Locked Out
Chapter 7: Rebuilding the Bridges
A/N: Hello all! Hope you all are having a good time. College is killing me slowly, but I'm alright! Thanks to catsan for his help once more! Now, it's review time!
GrnDrgnzrd: Good question! I hope to answer it! Enjoy!
RWBYGuy2015: Thanks! And yes, that is still a worrying threat upon our favorite Schnee! Enjoy!
SeerKing: Yes, its good to see Blake realize she can't always make the right call and realize her mistakes, and Weiss too. Thanks!
Thatguyacrossthestreet1: I did consider that once but figured this version would fit the overall story better. Would have been interesting to see Ruby react, I agree. Thanks!
Vanitas Lunar: Hopefully I can clear up your concerns! Weiss has had far too much stress on her being so far, but it's good to see her safe and sound for now. Enjoy!
Guest/Haley Earthstone: Thank you so much!
BlakJakXXI: Hope to clarify your concerns as well! Yang does need to be treated carefully with all of this going on behind the scenes, but she will need to know sooner or later! Yes, Weiss really has had it rough. As for the weapons, who knows!Thanks for the review!
Guest: Ha Ha! I will, thank you for the review!
True Support: Thank you! The intention was to have you readers switch sides between Blake and Weiss on what they felt was right and wrong. So much tasty drama! And yes, I have heard about those school things happening recently.
IAmAnonReviewer: Indeed! Enjoy!
Grossly Incandescent: Thank you!
bdefili13: Why thank you so much! Hope you keep liking it!
That's all, hope you all enjoy!
Cinder softly hummed as she sat on her bed, waiting quietly as the wind blew through her open balcony. Emerald and Mercury had been sent away while she would attend to her private duties. She had a call to take fairly soon, one she could not afford to miss.
Her Scroll vibrated at her side as she stood up, moving to the open balcony and looking off into the distance. The girl looked down to the device and saw the caller I.D, labeled simply as Queen. The woman felt her heart churn along with her stomach. Fear gnawed at her as she was unsure as to what to expect from her master. She had failed to obtain the full Fall Maiden's power, and now she was failing her duties in Vale. Concern pushed aside, the girl carefully raise the device to her ear, having pressed the accept call button.
"Ma'am." Cinder spoke the word as she stayed silent afterwards, waiting for instructions. The secure line made by that fool doctor Watts to their headquarters was untraceable, allowing for open communication at any point without concern of someone listening in. Cinder felt her heart race as nothing replied, the thumping almost audible.
"Cinder." Salem spoke through the device, sending shivers down her spine. "Report on Vale."
"I have infiltrated Beacon. My underlings are searching for the Maiden Amber as we speak, and any sort of Guardian that he may have found." Cinder explained.
"Ozpin..." Salem hissed the word. "It will not be easy to accomplish, but I have faith in you, young one." The woman spoke confidence into the most important tool of her Dark Cabal. "And I see you haven't told me of the White Fang?"
"There was... an issue." Cinder gulped as Salem went silent. "The assassination was a failure. The Schnee's friend was shot, a scythe wielder."
"Did I not specifically inform you that the death of the Schnee daughter is our gateway into Atlas?" Salem spoke sternly through the device. "With her death will come the fear festering before the Vytal Festival. Both Vale and Atlas will mourn her death, and when Beacon begins to crumble, Atlas will follow suit with the rest of the world. Emotions are everything, Cinder. I want her dead."
"Yes, ma'am. As you say." Cinder bowed her head as she spoke.
"If the common White Fang are unable to do so, contact the boy, Adam. If not, I trust you to take matters into your own hands. You have done well thus far, my dear. Please try not to disappoint." Salem ordered as she clicked the device off, Cinder lowering her hand as she pocketed her Scroll.
The Schnee needed to perish, and if she had to see it though, then so be it.
Blake stroked Weiss's head gently as she cried into her shoulder, holding her close as she refused to let her leave her side. A Shadow Clone leapt from her being and assaulted the open window, shutting it before disappearing into thin air. Blake sighed in content as she felt Weiss was now safe, the girl hiccuping as she loosened her grip on the platinum girl.
Blake looked down at the broken girl beneath her, eyes full of concern for her friend.
"Are you alright?" She asked, Weiss slowly nodding her head along as Blake let her free. Weiss sat on the floor, holding herself still as Blake stood tall, looking at the table before the pair. Gears and the like were spread out across the table, a brow raised as Blake didn't understand why Myrtenaster was in pieces, the remains of the weapon melting in a vat.
"Weiss... what did you do?" Blake asked as she held her breath. Weiss had destroyed her own weapon. But why?
Weiss rubbed her eyes to dry them, looking at the floor.
"I... I know the damage to her spine won't let her hold Crescent Rose any more... It would kill her. So... Atlas metal is very light, so I thought if she couldn't handle the weight of her scythe..."
Blake finished for her. "Then she could carry a lighter version..."
Weiss sniffled. "The case is the heaviest... so I was trying to make a mold... The city is out of Atlas-based metals, so I... I thought if I melted down Myrtenaster... maybe I would have enough..."
"Weiss... that was your own blade..." Blake spoke low as Weiss nodded her head. "It was a piece of you."
"I already took a piece of Ruby... I figured this would even the score." Weiss spoke low in return as she held back her tears. "How... How bad is she...?"
Blake grit her teeth as she looked back to Weiss, letting go of the skeleton of Crescent Rose. Her mind churned as she thought on what to say, how to phrase it.
"Weiss... let me explain." Blake began as she took a breath. Such a sensitive topic warranted such. "A Soothe Ring is, usually, harmless. I'm sure whoever gave it to you said that much. Normally, the ring would act as a... band-aid, that's a good example. It covers up the depression and holds it firm as it recovers. But like any medicine, you have to be somewhat well in any regard."
Weiss raised a brow out of confusion, Blake continuing.
"Remember the report the police gave us? About the gunman?" Blake asked as Weiss nodded her head. "It was Burn Dust infused bullets targeting you. You are from Atlas, thus subject to death by that certain Dust type. Ruby... isn't any different."
"W-What do you mean?" Weiss asked as she listened to her friend speak. What had she done?
"While the Soothe Ring worked to contain her emotions, it's supposed to have a healing process along with it, to nullify the pain she holds. Think of it as a portable therapy session. But, when a person's Aura is as damaged as hers is... she became susceptible. I've seen this happen before. The Dust embedded in the ring is supposed to help with her recovery, mentally and physically, yet with her Aura damaged... its containing the issue, but she's becoming dependent on it. You know how one can overdose on medicine?" Blake asked the Schnee.
Weiss nodded slowly.
"Well, the dosage of the ring works in part with a person's Aura. The Aura helps filter just enough of the chemicals and Dust to help heal the individual. Yet, Ruby barely has any generated Aura to spare. It's sending far too much into her being at a time that she's growing a very unhealthy addiction as a result. Her body needs that substance to maintain itself."
Weiss didn't know what to say.
"When the she took the ring off in the dorm to show me it, she fell ill. I only realized when I tried it on myself what it was, and judging by how it altered my being, I can't even imagine how Ruby currently is internally. I had to leave it on her when I came to meet with you, and I'm still trying to figure out how to reverse this..." Blake finished as she sighed deeply. This was one cluster of a situation.
Weiss frowned, looking down at the floor.
"I'm... I'm so sorry..." Weiss sniffled.
"It's okay, you didn't know. Hell, only we were told about her Aura being damaged. I'm sure the person who gave you the ring was trying to help, but they couldn't have known." Blake sighed.
"It... It was Ren..." Weiss looked away as she knew Blake was about to ask. She was far too weak to be resisting questions at this point.
Blake thought. So Ren had been the dealer. Ironic, considering she had been trying to locate him to help with the situation. Perhaps he would know a way to reverse this, she thought. As soon as he came back to the school, she would need to retrieve him.
"I won't tell anyone." Blake promised. "You trust me, I trust you. Okay?"
Weiss slowly nodded her head in understanding.
"Blake... I... When I hit you..." Weiss began as Blake raised a palm to halt her words. She didn't want to hear it.
"Water under the bridge." Blake expressed. "I'm just glad you didn't go through with your plan, Weiss."
Weiss looked back to the floor as Blake thought on what to say next.
"Weiss, I know you were doing what you thought was right. But... this is how life works. Things like this... they are delicate. They take time. I know it's hard to understand, but it's what makes us... us." Blake spread her arms outward in demonstration. "We have to go through these sorts of things, no matter how bad they feel."
"She won't get better, will she?" Weiss asked after a moment of silence.
"She will, Weiss. You have to have faith in that." Blake pleaded. "You just can't beat around the bush with things like this. You can't just place a wall between Ruby and what you desire and call that Ruby, no matter your intentions."
"I just wanted her back..." Weiss sniffled.
Blake bit her lip.
Kneeling down to the level of Weiss, Blake cupped her jaw. The Schnee looked up with heartbroken eyes and regarded Blake, who stared back with hope radiating from her being.
"We need to have a talk. No more secrets. I think it's time you understand Ruby a little bit more." Blake spoke to the Schnee, who reflected back a look of confusion as Blake offered a smile. "Then we are finishing this weapon."
Ruby sat alone in the dorm room belonging to her team, not really interested in leaving at the moment. Her stamina felt drained, and she was so tired of using crutches. The girl reached over and clicked on the air conditioning for the room, groaning as the sound of the switch turning positions yielded nothing in response. Fantastic, she thought. Yet another thing to worry about. The girl sighed as Yang had set the temperature in the room extraordinarily high with the thermostat near the door, the heat in the room beginning to bother her. While the weather outside was indeed growing frigid with time, this was crazy! The girl looked over to the thermostat and growled, shifting herself to the edge of her bed.
"Ugh..." Ruby picked up her crutches, holding them in hand before pausing. The Rose examined the pair of metal aids and grunted in dissatisfaction, shoving them away to the floor below. The pair landed in a pile a few feet away, the girl not worrying about them one bit. She could do this, right? Ignoring her lack of stamina and slightly aching body, Ruby stood tall with quaking knees. The girl took a deep breath and summoned all of her courage, gulping as she blindly took a step forwards...
... and she didn't fall.
Ruby opened her eyes and looked around, her mouth opening and closing as she was unable to force anything out. Words couldn't even begin to describe how she felt, how... how overjoyed she was! This was amazing! Finally, she could walk! Ruby barely could fathom the fact that this was happening, going for another shaky step.
"Y-You can do this..." Ruby spoke to herself. The girl's knees buckled inwards towards one another, Ruby trying to balance herself as she could hear gravity whispering in her ear, coaxing her into falling. She wouldn't have it. She would crumble only when she had nothing else left to give. Ruby planted her foot down again, then again and again. By the time she reached the thermostat she felt as if she were about to die. Her heart pounded as if it were to burst from her chest at any given moment. The Rose took several deep, gruff breaths as she held onto Yang's desk, hoping it would work to keep her upright. The girl reached over to the thermostat and managed to turn it to the normal setting. Ruby knew full well that Yang would eventually change it back, as she adored the heat, but this was a win-win situation. It was cooler, and she could walk! Albeit, in a very injured and, frankly, inhuman manner, as if she had been hit by a car and tried to walk it off. Ruby looked to the distance between her bed and where she was, sighing in defeat as she simply allowed gravity to guide her down, sliding with her back to the wall as she rested on the floor. She deserved a little rest after what had just transpired.
Yeah... Rest...
Ruby sighed in a song as she relaxed into the wall behind her, resting her eyes as her fatigue got the better of her.
"She... She what?" Weiss asked as Blake nodded her head along in reassurance of her previous statement.
"She had a crush on you, prior to the incident in Vale." Blake confirmed. "Madly so, I may add. I thought it would have been best to not mention it to you, not for a while, but now seems like as good of a time as any." The Faunus shrugged as she handed the Schnee a pair of screwdrivers.
"Had." Weiss echoed. "Had..."
Blake could taste the sadness in her voice, raising a brow out of amusement. She knew she shouldn't find this enjoyable, but Yang's less than stellar personality had begun to morph the Faunus of the team ever so slightly. Common day interactions tended to provide interesting material to which Blake would adopt as if she were Velvet's camera incarnate. An almost taunting smirk appeared on her face.
"So, you do feel the same way. I see." Blake hummed as Weiss was visibly taken back.
A fierce blush ravaged her face. "N-Not at all what I am saying!"
"But you do care for her." Blake stated with glee. "Immensely so."
"W-Well, yes! Of course I do!" Weiss stomped her foot down. "But... But...!"
"But you do watch out for her more than even yourself." Blake finished for her. "And I did catch you staring at her as-"
"I get it!" Weiss cut her off. "Ugh..."
"Relax, Weiss." Blake raised both hands. "This is a safe place. Trust me. You can tell me when you are good and ready to do so."
Weiss looked at the table before her and sighed, setting down the screw she was about to put into place. Her heart pounded as she shut her eyes tight, viewing the darkness reflected back to her with a deep breath.
"I... I care for her... more than I can understand..." Weiss sighed as she held her hands together, relaxing her ever so slightly. "Ruby is the first person I ever remotely cared about. Mother and father always acted indifferent, my sister Winter was too proper and militant, and my brother Whitley... kept his pleasantries to himself rather than to his siblings. I don't care about my family. Even with Winter being the closest one to me, it was barely any resemblance of love. Ruby changed me the day I met her, the day I met you all... she was able to look past who I was, and called me out on it..."
Blake placed a caring hand a top Weiss's own, the Schnee looking up at her with icy eyes of both fear and panic, frightened of what was to come.
"When I told her I wanted to be the best team mate ever, I meant it. I wasn't just saying that as a sort of apology. A Schnee never goes back on her word, more often than not anyways... But... I guess I started to see Ruby as an equal, something to balance me out. I'm so prim and proper, yet she is so wild and carefree... It's... breathtaking..." Weiss sighed happily as Blake just kept quiet. "She makes every day so exciting, and everything she says just makes me want to listen to her more and more. Her presence overjoys me, and when she smiles..."
Weiss went quiet, thinking.
"Blake... I think I'm... I may be in love with Ruby..."
Blake smiled.
"Finally, she admits it." Blake smirked smugly. "I'm proud of you, Weiss. You're very brave."
"Yeah... brave, sure." Weiss sighed at the mention of the word. "As if that will change how Ruby feels..."
"Look. Ruby is broken, yes, but that doesn't mean that former part of her is gone. If she tolerated you for this long after what happened, then a piece of herself from before is still there, deep down. Weiss, you can't give in. We can still bring her back." Blake stated in an effort to reinvigorate the Schnee. "It takes time, but we will get through this."
Blake held her hands, looking into her icy orbs with intent. A calm wave swept over Weiss, the feeling of peace waxing against her soul.
"Together."
Weiss nodded her head in understanding, retracting her hand and getting back to work. The girl moved over to the vat in which sat the remains of her prized rapier. Father would not be happy, but she couldn't care less if she tried. This was for Ruby. Nothing else mattered. No one else mattered. The Schnee carefully carried over the mold of the frame she had created with the aid of Blake, shoving off the interior of Crescent Rose as Blake continued to adjust the settings for the device. Weiss poured in the molten fluid to shape the new evolution of Crescent Rose, knowing full well that this was the right thing to do. Ruby would be ecstatic. Perhaps this would be the best thing to do in order to pull Ruby from the pain she held so close.
If she was to lose the ring, Weiss would need all of the help she could get.
The pair of girls moved back to the dorm room after a long day's work. Having made a quick trip to the showers simply to rinse off the grime festering upon them, planning to go back and clean up once they had their proper cleansing supplies, the two girls conversed as they went. They were nearing the dorm room they called home, a few minutes out it would seem. The pair walked in silence as Weiss kept to her thoughts, Blake still reflecting over how Weiss had been just inches away from taking her life.
"Hey, Blake?" Weiss asked as she nodded her head to herself, considering this her best choice of action. "Can I ask you something?"
"By all means." Blake allowed.
"So, you know the dance coming up?" Weiss asked as Blake bobbed her head in understanding. "Do you... Do you think Ruby would want to go?"
Blake raised a brow. "With you, you mean?"
"Y-Yes... That." Weiss coughed. Blake smiled. It was adorable how shy Weiss was when it came to the admission of the truth.
"She may. I have heard her say how she dislikes being so removed from everything." Blake explained as she got a thought. "You should ask her to go into town. Go dress shopping, then spring the question."
"You really think she would say yes?" Weiss asked again.
"Would it hurt to try? Regardless of the outcome, she would know you care about her current occupation." Blake suggested.
"That's fair..." Weiss spoke as she stopped at the door. The girl raised her Scroll to unlock the barrier, pausing in place.
"Weiss?" Blake asked before she found herself suddenly struck in a tight hug.
"Thank you... Thank you for helping me..." Weiss spoke quietly before breaking the hold. Blake smiled and nodded in return, the pair entering moments afterwards.
Ruby was laying against the wall just to the side of the door, fast asleep as her head hung down with gravity. The pair of girls exchanged a look before Blake pointed to the crutches far off from her being. Weiss raised a brow before a look of realization crossed her face.
"She... She walked..." Weiss spoke as Blake nodded. "H-How?"
"I suppose the training yielded some fruit." Blake stated as she gestured to the girl. She seemed so calm, so peaceful. Weiss couldn't believe it. Ruby seemed... so well. While she should have felt fantastic, she knew this was all false. The heiress knelt down and took Ruby's hand in her own, looking at the ring.
"Weiss." Blake warned as Weiss pulled the ring from her finger, holding it in her own.
A few moments passed before the calm expression Ruby held turned dark. A scowl seemed to form on her face, a look of discomfort as she shifted around. Droplets of sweat began to form on her forehead as time passed, Weiss just watching with an emotionless face. A firm hand knocked her out of her daze as she looked up to Blake. The Faunus shook her head sadly as Weiss understood, placing it back upon Ruby's fragile finger. The girl visibly relaxed moments later, sinking back into her sleep. The heiress took Ruby into her arms, lifting her up into embrace. Blake watched as Ruby was transported to her bed, laying in bliss as Weiss deposited the girl. The Schnee lost her composure and moved away from the bed, falling to her knees a few feet away.
"Weiss..." Blake spoke again as she didn't want Weiss to freak out, or worse, shatter again. "Just breathe. I know it's hard to bear."
"I'll..." Weiss turned away as she felt like vomiting. "I'll be... I'll be fine in a minute..."
Blake watched as Weiss collected herself, the heiress wheezing as she tried to collect herself. It took everything in her power to keep herself calm, Blake having had enough of this to the point of nearly breaking down herself. She had seen it all before, and she was not anxious to repeated the process. But she couldn't be the weak link here. She had to maintain control herself.
Blake moved to the side of Weiss, holding her steady as she pushed the Faunus away in return. The Schnee held herself as she held wide eyes, trying to prevent herself from going into a panic attack. This was all just so much for her. All this pain she had caused, and now there was more to stack atop the mountain she had created. She had tried to help Ruby, only to end up making things far worse. Now that she had seen it for herself, she didn't know what was right and what was wrong. Every action she thought to take was now in question as to the negative outcome it would hold. Moments passed as she calmed herself, getting up from her hands and knees. She had to be stronger than this. A Schnee didn't break this easy. She had to be, for Ruby.
Weiss looked over at Ruby then back to Blake. The heiress pulled the Faunus aside as she wanted to keep Ruby from waking from her slumber. She deserved the rest.
"Blake." Weiss spoke as she took a few breaths to calm down entirely.
"Tell me what I need to do."
Ruby was surprised when she woke up and was asked to go into town. She hadn't been off campus since her time in the hospital weeks ago. While she was hesitant to say yes, she did indeed agree to go. After all, she did want to spend time with Weiss, a strange feeling after so much had happened between them. Weiss seemed ecstatic to the agreement, over joyed that she was able to spend time with the Rose. Ruby was happy that Weiss was happy. Things were finally seemingly better between the pair, even with minor hiccups.
Ruby still tensed up whenever Weiss made any major form of contact. Weiss knew this was just Ruby being careful, and she didn't blame her. She would be traumatized herself if things were reversed. It pained the Schnee still to see Ruby in such a way, and knowing that the mere ring she wore kept her in this light didn't make the situation any better.
Still, Weiss persisted. She had a plan thanks to the efforts of Blake, and she would see them followed to the very end.
The airship deposited the two girls at the shuttle hub in Vale, just a few minutes out from the store Weiss had in mind. She had told Ruby she wanted to go try on outfits, and Ruby agreed to do so. Wearing the same outfits day in and day out wasn't exactly fun. Variety was good. Ruby tried her best to ignore the fact that this was very similar to when she had asked Weiss to go into town, albeit reversed and for alternative reasons. She was careful as she went, looking around for any sort of individual that looked as if they wanted to harm the Schnee, or herself.
Weiss wore a hoodie and glasses as a precaution. Blake had insisted such. Her hair was balled up into a messy knot, somewhat mirroring her sister. She was fine with this, anything to keep Ruby safe. The police ensured that there was no plot involved to kill the heiress and that it was simply an isolated incident of a maniac, but she knew better. The White Fang wanted her hurt, or better yet dead, and she wasn't taking chances with Ruby at stake.
Ruby clung to Weiss's arm in such a way one would assume they were a couple. Weiss had the pair of crutches held horizontally at her side, keeping them just in case anything were to occur in which Ruby was experiencing fatigue. Weiss didn't mind the way Ruby held on to her, wishing it were real...
Ruby had once fallen for the Schnee. Her! Of all of the people at Beacon, in the world, she had been interested in the heiress. Weiss felt a pit in her stomach widen. It pained her to be in such a position of knowing how Ruby previously felt, yet unable to do anything about it. She tried to repress her sadness, shrugging it off as she had to hold on to the hope that Blake's plan would work to perfection.
"Hey, Weiss?" Ruby asked as she held tight to Weiss's left arm. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." The Schnee spoke as she forced herself to nod her head along. "I'm fine."
The heiress looked down at her phone to the address of the shop in question, memorizing the location.
"It looks like it's just down this road and three left turns towards Nikolai Street." Weiss spoke as she lead Ruby down the sidewalk from the shuttle hub. The pair walked interlocked together, taking in the world around them. Vale often seemed foreign when they visited, often stuck a Beacon for weeks at a time. It was good to be up and about, the fresh air relaxing.
Weiss felt Ruby's grip tighten as they turned the first corner. Obviously having a fear of being back in the city, Weiss understood her position. She too was quite afraid, possibly more than Ruby. The young Rose had passed out from blood loss quite early in the confrontation, leaving Weiss more or less visibly scarred as she had held Ruby's lifeless body in her arms, unable to do anything but cry. Weiss placed a calming hand upon Ruby's own after setting the crutches to the side, looking down at her.
"Breathe, and think of me." Weiss stated. "Think of something to anchor yourself here. Not in the past, just think in the now."
Ruby nodded her head slowly, doing as told.
Blake had suspected Ruby may experience some sort of discomfort by being in the city once more. This was a reasonable assumption. People tend to be petrified or scared of an area resembling a location where traumatic incidents occurred. In this case, the wide open land resembled closely to the area the pair had been attacked at. Weiss felt Ruby's heart rate skyrocket before it calmed down to normal, the Rose breathing in and out steadily.
"I... I think I'll be okay..." Ruby near whispered. "Just... please don't let me go."
Weiss nodded her head. "Never." She promised. Ruby smiled up at the heiress before looking away quickly. Weiss had to note Ruby did indeed look cute when she was shy, yet she shrugged off these feelings. Now wasn't the time.
"It should be around here somewhere..." Weiss murmured as she lead Ruby along, eventually reaching the street they desired. Weiss smiled excitedly as they moved in on the store, passing through the crowd with ease. Weiss kept on edge, having cloaked a small dagger up the sleeve of her coat. She didn't want to take any chances with their safety.
Upon entering the store the pair were hit with a wave of a vanilla aroma, Ruby gagging slightly. It was overpowering for sure. The two girls made their way through the clothing store, walking past a group of employees offering scented perfumes for the pair of red and white to try out. Ruby clearly wasn't one to enjoy the aroma. The pair moved towards the dress section of the store, Ruby sitting down upon a small cushioned bench.
"Dresses?" Ruby asked.
Weiss nodded her head along. "You did ask me the day we met if we could try on clothes together, remember?" Weiss asked curiously with a warm smile offered Ruby's way. The Rose looked away and muttered some form of understanding.
"So... um... how do we go about this?" Ruby asked with a hesitant tone.
Weiss just removed her jacket and set it to the side next to Ruby.
"Well, you pick out a dress and I'll try it on, then vice versa." Weiss offered as Ruby nodded her head in understanding.
"Seems fair." The Rose spoke as she adjusted herself, looking over at a circular rack of various dresses. Ruby scrunched her brow in thought as Weiss waited before her, standing on a small pedestal near a variety of mirrors. The heiress watched Ruby tugged on a dress to move the rest along the rotating display, the smaller girl looking at each carefully.
"Um... this one?" Ruby asked as she tugged on a white and grey dress. More of a gown design by look, Weiss carefully removed it from the rack and held it carefully in her arms. The heiress glanced down at the price tag and for once in her life her breathing momentarily stopped.
"Is everything okay?" Ruby asked with worry. Had she picked something ugly?
Weiss shook her head quickly. "It's fine. I was just distracted is all. I'll be right back." Weiss spoke as she exited the area to a changing room just behind the mirror stage. Ruby sat patiently, looking around at all the building had to offer. She was happy. Time with Weiss was fun, she figured. Still conflicted, she had to look on the bright side.
Maybe today would be better than most.
Yang yawned as she cracked her neck.
Studying all day was such a bore. The brawler of the team disliked books and holo-tapes, but she still had to study in order to pass her classes. She envied those like Ren and Pyrrha who never really studied, mostly retaining what they heard in class with ease. Jealousy gnawed at the blonde before she shrugged it off. They were just lazy. Yeah! She put in real work. Real, uninterrupted work.
Deciding she had done well for the day, Yang raised her Scroll and unlocked the dorm door belonging to her team. The blonde entered in expecting to see her younger half-sister sitting upon her bed, probably resting or playing a video game. Instead she was greeted by Blake, who simply waved her partner in.
"Hello, Yang." Blake offered a greeting as the brawler looked around, the door locking behind her. "How was your study day?"
"It was alright." Yang shrugged her shoulders as she tossed her book bag across the room. "Where is everyone?"
Blake pat the side of her bed, ushering the blonde to come her way. Yang raised a brow but did as instructed, plopping down beside her friend.
"What's up?" Yang asked curiously as Blake held out an open palm. The blonde raised a brow, going to ask before being interrupted.
"Ember Celica. Both pieces." Blake demanded as Yang was taken aback.
"Erm, why?" Yang asked.
Blake narrowed her eyes. "Insurance."
"For...?" Yang exaggerated the word, as Blake was acting more weird than normal. Huffing, the blonde placed both parts of her weapon into the Faunus' hand, the cat girl placing them in a box before shoving it under her bed.
"Can I get a reason at least?" Yang asked as she felt Blake take her hands in her own. Yang felt her eye twitch from confusion before Blake began to speak.
"We need to talk about Weiss." Blake gulped. "And... And Ruby."
When Weiss emerged from the dressing room, Ruby felt her heart stop.
Not in an overdramatic sense, she could feel her being pause entirely as she watched Weiss move towards the stage before her. The heiress had undone her messy yarn ball of hair and allowed it to fall far below her shoulders. The Schnee stood at an angle, the dress showing off her curves as she leaned on one leg. A long intentional divide at the legs made way for Weiss to show off some skin, her right leg poking free from the gash. The pearl dress accented by grey colors towards the ends of the elegant gown worked marvelously together with her pale complexion.
"So?" Weiss asked. "Yes, or no?"
Ruby twitched in her seat.
Weiss watched with a curious smirk. So, Blake was right after all. Some spark of love towards the Schnee still did exist indeed. At least she assumed as much judging by her reaction.
"Ruby?" Weiss asked for the girl again.
Ruby snapped out of her breathless state and furiously nodded her head. "It... It l-looks... g-good!"
"You are too kind." Weiss stood tall, or as tall as possible she supposed. The Schnee moved back to the changing room and reemerged in her own clothes moments later. The Schnee set the dress to the side carefully, not understanding how fabric could cost twenty-five thousand Lien.
The heiress clapped her hands together in satisfaction. "Alright. Your turn."
Ruby nodded her head slowly as she tried to force the strawberry blush away.
Weiss looked around at all that the rack had to offer, finding all of them utterly distasteful. None really matched with Ruby, even a small white dress which stood in stark contrast to her hair, which Weiss found adorable. Regardless, the Schnee moved away from all of the dresses on display, humming as she moved around.
"Weiss?" Ruby asked as she went to stand up.
"I'll be just a moment." Weiss stated as something in a glass case caught her eye.
A beautiful red dress, fit with ebony black accents to match perfectly with the young Rose's looks and personality. It was short, sweet, and utterly adorable. Weiss just had to see it on the girl.
Weiss looked around and unlocked the glass display. Ignoring the large sign reading do not touch, the Schnee did as she pleased and took the outfit in hand. The lack of a price tag haunted her for a moment but she would not be dissuaded. If this dressed looked as good on the Rose as she envisioned, there was nothing stopping her from having it. She would buy the store if that's what it took to have it in her possession. It would probably be cheaper than that gown, she figured. Regardless, it wasn't like it was her money after all.
Rushing back to Ruby, Weiss gently handed the girl the dress. Ruby looked it over, then up to Weiss's gleeful face. Weiss had never looked so... excited.
"Well?" Weiss asked. "Is it okay?"
Ruby looked at it once more. "It's a little..." Ruby glanced up before finishing her sentence, seeing a part of Weiss break at her criticism. A small frown began to form on Weiss's perfect face, Ruby noticed. A tug thrashed against her heart.
She couldn't hurt Weiss's feelings.
"It's pretty." Ruby smiled as Weiss brightened up immensely. Resisting saying that she felt the dress was a tad on the short side of things, Ruby reluctantly grabbed her crutches and made her way to the changing room with the dress in tow.
Weiss sat where Ruby once had been, settling herself comfortably as she figured Ruby would take a little while longer than normal. She was getting better at changing her attire quicker than at the point where she had been injured, but still it was a struggle. Weiss knew this.
The heiress pulled out her Scroll and selected Blake's name, pulling up the direct messaging system provided by the CCT. Weiss sent her a quick message asking how things went with Yang, leaving the message off with letting the Faunus know that Ruby was having fun.
Weiss clicked the device shut and looked to the floor.
Hopefully Yang wouldn't be reckless.
Blake exited the chamber of team RWBY, letting out a deep sigh of relief and repressed raw emotion. She honestly was far beyond done with this situation, unsure as to what to even call it. She would much prefer Vale invaded by Grimm to whatever this was. The wrench thrown into their team dynamic had far surpassed anything they had ever experienced, and she just wanted it all to pass. She didn't even want to get started on the topics she and Yang had just discussed. It was a headache in disguise.
Yet, a small, very small part of her was glad this was going along. If Ruby and Weiss were ever to get over themselves, specifically Weiss's former pride, and get together, this was a fair enough case in which to do so. Blake stretched as she thought on such things, looking out the window as she moved down the dormitory hallway.
An airship flew past which drew her attention, eyeing the student landing strip near the school. Various teams returning from missions wandered the grounds as they disembarked from their collective adventures. One group caught her eye, the cat girl narrowing her vision.
Team JNPR.
Finally.
Ren sighed as he covered the flank of this team, walking just behind Nora as Jaune and Pyrrha unlocked the door to their room. The ninja couldn't help but feel as though he was being watched, looking around with a hint of concern amongst his usually emotionless face.
Blake stood just down the hall from his field of vision, the girl standing with crossed arms and a confident yet cryptic look upon her face. The pair locked eyes for but a moment before Blake shifted her head in a nodding motion, drawing him towards her as she turned the corner of the hall.
"I'll catch up." Ren spoke to his team as the trio of remaining JNPR members dumped their gear on their beds, ready to head for the showers. As the door clicked shut, the boy of green moved his way down the hall of student rooms to the corner, pausing as he saw Blake in his peripheral vision.
"Blake." He regarded.
"Hello, Ren." Blake stated calmly. "We need to have a chat."
Coming Soon: Chapter 8: Revelations and Dress-up