Boy, been a while, huh?
So, I wanted to get this up after I realized that I didn't properly end the arc. Sorry about that. Also, this isn't to say that I'm going to be back on a proper schedule with this story, just a few updates here or there. Once again, sorry.
I don't really know what else to say, to be honest. I'm just going to leave this chapter here for you to enjoy.
The night slowly ticked by for the group of five, slumbering away after their day of fun. The only source of light came from the outside streetlights, while the only sound came from a familiar busty blonde, whose snoring could shake the rafters. She was currently on her side, facing the room while her right arm was at full extension outward, hanging over her young friend who slept on her stomach on the floor below. Across from them, their friends Nora and Pyrrha slept, the former on the couch, more graceful than her blonde counterpart whilst the latter was on her back, parallel with the couch, her arms over her stomach, peaceful as ever.
The only slightly conscious member was sleeping on the floor by the third couch in between the group, Blake. She could sleep, she knew it, but for some reason just couldn't cross the realm just yet. It had been an hour since they all called it a night and had been less than half an hour until the faunus was sure that everybody was asleep. Despite this, she just couldn't bring herself to close her eyes just yet, contemplating everything she saw, here.
Over her short life, she had been taught that humans and faunus were different, but the same. Different in terms of body, same in terms of mind. Then, everything she had every considered to know as fact was turned upside down, that humans and faunus were never similar and they were sworn enemies. She never believed that, as she was still forced to lie to keep herself and her family safe. Eventually, that lie began to manifest and it became the truth to her. For the last few years, she had believed that humans were eviler than faunus, and some of that carried with her today…
Maybe not today…
This last week at school, she had made all human friends, and those humans were some of the nicest people she'd ever met. So accepting… Yet, she had lied to them. Blake had yet to tell them that she was a faunus and luckily Ruby had kept the secret, but how would the others react if she told them the truth? Probably confusion, fear… Maybe not so much fear, they seemed to be a very approving of faunus. These girls had been so welcoming that it once again changed her perspective again, and this time she knew it was for the better.
Though, perhaps a certain snoring blonde could use a perspective change, and not just with how she sleeps. Though, the noise did have something to do with it.
Ruby, over the last few days, had voiced concerns about Yang being very overbearing of a friend, and it showed. Whether or not it was because the brunette was the youngest of the group, or because Yang was just an oddity, but the way the blonde acted made it seem like she was trying to prove something, maybe compensating for something. One thing Blake noticed was how different Yang was in comparison to the rest of the group, clearly the blonde was being motherly, and maybe it had something to do with her own mother…
And all of this was probably why Blake was currently awake right now.
It was strange to see someone act in such a manner. When they were all kids, Velvet wasn't even that close to Ruby, and those two were practically inseparable. To see how Yang has been so motherly… was it even motherly, but seemed more than that…
…Was Yang in love with Ruby? It was a possibility, but… to be frank, Blake didn't know. She wasn't sure how other people showed or experienced or expressed love… she had only known his way…
Blake shuddered at the thought, but a snort from the blonde caught her attention long enough to ease her mind from the memory. As she eyed the blonde, ensuring she hadn't been woken up by her own noise, she noticed a stirring from the figure below, beneath the blanket. Had Ruby finally been awoken, or did she just need the flip side of the pillow? It was so hard to tell with people who slept on their belly, Blake still didn't know how her friend could do it.
Yang's arm was still out to full extension when Blake noticed a shift in the blanket, one so drastic that it caught her full attention. Ruby suddenly rose to a kneeling position, shucking the covers off of herself and knocking her back right into Yang's forearm. The blonde retracted the limb and opened her eyes by the sudden impact, locking eyes with the brunette, all as Blake silently watched.
"Ruby?" She inquired, lifting her head off the pillow, her eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness. "Oh, you alright?"
The brunette didn't respond, her eyes dim and half-covered, causing concern for Yang. Instead, she rose to her feet and turned to walk towards the stairs, all while Blake and Yang watched. Lilac and Amber orbs met, the duo unsure of what was happening but curious to say the least. Perhaps this was a bathroom break? Maybe a midnight snack? A rustling from behind the couch alerted their averted attention, where Ruby was currently slipping her shoes on.
"What the hell?" Yang asked in a low whisper, jumping off of the couch, "what are you doing?"
"It's time for school, mom…" was the simple and cryptic response. Blake reciprocated Yang's action and jumped to her feet, maneuvering around the couch just in time to see the youngest of the group rise and begin marching up the stairs. "Where's my coat?"
"What the hell is she on about?" The blonde inquired, scratching the back of her heard as she watched in disbelief.
Blake furrowed her brow and took a step onto the first stair, "I don't know… Wanna find out?" Yang nodded, causing both of them to follow closely to their friend, but not before taking a glance back to ensure they hadn't woken the other guests. Luckily, it appeared that Nora and Pyrrha were deep sleepers, so they had that going for them.
Once at the top of the stairs, they saw Ruby turn the corner into the living room, as if she was going somewhere. She was standing up straight, which made this all the stranger. "Ruby! Wait!" Yang called, rushing past the bow-wearing teen beside her and catching up with her friend, tip-toeing as she did so.
"I'm ready to leave when you are…"
"Jeez, what's your problem?" She grabbed Ruby's right shoulder and spun her around, being met with no resistance. When Yang saw Ruby's face, she knew instantly what was happening, and when Blake caught up, she saw it to. Ruby's eyes were drooping, even fluctuating between open and closed, indicating that she indeed was not entirely there. "Is… Is she sleepwalking?" The disguised faunus shrugged, never seeing that before. Though, of course, she had read something on it.
"There's only one way to find out." She said, affirmatively, "We have to play the roll we've been given."
"Huh?"
"She's obviously dreaming that she's at home with her parents and that she's about to get a ride… Your voice is her mom's right now, so…"
"Play the part, got it." Yang nodded, understanding what she had to do. Hopefully, this could work, but she had never even seen someone sleepwalk before. Sleep talk? Sure, but no this… "Ruby…" She began, her voice definitive and strong, but quiet, as well. "You don't have to go to school today if you don't want to."
It was a start, but the slumbering teen didn't seem to fall for it. Even in her sleep, she was smarter than she looked. "But why would I stay? There's nothing to do and I'll be alone?"
Both teens glanced at each other, but Blake waved the blonde on, telling her to ad lib the whole thing. There was nothing they could do except try to reason and hope. Yang placed a calm hand on Ruby's forehead, trying to go a different route, "Well I don't want you to when you have a fever, a-and I won't go anywhere until it breaks, how about that?"
"But I feel fine…"
"Damnit…" Yang whispered beneath her breath, "Just… You've been working so hard lately and I think you've earned a break, and I'm sure your teachers will understand." With bated breath, both teens watched as silver eyes slightly opened, staring up into lilac orbs until the wannabe actress continued, "You can just stay and sleep, how about that?"
"Are… You sure?"
With both hands on the brunette's shoulders, Yang sighed in relief, knowing she had Ruby right where she wanted her. Blake did the same, knowing it was over and standing behind her younger friend, ready to catch in case she drops, finally. "I'm positive. Let's head back to bed, alright? My treat." Ruby nodded and leaned forward to walk, running right into the blonde's chest and showed no signs of stopping after collision. It was surprising to Yang and Blake that Ruby could ignore the blunt force in her way enough to actually begin pushing the former down the hall. "Oh, god, what should I do?" She whispered in distress, wrapping her arms around the still moving teen while firmly planting her feet to try and resist.
"Let's lead her back downstairs, we'll get her to bed down there, alright?" Blake reasoned, stepping behind the nurse in training. "Just keep facing her, I'll guide you down from behind." Yang nodded as the bow-wearing teen maneuvered around to her back and placed a hand over the long, blonde hair and in between her shoulder blades. "When I hold your left shoulder turn left, alright?"
"My left?"
"Yes! Your left, my right."
Now that the two were squared up, Blake began to play follow the leader and guided the duo down the hall and to the staircase with ease, her night vision coming in very handy. She made sure to keep her hand firmly placed on Yang while slowly stepping down, trying not to make any form of noise to alert the others below. They had been lucky so far and neither Nora nor Pyrrha noticed yet. Ruby was also playing along very well and not making much noise at all, up until she got to the bottom stair, where she near literally kicked her shoes off into the wall, creating a loud thud and causing both older teens to panic, grabbing the top of their heads before once again turning to ensure their friends had yet to wake up.
"Man, those two sure are heavy sleepers…" Blake whispered to her hostess, who nodded and wrapped her arms around Ruby. "Let's get her back to bed before another disaster happens."
"Agreed." Yang nodded, practically dragging Ruby away, now. Blake observed with interest as the younger girl seemed to coo, her feet unable to lift themselves as her body opted for a deep rest. Finally, too. "All right, time for bed…" yang whispered, as not to disturb the others. At the words, Ruby perked up and practically threw herself onto the couch, breaking away from the nurse in trainings nearly iron grasp to the surprise of all conscious. Lilac eyes turned with a stunned look to meet amber orbs beyond the couch, the owner of the former shrugging in confusion. "I mean… I knew she wanted the couch deep down…"
"Well," Blake mimicked the shrug, her voice still low as she approached Yang. "She may have thought it was her bed, since it's about as high as hers is, now…"
"You've seen her bedroom?"
"Uh… yeah? Why?"
Yang nodded and squinted her eyes with intrigue, causing the Faunus to worry, "Alright… I… never mind, it can wait." She waved it off and picked up the comforter she once used, throwing it over the slumbering younger teen, who was now face down into the soft, golden pillow, ensuring that her friend wouldn't get sick from sleeping without warmth. Afterwards, the blonde easily jumped to the floor and set herself up on her back, easing her head into the faded red pillow behind her. Blake watched as the motion was so easy for her, then she glanced around the room and considers that this is probably her best chance to catch some sleep.
"Yang?"
"Blake?" The blonde whispered back, lifting her head as she fussed with the blanked, trying to get comfortable.
"If there's any more problems with the walking red behind you, let me know, okay?"
The hostess giggled and covered her mouth, repeating the quip the new girl just made. "Walking red…" she sighed, "I'm going to use that later."
"No, you won't." Blake instantly fired back. "Dibs."
"Damnit!" She snapped in defeat, accepting the loss. Dibs was like shotgun, once it was called, it had to be honored no matter what. Blake made the joke, she had every right to keep it for herself. Probably for the best, too, as that would definitely be something Yang would abuse, whether or not it was treated as an inside joke.
Blake smirked slyly before stepping back into her space on the floor, examining the rest of the room which was still dark, but barely lit by the street lights outside, and laid back into her pillow, intent on getting some sleep as both Pyrrha and Nora had done for last hour plus.
"Mom?"
Well, she tried, at least.
Yang jumped at the faint call from the couch beside her, still playing her role in this theater and meeting the dim silver eyes of her friend before glancing back at the group, only seeing one pair of familiar bronze orbs staring at her. "Yeah, hun? I'm here." Blake gave a thumb's up, hearing the light whisper.
"Why did you leave?"
Blake froze immediately. Did Ruby just seriously say that? Oh, god, she must've been wanting to ask her mom that since she died, and since she thinks Yang is her mom in her dream right now…
'How did I not see that coming?!'
Yang turned back and shrugged the black-haired teen behind her, who shook her head and rolled her hand around. "Uh, what do you mean?" Well, it was something, but that also could be very, very bad…
'Damnit!'
"You left and didn't come back… Where did you go?" Ruby replied, lifting her head from the pillow.
Yang, put in an unfortunate position, rubbed the back of her head and sighed. Clearly, Ruby's mom took a lot of time away from home, and this must have been something that bugged her as a kid. "Okay, well, uh… I just, you know, worked a lot, and that took me away from you. I'm sorry, hun…" She turned and faced Blake, who looked panicked and mouthed a 'sorry' to her. Yang smirked and shook her head, not even wanting an apology. How do you prepare for something like this, anyway?
"Oh… I see… Are you… Home now? For good?"
With a small smile, Yang nodded, her gaze now locked onto the heavy-lid silver eyes before her. "Yeah, I'm home, now. Go to sleep, we'll see each other in the morning." Ruby nodded, her head dropping into the pillow hard, her eyes closed and hopefully for good for tonight. Yang chuckled and shook her head, glancing at the others around her, two of whom where still very much asleep, or maybe faking it very well. Blake, however, was holding her chest and exhaling heavily, yet silently. "Crisis averted. Wasn't a total lie, right?"
"Right… Thanks, Yang."
The blonde waved her off again and leaned back, "Ah, don't worry about it. Now get some sleep, because the morning will be coming fast."
With one final glance at her neighbor, the disguised faunus nodded and agreed, her face stoic with a sense of determination. "Yeah, it will."
It was… Cold…
Not too cold, not much more than a light jacket was needed, but still, there was a chill in the air and a heavy fog along the ground.
She walked on, following a path of street lamps that she was sure was connected to a road or a path of some kind. The street lamps above were her only source of light, as the world around was shrouded in darkness- without even the light of a moon above- the sound of her footfalls echoing around and fading away. She didn't think, she didn't even begin to know where she was or how she got there, but she knew she was somewhere.
She didn't even have her usual clothes. Instead of red and black leather, she had something that she had only seen in magazines and newsprint and even some movies; A bright red two-piece set with white hearts covering the entirety of the clothes, yet she still was unable to tell just what it was called, but she knew hospital workers wore them… Hell, she'd seen Yang wear it once at a blood drive at school… What did she call them?
Scrubs… She was in red scrubs with white hearts decorated all over… But no shoes. Not even socks…
Where was she going? The farther she walked, the more awake she became, beginning to look around, but still didn't stop walking. Just, where was she? What was happening? It seemed like the answer to both was the same: Nothing…
After another minute of walking she began to hear a voice… A familiar voice, one that was feminine and mature, or at least close to being mature. It was easily recognizable, as not many people sounded like her. It was Pyrrha, but… Something was off… Her friend sounded hurt, maybe in distress? She glanced around, but the only light she had was on the path every twenty feet, or so. The rest was foggy darkness. In fact, she didn't even see the ground below her, that was covered in heavy mist, as well.
However, she could smell something… Sharp… It was a metallic stench, one that made her queasy. It was oddly familiar, too, like the smell you get when you have a nosebleed…
It that what blood smelled like? She pondered as she walked on, the voice pleading for her growing louder and the stench intensifying as she walked on the path, but she noticed that the fog began to recede, a little, allowing her to see a cobblestone path. Along the path in front of her were drops of blood. At first there were only one, maybe two drops per stone, but then it became a long line of steady, thick red liquid, then a pool, until finally the mist went away with a gust of wind, revealing…
Pyrrha Nikos… But, not the Pyrrha Ruby wanted to see… Ever.
She was on her back, her hand over right hand over her chest and her left hand shaking on the stone path, blood beginning to pool out of the cracks in the road as she writhed in pain under another lamp, all before Ruby's eyes.
"R-Ruby…" The dying teen called out, reaching her bloodied right arm to full extension with fear and sadness in her eyes.
"Pyrrha!" Ruby cried, rushing to her friend's side, tucking her left arm behind her head and lifting the badly injured girl's upper body, her right arm wrapping around Pyrrha's abdomen in order to provide extra support. "Pyrrha, what happened?"
"Help me…"
Those words… So pitiful, so sad, so helpless… Unlike Pyrrha at all, who was so strong and independent… "Wha-? How… What do I do?" Ruby pondered aloud, worried over the condition of her friend as it worsened. More and more blood began to pool around them as more blood seemed to come out of the gaping chest wound, but Ruby didn't know what was happening, nor did she know what to do. Given that, she didn't even have the materials to help.
"Help…"
Tears began to well in her eyes and a sense of panic set in. Ruby covered the wound with her hand and applied pressure, but that only made more blood come out. She pressed harder and harder, but it was no use. Pyrrha began to choke on her own blood as her organs failed, and with deep, pleading emerald orbs, she gazed into Ruby's soft, glassy silver eyes and grabbed the younger girl's hand.
"P-P-Pyrrha?"
"Why… w-won't you… help?"
"I-I don't know what to do… Pyrrha, I'm so-"
"I don't want to die…!"
"You won't, I promise!"
Emerald orbs turned stern and angry as the glared daggers into the soul of the girl looming above, the owner's face turning hateful, grinding her teeth before a nearly demonic voice boomed out: "Don't make a promise you can't keep, little girl."
She heard that before… That was something the matron used to her before…
Another set of footsteps appeared behind Ruby, heels clicking along the ground, causing her to turn. Some help, hopefully! Maybe Pyrrha would be okay! Her hopes were dashed quickly, though, as the figure behind her quickly came into the light of the lamp and revealed a familiar face with white, curly hair, standing high above, no matter how straight Ruby would ever stand.
It was Salem… The Matron of the orphanage… All she did was smirk devilishly, glance at Pyrrha- who stared with pleading look in her eyes- and shook her head with three audible tisks. "You never could do anything right…" She grabbed Ruby's short, brunette hair and yanked the girl away, forcing her to her feet and dropping a suffering friend to the ground as Pyrrha choked on her own blood. "Now, see what your failures caused!"
With a rush of energy and a racing heartbeat, Ruby jumped to a sitting position on the couch, her silver eyes wide open and tear-filled as she tried to catch her breath. Glancing around, she saw a relatively familiar space with tan carpeting and two other couches around a TV, with multiple blankets and pillows strewn about, but no other occupants. At least, that's what she thought until she heard footsteps from the staircase beyond one couch.
Throwing the covers of f of herself, Ruby was committed to finding Pyrrha making sure that gymnast was okay. That dream was all too vivid, she could smell the blood and feel her own tears. She just wanted to make sure that Pyrrha was okay, but by the time she made it to the stairs, she was blocked a familiar raven-haired teen.
"Ruby, hey!" Blake greeted with a sense of relief, and it showed for a moment, until the disguised faunus noticed just how flush her friend was and saw the glazed look in her eyes. "Woah, hey, are you okay?"
"Pyrrha." Was all the panicking teen could say, trying to get around Blake, "I need to see Pyrrha."
"Hey, hey, whoa," Blake quickly put the kibosh on that plan, wrapping her arms around the teen's shoulders and raising her eyebrows, "Calm down, take a deep breath, alright?"
"Blake, move!"
"No!" Amber eyes looked determined into concerned silver orbs, whose owner blinked at the stern words before shaking her head quickly. "Calm down. Deep breaths." Her stern demeanor yet calming words seemed to have some sort of affect over Ruby, who did as she was told and took a few deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly to calm her heart rate. The shorter brunette shook her head before opening her eyes and glancing up at her friend. "What's wrong?" Blake finally asked, knowing that there was an issue. How could there not be, after that display just now.
Ruby struggled for a moment to find her words, but figured out what to say, eventually. With Blake, she just had to be honest. "I… I… I had a dream… Just now, alright?"
"Okay…?"
"It… Pyrrha was dying… In my arms… I just need to make sure she's all right. Where is she?"
Blake sighed and shook her head with a small smile, grabbing both of Ruby's shoulders in the process before bringing her neighbor into a tight embrace. "You just missed her." The faunus said with a sigh. "Nora got called in and you slept through their whole departure."
"But she's-"
"She's tired, but she's fine. She's going home to do whatever homework she had, okay?"
With a deep sigh, Ruby finally reciprocated the embrace and nodded, "Yeah, it's fine… Thanks." The two shared their moment for a moment longer before a door closing up the stairs and another opened broke their attention, a wolf-whistle soon followed from a familiar blonde at the top of the stairs.
"Well, well!" Yang quipped with a smirk, "That's a great way to start a morning, eh, Ru?" Ruby blushed and stepped back as the hostess slid down the handrail and landed on her feet, placing a hand on her hips before examining both the stern look from Blake and the nervous look from Ruby. "What? Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, you ruined the moment." Blake quipped with a smirk that rivaled the blondes.
"Oh-ho, did I? Oh well, sorry. Maybe next time you two won't share a moment with a third wheel around? You know that's quite rude."
"So's ruining the moment that you played the third wheel to, Yang." Ruby fired back under her breath, causing the blonde to raise an eyebrow.
"Oh! Sass at seven in the morning! Isn't that a pleasant surprise?" Ruby and Blake both rolled their eyes and walked back to their original spots, the former, though, taking a second to stare at the couch, then glanced back at Yang, then the couch. "Something wrong, Ruby?"
Blake noticed how strange her friend was acting but observed silently, taking a seat on the massage-couch as the brunette spoke up. "Uh, yeah, it's just… Didn't I sleep on the floor last night…?" Now, both Blake and Yang had a chance to glance at each other, both knowing that they had been caught. "How did I end up on the couch? You didn't move me in my sleep, did you?!"
"No! No, no! Nothing like that, honest!" Yang quickly said with wide, lilac eyes, hurrying to defend herself. "It's just that, uh, well… Blake?"
Ruby turned her attention to her neighbor, who rolled her eyes and leaned into the arm of the seat, "Ruby," She began, calmly, "Have you, in the time since we've been apart from each other, had an issue with sleepwalking before?" The inquired shook her head and furrowed her brow, confused at the question. "I see." Yang maneuvered around the younger teen and sat atop the comforter, picking up the pillow alongside her at the head of the couch and lightly hugging it. "Well, then last night was a new adventure for you."
"Wait, what?"
"You were sleepwalking, Ruby." Yang bluntly said, offering the seat beside her to her friend. "About an hour or so into the sleep, you stood up, bumped into me and Blake and walked up the stairs, saying it was time for school. You even thought I was your mom."
"Wha-? Really?" The teen was clearly flustered but tried to play it off, to some varying success. "What did I say?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Yang shrugged, "Just it was time for school and Blake and I had to lure you back to bed, but you crashed on the couch." Ruby's blush deepened as she turned to her neighbor, who nodded in confirmation. "You also said asked something about… Something along the lines of: 'Why did you leave?' or 'Why didn't you come back?'."
"I… I did?" Yang nodded, causing Ruby's muscles to stiffen, visibly anxious over the revelation. "I… Didn't wake anybody else, did I?" The other two shook their head, causing her to sigh in relief. "Good, I'd hate to see what they could do to me if they knew about this…"
"Oh, trust me, they would be the least of your concerns." Ruby raised a brow silently at the blonde's retort, causing lilac orbs to turn to Blake and eventually, the former followed the gaze, as well. "Wait until you hear this."
Blake shook her head, feeling the curious and objected gazes "In time, Yang." She said, easily.
Ruby, however, started to get impatient and confused, worried that the two know something, or that she said something wrong and got herself in trouble, or worse: Embarrassed herself to Yang. "Guys? What are you hiding?"
"Oh, nothing." The bow-wearing teen chirped with a giggle, "We're not hiding anything, except keeping the Walking Red away from Pyrrha and Nora." It took Ruby a moment to glance at both girls, whose giggles softly intensified by her ignorance to the joke. After a moment, silver eyes blinked and their owner sighed with a deep blush, understanding that she had been made the butt of the joke.
"Oh, geez, guys!" Ruby whined, burying her face and sitting back in the couch as the two older teens erupted in laughter. "It's bad enough you got me sleepwalking, now you're giving me nicknames, too?!"
"Of course!" Yang chided, collecting herself, "It wouldn't be us if we didn't! But don't worry, the others won't know anything, we promise."
"Gee, I hope not." Ruby said with a relieved sigh, bringing her knees to her chest and sitting back into the couch, trying to bury her feet and keep them warm. "The last thing I need is for Pyrrha to know any of this. My god, I'll never hear the end of it!"
"Implying you'll hear the end of it with us." Blake countered, leaning back into her seat and stretching her muscles outward. "Pyrrha is the least of your concerns, now."
"Pfft, don't remind me." Ruby hid her reddening face and leaned further into the couch, hoping that the cushion would eventually turn into a portal to an alternate universe where that never happened. But, alas, no use. "But you two aren't that bad. You know when a joke has been beaten to death."
Yang nodded and smirked, placing a caring hand on her younger friends' shoulder. "And lucky for you, this one is primed and ready for a beating!" Ruby audibly groaned and leaned forward, causing both to chuckle, but Yang wanted to take the coming silence to ask a question, one she'd needed an answer to since last night. Hopefully, Blake didn't have anything to add, because something that Ruby both said and did caught her attention and not in the best of ways.
Once the last chuckle fit had ended, as if on cue, silence overtook the room. Yang took this time to her advantage and nudged the pajama wearing teen beside her. "Hey, come on," She egged on, "We won't be so bad."
"Speak for yourself."
"Okay, I won't be so bad, Blake will be sassy though." Amber eyes glared daggers for a moment, but their owner knew that, in all actuality, Yang was right. The blonde returned her attention to silver orbs that were blankly staring, waiting for another joke, but it never came. Instead… "Can I ask you something, Ru? About something you said last night?"
Ruby took a minute, eyed Blake in a way that spoke that she was asking for help, but the disguised faunus couldn't do anything to stop this. Ball was in her court and she knew she was more than welcomed to say no. "I… Guess? You'd have to refresh my memory."
"Sure. Like I said, I played the role of your mom in your sleepwalking, and you asked me why I left… What did you mean?"
Silver eyes blinked before going wide, a look of surprise on her face. Yang said she heard that but Ruby had hoped that she wouldn't have touched that subject just yet. She knew exactly what it meant, and it had something to do with…
Her…
"Well…" She tentatively began, bringing up her knees to her chest and sitting back in the couch. Both older teens eyed each other curiously, Blake wondering just how her friend would recover from this. "See, it could be because when I was a kid, and my mom worked at the hospital, she would leave at random times… I'm sure you know what that is like."
Yang shrugged easily, "Kinda? My dad normally didn't get called in unless it was an absolute emergency. He liked spending more time with me, as much as he could, you know?"
"O-oh, I see. Well, she got called in a lot and… It hurt. One day, when I was little, I stayed up for as long as I could and when she got back, I asked her why she left. I knew what she did was important, but…"
"Nothing's as important as spending time with family." Yang interjected, "I think I can understand." Ruby sighed, happy that her story could hold over for a while longer. It wasn't exactly a lie, but it wasn't nearly the truth, either. She was just happy she got away with it for right now, and she knew she did since Yang was checking for the time. "Welp, girls, it is very early for a Sunday… What do ya wanna do?"
Both red and black-themed teens eyed each other and shrugged, the former opting to speak on the behalf of both. "What else can we do that we haven't already done?"
"Well-?"
"That's PG-Thirteen, Yang." The brunette deadpanned, though the hostess didn't seem to lose composure or resolve.
The blonde clapped with an audible laugh, "Still plenty of options!" She said, causing her younger compatriot to blush, "You played yourself, kiddo!"
The clock struck eleven and the trio had just about had it for a weekend. Ruby and Blake had changed out into their new clothes and packed their bags for when they wanted to leave, they didn't have to do anything. It would be all set up for them.
Still, the trio was puzzled. They didn't have much to do that wouldn't take up a whole lot of time, and all three were still tired from their late night and early morning shenanigans, and with Taiyang's imminent arrival, the group decided that the best course of action was to just kick back and relax. They all played a racing game split-screen and jokingly insulted each other for their luck and misfortune, but it was all in good fun.
At eleven, well after Taiyang had returned home and retreated to his bed for a rest, Ruby and Blake determined that it would be best for them to leave as not to run the risk of disturbing the hostess' father. Yang, reluctantly, agreed and followed the duo out.
"Well, Blake?" Yang whispered halfway up the stairs, "What did you think? Like the group you're with?"
The bow-wearing teen nodded with a smirk as she made it to the top of the stairs. "You're all an interesting bunch. Thanks for the fun night."
"Interesting, huh? Well, it can't be helped." Yang shrugged, "Though, I'm gonna try and move away from 'interesting' and into something else, something with a more friendly connotation."
"Something tells me that would be easy." Ruby quipped, heading into the garage. The older teens followed suit and out into the real world, where the sun was trying to peak through a light cloud line. "This was fun, Yang. Let's do it again, sometime."
"Yeah, next time we'll raid your apartments!" Both girls gave the blonde a deadpanned look, causing her to retract her comment, "Okay, fine, we'll do something else, then." The duo happily nodded in agreement and walked back to the black, beat-up car behind them. Stuffing their bags in the back seat and maneuvering to their respectful positions. Blake as driver and Ruby as passenger.
"Well, that was… Interesting." Blake commented, turning her car over. She waved to Yang one last time before backing down the drive, her passenger giving a small wave to her former hostess as well. "Not at all what I was expecting out of you all."
"What did you expect?" Ruby inquired, quizzically as she fastened her seatbelt. "A bunch of teen girls sitting around the bed, talking about boys and having pillow fights?"
"With Nora in the room? That doesn't sound like the best move…"
With a raised brow, the passenger smirked at the comment and chuckled, "No, it is not. Hence why we don't do it. Did you at least have fun?"
"Genuinely, yes. I was being honest when I said that back there, too, you all are an interesting bunch, that's for sure." She said, putting the vehicle into drive and maneuvering down the slim street. She remembered how she got here and just how to get out, as well. She noticed how quiet her friend was being and decided to push. "Penny for your thoughts?"
"How about a buck?"
"How about I'm giving you a ride home for free?"
"Oh, I see."
"Come on, somethings on your mind."
Ruby sighed and shook her head, "Yeah, a few things. I've got a ton of things to do when I get home."
"Ah, all that homework, eh?"
"What? No, I do that before I leave for these, usually. Sometimes I stay all into Sunday night. No, I have laundry, I have to check in with Neo…"
"And it's not even noon."
"Keep laughing, Blake, one of these days you'll understand."
"I hope not… That's not the only thing on your mind, is it?" By Ruby's reaction, Blake realized that she had gotten her friend backed into a corner. She knew, too, it had been the thing eating at her friend since they broke the news to her.
"No, that's not it…" Ruby deadpanned with a heavy sigh. "Can I be honest?"
"I'd be offended if you weren't."
"This whole sleepwalking thing has me all turned around… Honestly, I'm afraid I may have blown my cover… Pretty embarrassing to know how far I got, too. It almost turned into disaster real fast."
"Nah." The driver shook her head with a smirk, "I was having a tough time sleeping so, had Yang not woken up, I'd have gotten you."
"Why didn't you two just wake me up?"
"And run that risk? Okay, sure. Ever heard the old saying 'Never wake someone up when their sleepwalking'?"
Ruby shook her head and smiled softly, closing her eyes as she did so. She knew the answer was true, though she didn't care. Whatever aftereffects were to be had, she would gladly take them if it meant she didn't embarrass herself further. Oh well, at least it was Yang. "Hey, Blake?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for covering for me back there… With your story?"
The faunus waved off the notion as she blew through every green light possible, her luck never seeming to end as the lanes before her were clear and the timing was perfect to where she barely had to slow down before the red lights turned. "I scratch your back." She said, pointing her bow, "You scratched mine."
Ruby walked down the hall of the third story of the complex, alone. Blake kept downstairs near her car, saying that she had to do something, but wouldn't disclose just what. Needless to say, she was acting odd, but then again, after finding a friend sleepwalking, who wouldn't be acting weird?
With a heavy and exhausted sigh, Ruby closed her door and rested her head upon the plank once it had clicked shut. As much as she wanted to stay true to her words and take a nap, but she just had too much to do. First and foremost, she had laundry. Then she had to meet with Neo, then she had to do her homework and then if she was lucky it'll be nighttime and she can just go to bed for the night. For some reason, she felt disappointed at an odd, but all too familiar silence… Almost as if she was expecting something, but she didn't know what. Or who.
Shaking herself free of that thought, she returned to her current dilemma. It wasn't that she didn't get a lot of sleep last night… Or this morning, really. She slept great and felt fine, but was nervous to know about her escapades the night prior. Just how long had she been doing this? Maybe Neo would know the answer, if there even was one? At least Blake was there to stop her from blowing her cover. The duo surely had a symbiotic relationship now where they are covering for each other's stories.
… But just how much of a lie was Blake's? She went off and told as much of the truth as she could without outing Ruby… It wasn't fair to make the faunus lie like that, just to cover for her, and Ruby knew that. It was easy to ask Velvet and Coco to do it, they were used to it, but Blake?
She shook the thoughts free, trying to rid herself of the guilt and finally picked up her backpack again after another few moments of rest and staggered into her room, flipping on the light after noticing a familiar darkness. She must have closed the curtains before… Wait, no she didn't? She left those wide open all weekend. Once her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed three crucial things instantly:
First, her bed was made, neatly and cleanly. Her pillows were all centered at the head of the bed with a note on it. On the other end at the foot of her bed, lay a stack of books and papers alongside a basket filled with folded clothes and towels, which let her see for once just what color her carpeting was under her feet. Someone cleaned up for her, and the marks in the floor indicated that somebody vacuumed, too. But who? And why?
Perhaps the note could answer these questions.
Dropping her bag to the floor, she rushed to her pillow where a loose-leaf piece of paper sat, waiting patiently with writing literally all over it. Picking up the paper, Ruby stood beside her bed as she quietly read to herself.
'Dear Ruby,
I hope you all had fun last night. I wanted to see you off, but I wasn't able to do so. I decided to give you a helping hand and I did your laundry for you. Seriously, you need to clean your room up a little more, that mess was ridiculous.
Also, I took the liberty of refilling your fridge for you. You can thank me later.
-Neo.
P.S. Since the banking is done, you're clear to work for today. I'll be up later to check on you.
With a small smile, Ruby shook her head and set down the note, picking up the basket and setting it on the ground at the foot of her bed, intent on putting the clothes away after a quick power nap. All the while thinking just how fortunate she was for her friends.
Lilac eyes woke up to the noise of the doorbell, a loud set of footsteps quickly approaching the door. She rubbed her face before turning over to see her alarm clock, noting the time. She had a Ruby-style powernap (as she liked to call it, merely out of jest) at about noon, and felt pretty refreshed. Ruby always said there was a reason for her naps after school, that must have been it.
She heard more footsteps walk in while voices stayed quiet, presumably to ensure that she doesn't wake up. Too late, of course. Sitting up in her bed, Yang calmly exhaled and began to focus her mind before hopping to the side of her bed, exposing her legs and allowing bare feet to hit the floor. Usually, her sleeping attire consisted of nothing, but today was different for all sorts of ways. She was dressed in the same attire that she wore this morning when her friends were still over: A yellow tank that left her midriff exposed and still allowed her to show off her assets, while a black bottom accompanied her.
She heard the murmurs and clamber of feet softly move away from her room, the scooting of chairs on tile was what followed next, leading her to believe that the guests had made their way to the kitchen. Who could this be, unannounced on a Sunday morn… Afternoon? Well, only one way to find out.
Yang rose to her feet and stretched her muscles, smiling as all the feeling of tired left her body and her bones and joints popping under the pressure. After this, she should go and work out, she's loose enough for it. Once ready, she turned towards her door and walked out into the brisk hall. Something in the back of her mind told her to go put more clothes on, but she pushed those thoughts away. Whoever it was would have to live with the fact that she was comfortable with what she was. As she walked out of the hall and into the family room, she saw the backs of two oddly familiar people, instantly knowing exactly who was here.
Walking out, she met the familiar eyes of her father, his face softening at the sight of her while the two guests draped in black slowly turned to face her. Both the man and the woman had red-eyes, the man had a light beard that put Taiyang's to shame, while the woman with long, black hair and a red bandana keeping her hair back. The man smirked and nodded, while the woman turned away.
"Hello, sweetheart." The red-eyed man greeted, "Sleep well?"
"Well enough." She smiled back, offering the man a hug from his seated position, "How're you doing?"
"I'm fine, dear, just fine." He replied with a smile as Yang bent down to embrace him for only a moment before standing tall again, ignoring the woman seated to her left.
"So, what's with the super-secret illuminati-esque meeting?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Qrow quipped, only to be stopped by the doctor across the table. "What? I'm just joking."
"I thought you said she wasn't going to be involved, Tai?" The black-haired woman inquired with a hint of annoyance, though Yang shrugged it off and walked to a seat at the end of the table, dropping herself in and forcing herself into the conversation. Her place or not, something that involved her mother and uncle and father needed to involve her now.
"It's okay, Raven." Taiyang reasoned carefully, "She's right, though, my original intent was to do this while you slept, but I can see that's no longer an option. Besides, it might be best if she knows."
With a confused glance around the table, the blonde slightly shook her head and leaned back in her chair. "What do you mean? What's this about?"
The question was directed towards the two guests, both shrugged while Qrow spoke first, "Gotta ask him. He brought us here." Now, more intrigued than ever, Yang turned her attention towards her father, who looked physically stiff. The blonde man was silent for the most part, seemingly finding his words to describe his intentions.
"Yang." Tai admonished, "Your friend, Ruby, did she… Seem familiar when you first met?"
"What do you mean?" Yang asked in confusion. What the hell kind of question was that? When she met Ruby last year, all she found was a new friend. She couldn't recall any feeling that they may have known each other… "No, she didn't seem familiar. She just seemed like a shy kid who needed a friend. Why?"
"Well, it's just… Uhg, how do I put this?"
"With the truth, Taiyang." Raven sighed, shaking her head as she did so, only to turn away from the daggers being glared from her daughter. "Tell us the truth."
"Well, Yang, when you were a baby and after your mother left, a friend of ours came to live with us and help me raise you. Her name was Summer. Do you remember anything now?" Closing her eyes, Yang tried and tried to recall anything that her father explained, but found nothing, forcing herself to shake her head. "That's okay, you were probably four when we fell apart…"
"Dad, what are you talking about?"
"It's a very long story, Yang-"
Raven put her foot down, as well as her fist and growled at the man before her, "Well make it shorter then, and tell us what we're doing here!"
"Mom!"
"No, Yang!" Taiyang exclaimed harshly, holding a lone finger to his daughter's face. "She's right. As much as it pains me to say it… There's no point to hiding it from you any longer…" He turned and faced worried lilac eyes while two sets of red-eyes continued to watch in silence. "Listen, Yang, there's something about your friend that you need to know. I never would have realized it by name alone, as their surname is rather popular in our kingdom, but once I saw Ruby's face… I knew it had to be true."
"What had to be true? … Dad?"
He smiled lightly before opening his eyes, glancing back at his daughter with sorrow or maybe hope, "How would you like to know more about your family?"
Well, that's an interesting development. So it seems as though Tai knows something. Let's see if his theory is true.
Poor Ruby, promised by her mom that she'd be home but found nothing. Oh well, at least she couldn't comprehend that. Here's a tip, 9 times out of ten, someone whose sleepwalking isn't going to remember something you tell them while their walking, which is why she didn't remember any of it. To her, it was just another forgettable dream. Still, didn't seem like it affected her too much.
Not much else happened, here. Right now I just wanted to end the chapter and in turn, the arc as well. If I ever get back into this, the next arc is consisting more focus around the intermediate group with a bit more focus on after-school shenanigans. Who knows, Weiss may even be a contender, soon, too.
That being said, I hoped you all enjoyed and I thank you for your patience. I know not many people care about the story, but for those of you who do care and read this story at any point, I deeply thank you. I'm actually starting on my own book series, which is why I've been so distant with all of this. One story at a time, otherwise you get burned out. Actually, this chapter was a break for me. If it goes over well enough, that'll give me the boost I need for later. Your review would be appreciated, and should any update be needed for this, I'll be sure to post it for you all.
Once again, thanks for reading.
Until Next Time.