A/N: Hey everyone!
First off, I'd like to thank you all for getting this story to 200 followers! It really means a lot to me to see something I've made get this much popularity!
Since I started writing this story, my life has changed a lot. I met new friends, lost old ones, and took my life into my own hands. I've made decisions based on what I want, not what others want for me. I've put myself before others more, and honestly, it's one of the best things I've ever done. I'm so much happier with where I am now than where I was just a year ago.
Back to the point, this story is part of the reason I'm in a better place. Just being able to get my emotions out there is a huge help in beating my depression. I encourage anyone going through depression to take that first step and talk to someone, anyone, about what's going on in your head. It helps.
Also, life update, it's spring now which means allergies. My life is now a living hell of tissues and BreatheRite strips.
Anyway, I'm happy to get back to writing so soon after the last chapter was posted. Usually it takes me like a month to figure out where things are going to go, but I have a pretty clear idea as to where this story is going for now. Maybe later that will change, but this chapter is something I've wanted to do since the beginning.
One more thing, I found out that it's not illegal to have a for writing this stuff! It counts as a donation rather than me getting paid! I know it's kinda stupid to do something like this, but if you really feel like supporting me, just come visit my page. You don't have to pledge or anything, just tell more people about me and check out the page!
FatalMelody
Enjoy the chapter!
Thorns on a Rose
Chapter 5: Taking the First Step
Ruby and Weiss walked into the lobby of the dorm building, secretly hoping Yang and Blake were sleeping in their dorm.
Both girls gave the appropriate deer-in-the-headlights response when they came face to face with their teammates.
Ruby began to fear for her life when Yang stood up, a less than pleased expression on her face. The brawler walked towards her sister, each step coming slightly faster than the last.
Ruby wasn't expecting one of her sister's infamous bone-crushing hugs.
Nor was she expecting the tears.
"Don't you DARE scare me like that again!" Yang said loudly, voice shaking slightly.
Ruby, struggling to breathe, shakily returned the death-squeeze.
They spent a while like that. They separated when Blake cleared her throat quietly. The two sisters, now both smiling, turned to their faunus teammate.
"As adorable as that was, it's getting really late." Blake said, holding up her scroll. The screen read 1:55 in blue numbers.
The team went to their room and started their nightly routines. The team was at peace once more, and the lights were turned off.
3:15 AM
Weiss woke up to the sound of shuffling covers and quiet whimpering.
The noise was coming from the bed suspended directly above her.
Weiss got out of her bed, peering over the edge of Ruby's to check on the girl.
A sheen of cold sweat was on her face, which carried a disturbed expression.
Weiss, deciding she didn't much care for seeing her partner like this, took matters into her own hands.
"Ruby." Weiss whispered gently, poking her leader.
"Ruby, wake up!" She continued, shaking the girl's shoulder lightly.
Ruby sat up, gasping for air. Frightened silver eyes locked onto calming ice-blue ones.
"Weiss?" Ruby asked quietly.
"It's ok. It was just a nightmare." Weiss comforted the girl. Tears began to pool underneath bright silver, threatening to spill.
Ruby slid off of the bed and hugged her partner tightly, which was quickly reciprocated.
Weiss felt Ruby's shoulders shake, hushed sobs escaping from the young leader.
Sitting down on her own bed, Weiss began to rub small circles onto Ruby's back.
Weiss didn't know how long she was like that, but by the time she noticed Ruby had calmed down, she found herself holding her leader, who was dead asleep.
The heiress smiled to herself and pulled back her own covers. She knew there was no way she was getting the silver-eyed huntress back into her own bed.
With her best friend clinging to her in her sleep, Weiss found herself quickly joining her partner in the world of dreams.
10:47 AM
Ruby woke up holding the softest, most comfortable pillow in the world. It was warm, silky, and moving up and down slowly.
'Wait… MOVING?!' Ruby panicked, shooting her head off of her "pillow".
She found herself staring straight into icy-blue orbs.
"Good morning, Ruby." Weiss greeted gently.
Ruby was frozen in place, unable to comprehend the situation. She blinked at Weiss in an attempt to communicate her confusion.
"What?" Weiss asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Why am I in your bed?" Ruby asked after a while.
"You had a nightmare last night, so I woke you up and hugged you for a while. You fell asleep on me, and I wasn't going to try to put you back into your own bed, so you slept here." Weiss explained nonchalantly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Ruby chewed on the information for a second, before a slight blush spread on her cheeks.
"Thanks for waking me up, then," Ruby said quietly, a small smile on her face.
Weiss returned the smile and gave Ruby a quick hug before getting out of her bed.
Their morning routines went as usual, and the two girls went to have a late breakfast.
Many were confused as to why Weiss and Ruby showed up to the cafeteria in their pajamas at 11:00 in the morning, but others simply shrugged it off as team RWBY's usual shenanigans.
Cardin Winchester stared at the heiress in anger, the humiliation from last week playing over in his head. He got up from his seat angrily, walking towards the white-haired girl.
Weiss only had to flash an angry glare for him to stop in his tracks and re-think his decision.
"So where are Blake and Yang today?" Ruby asked.
"They said they were going into Vale, but I don't know for what." Weiss answered as she ate her omelet.
Ruby shrugged and ate her own food, a plate of waffles.
"They did say they'd be out for a good while though, so I don't think they're coming back anytime soon." The Heiress continued.
The two ate in relative silence after that, finishing their food and heading back to the dorm.
Ruby had time to think to herself during the walk and used it to think about what Weiss had said to her after that day in the bathroom.
"You can't just ignore this anymore, Ruby. I think you should get some help with this."
Ruby though hard about that. She wanted to get better, that was certain, but she'd wanted that for the last 3 years and hadn't been able to figure out how.
"-by. Ruby, are you okay?" Weiss asked, pulling her leader from her thoughts.
"What?" Ruby replied, confused.
"You were staring out into nothingness for a while, and you had this really blank expression." Weiss said.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking." Ruby answered, shaking her head slightly.
The two continued their walk. They reached their dorm and entered in silence.
After a few minutes of quiet, Ruby broke the silence.
"Weiss, I need to talk to you about something." Ruby said.
"Sure? I mean, I'm really the only one here to talk to right now…" Weiss commented.
Ruby took on a thoughtful expression for a few moments and continued.
"I was thinking earlier, about what you said last week. About getting help." Ruby started.
Wiess' eyes lit up slightly.
"I think I do need some help. I've been trying for a long time to get myself out of this, but it doesn't seem like I'll ever be able to do this alone." Ruby finished, looking at her partner for a reaction.
She definitely wasn't expecting a hug.
"W-Weiss?!" Ruby stuttered, blushing at the sudden contact.
"That's really mature, Ruby. I said it yesterday, but I know it's not easy dealing with personal stuff like this." Weiss replied.
Ruby returned the hug, and the two stayed like that for a few moments.
The two pulled apart, and Weiss turned to the desk and pulled her laptop, sent to her by her father earlier that year, and typed a name into the search bar.
"I have a… friend who I know can help you with this." Weiss said, clicking on the link.
A page came up, showing a woman in her mid-40's. The name read Dr. Lyra Kai, PhD in Psychology.
"Lyra is a great person. She's helped a lot of people with depression and survivor's guilt, and I'm certain she can help you get on the right track." Weiss continued, looking to her partner for input.
After a few moments, Ruby came up with a question. "How do you know I can trust her?" she asked skeptically.
"She… helped me. About 7 years ago." Weiss answered shyly, not wanting to tell the story.
"You went to a psychologist?" the scythe-wielder asked.
"Th-that's not the point. What matters is that she's a great psychologist, and she's located in Vale so we don't have to look anywhere else." Weiss changed the subject, avoiding the matter.
Weiss pulled out her scroll and went through her contacts. Tapping on one, she pressed 'call'.
The scroll rang a few times, before the gentle voice of a woman came through. "Weiss? This isn't out scheduled call time, is something wrong? Is your anxiety getting worse again?" the woman asked in a concerned tone.
Weiss' eyes widened slightly. The secret was out. "N-no, I'm not having any attacks, but there's someone I want you to meet. When and where could we meet you for, say, lunch?" Weiss asked.
"Oh, I'm free all of tomorrow. That would be a great time! And how about that little café you showed me a few months ago? At around noon?" Dr. Kai answered.
"That sounds great, Lyra! We'll see you then!" Wiess replied, smiling.
"I can't wait to meet your friend!" Lyra said, hanging up.
"You have anxiety?" Ruby asked.
Weiss cringed slightly at the question.
"Well, my childhood wasn't exactly filled with love and attention, and because of that I get nervous meeting new people." Weiss explained.
Ruby nodded, seeing how that could be.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with Ruby and Weiss messing around on the internet, looking at cat pictures and dumb videos.
A/N: I hope you all liked that one! Took me a bit, but hey, that's life! Hopefully I can update more often like this, because I enjoy getting content out to you guys.
See you all next chapter!