"The final match of the day is…" Glynda announced as the entire class waited patiently for the class to end. The spinning wheels slowly stopped one at a time. "Sky Lark versus Lie Ren."
The two combatants stood and started the trek out of the stands to the floor. Weiss felt relieved that she didn't need to fight again as she was still somewhat tired from Qrow's training. Ren and Sky were fairly evenly matched, so unlike the previous match with Pyrrha going against Russel, this would last longer than two minutes and stretch to the end of the class.
"So what's the plan again?" Yang asked, nudging Weiss with her elbow as they watched the fight start.
"I'm going with Ruby to speak with Ozpin." Weiss started. She'd told her team about most of what the message had said, but hadn't told anyone except Ruby what she wanted to do about it.
"Okay. We'll be back at the dorm waiting then." Yang said while she stretched her arms and leaned back farther into her seat.
"Once we're finished, we'll let you know where to find us." Weiss replied.
"Hey, just do me one favour, okay?" Yang asked, placing a comforting hand on Weiss's shoulder and gave her a one handed hug. "Cheer up for my baby sister? She hates seeing you worry like this."
"You know I can't help it." Weiss replied, looking down.
Behind them a wolf whistle sounded. Yang glanced back and sighed. "Hold on to that thought for a minute."
She turned back and Weiss heard the mechanical whir of Yang's gauntlet transforming into her weapon. The final clink of the transformation was hidden behind a loud crash from the floor where Ren had flipped Sky into the ground, hard.
"I could tell you wanted to say something… feeling lucky?" Yang called back quietly, deadly. When no answer came, Yang transformed her gauntlet back into the fashion accessory it posed as. She turned back and blew a spare strand of hair from her face. "Thought so… anyways you shouldn't be so serious about all this."
Weiss looked at Yang with surprise. After all, it had been Yang who'd basically ordered her to take Ruby seriously even if she hadn't needed to. Yang picked up on the question in Weiss's eyes and corrected herself.
"I don't mean don't be serious about the problem, just try to be a little happier when you're not working on it." Yang said. "You can't do anything about it at this very moment, so just worry about it later."
"You know, you and Ruby are more similar than I first realized." Weiss said, turning her attention back to the fight. Ren was on the defense as Sky tired himself out. "But I understand what you mean."
"Good." Yang said and fell silent. The two spent the rest of the class watching the fight and only exchanged a few words of farewell when the class was dismissed. Weiss waited for Ruby while she watched Yang meet up with Blake at the front of the class where she was sitting.
"Ready to go?" Ruby asked as she jogged to a halt in front of Weiss.
Weiss smiled, giving Ruby a quick peck on the cheek. The public displays of affection were still very new to her, but it was something she'd get used to for Ruby. Even just now finishing their first real school day as a couple, she felt the stares coming less and less. She could now hold Ruby's hand comfortably without caring when someone would look back at them.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Ruby asked, noticing the grin on Weiss's face.
"Naturally." Weiss replied as she led the way to their headmaster's office. "I have to let everyone know you're off limits, now don't I?"
"Are you sure it's not to discourage all the guys that still want to ask you out?" Ruby asked, surprised at Weiss's reply.
"Well…" Weiss paused and glanced over at Ruby. "We'll just call that an added benefit… for the both of us."
Ruby grinned and returned the peck to Weiss's cheek before they left the building into the windy day. The sky was as clear and blue as you could ever ask for but as a result, it was also at least ten degrees colder than normal before adding on the chill of the northern wind that blew past the two huntresses as they quickly walked from their class to the next building which housed most of the faculty offices and the massive clock tower.
"Burr!" Ruby shivered as they stepped into the blast of heat coming from the heater above the door to the complex. "Why is it so cold today of all days?"
"The forecaster said it was only going to get colder going into January." Weiss replied as she released Ruby's hand to rub hers together. "Maybe it's a good thing though. We'll have less time to get distracted if we can't go outside."
"Yeah. I figured that too." Ruby replied.
The two walked through the twisting hallways and came to the hallway Ruby had been down several times already. She turned and Weiss followed as she approached the desk of Glynda Goodwitch who was nursing a steaming cup of coffee. As they approached, two more of the staff came into view. The large belly of Peter Port proceeding himself into their view and finally Ozpin appeared, seemingly unaffected by the day as he slowly nursed his cup as he always did.
"Let's hold those thoughts for a moment." Glynda spoke to the group, halting their already hushed conversation. "Is there anything I can help you two with?"
Weiss stepped forwards and nodded. "I would like to speak to Professor Ozpin if you can spare the time."
"Can I ask about what you'd like to speak about?" Ozpin asked before taking another small sip from his cup. "On a day like today, I can assure you that going hunting in emerald forest is not a wise decision."
"Actually, we already got what we needed from last time, but thank you again!" Ruby piped in, referring to their beowolf project that Weiss realized still wasn't near completion.
"It's about my sister." Weiss said, glancing around at the other two.
"How is Winter? She really was one to watch back in Atlas. Too bad she was in that accident." Port reminisced.
"She's doing well." Ozpin replied. "At the moment, she's hiding from her father in the dormitories."
"Really!" Port replied. "Well before she leaves, she should come by my office. I'm sure she'd be impressed by how well Weiss has kept up to her old records!"
"I'll let her know." Weiss replied and turned back to Ozpin. "She gave me instructions to ask you where I could find her."
"I gave her the keys to the dorm room, the fourth room on the left, after you get to the top floor." Ozpin said. "And if you can, maybe find out why she wanted to get the top floor when there is actually a room down your hallway that isn't in use…. Though, I can imagine what her response will be."
"Thank you sir." Weiss turned and started walking away.
"Don't start neglecting your studies, girls! I'd hate to see you fall from the top of your class! And you've been improving well too, Ruby!" Professor Port called after them as they started winding their way back to the dormitories.
"Do we have to go outside again?" Ruby asked as Weiss turned towards the doors. "Can't we take the underground passage?"
"But this is faster." Weiss argued. "If you want, I'll go this way and you can meet me in the dorms."
"But…" Ruby hesitated.
"It's not like we have to do absolutely everything together." Weiss said as she started for the door. She needed to get started on the contract and the longer she stood here with Ruby, the less time she had.
"Right…." Ruby sounded deflated as she acknowledged Weiss.
"Then I'll see you in a few minutes. If I get there first, I'll go to Winter's room so you can find us." Weiss stated. "Bye."
Weiss walked out the door into the blistering cold and started a light jog along the shoveled paths to the dorms. Nobody else was outside so Weiss found herself moving much faster than she'd normally go.
At least that was until her arm was captured in a warm embrace.
"Ruby!" Weiss jumped, almost slipping on the poorly sanded ice. "You surprised me!"
Ruby simply nodded as she curled her neck farther into her cloak. They continued at a slightly slower pace now that they were holding hands but Weiss was suddenly reminded of something. Even if she wasted time not working on the contract, what use would it be if she pushed Ruby away in order to nullify it. Then she'd be exactly where she was before they started dating, with the exception that she'd had a chance at happiness and let it slip away.
"Hey, cheer up. We'll get this thing done." Ruby spoke confidently as they entered the dorms.
"Huh?" Weiss asked, not quite sure she was following their conversation.
"You're worrying about the contract again and I told you not to." Ruby reiterated. "We'll get you out and then you can do whatever you want."
"Sorry." Weiss apologized. "I guess I was worrying about pushing you away. I don't want to be alone again."
Ruby wrapped her in a somewhat shivery hug as they warmed up in the nice heated air. "Don't worry about that. I'd never leave you for ignoring me for a while just so you could stay with me longer."
"You make it sound so simple." Weiss sighed and gave Ruby a quick kiss. "But now we really should get going, Winter wont want to wait forever."
"I dunno, she seemed pretty patient so far…" Ruby said, noting the entire school day she'd waited before Weiss was even able to find her.