Disclaimer: RWBY and all affiliated characters/titles belong to Rooster Teeth, those wonderful geniuses.
Yang gave Nora one final kiss, gripping the shorter girl to herself hard and making sure she knew just how much she cared about her, then pushed her away. Yang stepped back and Nora backed away from her onto the airship. Team JNPR waved to the lone blonde who had come to bid them farewell as they left so early in the morning. It was just a routine mission, nothing that hadn't done before and nothing they couldn't handle so everyone had just wished them a safe return the night before. Not Yang though, she and Nora had spent all day together yesterday, somehow more so than usual and she was up and waiting in the hallway for them that morning, even before Pyrrha.
"Be careful," Yang yelled as loud as she could over the engines, "Kick some ass for me." Yang cupped her hands to her mouth and bellowed. Nora was far beyond capable of handling the mission they were headed out on, plus she would have Ren and Pyrrha there to protect her, and Jaune too. That didn't stop Yang from worrying though, every mission they went on was dangerous, every battle with the Grimm a chance at death. Nora flashed Yang a huge grin and extended one arm in a cocky thumbs up, the other busy balancing her massive Magnhild across her shoulder. Ren gave Yang a knowing nod and Pyrrha and Jaune both waved and smiled. The doors slid closed and the ship tilted away from the platform, banking into a steep turn and tearing off towards their goal.
Yang stood on the platform and watched as the airship grew smaller and smaller, fading away into the terrible distance that would separate her from Nora for the next few days while they were deployed. She watched until the dot faded into nothing and then stood there for another long while, hoping against logic that the ship might suddenly reappear in the sky, the team's goal already completed thanks to Nora's unyielding desire to return. Yang stood alone until reality leaked back in around the edges and she realized she needed to return. She gave one last look out to the horizon.
"Just make sure you come back," and then made off for the dorms. The early morning sun was beating down and Yang contemplated what she would with a Saturday away from her red headed fireball of a girlfriend. She should probably hit the bags a little, maybe see if Blake was up for some sparring, whatever she decided to do, she needed to head back to the room and grab her things. Yang meandered her way back to the room, in no particular hurry and knowing that Ruby might still be asleep. Weiss and Blake were certainly awake by now and being a weekend would most likely have left the room to give Ruby a chance to sleep in.
She finally reached the building and made her way up the stairs. It had been nearly a full two weeks now since she had made this climb without her hand wrapped firmly in Nora's. She realized as she climbed the steps how quickly their routines had consumed each other and how very little time she spent away from Nora anymore. They woke up in the morning and immediately met in the hallway, they sat with each other in every class they shared and walked together between the others, they ate lunch together, worked out together and even started sparring, and then they stayed out in the hallway to talk until they had to sleep and more recently they had even utilized their alone time for some more intimate moments. They had only really kissed so far, sure there was some heavy kissing, even a little tongue, but they had not felt each other up, had not reached anywhere special and had not kissed much besides each others mouths and cheeks. But still, those moments they shared together were white hot in Yang's memory, how had she ignored how attracted she was to Nora for this long?
Yang reached the landing for her floor and turned on her heel, down towards her room. The halls echoed with the noise of others going about their mornings, although she had to admit that it was noticeably calmer without the sound of Nora resounding of the walls. Everyone got a pretty early start at Beacon, even on the weekends, everyone except of course her little sister who Yang was sure was still wrapped in her blankets, shielding her eyes against the dawn with a pillow and cooing softly in her sleep. Yang reached their door and tapped her scroll to undo the lock, she eased the handle down and slid the door open as quietly as she could, turning her back into the darkened room and closing the door softly, watching the clasp to try and keep it as silent as possible. How did Blake make this kind of stealth seem so easy? If that girl ever womaned up and talked to Sun, they would have one of the sneakiest couple's on Remnant stealthing their way in and out of the dorm.
Yang accomplished her goal and shut the door without a sound, releasing the handle slowly and turning about. The lights were off as Yang had expected, freeing their team leader from that stimulant at least, but their room faced the sunrise and so the floor and walls were bathed in a warm glow that matched Yang's hair. What Yang didn't expect was what she found blocking some of that glow. Huddled on the windowsill with her arms wrapped around her knees and the hood of her blood red cloak flung up over her head sat Yang's little sister. Her form was silhouetted against the rising sun, a dark outline cutting hard against the glow of the morning Yang had been enjoying so tenderly just moments before. Worry flooded her mind as she took in the sight, Ruby only put her hood up for two reasons, when she was embarrassed and when she was scared. Seeing as she had been in the room alone, Yang had to assume she wasn't embarrassed about anything and so rushed over to her side, clearing the room in two bounding strides to kneel by her sister's side. She put one hand on her shoulders and the other on Ruby's knee.
"Hey, hey, Rubes what's wrong?" Yang slipped easily into the voice she had used with Ruby since they were younger, a soft, caring and almost motherly voice. Ruby had grown up a fairly fragile little girl because of Summer's death. She had always been quick to joy or happiness but just as quick to sadness and fear and Yang had sheltered her from everything, confident that she could keep her little sister smiling all the time and defend her from the horrors she knew the world was capable of. Ruby sniffled and wiped at her face without turning from the window. She made a small hiccuping noise and sniffled again before responding.
"Nothing Yang, I'm okay," Ruby pulled at the edge of her hood closer to Yang and wiped at her eyes, hiding her face and obscuring the depth of her emotions. Yang was lost, never before had Ruby tried to hide what was bothering her from Yang. Yang was always there for her, she was her older sister and her absolute defender and Ruby knew that. She had promised her growing up that she would cling to Ruby with every ounce of her strength and stay with her no matter what. So, why was Ruby hiding like this? Yang looked her over quickly, she was wearing her hood true, but her feet were bare and she was still in her pajamas. Had she gotten straight out of bed to start crying?
"Ruby," worry had joined the care in Yang's voice, "You know you can tell me anything. What's wrong?" Ruby sniffled again and failed to respond for a moment. Yang waited, her hand resting on Ruby's back, using her thumb to rub gently back and forth across the nape of her little sister's neck, a motion that she knew from years of experience helped to soothe her. Ruby stared out the window, as if trying to formulate exactly what to say. She shouldn't need to think this hard with Yang, she should just be able to tell her exactly what was bothering her.
"I'm just," Ruby began to open up but trailed off and rubbed at her eyes again, "I'm just being a stupid little girl Yang. I'm sorry." Ruby's shoulders shook and she let out a sob, dropping her head back to her knees and crying softly. Yang had seen enough of this and decided it was time to take charge of the situation. She slid her arm under Ruby's knees and scooped her up off her perch. Ruby instinctively leaned into Yang's shoulder and wrapped her arms about her neck, continuing to cry softly into her shoulder. Yang carried her over to Blake's bunk and laid her down gently, resting her head on the pillow closer to the wall. Ruby curled into a ball and rolled her face into the pillow. Yang eased herself down onto the mattress and slid her arm back around her little sister. She pulled her in close and put her other arm over the diminutive little girl, wanting to shelter her from whatever was causing this. Ruby's gentle sobs died out and she huddled against Yang, clutching at her shirt and burying her face in her sister's shoulder and mass of hair. Yang didn't say a thing but just sat there, holding Ruby and rhythmically stroking the red tipped hair on the back of her head.
They laid together for a long time, long enough for the sun to rise up above the edge of their window and cast the room into a gentle shade. Yang paid the ticking clock absolutely zero heed as she cradled Ruby against her. Eventually her sister pulled away and met Yang's eyes.
"Hey there Rubes, are you doing okay?" Yang ran a hand over the side of Ruby's hair, tucking a tear dampened strand behind her ear so she could see her big, beautiful silver eyes.
"I'm sorry Yang. I shouldn't be like this anymore." Ruby wiped at her face again and pulled her knees up to her chest, "I'm supposed to be our leader, not a pitiful little girl." Yang ran her thumb along the crown of Ruby's head and thought she had come on the source of the issue.
"Did you have a nightmare?" When she was much younger Ruby had constant nightmares, nearly every night she would wake up screaming in a cold sweat, panicking and unable to calm down for hours. Yang had always gone to her and held her just like she was now, whispering words of comfort and telling her that she would always be there to protect her. As she got older the terrors faded away and became a part of who she had been growing up, she had conquered them with Yang's help and their bond was stronger for it. However, every once and a while, really very rarely, they would come back for a night. It hadn't happened since they started at Beacon and Yang thought maybe Ruby had finally completely gotten past them. But it appeared that they were still lingering and were still as intense as ever.
"Yeah," Ruby mumbled weakly and pressed her forehead back against Yang's shoulder. She wasn't crying anymore but was still broken inside and Yang was trying her best to hold her together.
"I'm sorry Ruby. It seems like it was a pretty bad one." Ruby nodded her head against Yang's body, confirming her worry. Yang just rubbed her back and waited until she was ready to say something more. Ruby sniffled hard and started talking without moving her head from her sister's embrace.
"It was all of us. We were out on a mission and I lead us into a cave to camp for the night." Ruby shuddered in her arms and paused before continuing, "I took watch outside and we seemed safe. I heard a noise in the cave and went running back in, we had checked to make sure it was clear. We had made sure we were safe." Ruby began crying again, tears running freely down her cheeks as she recounted the horrible dream, "There were Death Stalkers,' she hiccupped in her sobbing, "There were so many Yang, I tried to get them off of you, off of Blake and Weiss but," she buried her face into Yang's shirt, soaking it through with tears and ending her story. Yang clutched her close to her chest until she was able to continue, "Then when I woke up, none of you were here." Ruby pulled her head away from Yang's chest and silver met violet, "They were gone and you were out with Nora. I was so scared Yang and I was alone." Yang didn't know what to say, it had been a normal Saturday morning, she had just been seeing Nora off and Weiss and Blake were probably at breakfast, but she hadn't been there when her sister needed her most. Tears reached Yang's eyes and she knew she couldn't let her little sister see, so she pulled her in again, holding her as close as she could, she never wanted to let go again.
Yang tried to hold it down but a single sob rocked her body. Ruby immediately pulled back with a strength Yang hadn't expected. She saw on Yang's face a very unfamiliar sight, tears, marring her always beaming smile. Ruby recoiled in shock and Yang clung to her.
"Yang?" Ruby's voice was full of concern and fear.
"Don't move Ruby, come here." Yang pulled her little sister back to her and the younger girl collapsed into her, wrapping her arms around her older sister, "I'm so sorry. I should have been here for you." Yang tangled her fingers in Ruby's hair and pushed her forehead to the top of her head. She breathed deep to try and steady herself, she could smell Ruby's shampoo and the salt from her tears. She choked on her next words and coughed a little, trying to force them out.
"Yang it's okay, I-"
"No, it's not Ruby. You're our leader now. I respect and admire everything you've done since we got here. You are growing so fast and you're already a better Huntress than me. But, you're still my little sister and I need to be here for you." Yang pulled away just enough to put her hand on Ruby's chest, right where her collar bone made a point, "Right here, I need to be right here to protect you." The anguish and fear was suddenly gone from Yang's voice, replaced by a fierce determination.
"I miss you so much Yang." Ruby's eyes were brimmed with red, the only place on her body the color didn't belong.
"I know," Yang regained control of her voice, leveling her tone, "I'm sorry I haven't been around. I just got so caught up with Nora. I'm sorry." Ruby shook her head.
"Yang that's not what I mean. It's just that, you're doing all these things on your own. You're out with Nora or you're training with Blake or out somewhere having fun." Ruby interrupted herself with another small hiccup, her sunken voice had faded and she was ranting now, letting out what had been pulling at her, "I'm just me Yang." she met her sister's concerned gaze, "Weiss is still so distant, it's like I can't get in her head and Blake is so nice but she's your partner. I just...I feel like I shouldn't have skipped forward. I thought it would be okay because you'd be here, but it's not." Yang was blown away, she thought Ruby had been doing so great. She was always laughing with their friends, or trying to get them to go out and do things with her. Could it really be that she was trying so hard because she felt like she was still alone? Yang had been so caught up in all of her own things that she hadn't even stopped to consider that Ruby wasn't doing well socially. Friends had never been a problem for Ruby, she was always so bright and happy that people couldn't help but like her. She had a point though, she had skipped forward a full two years and was completely out of her comfort zone, which wasn't large to begin with.
"Ruby, I'll spend more time with you. I'll make Blake and Weiss hang out with us and we'll do stuff as a team all the time. I can stop spending so much time with Nora, I'll just tell her-"
"No, you're so happy with her. I haven't seen you this happy in so long." Ruby smiled through her tear stained cheeks, "I just need to grow up and deal with this," her face fell back to a frown.
"But Ruby, I don't care if it's making you sad like this. You don't have to deal with all of this alone. Like you said, you only came because you knew I would be here for you. I need to be the sister you already think I am." Yang let her hands fall to Ruby's and held them both in between her own. Ruby's frown eased a little at her sister's words. Yang could tell that she didn't want to be a burden, the last thing she wanted was for Yang to throw aside her own life to take care of her, but that's exactly what Yang was willing to do.
"I just...I'm just being selfish," Yang couldn't help but chuckle.
"You? Selfish? Ruby you are the most selfless, caring, generous girl on all of Remnant," Ruby smiled a little again Yang cheered a little, glad her sister was recovering, "and I love you for it."
"I love you too sis'," Ruby threw herself back at Yang, wrapping her arms around her and rolling them over. They both laughed and rolled off the bed together, ending in a heap on the floor. Yang cradled Ruby in her lap and smiled down at the girl, relieved beyond words that she was smiling again. "But you cannot stop seeing Nora, I forbid it." Yang laughed at the sudden change in Ruby's demeanor, from shivering little girl to full blown leader giving orders in a single hug, "You'll just have to bring her over here and we'll all hang out together." she gave Yang a wide smile even under her puffy eyes and tear streaked cheeks.
"Well, miss leader, I guess you're feeling better?" Yang smiled down at her.
"Yeah, thanks Yang." Ruby leaned up and gave her sister another hard squeeze.
"Good," she squeezed her back, "Now let's go get breakfast." Yang stood and set her sister down on her feet.
"I'm gonna take a shower first," Ruby looked down at herself, her hair was matted down with tears and her face was still all red and puffy. They both laughed and she headed for the shower. She stopped at the door and turned back, "Do you think they have any cookies?"
"Oh they better." Yang flashed Ruby a smile and she swung the door shut with a giggle. Yang waited for the water to start up and then let her smile drop. Seeing Ruby like that had been so hard, it had been years since one of her nightmares had gotten to her that badly and it was Yang's fault that this had happened. No matter what Ruby said Yang knew that if she had been around more these last two weeks that Ruby wouldn't have been reduced to such a state by one of her dreams. She decided right then and there that she would have to talk to Nora about this, no matter how much fun she was having with her, her sister came first and she needed to be there for her. She was sure Nora would understand. This would of course mean that they got less alone time together but that could always wait.
A/N - That's it folks, the second half of the weekend double shot. I want to thank everybody for reading so much yesterday, it was this story's second best viewership day ever, right after the "One Small Step" chapter. I'm really enjoying talking to everybody who has been reading so far, you're ideas and thoughts on the characters are awesome. Thanks to Boombox94 I may have to write a "You Done Fucked Up" (MagnhildXCardin's Knees) story unless "He's Outta Here" already counts as that.
I know this chapter departs from the usual Fluffy romance goodness, but it's important to check in on the other parts of Yang's life as the story progresses. Every chapter matters in the long run I promise. I didn't have a plan for this story from the outset but as it has gained popularity and with the comments I've been getting from everyone I have decided on a path for it to take and have pretty much everyone's stories ironed out at this point. From here on out the story will be bouncing around between chapters that focus on Yang and Nora and their Collateral Damage adorableness and then Yang and the couple's interactions with the other members of Team RWBY and Team JNPR like the two from this weekend.
Thanks so much for reading, I hope you continue to enjoy it. Also, "Friends and Loved Ones" continues to move forward and is right on track.
-Zach