Yang's PoV

My fist was raised and just inches from the door. It wouldn't move. I stared hard at the door. Was I really going to go through with this? After the way I treated her, the look of hurt in her eyes. Does she even want to see me? With a sigh, my hand fell to my side.

"Yang?" It was her. She has just come up from the stairs and had seen me down the narrow hallway. My palms sweat.

"H-hey Rubes. How's it goin'?" My voice was weak. I cursed myself.

"I just got off work… would you like to come in?" She was standing next to me at her door.

My head said no, but my heart said I had to. "I'd love to."

She knew what I was thinking. I could see it in her face. I hated myself. The hurt, the betrayal in her silver eyes. Those silver eyes that would always be filled with joy and mirth.

Ruby let me in anyway. "Can I get you anything?"

"No thanks… listen, Ruby. I just… I-We need to talk."

She nodded and motioned for me to take a seat.

"I guess. I want to apologize to you for the… hurt I've inflicted on you." I tried my best to remain composed.

She smiled, "Pyrrha?"

I lost it. "Damn it Ruby! I want to apologize. I want to go back to how we were. To when I wasn't afraid of my little sister. I do. I know I shouldn't be scared of you. I know that! But I just- I just can't! I don't know how!" Hot tears had leaked from my eyes. "I don't know what to do Ruby! I see you, and I shake! I have nightmares about you! I want to hug you but my body says to run! It's not supposed to be like that! You're a hero! You were a hero at Beacon! You're a hero in the hospital!" My voice croaked and I dropped to a whisper. "Why do I fear you?"

A small hand was placed on my back. I froze. My heart started racing. I could feel the adrenaline being released into my blood. But then, her hand rubbed along my back. I melted. The fear, the panic, it went away. I looked at her. Her face was loving, patient, and understanding.

My lip quivered and I threw myself onto her. I wrapped my arms around her and sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She gently rocked me, "Shh. It's not your fault. It's not your fault." One of her hands gently ran through my hair. For the first time in forever, I wasn't afraid of her.

It's stupid. This is all it took for my fears to go away. A simple, comforting touch, and all my worries washed away. I guess that's just how she is. She's a healer and a leader, and she was very good at her job.

Third person

"You seem to be in a good mood. Something happen?" Yang was more lively than usual. As though a weight had been lifted and she could barely keep herself grounded. It was nice, her joy was infectious.

"I made up with Ruby. We're going out to lunch this afternoon to catch up." Weiss scoffed, something she seems to do a lot whenever her partner was brought up. "Is there problem, Weiss?" An underlying threat to her words.

"Not at all, it's just so typical of her to go out with a girl."

"Weiss!" Blake interjected, glaring at the heiress. "Don't listen to her, Yang. It's great that you're going to meet up with your sister… tell her I said hi."

"Will do." Yang waved as she left the room. As soon as the door closed, Blake turned to Weiss with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

"What's your problem? Why do you hate Ruby?"

"You mean besides the fact that she's a monster? Well, she's a lesbian and she was on our team. Who's to say she didn't, y'know, do something. Besides, you hated her too, what changed? Did her saying she missed you shift something in you?" Weiss narrowed her eyes at the faunus. "You should detest her too, after all those faunus she killed. They were your brethren at some point."

"First of all, she was a great and selfless leader. Yes, seeing her in that state was scary, but Pyrrha is right. Why should that one thing completely throw everything else she's done for use out like yesterday's trash. Heck, even her entering that crazed state was because she was sacrificing herself for us to get away. Did you forget that? And secondly, who cares if she likes girls? That shouldn't matter in the least. She wouldn't do anything like you so impishly implied. It's like you don't even know her. She's a good girl. She would never do anything like that. Thirdly, yes I was part of the White Fang, when it was not a terrorist organization. I left them. They no longer stood for what I believed in and they wouldn't hesitate to cut down anyone in their way, faunus or not." Blake had unfolded her arms and took on a almost disgusted look. Seriously, why was Weiss so against Ruby?

"Whatever, she lied to us and threatened us. It's unforgivable to attack one's friends." Weiss sniffed and placed her nose in the air.

"Her semblance is speed, acceleration. Don't you think that if she wanted to hurt us, she would have done so the moment she walked in? No, I believe she came to us for help. And we treated her like a monster." Blake scrunched her nose. "We're the real monsters. We couldn't look past what she did. It's taken her years to finally come back to us, and we shut her down completely. She's so traumatized by what she did, she's a total pacifist now. She's no longer that loved her scythe and weapons more than people." Weiss returned her head to its resting position. "I read that she had some else kill the parasites inside one of her patients. Grimm, she wouldn't kill a Grimm. Yet, we're still scared of her."

Weiss had no rebuttal, Blake was right. It was unfair, but the world is never fair. She had trusted Ruby, and girl turned out to be worse than her father. "Whatever." The heiress turned away from Blake, signalling that the conversation was over.

"You're insufferable. She's the only one that never had any qualms with you." Blake left Weiss to be alone.

Third person

"I'm pretty popular with the ladies." Ruby sipped her strawberry shake.

"Oh yeah? How many girls have you dated?" Yang waved a fry in the air before sticking in her mouth.

"I've had fourteen over the time I've been gone, but they always break it off. They never give me a truthful reason either. They lie when they tell me."

Yang whistled, "Wow, you're quite the lady killer, you're pretty open about it too." She took a bite of her double cheese burger. She raised a brow, "How'd you know they lied to you?"

"Microexpressions. They are involuntary movements and express what the person is truly thinking and feeling." Ruby dipped a fry in her shake.

"You're so smart. I'm so proud of my little sis! All doctory and stuff!" Yang wiped away an invisible tear with a sisterly smile. "Oh yeah, why are you so open with yourself. Like, you only tell the truth. Isn't that hard?"

"Lies hurt." Ruby dipped a chicken nugget in barbecue sauce.

"That's it? I thought the saying was that the truth hurts."

"The truth's pain is not as long lasting as a lie's. Pain from lies can last for years and even though generations."

"Huh." Yang slurped from her soda. "Alright, back to the more important topic. Have you ever, you know, done it with someone." She leaned in, her voice a whisper.

"Five. Not at the same time. I was in a steady relationship with the one I had sex with. The other nine that I got with, never got that serious."

Yang leaned back in shock. She didn't know if she should be proud, furious, or shocked. A little bit of all, perhaps? "I, uh… don't know what to say… do you like anyone right now? Y'know like, want to get with them."

"There's three woman I've become acquainted with. They're all pretty, and I think they might like me, but only one really has my eye. Her name's Neo, and I met her through Roman."

"Roman, as in that salon owner downtown? You're friends with him?" Yang raised a skeptical eye.

"Yup, I gave him the loan to start his business."

Yang nearly spat out her drink. "You what?"

"Gave him the money to start off his salon."

"By yourself? Are you that loaded!"

"Yeah, being a jack of many trades certainly brings in the dough. We've been talking about me this whole time. Let's talk about something else. How's JNPR?"

"They're fine I guess. I heard Pyrrha has kept in touch with you."

"Yeah, she's such a sweetheart. Too precious for this world." Yang laughed. "And you, what have you been doing all this time?"

Yang gulped and looked away. "I… I don't want to talk about it…"

That's fine, Ruby's tone was as happy as ever. Not damaged in the slightest from the rejection. "What about your love life." An evil grin spread across her features.

"C-come on Ruby, you know me. I'm too good for everyone."

"Uh-huh. You know, your face says differently. Is it boy?" Yang's mouth pulled back ever so slightly. "Not a boy then, a girl? Who is it? Is it Blake? I always thought there was something going on between you two." Yang's eyebrows twitched upwards. "Surprise. Did I get it right?"

Yang broke. "She's cute, ok? Her little cat ears and her mysterious nature. It just does things to me. I can't handle it! And when she smiles! I just! Ahhh!"

Ruby giggled. "You're a hopeless romantic, you know that?"

"Yeah, I know." Yang grumbled and took an angry bite from her burger.

"You haven't told her, then. You're scared that it would ruin your relationship with her." They weren't questions. Just calculated observations. "It must be hard falling for a close friend."

"You have no idea… um, Ruby. I wanted to ask you something. It's probably a sensitive subject. But… well… do you go out and get piss drunk whenever you're depressed?"

Ruby stared into her shake, "Yes. I do."

"Why?"

"In all honesty, Yang. I don't really want to be alive."

Yang's heart broke. "Is it… is it our fault?" She didn't want to know the answer.

"Yes." Yang winced on the inside. It was a painful grasp on her crushed heart. Her baby sister was telling her that she didn't want to live anymore and it's her fault.

Neo's PoV

I stood before the door. It never seemed so intimidating before, but then again, I wasn't alone before. I had others that would help spread the Rose's attention. Now, it would just be me. Fond memories of they went on the first time she came over replayed over in my mind. With a deep breath, knocked on the door. It seemed like an eternity. I glanced at the red roses in my hand. It was such a stupid idea, but Roman said it'd be great, so here they are. It was strange, I had this strong prompting to come and see her. I don't know where it came from, but I wasn't going to argue.

Finally, the door opened. She was in a silky red robe, water dripping from her hair. A warm smile directed towards me. My mouth ran dry and my heart fluttered. "Sorry, just got out of the shower. Come in, I'll go get changed." I nodded dumbly and stepped inside. Again, I was amazed the the luxury of her place. I don't think I'll ever get over it. Gawking like a preschooler in a candy shop, I took everything in for the… third time? My body was on autopilot as I sat down on the couch, my attention on the room. I hadn't waited long. This wait didn't seem like the other one with the door. She had overcome the biggest obstacle. The rest should be a breeze, right?

"It's always a pleasure to see you." She had such a sincere smile. It made me feel so warm. "Are those for me?" Her hand waved at the bouquet of roses in my hand. I had completely forgotten about them! Suddenly feeling shy, I looked away and nodded.

I didn't see her come over. Gentle arms wrapped around me so sweetly.

The air smelled of cherry. I rather like cherry.

It's hard to have a silent conversation without eyes, so I willed myself to face her. So close! Her face was just centimeters from mine. Like her flat, I'll never get over this rush of having her so close to me. You'd think that after those, two? Three? Kisses she gave me the first time meeting me, I'd have mellowed out. It was quite the opposite. All I could think about was the numbing joy I felt with her lips on mine. The sweet breath against my lips when we broke apart. Her soft, warm lips that could captivate anyone. It wasn't helping!

"Thank you. They're lovely. You know, it may seem rather cliche, but I like roses. I found them so pretty, but they pale in comparison to you." She pulled away and winked at me. My mind shut down. I didn't know what to do! She's such a tease!

She placed my gift of flowers in a beautiful vase with water and some kind of powder to make them last longer, or something. "I'll cherish them just as I cherish your company." Stop! But actually, don't. You don't know what you do to me with your flirting! My heart's racing, it's a good thing you're a doctor because if you keep it up, I'll have a heart attack.

"Do you want to do something? Since you're here and all, I mean, I just… well… I want to spend some time with you." I don't know what I like better. The confident, flirtatious Ruby, or the shy, meek Ruby. I mean. They're both good. Great even!

My chance for a counterattack has been served on a silver platter, and I intend to enjoy it. "My, my, are you asking me on a date? You're so bold. I smirked. It was a bit odd seeing how I was the one to come here with the flowers to ask her out. Instead, it was her asking me out in her place after I have her flowers. Still, the effect was the same.

"Well, I mean… yeah. I like you. Really like you. I see you and I can feel the warmth of the sun in my heart. That's the only way I can explain it…" and here I was thinking I had the upper hand… her blushing cheeks and shy expressions just… It took everything I had not to tackle her and just kiss her! She was too cute!

"I'd love to. I mean, I came here to ask you on a date, but I guess you were a step ahead of me." She grinned, I smiled. It seems we're on the same page.

She looked away for a second, she seemed to be debating something in her head. "You know, I was about to go get drunk… again. That seems to happen a lot lately. I'm so happy you came. All my sorrow, all my sadness. It just vanished when I saw you in my doorway." She bit her bottom lip, it wasn't meant to be sexy, but… I'm hopeless.

"Thank you." Her smiles. Her bright, sunny smiles! They put the stars to shame. The sun. It has to compete for its spot against her! And that's just one of the many things that I love about her.