Disclaimer: Yeah. I don't know why I keep saying this. Still not mine.

Just One Date

Volume 3

By: athrunzala

Chapter 9: Out in the Open

The group consisting of Team RWBY and Nero Terra was just outside of Mountain Glenn. The airship had dropped them off in a different location from where their mission with Doctor Oobleck had. This time, they would be starting in from a ledge slightly below the plateau.

"Alright. Is everybody ready?"

Looking around to double check, Nero noticed that each of them was already in climbing gear. Satisfied that they were all strapped in correctly, they stuck their first pin in to the wall and began the steep ascent. Even though they were on a slight footpath, they were taking no chances, as a fall would mean certain death for any of them.

As they neared the top, Blake moved to the front to see if there was anything for them to be concerned about. She managed to displace a rock on the edge of the paved street, causing a brief panic reaction, until she looked down to see the black pebble skitter away.

"It's all clear. No signs of any Grimm here."

The rest of the party then joined her up on the streets. They quickly removed their climbing harnesses and stowed the other gear. Hoisting their bags onto their backs, they began moving into the decimated remains of the doomed suburb.

Yang still remembered the last time that they were here. She didn't want to lose her sister again, so she stuck fairly close to her. Weiss did the same for other reasons. She wasn't about to break her promise to Taiyang.

They neared the former city-center, and had to duck behind a wall for a moment, as a pair of Beowolfs walked out and started sniffing around.

"They must be young. I don't see any armor."

Nero looked over at Ruby.

"You would be correct. The older Grimm tend to be more heavily armored."

Despite all their hoping that their whispering hadn't been noticed, it had carried through the still air and alerted the creatures to their presence. The two reared back and howled, alerting others in the area that there were intruders. All four of them sprang into action before their instructor, and managed to dispatch what they felt were all of the hostile elements in the area. It was when a rather large Creep reared up behind Yang that Nero swung his blade, dividing the beast's head from its body.

"We are here to survey structural integrity. Don't forget that."

He then looked over at Ruby, who remembered all too well her brief visit to the subterranean crypt that existed below the city. She shuddered as the visuals flooded into her head. She could recall everything. Even Oobleck's description.

~memory~

"Look around you. What do you see?"

Oobleck was wanting Ruby to make some observations.

"Uh… Empty streets… abandoned buildings…"

But she was not seeing, merely observing.

"I look around," the green haired Huntsman said, "and I see lives that could have been saved."

~end memory~

She also remembered the floor of the subterranean caverns. There was an occasional bone, but, other than that, there was no sign it had ever been inhabited. It was almost as if they had built the massive buildings down there, decided on a new location, and abandoned the project, never even bothering to try and sell it to a single person. And it was left to ruin.

While she stood, transfixed, lost in her memories for a moment, Weiss walked over to Yang. The white haired Fencer pulled out her scroll and put it into the blonde woman's hands.

"Uh… what?"

"I want you to take a picture."

"Of… what… exactly?"

Weiss huffed slightly and turned around.

"You'll know when you see it. Trust me."

Shrugging her shoulders, Yang opened the device and activated the camera. She had to pan around to find Weiss again, and when she did her jaw dropped open. The heiress was walking towards Ruby, with a small object in her hand.

As the white-haired fencer reached her partner, she tapped her on the shoulder, slightly startling the younger woman.

"GYAH!"

Weiss chuckled a little at this.

"Sorry, Ruby. Um…" she fidgeted with the back of her leg with her opposite foot.

Sensing nervousness from her girlfriend, Ruby held out her hand.

"Wanna take a little walk? The view out onto the wild spaces is incredible."

Weiss nodded, and smiled softly.

"Sounds good."

She then looked back at Ruby's older sister who was trying to rationalize things. She had left her two team mates completely out of the loop on what she was planning. She was the only one, outside of their instructor, who knew about it.

They approached the end of the plateau and looked out towards the mountains. Weiss had to agree, the view was spectacular. It made the perfect backdrop for her plan. During their short walk, she had put the box inside the pouch on her belt. So, with her remaining free hand, she looked over at her girlfriend and grabbed her free hand.

"Weiss, what is this about?"

"Ruby, I… I just…"

The younger of the two was confused by the hesitation and nervousness in her partner's voice.

"Weiss, if you're worried about this whole mission, don't worry. We'll be fine."

She then looked out over the vast expanse of forest and grassland that lay beyond the civilized zone. She was just turning around to head back when Weiss rapidly dropped onto one knee and pulled out the small box.

"Weiss?"

"Ruby, I know we started off overly aggressive towards each other. I just… I… can't picture a day going by without you in it. Please?"

"Weiss, what are you asking?"

The heiress then opened the box, revealing a stunning silver band with rubies inlaid in a black accent.

"What I'm asking is this: Ruby Rose, will you m… m… marry me?"

Ruby's face lit up in surprise at this. She leaned down to help her girlfriend off the ground. After they were both standing, Ruby reached into a pouch on her own belt and pulled out a similar box.

"Only if you do the same for me."

She opened the box. In it was a ring that was almost identical to the one Weiss was holding, but with diamonds inlaid in a blue accent. The heiress could feel a blush forming on her cheeks. The shorter woman had not expected Ruby to do this.

All of her carefully laid plans by the wayside, she leaned in towards Ruby just as the sound of a camera shutter pierced the silence. Yang continued to take pictures as the two exchanged their rings and gave each other a kiss.

As much as he loved happy events, Nero knew that they would need to have their base of operations set up before nightfall. So he cleared his throat and made an announcement.

"We need to set up someplace safe. Blake, would you grab your partner and come with me?"

The Faunus tapped her partner on the shoulder, signaling an end to the shutter-bug's photography spree. The three then went off to set up their camp, actually being able to establish a base camp this time. Once everything was in place and the perimeter had been secured, Yang pulled her scroll out and forwarded a couple of the photos to herself from Weiss' own. She wasn't going to forget this.

Back in Team JNPR's dorm, four scrolls went off simultaneously. As they all reached for their handheld devices, the notification tone stopped. They all opened them to see a single message from Yang, which had the subject "Ice Queen Dethroned". As they opened it, the images popped up on the screens, showing Ruby and Weiss exchanging rings and smiling.

When Sun appeared at their door, bringing some cold medication that Ren had requested for Pyrrha, he was slightly confused as to why they were all smiling. Then he caught a glimpse of Jaune's scroll. He handed Ren the medication before he fell over. He had never expected that to happen.

Back in their dorm, Neptune was looking at the message, when a second one showed up, also from Yang. He opened it to see the contents, a simple message that read "Someday, baby". Smiling, he leaned back and closed his eyes. He would end up napping until his scroll rang. It was Sun, calling to ask if he had seen the message from Yang.

"Yeah, dude. I saw it."

"'Oh. Okay. I just wasn't sure.'"

"Listen, Sun. Why don't we just go out and chill for a bit?"

"'Sounds good, man.'"

They then hung up the phone and Sun scooted off of his bed and into his shoes.

To be continued…

A.n./- I know. I never explained the first ring. Just shush. I made up for it with this, didn't I? Huh? Huh? HUH?