Locked Out
Chapter 8: Revelations and Dress-up
A/N: Hello all! It's finals week at university, so no upload after this for a little while longer than normal. I have to study, after all! But I'll be back sooner than you think later this month. Thanks again to catsan for all of his help, and to all of you for your grand support!
Now for reviews!
RWBYGuy2015: Oh my gosh, thank you so much! Hope you enjoy this chapter too!
WhiteRose1517: Sorry! Ha ha! Thank you!
Grossly Incandescent: Sorry for toying with your emotions, but I can't help it! It's too fun! Ha ha! Just kidding! Thanks for the support! (I can only promise to try to not break your heart!)
GrnDrgnzrd: So it does! Thanks! Enjoy!
True Support: It certainly has gotten bigger, and it isn't stopping any time soon it seems! This is going to be one wild ride! I just hope I can do my ideas justice. I'll look into the image, but I do want to be creative about it myself. Thanks again!
knight7572: Agreed! Thanks!
bdefili13: Thank you so much! Enjoy!
Vanitas Lunar: No problem! Sorry for the confusion once again. Weiss certainly has a ton on her plate as it is! Thank you so much!
BlakJakXXI: We have to hope that Weiss can handle what comes her way! No matter what it is. And yes, you were indeed correct! :3 We will have to see how Weiss plans to help Ruby with her issues, and that is going to be very difficult I would imagine! Thank you so much!
Thank you all! Enjoy!
Weiss tapped her fingers together in a game of boredom.
Ruby had been in the back room for a fair while, locked away in the changing area whilst Weiss sat alone. Employees wandered the store at this time around, Weiss figuring that they were closing fairly soon. A few off hand and suspicious looks from a few busied staff made her feel as such were the case. The Schnee sighed deeply as she wondered what could be taking so long. Perhaps she fell? Weiss shook her head violently. No, she couldn't think like that. This was a pleasant trip, and negative thoughts had to stay in the back of her mind.
"U-Um..."
As if on cue to her thoughts of worry, the young Rose emerged forth from the depths of the changing room, slowly moving onto the stage. Ruby barely used her crutches, holding them as she used a railing to guide herself to the center stage.
Weiss squealed.
Ruby had changed her hair ever so slightly, the messy look now somewhat more elegantly done. Her bangs were parted slightly to the sides, allowing more of her face to be shown. Upon her being, the outfit she wore consisted of a short sleeveless dress with black accents around the fabric. The dress reached several inches above her knees, which trembled slightly. From just below her collar, the dress split straight down the middle to the bottom of her chest, red fabric covering both of her breasts. The nearly transparent fabric covering her revealed upper chest was made up of dark, black mesh hinting bits of her palish skin. The collar of the dress was ebony black with a small red ribbon added for extra flair. Save for her black socks as she didn't want to wear boots with the outfit, she looks like a princess of old fairy tales, just as innocent as well.
Weiss couldn't even form a coherent syllable let alone an actual word.
"D-Does it look... good?" Ruby asked as she tried to mask a faint red hue on her cheeks. While she did wear a skirt all the time, she was used to wearing leggings alongside, and the cool breeze from the air conditioning unit upon her legs wasn't helping the situation. She felt alienated in her own body as she looked to Weiss for guidance.
"Y-yesahs..." Weiss spoke absolute gibberish, merging at least three different words together in a plethora of stupidity. She might as well have been a Petri Dish of babbling Vytalian.
Ruby blinked before letting out a string off giggles and laughter, having to hold on to something to keep her composure. Weiss recovered quickly and joined in, smiling as this was the real Ruby emerging from the darkness. She was still, deep down, the happy and cheerful girl she always will be. Ruby stumbled as she regained her standing balance, hands to her sides to keep her weight in perfect synchronization.
"I... It's v-very becoming of you." Weiss stated professionally. "I'm sure Yang and Blake would say you look beautiful too."
"T-Thanks." Ruby gulped, looking down at her feet then back to Weiss. "So, what now?"
"Well..." Weiss cleared her throat as she looked down at her hand. Her brow scrunched in concern as she stared at her hand before tearing herself away. "Ruby, did you hear about that dance coming up?" Weiss asked the younger girl before her. The Rose thought for a moment before speaking up.
"The one team CFVY is presenting?" Ruby asked as Weiss nodded in confirmation.
"Exactly." Weiss cleared her throat again out of reflex. "I... I was inquiring... erm, if you were available that evening and, if that were the case in this hypothetical situation, would you care to accompany myself to such a regal promenade?"
Ruby blinked.
"I... What?" Ruby asked.
Weiss face palmed.
"Do you want to go to the dance, with me?" Weiss asked in a more layman terminology.
"With me? With... you?" Ruby asked, slowly taking in her words.
"I mean, I wasn't planning on going at first, but I know you want to do more social events rather than staying put in the room all day... so I figured that maybe the dance would be a good opportunity for such." Weiss explained herself. "Plus, it would be fun to... hang out together?"
Ruby took in her statement.
"A-Alright." Ruby slowly nodded her head, fidgeting with her hands.
Weiss visibly was overjoyed, jumping up from excitement. "R-Really? I... I mean, yes. It will be fun." She expressed as she calmed herself down.
Ruby went to say something before an employee moved in on the pair. A very unhappy looking employee, nonetheless.
"Excuse me, ladies, but that dress is strictly off limits. I'm going to politely have to ask you to remove it and leave." The woman crossed her arms with a sharp glare at the Rose. Ruby stumbled in slight fear, Weiss narrowing her eyes in on her friend.
Not a chance.
Weiss reached into her wallet and withdrew a small holographic card, featuring her image, name, and position in the Schnee Dust Company. Shoving the card into the woman's face, Weiss was not having any sort of attitude.
"You can go ahead and package that dress up once my friend here is changed." Weiss offered, more or less demanded. "In addition, you can pack that gown as well." Weiss looked around the room, spotting a white dress nearby. It caught her eye, and she was in the buying mood. "That one as well."
"I-I... Y-Yes, miss Schnee." The woman stuttered out as she moved off quickly to perform said tasks. The heiress let out a sigh and pocketed the card, looking over to Ruby who was beside herself in giggles.
Weiss smiled in return.
She just hoped Ruby would remain like this without the ring...
"Are you certain?" Ren asked in a hushed tone, the Faunus before him nodding her head grimly.
"Indeed. Her Aura was too damaged from the Burn Dust." Blake insisted.
Ren sighed and placed two hands over his head, walking in a slow circle to think. "This is awful... Ugh, what was I thinking?"
"You couldn't have known. Had Weiss known it would have been important to share with you, she would have. We all just figured nobody would notice her Aura being disabled for a time since she stayed mostly in the room." Blake offered, Ren not taking light of the situation.
"Even so, I should have been more thorough." The ninja of team JNPR stated in return, cursing himself under his breath. "This is my fault. I must make amends."
Blake raised a hand in a calming gesture. "I've been getting enough of this kind of talk with Weiss already, so I don't need you adding on top of that." She sighed deeply in thought. "Let's just stay focused on the situation at hand and then worry about small details later."
"I am sorry, Blake." Ren apologized.
"I know, and your trade is safe with me." She spoke, knowing full well Nora was most likely using the substance as well. As long as she remained healthy, Blake would hold her tongue. "But for now we need to put our heads together and think up a plan to deal with this situation."
"Agreed." Ren nodded his head. "I think I know of a way to fix this."
"Reverse?" Blake asked curiously, the boy shaking his head in response.
"Nothing like that, but perhaps neutralize. I can isolate the types of Dust inside of the ring and synthesize a mixture to remove the effects in her being... in theory." Ren rubbed his chin in thought, pink iris locking with Blake's golden orbs.
"How long should it take?" Blake asked as Ren thought on her words.
"Does Weiss still have her latest shipment of Dust from Atlas?" The boy asked after a moment of silence between the pair of normally quiet individuals. Blake nodded her head in a reply. "Then a few days at best, a week at worst."
"That's good... I'll keep the ring close to Ruby at all times then. Judging by how bad she was without it for a few moments, I'm unsure as to what would occur if she lost it entirely for any significant time." Blake shivered at the thought of Ruby breaking down to the very core of her soul. That was a thought she did not relish thinking upon in any light.
The young Rose, wrapped around Weiss's arm, traveled down the road which they had taken to the shop. Done with their task, or rather Weiss's task, they departed for the shuttle station. Human and Faunus traffic was growing as rush hour began, many people getting off work at this time for breaks and simply to go home to their loved ones. Weiss carefully held Ruby, along with the crutches and twin bags from the shop, as they made their way through the crowded street.
Weiss felt Ruby's breathing begin to increase, silver eyes darting around in a panic. The heiress cooed to the girl with a gentle and soft voice, calming the worn down Rose. "Shhhh... It's just a few minutes away. Then we won't have to be back here again, okay?"
Ruby gulped and slowly nodded her head, shutting her eyes tight as they went.
A firm and sudden hand yanked Weiss from her thoughts of Ruby as she dropped all of the things in her arm. Weiss twirled Ruby out of the way so she would be safely out of reach as she still clung to her arm, locked behind her back. Weiss flicked her wrist and produced a sharpened dagger, thrusting it just up against the person's throat.
"Woah!" Sun raised his hands in a gesture of submission. "Easy there, icy! I prefer not having blades in my personal space."
"What are you thinking?" Weiss nearly shouted at the Faunus, lowering the blade down her sleeve. "I could have killed you!"
"Please don't." Sun asked. "What's with the disguise?" The monkey asked as he looked over to Ruby. "Sup, Rubes?"
Ruby slowly waved her hand. "Hi Sun."
Weiss growled. "If you haven't realized, I'm not the most lovable person in society at the moment, so I would prefer not to be recognized, or you know, attacked."
Sun raised his hands again. "Hey, ain't nobody here going to hurt you guys. Just figured I'd ask if you wanted help."
"O-Oh..." Weiss faltered. "Erm, yes, that's fine."
"Where's my thank you?" Sun asked with a cocky smirk.
"No." Weiss stated. "You scared me."
"Eh, maybe later then." Sun sighed as he collected the fallen items on the ground, tucking the crutches under his arm while his tail held the bags. "So, where you girls heading?"
"Back to campus." Weiss replied. "Why exactly are you out here in the first place?"
Sub scratched his neck with a free hand. "Oh, you know... just hanging around?"
A pair of police officers ran by the trio, alongside a shopkeeper shouting something about a thief.
Weiss looked at Sun.
"I'm sure it's just a coincidence?" The heiress asked as the Faunus just flashed a look of ignorance. "Regardless, we should get going."
Ren slammed a screwdriver down upon his desk, groaning as he was getting nowhere fast. This was the second ring he had gone through in his tests and he had yet to isolate all of the components without contaminating the chemicals and herbs within. The boy chipped away at the shell of the device he held as he got back to work, the Faunus form of Blake standing over his shoulder. Having just brought over a few cases of Weiss's imported Dust from her homeland, Ren now had more than enough tools to get the job done. Sharp eyes watched as the ninja worked, looking then over to the rest of the empty room.
"Nora uses these as well." Blake spoke her thoughts aloud. "Has this event changed your mind?"
"I'm not letting up." Ren decided as he set down the screwdriver and grabbed a small pair of tweezers. "Nora is perfectly safe, she always has been and always will be."
"I understand." Blake held back her words of resentment for the topic. She dismissed these tools, these rings, and nothing but filth. Maybe she was a tad biased, but she had her reasons. They changed people, not for the better. Regardless, all that mattered now was Ruby and her health. That was priority above all else.
"Scalpel." Ren spoke as the ebony haired girl handed the device from a small collection of tools set just a few inches away from the Faunus. The boy moved a glass dish close to the ring and made an incision into a small Dust crystal, pulling out the core and setting it upon the plate. The boy let out a breath of compressed air out of relief. Reaching into a small sack to his left, Ren pulled out a handful of vials and a long string of thin black string. Setting the string to the side for later, the boy set the core into a vial and corked it shut, setting in back into the storage bag.
"I'll leave you to focus." Blake moved away as the boy turned in his chair, looking her way.
"Blake?" Ren asked as the young girl stopped, turning back to see him watching her leave.
"Yes?" She asked with a carefully raised brow.
"Take care of your team." He offered kindly. "We all need to look after one another, but don't forget about yourself. Don't become so caught up in what you think is right, like Weiss."
Blake nodded her head and exited, thinking on his words. Was she really in such a crusade as Weiss had been regarding Ruby? No... She was only doing what was needed, right? The raven haired girl shook her head free from the constraint of those thoughts and went on her way, moving back into the dorm she belonged to. Yang had left to go train at the gym, having left a tray of food in the room for Ruby while Blake was out. The Faunus sighed as she placed the plates and glass of milk into the fridge to prevent spoiling, hanging her head downwards to rest for a moment.
A picture of the team caught her eye, the very same one Ruby kept beside her bed thanks to Weiss. The girl of black raised the frame to her level and smiled slowly, tracing her friends in the picture with her eyes.
They would be a family again. Complete, and never broken.
Sun waved the girls off as they arrived back on campus land, the Faunus making his way to the visitors dormitory across campus. Weiss ended up thanking him for his time, albeit hesitantly so. Nonetheless, they pair were grateful for his aid in taking them back home.
"All set?" Weiss asked the Rose who nodded her head, snuggled up gently against Weiss. The Schnee fought off the urge to squeal, keeping composure. She was a Schnee, and she had to act like it... usually.
Maybe fifty-fifty, she offered herself.
The pair moved in on the dormitory structure housing their humble abode. Moving together as Ruby watched the clouds above blend with Weiss's hair, the two girls discussed a wide range of topics on their journey home. Weiss had to focus more on keeping her Aura regulated in her left arm, Ruby's weight taxing upon her shoulder. That was her sword arm, after all. The heiress reconsidered her concern once she remembered she was without a weapon for the time being, until she could have her spare parts shipped in from Atlas. The weapon was easy to rebuild with the proper tools and components, so all was not lost. It was more or less sentimental, the loss of her weapon. She felt overall the reasoning was sound and that she had made the right choice. A sacrifice for the greater good, she figured.
"Weiss... I need to ask you something." Ruby cleared her throat as she reminded herself to get something to drink once they got back to their room. "Um, remember the night we got back to the dorm room from the showers?"
"Which time?" Weiss asked in response. "When Blake and Yang were both on mission?"
Ruby nodded her head. "Yeah... Um, I wanted to talk to you about that night."
"What part about it?" Weiss asked curiously. She... Ruby wasn't aware of the ring, was she? No... She was being too hesitant and calm, thus it couldn't be on that matter. If it were, Weiss suspected she would be rather pressing and forward about the issue. If not that, then what else was worrying her? Then it struck Weiss like a lighting bolt. "Is it about the alcohol?"
"K-Kind of..." Ruby thought to herself as she trailed off. Was this really the time or the place to talk about such things? Weiss was warming up with Ruby, more than ever she had to not. Ruby herself could feel herself coming on to Weiss more and more, growing ever so more trustworthy as result. Was this the time or even place to discuss that night, the things Weiss had done and said?
"If you are concerned about addiction I can promise you that it doesn't come from one night of such endeavors." Weiss reassured her nonexistent worry of such things. "It takes a fair while to become indulged in such matters. But even if you liked it, I don't want to see or hear about you participating in drinking until you are of age." Weiss stated like a mother to a daughter. She really did hate the laws of this land. Everything was so much more... strict.
"No... No it's not about that." Ruby wasn't sure how to express herself, the pair nearing their dorm room. "I... I mean after you drank a lot, you got really weird..."
"The only thing I remember really is offering you a glass, then our little talk, and everything after that is quite a blur." Weiss thought on such things, unable to recall what had occurred while she was intoxicated by her secret wine stash. "Did something happen that has you worried?"
"Um, I mean... kind of..." Ruby murmured low, Weiss able to hear her still. "We talked and you... Weiss, you k-"
"Hey, guys!" Yang waved from down the hall as they were but a few rooms away from their own dorm. The blonde, interrupting Ruby's words, jogged on over to greet her friends.
"Hello, Yang." Weiss called as the brute moved towards them, looking down at Ruby. "What were you saying?"
"N-Never mind..." Ruby avoided the topic, not wanting to discuss it in front of anyone else at this point in time.
"How are you two doing?" Yang asked as she automatically took the crutches from Weiss's hand, looking at the bags as well.
"We are fine. We just got back from shopping in town." Weiss smiled as Ruby nodded her head. Yang looked down at her sister and pat her head gently.
"Look at my little sister, playing dress-up like when you were little, I see." Yang chuckled as Ruby pulled her hood over her head, hiding her embarrassment.
"Yang..." She groaned.
"Where did you two go?" Yang asked as she looked at the emblem on the bags. "Debonair's? That's a really expensive place!"
"So I have learned." Weiss sighed quietly. "Father won't be pleased, but we did get some... stylish attire."
"Why dresses?" Yang asked. "I mean, that is what they specialize in. All that other stuff they sell is practically garbage in my opinion."
"The dance..." Ruby spoke quietly. "Weiss is taking me."
"Huh." Yang blinked, her demeanor growing... colder? "Hey, Ruby? Why don't you head to the room? I left you some snacks."
"What about you two?" Ruby asked as she unlatched herself from the Schnee, taking her crutches.
"I just need to have a chat with Weiss really quick." Yang wrapped a free arm casually around Weiss's neck.
Ruby looked to Weiss.
"She will be fine. You're okay with a chat, right Weiss?" Yang asked the Schnee.
Weiss went to speak a protest before her whole body arced in both discomfort and pain. Yang jabbed her free hand into Weiss's back, nearly grabbing her spine as she forced Weiss into a position of submission, Ruby unable to notice what Yang was doing.
"R-Right." Weiss spoke. "We will be right behind you."
Ruby nodded and moved off down the hall, Yang turning Weiss around and leading her down the hall.
"Let's have a little chat, Schnee." Yang hissed out the words she whispered to the heiress, bringing her down the hallway to a more... secluded area.
Weiss gulped.
"Torchwick sent a message." Emerald sighed as she was growing quite annoyed being the messenger between her master and the crime lord. "He says the paladins are being loaded and he has begun work on the explosives."
"Very good." Cinder hummed as she sat with her legs crossed, watching as Neo rested in the corner working on an outfit with a sewing kit. "He is well aware of the time to execute phase two. I have no further words for him at this time."
"Fantastic." Emerald was relieved. "I would prefer to blow my brains out than talk to him anymore today."
Mercury snickered. "You're just mad the guy is a better thief than you."
Emerald met his taunt with a flash of her teeth combined with a sharp glare. The boy of steel winked in response as Cinder snapped her fingers to reattain their attention.
"Now, do simmer you two." The half-Fall Maiden hummed her words in a perfectly woven fabric of speech. "There will be plenty of time for conflict in the future, so might I suggest directing towards our enemy?"
"Can do, boss." Mercury relished in the idea of beating a few of these Beacon students into submission. Plenty of these book smart punks really did get on his nerves.
"Tournament should be plenty exciting." Emerald admitted. "Not sure how I feel about beating up a bundle of kids. I'd think we are a little over qualified for this kind of work."
"Perhaps." Cinder sang. "But we need to remember that the Headmaster of this academy has a special eye on one of these students. Whoever they are, they need to be brutally, and completely removed from the board."
"Sounds fun." Mercury grinned. "I'm still in. How about you, Em?"
"As long as I get to handle my fair share of beat downs, I think I can stoop to their levels." Emerald decided. Regardless of her feelings, she would follow Cinder anywhere.
"Speaking of fun, I have a small task I would like you two to take care of." Cinder smirked happily. "Her name is Weiss Schnee."
"Dead or alive?" Mercury asked.
"I'd say either or, personally." Cinder sighed as this still felt like a trivial matter. Lady Salem really did hold some massive amount of concern regarding the status of the Schnee. "However it is not my call to make. I'd much prefer you pair than Adam Taurus."
"Dead it is." Emerald cracked her neck, yawning quietly. "Can do."
Yang ushered Weiss into the chambers of one of the various private study rooms located within the dormitory. This specific room, abandoned due to the broken power outlets, was far off from any prying eyes. The platinum haired girl was shoved into the spacious room with a yelp, hearing the noticeable click of the door behind her locking. Her whole being trembled as she backed into a wall behind her, watching as Yang stared off into space towards the door.
"Y-Yang?" Weiss asked as the blonde started to take deep, rugged breaths.
"Blake told me." Yang began, turning to face Weiss. Crimson red replaced the normal violet color of Yang's iris, a literal indicator of her internal rage. As of now, they were particularly blood red, a bad sign for the panicked heiress. "She told me about the ring Ruby has. What it does, how it works, and most of all..."
Yang took a few steps towards the girl.
"What you did."
"Yang, I-I can explain!" Weiss gulped as the brawler moved in on the Schnee. Fear was etched into her very words, as Yang was far beyond just intimidating.
Weiss and Blake had both decided that keeping all of the secrets about Ruby hidden would only erupt the raging volcano that was Yang if she found out later rather than sooner. Their best bet, they figured, would be to tell Yang the truth now and prevent the outcome from being any more dangerous. Blake was supposed to inform the brawler about the ring, saving the details about Weiss not stopping the assassin away until the time was right. Weiss's actions with the Soothe Ring would already be enough to swallow at once. No use stacking more atop that mound of dramatics. Clearly by the way Yang was behaving, the talk with Blake had not gone well at all.
"Oh, and I certainly do want you to." Yang stated as her hair trickled with fire, casting a dark shadow upon the door behind her. "Because if you can't in a way that makes sense to me, I am going to tell Ruby myself."
"Y-You wouldn't!" Weiss panicked. Yang was on edge, borderline wanting to kill the Schnee. She needed to be careful here.
"And why wouldn't I? It would be a nice change of pace for her, huh? Not being lied to. Not being manipulated by some arrogant, entitled little girl who thinks everything belongs to her!" Yang shouted at the Schnee, flames dancing forth from her blonde hair.
"It would break her! She would hate me!" Weiss shook violently, the idea of that alone enough to cause her great distress.
"Oh and that would just break your little heart, now wouldn't it?" Yang taunted, backing Weiss further into the wall. "Because you definitely don't deserve something like that, oh no, not at all. It's not like you drugged my little sister, then act as if it's all perfectly fine or anything like that."
"You don't understand!" Weiss clenched her fist.
"Then explain." Yang demanded.
"I did... I did do that to her, yes. I gave her the ring, but I thought it would help!" Weiss tried to explain herself to the enraged brawler.
"Help who? You?" Yang scoffed.
"Help her, me, everyone! I just wanted to bring her back from this hole she is stuck in, to help save her from the dark. Everyone just sat around and let her rot, while I took action!" Weiss shouted towards the blonde girl before her, forfeiting her previously held composure. "I made a mistake, but I had good intentions! I wanted to get her back!"
"So you hid the truth behind my back, did all of this without my consent, and lied to me about her getting better?" Yang asked. "Don't make me laugh. That's pathetic if you to think that you are justified."
"I never said I was, but at least I was willing to do something." Weiss challenged.
"Listen to me, you snowy bitch." Yang got up into her face. "I worked my butt off to get Ruby to even speak to me, her own flesh and blood. You didn't see me using voodoo or magic or whatever the hell you have in that ring to make her happy. No, I acted above that. There's a natural rule for these sorts of things. Just because she was cold to you doesn't mean you get to change the rules. You don't get to act entitled to her love, especially after how you treated her the day you first met and so on. You don't get to skip over the progression and do whatever you want."
"I did it for me, because I care about her. I care for her more than anything else, and it tore my heart to pieces when she regarded me so coldly. I did what I had to do in order to keep her in the light, to save her from herself. It was eating at her, killing her to be so sad, to be in so much pain. I did what I felt was right, for me, for her, for everyone!" Weiss screamed back at the sister of the one she cared so much for, more now than ever before. "I love her, Yang, so very much, and I'll do anything in my power to bring her back, ring or not."
"No, you won't." Yang glared harshly. "You are going to tell Ruby you are cancelling going to the dance, and then you are done. I refuse to let some monster of a person love my little sister. You don't speak to Ruby ever again, or so help me I will kill you, brutally, myself."
The room fell silent.
"No." Weiss spoke up after a moment, Yang's eye twitching.
"Excuse me?" The brawler asked, clenching her fist.
"I said, no." Weiss stood as tall as she could, not backing down. "I am not doing that to her. I am going to take her to this dance. I am going to fix her health. I am going to tell her the truth, and things are going to go back to normal. I don't care what you say, I am doing what is right. For her."
The wall beside the white haired girl cracked as Yang's fist flew just past Weiss's head, breaking a section of the concrete material. The room itself shook violently, a few suspended picture frames falling from their hooks. Weiss, remaining unflinching, stood firm with her resolve. Red eyes locked with icy blue, dancing in a fierce battle to see who would give in first.
Yang smiled.
"Heh." The girl snickered, pulling back her fist ever so slowly. "So, you really do care about her."
Weiss frowned, not understanding her actions.
"Blake told me you cared for my sister, in more ways than one, but I needed to hear it for myself." Yang crossed her arms over her chest, confident with her decision.
"I don't... What?" Weiss asked, confused immensely. "Then what exactly was all of this that just happened?"
"I needed to be sure." Yang spoke after a brief silence. "Sure that you were capable of more than just your previous actions. I had to see if you really did, truly, care for Ruby, even after what has transpired."
"I will always care for her." Weiss spoke with determination flooding her voice. "I swear on my life."
"Hm." Yang hummed. "Fine, I believe you. But..." Yang moved in, leaning into Weiss's left ear. With a tilt of her head, the blonde spoke words that ran a chill down her spine. "If you try to lie to me ever again, no one will ever find your body."
"I-I understand." Weiss gulped as Yang moved back from her grip.
"Good." The brawler smiled at the Schnee. "I give you my permission."
"Permission?" Weiss asked, tilting her head.
"To date Ruby, of course!" Yang exclaimed. "What else would I be talking about? I mean, you are an heiress after all. Princesses and stuff, right?"
Weiss flushed with red. "N-Not so loud! The walls aren't that thick..."
"Nope! I am not letting you two have any sort of hidden affair. As soon as you two tie the knot, I am so telling everyone!" She sang with glee. Weiss groaned audibly as the blonde flashed her sharp grin. "Now that we are all friends again, let's get you dolled up!"
"W-Wait, no Yaaaaaaaaaang!" Weiss cried out as she was dragged out of the room while the brute that was her captor flew down the hall with the dresses in tow.
Blake helped Ruby down on to her bed as she was extraordinarily tired. The Faunus listened along happily as Ruby told the tale of what she and Weiss had done while in Vale. Blake was happy. While this wasn't the best of situations, she was still content with how Ruby was doing to a certain extent. Her humor and glimmer of love and life was shining like a dim star. She seemed to be recovering back to normal, but this was all false, Blake knew. The moment that ring left her being, while she would retain all of her emotions and memories she had felt with the device on, the feelings would cease to continue, confined to a darkness within her heart and soul. She would shatter back into her old self, unsure as to why she felt so lost to the wind.
"And then Weiss just bought the dresses from the woman. She looks scared of Weiss." Ruby continued on with her story.
"I believe that." Blake smiled. "Weiss certainly can be a little scary time to time."
"Yeah. She can..." Ruby trailed off. "Um... Blake? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Blake nodded her head. "What is on your mind?"
"I... I don't want to talk to Yang about it, because she will act weird about it, cause she's my sister and all... But... um... you know that day you guys left?" Ruby asked with understandable hesitation. "Into the woods."
"Yes. Why?" Blake raised a brow.
"I... Weiss told me not to say... N-Never mind." Ruby mumbled. Blake, however, caught her low and hidden words.
"Weiss told you not to say what, exactly?" Blake pressed, Ruby straightening upwards in response. Red marked her face like her namesake, pulling her hood over her head to hide it. "Ruby? What's got you so worked up? You can trust me."
"I... I don't know..." Ruby avoided eye contact, very shy about the subject.
"I'm your friend, Ruby, and as your friend I want you to tell me what has you so concerned." Blake placed a caring hand on her shoulder, retracting it when she felt Ruby jolt in return. "You can trust me, Ruby."
"O-Okay..." Ruby gulped as she kept her hood up. "After you guys left... um... Weiss helped me get to the showers and back to the room."
"That's kind of her." Blake commented as Ruby nodded, continuing.
"T-Then..." Ruby looked around carefully. "Please don't tell Yang. Promise?"
"I swear on my life." Blake reassured the girl.
"Weiss had a bottle of... of wine, and she let me try some..." Ruby sighed as she furthered, noticing the raised brow of Blake. "And... And she drank too much and... and she kissed me."
Blake formed an O with her mouth, not exactly sure how to respond to the wealth of information she had been given.
"Huh." Was all the girl was capable of responding with before clearing her throat. "And what happened then?"
"S-She said she... she said she loved me, and then fell asleep." Ruby finished her tale, gulping with concern and shaking with fear. "P-Please don't tell Yang."
"I won't, I promise." Blake nodded her head to her friend.
"B-Blake... Um... Do you know if Weiss... likes me?" Ruby asked with a whimper.
Blake held in a laugh. "What do you mean? You just told me she kissed you."
"But... she was drunk, so I don't know." Ruby looked at the ground, weakly kicking her legs in the air. Blake hummed in thought, contemplating her following words to the girl.
"What do you want to hear me say?" Blake asked in return.
Ruby raised her head up, confusion marking her silver eyes. "What?"
"If I give you an answer, I want to know something in return, which is, what answer are you looking for?" Blake replied to her younger friend, who looked away quickly. "Ruby, it's fine to be shy about this sort of topic. Everyone gets embarrassed when they talk about love."
"I don't love her..." Ruby grumbled. Blake smirked in response.
"I'm not too sure I believe that." The Faunus thought aloud, purposely as she got the desired response. Ruby huffed and crossed her arms in defiance to her words.
"N-No..." Ruby trailed off. "W-Why should I?"
"She cares for you, just as you did for her, remember?" Blake asked as Ruby slowly nodded her head. "Who knows, maybe she does view you the same."
"She... She hurt me." Ruby curled up. "I... I'm so confused."
"It's perfectly alright to be confused. It seems messy." Blake smiled at her leader. "But you had feelings for her once, why repress them?"
"I don't want to get hurt again..." Ruby shivered.
"She wouldn't dare." Blake insisted. "Ruby, just think about all of the things she has done to make it up to you. If that isn't a sign of care and love, then I don't know what is. She has tried so very hard... to do the right thing. She cares about you, so very very much."
"You didn't answer my question." Ruby spoke after a moment of thought.
"Neither did you." Blake retorted.
The door to the dorm room opened up and deposited the freezer-burn duo into the chamber, spitting them on to the floor as Yang fell atop the smaller girl. Weiss squeaked out in pain as Yang was considerably larger than she, Blake assisting with the effort to help the heiress.
"Sorry, Schnee." Yang grinned. "Got a bit anxious." The blonde turned to her younger sister, who was elated to see Ruby once more.
"Did you find the food set out for you?" Yang asked as Blake remembered, moving to the fridge. The Faunus produced the items she had stored away, setting them up for their leader on her nightstand.
"Didn't want anything to get too warm." Blake explained as Ruby started to eat, understandably hungry. Weiss sat back on her bed, rubbing her aching back from Yang's fall. The small Rose regarded Weiss as she ate, occasionally staring at her as Weiss remained ignorant of the action. Blake however, shot a look to Yang who smiled in return.
Ruby still did like the ice queen.
Coming Soon: Chapter 9: Shatter Point