Thanks for all the support! I hope these last few chapters won't disappoint ;u;
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Chapter 8. Aftermath
Ruby awoke early the next morning, shivering slightly as she pulled her blankets closer to her chest.
She had not slept well last night, her mind continuously plagued by images of Blake's plight, and whenever she had managed to sleep, she only saw the people she cared about most getting hurt.
Weiss had stayed with her until the wee hours of the morning, despite Ruby's insistence that her knight get some sleep.
Ruby had eventually fallen asleep from sheer fatigue, and she woke now to find Weiss had not stayed the night with her.
She sighed and curled into herself tighter, discerning by the light that it was just before sunrise. She hoped Weiss would be late this morning, not because Ruby wanted to sleep in, but because she was hoping the older girl was resting.
And yet, it was only a few minutes later when she heard those unmistakable footsteps coming down the hall, and the knock came on her door just as the first rays of sunlight slipped beneath the windowsill. Ruby knew it should not have come as such a surprise though, and she sat herself up and called out softly.
"Come in."
Weiss waited a respectful moment before opening the door and entering.
Ruby had hoped – foolishly perhaps – that the girl would be dressed in casual clothing. But now she could both see and hear Weiss was adorned in her usual armor.
"Weiss..." Ruby murmured as her knight paused several feet away from her bed. "I didn't fall asleep until early morning, which means you must've stayed here even longer. Did you sleep at all last night?"
Weiss sniffed once.
"That doesn't matter," she declared, and before Ruby could argue, Weiss went on. "Today's going to be an easygoing one. And perhaps the rest of the week will be as well."
Ruby tilted her head to one side and gave her a puzzled look.
"What do you mean?"
Weiss took a step closer, and when Ruby invited her to sit on the bed, she did not refuse. Weiss flashed her a glance before going on.
"After what happened yesterday, the King has declared that you and your sister are to stay indoors until further notice. It shouldn't be much of an issue for Yang, considering she'll likely be looking after Blake, but I know you have a higher risk of getting restless."
Ruby's shoulders had already slumped.
"So... I can't go outside and greet everyone and say good morning anymore?"
"...I'm afraid not. At least not for the next few days. The King is going to talk to Blake and try to find out more about the people who attacked her and the reasons behind it. It's just... not safe for you to go out right now. He'd rather you stay on castle grounds. Inside," she emphasized, as there was outdoor property as well. She smiled sadly before continuing:
"I know you love being outside and moving around, being a part of your kingdom, but it can't hurt to take a break for a few days, right?" Hopefully it would only be for a few days. Ruby was already looking like she was going to be stir crazy, and Weiss chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. We'll figure out things to do to keep you busy and simultaneously involved with everything."
Ruby fidgeted and shifted closer to her knight.
"Okay. I guess I don't have much of a choice, huh?" She laid down onto her back and spread her arms wide, heaving a sigh. "Do you think... the banquet's still gonna happen this month?"
Just as Summer had done when she reigned, Vale still held banquets at the end of every month, providing food and a carefree atmosphere for all who attended.
But this month's banquet was a bit more significant; it was to be held on Ruby's birthday, and she would be celebrated by all of Vale as she turned eighteen.
Weiss had been making preparations for this event in particular for the past few weeks, and it would be a waste if it were cancelled. Still, Ruby's safety took top priority.
"I can't tell you for sure," Weiss confessed. "It depends on several factors." She looked down to where her charge lay splayed out on the bed. "But I promise, even if the banquet's cancelled, I'll still make it a birthday worth your while, even if I'm the only one available to celebrate."
Ruby sat up with a grin and wrapped her arms around her.
"Thanks, Weiss!" She tried to snuggle into the girl's shoulder, but was met with a hard bump on the nose because of her armor. "Owwie! I wish you'd take this stuff off from time to time..."
"Maybe one day," Weiss hummed. "But not until we at least deal with the White Fang."
"That could be never," Ruby groaned.
"Then you'll just have to get used to hard hugs," she teased good-naturedly.
"Uugh..."
"Come on," Weiss stood and helped her princess up. "We should visit Blake if we can before she needs to go see the King and give a report of what happened." She stood and helped the girl up, and Ruby went to her wardrobe to pick out today's attire.
"I guess I don't need to dress so formally if no one's gonna see me, huh?"
"No matter," Weiss murmured. "You look lovely either way."
Ruby hugged her again.
She selected a simpler dress, one with fewer layers and lighter fabric; it was getting cold these days, but she hardly had to worry if she were to be staying inside. The dress was light red, like pale rose petals, and after Ruby bathed, Weiss helped her into it, receiving only minimal protest from her charge. She secured Ruby's red cloak around her shoulders shortly afterward.
She padded a towel gently through Ruby's wet hair, petting the lingering water droplets out with care as not to displace or tug a single strand. Ruby closed her eyes and hummed in delight as Weiss tended to her, and it was times like these when she almost forgot she was a princess, forgot all her responsibilities.
Maybe the next few days would not be so bad after all...
Once Ruby was finished being prepped and pampered, Weiss led her to the hallway so they may attend their morning meal. However, they did not get very far before Ruby gasped in surprise and called out softly:
"Blake!"
The Faunus girl had Yang beside her, and was more or less leaning all of her weight onto the blonde as Yang tried to help her walk. The half-princess was mumbling worriedly:
"Are you sure you're up for this, Blake? You could rest for a day, you know."
"No. I can't let myself get lazy. I need to be as mobile as possible if I want to get better quickly."
"Or you could rest and relax for once..."
Ruby scampered over to them just as Yang finished muttering under her breath.
Weiss reached them soon afterward.
"Princess... I would appreciate it if you wouldn't go running-"
"Blake!" Ruby cut off her knight and exclaimed the girl's name again. "How are you feeling?"
"Honestly? Like a hoard of Grimm trampled me."
Ruby's shoulders slumped and she frowned, voice thick with concern.
"I don't think you should be walking around yet."
"That's what I told her," Yang grumbled. "But noooo. I think only orders from the King himself could make her sit down, and even then, he'd have to win a debate against her first."
"The wounds have all closed for the most part," Blake informed them. "Aside from soreness, I'm perfectly fine."
"Says the girl who needs to use another person as a crutch just to stand..." Weiss noted.
Blake's ears flattened, slightly offended, but deep down she knew the white knight was just looking out for her.
"I'm fine," she reassured them. "But I'm afraid you two will be missing us at breakfast. I'm to see the King and recount... what happened."
It was clear to them that it was still a bit difficult for her to talk about it, so none of them asked her now. But Yang nodded her head to Ruby in a way that silently signified she would tell her more on the subject later.
"Alright," Ruby nodded. "Just take it easy, okay?"
Blake nodded and smiled kindly.
"I will. Thank you, Princess Ruby."
It always made the brunette happy when someone other than Yang called her by her first name, even if it was still with the formalities; of course it made her happy when Weiss did it as well, only in a different kind of way.
The two of them watched as Blake and Yang hobbled slowly off down a different hallway, bound for the King's quarters.
Once she was certain Ruby and Weiss were out of earshot, Blake whispered thinly into Yang's ear:
"Do you think she'll be informed?"
"What? About the bastards who attacked you?"
"More so of what they said."
"...About the Dragon's Curse?"
Blake nodded.
"...I don't know," Yang admitted. "But I think it'd be best if she never found out. I don't want her to know the truth."
"Do you even know the truth, Yang?"
The response was silence, and Blake sighed, but said nothing more as she was led down the corridor.
Ruby watched them go before she let out a heavy exhale, and then sniffled. Weiss put a hand to her back by means of support.
"Are you alright?"
Ruby shrugged, but made sure not to shake off Weiss' hand.
"Yeah. I dunno, I just... what happened to Blake yesterday... just kinda... disillusioned me I guess. Vale isn't the nice, safe kingdom we always try to make it out to be. I mean yeah, there are plenty of problems that we try to deal with but... what can I do? Something like this happens and then I'm confined to the castle so my dad can protect me? What kind of a useless princess am I?"
"Ruby." Weiss did not even bother with her title as she looked the girl directly in the eyes. "None of that. You know the King loves you and is only thinking about your safety. You're not useless; you're just brave."
Ruby tilted her head to one side. "What do you mean?"
"I mean the rest of us are terrified," Weiss clarified. "None of us know how to react to this yet. That's why the King is keeping you inside; because he's scared. But you're brave, and you want to start finding answers and justice now. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same confidence in their blood as the late Queen did; that's something unique to you alone."
Weiss withdrew her hand, only to find Ruby's holding it. She went on softly:
"I understand that you want to apprehend the people who did this, but we can't act right away, no matter how badly we might want to. We've got to bide our time and take caution before action. We've got to strategize first, gather as much information as possible, but the King can't focus on doing that if he's worrying constantly about your safety. That's why he's confined you to the castle. Once we know as much as possible, we can enact some plan of organized retaliation."
Weiss squeezed her hand a bit tighter.
"They won't get away with this, Ruby."
The knight then got down on one knee in a display of silent fidelity, keeping a firm hold on Ruby's hand as she dipped her head and pressed her lips to the back of it.
"And I swear on my life that no harm will come to you."
"W-Weiss-!" Ruby whimpered when she heard the vow; she knew the girl was dead serious about what she said.
Ruby fell to her knees and threw her arms around Weiss, pressing herself as close to her as possible.
"Don't... don't say that, Weiss. Please. Nothing's gonna happen to you, okay? I'll make the same promise to you."
Weiss was silent for a moment before she carefully and briefly wrapped her arms around the girl.
"Thank you, Princess."
Ruby's gesture was appreciated, even if Weiss knew it was sure to be fruitless should such a dire situation ever arise. Weiss was her knight, after all; Ruby's life was far more valuable than her own.
A moment passed them by in the empty hall before Ruby slowly pulled away from her knight.
"Okay. Then let's go eat."
They stood together, and Ruby almost took Weiss' hand before she realized where they were. The knight was forced to fold her hands behind her back and straighten her shoulders at attention as she began walking, and Ruby was left to hold onto her own dress instead.
They arrived in the dining hall to find it vacant, as Blake, Yang, and the King were all in his quarters to discuss the attack.
Maybe it was because they were alone or maybe it was because Ruby looked forlorn sitting by herself, but Weiss sat down beside her for once and ate a little. Ruby seemed a bit happier after that and smiled as she finished her meal.
After breakfast, they decided to venture to the indoor training area, which consisted of a wide room in the basement area, down a flight of stairs. It was often where the princess' sword and fencing lessons were held, but it was also used for recreational practice as well.
A small nearby room held the dozen or so swords Ruby and Yang trained with, though they each had their favorites. However, those had been left with their horses in the stables at the army's training grounds, which Ruby knew she would not be seeing for a while now.
So she chose her second favorite blade and followed Weiss into the basement.
It had been a while since they had parried swords, Ruby insisted that she did not need her armor, and that the significantly less-formal dress she wore now would be easy to move around in.
Weiss begrudgingly agreed and drew her rapier. She only used Dust when absolutely necessary in real combat, so training lessons were always done with dry blades and nothing more.
The knight took up her stance, realizing she was unable to recall the last time she had sparred Ruby one-on-one.
Then, both opponents bowed respectfully before Ruby put about ten feet between them and raised her sword.
There was a moment of silence when neither moved nor breathed.
And then they both charged forward with terrifying speed, Ruby's enhanced by her semblance and Weiss' by her glyphs.
It had been a while since they had crossed blades, but as metal clashed with metal for the first time that morning, it was nothing unfamiliar. There was force behind each weapon, a firm counterbalance, and Weiss could instantly tell that Ruby's form had gained power since the last time she had encountered it. She poured a little extra effort into her own grip, putting them at a temporary stalemate they could only leap back from.
They circled one another like wolves, sizing each other up, eyes narrowed and intent, the tips of their respective swords aimed precisely at the other's.
Then, one would make a move, either a feint or a real attack, and the resulting dodge and counter were always flawless.
Ruby let out the first grunt of effort; understandable, considering Weiss had been trained in this profession her entire life and knew better than anything how to hold her tongue and save her breath. She may have been slightly smaller than Ruby in terms of stature, but her skills matched those of Summer Rose's daughter, and perhaps might have even surpassed them in some aspects.
After all, what kind of a knight would she be if her princess was so skilled that Weiss' services were hardly required?
Another rush of motion, and their blades parried again, deflecting their opponents.
But after a few minutes, the commonplace swordplay got boring, and things turned a bit more colorful – literally.
Ruby called upon her semblance once more, exerting a bit of energy and dashing about the enclosed area; she ran so quickly that gravity bent to her will as she lined the walls, sending a swirling tornado of red petals rising up behind her.
Weiss did not even try to follow her with her eyes; instead, she closed them and listened to the rush of the air, pinpointing its source. When Ruby leapt at her, Weiss was able to dodge with perfect timing and at such an advantageous angle that it allowed her to dart in close.
Ruby twisted herself to block the rapier, but Weiss was faster, sending out another glyph beneath Ruby's feet and propelling her back a few steps. Unbalanced, Ruby could only close her eyes as Weiss rushed her and disarmed her with an expert hit to the wrist. Ruby's sword dropped to the floor with a loud clang as her rose petals floated slowly down to scatter around them. The victor lowered her rapier and cancelled her spell.
"Owwie..." Ruby moaned, holding her sore wrist.
"My apologies." Weiss sheathed her rapier and picked up Ruby's sword. "I didn't mean to use so much force. I should've controlled my strike better." Her eyes went to the floor in repentance.
Ruby quickly waved her hands back and forth.
"No, no! It's not really that bad!"
Weiss looked up hopefully. "Truthfully?"
Ruby hummed sheepishly. "Nothing a kiss couldn't fix..."
Weiss sighed and rolled her eyes. "You really want me to get dismissed, don't you?"
"I wouldn't let that happen!" Ruby smiled as Weiss took her hand and pressed her lips to it. "And besides, it's only a few more weeks until my birthday. Then I'll be eighteen and we won't have to keep this a secret anymore."
All these years, Weiss had done a fairly good job of keeping her emotions in check; as Ruby's knight, the princess' safety came before anything else, and Weiss' feelings could be easily invalidated and ignored if need be.
But luckily, that was not necessary any longer, and Ruby could tell the other girl was starting to crack, unable to wait a day longer than she had to before she could finally make her affections clear.
Weiss had always loved Ruby, but would only be allowed to show that to the rest of the kingdom when the princess turned eighteen. It was likely their relationship would be rejoiced and celebrated, or hardly come as a surprise at all, considering how close they had always been to one another.
Weiss was more anxious about the banquet and what she had planned for it...
A tap on her shoulder brought her back to the present, and she looked up to find Ruby's charming smile.
"Ready for round two?" she asked.
Weiss redrew her rapier and smirked.
"Always."
They sparred for a while, going over basic techniques and building up to more advanced ones before engaging in several consecutive mock battles.
Only when they both agreed they were starting to feel the strain in their muscles did they respectively sheath and put away their weapons.
"I think I could do with a glass of water," Ruby chuckled.
"I wouldn't be opposed either."
Weiss led them to the nearest sink on the property, one that connected to a well of cold water. They refreshed their parched throats gratefully by using small drinking glasses on a nearby shelf.
They had just put their glasses aside when a flurry of footsteps reached their ears, and Weiss instantly straightened up, stepping in front of Ruby as she faced the doorway.
One of the royal guards came to a halt before them.
"Princess Rose," he said, bowing low to Ruby. "Your father would like to see you in his quarters promptly to discuss yesterday's incident."
Ruby stepped out from behind Weiss and nodded.
"I'll be there shortly."
The guard bowed to them again before hurrying off.
Weiss could feel the apprehension on the air, but realized most of it was wafting off of herself. She had had a bad feeling about all of this since word of Blake's assault had come to her, and the morning of training with Ruby had temporarily taken Weiss' mind off of things.
But now, her lips pursed in a firm line again as she ushered Ruby back into the hall.
Ruby's father ended up telling her exactly what Blake had told Yang the night before.
Word for word, Ruby heard everything the Faunus girl's attackers had said, and she did not know what to make of it all. She knew of the Dragon's Curse and perhaps related to it more than anyone else; it had been her own mother's downfall after all.
And she could see it in her father's eyes too, see that he was frightened to lose someone else he held dear to him to the Curse.
And she could see that he was tired, weary, and older than ever before, but he was determined to keep his family safe.
He had hugged Ruby and Yang tightly that evening before dismissing them all, reiterating that they were to stay within the castle walls until he deemed it acceptable to do otherwise.
The four girls now walked slowly down the hallways as the setting sun illuminated their path in pale orange that bled into red. They were all unnaturally silent, lost in their own minds as they kept a slow pace to accommodate Blake's limping gait.
They only paused once they had reached Yang's room, and the blonde girl turned slowly to her younger sister.
"Try not to think about it too much," she whispered into Ruby's ear as she pulled her into a hug. "It'll be okay, sis. Everything's gonna be okay."
"Yang..." Ruby's voice was broken and wavering, such a dire contrast to what Weiss had heard that morning. It sent a pang through her chest.
Silently, the knight supported Yang's vow with one of her own.
As the sisters held onto one another for a few moments, offering quiet comfort, Weiss supported Blake with one arm, feeling how unstable her balance was. Normally, she would have scolded her more for not resting properly, but the knight could not even manage the chiding tonight. She lowered her voice so only the Faunus girl could hear her:
"You know... about the Dragon's Curse?"
Blake did not look at her, but kept her eyes trained on Yang as she replied.
"Don't you?"
Weiss had not wanted to believe it, and yet now she felt she might have known it all along.
For her golden hair to catch aflame when she was enraged, and her eyes to run blood-red in fury...
...of course Yang had the Curse.
It was no wonder the Grimm had hardly ever touched their group when they went out into the forests; what beast was foolish enough to fight a being cursed by the great Ancient Dragon?
Weiss felt sick – she knew they all did. Yang's life was being targeted, and Blake had already almost lost hers. And there was next to nothing they could do about it all except hide away.
Weiss growled under her breath, and it was Blake who had to calm her this time.
"You know you don't have to worry. I'll keep her safe even if it costs me my life."
"And you think that makes me feel any better?" Weiss rounded on her with a soft snarl.
Blake gave her a knowing look. "You understand better than anyone. You'd do the same for Ruby."
Weiss was silent for a moment before the helpless anger left her eyes.
"You're right. Just... don't let it come to that."
"...No promises."
Weiss bit her lip. She slipped her arms around Blake gently as not to hurt her more. The gesture was certainly unexpected, but not unwelcome in the least, and Blake returned the contact briefly before Weiss let her go.
By this time, Ruby and Yang had parted as well, and their aides went to them respectively. But Ruby was reluctant to let her sister go.
"Yang..."
The elder sister turned back and gave her a grin.
"Hey, don't worry. I've got Blakey with me, and even if she's hurt, one growl from her when she's pissed would have anyone running off with their tail between their legs."
Ruby seemed unconvinced, and Yang tried again.
"Nothing's gonna happen tonight, Ruby. That's a promise from your big sister, okay?"
Ruby nodded once, then left Weiss' side to hug her sister one more time.
"There, there," Yang murmured, petting her hair. "It's gonna be fine, Ruby. Go get some rest. I don't think that should be much of a problem tonight, actually."
The blonde met Weiss' eye and winked, and the knight looked away.
At last, Ruby left her sister's side and returned to Weiss, who in turn led her quietly to her quarters. Ruby wanted to ask Weiss to come inside, but she assumed her knight had something else to tend to; she always did.
But Weiss surprised her when she made the request herself.
"May I come in with you?"
Ruby looked up at her with watery eyes and nodded once, taking Weiss' gloved wrist and pulling her inside before she could change her mind.
The door closed behind them and Weiss helped the girl to her bed. Ruby seemed much more enervated than she should have been, and Weiss knew it was a result not of their training that day, but of the burden of the new knowledge she now bore.
Weiss took the liberty of sitting beside the girl without invitation and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Ruby offered silent gratitude as she leaned into the contact and closed her eyes.
Neither said a word for a long while, not until the sunset had disappeared and left them in darkness aside from the faint glow of a single bedside lamp.
Ruby had dozed for a time, and awoke a while later to the shadowed room. She made a small, tired sound before shifting around a bit and peeking up at Weiss past her bangs.
"Mm, Weiss... shouldn't you go? I don't want you to get in trouble for staying here. You need to get some sleep..."
The last thing she wanted was for Weiss to leave her tonight, but she knew she did not have a choice in the matter.
But it seemed - for once - Weiss did.
"That won't be necessary," she murmured, offering a small smile. Ruby blinked at her, eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement before Weiss went on. "I asked the King briefly after our meeting with him. I asked him if it would be permissible if I stayed with you just for tonight. He seemed to know as well as I did that you would sleep much more soundly if you weren't alone. He almost begged me to stay with you."
Ruby's silver eyes lit up with a faint sparkle.
"Really?" Her nose scrunched a bit as tears swelled behind her eyes, but they were not from loneliness as she thought they would be tonight – instead they were of relief. "Ah, gosh... Thank you, Weiss. You don't know... w-what this means to me..." Ruby slipped her arms around Weiss' waist, but the knight paused her gently.
"But first, why don't you change clothes and help me out of my armor?"
Ruby nodded and sat back before standing and going to her wardrobe to remove her cloak and change into a softer red nightgown. She returned to Weiss quickly and sat behind her, fiddling with the links that held her armor in place until they unclasped.
Weiss left her rapier leaned against the side of the bed for easy access should she need it, and once it was all off, Weiss was left once again in a humble shirt and pants, all of which seemed far too loose on her.
Again, Ruby was reminded of just how small Weiss was, and when she took her hair down, she was like another person entirely. Ruby was almost hesitant to touch her like this-
-and yet, she could not stop herself.
She needed Weiss now more than ever.
Her fingers brushed gently over the scar that cut down her left eye, an injury Weiss had sustained many years ago protecting her. Ruby had always felt responsible, but Weiss had never once regretted the mark.
And Ruby was sure to remind her how beautiful it was; how beautiful Weiss was.
Weiss was still as Ruby traced her fingers lightly over the old wound.
And then she felt warm lips pressed to her cheek.
Weiss stiffened instinctively; she had never experienced such close physical contact before, but if it was with Ruby, she would gladly accept it all.
She belonged to Ruby Rose, now and forever.
Weiss closed her left eye as Ruby kissed her there again, one hand cupping the side of her face as the other rested on her hip. Weiss returned the contact very slowly, her hands applying almost non-existent pressure on Ruby's shoulders.
She would not deny that she was scared in doing this. Ruby was her princess, her most treasured person in the world, and she did not want to do something wrong.
Weiss failed to understand that nothing she did could ever be wrong in Ruby's eyes.
But Ruby did not want to force her knight either.
When she pulled Weiss into a tight hug, she could feel the older girl's heart thumping quickly, and Ruby knew she was terrified – about the Curse, about staying with Ruby tonight - about loving her.
Ruby knew she was Weiss' everything, because Weiss was hers.
But she understood that fear as well, that fear that if she made someone her everything, that if something happened to them... nothing would be left of herself.
Weiss' arms were shaking as they returned her embrace, and her shoulders were stiff. Ruby could tell she was holding herself back, and she apologized silently, knowing she was more or less torturing Weiss by doing this to her now. She curled her fingers through the other girl's soft, long hair, breathing her in, feeling her heartbeat thick against her chest.
Weiss stayed silent and still, though her hands clung to Ruby's back, an unspoken display of her desire to never let her go.
A while later, Ruby pulled back and met her eyes again. Weiss looked so tired, and she could see it clearly now.
They were both tried of waiting.
Ruby wanted to make it easier for them both.
"Weiss..."
The sound of her name in Ruby's voice got the white-haired girl's attention instantly, and she blinked herself into focus.
"What is it?"
Ruby fidgeted a bit in her arms as she looked up into mist-blue.
"I know... it's a little early. But I... I think I want my birthday gift now. Please..." Her voice cracked on the last word as the tears started to overflow.
She wanted – needed – this so badly.
Thankfully, Weiss did, too.
The knight inhaled, deeply and slowly.
"Of course, my princess."
Weiss slowly brought her hands up to Ruby's face, holding her cheeks gently, rubbing her thumbs over the wet trails her tears had left behind.
So what if it was a few weeks early? Her inhibitions be damned. She deserved this much. She could be absolved of this much.
Weiss was going to be selfish now for once in her life.
She looked into Ruby's benign eyes and waited until she closed them before doing the same. She slid closer, tasted Ruby's sweet breath on her own, felt the tickle of her lips brushing against hers.
Neither knew for sure who leaned in first – perhaps they both did.
Their lips came together with the clumsiness and uncertainty of a first kiss, and the passion and surety that they never wanted anything more from life than this. They enshrined this sacred moment that was many years overdue, engraving it into their hearts, painting their souls with the colors of love that had been blossoming between them for nearly a decade.
Weiss could faintly taste the salt of Ruby's tears, and it was that very same elation that had her own cheeks wet within seconds of the contact.
Weiss pulled her in by the shoulders, and Ruby kept her secure with her arms around her waist and the small of her back.
They held the enraptured kiss until their lungs demanded otherwise, parting only briefly to take in the elixir of oxygen before shamelessly repeating the process.
Ruby fell softly down onto her back, and Weiss never broke the kiss as she followed, bracing her weight on her elbows as she tilted her face and deepened the contact. Ruby clung to her shoulders, moving her lips slowly against hers until the tears had stopped and been forgotten.
She kissed Weiss again and again, and her knight never protested or denied her.
She had needed this for far too long – they both had.
Weiss only stopped when she felt it was necessary, knowing that if it went on for much longer she might start doing things she would regret and never forgive herself for.
Ruby whimpered and saw the older girl flinch, but the brunette quickly realized her mistake and apologized.
"I'm sorry. C'mere." She reached her arms up and pulled Weiss down to her gently, kissing the crown of her head. "Sorry. I didn't mean... I don't want you to do anything that would make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry."
Weiss released a shaky breath against her.
"Just... not like this. My heart isn't ready for it."
Ruby squeezed her tighter.
"That's okay. I wasn't thinking clearly anyway. Don't worry about it." She gently rolled them over so Weiss was beneath her. Ruby leaned down and kissed her chastely. "Thank you, Weiss. I've never... been so happy before in all my life. I feel like... like everything's gonna be okay."
"It will be," she promised.
Ruby nodded and moved herself down. She draped herself over Weiss, resting her head over her heartbeat, listening contentedly.
And the whisper just slipped from her lips as easily as her breath came:
"I love you, Weiss."
The pulse beneath her ear jumped and she felt Weiss squeeze her tighter. Soon afterward, she heard soft hiccups as her knight pressed another kiss to her head.
Weiss struggled for words. Ruby was so much more than just a princess; she was a blessing, a miracle given unto a planet unworthy of her untainted heart, and she deserved to know as much.
So Weiss repeated it back to her.
"I love you too, Ruby..."
And they slept soundly that night, feeling that all was right with the world for the first and perhaps only time in their lives.
A/N: At last, the long-awaited White Rose affair has blossomed!
Chapter 9 preview: Blake pursed her lips and met weary lavender eyes, and dismay curled in the pit of her stomach even before Yang continued.
"I..." Yang swallowed hard and looked down. Blake could tell whatever she was about to say was something Yang had been dwelling on for many, many hours.
But she never expected it to be what Yang ended up saying to her:
"I... I'm... relieving you.. of your position..."
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