Welp, more writing.
Chapter 16:
"How are you so calm!?" Velvet yelled as Ruby just smirked at the Faunus who was starting to run her hands through her hair. As though there was something almost humorous to the whole state of affairs. She knew that Velvet was trying to figure out something simple, but it wasn't that hard for Ruby given everything she knew about the family.
Ruby just smiled as she pulled her girlfriend back down into the lounge chair. Laughing at the notion that this was what was causing the woman to panic. "I'm calm Velvet because the way I see it, I can't lose. Your parents already accept that your once sister is now your brother. And in my experience, parents are a lot worse towards something like that than a lesbian relationship. Look at my parents with me and Yang. The only difference is Yang is pigheaded and won't listen to logic and I got disowned." Ruby said with a smile as the fighting from Velvet begun to die down.
"So, seeing as our port is still a day and a half away, just sit back and pray Yang isn't going to ruin another day slash night calling me forgetting that we are on holiday. Which really sucks because this is my first one in years. Literally years." Ruby said as Velvet hugged the woman lightly as she began to resituate herself to look into the silver orbs to see the mirth at the thought of being able to take a break.
"Given your history of working seven days a week, and only taking a day off when I threaten something that you normally don't like. I mean I can't believe that I had to threaten you with breaking up just so you would take this month long trip." Velvet said as Ruby just smiled at the idea of how she knew the Faunus might have hated needing to do that but knew that she would do it again just to make sure that they both were there.
Smiling as he just took in the sunlight, both just enjoying the comfort they had at that moment when Velvet moved up a little. Just so her head was resting on Ruby's shoulder. She could feel Ruby's hands just wrapped around her lower back, intent that Ruby could tell that this was the best situation for them. She didn't know what was causing her being so intent but she already knew that if the worst should come to the worst, then she was glad that Blake was in fact the same Blake that the country's leader was the daughter of and they promised Ruby the sky and the moon if she asked for it.
"I hope you know, you are going to be the first human my village has seen. Literally. They don't really like leaving the port area for very long." Velvet began as she heard a small laugh coming from Ruby.
"You already told me this. And how I can't eat meat while we are there because your village doesn't condone animal meat and only accepts vegetables. But don't worry about that Velvet. I'm used to people staring. It comes with transitioning." Ruby said with a smile as Velvet just lowered her head once more.
"You are just the first person I'm bringing back home, and we might not have seen humans, but the rumours do make their way to us." Velvet muttered as she felt one of Ruby's hands leave her back wondering where it was until she felt it rubbing her ears she just smiled at the feeling. The way it was comforting her, was remarkable.
"Just relax about it Velvet. This is why I suggested we take a cruise. It was meant to give you time to think. Not panic." Ruby said as she could feel Velvet start to become putty at the feeling of her ears being scratched. And that was such a wondrous sight to her.
Sighing as she just leaned into the feeling of Ruby scratching the base of her ears, "I know it will be fine because you are here with me."
Velvet knew her tear stained face was going to be an annoying thing, but she didn't want to think about anything. The only thing that broke the silence was the soft knocking on the door across the room. Rubbing the tears from her eyes, Velvet looked towards the door and just frowned.
She wasn't sure which was the worse form of torture. The constant memories that were flooding into her mind just sitting in the room, or the fact that her friends had nearly forced her into the room that was causing the memories to flood into the forefront of her mind.
As she was about to snap, she heard the soft voice of Jason coming from the other side. "Velvet... can I come in? I made you something." Wiping the tears from her face, with the back of her hand, Velvet didn't want him to come in, but still knew that if he did make her something then it would probably be spent out of his own meager allowance and was trying his hardest to make her actually feel better.
"Sure Jason." Velvet said as she tried to think of a way she could hide the bright red streaks going down her face. Even if it was for the sole purpose of avoiding the curious questions coming from the child.
Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, Velvet partially closed her eyes as she could see the flood of light coming in that nearly got dwarfed as she could see the child just trying to keep a stoic face.
Each step he was taking was a measured one, as though he was trying to not spill the bowl that Velvet could just smell and see was a banana split that he must have made. It was something that that would have normally brought a smile to her face. Walking over the Faunus, he looked up and held the treat out for her.
"I wasn't sure what type of ice cream you liked... so Mom suggested vanilla so we could get chocolate sauce and peanuts and cherries." Jason said as Velvet grabbed the bowl from the child who had begun to climb up onto the bed to sit next to Velvet. The look of questioning on his face as he tried to think about what he was meant to say.
"What's the matter Jason?" Velvet asked, trying to ignore the small quiver in her voice and hoping desperately that the caring child didn't hear it either. Just because she didn't want the questions about her face to be asked, and already knew that if he was to ask about her voice it would be a lot harder to answer.
"Are you sure you are okay? My Moms and the other grownups are constantly acting like you aren't okay. And won't tell me anything." Jason asked as Velvet just sniffled a little and quickly wrapped an arm around the child pulling him so he was a bit closer to her as she rested the treat on her lap.
"In some sense of the words, I am okay. But none of that you need to worry about. And neither should other grownups. I'm just a little mad at them right now." Velvet said as the child just nodded, Velvet already knew that he didn't really understand what was said but knew that it was rude not to respond. "It is okay if you don't understand it Jason." Velvet said as the child looked towards the Faunus and just frowned at her.
Yawning, Jason begun to rest his head on Velvet's shoulder. "Grownups are complicated aren't they?" Jason said as he tried to stifle another yawn. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to stay up much longer and already knew that he should probably leave, but he was glad that Velvet at least seemed a little happier. His quest was complete with a success it would seem to him.
"They are. But if you want to sleep, you can sleep in here." Velvet said softly as she let go of her hold on the child who was idly nodding his head. As though he was having a small war with himself between trying to be polite, but also trying to sleep.
Smiling a little, Velvet twisted her body so the bowl was resting on the night stand. Turning back around she started to lower the child down. She could see Reese standing in the doorway for... for... she had no idea how long.
"I know you don't want to talk about it Velvet. I wouldn't if Pyrrha did something similar, or god forbid Jason. But don't cut us out. I'll admit, we all screwed up that night. In some way or another. You lost a wife, Yang lost a sister, Jason lost the woman who managed to fix my pigheadedness, and we all lost a close friend. And we all are hurting, but together we can help everyone up." Reese began stepping in a little to just grasp the door handle. "Try not to let the ice cream melt. He spent all his saved up allowance for a month. He was trying to save up to buy this girl he has been a little smitten with a present for her upcoming birthday. That is how much your happiness means to him." Reese said as she begun to close the door leaving Velvet feeling a little alone in the darkness once more.
The only other person in the room was the child who she could hear the even breaths and even an almost adorable snore. Looking towards the bowl of ice cream, Velvet just bit her lip with the simple thought of how she couldn't even understand how the child was being foolish, but she also knew that Reese was right if what she said was true. If he spent the money that he was originally saving up for a friend's birthday present.
'I guess I have no choice but to eat it... why can't you just be a normal child.' Velvet thought as she picked it back up. She was surprised that it didn't already start to melt, but knew that he had put all his heart and soul into the sugary mess, that it would mean she had no choice but to eat it.
Picking up the spoon and digging it in, she still remembered when Ruby was given one just like this from Velvet's ten year old sister the first time Ruby met her family. Sniffling as she raised the bite into her mouth, she couldn't help but find some comfort in the sugary mess. She never really understood why sugar and sorrow was a combination, but she had to admit that it was helping her relax a little. Or at least remove some of the anger that had started to build up towards her friends.
The lump that had formed in her throat started to dissipate, giving her a sense of relaxation, at the notion of how this was going to be ultimately something she was thankful for, given how she knew that she wouldn't have been able to clean up the blood, but the simple thoughts that had caused such a violent reaction was causing her to worry in it's own right hadn't started to ebb away.
She already knew that soon, it would consume her entire being again. And worse she remembered how the small boy was in the room. Someone who would bring up what Velvet was saying and doing to herself up to his parents at the very least.
To Velvet though, she knew the night's actions she would take would mean if she is able to keep everyone in the dark. Placing the final bite into her mouth, she quickly placed the spoon into the bowl and rested it on the night stand. Pulling her knees back up onto the bed and flush to her chest, Velvet lowered one of her ears, and begun to do her most recent nightly ritual of digging her fingers into her ears once more.
'I'm sorry Ruby... I can't even stop when Jason is nearby...' Velvet thought laying down on the bed, back to the small boy, her free arm wrapped around her knees and the hand in her ears bearing down on them with brute force she could feel some small comfort coming from the action. One that she hoped would last the entire night.
Author's Note:
Welp, here is another chapter. Onto the guest reviews...
Guest 4: I'll address both of your reviews in this one. It still is hostage towards her. But it is working somewhat. And I don't mind criticism and normally I don't ignore it, I just don't really bother to edit the chapter after it is up. No idea how you missed the chapter, but I suppose it is just because I'm on a roll with these chapters. As for the 'time' or if you prefer 'night' thing, time actually shows Yang's pseudo dependency on alcohol a lot better. Something I was going for.