"Work it harder
Make it better
Move it faster
Makes us stronger.
More than ever
Hour after hour
Work is never over."
Penny was a surprisingly good pick for an opening act. The sister's hadn't told Weiss the entire story of how they came to find her, but Yang had grown very red. It probably wasn't a good idea to get involved.
The green eyed girl did not have a band. She played all of her songs on her own. Back straight and face hidden, she stood alone on the stage. A keyboard on one side and a soundboard on the other. The digital mask she wore over her face distorted her singing, making her already disconnected voice even more robotic.
Weiss thought back to when she performed on her own. Grand auditoriums filled to the brim with people. She never sang during those concerts. Her fingers danced across her piano, face remaining stoic. It was lonely. Weiss wondered if Penny was lonely up on that stage by herself.
Most of her speculation was a distraction as she warmed up her voice. Not a very good one, but one that kept her from falling apart at the seams. To say she was nervous was an understatement. Though the entire day before had been spent practicing, she could hear her her heart beating hard in her chest. Her blood felt like ice as it carved it's way through her veins.
She wasn't the only one. Ruby stood at her right side, her breath coming in sharp gasps as she watched Penny. They were all backstage, waiting their turn in the dark. Blake sat on her guitar case in the corner, staring at her hands and ignoring the world around her. Yang, the only one being productive, was checking their equipment and a couple of other devices that Weiss didn't recognize.
"H-How are we supposed to compete with her!? I didn't know she was gonna be this good, I promise!" Ruby squeaked nervously. She spoke so fast that Weiss could hardly understand.
Not that the pale woman showed it. She continued her warm ups. Her voice climbed up and down the pentatonic scale deftly. Bright blue eyes stayed locked on the woman on stage and shaking pale hands were curled into fists behind her back.
Yang wandered over, giving both of them concerned looks. "Are you guys okay?"
"They're gonna hate us!" Ruby wailed, wrapping her arms around her sister. "We fucked up Yang! Penny's too good. We should've had Jaune open for us!"
Yang smiled slightly and squeezed her gently. "We'll be fine Ruby. Remember how great we were when it was just us? Now we have two more amazing people to make us even better." Weiss watched as the silver eyed woman's shaking started to slow. "And I think one of those amazing people could use your help." Yang nodded towards Blake.
Ruby gasped, eyes wide in distress. She threw herself towards the bass player. "Blake!"
Weiss wondered how she got over her fear so easily. Out there was a crowd waiting to judge them. On their looks. On their music. Hell, even on the way they carried themselves. Weiss knew how this industry worked.
"Weiss, you've been doing those warm ups for thirty minutes. You're gonna go hoarse before we even start."
The singer's teeth clicked audibly as her mouth snapped shut. She hadn't taken that into account. She smoothed the nonexistant wrinkles in her blazer, lips pursed. Her light blue button up and finely tailored slacks was a stark contrast to the rest of her team.
Ruby wore a black t-shirt, bright red sleeves coming out from underneath. Weiss had violently protested wearing skinny jeans, but the woman wore them anyways.
Yang wore a shirt that made it seem as though caution tape was wrapped around her torso. The words 'Fire Hazard' were printed in neon yellow across her chest. Her treasured orange scarf matched the baggy pants she was wearing. Drumsticks stuck out of her pocket in a way that made Weiss genuinely worried they'd fall out.
Blake's shirt confused her. The left side didn't have a sleeve and it looked slightly ragged, like it had been torn. The right did have one, though it had a small hole for her thumb to fit through and it left her shoulder exposed. She had at least been convinced to wear a pair of jeans that didn't have any rips in them.
"Weiss, you look fine. Calm down, alright?"
"Calm down?" She snapped, letting her hands fall to her sides. "This is our first concert as a band. I can't just calm down!"
A puff of air parted her lips, shoulders sagging as she thought about her words. She knew she shouldn't take her nerves out on her team. So much for getting better at that. "I'm sorry for yelling. I just don't see how you can be so calm. This can make or break our career."
She heard cheers from the crowd as the song ended. They had one more before it was their time to perform. Weiss turned away from Yang, pacing rapidly. The blonde stepped in front of her, cutting her stride short, and took the smaller woman by the shoulders.
"I know that this is a really critical thing, Weiss." She said, trapping the heiress' eyes with her own. "But stressing yourself out is only going to hurt our chances, alright? If you go out there only worrying about how you look and what you're doing, you're not going to have any passion. There won't be any fire."
Weiss blinked, looking down. Ozpin had said much of the same thing. She didn't know what to expect when he made her stay behind, but she remembered his exact words.
"When you go onstage, you are not an heiress. They don't want your money or your approval. They don't want empty words and useless gestures. You are Weiss. They want you. They want your feelings. They want your passion. If you fail to give it to them, I don't see future for you here at Beacon"
The fear that had afflicted her then was just as strong now, though she had the presence of mind not to break down in the corner. Besides, Blake was in that corner and it would be rude to remove her.
The next, and last, song Penny played was slow and sensual. It put Weiss' racing heart at ease slightly. Yang squeezed her shoulders gently, giving Weiss a reassuring smile. "Dance with me."
Weiss' folded her arms, lips thinning. The last time they danced together wasn't exactly a happy memory. "I am not drunk and crying."
"There's such a thing as fun, you know." The blonde chuckled. When the large hands settled on her hips, she could've sworn she felt the callouses through her clothes. The goosebumps that rose along her skin didn't see a difference.
Weiss huffed, but reached up to grasp Yang's shoulders. Slowly, they began to sway to the rhythm of the music.
"It might not be the right time
I might not be the right one
But there's something about us I want to say
Cause there's something between us anyway."
Weiss couldn't help but blush at the lyrics. When she looked up, she saw a smattering of pink across Yang's face too. At least she wasn't alone. Despite the embarrasing lyrics, the tune and the shuffling steps they took back and forth calmed her nerves.
"I might not be the right one one
It might not be the right time
But there's something about us I've got to do
Some kind of secret I will share with you"
She laid her head against Yang's shoulder, closing her eyes. Blake was right. She could let herself be happy. Even if it was selfish.
Yang had showed her that she was strong, caring, and protective. The night she spent in her room had shown her something vulnerable in the taller woman, but it didn't make her think any less of her. If anything, the fierce protectiveness she felt spoke volumes about how she saw Yang.
She wasn't perfect and she got on Weiss' nerves more often than not, but the pale woman honestly couldn't think of any other arms she'd rather have around her.
"I need you more than anything in my life
I want you more than anything in my life
I'll miss you more than anyone in my life
I love you more than anyone in my life."
Weiss sighed, smiling against Yang's skin.
If she let herself, she could definitely get used to this.
"Blake!" Ruby cried, running to her friend as quickly as her feet would carry her.
The faunus' ears twitched and she looked up, raising an eyebrow in question.
"Are you okay?" She tried not to let too much concern creep into her voice. As much as she loved the faunus, she felt like saying it might make her uncomfortable. You couldn't blame her for being worried though. Blake looked nearly catatonic.
The woman looked back down at her hands. "I'm fine."
Ruby pouted slightly at the obvious lie. She sat down next to her, hoping the extra weight wouldn't collapse the guitar case. She sat in silence as the crowd began to cheer, watching her sister try to calm Weiss.
She looked at Blake, unsure. Ruby didn't know if Blake needed encouragement or to be calmed down. She was so hard to read! Ruby just wanted to let her know that she was there and she cared! A pressure built inside her. She needed to do something!
Her restraint broke and she wrapped her arms around Blake in a tight hug, fighting back the urge to scream 'LET ME LOVE YOU!'.
"Ruby-"
"You're not fine, Blake!" She tucked the faunus' head under chin, "It's okay if you don't want to tell me what's wrong, but don't act like you're okay when you're not."
"But Ru-"
"We're here for you Blake! You don't have to do it alone!" She sniffled.
"Ruby, you're crushing my ear."
Ruby gasped, pulling back to let the fluffy ear free. "Oh god, I'm so sorry Blake!" She rubbed it gently, hoping she hadn't damaged it. A noise that sounded halfway between a growl and Yang's motorcycle starting left Blake's lips and Ruby realized that she had just grabbed the woman's ears without permission.
She snatched her hands back, biting her lip hard. Ruby just couldn't get it right, could she? In trying to comfort the woman, she had hurt her and made her uncomfortable. She began to scoot away slightly, wanting to make sure Blake had enough space, but the faunus stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
When Blake touched Ruby of her own will, it always sent a shiver down her spine like a static shock. The faunus didn't look angry at her slip up. The hand skimmed down her arm to hold hers. Blake brought it back up to her ear. "It's okay. I trust you, Ruby."
Ruby really hoped her full-body twitch at the words went unnoticed. A deep set warmth exploded in her chest, taking her breath away. Blake trusted her. She licked her lips, eyes wide as she ran her fingers along the ear gently. The fur on her ears was even softer than on her tail. It felt like velvet between her fingertips.
That noise started again, but slowly turned to something like a long, low hum. With a start, she realized that the hum was Blake purring. Her mind wandered back to their night out. That purring was a lot higher in pitch. This was a low, comfortable rumble.
The golden eyes slid shut. Ruby studied Blake's face closely, watching as her jaw relaxed and her eyebrows uncreased.
"I am not fine." Blake admitted finally, voice interrupting the deep purr.
Ruby nodded, watching the faunus' eyes flutter open. Her hands came to rest in her lap when Blake pulled back slightly to look at her. She wouldn't push her to say what was wrong, but she smiled in way she hoped looked inviting.
Blake's eyes flickered over to the stage for a moment before finding Ruby again. "I'm apprehensive about what might happen. I don't want people to get hurt because of me again."
Ruby scooted closer until their shoulders were touching. She gazed out at the stage, the slow music pumping in her heart. She understood Blake's fear. One did not simply start a violent riot without thinking twice about doing another concert. Why hadn't she thought about that sooner? She was caught up in her own nerves so much that it completely slipped her mind.
"Blake, what did the White Fang sing about?" She asked softly.
Blake's eyebrows knit together. "Rising from oppression. Biting the hand that feeds. Taking back what was stolen."
Ruby nodded. "What does RWBY sing about?"
"Justice. A light in the darkness." Blake's eyes widened slightly. "Hope."
The shorter woman smiled widely and bumped their shoulders together. "Exactly. We may not be that different in how we get the message across, but we're not them Blake. Yes, we fight for justice like they did. But it's not all about war. It's hope. That's exactly what we'll give those people. Hope that things can change for the better."
Ruby's smile grew as the faunus looked towards the stage. There was no more listlessness or dread. They were filled with determination. "You're right. We are not them."
Her heart throbbed warmly, happy that she could help Blake. A sigh of content escaped her lips and she leaned her head against the dark woman's shoulder. Her eyes lazily made their way to Weiss and her sister.
They were swaying slowly to the sensual music like awkward teenagers at prom, pressed up against each other. Both of them were bright pink, but the small smiles on their face couldn't lie about how much they enjoyed it. At least the heiress had calmed down.
"Hey, let's go tease the lovebirds. This is straight up baby making music." Ruby suggested, her smile taking a turn towards mischievous. She rose and stretched before starting over.
Blake smirked and followed close behind. Before Ruby could even make one inappropriate comment or lighthearted tease, the song ended and the crowd screamed. She pouted slightly, disappointed, but it quickly turned into an excited grin.
They were next!
Yang gave her a beaming smile, but Blake and Weiss looked like they were about to walk to the guillotine. Ruby puffed out her chest, thinking about the words her sister would tell her to get her pumped up.
"Alright, listen up guys!" She said, fixing them all with hard stares. "All those people out there? They're here to see us. Us. Because, lets face it, we're kinda fucking awesome."
That gained a couple of eye rolls and a chuckle from her sister. She smiled and continued. "They already know we're awesome. So what are we gonna do?" She swept her eyes over all of them and when none spoke up, her smile grew wider. "We're gonna be more than awesome! We're gonna rock so hard that they'll be begging for our autographs and throwing their bras onstage! We're gonna blow this place up! Not literally." She corrected quickly, giving Yang a pointed look. Yang was in charge of the pyrotechnics and she had thoroughly instructed her to not blow up the club.
"So let's go out there, and show them how fucking punk rock team RWBY can be!"
She didn't have the way with words that Yang did, but they looked more determined than nervous so it counted as a win.
With square shoulders and set jaws, they walked onstage. Ruby held a hand out to Penny as she walked past and the girl slapped it and gave her a smile. "Good luck friends!"
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! Give it up for RWBY!"
Ruby's heart grew warm as the crowd began to cheer. They had only released two songs. How did they have this many fans already?
Yang wasted no time in striding forward and picking up the mic. She was never one to be afraid of the spotlight.
"How is everyone doing tonight?"
Screams and cheers filled the building. Ruby always found that kind of weird. If she were to ask someone how they were and they started screaming at her she'd be a little upset.
"Great! Now, you guys are pretty lucky to have tickets to our very first concert." Yang chuckled, "So how about we make it worth your while? You know, I love to start my concerts off with a Yang."
Ruby only had time to here Weiss mutter "Oh my fucking god." Before pillars of flames erupted from behind them. With a gush of hot air and intense light, the band was turned into silhouettes. Ruby didn't regret letting Yang be in charge of the pyrotechnics when faces looked up at them like an angel had descended from the heavens.
But she did when the smell of smoke made her cough and the fire alarms began to let out a shrill screech.
"I said 'not literally' Yang!" Ruby yelled as thick tendrils of smoke began to cloud her vision.
"I didn't think the club would be this flammable!"
The crowds screams of delight quickly turned to screams of fear as the started to rush out of the building. The woman's shoulders drooped as she watched them leave. All the practice, all the hard work, flushed down the drain.
Their first concert was ruined.
Yang's eyes squinted in the thick black smoke that was quickly filling the club. It was a miracle that they were let back in after getting kicked out the night before. Now they'd be extremely lucky if they weren't banned for life.
She tore her eyes away from the fleeing people to look over at her friends. They simply stood, watching as their chance at being stars dwindled away, their hopes and dreams fading into nothing.
And it was all her fault.
Yang cursed herself quietly. She should've let Ruby handle it. Or at least tried not to show off too much. Now she'd ruined them and everything they could've been. Who would want to hear them out when their first concert had literally went up in flames?
A sharp pain tore through her heart as she watched Ruby's shoulders droop. Her little sister's eyes became glossy as her they fell from the the crowd to the floor. Blake walked up to put a hand on her shoulder, her ears flat against her head. Weiss stared at the emergency exit, jaw set and eyes hard. Her face didn't fool Yang. Her posture sagged as much as Ruby's.
She had to fix this.
"Blake! Ruby! Pick up the equipment and take it outside!" She exclaimed, running back towards her drum set.
"What? Why?" Ruby asked, having to shout to be heard over all the noise.
Yang picked up the bass drum, hefting it onto her shoulder."Just trust me!"
Ruby nodded, running over to the small amps and pointing Blake in the direction of the keyboard and Weiss' violin case. Yang smiled slightly but shifted her focus back to the task at hand. She picked up the stool and cymbals, putting them in Weiss' arms and keeping an eye on her for a moment to make sure she could carry them before tucking her snares under her arm and making for the exit.
Outside, the street was complete chaos. People shoved into each other, some angry, some afraid, all of them panicking. The noise was almost deafening with all of the shouting and blaring of sirens. Dark clouds overheard cast an ominous shadow over them, blocking out the sun and making the day feel like it was almost over already.
Yang looked around for a place higher than the street, her heart beginning to sink. There were no platforms or high ground on either side of the road. Her teeth clenched, eyes searching erratically. It was only when the firetrucks showed up that a grin began to spread across her face. She had an idea.
Terribly unsafe? Check. Most likely Illegal? Check. Completely fucking awesome? Double check.
"Follow me!" She shouted, starting towards the fire engines at a sprint. The others didn't question, chasing after.
When she got to the side of one, she set her things on the ground and turned to the rest of the team. Ruby was the first to get to her. Yang didn't miss the wide, almost manic grin that was spreading across her face as she set down the amps and guitar.
"You are the best sister in existence!" She squealed.
Yang let out a breathless laugh, clasping her hands together and crouching. "I know, but you can tell me more later. We have shit to do little sis."
The silver eyed woman took off towards Yang, feet pounding loudly on the pavement. When she got to the blonde, she jumped, landing with a foot in Yang's clasped hands. With a grunt of exertion, Yang lifted with all of her might. Ruby took to the air like a red and black bird, landing haphazardly on top of the truck.
When she turned, Blake was already running towards her. Yang couldn't keep the smile off her face. They were really getting great at this teamwork thing. Blake landed a lot more gracefully than Ruby, going out of her way to do a back flip. Show off.
She turned to Weiss. The heiress was looking at the truck apprehensively, pearly white teeth biting into her lower lip. There was no time for hesitation here. Yang picked her up effortlessly, ignoring her shriek.
"Yang what the fuck!?" She said, panicked.
"Sorry Weiss!" She said shortly. "Ruby! Catch!"
With no more warning, she threw the white haired woman up towards her little sister. Weiss screamed as she flew through the air, curling in on herself like a little white cannonball. Luckily, Ruby caught her and set her gently on her feet.
After making sure the heiress was alright (and pissed off beyond belief) she started handing up the equipment. Ruby and Blake's amps could run on batteries and Yang's drums didn't need one. Weiss was not so fortunate. Usually the mic would be plugged into one of the large speakers onstage. Their stage wasn't exactly conventional.
She licked her lips, running her hands through her hair. Weiss' voice was strong, but she doubted it could overpower the sirens and yelling, not to mention the other instruments. Something white gleamed in the corner of her eye and she looked towards it, grin coming back two fold.
As she dashed over to it a couple of the firemen stopped to watch her, faces screwed up in confusion and annoyance. She paid them no mind. Picking it up, she hurried back to climb up.
Ruby was already on board, hooking up the cables. Yang didn't know if Blake knew what was happening, but she helped anyways. It was cramped, but they had enough room to work. Eventually, Yang's drum set was set up near the front of the truck, the keyboard on the side that was facing the crowd, and both amps near the back.
"What in the world are we doing up here!?" Weiss nearly screamed.
Yang let out a breathy chuckle. "We're giving them what they paid for Weiss Cream."
The blonde didn't know if Weiss was turning red at the nickname or at the intense rage that was plastered all over her face, but she didn't take the time to find out. She turned towards the crowd, raising the megaphone to her lips.
"Did you guys think a little heat would stop us?"
Weiss looked over the people. Their faces made their confusion loud and clear. The fire had been put out quickly and, though there were ambulances gathered, nobody looked injured.
She could feel the freezing air blowing her hair out of her face and chilling her to the bone. The sights and sounds left her head feeling a little foggy, but Yang's voice seemed to cut through with little effort.
"Well, you've got another thing coming! This is our first album, so you'd better be ready!"
The people below began to stir, straying towards the truck.
Yang turned towards her. The smile on her face shone brighter than the sun as she pressed the megaphone into Weiss' hands. "You've got this."
Weiss swallowed hard. This was not according to plan. The crowd was already annoyed and angry. She looked down at them, biting her lip.
"They want you. They want your feelings. They want your passion."
Her breathing became slightly ragged. How could she just bare her soul to a group of strangers? How would she be able to read the papers, watch the news, go anywhere without knowing what people thought of her? That her voice was too high, her arms too thin, her eyes too cold. How would she be able to stay sane after that?
"Weiss." Yang spoke up, grasping her shoulder gently as the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves. "Stop thinking and start feeling. You don't need to be perfect right now. Just be you."
Ruby nudged her side, giving her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about them! They'll love you!"
"Besides," Blake added, smirking slightly. "We're here with you. If they judge you, they'll judge all of us."
The faunus held out her fist. Weiss looked at it for a moment, breath evening out slightly. She tapped her fist against it. Turning towards Ruby, she tapped the same fist against her head lightly, causing her to giggle. Weiss couldn't hold back the small smile that twisted her lips.
She turned towards Yang. She had never done it with the blonde before. She tapped Blake on the fist because she respected the skill she had worked so hard for. Ruby, on the head, because she had the most unique and pure thoughts Weiss had ever heard.
After a moment of thought, Weiss raised her fist and tapped it against the skin over Yang's heart.
"Lets do it." She said.
They nodded collectively, retreating to their instruments. As they began to play, Weiss squared her shoulders, chin tipping up as she swept her gaze over they people looking up at her. If it was her they wanted, that's what they were going to get.
"Mirror, tell me something."
"Red like roses fills my dreams and leads me to the place you rest."
Ruby plucked at the strings of her cuatro, chills running down her spine. Her eyes were closed tightly and a small smile turned her lips up.
"White is cold and always yearning, burdened by a royal test."
This was exactly what she wanted. The concert may have had a rough start, but she was playing together with her band.
"Black the beasts descend from shadow,
Yellow beauty burns
Gold."
The whirlwind in her head spun faster, as if feeding on the breath they took away from the crowd. She may have been angry when she wrote this song, but joy filled her heart at the sight of her friends playing it with her.
Blake was right. She didn't need words. This feeling was better than words could ever hope to be. As the red haze filled her vision, she wondered if the ones listening saw it too. They probably didn't understand what it meant to her, but the fact that they felt anything at all made everything worthwhile.
Even as the song drew to a close, the red didn't leave her vision. It painted the world a happier place. The place she hoped to make it someday.
She was confident that, with enough time, it could be.
"From shadows, we'll descend upon the world!"
"Give back what's been stolen!"
"From shadows, we'll reclaim our destiny!"
"Set your future free!"
The changes in the lyrics were small, but made all the difference to the faunus. She wasn't playing out of anger or hatred. The black beast that clawed through her remained dormant, a warmth in it's place.
Ruby was not like Adam. When she sang with Ruby, she felt hope. They were fighting a war, but not with violence. They fought with their words and ideas and feelings.
When the song ended, she let out a small breath as she looked out at the people. Human and faunus were all gathered together without discrimination. They could fight all they want, but the music united them.
The breath caught in her throat as she watched the center begin to expand outwards.
"R-Ruby." She whimpered, muscles tense.
The girl stepped away from her keyboard, bolting to Blake's side in an instant. "What wrong?"
Blake stayed silent, apprehension growing as she watched the people begin to fight. Some were knocked down or threw themselves in the fray, fists flying and legs kicking out.
Blake blinked a couple of times, her eyes widening as she noticed the smaller details. Those who fell were picked up by those around them and the violence never expanded past the circle of moving bodies.
"Whoa!" Ruby gasped, voice full of awe. "Blake, you started a mosh pit!"
A sigh of relief escaped her, knees feeling a little weak. She couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled up in her throat. The shorter girls arms wrapped around her as she began laughing too.
Nothing had happened. She hadn't ended lives or seriously injured anyone. She had given them what they needed. The courage to keep moving in this violent world, the hope that it would change, and the knowledge that someone understood their struggle.
She looked at Ruby, a small relieved smile still stuck to her face. Ruby smiled back, releasing her. She wouldn't have even gone through with it if it wasn't for her encouragement. Blake had no doubt that she'd be on a one way train to Vacuo if Ruby hadn't been there to calm her fears and be a candle to light her way in the dark.
Blake placed a hand on Ruby's cheek watching the way the light caught her silver eyes like pools of molten metal. Ruby had been there whenever she needed her. She shared her thoughts and her feelings without fear of judgment or retribution. Blake sometimes wished she could take some of that fearlessness for herself, but the shorter woman wore it so much better. She wouldn't be Ruby without it.
Blake liked Ruby just the way she was.
Ruby had a way of existing. A way that made Blake feel like she existed too. She wasn't just shadows clinging to the corners of a dim house, or smoke being blown away by the wind. Ruby looked at her, and she was there. Not invisible. Not expendable. Not an insignificant detail in an empty room. Blake existed.
She leaned down to press her lips against hers, chapped slightly from the biting wind that ruffled their hair and clothes. The smell of roses overwhelmed her senses, prompting her to pull the girl closer. Heat spread through her chest, despite the frigid air.
Warm arms wrapped around her tightly, keeping her pressed against Ruby. Though, Blake didn't feel trapped. In fact, from the giddy way her heart throbbed when Ruby tilted her head to deepen their connection, she didn't think she'd be running again anytime soon. She didn't need to. With Ruby, she felt free anyways.
A loud whistle from behind her, cleared the fog in her mind and she blinked a couple of times. When she pulled back, silver eyes shone up at her. The goofy smile on Ruby's face promted a breathless chuckle to escape her. The girl was practically vibrating. Was she really that happy?
"Oh my god! Oh my god!" She squealed, hopping up and down and pumping her fist into the air. When she was done, she swayed haphazardly on her feet. Blake grasped her arm gently so she could keep her balance, her face beginning to burn. "Oh god, Blake you're amazing." The girl murmured before her eyes fluttered shut and she slumped against the bright red faunus.
Oh god. She had kissed Ruby. She prided herself on thinking things through. On not acting on her impulses and going with the best decision. On being the only sane member of the band. But she had kissed Ruby. And it was exquisite.
Another whistle caught her attention, alerting her that this was not the time or place to contemplate her sanity. "Alright love birds, concert's not over yet! You can eat each other's faces later!" Yang laughed.
"And I do hope you would refrain from doing that in public." Weiss added. She was glaring, but the tiny smirk at the corner of her lips betrayed her. Like she was one to talk anyways.
Ruby began to vibrate again, signalling that she had woken up. "Oh my god, Blake-"
"Ruby, we have to finish our concert." She told her with as much composure that she could muster. Her cheeks still burned, but at least she could keep a straight face.
The girl nodded excitedly, bouncing back over to her place. Blake closed her eyes for a moment before retreating to the back of the band. She felt a lot more comfortable there.
There was one question answered. She was romantically attracted to Ruby. What was she supposed to do about it?The crowd cheered as Weiss took the megaphone again and Blake shook her head quickly to clear it. She'd figure it out later.
She smiled slightly.
Maybe Ruby could help figure it out with her?
"I burn!
Can't hold me now, and you know that-
I burn
Swing all you want
Like a fever I'll take you down!"
Yang could barely hear the words over the sound of blood rushing through her ears. Her blood boiled as she beat her drums into submission and her arms burned from how long she'd been playing, but the pain only threw gasoline on her fire.
Even as the song ended, she stared at her drums with a toothy smile spread across her face as she tried to regain her senses.
That song always got Yang going. But the way that Weiss sang... She had never heard the woman sound so raw and wild. Unfiltered and untainted. In the controlled environment of their recording booth, Weiss kept herself on a tight leash. Even more so everywhere else. But the passion, the feeling, the fire that she sang with could've melted a hole through Yang had it been aimed at her.
As she finally caught her breath, the heat cooling to a low simmer, the unbridled screams and cheers of the crowd rang through her ears. She looked out across the moving bodies, faces of joy and excitement stood out of the haze. There were a lot more people than they had started out with. Yang wasn't quite sure where they had come from, but they were packed tightly together around the truck.
They had done it. Despite her fuck up, they had achieved what they set out to do. The blonde stood and stepped away from her drums to line up with the rest of her band as they watched in awe.
Yang felt like a god, with all these people looking up and screaming for her.
The dark clouds overhead finally broke, letting out a few snowflakes at first before a flurry of them began to come down. She smiled up at the sky as it added the literal frosting on top of their concert and briefly wondered if she could high five a cloud. Even the weather was getting in the spirit of teamwork.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw her sister take a couple of steps back, the truck didn't allow for much more. But when she turned to look, the girl launched herself forward and into the crowd. The cheers grew louder as hands held her up and started moving her towards the edge.
"What the hell is she doing?" Weiss questioned, face twisted with confusion and a bit of concern.
Yang cocked her head. "What do you mean? She's crowd surfing."
"Crowd surfing?"
Yang blinked, looking at the short girl curiously. "You... don't know what crowd surfing is?"
Weiss raised an eyebrow.
Slowly, a grin started spreading over the blonde's face. What better way to find out than by experience?
She picked the girl up easily, prompting an outraged squawk, and turned to the crowd.
"Who wants me to throw Weiss!?" She yelled.
The people screamed back, hands already in the air.
Weiss was not as amused. "Yang! I swear to fucking god-"
"GO LONG MOTHER FUCKERS!"
Then, without a second thought, she flung the heiress into their audience. Weiss sailed through the air for the second time that day, screech of rage turning quickly to a startled scream. Their fans caught her, sending her in the same direction as Ruby.
Yang watched her for a moment, making sure she was alright, before turning to Blake. The woman was finishing covering the instruments, keeping it safe from the snow. "I guess we're the only ones now, huh?"
Blake smirked for a moment, but golden eyes flicked down at the people. "Not for long, it seems."
Blonde eyebrows knit together as she turned. The police force had also shown up. She knew this because they were doing their absolute best to surround the truck.
Blake patted her arm. "I'll see you inside." With that, she jumped down into a group of people the cops hadn't pushed back yet, weaving her way through like a snake in the grass.
"Get down from there and keep your hands where we can see them!" One of them commanded. His uniform looked fancier than the others, complimented by the gray streaks in his hair. Yang really hoped that he wasn't the chief. Either way, she wasn't willing to risk it. So, she went along with their orders. They were really gonna wished they had been more specific, though.
Yang showed them her hands, a smirk starting to twist her lips, and proceeded to flip off every single cop gathered. The looks of anger and outrage on their faces made a loud laugh burst out of her mouth. Yang had always wanted to do that. With that item on her bucket list checked off, she leaped off the truck, over the officers, and into the crowd.
Crowd surfing was always an ethereal experience. She always had the vague feeling that she might crush someone, but she never did. The hands that lifted her never faltered or buckled until she was at the edge and being set roughly on her feet.
Weiss and Ruby were nowhere to be found and a glance back revealed that the police were making their way through the crowd. She bit her lip. She needed to find them and make sure they were okay, but she couldn't do that from the back of a squad car.
She bolted towards the evacuated club, jumping over the caution tape. The stench of smoke was still in the air and all of the lights had been turned off. She could only see by the small beams of light filtering in through the high windows.
She wandered through the building cautiously. If her friends were to gather somewhere, it'd have to be in the prep room where they left their belongings. Luckily, she could still hear the crowd outside, so the quiet halls didn't bother her too much.
Yang's worry grew the closer she got to the room. What if they had been arrested? Or got lost? Her pace sped up to a jog.
She came to a dead stop as a snowy head of hair turned the corner. Weiss didn't seem to see her. Her stride was fast and purposeful, but her eyes, clouded over in deep thought, betrayed her. Yang watched for a moment, wondering if the woman would notice her presence.
It was only when the heiress was about to walk right past her did she reach out an arm and wrap it around her waist briefly to pull her to a blinked a couple of times before glaring up at Yang.
Oh god. She was probably mad about throwing her. Yang put her hands up in surrender, a sheepish smile and apology on her lips, but Weiss' face twisted for a second before her glare melted into confusion. What was she thinking about?
"Yang." She started, the blonde tensing in preparation. "I feel very warm."
Yang's hands fell to her sides and she tilted her head. The fire in the building had long been put out, and it was snowing outside. If anything, she should feel cold. Her concern spiked again and she put the back of her hand to Weiss' forehead.
Her scowl returned and she batted the large hand away. "Not there." She pointed a finger aggressively at her chest. "Here!"
Was she having a heart attack!? "Does it hurt?"
"Not... in a bad way?" She murmured, confusion only growing.
Yang scratched her head. That was odd. Yang's chest always felt warm, she just thought it was normal. The blonde leaned down and pressed her ear against the white haired woman's chest, tongue out slightly in concentration.
Weiss wasn't exaggerating. While the heiress' skin was usually cool to the touch, she was practically radiating warmth! Yang's eyes grew wide at the rapid thumping of Weiss' heart. She didn't look nervous or anxious, or even scared. What was making her heart beat so hard?
She gasped and righted herself as an idea came to her. "Did it start when you started singing?"
"Yes. How did you know?" She asked, eyes narrowing.
A smile spread across the blonde's face and she giggled quietly. "Have you ever sang like that before?"
A spatter of red lit up her face and she turned away slightly. "Well, no."
"That's the fire I was talking about!" Yang exclaimed, patting the short woman gently on the back, "It makes you all warm inside."
The blonde bit her lip, as she remembered something. Her eyes flicked up and down the hall cautiously. She did tell Ruby that she would tell Weiss how she felt after the concert... and they were alone. She eyed the heiress, swallowing hard.
Weiss looked less angry. And she hadn't even brought up the fact that Yang threw her like a football.
Yang nearly opened her mouth, but bright blue eyes snapped up to hers. "I see. Well, let's find the others."
She turned and began to walk through the hall, leaving the blonde pouting. Maybe she could tell her later? Well, Weiss would most likely be asleep later. And she didn't want to come out and say it around a whole bunch of people. Oh well, there was always tomorrow. Ruby never specified how long she could wait after the concert.
"Are you coming?" The woman huffed, stopping and whirling to face Yang.
Yang grinned, "Yes Mistress~!"
The blonde's grin faltered as the heiress scowled and stormed towards her. Flashbacks of almost being strangled or having her jugular bitten out flashed through her mind, making her eyes wide and her face red.
Long, slender, fingers pressed against her stomach, pushing her back until she was pressed against the wall. Her face burned brighter as Weiss continued to advance until they were only a couple of inches apart.
"If you keep calling me mistress, I'm going to treat you like a slave." She growled. Yang's brain turned to mush. Even if she tried to get it together, the ice blues pinned her in place where the woman's physical strength couldn't. "But you'd like that too much, wouldn't you?"
Yang's palms pressed flat against the wall in an effort to keep herself grounded. Her lips parted slightly as her breathing became erratic. Though Weiss kept a hand pressed to her stomach, the other came up to leave a trail of goosebumps along her bicep. A white eyebrow rose slowly.
"I'm waiting for an answer."
Fuck.
She tried to think it through, but the heat in her stomach assured that it was no easy feat. Yang couldn't just tell her no. That would be an outright lie. She wanted Weiss to touch her a lot more than she was right now. Yang was smooth! She had game! She just had to come up with something flirty that didn't sound too desperate-
"P-Please? I would... like that very much..."
Fuck.
The other eyebrow rose too, the heiress' already red face starting to resemble a tomato. Weiss pulled back slightly and Yang cursed herself. Of course Weiss had been teasing her! How many times had she done the same? Payback was a bitch. An embarrassing, sexy bitch.
Before she could berate herself more, the smell of vanilla became more intense and silky soft lips left her breathless as they pushed against hers. What was left of Yang's mind shut down completely, her hands separating from the wall to grasp petite hips.
The fingers that had trailed along her bicep curled behind her neck. The other put more pressure on her stomach, splaying out in a possessive way that made the blonde let out a needy moan against Weiss' lips. An even louder louder one escaped as teeth nipped at her lip slightly.
The singer pulled away, leaving Yang to gasp for air. That was certainly one way to let Weiss know how she felt. When the hands withdrew from her body, it took all of her self control not to let out a whine.
"Yang..." Weiss murmured. Half-lidded, lilac eyes focused on her, watching her bite her lip in contemplation. A shaky hand ran through her snow white hair. "Fuck, it wasn't supposed to go like this."
Her heart began to beat even faster. Had she done something wrong? Did Weiss not want her? This time she did whine. If one thing was clear in her foggy head, it was that she didn't want Weiss to leave.
She watched a flurry of emotions she didn't recognize flash across the heiress' face before it set with determination. Weiss shoulders squared and her chin tilted up, eyes locking onto her with a different kind of intensity. "I would like it if you would, um, share a meal with me. N-Not at the apartment, but maybe a restaurant. I-If you want, of course. You are, in no way, obligated to accompany me because we kissed. And I would not think less of you for declining my offer."
If the kiss made butterflies appear in Yang's chest, the proposition made them burst into flames. "Y-You mean, like a date?"
Weiss pursed her lips, giving her a stiff nod.
A goofy grin split the blonde's face, nervous giggle escaping her. "I'd like that a lot, Weiss Cream."
A small smile lit up Weiss' face, making those fiery butterflies in her chest explode. The pale hands came back, this time to her shoulders, to pull Yang into another kiss. This one was softer and she couldn't help but press the smaller woman tightly against her.
Weiss pulled away and turned, clearing her throat and gaining a bit of her composure back. "We really should find the others. I assume the police were there because we blocked off a main road and I'd rather not bail us all out of jail."
Yang smirked slightly. Her worries from earlier were much more tame. With Ruby's speed and Blake's disappearing act, they could get away from cops with no problem. Which prompted Yang to push her luck just a little bit more.
"If you say so, Mistress."
Weiss growled.
Blake stalked through the dim halls, following the scent of roses. She was sure that Ruby was lost. The trail took random twists and turns, sometimes crossing over itself. She wasn't sure how anyone got lost in here, there were only five halls.
She had passed Yang and Weiss making out at least twice. The scent of Roses never went near that hall somehow. That was probably for the best. There was also a peculiar woman with deep green hair walking around looking rather smug for someone wandering in an off limits area. Her footsteps made no noise and it set Blake's nerves on a razors edge. Usually, only thieves and cops moved that silently.
Finally she found Ruby sitting near a door. Her legs were pulled up and her cheek rested on her knees. Was she asleep?
She stepped over quietly, crouching. She was asleep. Blake poked her cheek curiously, watching her eyebrows furrow for a moment before her face went slack again. Her eyes narrowed. That was adorable. She did it a couple more times.
Eventually, she stopped poking the poor girl and threaded her fingers through her soft, multicolored locks. Blake smiled. Ruby looked like a lost puppy. And though she hated dogs, the girl made it work somehow.
"Ruby. Wake up." Blake said, running her fingertips along her scalp. "I don't think it's safe to sleep here. There are creepy women with green hair."
Ruby groaned and cracked open one eye, silver flicking around until it settled on Blake. A wide smile spread across her face and Blake couldn't help but smile back.
She stood and took a step back, letting Ruby get up. The woman gave her a sheepish smile, "Do you know the way to the prep room? I got really lost."
Blake raised an amused eyebrow. "So you decided to take a nap?"
"Naps fix everything."
Blake opened her mouth to tell her how wrong that was, but thought better of it. It seemed that taking a nap really did solve the problem. "I know where it is. We might want to collect Weiss and Yang." If the cops that were prowling around outside decided to look in the obvious place and come inside, they would finally get that public indecency ticket.
Blake held out her hand, eyebrows knitting together at the tingles that ran through the limb when Ruby took it.
"Ruby, can we talk?" She murmured, her voice coming out a lot more quiet than she intended.
Ruby squeezed her hand gently, smile unfaltering. "Of course, Blake."
The dark woman took a deep breath, trying to collect her thoughts. Luckily, it was easier than a few days ago. "Are you attracted to me?"
"Yep!" She said.
Blake nodded slowly. "Romantically?"
"Yep!"
"I am attracted to you too." She paused, "Does that mean that we're together?"
"It doesn't have to. We can be, or we can just take it slow and figure it out as we go."
Blake looked at their intertwined hands. She was beginning to think that Ruby always knew just what to say.
"Don't worry about labels Blake." She squeezed Blake's hand again. "Just worry about how you feel. Be free."
This time, she squeezed Ruby's hand back. The concept of freedom always nagged at the back of her mind, like chains that jingled every time she moved.
"Thank you, Ruby." She said. Her eyebrows knit together for a moment and her steps slowed to a stop. "What about you? What do you want?"
Ruby smiled. Blake's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the way what little light there was glinted off the silver of her eyes. Her smile was so carefree and warm. It was so innocent, even though Blake knew that the girl had seen her share of hardship.
"I just want you to be happy."
Blake's heart clenched tightly in her chest, all of the air leaving her lungs. That simple phrase stunned her. Adam had worried for her health and if she was eating, but he never concerned himself anything beyond that. Nobody had.
Happiness was always a fleeting thought. Moments that came few and far between, made even more rare when she grew up. It wasn't a state that she could live in like Ruby did. There was always something to undermine or compromise it. To think that Ruby cared so much about something she had given up on herself twisted in her chest. It kind of hurt, but it felt amazing.
"Ruby..." Blake trailed off, unsure of how to express what she was feeling properly. She let go of the woman's hand, instead pulling the warm body against her and nuzzling into the red and black locks. Ruby's arms came up to wrap around her waist, palms flat against her back.
They stayed that way for a moment. Their breaths in sync and their bodies pressed together. Blake didn't know if this translated how she felt well enough, but she was satisfied.
When she pulled back, the smile on Ruby's face made the dark corridor just a little brighter. Again, Blake found herself smiling back. Ruby's cheer was infectious.
"Let's go get the others."
The walk to the exhibitionist pair was short. When they saw them, Ruby let out a strangled shriek one hand covering her eyes and the other flailing wildly at them.
"What the fuck you guys?! Is this going to happen every time we leave you alone!?"
Blake could only smirk at their humiliation. Yang's back was pressed up against the wall, face a deeper red than the tips of her sister's hair. Weiss' leg was up around the blondes waist, though it descended immediately at the screech, jumping away from her like she had been burnt.
"This isn't-!" Weiss started, but paused, heaving a sigh. Her shoulders sagged slightly as she muttered, "This is exactly what it looks like."
"Please... let's just go home." Ruby whimpered. "You can frick frack in a room where your poor little sister and best friend doesn't have to see."
"Sorry Rubes." Yang rasped when she had finally managed to find her voice.
Ruby sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's fine, just-"
"Freeze!" A voice yelled.
Blake whipped around to see police officers filing into the hall, stun guns drawn and aimed at them. A look back revealed that they had been thorough in surrounding them.
"Fuck." The group muttered together.
"Did you really have to threaten the entire police force?" Yang asked, pacing the length of the small cell they were in.
Weiss huffed and folded her arms, scowling at the cold, concrete floor from her place on one of the bunk beds. "It seemed appropriate at the time. If they had just let me get to an ATM, we could be cozy in our rooms."
"Weiss, you know, there is such a thing as a non-crooked cop." Ruby spoke up, lifting herself up to the bunk above her.
Blake snorted at that, already comfortable in hers.
Ruby heaved a sigh, feet dangling off the edge. Despite the passive-aggressive threats and Weiss waving her credit card like a rapper waving money in a strip club, the police department didn't bite. Now, they were stuck in a cell for the duration of the night.
Weiss was very vocal about her distaste for the jumpsuits, not to mention the food. It had taken nearly thirty minutes to calm her down. Blake seemed indifferent, and Yang had absolutely no problem with the neon orange. Though, she did punch one of the guards when they took her scarf. Which was probably why Yang's meal had been "misplaced" in the kitchen. Ruby was a bit worried about her. Yang never liked to be without her scarf.
A series of numbers had been printed out and stuck to their backs. Well, except Blake's. Her sticker simply had her name for some reason.
Their surroundings were... depressing. The dim light kept flickering as if it hadn't seen any maintenance since the place had been built and the grey walls radiated cold, no matter how long the industrial heaters blasted hot air.
"Let's just get some sleep and we'll be out tomorrow. We can't do anything from here, so lets just calm down, okay?" She said, nervous eyes flickering over her band.
"I don't know how you expect me to sleep on this." Weiss hissed, waving a hand at the bed. "One night in a jailhouse, thousands of dollars at a chiropractor."
"Hey, she's just trying to help. Lay off." Yang said, a bit more aggressive than was necessary. Ruby didn't understand how they could move so quickly from fighting to making out and back again.
"It wouldn't hurt you guys to be a bit more quiet." Blake growled, ears flat against her head as she fixed them all with a golden glare.
Yang whirled on her, shoulders hunched. "Then tell Ice Queen here to stop being a dick to my baby sister!"
"I am no such appendage!"
"Guys!" Ruby yelled, jumping from her bunk. All eyes snapped to her and she had to hold back the urge to shrink away. "Let's relax, okay? We're here, and we're not leaving until morning. Instead of arguing with each other, how about we make the best of a bad situation! We can have a slumber party!"
From the looks of confusion and exasperation she got, Ruby guessed that it wasn't her best idea. Whatever. They could be lame if they wanted. She'd have a slumber party by herself.
Something hard rattled against the bars, causing them all to flinch. A burly man in police uniform glared at them all before barking. "Quiet down in there!"
Ruby looked to the guard, set on giving him a piece of her mind before he spoke up again. "If you don't settle down, I'm not gonna give you what your friend sent in."
"Friend?" Ruby questioned, head tilting to the side.
He grunted, throwing four envelopes through the bars. They scattered along the ground. Without another word, the man turned and went back to his post. Rude.
Who would've given them a bunch of letters? She doubted that any of their friends knew where they were. Ozpin could know, he was mysterious like that, but if he was sending them letters she wasn't sure she wanted to open them. It'd probably tell them that they had to throw a concert in the jailhouse, with nothing but the bars of the cell and the toilet in the corner they had all been walking in wide circles around for instruments.
She crouched down to pick one up, inspecting it closely. It had 'Ruby' scrawled across it in elegant cursive.
As she looked around, she saw that there was one for all of them. Ruby picked them up and passed them out to their respective owners. "Who do you think sent these?"
The only answer she got was a collection of shaking heads and shrugging shoulders.
She gave her own shrug, tearing her letter open. Two pieces of paper fell to the ground. One was neatly folded, and the other was a picture. As she leaned down to pick it up, her breath caught in her throat.
She had seen that face. In foggy, faded memories of dented picture frames and dark rooms. Even if she hadn't, everything else about the woman would have given away her identity. Long, scarlet hair that framed a round face, and shining silver eyes. There was no mistaking who it was.
Summer Rose.
AN: Hey guys! I hope you liked the new chapter! After a couple of hours looking at system files and feeling like a computer genius (I'm not), I managed to fix my laptop!
Yes Penny is Daft Punk. Don't you dare judge me.
For those of you that have asked about their heights and body compositions:
I have Yang at about 6'2", very bulky, very big.
Blake is around 5'9". Tall, wiry, and a tiny bit scrawny.
Ruby is 5'7". More muscle than Blake or Weiss, but not nearly as big as Yang. All lean and built for running.
Weiss is a whopping 5'3" without her heels. She is a thin, tiny rage fairy. Very light.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews guys! Reading them makes me really happy.
Until next time friends!
-Vox