Scanning their room Blake skipped over her own bed as well as Weiss's perfectly folded one, even if that left two choices Blake knew which one Yang would be in. Stepping forward a low whine caused her ears to twitch, looking in corner Blake saw Zwei starring at her with pleading eyes. Despite her aversion to the dog Blake felt a stab of sympathy. Even though Wiess had taken responsibility of him, it was obvious he missed Ruby and to a lesser extent Yang.
Kneeling down Blake forced her unease away and scratched him behind the ear whispering "Don't worry she'll be back." That seemed to be enough as Zwei perked up tail wagging and tongue hanging out, Blake had to admit that was a little cute. Faintly hearing shifting cloth behind her Blake turned back to the reason she was here. Telling Zwei to stay she was happy to note that he listened, before approaching Ruby's bed.
Slowly climbing the bed Blake sat on the edge watching her friend's sprawled form face down in the pillow. Reaching out Blake placed her hand on that wild mane of hair, before gently brushing it all the way down only to repeat. They stayed like that for some time, simply enjoying each other's presence. At least that's what Blake hoped and as she watched Yang's body loosen and her breathing slow down she felt glad to be right.
"I get it, it's my fault." Shaken out of her thoughts by the sudden words, Blake nearly didn't catch them. Slow on the draw Blake decided to go with the opposite of that "no one said it was your fault." While saying this Blake reached out to brush Yang's hair again only to stop as she sat up.
"Ha... yeah right." Staring at the floor Yang's hands grabbed fistfuls of cloth "Everyone out of earshot has said it, Weiss implies it all the time, and I bet you've thought of it before" As Yang looked at her Blake wasn't sure what to say, she could only stare at those sad lilac eyes.
Continuing on Yang's hands were now fists "Here I am throwing tantrums causing nothing but trouble you two have bail me out on"
"...Yang." Reaching out to comfort her Blake felt slightly hurt as Yang ignored it. Instead she hopped off the bed and stared out the window between the two bunks.
"And she's out there." Yang's voice cracked as she grabbed the window's molding, knuckles going white with pressure. "Lost, hurt, alone, and I've been here being nothing but USELESS!"
CRACK!
Unable to withstand the pressure, the molding turned to splinters in Yang's hands. Blake flinched at the sudden out burst, hearing more whining she knew Zwei wasn't happy about this either. All the tension all the anger that had slowly eased out, had returned as fast as Ruby's semblance.
Hopping down Blake hesitated for a moment. Despite all the friends she made, Blake felt she still wasn't great with people. She didn't have Yang's cocksure attitude, or Ruby's energetic optimism, or Weiss's noble manners. She didn't even try to fool herself with what she said to Wiess in the hallway, knowing she basically plagiarized what Yang had told her earlier. But seeing Yang who could bounce back from anything like this left Blake with a bad feeling inside, so for her she'd try
"Your not useless Yang" Saying it as a fact Blake stood directly behind her. "Do you know how long we spent looking?"
"And where has that gotten us!" Yang shouted, her back hunched and arms trembling. "The school, the forest, the city and still nothing!" Blake noticed a slight glow to yang's hair as her friend raged on "No signs or clues just weeks of useless searching it's like she just up'd and left!" Immediately after Yang said this she felt arms wrap around her, holding on to her as if she might disappear.
'Or in pain' Yang panicked at the thought and following memories, quickly trying to reign in her anger and shake Blake off at the same time.
"Dammit don't you remember last time?!" Yang yelled trying to pry Blake off without hurting her.
again...
Only to feel those same arms wrap tighter "I do but that doesn't change anything." Hearing those words so calmly spoken had weaken her struggles.
"How doesn't it?" She asked anger quickly replaced by regret "I burned-"
"My aura blocked most of it I was fine" Blake lessened her hold as Yang stopped trying to push push her away. "but that was then this is now, why did you say she left Yang?"
Try as she might Yang couldn't stop herself from shaking "It...it was just an expression, ok?"
"You know Ruby would never just decide to leave." Speaking softly Blake pressed herself into her partner's back, trying to give as much comfort as she could.
"Summer didn't have a choice either." Immediately after saying those words Yang felt herself spin right on the spot. Looking Blake in the eye, Yang was surprised how fierce she looked.
"You do not think like that." Teeth clenched Blake practically growled each word "The Yang I know would never think like that."
"And what do you know, huh?!" Yang growled back trying to keep herself in check at the same time. "Did you lose two moms?!"
"I know that I've seen that look too many times, for you have it too!" The sudden almost desperate plea from Blake stopped whatever momentum Yang's anger could get. Sighing Blake slowly released her hold and sat in her own bed, gesturing for yang to sit next to her. Standing there Yang seemed to wrestle with herself before finally plopping down next to her.
There was palpable silence as Blake struggled to find the right words, and yang struggled to the part of her that wanted to go. Before finally it was broken.
"Back in the white fang not every mission was a success, or even ended smoothly" Quietly reminiscing Blake looked off to the distance as painful memories were brought to the front. "There were times where a team would come back smaller six three..one, but the number didn't matter it was the way everyone handled it"
"They just accepted it" Clenching her fists Blake's tone had gained an edge to it. "There weren't searches or rescue missions for anyone missing or captured. Unless they was important enough, It was just noted like today's weather.
For her part Yang listened to every word. This was the first time Blake really talked about her past. It wasn't easy for Yang to talk about hers but maybe Blake is feeling exactly what she felt as she watched her friend continue her near zealous search as it slowly wore her down.
"Looking back I..I don't think I could call any of them friends but they were at least comrades and to see everyone just give up on each other so easily was too much. That was one of the reasons why i'm here." Reaching out Blake grabbed Yang's hand giving a comforting squeeze "After my secret was revealed and I ran, I felt like I gave up on myself too that none of you would want to know a terrorist." Looking up Blake gave Yang a soft smile "Then you three showed up happy to have found me, that's when I realized how much I meant to all of you when none of you gave up on me."
Standing up Blake made her way to a desk, opening a draw she pulled out what looked to be a binder "That's why I won't give up on Ruby, why Weiss won't and most of all you shouldn't." Walking back Blake held it up waiting for Yang to take it. "Because she means too much to us to do that."
"What's this?" Asking Yang saw that it was dark red with a rose pattern covering it.
"Every class she missed Weiss and I took turns taking notes" Blake said taking a lighter tone before sitting back down next to Yang. "She'll have a lot of catching up to do."
Tracing the rose pattern with her thumb Yang chuckled slightly "I...heh I can see it now Weiss holding strawberries over Ruby's head just to work her through the night." With more tension then she thought she had, Blake felt relieved to see Yang try to make a joke even more so when she saw a tiny smile. While she knew this little talk wasn't going to magically solve all their problems. Yang wasn't beating herself over Ruby, so it was still a start.
"I can actually see that working, but she might have to sweeten the deal with cookies."
As the elevator ascended Weiss gave herself a quick once over making sure nothing was out of place. Being honest with herself it served as a useful distraction. She hoped Blake could get through to Yang. This recent outburst was the worst one since that downtown club, the memory of that place was still vivid in Weiss's mind
The black smoke rising through the midnight sky was a clear indication of where she needed to go. Weiss sped faster even as emergency vehicles could be heard in the background. It was the third week since Ruby had disappeared and what felt like the hundredth time Weiss had gone looking for her. At least the was the original plan
Yang had already gone ahead of them on her bike without telling either of them, so what had been a search for one had turned into two. It wouldn't be a problem if it was Blake or herself or really anyone else for that matter. But as more and more time went by everyone noticed how hard Yang was taking her sister disappearance. Her laid back attitude was replaced by a short fuse, she barely talked and when she did it was often sharp words. Sparring was utter hell for anyone unlucky enough to get a match against her. Weiss couldn't even remember the last time she heard a pun, and it wasn't as if Blake was fine with her leader missing and her partner isolating herself. So when they discovered Yang gone, Blake raced off to find her ignoring Weiss's call to wait.
So here she was racing through the streets towards the only place Yang could possible be. A ring from her scroll brought her out of her thoughts, Answering the call she could hear heavy breathing. "Weiss I think I know where Yang is" Jaune's voice had a slight urgency to it probably realizing just how much trouble Yang was in.
'or caused' Weiss thought before responding "Really arc could it be she decided to call it a night and have a relaxing bath?"
"uh w-well." Despite knowing it was a loaded question Jaune still couldn't keep himself from trying to answer
"Of course I know where she is, anyone can tell where she is!" Yelling at the scroll Weiss looked up and saw that she was a block from where the smoke originated from. Ignoring Ark's obvious statement, Weiss spoke into the scroll again "Look I'm almost there, call you're team and meet me there."
"Yeah sure!" Jaune said before hanging up. While her patience was tested Weiss was none the less appreciative that team JNPR had offered their help for this emergency search. And by that Weiss really meant she barged in their room, dragging Jaune by the collar with the rest of his team following.
Finally rounding the corner Weiss stopped momentarily, she had expected a fight a few thugs groaning on the ground maybe a flipped car with a tree on fire, but not this. The building turned out to be a club or at least that's what it used to be. The entire front was caved in as if a bomb went off, fire was still burning around the edges, which was impressive in itself a fire in such a dense city meant a lot of destruction so the buildings were built to be fireproof. Apparently that hadn't stopped Yang.
Suddenly Weiss could hear the sirens of multiple emergency vehicles getting closer. Moving forward with urgency over the rubble and through the massive hole, Weiss stood in her tracks as the scene before her was etched in her mind.
Lying crumpled on the floor was Yang crying, her face was buried in Blake's chest who gently cradled her with burnt arms.
It took some effort but the both of them managed to pull Yang out of the ruined building before anyone else got there. It felt wrong to Weiss but this wasn't like the time they stopped Torchwick and the white fang. Yang started it and luckily didn't get anybody killed. Just as she finished that thought the elevator door's opened and revealed Headmaster Ozpin drinking from his coffee cup.
"Ah Miss Schnee I'm glad you could stop by." Calm and collected Ozpin nodded his head in greetings.
"I apologize for being late sir." Despite his rather open policy to students Weiss felt as if she was with the atlesian upper class, the up most manners and respect was needed in any interaction.
Without missing a beat the headmaster continued "It's quite alright i'm sure whatever held you is under control."
Weiss could barely stop herself from cringing, It was very apparent he knew exactly what had happened. As well as every other time Weiss believed, but for what ever reason he had never acted upon any of yang's 'disturbances' or even mentioned them in the slightest. Weiss couldn't understand why, If she wasn't Yang's teammate but headmistress instead Yang would be long gone by now.
"But please have a seat."
Sitting down Weiss kept her back straight and head proper, Ozpin seemed to wait a few moments for her to relax but merely sighed when it appeared that wouldn't happen
"It has come to my attention that a settlement somewhat close to vale has ceced communication."
Weiss couldn't stop the feeling of disappointment well up inside her after finally hearing what this meeting was about. She hoped Ozpin had something anything about Ruby, but like always there was nothing. She even thought this conversation might be about Yang but a settlement?
"Sir?" Weiss voiced her confusion hoping the man could elaborate.
"I believe this warrants an investigation and was hoping your team would accept this task."
"But sir!" Standing up Weiss could immediately think of a hundred reason why this was a bad idea and decide to voice them. "Surely there are more suited and quite frankly complete teams that could handle this."
"The life of a huntress is never easy." Ozpin stated putting the coffee cup down and folding his hands together, his voice sounded as if it was made of steel. "Adversity will be a constant and reprieve always limited, but one must never forget to face adversity you have to move forward otherwise nothing could possibly change."
Weiss suddenly felt as if she was a child again being scolded feeling slightly ashamed for her outburst and slowly sat down.
"Of course you do raise some good points and I'm sure you have more, but this is not an order merely a request." Like a switch being flipped Ozpin's tone returned to a more neutral stance,
Hearing his words Weiss truly believed that she could decline, her brain telling her to decline. But if she did that it would feel like disappointing her sister or father. Despite the very different ways they would ask or demand the end result would be the same. Briefly Weiss wondered what Ruby would say before realizing that was a stupid question, it was obvious what Ruby would say.
"we'll do it." The sudden declaration earned Weiss a raised eyebrow and realization of her forgotten manners. "..Ah I mean on behalf of team RWBY I accept."
The serious atmosphere in the room seemly dissipated as Ozpin put on a slight smile "Good there's a bulwark waiting for you in hanger one ready to leave within the hour Your scrolls will be updated with all the necessary information."
As the doors closed behind Weiss, Ozpin was trying very hard to ignore the imaginary daggers being sent his way. "Are you sure this is the wisest course of action?" Miss Glynda asked as she walked up to the desk.
Taking another sip Ozpin swiveled his chair to gaze out into the Emerald forest "I meant what I said if they can't move forward they will be stuck as they are, and as of right now that's not the best place to be."
Refusing to let the matter at hand drop Glynda continued. "But to send them on a mission with their leader, their friend lost?"
"Misplaced not lost." A finger waved back and forth as the Headmaster turned around "No matter how small a difference, it is still there."
"You want something to happen, don't you?" The metaphorical daggers felt like swords now as the question sounded more like an interrogation.
Tapping a on the desk dozens of holographic windows popped up. Videos feds, reports, images, all were on display but the one thing they had in common was who the subject was. "After inheriting this school I sought to do everything in my power to keep my students safe and yet..." Raising a hand Ozpin selected one video in particular. It showed a young girl with dark red hair and a rose red cloak walking down a hallway and making a sharp turn at the corner. "Despite all of my precautions this is the very last time Ruby Rose could be seen."
Closing his eyes Ozpin rested his forehead against his folded hands, it had been a some time since he felt so old. Perhaps Glynda had also picked up on this because he could feel the glare ease up slightly. "I have exhausted every possible lead with nothing to show for it, now I make a move, not because I want to but because I have to."
So there we go chapter three finally done wooooooo! But yeah this one took a lot longer then I thought, though I guess I can blame X-COM 2 a little bit or maybe a lot, that game was seriously fun to play. Anyway like the description said this is a hurt comfort and horror story. So the scene with Yang and Blake, what i'm trying to do it's not necessarily romance but a friend trying to help another friend, and yet if people draw to the conclusions or themes of bumblebee I wouldn't blame them. I'm still iffy on weather or not to include romance (kinda how the show seems to imply it and yet not at the same time) but if I do I need it to be justifiable not just in there because I want it there.
Then there's me showing a little of Blake's past life (maybe who knows how dark RT will make it), I mean has anyone seen a white fang member without their mask. Heck at that base camp when cinder wanted to recruit them not a single one was without a mask kinda creepy and major lack individuality if you ask me. So that's where I got the conclusion of them being a bit cold hearted they don't want faunus vs humans but white fang vs humans. But I've rambled enough, like always I hope you enjoy the story and please leave a review they're always awesome to read!
P.S IF I DON'T GET A CHAPTER OUT BEFORE DARK SOULS 3 JUST ASSUME I'M HOLLOW. :)
