"I love you too Blake, I have for a while now… we may not know right now what happened between us or where this will go… and I still don't know much about this mark, but I want to find out with you."
"You don't hate me?"
"I could never."
The words repeated over and over in her head, the feeling tugging at her chest making her shiver… the warmth in her chest pulsing with each heartbeat.
"It has been said that partners can feel each other's pain, emotions, sometimes where they are… and it has even been said that some can hear each other's thoughts."
The trust she felt… how she cared… the love she had… it was for her?
She took a deep breath looking up into those silver eyes before she bit her lip.
She's so calm for all that's happening… like she said I can feel she is scared and yet… her confidence is astounding. I love her… and yet why can't I accept it
"If we always fear we will lose something, we will always regret, Blake."
She let out a shaky breath, her ears twitching downwards a little making the redhead frown, she rested her hand on Blake's shoulder. "If you need a second Blake." Ruby whispered hesitating for a moment, she went to take her hand away before she stopped when the faunus set her hand on hers.
The concern coming from the redhead made her frown, she ran her thumb over her hand hoping to help just a little. "I'm sorry, I'm just processing it all." She paused, giving a smile to Ruby.
"It's a special connection, your father and I have no lies between each other, when we look at each other words we already know what is on our minds. We are more connected than those who aren't mated."
"Ruby… I'll answer anything you need or want to know, you deserve to know at least… so you can fully understand what this all means."
Ruby gave a small nod smiling before squeezing the faunus' hand. "I don't mind if you need a moment, a lot just happened in such a short moment…"
Blake hummed, bringing Ruby's hand up to her face resting her forehead against it. "Do you need a moment? You seem to be taking this all well."
The redhead scratched her cheek with her freehand looking away from Blake before sighing. "I'm taking it one piece at a time… and like I said earlier, I've liked you for a while now… right now the circumstances are a little awkward?" She paused, squeezing Blake's hand before tugging on it signaling to the woman she wanted to move, the faunus followed as Ruby brought them over to her bed. "But like you, I don't want to forget last night…"
Blake nodded looking down at the hand in between them, she felt a smile tug on her lips a little. "Take the time you need, I will say one thing about the mark however," She paused rubbing the back of her neck looking down at the floor. "Something you should know is that the mark you have right now won't last forever."
Ruby hummed, resting her free hand on the mark shivering at the warmth. "Do you know how long it will last?"
The faunus shook her head pulling her leg up resting it on the frame of her bed. "I don't know exactly how long, a majority of those who start the process already know beforehand."
"So then what does this mark mean for us? I know what mates mean, back when I was in signal a few of my friends talked about it, never talking about the mark however."
Blake gave another nod before looking over at the woman. "The mark can mean a lot of different things to people, but it's how faunus tell who is their mate. The partner gives part of their aura to create a connection." She paused, biting her lip before continuing. "That connection can provide many different things between the two, it's possible to feel what your partner is feeling, emotions, sometimes pain i've been told, and sometimes they can hear each other's thoughts." She felt it as the words left her mouth, the curiosity and a little bit of surprise.
"Wait, so what are you able to do?"
"I believe I can feel what you're feeling at times, as I think about it more… I can feel the connection more, still getting used to it."
Ruby ran her fingers over the mark feeling the shiver run up her back again. "That's… kind of cool, I didn't know that was possible. So it is something only a faunus can do?"
"As far as I know, yes, though obviously… it can also be with a human and a faunus, not just two faunus. However, it's more rare to see."
Blake could feel the excitement and curiosity swell in her chest causing her lips to tug in a smile as she watched the redhead think to herself for a moment.
She's taking it so well… does she… could she… She shook her head looking down at the hand between them again focusing on the warmth between them. I should stop worrying… I need to stop worrying.
"So wait… if you can feel me, how do I feel you?" The redhead asked tilting her head to the side, it took her a few moments before a blush formed on her face getting a small laugh from the faunus. "I mean the whole emotions thing…n-not that."
"I understand what you mean." Blake said, scratching her cheek. "I think because as of right now I was only able to give you a mark that I have a more secure connection with you…" She paused, turning her body towards Ruby watching as the redhead did the same.
She will see everything.
She will hate you.
Blake bit her lip as she took a deep breath, she closed her eyes keeping her focus on her breathing as she felt her heart pound against her chest.
Stop worrying and trust her… why can't I just open up to her… telling her my feelings was a weight off my shoulders, she knows now.
"One day you'll find someone, Blake." Kali said, wiping her hands on her apron before smiling at the girl. "Someone you may even want to mark as your mate."
"How will I know they are the one?""They'll make you feel special, not judged… loved."
When did I know? It was only a short time after meeting you… yet that day in the courtyard where we first met, you caught my eyes immediately. At first I thought of you as a child and yet… I feel like the child now sitting here… going back and forth… delaying.
I can't run forever.
When I started Beacon, I promised myself I wouldn't run anymore… When I became a member of team RWBY I promised myself again over and over.
She took a shaky breath bringing Ruby's hand up to her face surprising the redhead who sat there stunned for a moment. "Sorry I'm having another moment." The faunus whispered, wiping her face with her own hand.
"I know you said you were scared earlier… What scared you?" Ruby asked, running her thumb along the back of Blake's hand.
Will my feelings overwhelm her? There are still things that even Ruby doesn't know. The only person who knows is Yang… even then.
"Remember when we first met and I told you life isn't always a fairytale?" Blake paused for a short moment before receiving a nod from the redhead. "Well, I've never believed in them… I have a lot of weight on my shoulders I still carry around with me… I'm afraid my feelings… will scare you, hurt you. I have things of the past I'm still running from… I just, it's hard for me to forget it all."
"Are you talking about things with the White Fang?" Ruby asked hesitantly, getting a nod from the woman in front of her watching as her ears flattened against her head.
"Are you planning on going back to them?" Blake shook her head, keeping it down her eyes on Ruby's hand holding hers.
"If you think I'm scared… or would be scared of you for any of that then you're wrong. We all make mistakes in life or do things we didn't mean to do, you want to change and honestly I think that's brave of you. It takes a lot of courage to decide that." Ruby whispered watching as Blake's ears twitched a little, making her smile. "Dust, we barely know each other… but I want to learn more about you… I mean that's what dating is for right?"
Blake felt a small smile tug at her lips as she looked up to the redhead. "It's a little different because of the mark."
"Then we can work with it, you said it lasts a few days right? Let's take those few days, maybe… go on a date this weekend? Take time to decide and talk about it more."
Blake let out a hum looking into Ruby's eyes. "I'm sorry, you seem so sure about this… I'm just going back and forth."
"It's okay, like I said, take your time."
Ruby took a deep breath as she splashed water in her face before she rested her hands on each side, slowly she looked up to the mirror in front of her before her eyes fell to the bruise on her shoulder.
She never told me exactly how I can feel her… know what she is feeling. She hummed resting her hand on the bruise feeling a shiver go down her spine as she did.
"I believe I can feel what you're feeling at times, as I think about it more… I can feel the connection more, still getting used to it."
"Remember when we first met and I told you life isn't always a fairytale? Well, I've never believed in them… I have a lot of weight on my shoulders I still carry around with me… I'm afraid my feelings… will scare you, hurt you. I have things of the past I'm still running from… I just, it's hard for me to forget it all."
She frowned, pulling the stopper from the sink resting it off to the side before she quietly exited the bathroom. Her eyes adjusted slowly as she made her way over to her bed stopping for a moment looking over towards Blake, the faunus' back towards her as she slept.
For the rest of the day after they discussed the mark and what they were, they both decided to relax and just hang around the dorm room, giving them both time to think about what was talked about.
It was surreal to her just how the faunus felt, she knew initially based on small things here and there… but there was a lot more about the woman she didn't know. Blake was a lot different when it came to sharing those pent up feelings and emotions, she was a lot like Yang yet different. With Yang she knew how to push the right points so the blonde would speak to her, but she was afraid that somehow she would push Blake too far.
One of the many reasons it took her so long to even share those feelings up until that point.
She sighed quickly hopping up onto her bed pulling the curtain closed as she turned onto her side.
When she first started Beacon she never thought about dating, or even the possibility someone would like her that way. When she first met Blake she felt a pull to her, she wanted to know more about her. It wasn't long after that she felt a bit more for the faunus, the typical love at first sight story.
But waking up next to Blake in the morning after.. At first she was happy, then scared as to what that meant for her and Blake. This was all new to her.
She let out another sigh blowing a strand of her hair making her frown as she lightly tugged on the bang. Only then did she notice just how long her hair was actually getting… how light the color was becoming.
"Why do you dye your hair again? Do you not like the red?" Yang asked, watching as the redhead washed her hair. Ruby gave a small shrug as she shut the water off before she grabbed the hairdryer.
"I love having the red… don't get me wrong." She paused, shutting off the hairdryer. "It just reminds me so much of mom… everyone always tells me how much I look like her."
Yang hummed, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the counter. "Dad won't say it but I remind him so much of my mom, I guess the same goes for you. However, not much I can change, no way I'll cut these beautiful locks." She said, getting a laugh from the redhead as she flipped her hair over her shoulder.
Ruby hummed, running a hand through her hair before she turned onto her back looking up towards the curtain.
"Can't sleep?" She heard making her jump a little. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you."
"Did I wake you up?" Ruby asked tugging on her curtain a little letting her eyes adjust before they found amber ones.
"Hard to wake someone up when they haven't started sleeping." Blake said, smiling as she rested her hands on her stomach looking to the top part of Yang's bed.
"Lovely pair of insomniacs we have here." Ruby said, smiling at the laugh that came from the faunus.
The two sat there for a moment unsure what to say to one another before Ruby spoke up. "Well I don't know about you, but I doubt I'll be able to fall back asleep right now… do you want to continue reading that book?"
Blake hummed, tapping her fingers together before she tossed the blanket to the side. "That can be arranged, I just have to find it." She said quickly getting up from her bed going over to her desk. "Let's see…"
Ruby smiled as she hopped down from her bed bringing her spare blanket along as she went to Blake's bed waiting for the faunus.
"Alright I found it… so it looks like we left off where they were about to head into the fire swamp."
"Sounds dangerous, but interesting, go on." Ruby as she scoot over for Blake to sit down next to her.
"Want me to read or do you want to read over my shoulder?"
The redhead smiled, scratching her cheek. "Can you read? You make the story sound ten times better than it already is, you are great at story reading."
Blake nodded smiling as she scooted back a little in the bed bumping their shoulders together, she quickly skimmed through the book finding where she left off before she cleared her throat.
"No, that isn't what's odd," the Prince corrected. "Clearly, the kidnapper did not come back up because the climb was too steep, and our cannons must have let him know that they were closely pursued. His decision, which I applaud, was to make better time running along the ravine floor."
The Count waited for the Prince to continue.
"It's just odd that a man who is a master fencer, a defeater of giants, an expert in the use of iocane powder, would not know what this ravine opens into."
"And what is that?" asked the Count.
"The Fire Swamp," said Prince Humperdinck.
"Then we have him," said the Count.
"Precisely so." It was a well-documented trait of his to smile only just before the kill; his smile was very much in evidence now. . . .
It didn't take long until she felt something land softly on her shoulder making her pause in her reading. She looked down at the redhead, her ears twitching as a soft snore came from her.
That was quick.
She gave a small hum, closing the book lightly a smile tugging at her lips as she set it to the side. She let her arm wrap around the redhead's shoulder before she sighed leaning her head back against the wall.
"If you think I'm scared… or would be scared of you for any of that then you're wrong. We all make mistakes in life or do things we didn't mean to do, you want to change and honestly I think that's brave of you. It takes a lot of courage to decide that. Dust, we barely know each other… but I want to learn more about you… I mean that's what dating is for right?"
"Maybe… you're right." She whispered, leaning her head down against Ruby's as she closed her eyes.
This took me a little bit of time to write this geez. I apologize for that! I do not know how long I plan on making this yet but we will see!
Also for those who love Ladybug as much as I do! I have started a Ladybug discord where we can talk about this cute ship. If you type this into the join server you will be able to join! Hope to see you all there! - RRgtbxFTnD
Welp back to writing! Have a good one!