
Lionheart: It is very concerning what Weiss is up to, yes indeed! Who knows how this will play out! Thanks!
jax-was-here: Blake is getting curious isn't she! And maybe we will see more kissy stuff with our two favorite partners!
RWBYGuy2015: It's all so dramatic~ This is too fun to write~ Hope you enjoy!
Ultimate: Here you go!
goddragonking: Thank you a ton! Hope you enjoy!
True Support: Thank you! And I won't say anything to confirm it, but maybe we will see something like that in the future~
Firehawk720: Thanks! Hope you enjoy!
BlakJakXXI: You are on to something there, my friend. I like your little theories~ Hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks for the review!
Guest/Haley Earthstone: Thank you!
Curious.
Blake was indeed curious.
Over the few hours of time that the black and yellow pair had entered the room they called home, Blake was on edge. Something seemed off, in a way she couldn't describe.
Firstly, she had to take note that Ruby was remarkably better. While she wasn't complaining, far from it as Ruby had actually said a proper hello to the raven haired girl for the first time in nearly forever, she didn't understand why. Ruby was torn to pieces when they had left her in Weiss's care, the girl who Ruby despised more than anything. She knew she had talked to Ruby about the situation, but she didn't expect this kind of result over the course of no time flat. Her healing seemed to be flying by, and this concerned her greatly. She had seen all of this before, the strife and pain held in the hearts of those who have gone through such trauma, such betrayal. They didn't heal this fast. It didn't make sense. It was impossible.
But here she was. Ruby Rose, prim and capable with a newfound attitude. She still was cold, to an extent, but she seemed almost... transparent.
Secondly, Blake noticed the odd ring sat on her finger. Ruby didn't wear jewelry, as she wasn't a very girly girl. Blake sympathized with this to an extent, which concerned her even more than before. Ruby wasn't one to just change her appearance in such a way. It would be like Yang shaving her hair. It just didn't happen. And here she was, with an ebony colored ring sat upon her leading hand. Blake tried to understand why she was so concerned, puzzled as to why this whole thing felt false, as if she could taste deception in the very air around her.
She wanted to understand, and her best bet was Weiss.
As the team gathered themselves up, they all decided that lunch was the best option as they all were currently hungry. Hiding the events of what had occurred earlier on in the day, both Weiss and Ruby kept a mutual ignorance of the injury Ruby had sustained. They would keep it secret, as not to further the concern of the rest of the team. Weiss knew Ruby would be annoyed by the constant yammering of Yang about how she needs to be careful, and Ruby understood Weiss would be blamed. They pair looked out for one another, whether they knew it or not. The pair of siblings pressed on ahead down the hallway from the dorm room as Weiss and Blake held back, the heiress making sure the door locked tight before turning to Blake, who had a quizzical look upon her face.
"Um... Ready to go?" Weiss asked as the stare Blake held seemed stone cold, not sure as to what to do. Blake shrunk back and nodded, walking side by side with the Schnee heiress to their destination.
"How was it?" Blake asked as Weiss tilted her head. "Watching Ruby. Was she a handful? Or did she keep mostly to herself?"
"It wasn't too bad. I even managed to have her shower, so she will not be smelling of a foul odor anytime soon." Weiss stated proudly as Blake rolled her eyes at the phrasing. The pair kept behind the duo ahead, keeping to themselves as they conversed
The heiress watched as Ruby made her way forwards down the hall, speaking words to her sister that the Schnee couldn't make out. Ruby limped along with her crutches, the heiress watching as she struggled slightly. Every step Ruby made seemed an effort in itself, Weiss noticing the tense arc of her shoulders, the way her back bent as she moved, and the way her skirt swayed as her hips shook...
Blake looked to Weiss, nudging her side with her elbow.
"Pay attention. You don't want to walk into a vase." Blake commented as she referred to a large pot nearby housing a fancy looking flower. Weiss grumbled as she realized she would have walked right into it, thanking the Faunus moments later as she refrained from staring at her partner. This had been the second time today, she was being sloppy.
Blake looked over at Yang ahead and then back to Weiss, leaning over to her.
"What do you think they are talking about?" Blake asked as Weiss shrugged.
"I am not adept with hearing from a distance." The heiress spoke indifferently.
Blake gestured to her set of hidden ears, wiggling them under her bow as Weiss took notice.
"Would you like to?" Blake smiled as Weiss flashed the same smirk, going along with the idea. Blake loosened the bow ever so slightly which was strangling her extra set of ears, listening in on the conversation ahead as her enchanted hearing boosted her reception.
"And?" Weiss asked as Blake seemed to be focusing.
"They... are talking about you, actually." Blake whispered to the Schnee just to be safe, Weiss raising a brow.
"In what capacity?" The heiress was curious at this point.
"Yang says... She says that you seem to be chipper, her words not mine." Blake cringed slightly at the phrasing of her partner. Weiss flashed a look of disgust. Yang really had a way with words that made people just want to cease existence all together, be it puns or just stuff such as this. "And Ruby says you have."
"Well, I suppose that is a correct observation." Weiss nodded along. "Things have been looking up."
"You don't say." Blake noted. "And why is that, may I ask?"
Weiss hummed. "Well, Ruby is more social than ever. I feel as though I can mark that down as a victory on our behalf. I think I finally broke through to her." She stated proudly.
"And how did that go about?" Blake raised a brow.
Weiss shrugged. "She just came out of her shell at one point last night while you all were in the woods. Plain and simple as that."
Blake narrowed her golden orbs. "I thought you said you broke through to her?"
"I..." Weiss darted her eyes around. "I must have misspoke." The heiress admitted as Blake looked closely at the Schnee, curious. Curious indeed. Something was amiss, as she suspected. What that was, however, remained as big a mystery as the reason Weiss was being so... different.
"I see. Can't blame you, things have been difficult." Blake pretended to shrug off the topic, Weiss noticeable in her relaxation as Blake dropped that line of questioning. The heiress cursed herself for being so clumsy. She couldn't afford a slip up. If Blake, or Yang for that matter, found out exactly what happened the night before, she would be killed by the brawler immediately. Drugging and giving a minor alcohol, she couldn't even being to imagine how much trouble she would be in. Worse than that, she feared what would become of Ruby if she were to learn what she had been doing with the Soothe Ring she had acquired as it rested on the smaller girl's hand up ahead. She needed to keep her facade, keep it with everyone. The closest person she could trust would be Blake, but even then the fear that she would tell Yang or anyone about the alcohol and the ring were more than enough to dissuade her from revealing the truth to her most trusted friend at this point in time.
Realizing she had forgotten to reply to Blake, Weiss spoke out suddenly.
"Oh yeah! Totally!"
Weiss cringed as that was not something she would normally say, Blake raising a brow out of amusement and concern as she stopped walking, looking at the Schnee before her.
"Are you doing alright, Weiss?" Blake asked out of concern. This was very strange.
"N-Never better..." Weiss sighed as she continued to walk. Blake just shook her head and began to follow once more, dropping the subject for another time.
Teaching Ruby to walk again was one of the most difficult tasks Weiss had ever partaken in.
Walking came natural, as did breathing and blinking. Weiss assumed this to be true, mostly as she had never been in the same position Ruby currently found herself in. The heiress figured that after perhaps a few days of practice Ruby would be back on her feet. That was what her Aura was meant for, to heal her wounds and keep her being empowered.
Unfortunately for the young Rose, this was not the case. The bullets, who tore through her being weeks ago, consumed her Aura in a raging inferno. It would heal, over time that is, as the soul wasn't something malleable. One could not simply edit the soul of a being and morph it into something different, something broken. Her Aura would regenerate into its relatively normal capacity, but not for a fair while. Until then, whenever that may be, Ruby would be limited on her regenerative abilities, only a few small cuts and fall damages able to heal with ease. She would be mostly left on her own accord.
Ruby took one step after another, the pair of Weiss and Blake holding her close as they gripped both of her arms. Ruby placed one foot in front of the other, feeling blood rush to her head as she was supported by her two team mates at her sides, still feeling a great pressure below as the sharp pain traveled up her spine. Taking several deep breaths, Ruby pressed on, planting a firm right foot down in defiance.
Ruby dropped like a sack of potatoes, Weiss managing to catch the girl with her body as the pair landed in a mangled mess on the floor. Ruby groaned as Blake and Yang helped her back up, sitting her down on Weiss's bed as the heiress rubbed her aching head, managing to stand moments later. A very faint headache threatened for form as the Schnee sighed deeply in mild frustration. She had thought this would be somewhat easier.
"Well, why don't we try just five steps at a time rather than ten?" Yang offered as everyone nodded in agreement. Ruby huffed quietly as she played with her hands, annoyed.
"Alrighty." Yang stated as she let Ruby lift herself to her feet, keeping her safe from falling once more as the brawler held her arms out to catch her. Ruby gulped as her legs violently quivered under the weight of her being, the pressure so great. Blake stood behind her and guided her along as Ruby tried to walk. Five steps later and Ruby paused for a break, standing a few feet away from the bed she had started at, breathing in deeply. Ruby's body ached as if she had been slammed to the ground by an Alpha Beowulf, sweating visibly at the pressure. Still she persisted, gripping the air around her in twin fists as she fought off the pounding of both her heart and the desire to let go and submit. She wouldn't. She was stronger than this.
"Okay, let's get you back to the bed." Blake suggested as Ruby held defiant.
"Five more." Ruby nearly whispered, Blake hearing her.
"Are you su-"
"I said five more!" Ruby demanded as Blake nodded slowly, looking to Yang who echoed the motion, stepping back to catch Ruby once more if she were to crumble.
Ruby pressed forward, planting her feet down with an audible thump every time. One step, two step, even three, Ruby moved forward with a goal in mind. She wouldn't be held back anymore. She refused. Before she knew it she had reached the other side of the room, standing just before Weiss. Blake locked eyes with Weiss and the heiress nodded slowly, the Faunus letting Ruby go as she fell into Weiss's arms. Ruby was breathing deeply as Weiss held her close, sitting down on Blake's bed and helping Ruby fit comfortably as she came down from her anxiety.
"You did well, Ruby." Weiss smiled down at Ruby, who tried to reflect the facial expression but came up short.
Ruby didn't tell anyone, but over the last few weeks her nightmares had returned with such ferocity. At first it was but the same White Fang dream she had been experiencing, but it soon shifted to something worse. Much worse...
Every night, Ruby would be thrown into a world. It was different every time, but linked by a common threat.
Weiss.
One such instance was just the night before this very day, Ruby having been tossed into the fray of an exam. Ruby furiously wrote down the answers she knew, filled in the bubbled answer sheet, and tried her hardest to answer her essay question in the time frame allotted. The girl hesitated as she finished her work, standing up just as time was called. Ruby travelled down the row in which she had sat, following the rest of her team as they all made their way to the front of the room. Professor Port took each test and scanned the sheets, immediately getting the results back for the multiple choice section. Ruby felt her heart pound as she neared the table, Blake going first.
"Ninety-nine percent." Port spoke with a twirl of his mustache. "Very good Miss Belladonna."
Blake moved off, staring at Ruby.
Yang handed her paper in, Port humming as he looked to the display monitor of her score.
"Eighty-four. Not bad, Miss Long." Port offered as Yang followed over to Blake, glaring at Ruby now.
Weiss handed her sheets in, arms clasped behind her back as she looked to the device herself.
"One-hundred percent. But of course!" Port congratulated Weiss, who too moved off to the others. Everyone shot bullets from their eyes towards Ruby, the smallest girl whimpering as she handed her test in. Ruby felt ink travel over her hand as the paper seemed to distort before her, looking at her palm as her answers had been smudged. Ruby tried to get the test back from Port who shut her down in response, scanning for the results.
"Twenty-five percent..." The professor seemed to growl like an animal. "Pathetic, Miss Rose."
Ruby sniffled as she looked to her friends, her team, for guidance. Everyone stared at her with heartless eyes, all three moving off to the exit as Ruby tried to make it to them, tripping over herself as she tried to reach them. They moved too quickly, the girl struggling up the stairs with her crutches.
"Guys! Wait!" Ruby called out as the three paused in the hallway, Ruby being pushed slightly by passing students. "I-"
"Save it, idiot." Blake stated as Ruby was taken aback, blinking in confusion. "We don't communicate with morons."
"W-What?" Ruby didn't know what to say to that.
"Ruby, you are supposed to be better than this. This... This is shameful. How am I supposed to call you my sister?" Yang crossed her arms as Ruby felt her heart shatter again, gasping for air as the world around her grew to one of shadows and pain.
"W-Weiss?" Ruby looked to the heiress, eyes welled up with tears.
Weiss stared down the Rose, arms clasped behind her back.
"We can do so much better... It would be great if you were to just... disappear. Maybe then we would have a stronger leader." Weiss decided as the other two nodded in agreement.
That's when Ruby noticed all the other students had left, leaving her alone with her team in the hall. She could see her breath as she breathed, the temperature growing frigid.
"I think I agree." Yang cracked her hands as Blake withdrew Gambol Shroud, Ruby trying to step back before falling, her crutches melting away to nothing as she laid on the floor. Defenseless, Ruby whimpered as the three advanced on her.
Yang struck first, stomping on her sister's stomach as Ruby coughed up matter, her back twisting violently at the mere pressure. Her arms went limp as she couldn't move, unable to look away. Yang shifted away with a smile as Blake moved in next, pressing the tip of her katana up against Ruby's chin.
"Such wasted potential." Blake commented as she twirled the blade and thrusted it deep into Ruby's stomach. The weapon sunk into her being as she cried out in pain, begging them to leave her alone as Blake jammed the weapon all the way to hilt, leaving Ruby stuck to the floor and unable to move. The Faunus stepped out of the way as it was now Weiss's turn. The heiress looked down coldly at Ruby, arms behind her back as she laughed to herself moments later. The heiress climbed on top of Ruby, flashing a grin as she cupped Ruby's face, leaning down and kissing her gently. Ruby felt all color leave her being as Weiss pulled a hand from behind her back, producing the revolver used to cripple the Rose. Ruby tried to do something, anything to get free to no avail. Weiss kissed the side of the gun and leveled it, pressing it directly over Ruby's heart.
"You are worthless." Weiss commented before she pulled the trigger, sending Ruby back to the light of day...
Ruby slowly nodded her head towards the heiress hovering above her, struggling to lift herself up as she took deep breaths. She was relieved to see that she could walk, even if it was with assistance, without the crutches. They felt more like a mobile prison than anything else. Ruby detested them. If she could break them, she would do so in a heart beat if it weren't for the fact that without them she could barely travel. Weiss gently pat her back before retracting her hand slowly, clearing her throat.
"You did well." Blake commented as she looked down at Ruby, who twisted the ring on her finger. As the ring shifted positions, Blake could see the almost unnoticeable shift in Ruby's face. Blake noted the odd and almost alien shift in her demeanor, her expression changing from one of slight sadness and pain to one of brightness and glee, however faint the change was in that regard. Blake could see the relief form on Ruby's face as she let go of the ring, swearing she saw a brief flash of pink or a color like it in her eyes.
"Thank you." Ruby commented fully without any sort of coldness, rubbing her wrist. "Thank you all..."
"Anything for you, sis." Yang flashed a grin. She couldn't care less if she tried about Ruby's change in demeanor. If she was happier than before, then that was good enough for her. All she cared was that Ruby was getting better, mentally and physically. Team RWBY seemed whole again.
"Anyone interested in hitting the cafeteria before class?" Yang asked as she cracked her stiff neck. Blake thought as Ruby raised a hand, Weiss shaking her own head.
"I am not that hungry." Weiss noted as Ruby and Yang grouped up in the center of the room, Ruby on her crutches. Blake waved the pair off as she was now left alone with Weiss, arms crossed as she watched the heiress examine her Scroll for any new emails. Oobleck always sent random essay prompts that needed doing via email, and Weiss wanted to be on top of things at all times.
Blake examined the girl before her, contemplating her next move.
"Weiss?" Blake asked as Weiss looked up. "Ruby looks different, doesn't she?"
Weiss raised a brow as she looked up from her Scroll. "In what way?"
"Did you see she has taken up jewelry? Did Coco spend time with her or something recently?" Blake pretended to be ignorant of the topic.
"Oh, yes I got her a small present. A symbol of friendship, I see it as." Weiss commented. "Just a little ebony Dust ring. Nothing major."
"Did it cost you a fortune?" Blake asked as she pulled up a chair, sitting down carefully.
"Not at all. It wasn't too expensive." Weiss recounted a fake event. "Say a few hundred Lien. Nothing crazy."
"I thought she hated jewelry?" Blake raised a question.
"She hates a lot of things now since the injury, perhaps she likes new things in compensation?" Weiss suggested. "Besides, she always makes those accursed friendship bracelets out of rope and beads."
"True. Although those aren't that glamorous." Blake offered as Weiss agreed, going along with it. "It's beautiful though, may I ask the store?"
"I received it from... Erm... From Dust Till Dawn, I believe." Weiss shifted visibly. "I'm still waiting on a backorder of a ring for myself."
"Interesting. Perhaps I'll get one for Yang, she loves the jewelry craze." Blake offered. "Her birthday is coming up relatively soon."
"That's... nice." Weiss managed, cursing herself for lying to the Faunus. She just hoped she couldn't see through her deception.
Blake took note of the deception Weiss was playing off of, thinking of how to handle the situation. The store she had mentioned was far off from Beacon, too far for Weiss to have traveled there anytime recently. She surmised the ring had to have been bought nearby, and judging by Ruby's demeanor changing as she wore it... she had to assume it wasn't by natural means in which the Schnee bought it. Worry nagged at her as weiss refused to reveal the truth. She was hiding something, and Blake had a sneaking suspicion about it... It seemed almost... mystical.
Mystical, she thought. The word ate away at her mind as she placed the puzzle together, thinking. The first name that came to mind at the word was Ren, the ninja often dabbling in the mystical arts and medicines. If anyone were to know of the reaction she saw Ruby portray earlier, he was her best bet at an answer. Blake cursed herself as she realized the team in question was out on training mission for an extra credit assignment, annoyed that her quizzical nature would yet to be repressed by answers for a much longer period than expected.
"I suppose we should head to class early?" Weiss suggested as Blake nodded, both grabbing their respective bags and heading for the door. They knew the others would meet them there, Weiss plucking up Ruby's own bag which she had forgotten as she exited the chamber they called home.
Class was utterly boring.
Weiss had covered all of the material days ago by herself, and this was all just an annoying recap of events she had prior knowledge of. Weren't it for the attendance grade, she would not even bother to show up. Port tended to drone on about nothing for hours on end, and that wasn't a quality education. She much preferred the company of books to... whatever Port was.
When the alarm went off to signal class was over, Weiss was over joyed. The heiress made her way over to the back end of the room, where she knew Ruby was due to her crutches. Port was an idiot, but he did care for his students immensely. He even offered Ruby to be allowed to skip class and still get her attendance grade, but she still wanted to go. The heiress came to a stop beside Ruby, icy eyes regarding the girl as she finished up taking notes from the holo-screen hovering a few feet away from her face. Ruby nodded as she finished, collapsing the screen into her Scroll before going to stand up, nearly falling as Weiss caught her. Blake and Yang had long since left, going to Professor Peach's class which Weiss attended at a much later time. Weiss carefully navigated Ruby up to her feet, helping her grab her crutches to keep stable.
"Thank you..." Ruby nodded her head as Weiss smiled at her, resisting getting close. She didn't want to intimidate the girl.
The pair made their way down the hallway to the gardens, which in turn lead towards the dorms. It was the quickest route they knew, the facility guarded by a glass roof to keep the plants thriving all year long. The pair moved to the entrance as Weiss felt a small vibration of her pocket, frowning as she plucked it off of her waist.
Father.
The word glared at her, the heiress looking at the device as it vibrated in hand. She thought to herself. This was the first time he had ever called... and he never called.
Ruby noticed Weiss pause and turned to face her, looking concerned. Weiss noticed this and hid the device.
"You go on ahead. I'll catch up in a minute." Weiss bobbed her head up and down as Ruby shrugged, entering the garden area herself. Weiss looked down at the Scroll and thought, eventually clicking the accept button.
"Hello, father." Weiss spoke after a moment of silence. The heiress listened as silence retorted back, waiting for some sort of sign from him.
"Hello, Weiss." Jacques Schnee spoke back with a gruff voice, the sound of a glass with ice sounding from the other end. "How are your studies?"
"Why are you calling me?" Weiss got to the point. She knew he didn't care.
"Are they teaching you to be rude at that Beacon school?" He snapped, Weiss visibly backing down.
"No, father. I'm sorry." Weiss gulped as silence once more took its hold.
"To the point, I suppose. I have been told that you did not receive the position of team leader... Is this true?" Jacques spoke calculatedly.
Weiss went quiet. No snarky comeback to be found, the girl realized. Weiss just stood there.
"I take that as a yes." Jacques sighed in disappointment. "If you fail to even achieve the status of team leader, as Winter did at her time at Atlas academy, then I fail to see your reasoning for attending Bea-"
Weiss clicked the phone shut, arms crossed as she hooked her Scroll back to her hip. The heiress leaned against the wall beside her and sighed, eyes closed as she thought on what had just happened.
Ruby wandered the garden as she made her way around the curving paths of the land. It was almost a maze in a sense, leading one through a magical world of fine flowers and the songs of birds. Ruby enjoyed the garden. It was quiet, peaceful, and very beautiful.
Ruby initially thought herself to be alone there, only to eventually come across the entirety of team CRDL looking around. Ruby raised a brow as she spotted them, confused as to why they of all people were wandering the garden. She suspected they skipped class, hiding out there till it ended rather than their dorm. Ruby made her way along past the boys, nearly tripping on a hose left haphazardly on the ground.
"Oh, look who we found." Cardin spoke as the boys laughed, Ruby trying to stand properly. "Little miss cripple."
Ruby ignored their words and moved on once stable, being cut off by Dove. Ruby tried to shift position and head back the way she came, only to be greeted by Cardin standing above her. The Rose looked up at the taller and more imposing member of the group, his arms crossed.
"I didn't say you could leave." Cardin growled. The bully snatched one of Ruby's crutches, then the other as she fell back. Dove caught her and restrained her by her arms, locking her in place as she struggled.
"Hey! Let me go!" Ruby demanded as Cardin toyed with the crutches.
"A Huntress isn't supposed to be crippled." Cardin decided as he weighed the two crutches in hand. "Hey, boys. Want to see a magic trick? I'm going to make these crutches into a pretzel."
The boys laughed as Ruby watched in horror as Cardin bend the metal in his hands, folding the aids into themselves as they ended up a pile of broken metal. Cardin dropped the items to the ground, shrugging.
"I guess I'm a little rusty at my magic act." The boy admitted jokingly as his team laughed, the leader approaching Ruby.
Cardin bent down to eye Ruby. "Your little friend Blake thought it would be funny to insult my intelligence in Ooblecks class, remember that? I didn't find it funny." The bull of a man grunted. "Let's see how she likes it when I... "insult" her friend."
Cardin shoved Ruby off of Dove, the girl dropping to the ground like a brick. Ruby groaned as she tried to crawl away and get up, wanting to fight back but lacking the energy to do so. Cardin laughed as he nudged her with his foot, his entire fold laughing in a chorus of horrific glee.
Weiss turned the corner in the gardens, looking for Ruby as she could have sworn she couldn't have gotten far.
That's when she saw it.
Cardin beating up Ruby, kicking her down as she tried to ball up to protect herself. The others in the group laughed as Ruby suffered, the largest member of the team laughing the hardest.
"Beacon isn't for weaklings like you. I'm just tending the garden, rooting out the weeds." Cardin pushed Ruby over with his foot, going to stomp on her again when he felt his foot hit a Glyph.
"Stop that!" Weiss demanded as she stormed over to the bullies, shoving Cardin away as she came to Ruby's aid. The Rose looked up with injured eyes, not sure what to say.
"Weiss...?" Ruby muttered to herself as she watched as Weiss defended her from attack, the heiress standing with clenched fists.
"Leave her alone!" Weiss shouted as she punched Cardin in the chest.
Weiss felt her hand shatter as she connected with his combat armor, retracting her hand as it felt fractured. Weiss stumbled back before being grabbed by Cardin, the boy striking her across the face with a fist. With the sharp crack of her neck, Weiss dropped like a hammer, landing on the dirt ground with a thud. Cardin shook his hand to alleviate the pain as he went to deal with Weiss for daring to attack him.
"Hey!" A window opened up from the building nearby, attached to the garden. A professor of a class poked their head out, a Scroll in hand.
"Let's get out of here!" Sky exclaimed as the four bolted off to the nearest exit, the professor running out to the two injured girls a few moments later from the classroom. Other students in tow, Ruby watched as they tended to Weiss and then herself, the professor having called campus security during the process.
Weiss hissed as Yang pressed the ice pack against her right eye. Yang kept the pressure even as Weiss tried to pull her hand off, eventually giving up as Yang wouldn't let her free. Cardin had done a number on her, leaving a damaged black eye in his wake. Weiss grumbled to herself as she took the pack from Yang's hand, holding it there herself as the brawler tended to Ruby with Blake.
Ruby was far better off than Weiss, oddly enough. Her crutches were broken, team CRDL suspended and forced to pay for damages. Ozpin and Goodwitch brought them over to their dorm to apologize before they were escorted off campus, leaving the team somewhat content.
"I'll kill them." Yang decided as Blake shook her head in response.
"That will only make things worse. They won't be doing this again, though. One more act like this and they are expelled from every combat school in the Kingdom." Blake noted as Yang had to sigh in agreement.
"I guess so." The shook her head to shake off the anger. "Ruby, you feeling okay?"
Ruby nodded slowly. "Thanks to Weiss, yes."
She was in good condition. Her arm was a bit sore along with her chest, but she would recover. Things would have been far worse had Weiss not acted, coming to her aid as she did. Ruby felt a chime in her heart sound, her being feeling warm and fuzzy as she looked over to the Schnee. Something nagged at her, a feeling of almost comfort and... something she couldn't identify. It felt much like thankfulness, merged with sharp glee... It both annoyed her and intrigued her spirit. Her heart beat just a tad faster as she watched Weiss hiss as she pressed the pack to her eye, sore as can be.
"Who knew little Schnee had it in her?" Yang stated with a chuckle, looking to the heiress in question. "Thank you, Weiss. For protecting my sister."
Weiss tried to smile, her cheek a bit sore from the punch.
"Anytime, I suppose." Weiss managed as she relaxed against her pillows, sighing as she shut her eyes to rest.
Ruby struggled up as she managed to get to the side of the bed. Yang and Blake had long since left into town to get Ruby a new pair of crutches, leaving the Rose and Schnee to their own thoughts. Ruby grunted as she summoned her remaining strength and got to her feet, using the bed post to guide her over to Weiss's bed just beside her own. Ruby slumped down onto her partners bed, resting at the end as she breathed.
"Weiss...?" Ruby asked as she gently poked the sleeping heiress's leg, retracting as the girl awoke with a yawn.
"Yes? Is something wrong?" Weiss asked as she still wore the black eye. Her Aura would heal it soon enough, but it stuck out now like a sore thumb.
Ruby looked to the floor before back to the heiress, gulping as she contemplated her next words.
"Weiss... um... thank you, for saving me..." Ruby snuggled as she kept her emotions in check. "I... I am sorry I... That I... um, never mind..." Ruby trailed off, unsure how to articulate her thoughts. Weiss just nodded her head along, her good icy eye watching Ruby shift uncomfortably.
"It's okay." Weiss thought for a minute, noticing how Ruby seemed to be in a slump. "Hey, Ruby? Want to go for a little walk?"
Ruby frowned. "My crutches..."
"I'll hold you up. Just a quick tour around the walking path. It's too pretty a night to just say indoors, right?" Weiss offered as Ruby thought on her proposition, eventually nodding her head in acceptance. Weiss shifted and stood tall, helping Ruby up as her legs began to quiver like a strung bow. Weiss adjusted Ruby with a small Glyph placed at her back, keeping her balanced. Ruby leeched on to Weiss with latched arms around her hips, Weiss keeping her partner stable as best as she could with an arm looped under her right arm.
"Is this comfortable?" Weiss asked as Ruby tightened her grip.
"Y-Yes..." Ruby gulped as she raised her hood, the pair exiting the room and heading out to the walkway.
The pair walked, glued together as they traversed the campus. The stars in the sky shined brightly as the sun set on the horizon. The well lit walkway patrolled by off-duty Hunters was a safe haven for those wanting some fresh air. Weiss enjoyed the outdoors at night, as it allowed her to take in the real world, away from all of the politics and the royalties of her homestead. Wealth was a privilege, but the simple things intrigued her time to time. Ruby just watched as a group of fire flies passed by the pair of girls, lighting up an upcoming night. Weiss shifted as she kept Ruby stable, keeping a pair of Glyphs at the bottom of Ruby's boots to further allow the girl to walk somewhat. It took great strain of Weiss's body to keep these Glyphs up for so long, but it was worth it to just see Ruby's face as she clung to the Schnee, nearly able to walk on her own again.
"It's beautiful, huh?" Weiss asked as Ruby nodded her head in agreement, watching as a herd of deer dashed off up ahead. The pair exchanged laughter as they moved forwards around the campus, not going too far off track as to get back to their room before Yang and Blake returned and panicked at their disappearance.
"Y-Yes. Very." Ruby joined the heiress in the delight of their surroundings, loving the scenery. Ruby pressed her head gently against Weiss's arm, the heiress trying not to think anything of it as she could still sense Ruby's deep rooted fear. She still trembled being near Weiss, but the gap was thinning.
"Thank for taking me out here." Ruby spoke up suddenly. "It... It means a lot."
"Anytime." Weiss smiled down at Ruby, keeping her close. The heiress sighed in content as they engaged in conversation about anything that came to mind, talking their animosity away as they shared laughter and the presence of one another.
Weiss thought to herself as they walked along the way, smiling as she shut her eyes for but a few seconds. wanting to say words off topic but deciding not to spoil the moment, just enjoying Ruby's company. Seriousness could wait. All that mattered was that Ruby was happy.
And she was happy.
Weiss looked down at Ruby and exchanged a silent smile, the younger girl returning the gesture with one of her own, albeit still reserved. Weiss didn't mind it, as she knew deep in her being that things were right.
Weiss felt her heart swoon as she thought to herself, confident in her personal words she couldn't tell the girl before her.
I won't ever let you feel alone again.
Off in the distance, away from the dorm structure, sat a woman in red. She sighed in content as she played with her Scroll, humming along as she tapped away at a list of names and faces collected over time. Things were going swimmingly, flicking off unwanted names as she scrolled through.
Eventually coming upon a familiar face, the woman flashed a small smirk as she opened up said image. A photograph of Ruby Rose, first year student, appeared before her eyes. The woman hummed as she heard the sound of laughter nearby, noticing a pair of white and red clad girls making their way through the well lit walking path around the campus of Beacon. The one of red clung to the one of white, both talking rather loud as they went on their way. The woman perched up on the balcony watched like a hawk from a distance, turning away eventually and flicking Ruby's image off the screen, eventually replacing it with one of a girl with a long red ponytail and golden armor.
"The little one won't be much of a threat, I suppose." The woman, Cinder Fall, hummed as she let the pair of girls be, focusing on the bigger threats of Pyrrha Nikos and the like. Someone had to be Ozpin's new guardian, and it certainly wasn't a crippled Rose.
Cinder smiled as she returned to her guest dorm room, pocketing her Scroll as she flashed a fiery grin.
They would all burn soon enough.
A/N: More to come! See you all again soon!