Chapter 33

"Was that really necessary, Yang?" Weiss asked.

"Yeah, it had to be done, obviously." Besides… I was still pretty well charged up with another shot ready to go. And who better to unload on than the girl that crushed Ruby's heart and nearly killed me on that train. Not like I hold grudges or anything, but, c'mon, that's probably the only chance I'll ever have…

The women stood around Neopolitan's limp form. Even though Yang knocked her out, and probably gave her a concussion, and possibly a skull fracture, the small woman was still breathing and alive. A few small rivulets of blood ran down Neo's stomach and Myrtenaster, but Yang stopped her just as the rapier barely cut into her flesh.

"I don't think I can carry her to the infirmary…" Weiss began. "Umm, Yang? Since you're running power levels over 9000 right now, do you think you could try to be gentle with her?"

"No promises, Ice Queen."

"While you are tending to your teammate, I will order some techs to gather the bodies and try to recover any evidence that might have, miraculously, survived." Winter stated. "Perhaps Blake and Ruby can remain with me until the area is secure?"

Blake agreed while Ruby absently nodded, still staring at Emerald's body.

"Maybe Ruby should come with us, Winter."

Winter looked Ruby over and noticed the young girl had gone practically catatonic; she nodded her assent.

"Hey Ruby, why don't you come with your sister and me to take Neo to the infirmary?"

Ruby again nodded absently.

Taking one of the girl's arms, Weiss ducked under it and wrapped Ruby's arm over her shoulder and lead the girl out of the room behind Yang.

Before stepping out of the building, Yang yelled out "We got all of them, it's just us coming out now."

The CFVY and JNPR members that secured the perimeter began to spread the word around the building. One by one, they stood down and holstered their weapons to ensure none of the good guys would accidentally be attacked while trying to leave the building.

Yang looked over her shoulder and winked at Weiss, "Keep up if you can!" and ran towards the infirmary leaving Weiss and Ruby well behind. Weiss shook her head at the blonde's antics before focusing on her friend.

"I know you're not but, are you okay Rubes?"

"I thought she was our friend…" Ruby stifled a sniffle. "How could she really be one of them?"

"I really don't know, Ruby."

"And Neo talked to us…"

"Yeah, I don't know what that was all about, either." Weiss racked her brain for an explanation. The only thing that made sense was that Neo's hair had something to do with it, but honestly, that didn't make any sense either.

"Gods! I executed her. Them. Both of them." At that admission, Ruby collapsed into a sobbing heap. She fell to the ground and wailed at the thought of being a murderer. It was too much for the girl ~ the kind to everyone, happy to be alive, innocent girl that wanted to save everyone.

Weiss's heart broke at the sight. "Ruby… They were already dead. You, well, you just eased their end." A small pause, "You kept them from suffering needlessly."

"If they were like Neo… They could have become Huntsmen! They would still be alive and I wouldn't have to have killed them!" Her sobs became heavier, "Why are there so many bad people? Grimm are one thing, but people shouldn't be like that."

Weiss sat on the ground next to Ruby and hugged her close. She ran her fingers through the girl's short hair as she tried to think of anything she could possibly say to ease her friend's guilt and pain. "You're right Ruby, they shouldn't be like that. But some are. And it's our job, our duty, to protect the rest of the good people from them." She pulled the girl tightly to her, "You're such a good kid, Ruby…" Weiss kissed her forehead, "Please don't ever stop caring this much… I know it hurts when you care so much and things don't work out like you want them to, but please, don't ever stop caring as much as you do. It's what makes you the good, amazing person you are, and what will keep the rest of us grounded and connected to what we have to do and why we're out here doing it." Weiss fumbled her way through her attempt to comfort her leader.

Ruby managed to collect herself somewhat at Weiss's sincere attempt. "You're still my BFF?"

"Forever."

"I can't lose you, Weiss."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here for you. Wherever you need me, in font of you to protect you, along side you to support you, or behind you to catch you if you stumble."

Ruby pressed a hand to Weiss's cheek and looked at her friend. With her other hand, she took one of Weiss's hands and held it against her chest, "In here. And as long as you're here, in my heart, you'll always be here for me."

Weiss couldn't take it anymore. She pulled the small girl into her arms she held her as tightly and close as she could. In part, Weiss needed to be as close to her as she could. The other part of her tried to keep Ruby from seeing the tears in her eyes that began falling freely. She bit her lip, but she still couldn't keep the words from coming out.

"I love you so much, Ruby."

"I know you do, you little goofball!" Ruby said as she pressed her hands into Weiss's shoulders to push herself back. I've known you have for longer than you've known it."

Weiss tried to smile at her closest friend, but her face wouldn't cooperate with her.

"But you couldn't admit it back then and I didn't want to press the issue, especially as our team leader." Ruby paused for a moment and looked around, taking in the serene calmness of their campus. It was a strange contrast to what they had just been through only a few minutes ago a short distance away. "I just want you to be happy, Weiss. And now you have Neo, and she's really great, and you guys are getting along so well." Her voice started to speed up, "I mean, well, not as well as Blake and Yang, but, c'mon… That was really just a matter of time. I mean, can you believe how long they've been dancing around that? Sure, you probably didn't notice, but it's not your fault. I was probably just more attuned to it considering everything that had been going on between us. Seriously, Yang was all like 'Rubes, you have to make a move on her, that girl doesn't even have a… mmruphf…"

Weiss cut her off with a palm over the mouth.

"Yeah, I get it…" Weiss sighed deeply, resigned to the fact that she'd never live down how obvious her attraction was to everyone except her. "But, you're right, Ruby. I am with Neo now. For now… And I feel like we really need to figure things out and determine if they're going to work out for us. After what just happened, well, there's a lot of stuff we're both going to need to figure out."

Ruby pushed Weiss's hand aside, "I'm sorry Weiss. I'm just nervous about everything." She looked into the girl's icy blue eyes and, as always, never saw the 'Ice Queen', just her BFF. And now that her Best Friend Forever is with Neo, she wondered how strong the 'Forever' part was, despite Weiss's reassurances. "I'm afraid that Neo will replace me and you won't need me anymore."

"Ruby!" Weiss grabbed the girl's shoulders and leveled an even gaze at her. "There will never come a time that I don't need you anymore. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have such amazing friends. I wouldn't have fit into Beacon: being away from White Castle, my private tutors, and the life my family forced me into. I never would have participated in an epic food fight. I wouldn't have done so many of the things you and Blake and Yang and everyone else have done with me. Or any of those things that have made my time here realize that I wasn't really living my life before. I will always need you. But more than that, I will always want you in my life. Basically, like it or not, you're stuck with me. Forever. Dolt!"

Ruby leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek as she took her hand and stood up. "I do like it. And I wouldn't have it any other way." She squeezed Weiss's hand, "Let's go get checked out in the infirmary and see how everyone else is doing."

With a nod, Weiss stood up as well and let the girl lead her away.