Just Act Casually

AN: This chapter is probably going to be long. I have a lot of stuff to cover and I don't want to split it up. So, this is going to be very heavy content wise.

Chapter 7: Great Wide North

Atlas was fucking cold. Even with her significant aura and special clothing, Ruby was having a hard time staying warm. It didn't help that the perpetual blizzard that covered the mountainous tundra made it impossible to build a fire. It was so cold, that even the Grimm typically froze to death. How a behemoth could survive out here was beyond Ruby.

She hadn't found any sign of the beast. Not that she'd notice it if it smacked her in the ass. Between the fog and the howling wind, Ruby was devoid of her primary senses. To make matters worse there was no signal to connect with the CCT. Which meant she had to hoof it to the relay station in order to get out of here when she was done.

So, after the first day of freezing half to death she decided to camp up on top of the mountain. It would have given her a great vantage point if not for the snow storm. On the third day, she saw the clouds in the valley moving in a strange way. She took her rifle and fired a wind bullet into the fog. The clouds cleared for a second, revealing the beast. It looked like a behemoth, but the head was different. Instead of a reptilian head, it looked more like a buffalo or camel. Its body was covered in thick fur. It also had a smaller, insignificant tail compared to a normal behemoth.

"A Nabooru?" Ruby said. "I've never seen one that big." She grinned. "Time to kill it and get the fuck out of here."

She fired Crescent Rose behind her. She practically flew at the beast. She spun in the air, swapped out her clips, and fired volcanic rounds at the Grimm's feet. The beast howled and stumbled as it fell to the ground. Ruby fired at the mountain, causing an avalanche that buried the monster's head. It moved back and forth as it got back to its feet. Ruby landed on the back of its neck and wound her entire body. With a single swing, she sliced through its neck.

She scattered up to the side of the mountain. Had it been a behemoth, a single slice wouldn't have been enough. But naboorus typically lived in the desert. Their weak spot was at the back of their neck. Out in Vacuo, they didn't have to worry because there was no way for a hunter to get at that weak spot, not easily anyway.

Satisfied with her work, Ruby went back to the relay station. She boarded the waiting airship and headed back to the SDC building. Weiss was waiting there looking elegant as always. This trip was the first time Ruby had gotten to see her former partner in the last two years. On one hand, Weiss was the CEO of the SDC. And on that same hand, Atlas didn't exactly bring about fond memories.

"It's about time you got back." Weiss said.

"Well excuse me princess." Ruby gave her friend a hug. "Hard part was finding the damn thing."

"It happens when we try sending people into those parts." Weiss sighed.

"Yeah, speaking of which, it wasn't a behemoth it was a nabooru." Ruby said.

"Stranger things have happened." Weiss said. "Are you heading back to Vale?"

"Can't we just catch up? Drinks on me…or I guess on you since you wrote the paycheck."

"I'd love to." Weiss said as she grabbed Ruby's hand. "Truly I would but…"

"As I live and breathe." A familiar voice said. Her heart skipped a beat as Whitley Schnee joined them. "You're looking a lovely as ever Ruby Rose." He gave a polite bow.

"Whitley." Ruby's eyes narrowed. She looked at Weiss, who had a sympathetic look on her face.

"How have you been lately?" He asked.

"Just peachy…why do you ask?" She said with barely contained spite.

"An old friend can't catch up?" He reached for her.

"They can but you're not!" She grabbed his hand and threw it to the side.

"Ooh, I guess you're still upset?" He said.

"Upset?"

"Whitley, leave." Weiss said.

"Wait…" Ruby said. "Do you know why I hate your fucking guts." She had been holding that in for two years.

"Well, unnecessary language aside, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Ruby felt like punching him in his smug, prick, face. Weiss put her hand on Ruby's arm which didn't calm her down but it certainly made things better.

"Just walk away before she does something I regret." Weiss said.

"Very well." Whitely said. "I remember a time when you weren't so hostile." He walked past Ruby. "You used to love spending time with me. Honestly, I've never seen anyone laugh as much as I made you on those long nights."

"That was before I realized you're a fucking cunt." Ruby fumed.

"Ruby, let's just leave." Weiss dragged her away. "It isn't worth it." Weiss continued to drag her away until Whitley was no longer in sight. "Sorry about that?"

"Don't be." Ruby said. "But I can see why you tried getting me away."

"I just…I feel so guilty." Weiss sighed.

"Why?"

"Did you forget that I'm the one who introduced you two? Without me, you would have never had the displeasure."

"Weiss, it wasn't displeasure. You even said so yourself. When we got together you saw a genuine change. You warned me he could be a dick and I had braced myself for it. What I got was sweet though." Her voice got louder and louder as her emotions took hold. "He fooled you as much as he did me. Even more so because you genuinely believed I had changed him."

"Still, I would have never thought he, or anyone, would ever do you like that." Weiss clutched Ruby's hand. "You deserve so much more than that."

"Yeah, can we talk about literally anything else?" Ruby wanted a change in conversation.

"Alright, but one of these days you're going to have to confront what happened."

"When that day comes I'm liable to kill Whitley."

"We both know he's not the only thing that went horribly wrong."

"No, he just went behind my back and fucked his secretary when I needed him most."

"Just…" Weiss sighed. "I know. God, I've never seen anybody eat as much ice cream as you did when you found out." The attempt to lighten the mood wasn't loss on Ruby.

"Still…the less I have to think about it the better for my liver. Speaking of which, drinks?"

"I have plenty in my house." Weiss said as they walked towards her personal ship.

"Ooh, house drinking." Ruby smiled. The pair got inside the airship and headed for Schnee manor. On the way, Ruby passed the time by talking about what she had been up to, and how Jaune had moved in.

"That's nice of you." Weiss said. "I know you did it for pragmatics, but I know you also love spending time with him."

"Yeah." They had made it to Weiss' house and made their way to the wine cellar.

"Hmm…fifty." She said holding up a bottle of wine. "Never had a bottle of wine twice my age." Ruby said with glee.

"That's because you never let it sit. You always just buy it cheap and drink it quick."

"I'm not that cheap." Ruby snipped.

"No, but you're not as rich as I am."

"Showoff." Ruby shoved the bottle into Weiss' chest. "Do you have anything stronger?"

"I have a separate cabinet with the rest of the liqueur." Weiss said. "Wine is the only thing we have bothered to store." Weiss led the way into the kitchen.

"So, wine with dinner and then shots later?"

"Fine by me." Weiss said. "We're having sea food by the way. Had it imported from Mistral."

"Mmm." Ruby hummed. "Been a while since I've had that."

"Yeah, I tend to abuse my privilege of fine dining. Sometimes I just want a cheap greasy burger."

"See, I'm the opposite. I eat a lot of garbage food and I love it. Then after a big paycheck I'll treat myself out to a five star restaurant where the names of the dishes are borderline unpronounceable."

"Food is a valuable commodity. You get what you paid for." They kept going down hallways until they reached the kitchen.

"Geez, sometimes I forget how big your house is." Ruby said. "If I want to exercise indoors I have to get a treadmill. You just have to walk up and down these stairs."

"Ah, but I'm sure your house is much cozier. You worked your ass off to build up your credit. Now you're working your ass off to pay back the loan. Which, by the way I was willing to help with."

"I don't want you covering for me like that. If you're going to spend any money on me…" They reached the kitchen and Ruby grabbed a bottle of whiskey. "At least make it something we can enjoy together."

"Of course." Weiss grinned. They walked to the dining room and sat at the too long table. Their plates were already waiting for them.

"This looks sooo fucking good." Ruby drooled a little bit. He plate was covered in sushi, calamari, shrimp and fried oysters.

"Only the best." Weiss sat and started picking at her sushi. "So, how's Jaune as a roommate."

"Oh, he's pretty cool. He cleans, he cooks, he doesn't get on my nerves."

"That sounds amazing." Weiss sighed longingly.

"Don't sound jealous." Ruby said. "It's not like we're sleeping together or something."

"I'm not jealous. And assuming you're telling me the truth, I've at least kissed him."

"Oh yeah, it's been so long I forgot you dated him for a week." Ruby lied. She actually did remember.

"Well then, I know you're the one missing out." Weiss said.

"If that's true then why did you dump him so fast."

"Because chivalry is fucking bollocks." Weiss said. "I know some people like it. I know you do. But I want someone who treats me like they would treat anyone else they admire. I want them to love me for me, not my name. I need someone willing to call me out when I'm acting like a fucking bitch."

"Which is most of the time." Ruby said, earning a sneer from Weiss.

"Honestly part of it was that I, just didn't kind his dorky nice guy shtick appealing. I was also fully aware of Pyrrha's feeling for him."

"See that right there, that's bullshit."

"It's the truth."

"No not that, Pyrrha fucking told me to back off one time and she didn't give you the same treatment."

"I guess she didn't think I'd give Jaune a chance." Weiss shrugged. "She was mostly right." Weiss took a long drink from the wine. Ruby followed suit.

"This is damn good wine." Ruby said. "Almost hate to drink it on a day like today. Almost."

"Speaking of guys, if you aren't banging Jaune then what had you all blissed out when you called me."

"Oh, I met this guy on my last mission. He's really sweet. Not the best. I wish he wasn't always running off to work. It's just nice to talk to a guy who isn't a complete asshole."

"And what's this boy's name?" Weiss asked.

"Oscar Pine." Ruby said.

"Oh." Weiss set her fork down. "I've heard of him."

"He works with the academies. One of Ozpin's cronies I believe. I take it Winter knows him."

"You could say that." Weiss shook her head. "Look just…I don't know much about him but I know this. Be careful. Don't do anything rash or impulsive." Weiss sighed. "As if you'd ever do such a thing." She whispered sarcastically.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I just don't want you getting hurt again is all. I know nothing will top last time but…right now all you have in Vale is Jaune and your dad."

"Oh shit." Ruby said. "I totally haven't told my dad what's going on."

"Ruby." Weiss facepalmed. "Just…?" Weiss gave a heavy sigh. Ruby tried laughing it off. "Call him right now!" Weiss shouted.

"Well excuse me princess." Ruby grabbed her scroll, stuffed her face with oysters, washed it down by chugging an entire glass of wine, then finally dialed her father's number.

AN: And that's a wrap. I didn't get to everything, but as I was writing this, I decided that all the twists shouldn't be in this chapter. So, I'm saving some for later. Like I said, in my original outline all of this was going to be part of chapter five. Back then I thought I could cover all this ground in seven chapters. Oh what a naïve boy I was…about a week ago.