Chapter 9: A Nice, Sisterly Chat

Hello there, friends! I'm The Draigg, and you are…? That's right, you're my loyal readers! And, especially for you, I've written up another chapter for this story! I just couldn't leave you guys hanging, right? Anyway, before we get to the good stuff, my now ex-lawyers advised me to tell you that Monty Oum owns RWBY before they left for a client that actually pays them. Well, forget those guys, with their degrees and high paying jobs. Let's get to reading!

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As Ruby wallowed in her thoughts at the kitchen table, Yang and Blake slid into the chairs across from her. Ruby barely acknowledged their presence.

"Heya, sis. We're um, worried about you. Mind telling me what's up?" asked Yang. She hoped that her direct approach would work.

It didn't. "Not really…" sighed Ruby, picking at the uneaten cookies on her plate. Blake and Yang shared a brief glace, before Yang spoke up again.

"Ruby," she said as she grabbed Ruby's hand, "I'm your sister, you can tell me anything, right?". However, instead of an answer, all Yang got was a deep sigh. Yang then pulled back her hand, disappointed that she wasn't able to get through to her sister.

Blake took this as the signal to tag in. So, she tried getting through to Ruby with, "We only want to help, Ruby. What point is there in not sharing your problems?".

Ruby replied, her head still hung low. "I don't wanna…" she said in a low voice. She was just being so stubborn in her sorrow.

Yang thought quickly. The one sure way to get Ruby's sure attention was to play on her sisterly feelings more. "Damn it, Ruby!" cried Yang, slamming a fist on the table, "You're my sister! Don't just ignore me because you're having a rough time! Let me, us *she gestured to Blake* help you!".

Yang's passionate plea managed to get Ruby to raise her head and look at the duo. Ruby wasn't a very pretty sight. Her eyes were dull and almost lifeless, and the energetic spark that was usually there was completely gone. It was as if the Ruby sitting in front of Yang and Blake was an impostor.

"I'm so… tired. Can I please just have a break?" asked a dead-toned Ruby. It disturbed Blake and Yang to see Ruby in this state. Ruby was normally so upbeat, even when she was going through a rough time. Even during the times she got melancholic, Ruby always managed to pull through. But this… this was different. This wasn't some short-lived phase. This was a crushing blow to her emotions.

Yang desperately wanted to understand what Ruby was feeling. "Wha- what do you mean, Rubes?" she asked in a gentle voice. Her maternal instincts were beginning to kick into overdrive.

Ruby shifted her gaze directly to her sister's. "I-I didn't know everything would be so hard! It seems like everything is being thrown at me and… and… I can't keep up with everyone anymore…" she finally admitted. Her head lowered back down after her outburst.

"Ruby… I know what you're feeling," Blake comforted. This made Ruby pick her head back up, and for Yang to give her a strange look. Undaunted, Blake continued, "There have been times when… when I felt never good enough. That I couldn't change anything about myself or things around me. But, you know what? I fought hard to prove myself and others wrong. And… that's what kept me going through those times. The will to keep on striving for the best,".

"But how can I?!" Ruby wailed. "I've spent every single bit of my energy trying to keep everything together, to be the best leader, and for what? To keep on being kicked around by life, and for my relationships to suffer for it?! I wanted to be the hero, the brave knight riding over the hill to save everyone! I didn't sign up for… for… all of this political stuff!". That was it. Her fears and frustrations had finally come to light.

In truth, it was really only a matter of time before something like this happened. The burden of being a team leader was outweighing the honor that came with such a label. When personal relationships intersected with larger, organizational concerns, the result was rarely a good one. It was only natural that someone like Ruby would succumb to the stress of the cruel, uncaring world. But still, it was hard to come to a realization like that for the first time.

"Ruby, don't you realize that you haven't failed in your goal? Are you so blind to not see that?" Yang said softly. "You're the best damn leader I've ever known. In fact, I wouldn't accept anybody else other than you to lead me into battle,".

"Yes, Ruby. Remember when I said that life wasn't like a fairy-tale? You said that we had to try and make it like one. I can't imagine you giving up on being that strong girl I met the first day at Beacon," Blake added.

"But, I can't anymore! I just can't!" protested Ruby.

"I wouldn't exactly say that," Mr. Brass said. At the sound of his voice, everyone seated at the table swiveled their heads towards the direction the voice came from. Mr. Brass was calmly leaning against the entrance of the kitchen, listening to the conversation.

"How long have you been standing there?" Yang asked, surprised.

"Well, it wasn't exactly hard to hear you from the living room. So, I've been listening in for about the last... what was it, three minutes or so?" Mr. Brass explained. Nonchalantly, he walked over to the table and stood next to Ruby.

"Listen here, Rose. If you weren't as good as you want to be, don't you think they would pick someone else for this PSA stuff? You're good enough for a company, a multi-million lien organization, to say, 'We trust this girl to be a role-model,'. So, don't discount who you are. I think that you can be the person who my little girl can look up to as a strong example. Or, do you think what I'm saying is wrong?" Mr. Brass said, a challenge to be strong to her ideals.

"He's right, you know," Yang said.

"Exactly. You're better than this, Ruby. If all of us believe it, then so can you," added Blake.

"But-but how? How can I help others if I can't help myself first?" pleaded Ruby. That was the true question lying on her mind.

"You can't solve everything by yourself, Rose. It would be stupid if you thought you could. Why do you think you have a team in the first place? Don't just believe in yourself, that isn't enough. Believe in the people that believe in you," summed up Mr. Brass.

Ruby was starting to come around to what Victor Brass was saying. "So, what you're saying… is to find the strength in my friends? That I'm not a singular hero, but the head of many?" she asked.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly put it in those words, but that's the gist of it," confirmed Mr. Brass.

"I see…" mumbled Ruby, staring off into the distance, deep in thought. She just couldn't deny that what the others said had plenty of truth to it. Maybe… they were entirely right. Maybe Ruby couldn't be the singular hero, coming to save everyone. But, that didn't mean that she still couldn't help people. Yes, now it made sense! She had tried to bear all of the world's burdens on her shoulders, instead of sharing the weight to make it easier and more effective! A wrench couldn't just fix a machine, but a toolset could! The power of one came from the power of many, and vice-versa!

"I get it now!" Ruby declared, standing up in determination. "I won't give in! I can't for the sake of everyone counting on me, on us! I understand!" she firmly declared. Ruby was pulled into a glomping hug by Yang, who had dashed around the table.

"Now THAT'S the sis I know!" she proudly declared, squeezing Ruby harder against herself.

Ruby began to suffocate, as her face was completely smothered by Yang's ample chest. "Can't… breathe…" came Ruby's muffled wheezes. Yang immediately let go when she heard that.

"Sorry… I just couldn't resist," Yang said with a sheepish smile.

"Well, at least this little brush got put out in time," commented Mr. Brass. He light up a cig afterwards, and flicked the lighter back into his jacket pocket with a flourish.

"Uh, did you do that just to look cool?" Yang asked. An awkward pause grew between Mr. Brass and Yang.

"…Just go comfort your sister, Xiao Long," said Mr. Brass before he walked out of the kitchen. Damn, he had been caught at his own game.

Taking Mr. Brass' suggestion to heart, Yang turned to her sister and began to ruffle her hair. Ruby groaned and her face grew red under her sister's touch. Yang loved doing that for that exact reason. How could she not go for a little sisterly teasing?

Ruby dragged out her whining protests. "Yaaaannnngggg… stoppppppp…" she complained. After another good minute of vigorous rubbing, Yang let go, a smug grin plastered on her face.

Then, Ruby perked up, a thought coming to her mind. "Wait, what about Weiss? I know she's feeling as bad as I did!" she announced, clearly worried.

"Well, we should probably talk to her too," said Blake.

"To Weiss' side, team!" Ruby declared, her finger pointed in the air. Then, she speed-walked to their shared room, hoping to find her girlfriend there. Seeing no other option, Blake and Yang followed.

xxx

"Worthless. Stupid. Moron. Dolt. Idiot. These words sound awfully familiar, don't they? Oh, right. You've called Ruby all of the above before," spoke the negative part of Weiss' psyche. By now, she wasn't even bothering to justify herself in her own mind. Weiss decided to just wallow in her self-induced misery.

Weiss could hear footsteps coming down the hallway and stopping at the door. "Oh, do you hear that? Here comes everyone, coming to spit, and kick, and bite, and scream at you. And you will take it, because you DESERVE it," the voice taunted. A knock came at the door.

"Weiss? Are you in there?" Ruby's voice asked from behind the door. The Schnee girl didn't answer. She didn't want to feel hurt any more than she already did.

"We're coming in," Ruby said, opening the door slowly. Weiss could make out the figures of Ruby, Yang, and Blake against the light of the hallway, before the door closed again.

Team RBY walked in the darkened room. Weiss had been lying on her cot in the dark. It was as if she thought light itself might hurt her. Barely making a noise, the other girls sat on a bed across from Weiss.

The white haired girl didn't look at them as she asked, "What do you want? To tell me what I already know?". That made the others share confused looks with each other.

"Know what?" Ruby asked.

Weiss sat up and tried to stare at Ruby through the darkness. "To tell me how greedy, mean, and spiteful I am. To tell me how much I deserve all of this, because all I do is hurt you," Weiss replied.

"Weiss, I don—" said Ruby before being interrupted.

"Don't lie to me! I know that I'm the lowest! I don't even deserve to live!" Weiss cried, full of self-hatred and pity.

"Don't even say that!" cried Ruby, "Do you know what would happen to me if you died? Do you?!". Weiss fell silent.

"I wouldn't even be able to live with myself if you died under my watch…" Ruby said in a much lower voice. "…So don't you DARE even suggest something like that!".

"It would be better than what I'm feeling now…" Weiss whispered.

"Weiss…" Blake said, "This isn't the strong woman I know. What happened to your drive, your spirit?".

"Yeah, what happened to the badass lady o' war that's my teammate?" Yang also asked.

"I don't even deserve to be on this team. All I do is make things worse for all of you. Why can't you just leave me, like everyone else?" asked Weiss to everyone, even though that last question was aimed more at Ruby.

"Weiss, like I said before, I would never leave you. I just need to recharge my batteries sometimes," Ruby explained.

"But how can you possibly even deal with me? All I am is a weight at the ankles of everyone, dragging them down to the endless depths," pitied Weiss even more.

"If I didn't love you, don't you think you would know it by now? I could have chosen to walk out at any moment, but I haven't, because of you. I love you, Weiss. I would never, EVER dream of dumping you," declared a passionate Ruby.

"But how can't you!? Why can't you leave, when everyone else has?!" furiously asked Weiss. Then, quietly, she mumbled, "Why can't you when I left myself behind?".

Before Ruby answered, she nodded to Blake and Yang to leave. Understanding what Ruby meant, the pair exited the room, closing the door behind them. This was something only for that pair alone. Then, Ruby moved over to Weiss' side and sat next to her.

"Weiss, a relationship isn't a one-way street. I mean, love has to go both ways, right? So, how could we have a relationship if that wasn't true? I love you, and I know you love me with all your heart. Don't discount what you feel, okay?" comforted Ruby.

"Liar! Yesterday you said you wanted to leave, and now you want to stay?! I'm so confused!" spat Weiss.

Ruby reeled slightly back, but then regained her composure. She said, "I never said I was leaving you. What I said was that we needed to keep our love down low for this… excursion? Is that the right word?".

"But you said you needed a break! A break from me, and all the stuff I toss your way!" Weiss protested.

"I wasn't thinking the right way yesterday. I thought… I thought I could handle this whole thing by myself… but now I know I was foolish to think that. I need you by my side. I'm… I'm so sorry that I made you think all those things!" Ruby cried, before throwing herself around Weiss in a hug.

Weiss froze in Ruby's embrace. This just didn't make sense! How can someone who by all means should hate her love her this much? Yet again, love didn't make much sense to begin with. It was something felt between people, no matter what the circumstances were. It didn't matter if it made sense or not, it was what Weiss desperately needed eight now. She needed someone to stand by her side, and take on the universe for a perfect future.

"Y-you won't leave m-me?" stuttered Weiss.

"I wouldn't dream of it," replied Ruby from the crook of Weiss' shoulder.

Pulling Weiss back to look at her directly, Ruby continued, "All I ask is that we be careful right now. We can't afford to throw way everything we've worked for right now, right?".

"R-right," Weiss agreed.

Ruby leaned closer to Weiss' face, and planted a deep kiss on her lips. Weiss looked a little surprised, but then began to kiss back. They locked lips for a solid minute before breaking away.

Weiss took a deep breath, and said, "Thank you. I really needed that,".

However, Ruby grew a mischievous grin on her face. "Who said we were done?" she coyly asked. Weiss saw the hunger in Ruby's eyes, and accepted what was about to happen. It was okay, she was craving more of Ruby anyway.

Before Weiss could ready herself, Ruby pounced on the heiress, like a lion ambushing a gazelle. Before long, all that escaped Weiss' lips was moans and gasps.

xxx

"Well?" Yang whispered, "How are things going in there?".

Blake and Yang were crouching next to the door, and Blake held an ear against the door.

Blake reported what she was hearing. "I had no idea your sister was that crafty with her tongue,".

"Huh? What do you—" Yang was about to ask, before she realized what Blake meant. Then, she yanked Blake away from the door.

"Don't listen to them doing it!" Yang furiously whispered, "That's rude!".

Blake didn't listen. In fact, she leaned closer to the door to get a better idea what was happening in the room. The sounds she could hear were… interesting, to say the least. To give an accurate description, it sounded like someone filled a bowl full of jello and began to knead it in their hands.

"Blake Belladonna, you are NOT getting off to my sister in there!" Yang angrily whispered as she began to pull Blake away from the door. Blake gave a whine in protest, but Yang's grip was too strong. Blake was like a small kitten being carried by the scruff of its neck by a bigger cat.

"Think pure thoughts," Yang said as she dragged Blake away.

Oh well, Blake would just have to relieve that tension later. Man, Yang was going to be sore afterwards.

xxx

I bet you can't get that sound out of your head now. Ha, good luck with that! Anyway, now that we got some romantic drama resolved (for now), get ready for that upcoming charity stuff! And remember, leave a review for me to read! This is The Draigg, signing off on this drama bomb.