She looked for Weiss next, as Ruby was still making herself scarce. Surprisingly, Weiss found her instead.

"You seem to have forgotten that I was her partner first, and will be when this is over. I am perfectly capable of advising you on all matters that concern Ruby."

Blake couldn't really deny her that.

They sat together on a small bench on the edge of campus, where a row of small trees kept them largely hidden from anyone else. Weiss let out a weary sigh before she said anything further.

"It only happened once since we got here, and luckily it wasn't until a year into our partnership."

"Luckily?"

Weiss scoffed. "Could you imagine if it was earlier? I was so blinded by my father, and the nicest thing he would call Ruby would be more offensive than I dare say. Had I discovered her orientation any sooner, I would have ruined our relationship forever."

"Ruby is very forgiving."

"Yes, but you should know better than anyone that some lines can only be crossed once."

She did know that, and apparently hadn't been as aware of Weiss' growth as she should have.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"That's why we're having this conversation, Blake. But you cannot tell Yang. That was the condition Ruby set, and you will have to meet it."

Blake was curious, but concerned. If her leader had just wanted to keep her sister from worrying, wouldn't she have asked the same of Blake after their talk? Had this event really been that bad?

"I promise."

Weiss nodded. "Good. I don't know if you recall, but on our first mission as partners instead of a team, Ruby and I's airship was delayed for two days. We ended up staying in the local inn, which was unhygienic but better than the woods. There was a waitress who was being...exceptionally friendly, especially considering it was already ten at night.

I didn't think anything of it, bur Ruby got the hint. She left our room again shortly after we set up, and I blamed it on her speed requiring high calorie consumption. She didn't return until it was nearing midnight."

"...What happened?"

The heiress shook her head just a bit, and looked as though the memory was a very uncomfortable one.

"Weiss?"

"Ah- Right. Sorry. I had turned in early, and that was a mistake. Ruby has always been weak to her swet tooth, and the waitress had happily kept her supplied with a local apple cider. Of course, she failed to mention that it was alcoholic. Her plan was to get Ruby drunk and take her upstairs to...to..."

Weiss quit trying to get the words out, and swallowed the lump in her throat. She took a deep breath and let it out, but it was shaky.

"They got all the way up to her door before Ruby figured out something was wrong. If she didn't have the metabolism she does, I'm not sure she would have been so lucky. When she came back to our room, she was terrified. I was woken up so suddenly, I could barely understand a thing she said. It was the most scared I've ever seen her."

No wonder she didn't want Yang to know. Ruby was still seventeen back then, not old enough to consent or drink. If the brawler found out someone tried to...

The entire town would be ash.

"Ruby was not in good condition after that. I reported it to the owners, but she didn't want authorities involved. We camped out for the last day, and spent many of our study sessions talking after we returned to Beacon."

She and Yang had no idea. Seemingly that was what Ruby wanted, but that didn't make Blake feel any better about it. Being in the White Fang had made her familiar with many people who had been taken advantage of, but she hadn't even thought it could happen to Ruby.

"I hope you realize what I will do to you if you hurt her."

Blake's eyes widened. "What?"

Weiss just quirked an eyebrow. "You think it's not obvious? If you are pursuing her, you must commit to her happiness."

Her throat had clogged. Pursuing her? "I'm not trying to date her, Weiss."

The girl looked a bit shocked. "...Oh. Sorry to assume."

"What exactly made you think I was?"

"Ah, well...You two seem to be getting along quite well, and I may have heard one too many of Yang's theories on why."

Yang seemed dead set on getting her a love life, but why she was so certain it would be with Ruby?

"Has Ruby said anything about me?"

"I thought you weren't interested."

Blake felt her cheeks heat up a bit. "I just...If she has, I don't want to hurt her."

Weiss gave her a look that was understanding, but rather sad. "She hasn't said anything, no. Unfortunate, you'd make a good pair."

"Are you actually matchmaking right now?"

The fencer smiled. "Just teasing. Though I have to ask, do you know what happened this time around?"

It had completely slipped her mind. Yang said that something there must have been something, but Ruby hadn't said anything if there was.

"No, I don't. She didn't even mean to tell me anything, and what she did say could've been from any time."

Weiss scratched at her chin a bit in contemplation. "I suppose you will have to ask Ruby herself. That is, assuming there was anyone."

Confrontation was far from Blake's strong suit, and though it wasn't exactly what this was it still felt daunting. What if Ruby hated her for going behind her back on this? Not that Ruby seemed to hate anyone, but Blake was more in a state of anxiety than logic.

No matter the turn out, it would not be an easy conversation.

Being found by two of the three people she looked for that day was not very complimentary of her tracking skills. She was walking past the gym when Ruby nearly collided with her, panting heavily.

"Blake!" She exclaimed, but the faunas didn't hear it.

Ruby had clearly stopped mid workout, and it was just as horribly distracting as the first time. Her shirt was glued to her body, and sweat rolled down her neck. Weiss would have the smuggest look if she saw this, and Yang would be even worse. Blake suddenly jolted to life, realizing she was supposed to have said something instead of just ogling her leader.

"Er- Ah- Ruby!"

Smooth.

The younger girl gave her a bit of an odd look, but continued, "Err, can we talk? I told Yang to take Weiss somewhere so we can have the dorm."

Blake cleared her throat, finding it rather dry. "Right. Yes. Let's go."

Sometimes she honestly wondered how she managed to speak to anyone. She didn't even try on the walk to their room, and they ended up with a rather awkward silence. Not that Blake trying to talk to a Ruby in workout clothes still damp and clinging would have been any less awkward, of course. Luckily the walk was short, and once the door closed they had their privacy.

It took a few more uncomfortable seconds before Ruby started talking. "I, um...wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have just dumped all that stuff on you the other night, and then I felt so bad I didn't talk to you right away..."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not. You don't need my problems on your mind."

"Ruby, I care about you. I want to help."

Her leaders expression looked pained, but her cheeks were a tad red. "You deserve so much better than me, Blake."

"There is no one better."

"Don't do this to me."

Amber eyes narrowed. "Don't do what?"

"I know you, and I know you went straight to Yang. Don't tell me you can't figure this out."

"Tell me."

"Don't make me think I have a chance, Blake."

Oh. Well. There it was. Out in the open.

To be honest, Blake didn't really have any experience with romance. Romance novels, sure, but she had never really gone through it herself. The closest was Adam, and she never felt for him what he claimed to for her. Ruby, though...

Attraction was one thing. She found Yang attractive. Weiss, too. Beacon was full of attractive people. Ruby was...something else. Maybe something more. She was taking too long to respond, now. The silence was ugly, and her partners expression was getting worse by the second. She had to say something, but she also needed to get out of this room. Just leaving was not an option, hurting Ruby was not an option.

She would have to be honest about something she wasn't entirely ready to face.

"...You do. Have a chance."

And then she ran.