Weiss sat in the library flipping through pages of text on Ruby's scroll. It had been an hour and a half since Ruby'd left her in the hall with a kiss and she was still nowhere near done. She'd glossed over the countless contracts, simply noting their purpose before she started with the other notes. Winter's agreement was oddly vague, leaving far too much unsaid. Ruby'd made a note of that in another file before she went on to the rest of the contracts, stating highlights and potential loopholes. Most of them had a strike through with a reason noted afterward. One popular theme Weiss noted is that there were actually quite a few ways to get disinherited. The few remaining loophole possibilities involved things that she knew would never come to pass such as apocalyptic events, a preexisting marriage, or the closure of all Schnee Dust Company affiliated business.
Weiss kept swiping through the notes. She was impressed with how seriously and quickly Ruby had compiled everything and the massive amount of work she'd put into it. She'd already come to terms with Ruby's strong work ethic, but this was bordering on ridiculous considering she'd actually increased her class ranking in the last couple weeks, a feat not very common now that they were in their last year and everyone had basically stopped competing and accepted their position.
Weiss decided she'd seen enough and exited the file system. She paused when the background of Ruby's scroll came into focus. It was a picture of her and Ruby during one of their better days. Weiss was barely smiling and Ruby was grinning like she was about to get a cookie, which might very well have been the case since the background looked somewhat similar to the interior of a storefront. Out of sheer curiosity, Weiss opened the photo album and almost dropped the scroll. There weren't just a few pictures as she had on her scroll, the number at the bottom testified to more than a thousand photos for each of their years at Beacon.
Feeling somewhat hesitant to continue the blatant breach in privacy she was committing, Weiss took a closer look and started scrolling through the pictures. She recognized a few of them from various events over the past few years, and more that she never knew had even been taken, but as she continued to look, one theme became apparent. Ruby was never alone. Every picture featuring the girl had at least one other person in it, whether it was Yang or Blake or even Penny from her visit during the tournament in their first year. Then another theme became apparent. Weiss found herself looking back from a great number of the photos.
In most of them she seemed to be smiling, no matter how slightly, which puzzled Weiss. She knew she didn't often smile, so for Ruby to actually have the amount of pictures she did was nothing but a shock. Even her professional photos rarely had anything but a fake smile attached, so seeing herself smiling naturally was something new to her.
Weiss closed the album before she scrolled past the beginning of the first year. She knew Ruby had more pictures, but that was a line she wasn't willing to cross farther than she already had. She took one last look at the background photo and turned the scroll off.
She rose from her seat and made her way to the roof as Ruby had instructed. It wasn't as if it was a terribly cold day and she could easily guess as to where Ruby would be if she hadn't waited.
With her hand on the knob, she froze. Suddenly, she had so many questions but she couldn't answer any of them. Her knuckles were white from the grip she had on the knob and she could feel sweat bead at her hairline as her sudden fit of nervousness took its hold and the internal debate began once again.
Ruby kissed me.
She's done that before.
She can't seriously want to date me.
But all the proof says otherwise.
There's no reason she should even like me.
Why?
I've been so terrible to her this past little while.
She was crying because you wouldn't just say yes.
But I'll just end up hurting her when I have to leave.
…that is very true…
…but I want…
…you want… what?
That's a good question… what exactly do I want?
Shaking her head, she opened up the door to the roof and found the red cloak bundled around a mass sitting on the edge of the roof, her legs hanging over the long drop to the courtyard. Weiss paused her approach, having second thoughts as the door quietly clicked shut behind her.
"Have a seat." Ruby motioned with one of her arms, offering the ledge beside her.
Weiss sat down facing the same direction as her leader, the emerald clock tower glowing in the darkness that was just starting to settle as the sun had finally fallen below the horizon.
She silently handed Ruby her scroll and they sat comfortably in silence until the last rays of light from the sun had disappeared and the stars started to poke out against the black of the sky. A slight breeze ruffled Weiss's long hair and Ruby's cloak as they sat a few inches apart.
At length Weiss found the need to fill the air with words ever more important as the cold of the concrete edge below her cut through her fabric, reminding her of their location.
"Ruby-"
"Stop." Ruby ordered, cutting the heiress off. "I know I laid my hand on the table, but I'm not sure I want to see yours…. I'm not sure if I can deal with it just now."
Weiss nodded in understanding and fell silent again. This time, Weiss had no clue what to say. It wasn't as if there was nothing to say, just too much and too little at the wrong times. Weiss watched the clock move to the new hour and sighed. They were just wasting time at this point, holding on to the way things were before even though that time had ended more than two weeks ago.
Weiss took a deep breath from the cool night air and let it out slowly. "What did you think you'd gain from looking at those contracts?"
Ruby didn't respond for so long that Weiss thought she hadn't actually spoken her question, the silence enveloping them making it hard to distinguish her thoughts from what had actually left her mouth.
"A way out, I guess." Ruby replied simply. Weiss found herself nodding, knowing that Ruby had always been selfless when it came to her teammates. Always adopting their problems as her own.
"You didn't have to bother. I'm not worth all the work you put in." Weiss told her, turning her gaze back out over the dark buildings that made up Beacon.
"You are to me." Ruby replied softly.
Once again, silence fell as Ruby's words penetrated deep into Weiss's heart. She felt tears prick at her eyes as her chest constricted itself in a way that hurt so badly she wished she could just run away from it. It wasn't that the feeling was new, she'd experienced it on occasion over the past years, but never this clearly. Never this potently.
"You already know the question I'm asking." Ruby spoke after a long moment. "We still have time until graduation, and I'm not asking for anything more, just…"
Weiss listened, her chest squeezing tighter and she knew there was only one thing to do, but she was scared. Not once had she truly let anyone into her life, but somehow Ruby had found a crack in that ice armour she'd constructed. Now she'd have to pay penance for her inability to keep herself at a distance. And it terrified her more than anything she'd ever experienced before.
"I'm scared, Ruby." Weiss confessed. There was just too much that was out of her control, something that had never happened before.
"I am too, but I…" Ruby trailed off as she shifted herself to look Weiss in the eyes. Weiss turned back to look at Ruby, their eyes meeting in the gloom, the emotions in each set communicating to the other what their thoughts were. "You have no idea how much I want this."
Weiss nodded more to herself than Ruby and took another shaky breath to try to steady herself and set her resolve. Everything inside her kept telling her to run and never look back but even if she wanted to, Ruby's presence kept her rooted to her seat.
"Can you promise me something, then?" Weiss asked meekly. Ruby nodded, placing her hand over Weiss's. It was surprisingly warm considering she'd been outside for almost two and a half hours. "Promise that after graduation, you'll forget about me. That you'll be okay."
"I can't promise that." Ruby said, moving slightly closer to the heiress. "I'll be okay eventually, but I'll never forget you."
Weiss realized that this was the best she'd get out of Ruby, even if it wasn't what she'd wanted. But there were a great many things on that list at the moment.
"In that case you'd better ask me properly." Weiss instructed, tired of the gloomy atmosphere around them.
Ruby smiled and giggled a little. Weiss felt a pang of relief at the normal sound coming from her leader and couldn't suppress the smallest of smiles that found its way to her lips.
"Weiss Schnee, would you go out with me?" Ruby asked, making sure to rhyme with a barely musical intonation to her voice.
"I must be crazy, but yes, I will." Weiss replied smugly, letting her smile grow slightly larger as Ruby's face lit up. It was the happy face that she'd come to know over the past few years, but somehow it seemed happier. Much happier.
Ruby spun around and stood up. She offered her hand to Weiss who mirrored her and stood while taking her hand. Ruby led them back to the door but spun in front of Weiss just before they reached it.
Weiss felt the still-new sensation of Ruby's lips against hers but for once she pushed the arguments in her head aside and kissed her back properly. They broke apart and Weiss felt somewhat satisfied that Ruby was practically glowing with the joy her smile was exuding.
"N-now we'd b-better get back to the room to study." Weiss blushed, having not expected Ruby to ambush her so suddenly but to her surprise, she was not upset by the action.
"Sure thing, Weiss." Ruby smiled and opened the door, pulling Weiss through. Their hands remained connected the entire trip back to the dorm. The warmth of Ruby's hand new but comforting to Weiss who still couldn't believe she'd actually agreed to what was almost definitely going to be a bad idea.
Ruby opened the door to the dorm and Weiss dropped her hand as she snapped out of her thoughts. Ruby glanced back at her with a look of understanding and lead them into the room.
"We're back!" Ruby announced as Yang and Blake each sat up from their respective beds.
"What took you two so long?" Yang asked as Blake returned to reading her book. "I was going to look for you after I finished the last question!"
Weiss noted that the blond had actually been working on her homework for once. Maybe she'd actually rubbed off on her teammates after a couple years.
"Now I can call it quits!" Yang tossed the book onto the shelf beside her bunk.
Weiss frowned and pushed her previous thought from her head. "Well, we're back now and we're going to study."
"And you really should finish your work as well." Blake piped in. "It is due tomorrow afternoon after all."
"Okay, Team RWBY's study session starts NOW!" Ruby announced, picking up her bag and tossing it into her bed before following it up.
Weiss had barely pulled out her notes when she glanced up to find both Yang and Ruby watching her with pleading eyes. She sighed, realizing it was just too much to ask for them to change their habits.
"Fine, if you have trouble, ask one of us." Weiss included Blake in the statement, but knew that she wouldn't actually be of any help. Just because she held one of the top spots in the class ranking, didn't mean she was a good teacher. Quite the opposite, actually.
The next few hours, Weiss found herself teaching about as much as studying, but at least she was able to review the more complicated theories that Ruby and Yang were having trouble with. Ruby joined her in her general reviewing when she'd finished her assignments and Yang struggled through as many assignments as she could until Ruby started to stretch out with a yawn.
"Alright, let's call it a night." Weiss announced to a sigh of relief from Yang and a nod from Ruby.
"Dibs on first!" Ruby said quickly as her semblance left petals in her wake while she raced to the washroom to change.
"Second." Weiss said just as Yang opened her mouth.
"Hey! You never participate in this!" Yang accused, rattled by Weiss's first time participation.
"Third." Blake said calmly as she turned a page.
"I've had a rather stressful day, so you'll forgive me for taking part in your childish game for once." Weiss huffed, pushing her notes back into her schoolbag.
There was silence as they heard the quiet noise of the shower start up behind the closed door. Blake kept reading and Yang dropped her work unceremoniously in the general pile of paper that constituted her school work. After a moment, Yang turned to Weiss with a smug grin on her face.
"Well, Ruby seems much happier than when you two left." Yang commented pointedly. "You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?"
"W-what would make you think that?" Weiss replied, cursing the slight stutter at the beginning of her reply.
"We all know Ruby has a huge crush on you." Blake stated tiredly from behind her book.
"Just remember that if you have a problem, we have one too." Yang said seriously but vaguely. Weiss couldn't help but feel somewhat intimidated by Yang.
"Ruby knows what she's getting into." Weiss replied.
"As long as you know." Yang finished the conversation and plugged her headphones into her ears. She turned away from the heiress and started to quietly hum the tune of the song she was listening to.
Blake glanced up from her book and sighed. "What's on your mind?"
Weiss jumped a little at Blake's question as she snapped out of her thoughts. She shook her head and sat on her bed.
"I think I may have made a big mistake." Weiss said, echoing her thoughts.
"Do you want to end it?" Blake asked boredly.
"No, I-" Weiss started and Blake cut her off.
"Then it must not have been a mistake." Blake replied. "Ruby may be younger than us, but she's not a child. She knows what she's doing, and she'd have to since she's been the leader of our team."
"But-" Weiss tried but once again was cut off.
"You know she had to grow up quickly." Blake said. "If you think there is anything you could tell her that would change her mind, then go ahead and tell her. But if there's not, then just let her make her own decisions. I have a feeling that you feel the same way about her anyhow."
"There's a large difference between my wishes and my responsibilities." Weiss replied, thinking of what came after graduation with dread.
"Then I'll tell you a secret that nobody else ever will." Blake made sure Weiss was paying close attention before she continued. "If any of those responsibilities that you're so worried about were forced on you, nobody has the right to criticize you for opting out."
"But it's not that easy." Weiss protested.
"Yes, it is." Blake argued. "If anyone asks, I never said a word of this to you. But you know I protested for the White Fang. When the management changed, we were forced to adopt new… ideals. I was given new responsibilities, new jobs…. In the end I realized that those responsibilities were not really mine, they belonged to the hand that was controlling me like a marionette. So I cut the strings and learned to stand without help. And here I am."
Weiss nodded to the story and gave a weak smile. "Thanks, I guess I needed to hear that from someone who's gone through that."
"If you want to talk, just let me know." Blake replied and went back to reading. "And I'm going to shower in the morning. Let Yang know for me?"
"Sure." Weiss stood and tapped Yang's shoulder.
"Sup, Princess?" Yang asked, pulling an ear-bud out.
"Blake's going to wash up in the morning. I've been told to let you know." Weiss stated shortly.
"That sounds like a good idea. I'll do that too." Yang replied.
Weiss spun back to her bed as Yang sat up. She'd been with her team enough by now to know that Yang was completely comfortable stripping in front of them. She waited until the shuffling noises stopped and Yang was in her pajamas. Blake had also seemed to change at the same time and was now under her sheets. It spooked Weiss sometimes how quietly Blake could do literally everything.
The door to the bathroom opened and Ruby walked out with her usual black top and white bottoms, both decorated with pink hearts. She smiled at Weiss and blushed a little before she started pulling her school work off her bed.
Weiss walked into the washroom and closed the door with a sigh. This has been one long, stressful day….
Weiss showered and dressed quickly, even compared to her norms. She quickly found her way back out to the room which was now very dark as the lights had been turned off. She got into her bed and sighed, hoping to get her brain to calm down enough to allow her to sleep.
She felt something large and warm wrap around her softly and almost yelped if it weren't for a hand that covered her mouth gently.
"Shh… it's just me." Ruby spoke softly so her whisper was barely even audible to Weiss.
"W-what are y-you doing?" Weiss replied slightly louder than she'd meant to.
"I'm making the best of our time together." Ruby replied, pulling Weiss tighter into her arms.
"Don't just think that I'm going to let you into my bed just because I agreed to go out with you!" Weiss hissed in response.
"Weiss, we've had even less clothing between us before and it wasn't a problem." Ruby argued. "Just relax. I just want you to know you're not alone anymore. No matter what, you'll always have me."
Weiss felt her face burn hot at Ruby's words. The searing sensation coursing through her veins to light her skin ablaze not helped by the warmth that Ruby's body enveloped her in. And looking past the embarrassment she felt, she realized one feeling she never would have even dreamed of having before that moment. Ruby's protective arms made her feel safe.
"F-fine, but you better not hog the sheets or I'll never share again!" Weiss huffed indignantly.
"Sure thing, Snowflake." Ruby sighed as she relaxed into the cuddle. "I love you."
"Hmmm. Goodnight Ruby." Weiss replied behind a yawn as she wrapped one of her arms around Ruby, gently returning the embrace. A soft smile stretching her lips as she closed her eyes.
"Yes, father. I've just sent you the files." Weiss spoke into the terminal she sat at in the CCT. She was having yet another pleasant conversation explaining why she did not receive an impossibly high grade in a class she could care less about. "I've already explained the circumstances and considering I still received the highest mark in my class, I feel there is no point to continue this facet of conversation."
"Be that as it may, you are a Schnee." Her father spoke calmly but harshly. "You were conceived and trained to be perfect, just as I was and my father before me and so on. If you cannot even exceed a ninety eight in your most difficult class, what reason do I have to accept you as the heir to our company? I doubt I need to remind you of your… relative."
"Winter has nothing to do with this. Just as you designed." Weiss replied sharply. "Not to mention that I was never your first choice as heiress."
"You were designed to be perfect. So I hardly think it matters whether you were my first choice or not." He replied. "I expect your next round of examinations to be flawless otherwise I see no reason for you to complete your education at Beacon when Atlas's Military Academy would allow you to also partake in training here."
"It's been obvious that you don't see the value of Beacon's education since I started here." Weiss stated angrily. "Now if you'll excuse me I have more important things to do than waste my time convincing you to approve my decisions. Therefore, I will call two weeks from now as scheduled."
"We are not done talking, Weiss." He spoke sharply.
"Oh, we most definitely are." Weiss pressed the button to terminate the call and the screen fell into darkness. She hung her head back and pressed her palms into her eyes to alleviate the headache that had started to grow behind them. She let out a long breath and let her arms drop to her sides as she stared at the ceiling. As she stared, a face surrounded with brown hair with dyed white tips entered her vision.
"Hey. That sounded pretty rough." Ruby said quietly so as to avoid others hearing her in the somewhat quiet room.
"Nothing I haven't dealt with before. Not to mention he was in a good mood today." Weiss sighed and got up from her chair. "Anyways, we came to Vale, we might as well do something while we're here. Any ideas?"
"We're going on a date." Ruby replied with a smile as Weiss blushed at the blatant mention of their relationship.
"Not so loud Ruby. You know we can't go public." Weiss grumbled.
"I'm your leader and partner. I can order you to come with me or you can come because you want to. Your choice." Ruby grinned. They'd already talked about all this back at the dorm, but to Weiss it still felt surreal that they were actually going forward with this. "Now come on."
Ruby grabbed onto Weiss's hand and pulled them to the elevator. "Let go of me dolt!"
"You walk to slow, now hurry up!" Ruby replied, squeezing Weiss's hand gently as she continued to pull her along. Weiss smiled at how seemingly easy it was to just get caught up in the moment when Ruby was taking the lead. Before she knew it the couple stood alone in the elevator headed to the ground level.
"You know… nobody's watching us right now." Ruby leaned her shoulder into Weiss's.
"Cameras, Ruby." Weiss replied, dropping Ruby's hand but letting her hand brush the back of Ruby's instead.
"You're no fun." Ruby grumbled, forcing a frustrated sigh from Weiss.
"Fine, we have fifteen seconds left. Do what you will." Weiss mumbled. She wasn't entirely sure whether or not the elevator's camera had a microphone, or worked for that matter, but it didn't hurt to be safe. That way, at the very least she could just play anything off as Ruby pulling a prank on her if it managed to get back to her father.
Ruby, ever the opportunist, pressed her lips into Weiss's while pushing her back against the side of the elevator. Ruby pressed her body into Weiss and brought her knee up between Weiss's legs to press at her core as Ruby deepened the kiss. Danger signals flashed inside Weiss's head but she couldn't do anything except meet the tongue of her girlfriend with her own as her nerves were lit ablaze with every small movement Ruby made. Her hands gripping the railing behind her tightly as she braced herself.
A quiet ding sounded and Weiss found herself stumbling as rose petals floated around her. She knew she must have had the largest of blushes on her face as she straightened herself out quickly and stepped out of the elevator beside Ruby who looked none the worse for wear.
"You might want to fix your hair too." Ruby mumbled as they passed someone waiting to get into the elevator. They looked at Weiss strangely, prompting her to look into her reflection in the glass of the nearby information board.
Her hair looked as if she'd just gotten out of bed or done some other similar activity.
"Ruby…" Weiss growled angrily as she brushed her hand through her hair. It didn't do much good.
"Uh…" Ruby backed away slowly, her eyes terrified of what she'd done in the heat of the moment.
"I think we need to have a little chat." Weiss smiled, the angry look above her smile darkening the image to seem even more scary than was usual.
"Please don't kill me!" Ruby begged as Weiss placed a very firm grip on her shoulder and started to guide her out of the building.