Ruby shifted the shoulder straps of her dress from where they were digging into her skin. She wouldn't exactly say that she'd chosen to refrain from wearing dresses over the last two years, she still wore combat skirts occasionally, but so often shorts or pants were just more practical.

It had been a long time since she'd worn something that was designed for ostentatiousness. The silk lace on her hems would have lasted precisely three seconds in the middle of a rainforest, but then again, at this precise moment, she couldn't be further removed from such a desolate location.

She'd made a mistake coming back to Atlas. Ruby recognised that with her entire being. Her belief in her strength had been entirely misplaced. The closer she'd come to Atlas the more her resolve had wavered.

Just being back in the country had been bad enough. Everything was a reminder: the frigid air, the bluster of snowflakes, the stinging wind. It had only taken a few steps on the frost-covered ground of the air dock for her insides to start squirming.

Time may have been the ultimate healer, but two years just wasn't long enough. Two decades wouldn't have been. Perhaps to fix only a broken heart it would have been enough, but though her heart had been shattered into a hundred thousand pieces by her revelation, it didn't change who still held its deed. The stars would burn out, and the world plunged into eternal darkness before that changed.

Weiss was everywhere in Atlas, and not simply because of her picture plastered on the television screens. Weiss was the chill in the air when she breathed in, and the mist when she breathed out. She was the crunching of the fresh snow under her boots. No matter how small, how silly, everything reminded Ruby of just what she'd once had. What she'd lost.

Most of the time, barely an hour passed before her mind conjured a bittersweet memory of Weiss that tore at her. In Atlas, knowing she was so close, it was barely a minute. Her concentration was shot. The importance of why she'd returned had been buried by an avalanche of regret and longing.

The risk had been for nought anyway. Ruby didn't know why she'd expected any differently. Unlike the Calakmulese, the tale of Merlin wasn't an uncommon one. Atlas' stability had ensured that the legend was well inscribed and stored. It might have been embellished, but it would have been possible to find just as much information as she had on her scroll.

It had been a mistake returning to Atlas. Now that she was here, she could admit it had been an entirely deliberate one. Merlin had been a convenient excuse; something to tell herself that justified the journey. In reality, once she was back here, there was only ever going to be one outcome.

Ruby just wanted to see her again. Not on TV, but in the flesh. She didn't even want to talk her; she wasn't sure if she'd be able to survive the agony of such a confrontation. But maybe, just maybe, if she saw Weiss again, she could say goodbye properly. Then Weiss would stop haunting her dreams.

It had sounded so simple in her head when she'd finally admitted to herself that was the real reason she'd returned to Atlas, but it was so much more difficult to accomplish. In the five days that Ruby had been in Atlas Weiss had not made any public appearances. She'd been sequestered away in Tintagel Castle, though the reasons why hadn't been the topic of conversation on everyone's lips. That honour had been reserved for upcoming Schnee Ball.

It was to be the first one for over a decade, and not one of the celebrity magazines or shows doubted for a moment that it would put every other gathering to shame. The guest list was as expansive as it was exclusive. Almost a thousand people had been invited but, unless you held titles or fortunes, the chance of receiving an invitation had been non-existent. Thanks to the gossip channels Ruby knew almost the entire guest list, but the one name not on it was her own. Not that she was going to let that stop her.

The opportunity was one she simply couldn't miss. Despite what had happened in the end, she still had many happy memories of the balls. If she was to see Weiss one last time, she didn't want it to be in the guise of the Ice Queen. Instead she wanted to see Weiss in a gown, drinking, dancing, laughing, and maybe even happy. Weiss deserved happiness. The Ice Queen did not. But after everything she'd been through, Weiss did. Ruby knew it just couldn't be by her side.

The moment she concocted the plan to infiltrate the Schnee Ball Ruby realised that she'd need help, and a lot of it. Actually infiltrating the grounds of Schnee Estate was within her skillset; deciding what was still fashionable after so long most definitely wasn't.

The number of people that she could call upon was small, and the number that she trusted not to immediately inform Weiss the moment her back was turned even smaller. In the end, she'd whittled her limited options down to one.

Hazel had certainly been shocked when she'd come home from work and to find Ruby waiting outside her apartment. Any number of scenarios could have taken place after those few long seconds of surprise, but Ruby was glad that her trust had not been misplaced. Hazel had invited her inside and offered her refreshments.

After so long spent alone, the simple act of kindness and friendship had almost been too much. She'd lost everything in her flight from Atlas. Yang, her family, her friends… Weiss. Everything that ultimately made life worth living. No one was meant to travel through this life alone, and for the last two years she had. She hadn't connected with anyone for fear of future hurt and betrayal. In her solitude, she'd even forgotten how to string more than two sentences together.

If Hazel wasn't so patient and affable she never would have been able to tell her even half her tale. As it was, Ruby had revealed more than she'd initially anticipated doing. But like she'd found out so long ago, voicing that which was putrefying inside to sympathetic ears helped. She hadn't told Hazel about her problems with Weiss, but she'd revealed just how much it had hurt to be turned away from her chosen career path.

Hazel had proven a good audience, and a better host. Despite the risk, the offer of a bed wasn't one that Ruby could refuse; just falling asleep under the same roof as a friend was a comforting solace that simply couldn't be bought. For the first time in what seemed like an age, she hadn't felt the necessity to mine the doorway or to secure an alternate escape route. Instead she'd felt safe. In that security she'd made up for some of the sleep she'd foregone, and had woken to a package outside the door to her room. The contents of which she'd just donned.

The infiltration of the Schnee Estate had been the easy part; its very size had worked against it. There was the possibility that she'd tripped some form of sensor as she'd leapt the perimeter fence, but if any security had turned up they would have found her long gone. In reality, she doubted that security was that tight. As hard as it was to admit it, absolutely no one would dare to plot against the Schnees anymore. They were untouchable.

Closer to the towering building of Weiss' youth she'd been able to mingle with the frantic bustle of hundreds of staff and contractors finalising the last details. In the midst of that, in her smart pants and shirt, no one had paid her the slightest bit of heed. She'd been able to walk straight through the front doors and into the colossal entrance hall without anyone raising an eyelid.

It had been fortunate that it wasn't the first time she'd visited the Schnee Estate. If it was, her gawking at the impossible beauty and matching extravagance all around would have given the game away. As it was, the literal diamonds and sapphires that made up the Schnee crest did little more than provide traction to her shoes. It was yet another testament to the Schnees wealth and power. What most people wore as their prized possessions they used as flooring. It was no wonder Weiss had grown up without an understanding of the value of money.

Ruby had slipped away from the preparations, but not before she'd had the briefest glimpse of Winter. The CEO of the SDC had been surrounded by a swarm of managers, and she'd been directing them all with brisk efficiency. Winter had been as beautiful as ever, probably more so with the passing of years, but it was her hair that had taken Ruby's breath away. For one long moment the alabaster locks had made her believe she was spying Weiss instead.

She'd left the main entrance hall before she'd done something stupid. The furthest wings of the house had been nearly deserted and it was in a small bedroom that she'd spent most of the day waiting for the sluggish sun to move across the sky.

That she'd been able to find a room with a shower was a boon. It wasn't surprising in a house this size, but it made getting ready a whole lot easier. Hazel hadn't asked why she'd wanted a gown but had no doubt guessed. In the end, Hazel hadn't supplied her with one; there was absolutely no way she would have been able to don one without an attendant. Instead, Hazel had given her a dress that was practical first, but still stylish. Occasionally one of the partygoers with specific requirements felt the need to bring their own servants. That was what she would be today.

Not that being a servant meant her clothes were any less expensive. After all, the servants were an extension of those they served, and any dishonour they earned would fall on their masters. The dress that Hazel had procured for her would have been the finest at anything other than a noble ball. The colours were perhaps muted, so she didn't stand out, but the quality and cut of the material were nothing less than incredible.

After so long spent on the move, to put on this dress, to wear makeup, to do her hair, was a luxury she'd barely realised that she'd missed. It made her feel whole. Her time spent in Atlas had created another side of herself. One that was at home at these balls, surrounded by pageantry and beauty. At one time she'd believed that it was what life would hold in store for her, now she knew better, but she could still reminisce.

Not for long though. The fractured moon glowed in the sky and she'd waited long enough that even the tardiest of attendees would have arrived. For the thousandth time in the last few hours Ruby debated with herself if she was making a huge mistake. Weiss had put out an international warrant for her arrest. She'd made her a criminal wanted across the world. It hadn't affected her chances of becoming a huntress, but it had cost her Yang. Weiss might have been hurt, or angry, or any number of things, but nothing could excuse that.

There was the very real chance that if she saw Weiss again she would throw a punch. What would happen after assaulting the Lady Schnee in the middle of her own ball, she didn't know. There were a hundred and one reasons why just being here was stupidity of the highest order, and only one reason that she should leave the safety of the bedroom. It was sufficient. She pushed open the door.

The soft refrains of music guided her. While it was true that this wasn't the first time she'd visited the Schnee Estate, there was no way she could she could have learned the layout of the mansion even with a month spent exploring. Only a tiny percentage of the house was actually inhabited ̶ ̶ the rest just kept dusted and clean for the sake of appearances. It was for that reason she'd been sure that no one would have burst in on her during the day.

As she neared the great hall she began to hear the babble of conversation. Her heartrate picked up as anticipation blossomed in her chest. Up ahead, servants hurried back and forth carrying platters of food and trays of drinks. The banquet was in full flight.

Though most of the servants wore the neat uniforms that marked them as the Schnee's, there were some who didn't. It was a relief to see that she didn't stand out. Ruby integrated herself with the servants and headed towards the clatter of cutlery.

The balls always started with a meal. Sometimes they were lighter, and sometimes the fare served would have been fit for any restaurant on the planet. The main issue faced by the hosts was that even the most delectable food became the norm if one ate it often enough.

The Schnees may have represented many different things, but the norm was not among them. They, and Ruby guessed more specifically Winter, had not settled for succulent mediocrity. All around her Ruby saw tables bearing meals she couldn't even begin to guess the components of.

It was a gastronomic exploration of the senses. Food was expected to be pleasant upon the tongue, and to satisfy the sight as well, but that was what the basest chefs settled for. Whoever had been hired to create the menu here had gone so much further.

Every plate contained a masterpiece. The food was three dimensional, delicate lattices and frameworks supporting their complimentary ingredients. There were laughs of delight as nobles cut through one shell only to find something entirely different underneath.

On all the tables there were braziers burning and heady scents wafted from them. One table eating a fish course could have been seated before the tempestuous sea based on the rich smell of air emanating from it. Another was sat in a garden of flowers in full bloom, and their plates resonated in a riot of colour.

Sound had been invoked as well as the smells. At one table Ruby heard the gentle whistle of the breeze as it passed through a forest, rustling leaves and stirring the undergrowth. She wasn't quite sure what they were eating, maybe venison, but it had been deconstructed until it was almost unrecognisable.

Some of the dishes were even alive, or at least appeared that way. As one of the waiters removed the covering from a platter those sat around flinched away as it sparked. Lightning Dust had been sprinkled on top and arcs of electricity flared between the pieces. The anxiety turned to glee and the table burst into good-natured laughter as the carving began. Ruby wasn't quite sure if she would have partaken of that particular course; though trace amounts of Dust existed in most things, she'd only ever had to eat Dust once to learn that it was a bad idea. Still, judging by the shock before bliss that settled on those at the table, the Dust only enhanced the flavours.

It was a multi-sensory feast that put to shame anything Ruby had witnessed before. All the build-up of expectations from the gossip channels had not been over-hyped. She very much doubted anyone would forget this evening for a long time.

She certainly wouldn't. The deluge on the senses from all around had been so intense that she'd forgotten to be intimidated by the size of the great hall. There were wings of other noble mansions that could have fit in it with room to spare. Like everything else the Schnees built, it was simply colossal. Not that it lacked in artistry; even the patterns worked into the floor underneath would have been intricate enough to hang in any art gallery. The Schnees sought to be the yardstick that all others measured themselves against, and here they were proving that was the case.

The raised table where the members of Atlas' most esteemed family were meant to be sitting was empty. The places set with silver cutlery untouched. A myriad of emotions passed through Ruby as her gaze settled on what would have no doubt been Weiss' chair. Disappointment, relief, irritation. They passed so quickly she barely had a chance to catalogue just what she was feeling.

But it had taken long enough for her to cease her purposeful movement, and an older lady at a nearby table noticed.

"You there," Ruby started when she became aware that she was being addressed, "come here."

It was the first real test of her disguise. From the depths of her memory Ruby dredged up a name Lady Flore von Berg. Though they'd never talked, but on the occasions when she'd been one of the revellers they'd still encountered each other. Ruby held her breath. Flore peered at her intently through her thick glasses. The sharp line of her mouth became sharper still.

It was only then that Ruby remembered the part she was playing. Flore hadn't equated the servant in front of her with the young girl who'd attended balls with the Schnees, but all that meant was, as far as she was concerned, a servant had been staring directly into her eyes. The heat that grew in Ruby's cheeks fought with her foundation for supremacy and she dropped into a curtsey. It was respectful as it should have been to someone of her station, but also shallow enough to remind her that she wasn't her servant. "Yes my Lady."

Not that Flore seemed to care about the chain of authority. "The nerve. I don't know where they find people like you. It wasn't like this in my day," she didn't try to lower her voice and Ruby had to grit her teeth as the other older members of the table nodded. "Now take this to the kitchens and make me a tea. Be careful only to steep it until the leaves begin to float. Anymore and my gums will ache."

Ruby couldn't see any way to extract herself without drawing even more attention, and risk those around taking a second, longer look at her. She accepted the small embroidered package. "Right away my Lady." This time her curtsey was a little lower and she backed away for a step before turning.

There were so many people in the hall she probably could have gotten away with simply dumping the pouch of herbs; it was highly unlikely that Flore would recall the face of a random servant. At the same time Ruby knew she couldn't just stand at the side of the hall doing nothing. By giving her a task Lady von Berg had unwittingly given her disguise an air of legitimacy.

Though she'd spent time in the Schnee Estate previously, there had been more on her mind than exploring the under-passages of the building. She didn't actually know where the kitchens were, and her attempts to follow the servants bearing empty platters found her at a series of dumbwaiters.

Her demeanour must have shown a hint of her internal dilemma as a passing servant took pity on her. "Are you looking for something?"

"Umm… Yes actually. The kitchens. I need to make a tea." Her old social anxiousness hadn't much been helped by spending the majority of her time alone.

Thankfully the girl's smile was kind. "Well you've gone the wrong way. I did enough times my first week here. I can show you the way if you like?" Ruby nodded. "Great. I'm Elisa by the way."

"Oh… I'm… Neon," Ruby lamented her lack of preparation and was forced to conjure up a random student from the tournament. To compensate she thrust out her hand only to find both of Elisa's full.

Elisa grinned. "I take it it's your first time at one of these?"

"Is it that obvious?" It technically wasn't, but it was the first time she'd seen behind the scenes so to speak. The balls weren't the leisurely affair that she'd always thought them to be. Playing the role of a new servant would cover any of her mistakes.

"A little bit. We better get moving, my manager was giving me evils." Elisa directed Ruby's attention to a man's back before sticking her tongue out at him. Ruby couldn't help but laugh, and Elisa only just managed to stop herself as well.

"Come on." Elisa hurried the pair of them away as her manager turned towards the disturbance. "Normally he's great, but the last few weeks he's been driving us like slaves."

"Really?"

"Well… no. It's just felt like that at times. He's under a lot of pressure from his manager and so on because Lady Winter wanted this to be perfect. So far it is. There's been rumours that there are going to be big bonuses at the end of it." Elisa realised she wasn't speaking to a member of the household staff. "Sorry, I didn't mean to rub that in your face."

"No worries." The pride in what they'd accomplished was evident in Elisa's voice. "You deserve it. I've never seen anything like this before."

Elisa backed through a side door and started down a winding set of stone steps that heralded the estate's more militaristic origins. "You certainly could have picked a better ball to start on. I don't mean to brag, but after witnessing House Schnee's everyone else's is going to be a disappointment."

"Oh I've no doubt of that. It's just incredible. Actually I didn't see Lady Weiss or Lady Winter in the hall. I thought they'd be there." It felt so strange to put a title in front of their names.

"Hoping to catch a glimpse of them I suppose?"

"Something like that." That was one way to put it.

"You won't be disappointed. I can guarantee they will put everyone else in the hall to shame. I had a sneak peek at their gowns," Elisa whispered conspiratorially.

It was strange for Ruby. There was absolutely no hint of trepidation or fear in Elisa's words. She seemed happy and honoured to serve the Schnees, and obviously felt comfortable enough to sneak into their rooms. Though Ruby would never have expected Weiss to mistreat those who served her, was everyone's memory so short? Had they all forgotten what Weiss had done a few days after her father's funeral?

Almost everyone dining would have lost friends and maybe even family in that war, and yet, they were laughing while they drank. She just didn't get it; barely a day went by when she didn't recall the horror. She couldn't help but think she was the weird one for not moving on. The world evidently had.

"You'll have to wait though," Elisa continued. Ruby was glad that she following Elisa down the stairs; there was no way she wouldn't have noticed her expression. "They're currently dining privately with a few choice guests. They'll be in the hall later. Just try not to stare too much."

A wave of heat and moisture poured over Ruby the moment she entered the kitchens. If the servants above had been working with smooth efficiency the kitchens seemed frantic with movement. There were flashes of fire from frying pans, great columns of steam that blossomed against the ceiling, the clatter of knives, shouts of sous chefs, and scores of people moving back and forth.

It was funny, when she'd attended as a guest she'd never really given much thought to what went on behind the scenes. Her food had always appeared on her plate as if by magic a few moments after she'd sat down. Actually seeing the behind the scenes of what made it all possible was eye-opening.

"Sorry, I'm going to have to leave you here." Elisa leant into her ear to make herself heard over the noise. "There should be boiling water and china over by that far wall. Can you find your way back up?"

"I think so. Thanks for everything."

"No problem. Maybe we can catch up later when things die down." Elisa waved as best as she was able with her arms full and promptly threaded her way through the melee.

Ruby had a much harder time of it. Even though she tried to stick to the less populated aisles between the gleaming metallic counters there were still hordes of angry mutters directed at her. She could feel the foundation on her forehead struggling to contain her perspiration. It was almost like being back in the rainforest.

With some more help she was able to find the sets of engraved china in a cupboard, and carefully watched the assortment of leaves as she poured water over them. She'd never actually made tea in a teapot without bags, but by the time she was finished she was satisfied with the result.

Loading the teapot, strainer, milk, and sugar onto a tray she started to fight her way back out the room. It was only as she neared the door that she noticed someone watching her. One of the head servants, one who'd been present when she'd stayed here, was stroking his chin pensively as if trying to recall an elusive fragment from his memory. Ruby ducked her head down and hurried from the room. Stupidly she hadn't thought about how some of the staff might recognise the girl that Weiss had openly kissed in front of them. She was lucky that Elisa appeared to have joined recently, and her appearance had changed a fair bit over the last two years.

After delivering the tea to Lady von Berg ̶ ̶ and receiving absolutely no thanks ̶ ̶ Ruby retreated from the hall and moved down one of the side passages. It was simply too risky for her to remain where someone might see her. Though her servant's dress rendered her all but invisible to the nobles, it would only take one roaming eye settling on her before her secret was revealed. Now that she was here she couldn't believe she'd thought sneaking into the ball had been good idea; but at the same time she just couldn't walk away. Not without seeing Weiss first.

She let an hour tick by on the clock in the darkened room before venturing out again. The clatter of cutlery was almost absent, instead replaced by louder music. The servants she saw were no longer bearing plates, but instead light refreshments and slender glasses of wine.

Trying her best to look occupied Ruby poked her head into the hall. The majority of the revellers had moved away from the tables towards the dance floor at the other end. There was a dryness in Ruby's throat as she watched couples twirl, the colourful skirts flaring out, the intricate footwork beneath them. She missed dancing. She'd been far too self-conscious to enjoy it before, but in these balls she'd come to appreciate just how beautiful a well-suited couple could be when in motion.

Even in this sea of people it only took Ruby a single glance to know that Weiss had yet to arrive. To her, Weiss was a black hole, even when they'd been living together, Weiss had just managed to divert her attention away from whatever she'd been doing. If Weiss was in the hall Ruby would have felt it.

She was just about to turn on her heel when she caught sight of Elisa standing with some of the other servants at the side of the room. When Elisa was sure Ruby was watching she quickly waved her over.

Ruby considered whether to approach her for a moment. It was risky, but with the nobles on their feet no one would notice mere servants when there were much more important people to hold their attention. If she were in the hall she could watch Weiss enter, sate her desire, and then slip out.

"Hey," Ruby spoke out of the side of her mouth as she copied Elisa's pose. Feet shoulder-width apart, hands clasped in front of her, and a smile that could have been from a magazine. The last part was probably beyond her to replicate, but she did her best.

"Hi. How did you find your first dinner service?"

"Umm… ok."

"It gets easier. I don't think you told me, just who that tea was for?"

"Lady von Berg." Out of the corner of her eye Ruby caught Elisa almost say something before swallowing it back down. She could guess what it was. Even after interacting with Flore in only a brief exchange she'd captured the measure of her. "Yeah."

Ruby's reply was permission for Elisa to speak. "I've heard an awful lot of stories about just how picky she is. No doubt she kept you running back and forth to the kitchens all evening."

"Something like that."

"You poor dear. I'll buy you a drink later. At least she's left you alone now though. We shouldn't have much more to do than stand here and look pretty. Tell me, who do think is wearing the best outfit?"

Ruby scanned the assorted guests. Though she certainly wouldn't count knowledge about fashion among her strong suits, she could still decide on what she liked. Looking around she saw a lot of people she knew of, and some whom she'd spoken to before.

Blossom had put on a little bit of weight, but the red dress suited her. Judging by the cluster around her she was still a gossip, and gossip was just as vital a currency as always. Amethystine had braved a canary yellow gown which bared most of her back. Judging by the man who was hanging on her every word, her choice of attire had worked.

For a moment she caught the sight of Lobelia through the twisting couples. She'd gone for a deep blue gown that accentuated, rather than hid, the bump at her belly. Her husband stood at her shoulder. There was more grey at his temples than when she'd last seen him, but even from this distance Ruby could sense that he'd lost none of the danger he exuded. She was glad that the pair of them were at the far end of the hall; neither would have overlooked her like the rest did.

Ruby felt her smile become more natural at the sight of Lobelia's glowing cheeks. She'd entirely disdained alcohol, but still seemed to be brimming with life. In her time attending the balls Ruby had heard a significant number of rumours surround the Waches. After so many years of marriage without a child ̶ ̶ and two suspected miscarriages ̶ ̶ most were prepared for the day when they died without an heir. Lobelia had always been kind to her; to see her so happy lifted her heart. The answer to Elisa's question became easy.

"Lo… I mean Lady Wache."

Elisa eyed her curiously after her near-slip. "Well that's a choice I wouldn't necessarily have made, though I suppose it's not a bad call. It is pretty hard to find an outfit that works this late on. You've actually got a good eye. Do you know her at all?"

"No. I mean, Lady von Berg invited her to tea one evening, though that's the only time I met her." The lie was quickly concocted, but hopefully plausible.

Finding out whether or not Elisa believed her was curtailed as almost subconscious ripple passed through everyone in the room. Their attention turned towards the doorway. Ruby's heart stopped. It skipped a beat, and then another, and another.

Weiss stood under the carved arch and the other half of Ruby slotted into place. It would have been a gross injustice to call Weiss beautiful; she was so much more than that. She transcended words. Transcended thoughts or justifications. All Ruby knew was that even in a room with over a thousand people, no one else existed.

Weiss was the totality of her senses. After countless dreams of longing, of pining after pictures, Weiss stood before her once more.

She could have been dressed in anything and still shown up everyone else, but of course Weiss hadn't slacked. Not someone as fashion conscious as her. Not that she followed the trends of fashion; these days she set them.

In comparison to the elaborate gowns all around, her own was almost plain. White as the purest snow and cut to the lines of her figure. There were no decorative frills, no bundles of lace, no colour apart from in the tiara set in her matching hair. Weiss was the picture of eloquent simplicity and grace. Ruby had imagined her seeing Weiss again hundreds of times, but the reality trumped them all. Weiss was… Weiss. That was the only explanation that she could muster.

Elisa elbowed her in the ribs. "I told you not to stare," she said with a grin.

With a painful thump Ruby's heart started working again; racing to make up for lost time. She'd seen Weiss. She was in front of her. It was meant to have made cured her heartache. It had only made it a million times worse. Ruby only just managed to stop herself pushing through the crowd, bursting to the front, and then… she had no idea just what she would have done.

Weiss started forward, down the corridor that had formed of its own accord. As she came level with them, Lords and Ladies paid their respect. If Ruby had ever doubted who ruled Atlas now, she received confirmation here. The Lords bowed almost ninety degrees and the Ladies dropped low, nodding their own heads in the midst of a curtsey. Surrounded by that, and with a near-crown on her head, Weiss appeared regal.

Ruby only just managed to follow Elisa's lead and curtsey herself. It was a relief that Weiss did not deviate from looking straight ahead. Her disguise would have fallen to pieces in an instant.

It was only then that Ruby became aware that Winter was at Weiss' side. There was no need to say that Winter appeared as stunning as always. But Ruby's senses had been completely overwhelmed already. She had no eyes for anyone apart from Weiss.

It was impossible to tell just what the emotion was that coursed along her veins. It was simply too powerful to categorise. Her legs wavered and Elisa noticed.

"Are you ok?" Elisa grasped her elbow with a steadying grip.

"I'm just… a little light-headed." Ruby flared her Aura. It didn't really help with the turmoil inside of her, but the effort at least concentrated her thoughts.

Elisa gave a jolt as her hand was repulsed by a few millimetres. Her eyes went wide. "Are you?"

"No." There was no need to ask her to clarify her question. "My parents were." Most people had at least some amount of Aura, but the difference between a civilian flaring it and a trained hunter was as great as the hall they were in. "I'm just not feeling too well." With the aid of her Aura she could at least begin to think again.

"I think I can guess why." Elisa went back to watching the Schnees. "They're a different breed those two. Quite literally. I guess you want to change your opinion over who has the best dress. I think you were drooling."

If Ruby was aware of just what had happened to her body in the last minute she would have refuted the statement, as it was she probably had to take Elisa's word for it. Her drooling after Weiss was likely an understatement.

"Don't worry. I probably would be in your position. The only reason I don't have a nosebleed is that I see them around occasionally. Still… with them dressed like that..."

Ruby put her hands to her nose. Thankfully her fingers came away clean. Elisa noticed and laughed softly. With the entrance of the de facto ruler of the country over, the nobles had gone back to mingling. They all seemed to be attempting to manoeuvre themselves closer to their hosts.

"Has… Has Weiss been seeing anyone?" As much as it might hurt, she would have preferred to know. Surprisingly for someone so much in the public eye information about her private life was non-existent.

Elisa's brow furrowed and it was only then that Ruby realised she'd referred to Councillor and Lady Schnee with complete familiarity. Her makeup was not enough to hide the crimson that spread across her cheeks.

"Who… who are you?" Elisa's voice dropped as she shuffled a step sideways.

Ruby had to think quickly. All Elisa would have to do is scream to bring attention to the pair of them. She didn't know how many of the attendees were any good in a fight, but just Erashan and Weiss together would likely test her to the limits of her abilities. She could run, no one would be able to catch her, but with Atlas on high alert getting out of the country would be close to impossible. She decided to go with the truth.

"Don't freak out." It occurred to her then that phrase was a sure-fire way to make someone do exactly that. "I went to Beacon with Weiss. I know her."

"You're… Ruby?" It was half an exclamation, half a question. Even out of the corner of her eye Ruby could see the girl had gone pale, her eyes staring straight ahead.

She hesitated a moment. "Yeah."

Elisa slid sideways again. "You're wanted."

"No! I mean… yes, but it's not like that. I didn't do anything. We just had an argument and I left." Elisa still didn't appear to be convinced. Ruby never liked doing this, it felt disrespectful, but she had to make a point. "I swear on my mum's grave that I'm not here to cause any trouble."

She still looked ready to scream, but at least she'd stopped sliding away. "Then why are you here?"

"I… honestly I just wanted to see her again." Saying it like that Ruby knew how stupid she sounded. What she hadn't expected was the effect her words would have on her audience. Elisa's face melted as she turned to look at Ruby.

"That's so romantic," she gushed.

"I suppose. Look you can't say anything."

"I don't know. I need this job."

"Please."

Ruby's puppy dog eyes had not lost their potency over the years. Elisa looked away. "Fine I won't, but you can't either. You never told me who you were. But…" She hesitated. "Look I know it's not my place. At least talk to her."

It was long past the time that Ruby should have left the hall. She'd had her sight of Weiss. Her looking like that was everything she'd dreamed it could have been, but far from alleviating her longing it had just made it a thousand times worse.

"It's complicated."

Elisa didn't speak for almost a minute. When she did it was in a soft voice that Ruby wished she hadn't heard. "I heard her crying once. So have others."

The knowledge hurt her. Despite everything Weiss had done, Ruby had never wished ill on her. And it wasn't like Weiss had been alone in crying herself to sleep. Ruby didn't answer, she couldn't. So instead she watched Weiss as she wound her way through the crowd.

In two years she'd lost absolutely none of her grace; if it were possible it had increased. Weiss glided across the floor while everyone else slogged through mud. Her laugh was easy to isolate, Ruby knew her well enough to know it was her polite, fake one, but it still clawed at her soul. She longed to make Weiss laugh again, even if it was with her at the butt of a joke.

Ruby drank in Weiss' appearance. It was a balm on a wound that she'd borne for the past two years. No matter what she might have pretended to herself, she'd never stopped loving Weiss.

In the midst of a conversation Weiss' gaze roamed through the hall. It swept along the servants lined up along the walls. Her and Ruby's eyes locked. They both froze. There was no comical double take. Weiss' eyes didn't move on only to jump back. Even through a crowd the instant that Weiss saw her she knew. The only thing she didn't do is believe.

Ruby couldn't move either. Weiss' gaze held her as surely as manacles. How many times had she looked into those cerulean eyes? As an unwilling partner, as a teammate, and then as more. She'd locked with them on that first day at Beacon, just before her first kiss, in Vale when she'd never felt lower. There was such strength there, such resolve, and now she knew that they hid so, so much. It might have been said that the eyes were the portals to the soul, but not for Weiss.

A man moving between them broke the spell. Without a word to Elisa Ruby moved off, quickly threading her way between the revellers. Her mind was a cloud of confused thoughts. Part of her wanted to throw herself in Weiss' arms, another wanted to attack her, and part just wanted to flee. It was the latter part that had taken control.

Near the entrance she collided with someone. She barely felt or heard their displeasure. There wasn't room inside of her. The steps to the driveway were crowded with valets and security, she couldn't face them. She pushed her way through a side door.

Her legs carried her without conscious thought. Quicker and quicker they went, her heels echoing off the spotless walls. Another set competed with them. She was running by the time she reached the stairs. She took them two at a time. Up and up she went, away from everything.

It was only at the top of the stairs that she slowed. Her heels ceased to make noise as they trod in thick cream carpet. She recognised this corridor. The paintings on the walls, the tapestries, the vases on their plinths, the door to the room that Weiss had grown up in. It could have been a pure coincidence that her legs had carried her here, she knew it wasn't.

As she came to rest next the door she sensed more than heard someone else reach the top of the stairs.

"Ruby…" Weiss sounded as if she couldn't believe her eyes.

Very slowly Ruby turned to face her. If possible she was even more beautiful up close. From across the hall she hadn't been able to see her curling eyelashes, the way her makeup emphasised her scar. She didn't know if the rouge on her cheeks was intentional or as a result of their impromptu chase across the mansion while wearing ball gowns, but whatever the reason it worked for her.

A greying head appeared behind Weiss. Erashan took one look at just who was in the corridor before retreating. He clearly had no desire to be part of what might happen. In all honesty Ruby didn't know if she wanted any either. In her entire life she'd never been this conflicted before. Her very soul was being pulled apart.

Weiss had mastered any of her internal strife. She stretched herself to her full height and strode forwards. Dimly Ruby became aware that, though she'd continued to grow, Weiss hadn't. Even with the disparity between their heels she still had more than a couple of inches on her.

Not that the difference between their heights made Weiss any less intimidating. Her brow had darkened with rage. "You abandoned me! When you promised that you never would." Weiss let out the anguish that had been festering in her gut for years.

"You lied to me!" Ruby blurted, stunned that Weiss was turning this back around on her.

"Only to protect you!"

"To protect me? From what? You?" They were both shouting now.

"To protect you from the things that you are simply unwilling to see! You don't understand the world."

"Where do you think I've been for the past two years? I understand the world perfectly. What I don't get are the people like you who are in charge of it!"

"You have no idea what's it's like to be in my position!"

"That's true enough. I've never ordered an airstrike on someone's house."

"It was us or them. I chose them."

"You didn't have to make that choice! All those times when you complained about your father. All the things you were going to do better."

"Don't you dare bring him into this!"

"How's that going by the way? You haven't even freed the Faunus."

"How are you this stupid? You have no idea what would happen without them. The world would grind to a halt. The Grimm would win."

"The Weiss I knew would have found a way."

"There isn't one. I was naïve. Don't you think I've tried?"

"I wouldn't know. In case you haven't realised I've been on the run. Thanks for that by the way."

The two of them had stalked closer until they were shouting at each other only an arm's length apart.

"That's the least you deserved after leaving me."

"Fuck you! Because of you I haven't seen Yang in two years. Just because you can't love anyone doesn't mean I don't."

Ruby's head snapped sideways and a crack filled the air. In her anger she'd lost control of her Aura and pain flared through the red mark blossoming on her cheek. She reared back up and returned the blow. Her activities on the fringes of civilization meant that she was packing a lot more muscle than Weiss was. Even though she'd brought her Aura up Ruby's slap was enough to send her spinning against the wall.

Short of putting her down Weiss steadied herself and rose, her face a grimace and her fingers twitching. The temperature in the corridor dropped. Their eyes bored into each other; pure unfiltered rage transmitted between them. Ruby's knuckles popped. They remained on the cusp of violence for an age. They were close enough to feel the moisture from each other's seething breaths.

They both moved at the exact same instant. Their lips met in the middle. Ruby used her advantage in weight to push Weiss until her back slammed into a wall. With her pinioned Ruby concentrated on relearning the lips she'd once known so well. There was nothing tender about their kiss. It was anger-laden, possessive, and neither of them cared.

Ruby forced her way inside Weiss' mouth. Wine, rich food and the taste that was unmistakably Weiss almost caused her knees to buckle. After reliving moments like these time and time again the reality was pure ambrosia.

Weiss' slender hands ran up and down her body fondling at the flesh beneath her servant's dress. Weiss attempted to retake the initiative, to retake control. She thrust with her tongue, tried to spin them both around. Ruby fought her, keeping her pinned up against the wall. In their tussle they knocked into a plinth. The wobbles of a priceless antique didn't concern them.

Ruby could barely think. She only sated the pure unadulterated need that had steadily built since the day they'd parted. It erupted from her. She acted on base animal instincts. She wanted Weiss more than anything else in the world, and she took it.

Weiss pushed herself away from the wall. With their mouths still locked the pair of them tottered in the middle of the hallway. It wasn't easy for Ruby to keep her balance, especially due to how she had to lean down.

Weiss tried to make good use of her advantage. Still intent on regaining the initiative she continued to take one step after another, and, off-balance as she was, Ruby had no choice but to cede the ground. Not that it was all on Weiss' terms, Ruby used the moment that Weiss came up for air to spin her around again and thrust her back into the wood of the door.

Weiss ceased her frantic rediscovery of Ruby's body long enough to scrabble at the handle. As soon as the latch came undone their combined body weight forced the door open. They stumbled through it, almost falling as Ruby's shoes got caught on Weiss' long dress. With an errant leg she kicked the door closed.

The lights were off, but the large windows were bared and the bedroom of Weiss' childhood was bathed in the soft luminesce of the shattered moon. Much like their relationship was and had been. Ruby plucked the symbol of their strife, the shimmering tiara, the crown, from the locks of alabaster hair and tossed it aside.

Weiss' hands were busy on back of Ruby's dress and she reciprocated. It was a grossly unfair game. Weiss had but a row of clasps to undo, and her nimble fingers made quick work of them, even when her mind was otherwise occupied. She put her palm to Ruby's chest, broke their kiss, dragged Ruby's arms out of the straps, and then pushed the dress down revealing a matching set of underwear.

Weiss' hands seared Ruby's nerves as they explored the now bare skin that had been sheltered moments before. As she trembled from the overload of sensation, Weiss shoved her way into Ruby's mouth. In her state, with the roughness of Weiss' tongue consuming every fibre in her brain, the intricacies of undoing a formal gown were lost on her.

As her fingers failed to undo even a single knot in the corset she gave guttural growl of frustration. Reaching up she grasped the collar of Weiss' dress in both hands and heaved. The rending of silk and satin permeated through the room. It tore all the way to waist revealing the small mounds of pale flesh it had concealed. Weiss shivered as Ruby raked her fingernails across them.

With nothing holding it up, the gown that had stunned the nobles of Atlas slipped to floor and pooled around their feet. After trying and failing to kick it away once Ruby set her hands to Weiss' waist and bodily lifted her off the floor. Weiss had never weighed much, but Ruby could have swung her around if she'd wanted to. She settled for throwing her to the mattress. Weiss bounced and squealed.

Seeing her lying there. Her hair in disarray. A shaft of moonlight playing across her breasts as they heaved up and down. The soft curves of her hips and the promise of what was hidden beneath the frills of the ivory panties, Ruby's mind was consumed by a single urge. She clambered onto the bed after the love of her life.

A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed that, I certainly enjoyed writing it. No Merlin for Ruby, but it was an excuse for her to come back to Atlas anyway. The Ball was much more interesting.

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